High Tech Computer (HTC) on September 7 unveiled four new smart devices for worldwide sale starting in the fourth quarter of this year. The four smart devices include the HTC P3300 (codenamed Artemis), the company's first GPS-enabled PDA phone which features the latest TomTom navigation software, Navigator 6, the company said in a press release. The other three are the super slim-form factor HTC S620 (codenamed Excalibur), the HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access)-ready HTC P3600 (codenamed Trinity) and the HTC S310 (codenamed Oxygen) for the entry- to mid-range segments. The quad-band HTC S620, which features a QWERY keyboard, weighs only 130g with a battery and measures just 12.8mm thick, will compete with the Moto Q-series handsets from Motorola and the i320N from Samsung Electronics, according to market sources. All devices will be available under the HTC brand as well as in customized-version for partners, the company said, noting that T-Mobile will launch the HTC P3300 under T-Mobile's MDA Compact III model name.HTC also has recently added two new distributors, Portix and Expansys, for promoting its products in Hong Kong, and the company said it also plans to enhance its presence in Germany, Scandinavia, Russia and Spain by the end of this year.HTC's first GPS-enabled PDA phone, the HTC P3300.Photo: Company

Sharp Microelectronics Europe has added 7.5-inch TFT LCD panels (LQ075V3DG01) to its Strong2 product series with the LCD panels characterized by high image quality, an extended temperature range and low power consumption, according to Sharp.The new Strong2 LCD offers a luminance of 400 cd/m2, 260,000 colors and a contrast ratio of 600:1, and is suitable for outdoor use, stated the company, adding that the display is also designed for lower power consumption. The modules designed for mobile applications in the industrial sector and are used, for example, as a portable measuring device or medical handheld, stated the company.The Strong2 modules are considerably more resistant to changes in temperature and are more shock-resistant than conventional displays, claims Sharp. Both in operating and off mode the panels are able to withstand temperatures of -30 to +80 Celsius thanks to improved polarizers and RGB filters. The display is also less sensitive to shocks. For new materials and a new design of the housing of the LC display ensure that jolts and vibrations can be specifically absorbed. The background lighting is also characterized by a long life cycle of 50,000 hours. When necessary, the backlight as is usual with Sharp industry displays can be easily replaced, noted the company.Samples of the LQ075V3DG01 are available immediately on request worldwide via Sharp's sales offices and distribution partners. The start of series production is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2006. Key specifications of Sharp's new 7.5-inch LCD panel Item Detail Model number LQ075V3DG01 Screen size 19cm (7.5-inch) Resolution VGA (640x480) Dimensions 179x139.5x12.7 Luminance 400 cd/m2 Contrast ratio 600:1 Colors 260,000 Life cycle 50,000 hours Interface CMOS (6bit/RGB) Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes, September 2006Sharp Microelectronics Europe rolls out a 7.5-inch TFT LCD panel.Photo: Company

Micro Star International (MSI) recently introduced a series of motherboards based Intel G965/Q965 chipsets. With full support for the new generation Core 2 processors, the new G965/Q965 series motherboards features digital home and digital office technologies, according to MSI.The MSI G965/Q965 series motherboards (MS-7241, MS-7276 and MS-7278) support dual-channel DDR2-800, Core 2 processors and fourth-generation graphics of the Intel GMA X3000/3000 family, which enables improved working frequency and memory share. In addition, the family supports DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model 3.0 to deliver better gaming experiences, with Clear Video technology allowing better movie clip quality, according to MSI.The motherboards also provide complete support for Windows Vista, according to MSI. The MS-7276 uses the ICH8DH for the south bridge and integrates all of the necessary functions for digital home and digital office technologies, including Intel PRO Gb LAN to get digital entertainment from the Internet and Intel Matrix Storage technology to quickly save and play various digital contents through RAID configurations, stated MSI.All the components of the MSI G965/Q965 series motherboards are Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliant, according to the company.Specifications are available at MSI's website.The MSI MS-7276 motherboardPhoto: Company

