Anyware Solutions

2006-08-22T10:40:00.000+08:00

Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 (Intel P965)

Introduction

Ever since word spread about the incredible overclockability, performance and power efficiency of the Intel Core 2 - especially the entry-level Core 2 Duo E6300 and its modest pricing - we've been seeing more and more interest in strong mainstream components.

The GA-965P-DQ6 might be Gigabyte's top-end enthusiast motherboard for Intel's new Core 2 processors, but not everyone is willing to fork over nearly US$280 for a motherboard - even if it has a 12-phase power supply, fancy heat-pipe cooling and other 'exclusive' features. Lucky for us, Gigabyte's P965 motherboard lineup is anything but lacking.

Filling the mainstream segment for the new chipset, Gigabyte's GA-965P-DS3 sports a similar configuration to the MSI P965 Neo (reviewed here ). Following their new S-series motherboard lineup, Gigabyte actually has two versions of the board, which you can identify by its naming suffix. There is the regular 'S3' and the Durability Enhanced 'DS3' model that is in all essence exactly the same board except that it sports the new All-Solid Capacitor design. What we've got humming along in our labs is the 'DS3' edition.

Specifications:

CPU Support

Supports 90nm/65nm LGA775 processor package
Supports Intel Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Extreme
Supports Intel Pentium D / Pentium Processor Extreme Edition
Supports Intel Pentium 4 / Pentium 4 Extreme Edition
Intel Virtualization Technology ready

Chipset

Northbridge: Intel P965

533 / 800 / 1066MHz front side bus
PCI Express x16 graphics

Southbridge: Intel ICH8

Intel High Definition Audio
Supports six PCI Express x1 lanes
Supports up to ten USB 2.0 ports
Supports four SATA 3.0Gbps ports
Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps MAC
Intel Quiet System Technology

Memory

Supports four unbuffered DIMM of 1.8 Volt DDR2 SDRAM
Supports 800/677/533 dual channel DDR2 memory architecture

Storage

Intel ICH8 Southbridge

4 x SATA 3.0Gbps interface

Gigabyte SATAII (JMicron JMB363) SATA/IDE Controller
- 1 x Ultra ATA 33/66/100/133 (data transfer rate up to 133MB/sec.)
- 2 x SATA 3.0Gbps interface
- Supports AHCI and NCQ
- Supports SATA RAID 0,1,0+1,JBOD

Audio

Intel High Definition Audio (Azalia)
Realtek ALC883 8-channel HD Audio CODEC
Optical and coaxial S/PDIF support

Networking

Marvell 88E8053 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller

I/O Interface

1 x Floppy connector
1 x Ultra ATA IDE connectors
6 x SATA connectors
10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 x rear, 6 x header)
1 x RJ45 LAN port
8-Channel Audio I/O ports
1 x Optical S/PDIF Output
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output
1 x 9-pin serial port
1 x parallel port
1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 mouse port
1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 keyboard port

Expansion Slots

1 x PCIe x16 slots, PCI Express Bus specification v1.0a compliant
3 x PCIe x1 slots, PCI Express Bus specification v1.0a compliant
3 x 32-bit PCI slots, PCI 2.3 compliant

Special Features

Gigabyte S-series - 'Safe', 'Smart', 'Speed'
Durability Enhanced - All-Solid Capacitor Design

PCB

ATX Form Factor, 12"x 8.26"(30.5cm x 21cm)

Features

If you've skimmed through the technical specifications, you'll see that the GS-965P-DS3 looks very much like the MSI P965 Neo motherboard from a feature set perspective, but upon a closer look, Gigabyte seems to have made sure that their board is able to top their rivals. The major feature of the DS3 is of course the full use of solid capacitors, which practically ensure that you'll never need to worry about leakage (or so they claim), increasing motherboard lifespan and durability.

The DS3 sports a basic chipset configuration of the Intel P965 with the ICH8 Southbridge - Intel Core 2 Duo support, DDR2-800 up to 8GB of RAM, ten USB 2.0 ports, PCIe, HD Audio and SATA 3.0Gbps, but without AHCI/NCQ or RAID support. Because of this and the fact that the new generation ICH8 no longer feature IDE connections, secondary Gigabyte SATA2 controller provides the needed Ultra ATA port, plus two SATA 3.0Gbps ports that does RAID and AHCI/NCQ.

Picture

Test - BAPco SYSmark 2004

The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 held up well in SYSmark 2004, posting similar performance results with the MSI P965 Neo throughout, though the GA-965P-DQ6 was able to maintain a minor lead.

2006-08-22T10:28:00.000+08:00

Fujifilm Announces New FinePix Z3 Digital Camera

Singapore, July 2006 -- Fujifilm announced the launch of FinePix Z3, the 3rd generation of the iconic ‘Z’ series design. With a re-designed body and funky new colours, the FinePix Z3 will appeal to the most fashion conscious customers, and is likely to be particularly popular with female owners. Women now buy almost as many digital cameras as men, however the FinePix Z3’s appeal to this market is more than the usual ‘slim camera’ story.

Research has shown that the majority of pictures taken by women are ‘people pictures’ in low light situations and taken in close proximity. Ironically, it is exactly this kind of situation that spells trouble for conventional digital cameras. Blurry shots, unnatural-looking flash and a complete absence of background detail mean that very few photos from social events make it into the picture frame or onto the mantelpiece.

With Fujifilm’s Super CCD and Real Photo Processor II, it is possible that the ‘delete’ button will be one of the Z3’s least-used controls. Here is why the Z3 could spell the end for spoiled shots:

1. High sensitivity (up to ISO1600) with minimum ‘noise’ will help to reduce the blur caused not only by hand shake, but also subject movement. The new Picture Stabilization button ensures that the Z3 operates with a much faster shutter speed than conventional cameras.

2. The Intelligent-Flash system ingeniously combines both a clear, well-exposed background and natural skin tones on subjects in the foreground. No more washed-out faces with dark backgrounds!

3. The innovative Dual-Shooting Mode takes two consecutive shots (one with flash and one without flash) giving users the choice between the two – almost like being guided by a seasoned expert.

FinePix Z3 features at a glance:

Super CCD HR sensor delivering 5.1 million effective pixels
RP (Real Photo) Processor II resulting significantly less noise by enhanced double noise reduction and delivering enhanced color reproduction across entire sensitivity range.
Intelligent Flash achieving the optimum combination of high sensitivity and natural skin tones.
Picture Stabilization button setting up ultra-fast shutter speed to minimize the risk of blurry images
14 pre-programmed scene position including Dual-Shooting mode (Natural Light without Flash & With Flash) which takes two consecutive shots giving the flexibility for choosing preferred picture.
Non-extending refractive optical zoom lens with 3x optical zoom
Sensitivity range of ISO 64-1600 for low-noise photography in all conditions
Slim and Stylish body, wrapped by Monocoque rear shell.
High resolution (230K Pixels) 2.5 inch LCD screen with reinforced, scratch-resistant glass
Continuous shooting mode for action photography
10 MB Internal Memory for being ready-to-shoot
TV-quality VGA movie recording of 30 frames per second with sound
PictBridge compatible for direct printing without a PC

2006-08-18T09:46:00.000+08:00

HTC Hermes

Worthy of Olympia

As the world's first 3G PDA-phone that offers HSDPA (High-Speed Data Packet Access) connectivity, it goes without saying that the HTC Hermes was one of the most highly anticipated devices prior to its official launch earlier this month. For the uninformed, the materialization of HSDPA technology within the HTC Hermes heralds the arrival of a near six-fold speed improvement over current wireless network infrastructure, or what is mostly referred to as 3.5G technology.

Seeing that even 3G has yet to be deployed in most countries, the arrival of the HTC Hermes might seem a little premature as there is virtually no market in demand of HSDPA handsets. Countries with 3G networks are expected to only integrate HSDPA towards the latter months of 2006, which given the traditional hurdles of red tapes that are expected with the introduction of new technologies, demand for HSDPA handsets is unlikely to soar to a feverish pitch anytime soon. Nevertheless, PDA-phone users who typically have an enduring bond with their devices could future-proof themselves by investing in this cutting-edge device now.

Back to Basics

Using a typical matte-black surface that's decked with silver buttons, the Hermes doesn't offer anything revolutionary in the areas of aesthetics and build. In truth, there is nothing outrageously different about the HTC Hermes that the older HTC Wizard didn't offer; the stylus compartment, power jack, the 2.8-inch LCD screen, the slide-out keyboard and even its beefy 112.5 x 58 x 21.95mm dimensions are almost completely identical to the Wizard. It's only when internal components are examined does the Hermes stand out as a significant upgrade to the Wizard, with HSDPA and 3G specifications leading the charge.

Core Improvements

One of the more notable improvements introduced to the Hermes is an improved QWERTY sliding keyboard. Engineered with responsive keys that are ergonomically spaced out, the keyboard doesn't disappoint and even comes with a smart sensor to detect if the cool-blue backlight is needed. A quick side-by-side comparison of the Hermes against the Wizard convinced us that the improvements made to the Hermes keyboard were ergonomically driven. A small gripe however, was just how tightly clustered the 'number pad' was - quick numerical entry might prove to be a stutter.

In addition to the improved keyboard, a godsend in the form of a fully functional scroll wheel (think Blackberry!) dramatically eases navigation within Windows Mobile 5.0.
Unlike pseudo jog-dials that are limited to a certain degree of rotation, the scroll-wheel has free rotation for painless and more intuitive scrolling when reading scanning pages off the web via the onboard Wi-Fi connection. The scroll wheel also serves as a button as well.

Cosmetic improvements aside, what really makes the Hermes shine are its HSDPA compliance and the onboard Intel 416 MHz processor. With potentially up to six times the bandwidth provided by the former, we were glad that HTC made the right choice by fitting the Hermes with a fast processor. Not only is it needed to process an increase in data throughput but it also meant a more responsive experience with Windows Mobile 5, which was evident by instantaneous response when accepting incoming call and changing screen orientation. The beefy processor also bodes well for PowerPoint Mobile and the new graphics and table options that are new to Windows Mobile 5.

Perfection Even Elude the Gods

Named after an ancient Greek god, the Hermes PDA-phone shares a similar characteristic with the mythological god himself - imperfection. What we thought unnecessary was the inclusion of a new manual macro button residing beside the camera lens. Mapping the function to a flimsy manual switch did not yield noticeable improvement in performance. If anything, it was more of a hindrance than convenience, as too many a time the switch would simply be flicked unintentionally to the wrong position.

The final gripe we had with the Hermes was a slightly shorter then expected battery life. With moderate use, our unit required charging every other day. This could well be due to the engineering sample we had and not definitive of the actual battery performance of retail units.

