Helio introduced on March 26 its Ocean 3G dual-slider handset, which combines a traditional numeric keypad and a separate full QWERTY keyboard in a single device.The Ocean features a traditional alphanumeric keypad to send quick texts or surf the web, and slides open to reveal a horizontal full QWERTY keyboard suitable for writing e-mails or texts, web searches and allows for full screen landscape viewing of images and video, according to Helio.The Ocean sports a 2.4-inch, 260K color high-resolution QVGA display viewable in both portrait or landscape modes, external stereo speakers, a 2.0-megapixel camera with digital zoom and flash for photos and over two hours of continuous video recording. The handset also has Bluetooth for wireless voice and stereo Bluetooth for untethered music and videos, 200MB internal memory expandable via microSD to over 2GB, and USB mass storage mode for drag-and-drop sideloading of content. Ocean supports an array of audio and video formats including MP3, AAC and WMA audio, and MPEG4 and H.264 video, according to Helio.The Ocean's integrated messaging dashboard includes out-of-the-box access to most major e-mail services offered on the Internet today, as well as the ability to add additional IMAP/POP3 email accounts. Ocean will also support push mail from Yahoo! and other providers, as well as Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, and can wirelessly synchronize Microsoft Office Outlook email, calendar and contacts from a corporate Exchange Server.The Ocean is planned for launch in spring of 2007 at a suggested retail price of US$295.The Helio OceanPhoto: Company
The new OCZ Trifecta Secure Digital (SD) card series combines a microSD, SD and a USB key in one unit to create a new way of sharing files between a mobile phone, MP3 player, digital camera and PC.The Trifecta card combines the storage use of microSD with the ability to be converted into a standard SD card that can also be plugged into any USB port for quick access on a desktop or notebook, noted OCZ. This eliminates the need for a card reader, allowing the transfer of images and music to and from a handset anywhere. The Trifecta features three of today's most common storage needs for digital cameras, handsets, and PCs, according to the company.OCZ Trifecta memory cards will be available in 1GB and 2GB capacities with high-speed 66x read-rates, and come backed with a 5-year warranty.OCZ Trifecta 3-in-1 SD cardPhoto: Company
High Tech Computer (HTC) on March 26 introduced its Shift and Advantage mobile computing devices.The HTC Shift features a QWERTY-based keyboard design and 3G-connectivity. Similar in size to a couple of DVD cases, the HTC Shift comes with Windows Vista Business, and features a 7-inch widescreen touch display and a 30GB hard drive, according to the company. The HTC Shift features high-speed global connectivity with tri-band UMTS/HSDPA, Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi. The mobile computer leverages Windows Media Player 11 to provide easy access to music, videos and photos, according to HTC.Developed from the ground up to be extremely portable, the HTC Advantage is based on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 and includes Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile for quick access to email, calendar and contacts and Microsoft Office Mobile enabling the creation and editing of Microsoft Office documents. The HTC Advantage includes a thin, magnetically connected QWERTY keyboard and connectivity with Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA, Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi, stated the company. In addition, the HTC Advantage enables navigation capabilities with built-in GPS navigation. Other features include a 5-inch VGA touch display, 8GB hard disk, 256MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, miniSD card slot, HTC VueFLO for easy navigation and a 3.5mm Stereo audio jack.@ The HTC Advantage will be available through Amazon.com and other retailers summer 2007. The HTC Shift will be available in the US and Europe in the third quarter of 2007. Additional details, including specifications, pricing and availability will be announced when available.The HTC AdvantagePhoto: CompanyThe HTC ShiftPhoto: Company
As everyone in Hannover, Germany begins the process of packing up and returning to Taiwan, the question that all companies are asking is was it all worth it? For many – including some of the biggest Taiwan IT names – the answer is no.According to data released by CeBIT organizers Deutsche Messe, Taiwan was still the largest represented Asian country in terms of exhibitors with 602 companies attending this year. However, this figure was down significantly from 2006 which saw 711 companies attending, and the falling trend is set to continue based on recent comments from company sources.The list of no-shows in 2007 included Acer, HTC, and Shuttle, a significant result as all three companies have particularly strong performance in Europe compared to other markets. Shuttle announced as early as October 2006 that it had decided not to attend the 2007 event citing previous difficulty in reaching key decision-makers. This move by the Taiwan-PC maker was especially telling as in other years the company was regarded as having one of the largest presences at the show. Additionally, Shuttle has an advantage over most other Taiwan companies as it has a branch office located in Germany which could offer support.For many of the companies that did exhibit this year it seems that