Panasonic on January 31 announced a slew of new digital cameras to its Lumix series, all of which feature Panasonic's Intelligent Image Stabilization system, 6.0-megapixel-and-above resolutions, and on most, Leica lenses.Included in the new lineup is the DMC-FX30, what the company claims is the world's slimmest digital camera with a 28mm Leica wide-angle lens. The FX30, which has a 2.5-inch LCD screen, incorporates Panasonic's Intelligent Image Stabilization (IIS) system, which automatically adjusts for camera shake and motion blur, and has a 7.2-megapixel resolution. The DMC-FX30 accepts large capacity SDHC memory cards and will be shipping in February at a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of US$349.95.The 7.2-megapixel DMC-TZ3 and 6.0-megapixel DMC-TZ2 each feature a 28mm wide-angle Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera). The DMC-TZ3 boasts a 7.2-megapixel resolution and a 3.0-inch LCD screen while the DMC-TZ2 has a 6.0-megapixel resolution and a 2.5-inch LCD screen. The TZ3 and TZ2 both feature 10x optical zoom. The Lumix DMC-TZ3 will be available in March 2007 at an MSRP of US$349.95.For those wanting a little more zoom in taking pictures, Panasonic's DMC-FZ8 features a 12x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 36-432mm on a 35mm film camera) with f/2.8 brightness. The camera also has a 7.2-megapixel resolution and the Venus Engine III, Panasonic's image-processing engine that can record at a sensitivity setting as high as ISO 1250 with full resolution.Also among Panasonic's new cameras are the entry-level 7.2-megapixel DMC-LS75, DMC-LS70 and 6.0-megapixel DMC-LS60. These models incorporate optical 3x zoom (equivalent to 35-105mm on a 35mm film camera) and LUMIX DC VARIO lenses.Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FX30 digital cameraPhoto: CompanyPanasonic's Lumix DMC-TZ3 and TZ2 digital camerasPhoto: CompanyPanasonic's Lumix DMC-FZ8 digital cameraPhoto: CompanyPanasonic's DMC-LS75, DMC-LS70 and DMC-LS60 digital camerasPhoto: Company

Thecus Technology has announced the 1U4500 rackmount storage device combining four SATA hard disk bays, an optional redundant power supply, advanced configuration features, and an LCD display in a 1U rackmount form factor.Equipped with an ultra-low voltage 1.5GHz Intel Celeron M processor and 512MB of DDR memory, the 1U4500 is capable of handling data processing tasks quickly and effectively, while enabling over 30% savings in energy consumption, claims Thecus.The 1U4500 features four hot-swappable hard disk trays that accept standard 3.5" SATA 3Gb/s hard disks for up to three terabytes of storage. Support for multiple RAID modes including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD allows administrators to choose the mode that best fits the enterprise's computing environment, and with the 1U4500's Quick RAID feature, the RAID can be built within minutes on first use. The 1U4500 also has RAID migration and RAID expansion capabilities, which allow administrators to change the RAID configuration and add new RAID volumes after the original RAID mode as been set, ensuring that system changes are smooth with limited downtime, The 1U4500 also comes with several other features to help ensure that data is always accessible and secure, adds Thecus. Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with 802.3ad-based load balancing and failover capabilities enable better throughput and non-stop connectivity and an optional 250W redundant power supply provides uninterrupted service in the event of a power supply failure.The 1U4500 also includes a built-in eSATA port for even more storage expansion options, and support for multiple languages. An LCD display displays critical system status information and enables quick changes to IP addresses and link aggregation making administration easy.Thecus Technology 1U4500 rackmount storage devicePhoto: Company

Chi Mei today announced six of its Chimei-brand widescreen LCD monitors, including 19- and 22-inch models, received certification for the Windows Vista operating system (OS). Chi Mei is set to launch more widescreen LCD monitors before the end of February, according to the company.Chi Mei's 938A, 946A and 221A monitors have gained Vista Basic certification while its 938D, 946D and 221D models now have Windows Vista Premium certification.Chi Mei will offer a new widescreen 22-inch LCD monitor with built-in HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital-content Copy Protection) in April.Chimei's widescreen 22-inch LCD monitor Source: Company

When it comes to Bluetooth, it's clear that accessory maker GG Telecom is a big fan. The company's latest headset, the Baby-G, is said to be one of the smallest and lightest headsets in the world and yet it also makes little compromise in sound clarity. Big claims for such a small device, but then the Baby-G has a 2007 CES design and engineering award to back it up.The Baby-G headset supports Bluetooth 2.0 EDR for improved reception and lower power consumption. Talk time is quoted at 9 hours, with standby up to 250. Charging is done over USB and the device also acts as a Bluetooth dongle which is a nice extra. The Baby-G can be paired with up to eight Bluetooth devices at a time, and supports functions that include voice dialing and redial.The Baby-G Bluetooth headset from GG TelecomPhoto: Company

Motorola on January 24 launched its Linux-based Rokr E6 handset in Taiwan, with company sources indicating that the smartphone will be marketed globally.Just like the Linux-based Ming A1200, which Motorola launched in early 2006, the Rokr E6 was completely developed by the company's R&D center in Beijing, the sources noted. With a thickness of only 14.5 mm, the candy-bar form factor Rokr E6 has built-in QR (quick response) Code software, hand-writing recognition and GPS functionality as well as Bluetooth connectivity, the sources said.With Motorola's introduction of another Linux-based Rizr Z6 handset at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last month, the company apparently is putting its resources into Linux-based models, pointed out sources in Taiwan's handset industry.Market sources noted that Motorola also started marketing its Ming handsets in the US and Europe.The Motorola Rokr E6 Linux-based handsetPhoto: Company

