LG Electronics (LGE) recently announced the availability of a 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor in the Taiwan market, according to LG Electronics Taiwan Taipei (LGETT). The company is offering the model at NT$12,900 (US$391), stated LGETT.The 22-inch monitor is the first model that LGE gained Windows Vista Premium certification, said the company. With the launch of the new model, LGE aims to grab 10% of local LCD monitor market this year, projected LGE. LGE: 22-inch LCD monitor Model L226WT-BF Size (inch) 22 Resolution 1,680x1,050 Brightness (nits) 300 Contrast ratio 3,000:1 Response time (ms) 5 (GTG) Viewing angle (V/H) 170/170 Input signal DVI-D / D-sub Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes, March 2007.LG 22-inch LCD monitor Photo: Company

PowerColor has announced the PowerColor X1950 SCS3, claiming it as the best performing noiseless graphics card in the world.Even though the PowerColor X1950 SCS3 utilizes a passive cooling system, it is able to maintain the original specifications of the X1950 GPU with a core engine running at 575MHz, 1380MHz effective memory speed, 256MB GDDR3 and 36 pixel processors, according to the company, which noted that the card also comes equipped with VIVO, HDCP and is Windows Vista ready.PowerColor has partnered with Arctic Cooling to provide the noiseless cooling solution. This specially designed silent cooler features four heat pipes, a voltage regulator heat sink, memory cooling, and taller fins, says PowerColor. As a result noise levels (measured in sones) reach 0 sone, verses the original stock cooler's 2.5 sone, the company claims. Temperature levels also dip under the stock cooler's 67-degrees Celsius, to 63-degrees Celsius.The PowerColor X1950 PRO supports dual-link DVI with High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), allowing users to future-proof their hardware with compatibility for Blu-ray and HD DVD applications at 1080p resolutions, notes the company.PowerColor X1950 PRO Silence EditionPhoto: Company

Albatron Technology has unveiled what it claims is the first Mini-ITX motherboard based on AMD's AM2 socket technology. This small board goes all out with all of the latest technologies matching AM2 power with versatility and flexibility, making it a top choice as the most powerful Mini-ITX board on the market, says Albatron.The AM2 socket supports a full range of AMD CPUs including the Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2, Athlon 64 and Sempron.The KI690-AM2 is a Mini-ITX board only 17×17cm and is perfect for small compartments such as for car PCs, Industrial PCs, POS, DIY or for small inconspicuous living room HTPCs (Home Theater PCs), says Albatron.The KI690-AM2 employs the AMD 690 and SB600 chipsets, boasting a powerful integrated graphics engine which means that you can get great small-board gaming performance. The graphics engine is also perfect for Windows Vista, the first operating system to take advantage of graphics subsystems, says Albatron.The KI690-AM2 also features multimedia connectivity and audio facilities including Gigabit LAN and a HDMI connector. This board also comes with HDTV composite, DSub and DVI connectors. Additionally, two IEEE 1394 ports and eight USB 2.0 ports are supported. High quality audio featuring 7.1 HD Audio Effects (8 channels) and SPDIF connectors round up the specification.The KI690-AM2 is stocked with four SATA II connectors with RAID 0, 1 & 0+1 and 3Gb/s disk performance for downloading, uploading and gaming, says Albatron. It also has one IDE connector supporting ATA hard disks and CD drives.The KI690-AM2 is built around AM2 performance and is a perfect fit for HTPC and Windows Vista, featuring full featured audio and graphics facilities, adds Albatron.Albatron KI690-AM2 Mini-ITX motherboardPhoto: Company