Panasonic Mobile Communications recently announced that it has begun shipments of its FOMA P702iD mobile phones to NTT DoCoMo.Using the new "Hikari (Light) Drops" feature, in which LED lights faintly flicker on the surface of the handset, the user can enjoy smooth illumination changes in conjunction with sounds such as incoming calls or the pre-installed melodies and music, noted the company, adding that the brightness and color of the LED can be adjusted. The FOMA P702iD is available in two forms and four colors, stated Panasonic.The P702iD is compatible with DoCoMo's Chaku-Uta Full service, which enables the user to download full music tracks from i-mode sites. Up to 2GB of music content can be stored in the miniSD Card (sold separately), allowing the user to create their own music library. The P702iD provides enriched functions such as Push Talk Wakie-talkie communications and data security services and weighs approximately 109 grams, according to Panasonic. FOMA P702iD specifications Specification Detail Size (mm) 100×49×19.7 (when folded) Weight (g) ~109 Continuous talk time (min) ~140 Continuous standby time (hr) 500 Main display Size (inch) 2.2 Resolution 240×320 Number of color 262,144 Display technology TFT color LCD Sub display Size (inch) 0.8 Resolution 96×25 Display technology OLED Outer camera Technology CMOS Resolution ~1.3 megapixels Inner camera Technology CMOS Resolution ~100,000 pixels Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes, August 2006The FOMA P702iDPhoto: Company

Tul, a Taiwan-based provider of ATI-based graphic cards, on August 24 introduced its PowerColor X1950 XTX and CrossFire graphic cards that support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection).The two ATI Radeon X1950-based graphics cards deliver 512MB of GDDR4 with a bandwidth of 64GB per second, much faster than previous GDDR3 memory while consuming 30% less power, according to the company. The new PowerColor X1950 family provides an improved cooler for quieter cooling unit and lower temperatures. In addition, both cards support DirectX 9.0c, Open GL 2.0 and Shader Model 3.0. Tul PowerColor X1950 graphics card family Item X1950 CrossFire X1950XTX 512MB Memory and bus width 512MB GDDR4/ 256bit Core frequency 650MHz Memory speed 1000MHz X2 Output DVI/ VHDCI/ HDTV Dual DVI/ VIVO/ HDTV Interface PCIe x16 Pixel pipelines 48 DirectX support 9.0 TV connector S-Video Photo Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes, August 2006

Sony on August 22 introduced its HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1, two AVCHD (advanced video codec high definition) Handycam series DV (digital video) camcorders, in the Taiwan market at a recommended retail price of NT$47,900 (US$1,465)and NT$49,900 (US$1,526), respectively, according to Taiwan Marketing Company under Sony Taiwan. The HDR-UX1 will be available on September 13 while the HDR-SR1 will hit shelves on October 4, noted Taiwan Marketing.AVCHD is a new high-definition recording format for video camera recorders jointly developed by Panasonic and Sony. Based on MPEG-4 and AVC/H.264 compression technology, AVCHD can record 1080i (interlace scan) and 720p (progress scan) signals onto hard disk drives (HDDs), DVD discs as well as SD and Memory Stick cards, Sony Taiwan indicated. There will be demand for an estimated 110,000-120,000 DV camcorders in the Taiwan market this year, and Sony expects to maintain a 60% market share in sales volume, according to Taiwan Marketing general manager Hiroyuki Oda. Main specifications of HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1 DV camcorders Item HDR-UX1 HDR-SR1 Screen 3.5-inch 211,000-pixel LCD touch panel Image sensor 1/3-inch 2.1-megapixel CMOS Storage media 8cm DVD discs in the formats of -R, -RW, +RW, +R DL (single-sided double-layer) 30GB HDD Zoom 10x optical, 80x digital Actual resolution Still image 1.991 megapixels for 4:3 (aspect ratio), 1.493 megapixels for 16:9 Video 1.076 megapixels for 4:3, 1.434 megapixels for 16:9 Source: Sony Taiwan, compiled by DigiTimes.com, August 2006 The Sony HDR-UX1 8cm-DVD camcorderPhoto: CompanyThe Sony HDR-SR1 HDD camcorderPhoto: Company

Acer has announced the availability in Taiwan of its Ferrari 1005, a 12.1-inch dual-core notebook based on the AMD Turion 64 X2 CPU, with a price tag of NT$67,900 (US$2,070).Currently available notebooks in the Taiwan market that target the high-end segment are priced higher than Acer's 12-inch Ferrari model, including the Sony VAIO AR18 Blu-ray, the Fujitsu Q2010, the ASUS Lamborghini VX-1 and Toshiba's Tecra M5. Taiwan market: Major high-end notebooks Item Sony VAIO AR18 Blu-ray Fujitsu Q2010 Toshiba Tecra M5 Acer Ferrari 1005 ASUS Lamborghini VX1 CPU Intel T2600, 2.16GHz Intel U1400, 1.2GHz Intel T2500, 2GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL60, 2GHz Intel T2500, 2GHz Chipset Intel 945GM Intel 945GMS Intel 945GMS ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 Intel 945GMS DDR2 memory 1GB 1GB 1GB 1GB 2GB HDD 160GB SATA, 5400rpm 80GB ultra ATA-100 80GB SATA, 7200rpm 120GB SATA, 5400rpm 160GB SATA, 5400rpm Graphics core Nvidia GeForce Go 7600 NA Nvidia Quadro, 256MB ATI Radeon X300 Nvidia GeForce Go 7400, 512MB Display 17-inch widescreen 12.1-inch widescreen 14-inch SXGA+ 12.1-inch widescreen 15-inch widescreen Weight (kg) 1.69 1 2.37 1.7 2.39 Suggested prices NT$149,800 NT$138,000 NT$89,800 NT$67,900 NT$108,800 Source: Company websites, compiled by DigiTimes, August 2006Acer Ferrari 1000-series notebookSource: CompanyASUS Lamborghini VX1Source: Company

