Thermaltake recently introduced its Lanbox Lite series small form factor PC chassis.The Lanbox Lite enables the use of standard Micro ATX motherboards, most high-end CPUs, powerful graphics cards and even a standard full-size PSU.The Lanbox Lite is a fully modular chassis where all components may be removed from the body for easier installation, according to Thermaltake, which noted that everything from the motherboard tray to 5.25-inch bay drive cage can be removed with thumb screws.The Lanbox Lite features a mirror-finish with a steel meshed front bezel design for greater thermal performance, stated Thermaltake. Specifications of the Thermaltake Lanbox Lite chassis Item Details Model VF6000BWS Case type Gaming cube Dimensions (W×D×H, mm) 300×430×230 Window side panel Window Chassis material SECC Japanese steel Color Black Cooling System Front: 90mm fan with blue LED × 1, 1500-rpm Rear: 60mm fan × 2, 1800-rpm (up to 60mm fan × 3) Motherboard Micro ATX form factor & mini ITX form factor Drive bays 5.25-inch × 2 3.5-inch × 3 (Exposed × 1, hidden × 2) Front I/O USB 2.0 × 2, IEEE 1394 Firewire, HD-Audio Expansion slots 4 Weight 6.1kg / 13.45lb Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes.com, April 2007Thermaltake Lanbox Lite VF6000BWS small form factor PC chassisPhoto: Company

Gumstix, a maker of full-function miniature computers, has announced its Verdex motherboards with a Marvell PXA270 CPU offering USB host, CCD camera input, improved power management along with the twice as much memory and 50% more processor speed. The tiny motherboards can power fully functional network servers in the palm of ones hand, according to the company.Gumstix's fastest Verdex motherboard, the Verdex XL6P, comes with a 600MHz PXA270 processor, 128MB RAM, 32MB flash and three onboard connectors for expansion connectivity: a 60-pin connector familiar to existing customers, and new 24-pin flex and 120-pin board-to-board connectors. Also available is onboard Bluetooth with u.fl antenna connector.These new motherboards are compatible with existing 60-pin boards; however, to access the new functions (such as USB Host) the company will be announcing new expansion boards in the near future.Every Verdex motherboard comes pre-installed with the latest Linux 2.6 operating system and the open source u-boot boot-loader.The Verdex motherboards are available online at the company's website with single-unit pricing beginning at US$129 and OEM pricing available below US$60 for orders of 1,000 units with reduced processor speed, memory, or options.A Gumstix Verdex motherboardPhoto: Company

Iomega on March 29 announced its new Iomega Power Pro desktop hard drive, a 2TB drive powered by four hot-swappable SATA hard drives with hardware-based RAID security features.The new Iomega Power Pro desktop hard drive is Windows and Mac compatible, including the new Windows Vista operating system, according to Iomega. The Power Pro has versatile performance with a choice of computer connections: FireWire800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0, resulting in transfer rates of up to 70MB/sec, according to the company.RAID security options on the Power Pro desktop hard drive include RAID 0 for maximum capacity and speed, RAID 0+1 for striping and mirroring data across the hard drives for data redundancy, as well as RAID 5 and RAID 5+ spare for a great balance between performance and data protection.The Power Pro's four 500GB SATA drives are arrayed in a tower, with each drive secured in a bay that can be locked. A Kensington lock can be used to anchor the tower to the user's desktop.For ease-of-use and maintenance, the new Iomega Power Pro desktop hard drive has an LCD panel that displays the current status for RAID level and available storage capacity, as well as fan and temperature condition.The Iomega Power Pro desktop hard drive is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP Home and XP Professional editions, as well as all Windows Vista editions. The Power Pro desktop hard drive is also compatible with MacOS X 10.2.8 or later on Apple computers with an Intel Core Duo processor or G3 processor or higher.The Iomega Power Pro desktop hard drive is expected to be available worldwide on April 10 at a suggested retail price of US$1,699.95.The Iomega Power Pro desktop hard drivePhoto: Company