Our Thoughts

By spending less time on overhauling a proven industrial design and choosing instead to improve upon architecture and specifications, HTC has delivered a PDA-phone that is more able than before to satisfy power users. With solid core improvements that list an improved QWERTY keyboard, convenient scroll-wheel, HSDPA and a speedy processor, it seems HTC has had all bases covered with the Hermes. Packing such strong ability to build a bridge of communication that's close to perfection, Hermes, the name of the mythological Greek god responsible for sending messages to humans is certainly a befitting title for a PDA-phone such as this.

Product Specifications:

GSM QuadBand (850/900/1800/1900), UMTS Triband (850/1900/2100)
Supports GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA
416Mhz Intel Processor
2.8-inch 65-K colors TFT QVGA display (240 x 320 pixels
Connectivity: Bluetooth v2.0 with (A2DP), WiFi 802.11b/g and IrDA
2.0-megapixel camera with flash, mirror, macro, and 0.1-Megapixel secondary camera
Memory: 128MB ROM/64MB RAM
miniSD expansion slot
Battery: Li-Ion 1,300 mAh
Standby/Talktme: 250/5 hrs
Dimensions: 112.5 x 58 x 21.95 mm (W x
Weight: 176g

Picture

2006-08-18T09:45:00.000+08:00

Sony Now Shipping 50GB Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Media in the U.S.

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 16 -- Sony Electronics has begun U.S. shipments of 50GB dual layer Blu-ray Disc recordable (write-once) media with AccuCORE technology.

The company also confirmed that it plans to start shipping 50GB dual layer rewritable BD media later this year.

"The arrival of 50GB Blu-ray Disc media is an important milestone in the evolution of this new format," said Mike Lucas, director of marketing for Sony Electronics' Media and Application Solutions Division. "The capacity represents more than four hours of HD quality video, at a 24 Mbps transfer rate, allowing users to take full advantage of Sony's Blu-ray Disc burners and VAIO desktop and notebook computers."

Lucas said that Sony's AccuCORE technology has been re-engineered for Blu-ray Disc media, with its major benefits including scratch guard, archival reliability to prevent data/image corruption and deterioration, stable writing that reduces fluctuation as the disc spins, and temperature durability to prevent warping during severe changes in temperature and humidity.

Sony's 50GB dual layer recordable disc has a suggested retail price of around $48.

2006-08-18T09:34:00.000+08:00

corega Advanced USB Phone (CG-USBPH02)

Talk All You Want

Ever since the introduction of Skype, frequent travelers have been benefiting from free to low cost IP telephony communications to keep in touch with their loved ones while abroad. Be it the free downloadable version for free PC-to-PC call or the paid version of Skype for highly affordable PC-to-Landline calls, Skype makes calling home from abroad convenient and economical.

Due to obvious reasons, the popularity of USB Skype phones are expectedly on the high side, but not all are built the same though as fancier models have LCD screens and are almost inseparable from cordless DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) handsets. Others have Skype application pre-installed while some can be used with other VoIP applications out of the box. A USB phone that was recently introduced to the market is the corega Advanced USB Phone – a phone that can be used with Skype software and other VoIP applications.

Let's Get It Started

The corega G-USBPH02 USB Phone looks like a small remote control for a television set. Within its lightweight plastic frame is a small LCD screen, volume controls, a menu button with direction functions, engage and disengage buttons, a Skype (S) shortcut key and dialing number pad. It even has jacks for hands free operation. Although the phone is plain in a sense that it has neither an embedded Skype client nor does it function like a normal PSTN/DECT phone, the corega G-USBPH02 USB Phone redeems itself by being compatible with Skype applications and any other voice applications such as MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.

To do so would require users to first hook up the phone to a computer via the onboard USB connection followed by installing the bundled USB program. Thereafter, users will be prompted to set the phone to use Skype as default.
If Skype is not your intended usage, the unit can be configured for use with either Yahoo or MSN Messenger for voice conferences or PC-to-PC calls. There is however a crippling issue with the handset in that it automatically sets itself as the default audio device in Windows, leaving users with no alternate solution other than to either disconnect the handset altogether or manually change the default audio device within Windows Control Panel to regain audio output through headphones or speakers.

Minutes into testing left us rather impressed with the audio quality and reception of the speaker and microphone respectively. Audio quality was due partly to a combination of noise suppression and echo elimination features that are standard with the handset. However, the phone does not have much of a menu system to speak of, going as far as only displaying Skype contacts (without showing their status), and outgoing, incoming and missed calls. Volume controls worked as expected but it was disappointing to find that there was no volume indicator whatsoever, making it next to impossible in determining the exact volume of the handset.

Final Thoughts

The corega CG-USBPH02 Advanced USB Phone has its own set of merits. For starters, there is virtually no learning curve involved before one starts to wield its Skype function to make IP calls. Then there are supporting features such as multi-language support (English, Chinese, and Japanese), hotkeys, echo-eliminating and noise suppression technologies, and speakers that can be used to output music. Still, compared to many similar devices in the market, the bare bone nature of the corega means it's just a simple USB VoIP phone that doesn't really offer much in the way of extras. For uncomplicated IP telephony purposes however, the coregra's raw basic functionality may be just what some users are looking for, especially if budget is a serious consideration.

Product Specifications:

Interface: USB 1.1
Product Features: Echo Elimination, Noise Suppression
Display Characters: English, Chinese, Japanese
Supported OS: Windows 2000 / Windows XP
Dimensions: 44.5mm x 17mm x 112mm
Weight: 58.7g

Picture

2006-08-17T23:18:00.000+08:00

Compro Introduces VideoMate U500 DVB-T Stick with Remote Control

Compro Technology announces it’s VideoMate U500 DVB-T Stick, a thumb size digital TV tuner stick with remote control. With the high speed diversity signal receiving capacity and miniature box design, it’s easy to put into your pocket or laptop bag and plug it in anywhere at anytime to receive free-to-air digital terrestrial TV broadcast. Even while you are on the move! VideoMate U500 using the Plug & Play USB 2.0 transmission and USB powered design to provide SDTV and high-definition 1080i HDTV reception on your PC. VideoMate U500 provides digital EPG, subtitle, teletext features, and up to 5.1 audio channels selection for more convenient in available area.

Bundled with fully functional ComproDTV 2 software, you can watch digital TV shows, set flexible scheduled recording, timeshift live TV, channel surf, play .mpg, .avi, .ts, .wmv recorded files, Straight-to-Disc DVD direct record and singly/sequentially capture still frames of your incredible TV viewing experience. Compro’s new designed exclusive software supports all-new Picture in/out Picture function. It allows viewer watching live TV and playback video files at once, even you can open up to 1 main channel window, 3 sub channel windows and 1 play back file window (total 5 windows watching) simultaneously. Compro’s enhanced feature for Transport Stream record/playback function let you record all the programs in the same stream then you can watch each of them when you are free. For more easy-to-use and humanistic, ComproDTV 2 software let you create and edit the customize channel order and favorite channel list to fit your TV watching habit. Video Desktop to setup the live TV screen in wallpaper mode can let you use other applications at the same time. Customizing brightness, hue, saturation, and contrast selection in each TV channel can let you always have crystal TV.

Inside the package, VideoMate U500 equips with a special flexible pipe designed USB extension cable for more easy to connect with your laptop or desktop PC. Along with the extendable mobile-type DVB-T antenna, it provides the best DVB-T broadcasting reception. VideoMate U500 comes richly bundled with ComproDVD 2 for playback DVD/VCD/CD, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 4 SE for authoring your own DVD, and Ulead PhotoExplorer 8.5 SE software for managing your multimedia files. This thumb size light weight TV stick and the credit-card sized remote control are handy for traveling purpose especially. VideoMate U500 USB 2.0 DVB-T stick unleashes the convenience of digital technology for users to enjoy the incredible digital lifestyle, undoubted best mobile TV and video performance.

Key Features:

Free-to-air digital terrestrial TV reception
Thumb size USB 2.0 DVB-T Stick with credit-card size remote control
Watch digital TV on your laptop or desktop PC with high-speed USB 2.0 (USB 2.0 only)
USB bus powered, no any external power required
Special designed snake pipe USB extension cable and extendable mobile-type DVB-T antenna
Timeshift, Channel Surf and Still Frame Capture
High-quality MPEG-2 formats digital TV flexible scheduled record
Advanced PIP/POP feature can open up to 4 live TV channel windows and 1 playback recorded video file window at the same time
Video Desktop to setup the live TV screen as wallpaper mode
Customize Brightness, Hue, Saturation and Contrast selection in each TV channel
Support SDTV and 1080i HDTV (where available)
Support EPG, subtitle, and Teletext (where available)
Straight-to-Disc direct TV record to DVD discs
Support digital radio reception (not DAB type)
Support all DVB-T audio formats and up to 5.1 channels.
Autoscan in UHF/VHF band (6,7,8 MHz channels)
Support Transport Stream record and playback .mpg, .avi, .ts, .wmv recorded files
Fully functional IR remote control for TV & DVD
Microsoft BDA driver
Microsoft MCE2005 compatible

2006-08-17T23:14:00.000+08:00

BeCell Launches Its First Vibration Stereo Headset 160G For Gaming

Taipei, Taiwan, August 9, 2006 -- BeCell Innovations introduced a new generation of vibrating stereo headset for gaming. Unlike traditional headsets with built in motors, the new VSG160G is based wholly on BeCell new bass vibration technology and aims to provide the gamer a new level of enhanced audio gaming experience.

The VSH160G has a built in line vibration control allowing the gamer to adjust the vibration and audio levels accordingly creating a personal audio episode. PC and hand held action packed gamers and adventurers can now feel the audio blast and explosions that brings virtual gaming a step nearer to reality.

“It’s ideal for any PC or handheld gamer who really wants to immerse and rock their games. It provides that extra ammunition to gaming and this is just a beginning of what’s to come.” says Esther Chen, President of BeCell.

Although, VSH160G is the ultimate solution for gaming, the headset is also compatible with other multimedia applications such as boosting DVD entertainment. DVD gurus can truly enjoy their movies on their PCs, notebooks or handheld consoles with that virtual bass experience.

Powered by a single battery, gamers can enjoy up to 12 hours of endless fun and excitement. Coupled with its small, foldable and savvy design, the headset brings together a comfortable and flexible gaming and multimedia event.

2006-08-10T23:36:00.000+08:00

Inno3D GeForce 7300 GT 256MB DDR3

No Introductions Required

By now, there is hardly any need for introductions when it comes to the newest NVIDIA kid on the block - the GeForce 7300 GT. In our two previous articles on this potential mainstream blockbuster, we have raved about its standout performance against supposedly faster graphics cards like the ATI Radeon X1600 XT and NVIDIA's own midrange GeForce 7600 GS. Now, before one gets carried away by these previous benchmarks results, we have to stress again that the scores were set by the higher end versions of this rather liberal chip. NVIDIA's decree for the GeForce 7300 GT is "more what you call 'guidelines' than actual rules" and this flexibility seems to have resulted in an unexpected explosion of creativity in its design - no two GeForce 7300 GT cards from different vendors that we have encountered sport the exact same specifications.

