Info-Tek has released under its own-brand, GeCube, the X1950XT X series series of graphics cards. These ATI Radeon R580+ GPU based cards support PCI Express x16, 512MB of GDDR3 memory, and come equipped with the company's proprietary Turbo Extreme Silent cooling system. The GeCube X1950XT X series offers the checklist of R580+ GPU-based features – 48 pixel pipelines, Shader Model 3.0, Windows Vista Premium certification, and high-definition video including support for HDCP formats such as Blu-ray and HD DVD, to name a few. Added to the mix is GeCube's Turbo Extreme Silent Fan, a copper-based, three heat-pipe cooling system which offers reduced air resistance, improved heat dissipation and lower noise, according to the company. Under load, the proprietary fan design keeps noise-levels under 18db, claimed GeCube, adding that the X1950XT X series is also designed to support overclock through ATI's Overdrive Control Panel utility. GeCube X1950XT X series specifications Item Description Product Name GC-HV195XTG3-E3 GPU ATI Radeon R580+ Core Frequency 628MHz Pixel Shaders 48 Shader Model 3.0 Memory Bus 256-bit Memory Type GDDR3 512MB Interface PCI Express x16 Out-put DVI (Dual Link)/ TV out(HDTV)+ DVI (Dual Link) HDCP+HDMI compatible D-Sub Yes (By Dongle) Cooling GeCube Extreme Silent fan with copper heatsink Source: Info-Tek; compiled by DigiTimes.com, March 2007GeCube X1950XT X series with Turbo Extreme Silent FanPhoto: Company

Nikon on March 6 introduced the successor to its D40 digital SLR camera, the 10.2-megapixel D40x. The D40x maintains the same size, portability and ease-of-use as the D40 and includes faster continuous shooting capability and wider ISO sensitivity, according to Nikon.The D40x powers-up in 0.18 seconds and can shoot up to three pictures per second, non-stop for up to 100 shots, stated Nikon, adding that the D40x's 10.2-effective megapixel CCD imaging sensor is complimented by Nikon's exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II and an improved Nikon Image Processing Engine.The D40x has a 2.5-inch color LCD screen that displays everything from menu options, pictures in playback mode and Nikon's new visually-intuitive information display system that presents camera and shooting information in a user-friendly, graphically represented way. The camera also features a built-in help menu that can be accessed at the touch of a button.The D40x includes eight preset modes, including a new Flash Off mode that shuts off the camera's flash and boosts its ISO so users can easily take pictures in places where flash photography is not allowed, inappropriate or when they prefer the look of naturally lit pictures. As users gain experience with the camera, the D40x offers advanced controls such as Aperture-priority and Shutter-priority modes that offer greater creative control over the look and feel of their pictures.The D40x's new Retouch menu offers exclusive in-camera image editing features that allows users to retouch photos without the need for a computer. Included in the Retouch menu is Nikon's D-Lighting, which brightens dark pictures and Red-eye correction that automatically detects and corrects red eye. Image Trim allows for cropping of an image and creates smaller files for easy e-mailing.The D40x comes packaged with the new 3X 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens that allows the versatility to capture everything from candid portraits to wide-angle landscapes. The D40x is also compatible with all of Nikon's AF-S and AF-I Nikkor lenses, including the 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens and the new 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens.For flash photography of subjects at greater distances, the light and ultra-compact SB-400 Speedlight proves to be a perfect companion to the D40x, providing a simple solution for adding more power and bounce flash capability. Keeping with the D40x's remarkable ease of use the, SB-400 Speedlight is as simple as sliding it on, turning it on and shooting.The D40x will be available throughout the United States beginning April 2007 at an estimated selling price of US$729.95 for body only or US$799.95, packaged with the 3X zoom 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens.The Nikon 10.2-megapixel D40x digital SLR cameraPhoto: CompanyThe Nikon 10.2-megapixel D40x digital SLR camera, back viewPhoto: Company

Fujitsu has announced the development of the company's new MHW2 BJ series 7,200-rpm 2.5-inch hard disk drives (HDDs) targeted primarily at high-performance notebook PCs. The drives are based on the SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface and utilize perpendicular magnetic recording technology to reach storage capacities of up to 160GB.In the 2.5-inch HDD drive market, the MHW2 BJ series' spindle speed (7,200-rpm), data transmission speed (up to 300MB/s) and capacity (up to 160GB), put the drives among the top in the industry, and help bring the performance of these notebook PC HDDs on par with those used in some desktops. The series also features acoustic noise levels of 2.5 bels at idle, and power consumption is rated at 2.3 watts or less when reading or writing data, according to Fujitsu. The MHW2 BJ series will be available on a global basis at the end of May, 2007 and Fujitsu has set sales targets of 1.6 million units for 2007.Fujitsu 2.5-inch 7,200 RPM HDDs for high-performance notebooksPhoto: Company

Panasonic announced on March 5 the availability of the Panasonic KX-WP1050 Wi-Fi phone for use with Skype.The KX-WP1050 is one in a series of planned products that are Skype Certified, according to Panasonic. This new device uses Wi-Fi access to allow Skype users to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls, make SkypeOut calls to landlines and mobiles worldwide, and receive SkypeIn calls from landlines and mobiles. With the included Wi-Fi base unit, the solution is simple to plug in and use, without using a PC, stated Panasonic.According to Panasonic, the KX-WP1050 frees Skype users from their PCs, allowing Internet calls in the home, office or other open Internet access points. Business travelers, for example, can set up a Wi- Fi hotspot in their hotel room, as long as there is an available broadband Internet connection, noted the company.Panasonic said it has improved the user experience by providing a complete kit, which can be set up and used by virtually anyone. The included travel router takes the complexity out of setting up the Wi-Fi access point, and guarantees a secure wireless connection with automatic 256-bit AES encryption setup (WPA). The AC adapter is compatible with all voltages from 100V to 240V, so it can be used by simply attaching the AC plug (sold separately) for that country.This new model offers the range and security of WPA encrypted Wi-Fi technology, as well as Quality of Service (QoS) to improve voice quality, according to Panasonic. It features easy menu-driven operation, and a handset speakerphone, as well as a built-in headset jack, is 0.62-inches thick and weighs less than four ounces. The 730mAh Lithium-ion battery can provide up to a 55 hours standby time, and 4.5 hours talk time, and can be charged with the included travel router, or from a USB connection on a PC, noted the company.The KX-WP1050 is available through online Internet retailers with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$399.The Panasonic KX-WP1050 Wi-Fi phone for use with SkypePhoto: Company

Microsoft announced plans to launch a 512MB memory unit for the Xbox 360 game console and an increase in the official size limit of Xbox LIVE Arcade games from 50MB to 150MB. The company made the announcements on March 5 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2007, which runs in San Francisco from March 5 to 9.The 512MB memory unit, available worldwide beginning April 3, 2007, will retail for an estimated retail price of US$49.99 in North America, according to Microsoft. The 512MB memory unit will be pre-loaded with the Xbox LIVE Arcade game "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved" from developer Bizarre Creations for a limited time. The original 64MB memory unit will simultaneously drop in price from an estimated retail price of US$39.99 to US$29.99, according to Microsoft.Beginning today, the Xbox LIVE Arcade game size limit has increased from 50MB to 150MB, giving developers greater flexibility in game design and expanding the opportunity to add advanced game features while still keeping games compact, noted Microsoft.Microsoft's current 64MB memory unit for the Xbox 360. Microsoft recently announced that it will offer a 512MB memory unit to be available on April 3, 2007.Photo: Company

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