BenQ on March 30 announced the immediate launch of what it claims is the world's slimmest digital camera with a thickness of 14.9mm. The T700 has a recommended retail price of NT$10,990 (US$333).BenQ has upward adjusted its 2007 shipment goal for digital cameras from 60,000 units originally to 100,000, rising by 120% from the shipment volume posted in 2006, the company indicated. As such, BenQ aims to be among the top five brands in the Taiwan market for the year, the company pointed out. The Taiwan digital camera market has reached a saturation of 850,000-950,000 units in annual sales volume, with Sony, Canon and Nikon being the top three brands for a combined share of 50-60%, and Panasonic, Casio, Fujifilm and Samsung being second-tier brands, according to industry sources. In addition, Japanese brands, including Pentax, Casio and Fujifilm, have offered low-price digital camera models for sale at NT$7,000-8,000 since last quarter, the sources indicated. Under the situation, BenQ and other leading Taiwan brands are faced with strong price competition and therefore it is not easy for BenQ to jump into the top five brands, the sources pointed out. BenQ T700 digital camera: Specifications Lens/resolution 1/2.5-inch CCD image sensor; 7.2-megapixel Screen 3.0-inch 230,000-pixel LTPS LCD touch panel Zoom 3x optical, 4x digital Storage capacity Built-in 18MB, plus external SD card of up to 2GB Dimension (W×H×D, mm) 91×59×16.9 (14.9 at thinnest part) Weight 120g (not including battery) Source: BenQ, compiled by DigiTimes.com, March 2007BenQ T700 is available in four colorsPhoto: Company

OCZ has announced the latest addition to its OCZ Nvidia SLI certified series – the PC2-6400 SLI-Ready DDR2 modules. Optimized specifically for current and next generation nForce platforms, this series features reduced latencies and a 1T command rate for ultra fast memory accesses at 800MHz data rate, said the company.As part of the Nvidia SLI technology ecosystem, these modules undergo a rigorous series of tests and are certified to provide enthusiasts and gamers the performance, compatibility, and stability they seek when building an SLI gaming system. Tailor-made for the Nvidia gamer, each OCZ PC2-6400 certified module features the exclusive black SLI-Ready XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatspreader, noted OCZ."With increasing system memory density, the number of interleaved banks of memory increases and therefore creates a need for more commands to keep data transfers running smoothly," commented Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology. "It is obvious that this can be achieved by maintaining one command per clock cycle even at high operating frequencies. The new OCZ 800MHz SLI-Ready series is the world's first memory series to fulfill the criteria required by Nvidia for full qualification as a 1T SLI high speed memory, thereby furthering the leading role of OCZ Technology as a leading edge enabler of high performance platforms."OCZ PC2-6400 Nvidia SLI-Ready certified modulesPhoto: Company

Panasonic has introduced two new high definition (HD) video camcorders, the HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1.The HDC-SD1 records onto high capacity, solid-state SDHC memory cards, and according to the company, is one of the world's smallest and lightest 3CCD HD video camcorders. Because there are no moving parts in the recording section, the HDC-SD1 is also exceptionally resistant to impact, claims Panasonic.The HDC-DX1 records directly to DVD discs, eliminating the need to rewind or fast-forward so users can play back a scene immediately after recording, according to Panasonic.Both models use the high-resolution AVCHD format and feature the kind of 3CCD video recording system used in many professional broadcast cameras, stated Panasonic. The HDC-SD1 provides about one hour of HD recording on a 4GB SDHC memory card and the HDC-DX1 provides about 40 minutes of HD recording on a dual-layer DVD-R disc.The two new camcorders also incorporate Panasonic's Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) that minimizes the effect of the hand shake, according to Panasonic, which noted that, because this system is optical and not digital, there is no loss of image quality.The HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1 feature a 5.1-channel surround sound system with five microphones. A zoom mic function links the microphone's action to the camera's action. When zooming in on a subject in the distance, for example, the microphones also zoom in and record the sounds specific to that subject.The Leica Dicomar lens featured in the HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1 has 13 lens elements in 10 groups, with 21 multi-coated surfaces, and uses low-dispersion optical glass to reduce chromatic aberration, according to the company.Both high definition camcorders will be available in March, with a suggested retail price of US$1,299.95.The Panasonic HDC-SD1 high definition camcorderPhoto: CompanyThe Panasonic HDC-DX1 high definition camcorderPhoto: Company