Specifications

Graphics Engine

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT GPU

177 million transistors on a 90nm fabrication process
Stock 3D GPU clock = 500MHz
5 vertex pipelines
8 pixel pipelines

NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Engine

Vertex Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
Displacement Mapping
Vertex Frequency Stream Divider (Geometry Instancing)
Infinite length vertex programs (supported in hardware)

Pixel Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
Full pixel branching support
Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
Infinite length pixel programs (supported in hardware)

Texturing Engine Features

Accelerated textures access
Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
Support for 16-bit and 32-bit floating point formats
Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
DirectX and S3TC texture compression

Full 128-bit FP Precision Graphics Pipeline

Native support for 32 / 64 / 128 bits per pixel rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology (accelerates shadow computations)
NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology

16x Anisotropic Filtering
Adaptive Texture Filtering
Gamma-adjusted Rotated Grid Antialiasing
Transparent multisampling and supersampling modes
Fast antialiasing and compression performance
Loss-less Color, Texture and Z-Data Compression algorithms (in real time)
Fast Z-clear
Support for normal map compression

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

Dedicated programmable on-chip video processor
MPEG-2 video encode and decode
High Definition MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware decode acceleration (up to 1080i)
Post Processing Features

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing (adaptive)
NTSC 3:2 Pulldown / Bad Edit correction
PAL 2:2 Pulldown correction

High quality 4x5 video scaling and filtering
Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR)
Integrated HDTV output

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine
Advanced Video and Display Functionality

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual DVO ports for interfacing external TMDS transmitters and external TV/HDTV encoder
nView Multi-display Technology

NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
Designed for PCI Express x16
Advanced thermal monitoring and thermal management

Graphics Memory

128-bit memory interface
256MB Graphics DDR3 SDRAM
Default clock rate of 1400MHz DDR (1.4ns)

Display Capabilities

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual DVO ports for interfacing to external TMDS transmitters and external TV encoders

Connectors

1x mini-DIN connector (for Video-out)
2 x DVI-I connector (1 x Dual-link, 1 x Single link)

Drivers & Software

Driver support for Microsoft Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP/XP MCE/XP Pro x64, Linux and Macintosh OS (including OS X)
InterVideo WinDVD
InterVideo WinDVD Creator

Other Information

PCI Express x16 slot required

The Inno3D GeForce 7300 GT 256MB DDR3

Like we said, there seems to be no rules set in stone regarding the design of the GeForce 7300 GT besides the obvious one of having the right G73 core. Inno3D's vision comes with a small and rather inexpensive looking cooler instead of the chunky heatsink on the Gainward or the more refined heat pipe assisted version on the Gigabyte . But don't worry, as this cooler is quiet enough that we didn't feel the lack of a passive heatsink.

Picture

Test - 3DMark05 Pro & 3DMark06 Pro

As we predicted, the Gainward and Inno3D were within 2 - 4% of each other, with the Gainward taking the lead. Of course, the Radeon X1600 XT was the clear winner as its architecture simply favors this benchmark. The less heralded Gigabyte GeForce 7300 GT was also not doing too shabbily and stayed close to the reference GeForce 7600 GS. The ranking of the cards remained unchanged for 3DMark06 too, though the GeForce 7300 GT cards had made up much of the difference between themselves and the Radeon X1600 XT. Nevertheless, the Gainward maintained its slender lead over the Inno3D GeForce 7300 GT.

2006-08-10T09:28:00.000+08:00

Sony Ericsson Introduces Z550i Clamshell With 1.3MP Camera

Singapore, 7 August 2006 -- Sony Ericsson announced that mobile phone users looking for quality, style and good looks will love Sony Ericsson’s Z550i. Finished in a combination of premium brushed metal and high gloss material, the Z550i is a classy partner for work and leisure with universal appeal.

The 1.3 megapixel camera has a 4x digital zoom and takes great snap shots and video. These can be viewed on a crisp, bright colour display. With 20MB of onboard memory expandable to 1GB, it is simple to store and share a large collection of pictures using MMS, Bluetooth or email.

“The Z550i has an exclusive, understated feel that is a tribute to our iconic phone T610i, and features a 1.3 megapixel camera, unusual for a phone in this sector,” said Jack Tan, Branch Manager, Singapore Office, Sony Ericsson. “In all, the Z550i is a phone that breathes quality and value.”

Finding shots once you have stored them is child’s play with the new thumbnail gallery feature. This allows you to search for your shots both visually and according to the date taken with multiple thumbnail images being shown on the 262k sharp colour screen.

The Z550i connects easily to a PC for fast transfer of multimedia files and synchronisation with your phone book and calendar. The phone also has full HTML internet browsing and optional Bluetooth™ headset and car-handsfree kit for wireless freedom on the move.

2006-08-10T09:22:00.000+08:00

Samsung SGH-E900

A Sophisticated Concoction

Elegance and functionality rarely stand shoulder to shoulder; it's virtually always either or in most situations. In fact, they are almost exclusive of one another, especially when applied to the engineering of mobile phones. Samsung however, might have hit the sweet spot between these two glaring polarities with the SGH-E900 slider phone.

Getting Down to Business

A quick glance at the E900 will have most people agree that the latest Samsung slider is a beautiful montage of gloss and matte. The functionality aspect is evident by a control pad that is framed by a series of touch-sensitive buttons. The latter features a clever user visual cue that flashes to acknowledge each touch and also exemplifies the attention to detail that Samsung so religiously subscribes to. Embedded above the controls is a generous 30 x 40 mm screen of a maximum resolution of 240 by 320 pixels.

Something we really liked about the E900 was the location of the onboard microSD expansion slot. Instead of building it within the phone to save costs, Samsung has opted to spend a bit more manufacturing dollars to locate the slot on the outside where it would be more accessible to users. This is of course a step on the right track considering that many phones come with internal expansion slots that require users to go through the hassle of first removing the phone’s battery prior to swapping/extracting the card for backup purposes. With quick access to the microSD slot, users will only find it more inviting to use features like the MP3 player and document reader (PDF, Microsoft Word Files, Excel Files). Other features along the side profile of the phone include a power on/off button, a shortcut button for the camera/MP3 player as well as volume controls.

Opening Up

The E900 slides open to reveal a keypad with two silver spacers separating the three columns of keys to break an otherwise ergonomically challenged keypad.
Upon usage, the two spacers quickly proved its partitioning purpose of preventing users from unintentionally pressing the wrong buttons. Good layout aside, the flat keys are surprisingly responsive with sufficient travel for satisfactory tactility.

Found on the rear upper-panel of the E900 is a 2.0-megapixel camera that is more than capable of taking decent photos at 1600 x 1200 pixel resolution. There's even a flash thrown in for night portrait shots and a funky image editor for post-effects that includes adding of text, frames, clipart, emoticons as well as image cropping – it's almost as good as having your own Neo-print machine!

Oversensitive Personality

One thing about the E900 that might put off right-handed users is the touch sensitive 'Cancel' button. Much to our dismay, many a time all it took was a slight tap and running application was instantly terminated. Also, because of its glossy surface, the E900 is a magnet of fingerprints and greasy smudges.

Our Thoughts

Bucking the trend that phones from the looks department are mostly limited in functionality and with limited internal memory, the E900, with its external and easily accessible microSD expansion slot, is a surprising but pleasant package. Desirable features such as a 2-0-megapixel camera with flash, a document reader, built-in MP3 function, and an image editor all add considerable value to the E900, which should strongly appeal to the slider crowd who pledges strongly to style but at the same time wanting a dash of office and multimedia functionality.

With the SGH-E900, Samsung has demonstrated yet again that elegance and sophisticated functions can coexist and the result is an impressive slider that is beautiful to behold as it is to wield in daily applications – though there's no denying that it bears an uncanny resemblance to the LG Chocolate slider phone.

Product Specifications:

Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900
256K-color TFT (240 x 320 pixels)
Connectivity: WAP 2.0, GPRS and Bluetooth
2.0-megapixel Camera: 1600x1200 pixels (stills) / 352 x 288 pixels (videos)
Memory: 80MB (internal); microSD external expansion slot
Battery: Li-Ion 800 mAh
Standby Time / Talktime: Up to 220 hours / Up to 3.5 hours
Features: Video playback, Java support, MP3 player, and Image editor
Dimensions: 93 x 45 x 16.5 mm (H x W x D)
Weight: 93g

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2006-08-07T10:21:00.000+08:00

FOXCONN unwraps Intel 975X-based, Intel Core 2 Extreme platform

Shenzhen, China, July 31st, 2006 -- Advancing platforms for extreme gaming, intensive multimedia and demanding business applications, FOXCONN, the global leader in the design and manufacture of computer, communications and consumer electronic components, has released the 975X7AB-8EKRS2H motherboard with the latest Intel 975X Express chipset and Socket T (LGA775) support for the next-generation Intel Core 2 Extreme and Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Pentium Extreme Edition or Intel Pentium D processors.

The 975X7AB-8EKRS2H includes FOXCONN’s innovative digital PWM technology which improves regulated voltage to the CPU plus minimizes bulky capacitors and mosfets around the CPU socket. PWM not only effectively reduces heat buildup on board and improves Vcore stability when overclocking, but also creates more room around the CPU socket for easier installation of coolers. In addition, gamers and graphics enthusiasts are sure to appreciate the integrated FOXONE Technology that allows robust overclocking of the CPU, memory and chipset while maintaining stable operation and firm control and monitoring of critical system status including, temperatures, fan rotations, and voltages.

The 975X7AB-8EKRS2H takes next-generation gaming and 3D applications to a new level through faster graphics rendering and multi-channel audio fidelity. The 975X7AB-8EKRS2H comes with two PCI Express x16 slots that support two ATI cards set up in CrossFire mode with cross-compatibility for PCI Express x8 cards. The PCI Express x16 slots enable multiple display configurations and flexible video connectivity through ADD2 (Advanced Digital Display 2) cards. There are two PCI Express x1 and two PCI slots to provide additional headroom for expansion as well. Integrated 7.1-channel high-definition audio delivers premium and realistic surround sound for the most immersing gaming and entertainment experience, while an S/PDIF out connector affords convenient connection to high-end sound systems and audio processors.