Biostar Microtech International has launched its T-Series TA690G AM2 motherboard based on the latest AMD 690G chipset with integrated ATI Radeon X1250 graphics.The most distinguishing feature of the TA690G AM2 is the onboard graphics with maximum shared memory up to 512MB, says the company, adding that the TA690G AM2 delivers an exceptional experience on an integrated platform. The T-Series TA690G AM2 is the first model with integrated HDMI, DVI and TV-Out ports, to meet the expectations of different customer groups, according to Biostar.The TA690G AM2 delivers a Windows Vista Premium experience handling the Aero user interface and the most demanding workloads with ease, says the company. Another distinctive feature of the Biostar TA690G AM2 is the onboard HDMI port. HDMI has emerged as the connection standard for HDTV and the consumer electronics market, according to Biostar. HDMI is the first and only digital interface to combine uncompressed high-definition video, multi-channel audio and intelligent format and command data in a single digital interface, the company notes. For the end-users, use of a single cable for audio and video dramatically simplifies home theater system installation and eliminates the cable quagmire typically associated with home theater system components, says Biostar. HDMI offers advantages over analog A/V connections, including the ability to transmit uncompressed digital video and audio content, adds the company. TA690G AM2 specifications Item Details CPU Supports AMD Athlon 64 X2/64/FX/Sempron processors Chipset AMD 690G + SB600 Socket AM2 PCI Express x16 1 PCI Express x1 1 PCI 2 LAN Gigabit Ethernet SATAII 4 RAID 0/1/10 USB 2.0 10 Integrated Video ATI Radeon X1250 Graphics Maximum memory share 512 MB Integrated Audio 8+2 channel HD audio DVI 1 TV-OUT 1 HDMI 1 Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes.com, March 2007Biostar T-Series TA690G AM2Photo: Company

Shuttle announced on February 27 the XPC SD39P2 barebone, the company's latest small form factor PC supporting Intel's socket 775 processors, including the Intel Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme series models.The SD39P2 can take up to 8GB of DDR2 800 memory in dual-channel mode spread over four memory banks and is compatible with the latest PCI Express graphics cards, such as the Nvidia GeForce 8800GTX/7950GX2 or the ATI Radeon X1900XTX, says Shuttle. The small form factor PC also has capacity to accommodate up to three SATA 300 hard disks, which can be run in combination as RAID 0, 1, 5 or 10, according to the company."The PCI slot is not extinct yet. With the XPC SD39P2 we're offering a high-end solution that will continue to support PCI cards," explains Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing and PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. The SD39P2 has has an external SATA port, Gigabit LAN and 8-channel sound, as well as a 400-watt power supply.The XPC SD39P2 will be available for purchase soon, says the company. The recommended retail price from Shuttle is EUR 419.00 (without VAT). Shuttle XPC SD39P2 specifications Item Details CPU Supports Intel Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme CPUs Chipset Intel 975X/ICH7-R chipset Memory Up to 8GB dual channel DDR2 800 with 10.7Gb/s (4 slots) Graphics Supports Nvidia GeForce 7950GX2/8800GTX and ATI Radeon X1900XTX PCI/PCIe 1x PCIe x16 + 1x PCI 32-bit slots Drive bays 3x 3.5" + 1x 5.25" drive bays Audio 8-Channel HD-audio with SPDIF I/O Connectivity Gigabit LAN, 7x USB 2.0, Firewire Supported drives 1x eSATA + 4x SATA 300 supporting RAID 0,1,5,10 Power supply 400W Dimensions (l×w×h, mm) 325×220×210 The Shuttle XPC SD39P2 barebone PCPhoto: Company