Sony Electronics today unveiled two new front home-theater projectors that bring the movie-going experience to homes at prices beginning at about US$1,000.The new BRAVIA 3LCD VPL-AW15 and VPL-AW10 projectors feature 1,280×720 progressive resolution, which is ideal for large-size home entertainment applications like enjoying high-definition (HD) movies, gaming and sports, according to Sony.Both new models feature a 165-watt lamp that produces 1,100 lumens of light. Each one is equipped with a short focal-length lens with 1.6 times zoom and features a low fan noise of 20dB (in low-lamp mode), providing flexible installation options in many home settings.The VPL-AW10 model features Sony's Advance Iris for contrast ratio of up to 6,000:1 when "auto" iris mode is selected. The VPL-AW15 unit features the step-up Advanced Iris 2 technology, producing deep, accurate blacks and a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 12,000:1 when "auto" iris mode is selected. The Advanced Iris 2 also features a variable setting allowing for user optimization.Additionally, the VPL-AW15 model has greater installation flexibility with lens shift, which helps adjust the picture both vertically and horizontally expanding projector placement options. Key to this feature is Sony's All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) lens. The lens allows for flexible throw distances, making installation easier in less than ideal conditions like small rooms.Users can also optimize the AW15's model's color palette with Sony's Real Color Processing function. Color hues can be adjusted to match specific tastes.Both projectors feature a HDMI input supporting 1080/24p, which is downscaled to native 720p. Other inputs include a RS-232C connection for custom control applications and a host of others including component, composite and S-video. The VPL-AW15 projector also includes an HD15 input for analog PC.The new VPL-AW15 and VPL-AW10 front projectors are expected to ship in June for about US$1,300 and US$1,000, respectively. They will be available at Sony Style stores, online at www.sonystyle.com and at authorized dealers.Sony new home-heater LCD projector (VPL-AW15)Photo: Company

Asiamajor recently introduced its V-Gear TalkCam TX6 multi-purpose webcam.The V-Gear TalkCam TX6 has a 1.3-megapixel image resolution and features low-noise CMOS imaging technology for good signal-to-noise ratio and low-light sensitivity. The webcam has a built-in high performance loud speaker and a unidirectional microphone.The TalkCam TX6's face tracking and zooming function enables the webcam to follow the face of users automatically to ensure that they are in focus. The webcam also allows users to add frames and video effects onto web videos instantly and, through its multiple-video-streaming technology, can allow chat on different video messengers at the same time.The unit comes with an angle clip to allow mounting on practically any monitor. V-Gear TalkCam TX6 specifications Item Details Interface USB 2.0 Effective pixels 1.3-megapixels Max. resolution 1280×1024(SXGA) Max. frame rate 30fps (640×480: 25-30fps, 1280×1024: 9fps) Focus range 4cm to infinity White Balance Auto Auto Exposure (AE): Auto USB cable length 150cm Built-in microphone Unidirectional x1 Built-in speaker Max. 1W x1 Audio output 3.5mm phone-jack Weight (g) 76 (USB cable included) Dimensions (mm) 102×59×118 Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes.com, March 2007The V-Gear TalkCam VX6Photo: Company

Sony Ericsson announced on March 26 its new W580 slider Walkman phone and Z750 clam shell handset, the company's first Tri-band HSDPA phone for the North American market.The W580 Walkman phone is a 2.5G, Quad-band EDGE device (850/900/1800/1900) and features a 2-inch color screen. At 14mm thick, the phone features a 2.0-megapixel camera and a built-in FM radio with RDS. The W580 ships with a 512MB Memory Stick Micro (M2) and comes in white or gray with orange color accents and light effects along the sides.The Z750 is a tri-band HSDPA (850/1900/2100), Quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) phone and is Sony Ericsson's first handset to offer push email, according to the company. The phone features a 2.0-megapixel camera a 2.2-inch screen, and like the W580, comes with a built-in radio with RDS. The Z750 comes in grey or pink.The Z750 is Exchange ActiveSync enabled and supports wireless synchronization and direct push email, calendar and contacts. Moreover, it also includes support for Java push mail solutions provided by third parties and leading email standards, such as POP/IMAP, according to Sony Ericsson.The Sony Ericsson W580 will be available in selected markets from the third quarter of 2007 while the Z750 will be available first in North America before wider distribution to other global markets later in the year.The Sony Ericsson W580 slider Walkman phonePhoto: CompanyThe Sony Ericsson Z750 clam shell handsetPhoto: Company

Microsoft has announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360 Elite, a new model of its Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive and a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, and comes bundled with a high-definition cable, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE headset.Xbox 360 Elite console is distinguished from other Xbox 360s by its black finish and HDMI output allowing for high-definition entertainment (up to 1080p) and full surround sound capabilities right out of the box, according to Microsoft. The Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price of US$479.99 slightly higher than the Xbox 360 Premium bundle which typically retails for less than US$400.Xbox 360 Elite comes with a new 120GB HDD – previously only 20GB models were available – allowing users to increase their library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory for an estimated retail price of US$179.99 to give current Xbox 360 owners the option to upgrade too. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (US$49.99), Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit (US$19.99) and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery (US$11.99), will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in US stores on April 29.Xbox 360 ElitePhoto:Company