decision was not reached lightly. "In business you are always having to look at your potential ROI (return on investment)," said a representative at one of the largest Taiwan motherboard and notebook makers just weeks before the event, "And with CeBIT we're just not seeing any." In the run up to March 15, sources at many companies were talking about scaled back budgets and last-minute changes of plan, leading expectations to be lukewarm at best; and it seems coming out of the show this poor outlook was either met or exceeded, with Asustek and Gigabyte Technology reportedly already having announced they will likely not be returning in 2008.Another trend that emerged was the decision of key industry players not to syncronise their product launches with the event as had been typical in the past. With Nvidia deciding to not attend itself and to schedule the launch of its upcoming mainstream and low-end graphics chips, the G86 and G84, for April, it looked at first that AMD would have the floor all to itself for the launch of its new Direct X 10-based R600 GPU. However, this decision was canceled just weeks before the show, leaving Taiwan graphics card makers, on both sides, with nothing but variations of old products to display.Motherboard makers had the launch of Intel's new DDR3-supporting Bearlake chipset to act as a key event, but even then only two mid- to low-end versions were ready, with the high-end version - which also adds PCI Express 2.0 support – not expected until the second quarter. MSI, which was not only a launch partner with Intel introducing six Bearlake-motherboards but also one of the largest exhibitors at CeBIT according to the company's representative, revealed that it will be cutting back in 2008. Another launch partner, ECS, admitted that it had scaled back its original plans for CeBIT 2007 as was likely to do so even further in 2008.For handset makers, CeBIT came just a month after the GSM World Congress which was also held in Europe (Barcelona, Spain) meaning that for these companies CeBIT was little more than a repeat performance. Gigabyte Communications showed two new handsets, one supporting digital mobile TV and the other 3.5G connectivity but said that 2007 was the first year it had attended CeBIT, and would most probably be the last. E-TEN which also introduced a 3.5G handset was less decisive stating that in 2008 GSM World would be its main focus, but it may consider attending CeBIT in order to ensure it reaches as wide an audience as possible.One of a few companies that appeared to be bucking to negative trend was Walton Chaintech which introduced its new Apogee GT series of high-end memory. Having all but left the European market in recent years, the company announced that it is ready to increase its presence there again with CeBIT serving as a platform to reach its target audience.Of the notebook makers MSI had things to say about the potential for the built-in media center capabilities of Widows Vista to boost notebooks into the home theater PC (HTPC) market segment, adding that this will drive the addition of HDMI connectors and larger screens into new notebooks. However, the only new product it launched was part of its luxury Crystal collection which did not fall into the HTPC category. BenQ was another company that did not attend the show.With the commitment from so many Taiwan companies towards CeBIT 2008 so unenthusiastic it is uncertain, at least from a Taiwan company's perspective, whether future CeBIT dates will be something to mark on your calendar.
Thermaltake recently introduced its MaxOrb CPU cooler for the enthusiast segment.Supporting Intel Socket LGA775 and AMD Socket AM2/939/754 series CPUs, the MaxOrb utilizes six independent channel heatpipes to dissipate heat through the radial fins of an aluminum radiator. The six cooling pipes are attached to the cooler's copper base plate which has a mirror-finish to ensure close thermal contact with the CPU. A built-in fan with a blue LED light ensures that a constant stream of air passes through the radiator fins while casting cool illuminations on the workings of this cooling system.Thermaltake claims the MaxOrb makes only 16dBA of sound while operating at minimum speed. The also fan has an adjustable speed control to provide more performance for overclocking operations, noted the company. Thermaltake MaxOrb specifications Item Details Compatibility Intel Core 2 Extreme (socket LGA775) Core 2 Quad (socket LGA775) Core 2 Duo (socket LGA775) Pentium D (socket LGA775) Pentium 4 (socket LGA775) Pentium (socket LGA775) Celeron D (socket LGA775) Celeron (socket LGA775) Athlon 64 F2 (Socket AM2/939) Athlon 64 X2 (Socket AM2/939) Athlon 64 (Socket AM2/939/754) Sempron (Socket AM2/754) Dimensions (l×w×h,mm) 143×144×95.2 Heatsink material Copper base and aluminum fins Fan dimensions (l×w×h,mm) 120×120×25 Power input 3W Fan speed 1,300-2,000rpm Maximum air flow 86.5CFM Maximum air pressure 2.22mmH2O Noise 16dBA-24dBA Live expectancy 50,000 hours Connector 3 pin Weight (g) 465 Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes.com, March 2007The Thermaltake MaxOrb CPU coolerPhoto: CompanyThe Thermaltake MaxOrb CPU cooler glows with a blue LED lightPhoto: Company