Thermaltake recently launched its Cyclo (CL-R0023) modular memory cooler that can cool four sticks of RAM all at once.The design of the Cyclo was inspired by a cyclist slicing through wind, stated the company. The two sets of 40mm fans increases the cooling capacity of the heatsinks without increasing the noise of the computer system, stated Thermaltake. The Cyclo can be installed on either side of the memory modules, depending on the preference of the user, noted the company, adding that the two ends of the unit are designed ergonomically so that the installation can be convenient and trouble-free.The Cyclo will be available worldwide in mid-August with a suggested retail price of US$9, according to the company. Cyclo specifications Item Detail Compatibility DDR, DDR2 RAM Dimension 214(l)x47(w)x69(h)mm Fan number 2 LED light Blue Rated voltage 2V Rated current 0.25A Power input 3W Fan speed 4500±10% RPM Max. air flow 9.3 CFM Max. air pressure 1.94 mm H2O Life time 30,000 hours Connector 4pin male/female Weight 58g Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes.com, July 2006Thermaltake's Cyclo memory coolerPhoto: Company

Thermaltake on July 28 introduced its Muse N0001LN NAS-(Network Attached Storage-) RAID drive storage system. The storage system has an Intel IOP 80219 processing unit, along with 256MB of DDR SDRAM, expandable to 1GB, plus a 160W built-in power supply, according to the company, which added that the unit supports up to four 3.5" drive bays for SATA hard drives.The Muse NAS-RAID when connected to through a hub can be used as an enterprise file sharing server or as a storage center for all kinds of multimedia files and data, said Thermaltake.The Muse NAS-RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and JBOD, said the company, adding that the system supports high-volume traffic, hot-plugging, and an active warning system.The system will be available worldwide in mid-September with a suggested retail price of US$596, according to the company. Thermaltake's NAS-RAID N0001LN specifications Item Details Form Factor/ Color Tower/ Silver Network support Microsoft Windows/ Linux/ Unix Network transport TCP/IP Network file protocol CIFS/ NFS/ HTTP/ FTP Network interface Gigabit Intel 82541 Support industry standards NTP/ DHCP/ IP security/ DNS Interface RJ45 LAN 100/1000Mbps Hardware monitor item Temperature sensor/ Power management Processor Intel IOP 80219 400MHz SATA controller Intel SATA controller Regular system memory 256MB DDR SDRAM Max. system memory 512MB DDR SDRAM Flash memory 8MB Max. HDD Bay / Type 4 x SATA HDDs Power supply 100~120 / 200 ~ 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz, 160W Remote control RS232 Dimension L290 x W 185 x H 240mm Weight 6.1kg Source: Company, compiled by DigiTimes.com, July 2006 Themaltake's NAS-RAID drive storage systemPhoto: Company

Thermaltake Technology recently announced its Muse OTB2.5 a 2.5" eSATA and USB enclosure that comes with the company's One-Touch Backup function.The Muse OTB2.5 has both a USB and eSATA interface with a eSATA transfer speed reaching as high as 3Gbps. The USB2.0 interface is hot-pluggable and backwards compatible with USB1.1, allowing users to travel around the world without having to worry about incompatibility issues, according to the company. The Muse OTB2.5 includes Thermaltake's exclusive "T-backup" software. As long as the backup folder has been set up, anyone can back up data with the touch of a fingertip or schedule regular backups, said the company. The design of the enclosure was improved over previous models by increasing durability, reducing vibrations and revamping the chipset, according to Thermaltake, adding that LED indicator lights lets the user know the status of data transfers. The Muse OTB2.5 has a suggested retail price of US$58 and will be available worldwide in mid-September, according to the company.Thermaltake's Muse OTB2.5 a 2.5" eSATA and USB enclosurePhoto: Company