LG Electronics (LGE) recently introduced three 'Time Machine' flat-panel TVs in Taiwan, including two PDP TVs and one LCD TV that feature built-in digital video recording (DVR) applications, according to the company. With a 80GB hard disk drive (HDD), the flat-panel TVs can store 30 hours of standard-definition programs. The TVs also enable the viewer to pause live broadcasting for a while and then resume watching the program some time later, said the company. The 42-inch PDP TV (42PB2RR) will hit market by the end of this month with a price tag of NT$79,900 (US$2,435), said LG Electronics Taiwan Taipei (LGETT). The company will offer prices for its 50-inch PDP TV (50PB2RR) and 42-inch LCD TV (42LC2RR) by February, depending on the market situation, said the LGETT. In related news, LGE will offer 71-inch PDP TVs in Taiwan in the second quarter of 2007. The 71PY1M has a resolution of 1,920x1,080, a contrast ratio of 2,000:1 and a brightness of 300 nits, said LGETT, adding the pricing for the model has not been determined yet. LGE Time Machine TVs: Specifications Model 42PB2RR 50PB2RR 42LC2RR Technology PDP PDP LCD Size 42 50 42 Resolution 1,024x768 1,366x768 1,366x768 Brightness (cd/m2) 1,500 1,200 500 Contrast ratio 10,000:1 10,000:1 1,600:1 Response time (ms) - - 8 Viewing angle - - 178/178 80GB HDD Y Y Y Instant recording Y Y Y Time shift Y Y Y Watching & recording Y Y Y Pause & rewind Y Y Y Prices (NT$) 79,900 - - Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes, January 2007. LGE 50-inch PDP Time Machine TV Photo: Company LGE 42-inch LCD Time Machine TVPhoto: Company LGE 71-inch PPD TV Photo: Company

Dopod International, a brand-product unit of High Tech Computer (HTC), will begin to market HTC's first ultra-mobile PC (UMPC)-like device as the Dopod U1000, in the Taiwan market starting next week, according to Dopod president Jack Tong. The launch comes much earlier than originally scheduled, said market sources, who had expected HTC to launch such a device by the end of the first quarter at the earliest. The U1000, which is powered by a Marvel Xscale 624 MHz processor and 3.5G chipsets from Qualcomm, will run on Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC OS (operating system) and feature a 5-inch touch screen and a 3-megapixel camera and an 8GB hard disk drive, according to sources at Dopod. Dopod is currently in talks with Taiwan-based telecom service providers to jointly promote the 3.5G-enabled UMPC-like device in Taiwan, said Tong, who noted that Dopod will also launch the U1000 in other markets in Asia.HTC itself may launch the UMPC-like device under its own hTc-brand in Europe, while co-marketing the product in the US in cooperation with Cingular, according to market sources. HTC's first UMPC-like unit (codenamed Athena)Photo: Company

GeCube has launched two series of ATI Radeon graphics cards which are certified for Microsoft's soon to be released Windows Vista operating system (OS). The new Radeon 1550 series offers four parallel pixel pipelines and comes in versions offering from 128MB to 512MB DDR2 memory, while the lower-end Radeon 1050s feature separate rendering and geometry engines and come in just 128MB DDR and 256MB DDR2 versions.Both series are available in PCI Express (PCIe) and AGP versions with the PCIe variants offering more features, including Hypermemory, and, in the case of the 1550 series, support for ATI's multi-GPU technology, Crossfire.GeCube ATI Radeon 1550 series graphics cards certified for Windows VistaPhoto: Company

Aten Technology has announced the availability of its first rackmount LCD KVM switches with built-in IP access. These new products are available in 8- and 16-port models with a 17" display and are part of the Altusen line of enterprise-class KVM solutions from Aten.The KL9108/KL9116 units are aimed at medium to large server rooms and data centers at business facilities, educational environments and government facilities and provide simultaneous access for one local and one remote user via IP to control up to 16 servers and support 32 concurrent users. Through cascading, users can access up to 128 servers. Available now, the new switches are priced at US$3195.95 and US$3495.95, respectively.

With MSI's (Micro-Star International's) announcement of its Crystal M677 notebook, the company is following a trend set by other top notebook makers that have marketed notebooks aimed at consumers willing to pay a little bit extra for something that, at least in looks, stands out from the mass-produced models seen in coffee shops and boardrooms around the world.With Asustek's S6F Leather Collection featuring a hand-embossed leather covered shell and palm-rest, and the Lamborghini and Ferrari series from Asustek and Acer, respectively, sporting co-branding from prestigious car makers, it's not that surprising that the MSI Crystal M677 incorporates crystals (120 according to the company) in order to capture the attention of fashion-conscious buyers.The 120 crystals are set in a ring that circles the MSI logo on the notebook's lid. The lid is painted in what MSI describes as "shiny black UV light solid paint" which protects the notebook while accentuating the crystal ring. The Crystal M677 features an AMD Turion 64 X2 series CPU and supports up to 2GB DDR2 RAM. The 15.4-inch widescreen display is driven by an Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 graphics processor which, MSI says, is designed to support Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. The MSI Crystal M677 incorporates 120 crystals in order to capture the attention of fashion conscious buyersPhoto: Company