Sony on February 27 announced a line of six new digital voice recorders with features that include capturing high-quality sound and converting voice to text, creating MP3 files for radio or Internet broadcasting, or simply recording notes and playing them back without connecting to a PC.Sony's ICD-SX57 and ICD-SX57DR9 voice recorder models have up to 256MB of flash memory and offer more than 90 hours of recording time in the long play (LP) mode, says Sony. Both models come with a USB port for high-speed file transfer to a PC.For those looking for a way to easily transcribe recorded files, the ICD-SX57 recorder is compatible with Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software from Nuance Communications. Sony will also offer the ICD-SX57DR9 bundled with the voice recognition software.Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Recorder Edition supports dictation using Sony PC compatible digital voice recorders and links directly with Sony's Digital Voice Editor version 3.0 software, which comes with new PC-compatible digital voice recorders. Both pieces of software work together to provide an easy way to convert voice to text, according to Sony.The ICD-SX57DR9 recorder comes equipped with rechargeable batteries and a USB docking station. It automatically recharges the batteries when connected to the PC and simplifies the process of transferring recordings.The ICD-SX57 and ICD-SX57DR9 digital voice recorders will be available in spring 2007 for about US$200 and US$250, respectively.Sony's ICD-P520 and ICD-P530F digital voice recorders are compact and easily connect to a PC. Up to 256MB of flash memory offer up to 130 hours of recording time in the LP mode. For easy file transfer to a PC, both models include Sony's new Digital Voice Editor version 3.0 software, which adds podcast-creation capability. The ICD-P530F recorder incorporates a built-in FM tuner with 25 presets.The ICD-P520 and ICD-P530F digital voice recorders will also be available spring 2007 for about US$70 and US$80, respectively.For users needing lots of recording time, the ICD-B500 and ICD-B510F voice recorders are portable note takers with 256 MB of flash memory. These new models provide up to 150 hours of recording time in LP mode. They offer comprehensive recording capabilities in any situation, and a large LCD and single-function buttons on the front and 250-milliwatt speaker output make them easy to use. The ICD-B510F recorder also includes a built-in FM tuner with 25 presets.The ICD-B500 and ICD-B510F voice recorders come packaged with two "AAA" batteries and will be available spring 2007 for about US$50 and US$60, respectively, according to Sony.Sony ICD-SX57DR9 digital voice recorderPhoto: Company

Linksys announced a line of fully managed stackable and standalone Layer-2 switches and and network attached storage devices designed specifically for small businesses.The Linksys stackable and standalone small business switches include the stackable SFE2000P, SGE2000 and SGE2000P, and the standalone SRW224G4P and SRW248G4P. Prices for the switches range from US$470 to US$1,000. The additional software features Linksys includes in the switches helps small businesses set up and manage their own networks while the power-over-Ethernet (PoE) and quality of service (QoS) features provide businesses the ability to add voice and video service, according to Linksys."The new line-up of fully managed switches target small businesses that have no IT staff and rely on solutions that are designed to be simple to use, install and configure," said David Tucker, senior director of product marketing, Linksys Connected Office Business Organization. "These switches provide needed business features not found in consumer-grade products like remote management, system availability, backup power redundancy and stacking."Linksys also announced a line of network attached storage devices for small businesses. The new products include storage chassis without hard drives (NSS4000 and NSS6000) and units with a total storage capacity of 1.0-terabyte (NSS4000, NSS6000, NSS4100 and NSS6100). The products support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1 + Spare, RAID 5, RAID 5 + Spare, RAID 10, and JBOD capabilities and includes self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology (SMART) as well as on-disc file encryption allowing for highly secure offsite backup and archiving or data migration.Linksys' network storage solutions are available immediately with prices ranging from US$1,000 to US$2,500.Linksys' NSS4000 network attached storage device for small businessesPhoto: Company

GeCube has launched an ATI Radeon X1950XTX series graphics card which includes 256MB GDDR3 memory and GeCube's X-Turbo fan with built-in Thermo Electric Chip (TEC), and temperature-controlled devices. The core clock speed of the card not only directly challenges that of X1950XTX level (648MHz) models, its overclocking speed can also reach at least 675 MHz or higher, according to GeCube. Overclocking can be done with ATI's built-in Overdrive control panel, GeCube adds. Even when overclocked, the card is able to maintain temperatures between 70 to 80-degrees C, lower than the normal operating temperature of other vendors cards without overclocking, claims GeCube. Moreover, the temperature monitor allows gamers to overclock at their own will without worrying about overheating and damaging the GPU, the company notes.The X1950XTX series product supports Shader Model 3.0's newest infrastructure design and 48 pixel pipelines, says GeCube. It also supports High Definition Content Protection (HDCP), Blu-ray, HD DVD, 1080i, and high-definition video output, according to the company. When paired with ATI's AVIVO display technology, the card supports media formats at the current highest resolutions, GeCube adds.GeCube ATI Radeon X1950XTX series graphics card with X-Turbo fanPhoto: Company