The 975X7AB-8EKRS2H has an optimized 1066/800 MHz system bus and Intel ICH7R Southbridge that provides the backbone for parallel and Serial ATA storage combinations with support for up to four internal SATAII 3 Gb/s hard disk drives, an external SATAII 3 Gb/s connector, and two ATA 133 devices. Intel Matrix Storage Technology offers comprehensive and easy-to-setup multi-disk configurations including RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 and JBOD that are essential for fast performance and tough data protection. Memory-intensive applications requiring wider bandwidths are flawlessly executed via the dual-channel memory architecture that supports up to 8 GB system memory using DDR2 533/667/800 MHz memory modules. Living up to FOXCONN’s tradition of beating benchmarks, the 975X7AB-8EKRS2H backs the revolutionary Intel Memory Pipeline Technology that dramatically accelerates data transfers between the processor and system memory resulting in higher system performance. The 975X7AB-8EKRS2H features reliable and fast connectivity to wired networks through Dual Marvell 88E8056 Gigabit LAN ports for the fastest online gaming, downloading of Internet content and network file transfers. Delivering complete support for digital peripherals and devices, the 975X7AB-8EKRS2H supports up to eight high-speed USB 2.0 ports and two IEEE 1394a ports (one at mid-board) and comes with a full suite of FOXCONN’s diagnostics, BIOS recovery, security and online firmware updating technologies including SuperRecovery, SuperBoot, SuperBIOS-Protect, SuperSpeed, SuperStep, SuperLogo, and SuperUpdate.

Specifications and Features

Intel Core 2 Extreme/ Intel Core 2 Duo/Intel Pentium Extreme Edition/ Intel Pentium D/Intel Pentium 4 processor
Chipset: Intel 975X + Intel ICH7R
Front Side Bus: 1066/800 MHz
Memory: Dual-channel DDR2 800 (OC)/667/533 MHz x 4 DIMMs, Maximum 8 GB
Expansion slots : 2 x PCIe X16, 1 x PCIe X1, 2 x PCI
Storage: 5 × SATAII 3 Gb/s (including an external SATAII 3 Gb/s connector with RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, and JBOD functionality); 2 x ATA133
Audio: 7.1-channel, high-definition audio
LAN: Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports
IEEE 1394: 2 x 1394a (rear port and mid-board header)
USB 2.0: Up to eight ports (four rear ports and two mid-board headers)
100% RoHS compliance motherboard
Window Vista Ready

2006-08-04T22:59:00.000+08:00

Sony Ericsson Cybershot K800i

Carrying on the legacy

Sony Ericsson has always been at the forefront of manufacturing phones with dedicated music player and built-in camera functions. Just two years ago, the company was among the first to identify the trend of convergence between telecommunication and portable digital imaging and the products that followed were the classic T610/T630 phones with built-in camera for basic MMS and photo ID feature. Since then, Sony Ericsson has been continually pushing out exciting handsets with the 2.0-megapixel K750 camera phone of last year one of the best selling ones of its kind in the market.

Fast-forward to 2006, Sony Ericsson has gone on to partner with Sony Electronics to introduce, for the first time, a Cybershot phone with 3.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, the K800i. Unlike its predecessors, the K800i comes complete with a host of new and useful features that everyone would appreciate.

It's a Camera, a Phone and an MP3 Player

Despite all the marketing surrounding camera phones, the fact of the matter is that most, especially 2.0-megapixel camera phones, are unable to reproduce the same quality capture as a standalone digital camera of similar pixel count. The key difference between the two lies in image noise (grains) and this inadequacy of camera phones is all the more evident when pictures are taken in poorly lit environments.

Blurring from handshakes is also more pronounced compared to standalone digital cameras because camera phones only have very basic imaging components. With the K800i however, Sony Ericsson finally has a camera phone that can truly boast imaging quality comparable to compact digital cameras.

Besides supporting a higher resolution of 3.2-megapixel, the K800 is also fitted with Sony's Super Steady Shot (SSS) anti-handshake technology, thereby giving it an edge over competition. Due to mechanical constraints, the K800i does not come with the sort of optical zoom as those found in say the new Cybershot T30. What it does have is 16x digital zoom. Sadly, it doesn't feature the infamous Carl Zeiss lens that almost all Cybershot cameras have.
Happily however, the K800 has auto-focus (infinite, normal and macro), which should give it better focusing property than traditional camera phones.

Besides sharing some scene modes (eg. Auto, Twilight Portrait, Twilight Landscape, Landscape, Portrait, Beach/Snow, Sports, and Document) with a number of Cybershot cameras, the K800 also lets you take photos with cool effects such as negative and "cartoony" frames. Interestingly, the K800i has several imaging related functions such as BestPic, effects, frames and panorama (via stitching) that even most Cybershot cameras lack.

The BestPic mode is particularly handy, as it captures a series of eight photos in quick succession and lets you pick and save the one you are most satisfied with while the rest is discarded automatically to conserve limited memory space.

Considering the multitude of functions the K800i supports within its handy frame, we were mightily impressed by how well image noise (grains) were suppressed in our sample shots – although fuzzy spots were visible. Details on the other hand disappointed slightly and not quite as comparable to digital cameras of similar pixel count. Overall color reproduction was satisfactory though, making it one of the best camera phones till date. However, for photo printouts, especially to a size of A4, we recommend that pictures are first processed for sharpening and noise reduction.

It's a Camera and More

The K800i is a fun phone to have and we recommend it for those who don't want to carry two separate devices. Feature wise, the K800 is quite similar to the K750 with the exception of 3G video calls and RSS that mobile warriors would especially when moving about. The only gripe we had was the low 15FPS of its video recording mode. In a nutshell, the Sony Ericsson K800i has almost all the features you would want in a modern nifty device. It is available now at a RRP of US$593 without operator plan.

Product Specifications:

Networks: GSM 900/1800/1900 and UMTS
Cybershot 3.2-megapixel digital camera with autofocus and xenon flash
Screen: 240 x 320 pixels (262K color TFT)
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
Phone memory 64MB
Memory Expansion: Memory Stick Micro (M2)
Size: 105 x 47 x 22 mm (H x W x D)
Weight: 115g

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2006-08-01T10:34:00.000+08:00

Toshiba Qosmio F30

A Home Theatre Replacement

Toshiba has certainly been busy making waves with its Qosmio range of multimedia notebooks. Little brother to the Qosmio G30 we looked at earlier this month, the new Qosmio F30 probably needs little introduction with regards to its capabilities as a notebook and as a portable entertainment deck.

Display and Audio Check

The F30 gleams pearly-white with a large presence that overshadows other gadgets set beside it. Its thick top can be explained by a brilliant high-luminance 15.4-inch glossy widescreen display with a native 1280 by 800 pixel resolution that delivers dazzling content even at a distance – absolutely spot-on considering movies should be enjoyed from a distant sofa or bed.

A pair of eye-catching hardmon/kardon speakers complete with protective grilles provides the first hint of its multimedia prowess. When fired up, the two deceivingly small speakers instantly startled us; never had two tiny little speakers of such size created so much volume that was not only rich but surprisingly immersive as well. In fact, the loudness meant we had no choice but to carry out our usual multimedia tests of the notebook in an unoccupied area of the office. Knowing how loud the F30 can get, Toshiba has included a convenient jog-dial to facilitate quick adjustments of volume from loud to whisper quiet and vice-versa with a mere flick of the dial.

Multimedia Check

One advantage the F30 has over its bigger G30 brother is the Microsoft Windows Media Centre Edition (MCE) operating system it carries as standard. Also included to take advantage of the recording functions of the MCE operating system is an analogue TV-tuner as well as a full sized Toshiba remote control unit. One thing that was puzzling as it was unimpressive is the fact that an external infrared receiver had to be manually attached to the F30 before it could receive commands remotely, this when there is already an infrared receiver built right into the front panel.

The F30 has a native multimedia mode that users may use to play DVDs and other media without having to run down the clock patiently for Windows to load up.
All it takes is a simple push of the "TV" button on the remote control and the F30 will instantly spring to life while you're at a distance kicking back on your lazy chair. As per quality expected of Qosmio, the interface of the native multimedia mode is friendly and comes with a wide range of visual adjustments, but what really raised our eyebrows was the Window-less analogue video recording that essentially allows the F30 function like a traditional VCR.

Gaming Check

Gamers will be pleased to know that an Nvidia 7600 Go is on tap to power today's demanding games, but it is not just restricted to PC games, as the F30 can also be used as a television/VCR unit. Through the onboard video-in (cable is supplied), console gamers can quickly pair the F30 with their consoles by powering the notebook in its native multimedia mode to utilize both the monitor for display and for recording of in-game scenes – perfect for taping down your record breaking laps, combo moves, and secret tricks to show off to your compatriots at a later time.

Power Check

As expected, battery life of the F30 was nothing to write home about. A DVD playback test with audio at 35% lasted only 96mins – not nearly enough to last through most DVD movies. However, despite the less then amazing battery life, we have to stress that the Qosmio wasn't designed for mobility but rather as an outstanding space-saving multimedia solution. Nevertheless, it's highly recommended that you remember to pack in the power brick should you decide to bring the Qosmio out with you.

Final Thoughts

Shedding its bigger brother’s HD-DVD capability, the F30 is naturally tagged with a lower retail price. At USD$2,400, the F30 represents a quality, portable and yet fully capable multimedia solution that would be equally at home in your living room as it would be on your office table. For those who do not want to be embroiled in the ongoing optical format war, the F30 is hard to be ignored. Despite its notable weight of 3.8kg and short battery life, the F30 dazzles with a brilliant display and unquestionable audio experience. The euphoric multimedia experience for one is a tough act that few notebooks can match.

Product Specifications:

Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz
Glossy WXGA 15.4-inch LCD TFT (1280 x 800 pixels)
Bult in harman/kardon stereo speakers, Intel High Definition Audio support, and dedicated volume dial
512MB DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2048MB
100GB SATA HDD with shock absorber
NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 with 256MB DDR SDRAM
DVD SuperMulti Double Layer Drive
4x USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, 5-in-1 card reader (supports SD Card, Memory Stick, Memory
Stick Pro, MultiMedia Card, xD-Picture Card)
VGA out, TV antenna, S/PDIF (Headphone), Dolby AC3 digital, External Microphone (monaural), Headphone (stereo), RJ-11, RJ-45, DC-in, S-Video out, Component out via D port, Composite/Monitor/Line-in and S-Video in, and 1 x PCMCIA Type II slot
Rechargeable 6-Cell Li-Ion for up to 2.0 hours of battery life
Dimensions: 379 x 290 x 46~52 mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 3.9kg (with standard battery and optical disk drive)

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2006-07-31T01:38:00.000+08:00

ASUS EN7600GS TOP Silent (GeForce 7600 GS 512MB)

Forgotten and Forsaken

With the entry of its GeForce 7300 GT, NVIDIA attempts to bridge the differences between its low-end GeForce 7300 and the mid-range 7600 series. From a consumer's point of view, having more options is almost always preferred so such a move should be welcomed. To get a handle on its capabilities, know that the GeForce 7300 GT uses the same G73 core as the GeForce 7600 series, with a slight handicap of having four pixel pipelines disabled. NVIDIA has broadly painted the hardware specifications for the GeForce 7300 GT, leaving the implementation details to its manufacturing partners. This has thrown up some surprises, such as the limited edition Gainward Bliss 7300GT PCX , which takes advantage of some very extreme clock speeds to perform way above expectations. In fact, it is faster than the GeForce 7600 GS, the lesser pair of GeForce 7600 cards in the series.