Apple has begun shipping its Apple TV set-top box which allows multimedia content such as movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts on a PC or Mac to be viewed on a widescreen TV. Connectivity includes HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio for the TV and either Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) or Fast Ethernet to the PC.The Apple TV is designed to operate in conjunction with iTunes on a PC allowing users to browse and access their media library away from the computer using the included Apple remote control. Content can be synced from the PC onto the device's 40GB hard drive or can be streamed directly from up to five computers. "Apple TV is like a DVD player for the Internet age-providing an easy and fun way to play all your favorite iTunes content from your PC or Mac on your widescreen TV," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Apple TV allows you to wirelessly play your content from your PCs or Macs using your existing Wi-Fi network as well as the newest and fastest version of Wi-Fi 802.11n."The Apple TV will be available beginning this week from the online Apple Store, Apple retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of US$299. Despite the close integration with iTunes, the Apple TV does not allow users to purchase content directly from the iTunes Store commented some industry watchers. Also some have pointed out that although the Apple TV supports content up to high-definition 720p standard (1280×720) on widescreen TVs, content currently available on the iTunes Store is intended to be viewed on the much smaller screen of the iPod Video and is only offered in low-resolution VGA (640×480) or even QVGA (320×240) format, leading to speculation that Apple may be planning to introduce high-definition content to the service. Additionally, although its a new product from Apple, in terms of functionality, the Apple TV is little more than an apple-flavored version of Windows Media Center (MCE) Extender technology, which Microsoft introduced initially in Windows XP Media Center Edition and is built into the Home Premium and Ultimate versions of Windows Vista. MCE Extender devices are available by multiple hardware makers and support is also included in the Xbox 360.The Apple TVPhoto: Company
Gigabyte Communications has introduced two new handsets, the GSmart t600 with support for mobile digital TV, and the q60 professional handset with qwerty-keypad and 3.5G connectivity. Rather than go head to head with the giants in the Windows Mobile-based handset market, Gigabyte Communications has instead chosen to focus on niche and consumer oriented markets, in particular mobile TV. In its first generation handsets the company introduced roaming analog TV, which it then followed up in the second generation with TV recording. The new t600 takes things a step further with support for digital TV standards – DVB-T and H allowing for fairly widespread coverage in Europe, Asia, South Africa and Australia, and which is schedule to grow in other parts of the world, in particular North America, before the end of 2007. The device also supports DAB radio.To increase the benefit of having digital TV reception, the t600 is also the first Gigabyte Communications handset to feature a VGA (640×480) display. A side-by-side comparison of the t600 with an older model with a standard 32×240 screen showed that the higher resolution improved picture quality noticeably.Another innovation that is introduced with the t600 is video-out which allows the device to be connected to a TV or projector to mirror the handsets display on the larger screen. Gigabyte Communications said that this feature can not only be applied to let users watch TV or video on a larger screen, but could also be used for events such as group presentations. The cable we saw was a USB-mini to composite version, but Gigabyte Communications also mentioned that S-Video may also be supported. Battery-life while watching TV is currently around two hours, but Gigabyte Communications believes that this will increase to three or four hours by the time the t600 launches.The base operating system of the t600 is the recently released Windows Mobile 6 Professional, which includes the Mobile Office suite. Gigabyte Communications will also include its own value-added software bundle.The t600 will be available in either black or white and will launch in Taiwan in April, followed by Italy and Russia in May, with northern Europe soon after.The GSmart t600 is the first handset to support digital mobile TVGigabyte Communications' second new release is the q60. Aimed at the professional market, this handset features a full-qwerty keypad. The q60 is the company's first product to support WCDMA and HSDPA, offering speeds up to 1.8Mb/s. Although the q60 does not come with support for TV as standard, Gigabyte Communications mentioned that DVB-T and H can be added as a manufacturing option. GPS is also optionally available.In order to make the best use of the q60's new features, Gigabyte Communications is working to cooperate with regional telecoms providers offering 3.5G services, who are likely to offer the q60 as part of a subscription package. The q60 is scheduled to launch in Taiwan in June, with trails currently underway in Europe with an aim for launches soon after.As with the t600 the q60 is based on Windows Mobile 6 and Gigabyte revealed that this will be the standard for all of the company's future products. For existing owners, Gigabyte Communications is considering offering Windows Mobile 6 upgrade options, but nothing has been confirmed yet. The company has no plans to support other platforms (such as Linux) at this time as it receives good support from Microsoft.The GSmart q60 is Gigabyte Communications' first handset to support 3.5G connectivityFor complete DigiTimes coverage of CeBIT 2007 go here.
