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

Thermaltake Technology has introduced its latest addition to the Max4 series of external HDD enclosures – the 3.5-inch Max4 with eSATA and USB 2.0 interfaces. The eSATA (external Serial ATA) technology allows data transfer offers speeds up to a 300MB/s or 3Gb/s – up to five times faster than existing external storage enclosures such as USB 2.0 and/or 1394a, says Thermaltake. With 3.5-inch hard disk drives having already broken the 1TB (1,024 GB, 1 Terabyte) barrier and with disk rotational speeds above 10,000rpm, the Max4 allows both enterprise and home users to conveniently backup important files, songs, videos or pictures, says Thermaltake.However, with the increases in speed and capacity, thermal management also becomes a crucial aspect when designing an external enclosure, according to the company. To help dissipate heat buildup inside the enclosure and to maintain an optimal operational temperature for the hard disk, an 80×80×15mm low profile and ultra-quiet fan is included in the Max4.Finally, the Max4 eSATA also includes an aluminum stand for vertical placement, Thermaltake adds.Thermaltake Max4 with eSATAPhoto: Company

Shuttle has announced the availability of its first quad-core powered small form factor (SFF) workstations. Shuttle's XPC P2 3700w full systems offer big performance in a compact package while retaining Energy Star compliance for low power consumption, says the company.In addition to quad-core, the XPC P2 3700w workstations can be configured with up to 8GB of DDR2 ECC memory – a perfect match for animators, says Shuttle. A 64-bit operating system is a necessity with 8GB of system memory so Shuttle offers the XPC P2 3700w workstations with Microsoft's Windows Vista Business 64-bit operating system (OS) or Windows XP Professional 64-bit to take advantage of higher memory configuration. Microsoft's Windows Vista Business 32-bit and Windows XP Professional are also available for those who would prefer it, the company adds.Additionally, the XPC P2 3700w workstations offer a variety of storage sizes and are configurable with up to 2.2 terabytes of storage space, says Shuttle.Finally, to suit a variety of workstation graphics-based tasks, Shuttle offers the XPC P2 3700w with a selection of ATI FireGL and Nvidia Quadro graphics cards.Quad-core powered Shuttle P2 3700w workstations are available immediately starting at $1649.Shuttle XPC P2 3700wPhoto: Company

While launching its new Windows Mobile 6 software platform at the ongoing 3GSM World Congress 2007 in Barcelona (Spain), Microsoft also displayed more than 10 new handsets powered by the new operating system (OS), including models from Taiwan-based High Tech Computer (HTC), Asustek Computer, Gigabyte Communications, Inventec, and Chi Mei Communication Systems (CMCS). The displays include the SPV E650 from Orange, which is manufactured by HTC and as Microsoft claimed, will be the first Windows Mobile 6-powered handset to be launched for the European market scheduled in the second quarter of 2007.For the Japanese market, HTC will cooperate with Toshiba to build Windows Mobile 6-based smartphones for Softbank Mobile, which is expected to launch the new handsets in June, according to Microsoft sources. In the US, new versions of Dash handsets from T-Mobile will also run on the Windows Mobile 6 OS, the sources indicated. Currently, T-Mobile outsources its production of Dash handsets to HTC. Other Windows Mobile 6-powered models include the BenQ-Siemens dual-brand E72 from BenQ, the P526 and the Aries from Asustek, and the t600 from Gigabyte Communications, as well as an ODM model built by Inventec for Dubai-based i-mate, the JAQ4. The BenQ E72 will be built using an OMAP 1030 260MHz processor from Texas Instruments (TI) and support UMA (unlicensed mobile access)/VoIP and push email technology, according to sources at the company. The JAQ4, which will be the first GPS-enabled PDA phone from i-mate, will be built using a TI 200MHz OMAP 850 processor and features built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions. BenQ's first UMA handset E72Photo: Daniel Shen, DigiTimes, February 2007The JAQ4 built by Inventec for i-matePhoto: Daniel Shen, DigiTimes, February 2007

Albatron Technology has announced the latest addition to its Nvidia 8800 series DirectX 10 graphics cards, the 8800GTST. The company says the card represents the first affordable DirectX 10 card available for a large segment of cost conscious consumers waiting for an opportunity to latch on to this revolutionary technology. The card still boasts the same powerful 500 MHz GPU as its sibling 8800GTS but with modified memory configurations allowing it to have a more palatable price tag, says Albatron. The 8800GTST will contain 320MB of DDR3 memory compared to the 8800GTS which contains 640 MB of DDR3. Aside from the differences in price and memory configurations, the 8800GTST and the 8800GTS are virtually the same card, both in features and dimensions, the company claims.The 8800GTST supports PureVideo technology, CineFX 4.0, Intellisample 4.0, UltraShadow II and support for HDR (high dynamic range lighting). The card also supports high definition H2.64, MPEG-2, WMV hardware acceleration and high-quality scaling (clear, crisp, clean images at any window size), according to Albatron. Finally, the 8800GTST will support dual-link DVI ports supporting two displays with resolutions up to 2560×1600, the company adds. Aside from the driver CD and install guide, this card will also come with an HDTV cable (S-video and composite out), S-Video 4-pin Cable, AV cable and DVI adapter.Albatron 8800GTST with 320MB DDR3 memoryPhoto: Company

Lanner Electronics has announced the FW-6430, a cost-effective barebone network security platform equipped with onboard CPU and RAM.Built around VIA's Eden V4 technology the FW-6430 includes integrated security algorithms through VIA's Padlock Security Suite. Moreover, with up to 256MB of RAM and 4 LAN ports on onboard, operators just simply need to add an OS via a CompactFlash socket and the unit is ready for deployment, says Lanner.Designed for cost-sensitive SOHO and small business security applications, the Lanner FW-6430 can be easily deployed in firewall, VPN, IPS, IDS, content security and load balancing applications, the company points out.Lanner FW-6430 mini-network appliancePhoto: Company