Specifications:

Graphics Engine

NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS GPU (G73)

177 million transistors on a 90nm fabrication process
Stock 3D GPU clock = 550MHz
5 vertex pipelines
12 pixel pipelines

NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Engine

Vertex Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
Displacement Mapping
Vertex Frequency Stream Divider (Geometry Instancing)
Infinite length vertex programs (supported in hardware)

Pixel Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
Full pixel branching support
Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
Infinite length pixel programs (supported in hardware)

Texturing Engine Features

Accelerated textures access
Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
Support for 16-bit and 32-bit floating point formats
Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
DirectX and S3TC texture compression

Full 128-bit FP Precision Graphics Pipeline

Native support for 32 / 64 / 128 bits per pixel rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology (accelerates shadow computations)
NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology

16x Anisotropic Filtering
Adaptive Texture Filtering
Gamma-adjusted Rotated Grid Antialiasing
Transparent multisampling and supersampling modes
Fast antialiasing and compression performance
Loss-less Color, Texture and Z-Data Compression algorithms (in real time)
Fast Z-clear
Support for normal map compression

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

Dedicated programmable on-chip video processor
MPEG-2 video encode and decode
High Definition MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware decode acceleration (up to 1080i)
Post Processing Features

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing (adaptive)
NTSC 3:2 Pulldown / Bad Edit correction
PAL 2:2 Pulldown correction

High quality 4x5 video scaling and filtering
Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR)
Integrated HDTV output

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine
NVIDIA SLI Technology
Advanced Video and Display Functionality

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual DVO ports for interfacing external TMDS transmitters and external TV/HDTV encoder
nView Multi-display Technology

NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
Designed for PCI Express x16
Advanced thermal monitoring and thermal management

Graphics Memory

128-bit memory interface
512MB Graphics DDR2 SDRAM
Default clock rate of 950MHz DDR

Display Capabilities

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual DVO ports for interfacing to external TMDS transmitters and external TV encoders

Connectors

1x mini-DIN connector (for Video-out)
1x DVI-I connector (1 dual-link)
1x analog VGA output

Drivers & Software

Driver support for Microsoft Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP/XP MCE/XP Pro x64, Linux and Macintosh OS (including OS X)
ASUS Utilities (Video Security Onlne, GameFace Messenger, GameLiveShow, etc)
ASUS Bonus Game Pack

Other Information

PCI Express x16 slot required
Recommended power supply of at least 350W

The ASUS EN7600GS TOP Silent 512MB

ASUS has experimented with quite a few passively cooled heatsinks in its time, including some rather exotic looking ones with heat pipes and adjustable radiators. Hence, the Reverse Cool system employed on the EN7600GS TOP Silent did not seem that radical to us. So what did ASUS mean by Reverse Cool? Basically, the idea was to 'reverse' the usual cooler from its traditional side to the other side of the PCB. To make sure that the Reverse Cool technology actually works a grade better than hanging a cooler on the reverse side of the graphics card, ASUS has actually re-engineered the PCB to relocate the GPU core and memory modules together with the heatsink. The reason for this unconventional layout is such that the passive heatsink (with its adjustable fins) can take advantage of the airflow generated by the nearby CPU cooler for increased heat dissipation. Whether it works as advertised, that will be revealed in our temperature test segment later. What's evident at once is of course the comfortable silence, since this GeForce 7600 GS, like the reference design, is passively cooled as a result.

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Test - 3DMark05 Pro & 3DMark06 Pro

In both benchmarks here, the ASUS EN7600GS TOP Silent just about pushed the pretender, the Gainward GeForce 7300 GT into third place with a lead varying from a narrow 5% to a more comfortable 13%. However, the gap between the ASUS and the GeForce 7600 GT still remained quite wide at 17 – 23%. At the same time, the ASUS was definitely much faster than the default GeForce 7600 GS and if we take a more 'normal' GeForce 7300 GT in the one from Gigabyte, the ASUS was also convincingly ahead. At least the dramatic improvement for the ASUS GeForce 7600 GS over the standard version provided a good indicator of the value in overclocking the GeForce 7600 GS.

2006-07-29T11:19:00.000+08:00

Transcend Releases 2GB DDR2 533/667 Non-ECC Unbuffered Memory

Taipei, July 26, 2006 -- Transcend Information is very proud to announce the release of the world’s highest capacity 2GB DDR2 533/667 Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMM memory modules (P/N: TS256MLQ64V5U/6U). Transcend’s DDR2 533/667 Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMMs have a huge 2GB memory capacity, measure only 1.2 inches in height and are specially designed and engineered for speed, reliability and extreme performance. All of these attributes make these modules perfect for use in high performance desktop computers, which contain chipsets such as, Intel’s 915GV/945G/955X, AMD’s AM2, or Apple’s iMac G5 17” 1.9GHz and 20” 2.1GHz chipset solutions.

Transcend’s 2GB DDR2 533/667 Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMM memory modules are engineered using 16 pcs of 128Mx8 original brand name DDR2 FBGA chips. The six-layer PCBs used in Transcend’s modules are designed to meet the highest specifications by minimizing noise signal disturbance and enhancing overall performance. In addition, DDR2 memory chips incorporate On-Die Termination (ODT) to minimize signal reflections at higher speeds, thereby improving timing margins, which increase operating speeds. Transcend’s superior design results in better system stability and reliability, making our 2GB DDR2 533/667 Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMM memory modules the best choice of memory module for your high performance system.

Transcend memory modules are built to the highest specifications with the best chips and materials, they undergo rigorous laboratory testing to ensure they provide the highest performance and reliability. All Transcend memory modules come with a lifetime warranty and a global service network, which provides a cost-effective solution that ensures the highest stability and reliability for your computing systems. Transcend memory modules are recognized for their high quality, outstanding performance, excellent compatibility, and superb reliability and stability. Trust in the best and achieve the most from your systems by choosing Transcend memory modules.

Product Features

Low Profile, Hi-Speed, Huge capacity 240-Pin 2GB DDR2 533/667 Non-ECC Unbuffered DIMM Memory Module
2GB huge capacity memory
High compatibility and reliability
FBGA chip packages for improved electrical and heat dissipation characteristics
Six-layer PCB
Lifetime warranty

2006-07-29T11:12:00.000+08:00

Casio Introduces 7.2-Megapixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z700

July 27, 2006 -- CASIO announced the release of the Exilim Zoom EX-Z700, the latest addition to its stylish series of Exilim digital cameras. This newest member of the Exilim family combines the high-resolution performance of an effective 7.2 megapixels with Casio’s Super Bright LCD for easy viewing in broad daylight.

The EX-Z700’s Super Bright LCD is both big and bright: the 2.7-inch screen with 1200cd/m2 brightness is easy to see, even on a sunny day. At 7.2 megapixels, the high-performance EX-Z700 ensures crystal-clear image output for both printing and screen, delivering extraordinary photographic detail. The long-life battery packs enough power for around 460 still images on a single charge, and the camera comes with Casio’s Anti Shake DSP to reduce photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects. All in all, the EX-Z700 strikes an extremely attractive balance between slim, stylish looks and high-performance functionality. It also adds brand new picture-taking functions in Best Shot mode.

New Best Shot modes

Auto Framing

Casio’s new Auto Framing mode keeps dynamic subjects like playful, active children at the center of the photograph, solving one of photography’s most perplexing challenges. This original new function is based on Casio-developed “auto-follow” technology for tracking the movement of photo subjects. In Auto Framing mode, a thin, outlined frame appears on the LCD, centered on the moving subject of the photo. The area within the frame indicates the image that will be saved when the shutter is fully depressed.

Layout Shot

With new Layout Shot mode, photographers can combine multiple shots of friends taken with the same scenic backdrop into a single collage, or even mix shots with different compositions to create a single artistic layout. Users simply select one of two predefined layout templates, then take two or three photographs, and save the results to create a single composite image. Layout Shot delivers a whole new way to enjoy expressive photography.

Key features for superior performance

7.2 million effective pixels; 3X optical zoom
Large 2.7-inch LCD with a brightness of 1200cd/m2*1
Takes up to 460 still images on a single charge of the long life battery*2 (CIPA standard)
Anti Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects
Best Shot modes deliver great photo results simply by selecting one of 37 sample images to represent the current photo scene
On the highest brightness setting, measured at the center of the screen.
With LCD display set to standard brightness

2006-07-29T10:57:00.000+08:00

ASRock 775Dual-VSTA (VIA PT880 Ultra - Core 2 Ready)

Introduction

In the wake of both AMD and Intel launching new processors and platforms, ASRock has been releasing a slew of new and updated motherboards and them being ASRock, they've got quite a few interesting chipset implementations; all built to be easy on the bank account. On the AMD front, we've taken a look at the AM2V890-VSTA, which was somewhat a revival of the VIA K8T890 chipset fitted for Socket AM2. While we were none too impressed with its persistent memory issues, we actually liked its direction and what it represented as an ultra-budget platform. Because of this, we've picked up ASRock's 775Dual-VSTA, the Intel counterpart of the AM2V890-VSTA to see if their value Core 2 platform makes the grade.

Specifications:

CPU Support

Supports 90nm/65nm LGA775 processor package
Supports Intel Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Extreme
Supports Intel Pentium D / Pentium Processor Extreme Edition
Supports Intel Pentium 4 / Pentium 4 Extreme Edition

Chipset

Northbridge: VIA PT880 Ultra

533 / 800 / 1066MHz front side bus
AGP 8X graphics
PCI Express x4 graphics

Southbridge: VIA VT8237A

Supports up to six PCI slots
Supports up to eight USB 2.0 ports
10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet MAC
Supports two SATA ports (with RAID 0, 1 and 0+1 capabilities)
Dual-channel Ultra ATA-133 ports

Memory

Supports two 184-pin unbuffered DIMM 2.5v DDR SDRAM

Up to 2GB dual-channel DDR-400 memory

Supports two 240-pin unbuffered DIMM 1.8 Volt DDR2 SDRAM

Up to 2GB dual-channel DDR2-533/667 memory

Storage

VIA VT8237A Southbridge
- 4 x Ultra ATA 33/66/100/133 (data transfer rate up to 133MB/sec.)
- 2 x SATA (Serial ATA 1.5Gbps interface)
- Supports SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1

Audio

Intel High Definition Audio (Azalia)
Realtek ALC888 HD Audio CODEC
HDMI S/PDIF interface

Networking

VIA Networking VT6103 Fast Ethernet PHY

I/O Interface

1 x Floppy connector
2 x Ultra ATA IDE connectors
2 x SATA connectors
8 x USB 2.0 ports (4 x rear, 4 x header)
1 x RJ45 LAN port
8-Channel Audio I/O ports
1 x CD-IN
1 x 9-pin serial port
1 x parallel port
1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 mouse port
1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 keyboard port

Expansion Slots

One PCIe x16 slot, PCI Express Bus specification v1.0a compliant
One AGP 8X slot
Four 32-bit PCI slots, PCI 2.3 compliant

PCB

ATX Form Factor, 12"x 8.0"(30.5cm x 20.32cm)

Features

The PT880 Ultra is VIA's hybrid chipset for the Intel platform designed at the time when the industry was shifting from AGP to PCI Express and from DDR to DDR2. Based on this chipset, the 775Dual-VSTA carries an interesting premise of having native support for PCI Express and AGP graphics cards as well as featuring DDR and DDR2 DIMM slots. However, users must take note that the PT880 Ultra is an AGP chipset with PCI Express support and not the other way around. Therefore, it carries a full AGP 8X interface, but limits PCI Express to four lanes. As such, the PCIe x16 slot on the 775Dual-VSTA is actually only capable of running at PCIe x4 electrically.