Apple is planning to introduce 15.4-inch MacBooks in the second quarter of 2007, according to industry sources in Taiwan. The new model will fill the gap between the company's 13.3-inch MacBooks and the 15.4- and 17-inch MacBook Pros that form its current notebook line up, and is expected to boost shipments of Apple's Intel-powered MacBooks, the sources add.MacBook shipments are expected to reach 700,000 units in the first quarter of 2007, after enjoying substantial gains in the second half of 2006, say the PC makers. However, shipment growth for the whole of 2007 is likely to be even greater than that of the first-quarter following the introduction of the 15.4-inch model in the second quarter, the sources noted. Currently, 13.3-inch MacBooks are manufactured by Asustek Computer, while the new 15.4-inch model will be made by Quanta Computer, which also manufactures the 15.4- and 17-inch MacBook Pros for Apple. Foxconn is said to have been in the running for the lucrative 15.4-inch manufacturing contract but was eventually unsuccessful, the sources report.Prices for the 15.4-inch MacBook models are likely to be more competitive than their 13.3-inch counterparts, due largely to the relatively lower cost of 15.4-inch LCD panels, and will therefore help push further sales of MacBooks, indicated the sources. The 13.3-inch MacBooks are currently available at US$1,099-US$1,499..The 15.4- and 17-inch MacBook Pros are currently available at a range between US$1,999 and US$2,799, and account for a relatively lower ratio to Apple's total notebook shipments, the source indicated. Apple's notebook shipments for 2006-1Q 2007 (in 1,000 units) Period Shipments Y/Y change 1Q 06 498 8.3% 2Q 06 787 59.6% 3Q 06 962 51.5% 4Q 06 1,000 70.0% 1Q 07(f) 700 40.6% Source: IDC Taiwan and sources at Taiwan PC makers, compiled by DigiTimes, February 2007Apple 13.3-inch MacBooks are to be joined by 15.4-inch models in 2Q07 according to sourcesPhoto: Company

Walton Chaintech has announced the Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS-based GAE88GTS-A1 with 320MB GDDR3 memory, offering the highest levels of sophisticated game rendering at the most substantial price, says the company.The GAE88GTS-A1 features 96 stream processors as well as support for HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), providing high-definition home theater experiences, notes Chaintech. Additionally, the card is equipped with the world's first DirectX 10 GPU, which adopts the latest Unified Shader architecture and full support for Shader Model 4.0, the company adds. By utilizing DirectX 10, the GAE88GTS-A1 is able to deliver realistic gaming effects and lets users take full advantage of all the features Microsoft Windows Vista Premium has to offer, including the new Aero interface, according to Chaintech.Positioned to target the high-end market, the GAE88GTS-A1 features Nvidia's latest advanced technologies including GigaThread Technology, which, through the use of a massively multi-threaded architecture, is able to create thousands of independent, simultaneous threads, providing extreme processing efficiency for advanced, next generation shader programs, says Chaintech. Furthermore, the GAE88GTS-A1 supports Nvidia's Quantum Effects Technology, enabling a new level of physics effects to be simulated and rendered on the GPU, the company adds. The card also features the Lumenex engine, which introduces 16x Anti-aliasing and 128-bit floating point High-Dynamic-Range (HDR) rendering for the most realistic lighting effects, Chaintech adds.Chaintech's Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTS-based GAE88GTS-A1 with 320MB GDDR3 memoryPhoto: Company