Sanyo recently introduced its Xacti CG65 digital video camera with Advanced Video Codec H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) video compression technology, which the company claims, reduces MPEG-4 file size approximately 25% when compared to other digital video cameras.The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG65 features a 6-megapixel resolution still camera function with ISO 1600 sensitivity and a built-in Gyro Sensor shake-resistant system for correcting unintentional camera shake during photo taking. In addition, high-speed video-processing using 9-pixel mixture technology makes recording of both movies and stills possible even in semi-dark or under lit environments of approximately 2lux.A dedicated Qpixel brand H.264 video compression IC was incorporated into the camera that was designed specifically for portable consumer devices to achieve high video quality while simultaneously reducing the system power consumption. The camera can record up to a total of 10 hours of video with an 8GB SDHC memory card. The CG65 can also record up to a total of five hours of video with a 4GB SDHC memory card, up to 2.5 hours with a standard 2GB SD card, and up to 1.25 hours with a standard 1GB SD card, according to Sanyo.The Xacti CG65 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$399.99, and is scheduled to be released in the US in April. The CG65 will be available in black, silver and green.The Sanyo Xacti CG65 digital video camera with Advanced Video Codec H.264 video compressionPhoto: Company
Motorola announced on March 19 the expansion of its line of MC70 enterprise digital assistants (EDA) to include support for CDMA-EVDO networks to compliment its existing GSM/EDGE version.Designed to withstand all-day everyday use in harsh work environments, Motorola's MC70 is a compact handheld mobile computer combining multi-mode wireless networking, voice and data communications and data capture capabilities in an ergonomic form factor. The MC70 is intended for use both indoors and outdoors allowing users to perform applications such as asset management, parcel delivery, direct store delivery, medication administration, fleet management and mobile point-of-sale, according to Motorola.The MC70 supports high-speed 3G EVDO networks based on the CDMA standard as well as WAN/LAN/PAN functionality to deliver cost-effective coverage in a range applications.The MC70 with EVDO functionality has a list price ranging from US$2845-3195, depending on configuration, and is available immediately.The Motorola MC70 enterprise digital assistant with support for CDMA-EVDO networksPhoto: Company
Fujitsu Computer Systems has introduced pen-enabled notebooks with solid state drives (SSDs). The LifeBook P1610 and LifeBook B6210 ultra-portables will offer an option for an SSD, an NAND flash-based replacement for traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). Fujitsu also introduced a rugged case for added durability and reliability. The rugged-enhanced notebooks, designed for optimal portability and data protection, are suitable for medium-sized and large organizations within vertical markets, including healthcare, aviation, and field service, which require a light and compact, but highly durable mobile computer, said Fujitsu.The 2.2-pound LifeBook P1610 convertible touch screen notebook and 3.2-pound LifeBook B6210 touch screen notebook are now offered with two flash-based SSD configurations, 16GB or 32GB. SSDs offer lower power consumption, added ruggedness, high reliability, and improved performance.As there are no moving parts to fail or heads to crash, SSDs can provide more durability and data protection than traditional HDDs. SSDs are noise free, generate virtually no heat and weigh half as much as traditional notebook hard drives, according to Fujitsu.The LifeBook P1610 notebook and its predecessor, the LifeBook P1510 notebook, can be further protected in tablet mode with an optional 3/4-inch thick flexible Santoprene case. The case, which provides access to all ports, offers additional protection against accidental drops, bumps and the rigors of a day on the road.The LifeBook P1610 convertible notebook offers full PC functionality and an 8.9-inch indoor/outdoor touch screen. It is designed for on-the-go mobile professionals who require the flexibility of a tablet for note-taking or navigating through forms-based applications, along with the traditional keyboard input of a notebook computer, noted Fujitsu. The LifeBook B6210 notebook is equipped with a bright 12.1-inch XGA display offering the flexibility of touch screen input and the productivity of a notebook computer.The SSD for the LifeBook P1610 and B6210 notebooks will be offered with 16GB and 32GB storage capacities and available to corporate customers and agencies on a project-basis. Fujitsu LifeBook P1610 notebook with rugged casePhoto: Company