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2006-07-29T10:50:00.000+08:00

Digidock FM Transmitters

Small Radio Wonder

As the world continues to be cleanly swept off its feet by the iPod fever, arguments about the ongoing fad are largely divided between the pros and the cons. While the con of iPods being overtly ubiquitous is fairly obvious (thereby causing iPods to lack character), there are, thankfully, more pros than cons brought about by the world's most recognizable multimedia gadget. Apart from spawning a huge galore of aftermarket accessories for which consumers can purchase to style their iPods as they see fit, the iconic player has also triggered accessory manufacturers in rolling out a new ecosystem of supplementary products to glorify the whole experience of owning an iPod. One such product is the Digidock series of FM Transmitters.

Reason to Exist

Granted there is a growing number of automobile magazine judging cars based on whether or not they are iPod-ready out of factory doors, the rationale behind the creation of FM transmitters for car owners with head units that do not have audio-in jack to enjoy digital music from external audio devices should require no further explanation. With car audio manufacturers just starting to roll out head units with 3.5mm audio-in jack, the market is infinitely huge for devices like the Digidock FM Transmitter, as it's not only affordable and easy to install, but also offers car owners with a quick option to breathe new life into the way they consume music while on the move. No longer do car owners have to burn selected digital music into CD compilations (for old head units that do not read MP3 CDs) or burn and monitor numerous MP3 CDs as the collection of digital music grows.

Riding The Waves

Like many wireless devices these days, the Digidock FM Transmitter is engineered to utilize radio waves as the wireless transmission medium for data packets. The working principle is essentially a highly simplified version of broadcasting audio signals, but unlike your local broadcasting stations that are capable of reaching a huge number of recipients, the Digidock FM Transmitter is only powerful enough to transmit radio waves within a short radius for clear reception, case in point, the head unit within your car.

Breezy Installation

Being a crudely simple device, installation of the Digidock FM Transmitter should be a fairly easy affair. Even without looking at the instruction sheet, one should be able to identify the various critical connectors to instinctively install the transmitter and pair it with a portable audio player to start enjoying digital music. Just about the only hurdle that users might face is the tuning of head units to the frequency range of the Digidock FM Transmitter. Considering most users would already have all stations tuned shortly after either the collection of cars or installation of head units, the challenge then is not so much the installation of the transmitter but rather recollecting the steps involved in tuning radio frequencies of head units.

FM Transmitters from Digidock are broadly categorized into 2 groups: Pure FM Transmitter and FM Transmitter with data playback from USB storage devices. Units in both categories are based upon the same platform with the former ideal for users who already own high capacity portable audio players while the latter is more suited for those without digital music players but yet want to enjoy the convenience and variety of digital music when on the road. Representing the former group is the USD$38 AC-2112, a simple FM Transmitter that also doubles up as an iPod charger while the more interesting USD$49 AC-2220 packs the additional functionality of playing MP3 files from USB storage devices such as thumb drives. Navigation of tracks is facilitated by a very basic set of play/pause, forward, and backward buttons, and being a basic device, alternate playback modes such as shuffle and repeat are expectedly unavailable.

Test and Conclusion

Due to the bandwidth of radio waves and the lack of any form of amplification and signal processing circuitry, both versions of Digidock FM Transmitters could only deliver flat, uninspiring, and audibly sub radio broadcast quality audio. Nevertheless, considering its convenient bridging functionality for old head units with modern digital audio and that it does work as easily as advertised while being more affordable than expensive car kits, there is no reason why you shouldn't check out the Digidock FM Transmitters.

Product Specifications:

AC-2112

FM Channels: 88.5 / 88.7 / 88.9 / 107.5 / 107.7 / 107.9 MHz
Operation Temperature: 0 - 60C
Storage Temperature: -10 - 70C
Power Input: DC+12V
USB Output: +5V / 700mA (max.)
Dimensions: 40 x 146 x 23 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 65g

AC-2220 (with USB storage device playback)

Supports MP3 format
Supported Bitrate: 32Kbps - 32Kbps
Format: FAT16 / FAT32
USB: 1.1
FM Channels: 88.5 / 88.7 / 88.9 / 107.5 / 107.7 / 107.9 MHz
Operation Temperature: 0 - 60C
Storage Temperature: -10 - 70C
Power Input: DC+12V
USB Output: +5V / 700mA (max.)
Dimensions: 40 x 147 x 26 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 75g

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2006-07-28T10:47:00.000+08:00

Olympus Introduces Smallest and Lightest 710 Digital Camera

SINGAPORE, 26 July 2006 -- Olympus, the industry leader in opto-digital technologies and pioneer in the digital camera market, today introduced the 7.1-megapixel Olympus µ 710, the world’s smallest and lightest compact digital camera in the 7MP category. The camera also wins kudos in being the world’s slimmest, all-weather compact digital camera.

All-weather construction requires the use of specially coated high-durability rubber materials to seal the gaps between individual components, increasing the number of parts and making it more difficult to achieve size reductions. For the µ 710, however, a more efficient component layout and a newly developed lens unit were employed to reduce overall size and body thickness.

Blending stylish looks with high performance

The µ 710 shares the compact, all-weather construction that is a feature of the Olympus µ Series, and is equipped with a 7.1-megapixel CCD and a 3x optical zoom lens. It features a wave motif design with attractive contours and a special front body finish that gives it the distinctive lustre of high-quality jewelry. The body fits comfortably in the palm of the hand and offers a sure grip for stable shooting. The front of the body is coated with a special scratch- and weather-resistant finish.

The digicam comes in four body-colour variations so that consumers can choose a colour that best suits their lifestyle and personal preference. These include Platinum Silver, Platinum Black, Sunshine Orange and Caribbean Blue.

Elegant “Platinum” Colour Schemes

The sophisticated Platinum Silver and Platinum Black models carry a platinum alloy coating with a jewelry-like finish that gives the body a luxurious surface texture.

Striking Two-Tone Colour Schemes

The distinctively different Sunshine Orange and Caribbean Blue models feature a stylish two-tone colour scheme on the back of the camera, and a clear hard coat on the front of the camera that enhances weather and corrosion resistance. Offering excellent protection against weather and climate, they are an ideal choice for active users and marine and winter sports enthusiasts.

Better low light shooting with BrightCapture Technology

Bright Capture technology assures bright, easy-to-view display of subjects on the monitor when shooting in low light and helps reduce blurring caused by camera shake or subject motion.

When the Bright Capture button (indicated by an icon in the shape of a hand) on the back of the camera is pressed, the camera automatically increases ISO sensitivity in response to low light conditions. This in turn causes the camera to use a faster shutter speed, which reduces the incidence of blurring due to subject motion or camera shake. As a result, users can preserve the mood of the moment at weddings and other intimate events by shooting without flash in low light. The µ 710 offers full-resolution 7.1-megapixel shooting at sensitivities up to ISO 1600, enabling users to enjoy the benefits of high resolution and high sensitivity when shooting.

The µ 710’s large, 2.5-inch monitor and Bright Capture function also make it easy for users to compose their shots when shooting in low light, because the Bright Capture function overcomes the problem of poor visibility by automatically increasing the brightness of the LCD monitor image.

New Shooting Guide function – Photography made easy

A new Shooting Guide function allows users to simply choose the type of image they want to obtain, and have the camera automatically apply optimum settings to achieve the desired result. Users can therefore obtain the results they want without referring to a printed manual -- even entry-level users can easily and comfortably take advantage of various shooting techniques.

Other Features:

Large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor with low-light subject display capability
Scene Guide that allows optimum 20 Scene Programme Mode Selection
32MB (approx.) internal memory
Versatile in-camera editing functions, including red-eye correction, brightness, frame compositing, and calendar creation
Up to 200 shots per charge (CIPA test standard) with included rechargeable batteries
Easy Print button for one-touch direct printing of selected photos

2006-07-28T10:35:00.000+08:00

GStor Secure Mobile Storage

Storage Security Goes Mobile

Imagine this - you have all your important documents stored in your personal external hard drive. The drive contains all your documents with financial transactions, things about your personal life, your next hit novel and highly classified work you have been doing with your company. You were traveling to another country and checked in your luggage (with your hard drive) at the airport but upon arriving at your destination, you discovered it was lost. The airline said that it was checked through properly and told you it must have been stolen at the baggage collection. You were offered compensation for the items in the luggage, but what was lost was more than the cost of the hardware (the amount that the airline compensates you). Although you had a backup stashed somewhere in your office, the loss is estimated to be in the region of tens of thousands of dollars if it falls into the wrong hands.

Although this is just a theoretical scenario, it could happen to anyone of us. Data theft is increasingly becoming a problem for a lot of companies and recent research shows that targeted laptop theft has increased by twofold over the past year. What worries companies and executives is the cost of data lost to corporate data thieves, not the cost of the laptop itself.

Specifications:

Model No.

GSMS1080

Interface

USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible)

Capacity

80GB

Rotational Speed

7200RPM

Buffer

Weight

1072g

Dimension (WxHxL)

133mm x 38mm x 208mm

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Using the Drive

The drive is based on the popular USB 2.0 interface and it should work on any PC with a USB port since it is also backward compatible with the USB 1.1 standard. Drivers are not needed if it is used with Windows 2000, XP or 2003 as it uses a generic USB controller that Windows would recognize. It is also compatible with other operating systems like Mac OS 9.x (and above) and Linux kernel 2.4 (and above).

Apart from the usual external power adapter, driver disk and USB cable supplied with the drive, you will find two dongles bundled in the package. The dongles are the security keys used together with the drive for encryption purposes and they plug right into the rear end of the drive. Although it uses a common 1394a adapter, it is not FireWire capable as the Excelstor is really just using a common adapter for the dongle's interface. So be doubly sure that you don't plug a FireWire accidentally as it could damage the drive. Each of these keys contains a unique identifier that has to be initialized with the drive before it can be used. Upon powering the drive with the dongle inserted, the unique key stored within the dongle will be written into the drive's Flash memory. The drive will only store up to two keys, so both dongles must be initialized with the drive. After initialization, the keys will be tied to the drive and it cannot be used in other drives.

2006-07-27T23:56:00.000+08:00

Lenovo V100

The Widescreen Wonder

Lenovo has been introducing the 3000 series that caters specifically for small businesses and people who do not have support from a dedicated IT department. Self-contained attributes such as a virus recovery button, software auto-update, and easy connectivity with other devices are also the selling points of the 3000 series. Announced recently to the series is the V100, a 12-inch widescreen ultra-portable notebook that looks to extend brilliant performance with worry free computing to all end users.

ThinkPad Think Again.

Given the strong IBM heritage in Lenovo’s relatively young line of notebooks, it's unavoidable that comparisons are often made against IBM’s ThinkPads. However, there are a few things that set the Lenovo V100 apart from its ThinkPad roots. Firstly, V100’s curved silver surface gives a completely different feel compared to the ThinkPad’s traditional black shade and angular design. Secondly, it also incorporates a latch-less design for the lid, making it easy for users to open and close the notebook, and lastly, the ThinkPad's infamous TrackPoint was dropped in favor of the touchpad. What remains the same however, is the excellent keyboard that IBM ThinkPads are renowned for, which means the V100 should be a joy to type on.

Designed to Perform

A lot of ports and features can be found on both sides of the V100: On the left side is a Kensington security lock, exhaust, a USB 2.0 port, a VGA monitor out, an ExpressCard 54 slot, a headphone and microphone jack, and a FireWire port. On the right side of the notebook are the power adapter jack, modem, Ethernet port, a 5-in-1 media card reader, a Wi-Fi on/off switch, and an optical drive.
The DVD combo drive is ordinary except that it can get pretty audible when a DVD movie is loaded. On the flip side, the onboard stereo speakers are loud enough to mask the operational noise of the combo drive for decent movie sessions.

Although Intel Core Solo processors are justifiably second choice compared to its dual core counterparts, the affordability and performance levels they offer means they are perfectuly suited for the V100 - let's not forget that Intel Core Solo processors are more powerful than its predecessors. That being said, we were not impressed with the battery efficiency of the notebook, especially when it's powered by a 1.66 Ghz T1300 processor along with an embedded Intel GMA 950 graphics. With its three-cell battery, DVD playback only lasted 87 minutes while productivity tests ended with two hours on the clock. For this reason, users are advised to purchase the six-cell battery for a longer battery life.

Final Thoughts

Lenovo’s notebooks will inevitably be compared to IBM’s ThinkPad in terms of style, performance, and functionality. However, users must really adopt an unbiased attitude when looking at the good attributes the Lenovo V100 has inherited from IBM ThinkPads: a keyboard with good input feel; lots of input/output ports; and a Lenovo Care utility program similar to the “ThinkVantage” that provide various options to protect and configure the notebook to optimal setting.

At USDS$1,290, the Lenovo V100 is quite a catch. However, we do encourage keen buyers to strongly consider getting the six-cell battery in order to prolong and maximize their usage time.

Product Specifications:

Processor: Intel Core Solo T1300 1.66GHz
Display: 12.1-inch TFT LCD (1280 x 800 pixels)
Memory: 512MB DDR2
Storage: 80GB Toshiba MK8032GSX (5,400RPM)
Graphics Chipset: Intel GMA 950 (up to 128MB)
Input/Output: 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394, LAN, modem, VGA-out, 1 x ExpressCard/54
slot, mic/headphone mini-jacks, and SD card slot
Wireless Connectivity: Broadcom 802.11 Multiband Network Adapter, Bluetooth
Dimensions: 305 x 226 x 32mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 1.8kg

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2006-07-26T11:54:00.000+08:00

Gigabyte GV-NX79T256DP-RH (GeForce 7900 GT 256MB)

AMD + ATI

It is now official. AMD has acquired graphics chipmaker ATI in a .4 billion deal (pending approval from shareholders and regulatory bodies), instantly creating a combined entity with up to US$7.3 billion worth of sales in the past year and employing an estimated 15,000 workers. While rumors regarding this merger have surfaced sporadically in the past month, it was evidently a surprise to the key players when rumors became reality. Intel and NVIDIA, affected most by this new entity, had to scramble to respond to the acquisition and not with the usual, prepared statement.

So far, NVIDIA has chosen to put a positive spin on the deal , by claiming rightly that this would leave it as the last graphics and core logic chipmaker standing with untrammeled access to both Intel and AMD. Intel however has been rather mum about the whole deal, but there is already unconfirmed word that Intel will not renew ATI's chipset bus license , giving credence to NVIDIA's confident outlook. AMD is still very reliant on NVIDIA's motherboards for its processors though we probably will see AMD putting more emphasis on its own platform, with greater CPU-GPU integration and even integrated physics processing likely to result from this acquisition. It's hard to say whether this development will definitely push NVIDIA closer to Intel, since at the moment, they are both rivals in the motherboard chipset segment. But official NVIDIA SLI support for Intel's motherboards does seem more likely than before. Overall, it looks like AMD has more to gain than ATI from this 'marriage' since adding graphics and motherboard chipsets will allow it to compete better against Intel's inclusive platform.

Specifications:

Graphics Engine

NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT GPU

Stock 3D GPU clock = 525MHz

NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Engine

Vertex Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
Displacement Mapping
Vertex Frequency Stream Divider (Geometry Instancing)
Infinite length vertex programs (supported in hardware)

Pixel Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
Full pixel branching support
Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
Infinite length pixel programs (supported in hardware)

Texturing Engine Features

Accelerated textures access
Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
Support for 16-bit and 32-bit floating point formats
Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
DirectX and S3TC texture compression

Full 128-bit FP Precision Graphics Pipeline

Native support for 32 / 64 / 128 bits per pixel rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology (accelerates shadow computations)
NVIDIA SLI Technology
NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology

16x Anisotropic Filtering
Adaptive Texture Filtering
Gamma-adjusted Rotated Grid Antialiasing
Transparent multisampling and supersampling modes
Fast antialiasing and compression performance
Loss-less Color, Texture and Z-Data Compression algorithms (in real time)
Fast Z-clear
Support for normal map compression

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

Dedicated programmable on-chip video processor
MPEG-2 video encode and decode
High Definition H.264, MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware decode acceleration (up to 1080i)
Post Processing Features

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing (adaptive)
NTSC 3:2 Pulldown / Bad Edit correction
PAL 2:2 Pulldown correction

High quality 4x5 video scaling and filtering
Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR)
Integrated HDTV output (with HDCP support)

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine (for Windows Longhorn)
Built for Windows Vista

Delivers best possible experience when running Windows Vista 3D graphical user interface
New OS supported by renowned NVIDIA Unified Driver Architecture (UDA) for maximum stability and reliability
NVIDIA PureVideo technology delivers high-quality VMR pipeline for best-in-class video for Windows Vista

Advanced Video and Display Functionality

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual-link DVI capability to drive the industry's largest and highest resolution digital flat panel displays up to 2560x1600
Integrated HDTV encoder provides analog TV-output (Component/Composite/S-Video) up to 1080i resolution
nView Multi-display Technology

NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
Designed for PCI Express x16
Advanced thermal monitoring and thermal management

Graphics Memory

256-bit memory interface
256MB Graphics DDR3 SDRAM
Default clock rate of 720MHz (effective speed of 1440MHz DDR)

Display Capabilities

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual-link DVI capability to drive displays of up to 2560x1600

Connectors

1 x mini-DIN connector (for Video-out)
2 x DVI-I connector (HDCP Ready)

Drivers & Software

Driver support for Microsoft Windows Vista/9x/ME/2000/XP/XP MCE/XP Pro x64, Linux and Macintosh OS (including OS X)
CyberLink Power DVD 6.0
Gigabyte V-Tuner 3 Overclocking utility
Serious Sam II

Other Information

PCI Express x16 slot required
Dedicated 6-pin PCIe Molex power connector required (not shared or split)
Power supply rated for 400W or higher recommended by NVIDIA (500W PSU for SLI setup)

Zalman Assisted GeForce 7900 GT

There are so many versions of GeForce 7900 GT in the retail market now; some don't even look remotely like the reference model anymore. Gigabyte's latest GeForce 7900 GT – GV-NX79T256DP-RH is the perfect example. The most obvious change is the Zalman cooler, which should be familiar with most enthusiasts. We have seen this cooler on numerous occasions, either retrofitted on graphics cards by the vendors or sold as a standalone product (e.g. as the Zalman VF700-Cu). Fortunately, just like we remembered, the Zalman cooler onboard the Gigabyte is still as quiet and we can barely hear the whirl of the fan when we plugged in the card. The distinctive, open design of the aluminum fins is probably the reason why a single, relatively slow moving fan is sufficient to cool the GPU and of course slow moving equates to silence when it comes to coolers and fans.

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Test - 3DMark05 Pro & 3DMark06

The Gigabyte was ranked second for both 3DMark05 and 3DMark06, just slightly behind the Palit GeForce 7900GT Sonic, which boasted of 512MB memory and a higher core clock. The overclocked bunch of GeForce 7900 GT cards all performed fairly close to each other and the difference between the best and the worst of the lot is at most 3%, not a decisive margin in any case. Looking at the results and their clock speeds, the Gigabyte did seem to have a good balance in its memory and core clocks and does not overly concentrate on one aspect to the detriment of the other.

2006-07-26T11:40:00.000+08:00

ASUS PW201 Wide-screen LCD Monitor

The Black Beauty

It's hard to imagine an LCD monitor that provides more than just visual functions in an aesthetically pleasing package that boasts a jaw-dropping screen size, quick gray-to-gray response time, a built-in camera, speakers, and a whole range of connectors. ASUS, known for its quality products and role as a major OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) player, brings to the market the PW201, an LCD display that aims to provide a good visual experience.

The Power Within

The ASUS PW201 has a black piano finish and its bezel houses a 20-inch widescreen LCD panel that features a native resolution of 1,680 by 1,050 pixels, giving users acres of desktop space to work with. Despite the rising popularity of glare type panels, the screen of the PW201 is that of the traditional matt, anti-glare version, which at the slight expense of color vibrancy helps minimize straining of the eye considerably. A quick 8ms response time (gray-to-gray) ensures 'ghosting' from gaming and movies will always be kept at bay while ASUS' SPLENDID Video Intelligence Technology offers a variety of preset viewing modes (eg. Game, Night View, Scenery, etc) that users can simply choose to instantly configure the video attributes of the PW201 to the video content they are viewing for maximum visual enjoyment.

Moving beyond the panel, the PW201 has two 3W stereo speakers and a digital webcam built into the flanks of the screen and the top bezel respectively. Running along the bottom bezel is a row of six touch buttons that users can use to manually fine-tune the PW201 to personal preferences. On the side of the LCD screen are three handy USB 2.0 ports and a headphone jack that fits conventional earphone/headphone via a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug. The rear is a busy landscape of connection ports comprehensively listing S-Video, D-Sub, L/R Audio, Component input (YpbPr), and DVI ports. There's also a detachable stand for the VESA wall mount and a Kensington slot for obvious security reasons.

Let's Dance

A very nifty feature of the ASUS PW201 is its incredible "dexterity" – the stand that is. First off, the stand allows you to turn the monitor to the left or right up to 120º and it can be further adjusted from -5º to 25º for users to arrive at the most comfortable viewing angle according to their eye level when seated. The best feature of the ASUS PW201 however, is its ability to rotate counterclockwise by a full 90º such that the final position is in a portrait orientation. Through the Pivot PRO program, the PW201 can be quickly configured for to result in maximum vertical readability that's best suited for reading lengthy web pages and portrait-styled Excel spreadsheets, PDF, and Word documents. Needless to say, professionals such as graphic artists will find this combination of hardware and software orientation advantageous to their work, since they can freely adjust viewing orientation (from landscape to portrait) on the fly.

Even the built-in camera can be swiveled from -30º to 30º and is capable of digital still impressions at up to 1280 by 960 pixels. Pictures can then be enhanced either automatically or manually via the bundled Lifeframe software with the flexibility of adding photo effects. Of even greater convenience is that the camera can be called upon to record videos in addition to video conferencing, and with a live Internet connection, photos and videos can be instantly put up on the web or shared via email, messaging applications, and etc.

Final Thoughts

Though users may have slight tactility issues with the PW201's touch buttons, it is not severe to the extent of tainting the otherwise impressive PW201. The ability to change orientation from landscape to portrait with a single click of a button; highly audible built-in stereo speakers; a 1.3 megapixel camera; and compatibility with most video sources (except for HDMI devices), the ASUS PW201 is sure to create a lasting impression.

Product Specifications:

20-inch widescreen LCD
Maximum resolution of 1680 X 1050 pixels
0.258mm Pixel Pitch
Anti-reflection glare type panel
8ms Grey-to-Grey response time
Power Consumption: <80w>
I/O: 3 x USB2.0 ports, 1 x VGA, 1 x DVI, 1 x D-Sub, 1 x S-Video, 1 x Component, 2 x 3W stereo speakers, and earphone output
Built-in 1.3 megapixel camera
Flexible display orientation including portrait or landscape
Dimensions: 560 x 496 x 28mm (W x H x D)
Net Weight: 9.7kg
Warranty: 3 years (system and panel)

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2006-07-25T12:50:00.000+08:00

D-Link Ships Award-Winning SECURESPOT for Home & SMBs

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 24 -- D-Link began shipping SECURESPOT, a trend-setting and award-winning internet security device designed to prevent unwanted content from invading home and small business computer networks while helping parents control their children's Internet access.

The D-Link SECURESPOT (DSD-150) provides robust business-level threat protection for up to four computers, installs externally between the user's broadband modem and router, and is a simpler and lower-cost alternative to installing separate anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-popup and other off-the-shelf or downloadable security software programs onto each computer within the home or office network.

"This all-in-one D-Link security solution uses a combination of hardware, software applications and back-end, Web-based managed services to provide multi-tiered network protection from both current and emerging Internet security threats," said Steven Joe, president and CEO of D-Link Systems, Inc. "Now more than ever, it is important to provide consumers with protection from viruses, and enable parents with a non-intrusive means to manage the activity of their home and protect their children on the Internet."

An easy-to-use hardware security solution, SECURESPOT is a compact (one-inch thick and four square inches) device that is easy to install and easy to manage for household adults, parents or small business operators. SECURESPOT protects without slowing down the individual computers on the network, and ships with built-in Quality of Service (QoS) to optimize performance of applications running on the network.

Parents can easily control each child's computer accessibility and content to ensure maximum security. Using the built-in Web-based Control Center, moms and dads can customize each child's computer content to assign access times, block keywords and websites, filter known and unknown email senders and use the event logs to track suspicious activity.

Introduced last January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where it won CNET's "Best of CES" award, SECURESPOT is available now in most retail outlets where computer products are sold. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $99.99, which includes one-year licenses for up to four computers. After the first year, licensing for up to four computers will cost $79.99 per year. Additional annual user licenses can be purchased for $19.99 each.

According to Brian Cooley, editor-at-large for CNET, "D-Link's SECURESPOT was, without a doubt, one of the hottest products at CES 2006. It sets a standard within the company's sector for others to follow."

Key Features & Benefits

Firewall & Intrusion Detection -- SECURESPOT's Personal Firewall acts like a burglar alarm to protect users from hacker attacks, high-risk viruses, worms and Trojan programs and annoying pop-ups, spyware and spam (junk mail).
Plug and Play -- SECURESPOT is an inline device that resides between the broadband modem and router (D-Link and all brands), or can be directly attached to a desktop computer or laptop for single computer protection. Auto-sensing technology identifies local network devices, providing easy set-up for any home or small business.
Web-Based Control Panel -- Provides easy administration of single or multiple computers. Virus scan times and other tasks can be performed anywhere on the network for one or all computers, and protective services can be mixed and matched by user preference.
Multi-Layer Security -- Protects valuable data and resources at both the computer and network perimeter.
Real-Time Databases -- Automatically updates and secures virus definitions, URL databases, spyware and spam server lists.
Operating System Support -- Provided for all Windows 98 and higher operating systems, as well as Macintosh OSX 10.3 and 10.4.
Content Filters -- Users can customize 82 filtering categories and define individual site blocking and unblocking features, and selectively filter Peer-to-Peer applications, Instant Messaging and other programs without slowing down Internet traffic.

2006-07-25T12:42:00.000+08:00

Canon EOS 30D

Revised with New Features

About a year ago, Canon gave us their mid-range 20D DSLR that was targeted at amateur photographers, and while it was and still is a good camera on all accounts, there were still some niggling issues about the 20D that somehow prevented the camera from living up to its claimed potentials and the many expectations that were a result of prolonged hype. Thankfully, Canon had been paying attention to user feedbacks and the result soon emerged in the form of the Canon 30D. On paper, both the 20D and 30D are almost identical and some of the similarities you can expect include an 8.2-megapixel image sensor, DIGIC II image processor, 5FPS continuous shooting speed and more, but after some meddling however, we soon realized that the improvements on the 30D were more than just marginal. In fact, the 30D is quickly living up to what the 20D was originally hyped up to be and here are some reasons why.

More Power In the Same House

The Canon 30D retains a similar chassis as the 20D but because of additional features such as a larger 2.5-inch LCD monitor, the 30D is notably heavier. The body itself is fabricated from tough yet lightweight magnesium alloy material, giving it a superlative feel where build quality is concerned. Interestingly, the control layout of the new 30D resembles closely to that of the higher tiered 5D DSLR and even the menu system is virtually identical to both the 5D and the outgoing 20D.

Speed Is Its Middle Name

Being a serious professional imaging device, the 30D is expected to boast fast processing speed and quick response time, and it sure didn't fail to deliver.
Apart from an impressively rapid shot-to-shot speed that users can rely on for instant candid shots (thanks to its quick 0.15-second startup time, swift 65-milisecond shutter release lag and fast processing speed), the 30D is also tuned to include a fast 5FPS continuous shooting speed that budding sports photographers will quickly appreciate. Furthermore, due to a large and efficient memory buffer, the 30D can accommodate (store) a sustained burst of either 30 JPEG (Large/Fine) or 11 RAW images before it automatically steps down to a slower continuous shooting speed of between 3 and 5FPS. Finally, the onboard AI Servo AF (auto focusing system) works to ensure spot-on focusing of moving subjects.

Final Thoughts

The Canon 30D did showed prominent improvements over the 20D with the inclusion of spot metering (finally), the ability to make 1/3-stop ISO adjustments, and an additional slower but more sustainable 3FPS burst mode. However, considering that the imaging pipeline is not an overhaul of the 20D, perhaps dubbing the latest Canon entry into the EOS bloodline EOS 20D Mark II would have been more fitting instead.

As for image quality, test shots were mostly up to expectations and while not entirely noise-free, the 30D was able to suppress noise while maintaining good details even at ISO 1600. Strangely, in our night test shot, lighting turns out more natural with landscape mode rather than night mode. All in all, if you are looking for a mid-range DSLR in the market today, the new and improved 30D is certainly not lacking in any department, but for existing owners of 20D or equivalent models, the 30D will not offer much in the way of performance to price ratio. The Canon EOS 30D is currently available with a RRP of US$1,676 (S$2,669) with EF-S 18-55mm, f/3.5-5.6mm kit lens.

Product Specifications:

8.2-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor
5FPS continuous shooting with 30 large JPEG / 11 RAW image files burst
2.5-inch, 230K pixel with 170º wide viewing angle LCD screen
Picture Style image processing parameters
Spot metering and High Precision 9-point AF system
DIGIC II image processor with 0.15 sec start-up time
Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software
100,000 cycle shutter durability and rugged magnesium alloy body
Simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording
Wide 100 - 3200 ISO range
E-TTL II Flash
PictBridge
Complete compatibility with all Canon EF, EF-S lenses, and EX-series Speedlites
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and Video Out connectivity

Picture

2006-07-22T12:13:00.000+08:00

A4Tech X-750F

The Mouse With A Secret

Whether it’s practicing for hours each day, reading FAQs in various forums or planning and trying out tactics; Gamers will always be gamers; constantly finding different ways to be at the top their game. Most of them would say that the better the input device they own, the better they perform in virtual battle arena. The mouse is arguably the most pivotal input device all self-respecting gamer must have in their possession and unassuming pointing device needs to have a fast response time, an accurate sensor, and above all, help gamers stay ahead of the pack. A4Tech tries to address the needs of both gamers and non-gamers by introducing the X-750F, a laser mouse that aims to give hardcore gamers an upper hand over their opponents.

The Unfair Advantage

Although it has all the basic features of a regular mouse, A4 has injected efforts to throw in a couple of nifty features to its X-750F. On the left side of the mouse is a sculpted thumb support and a contoured grip that ensures comfort, stability, and avoids the mouse from slipping away in the heat of battles. There are also two side thumb buttons that are carefully positioned above the thumb support to aid in rapid inputs. And by the touch of a button that’s located below the scroll wheel, users can adjust their DPI (dots per inch) in real time from 600-800-1200-1600-2000 and 2500dpi without the need to access any 3rd party program.

The color change in tandem with prevailing DPI is another useful aid for gamers who want to adjust the mouse sensitivity within games. However, the party piece of this mouse is really the small discrete red button found just beside the left mouse button. Dubbed the “3xFire Button”, gamers can now finally have a single mechanical button that automatically serves up three commands into one click, which is perfect for execution of tactical scripts.
Competitive gamers will certainly fare better with this advantageous input feature, but even non-gamers will quickly learn to appreciate the quick “firing” offered by the “3xFire Button” because files and applications can be programmed and opened in instant succession. Finally, four Teflon feet underneath the mouse provide smooth mouse movement to facilitate pinpoint accuracy.

The X-750F uses a gaming-grade laser engine that promises 2500 DPI at 7,080 FPS, image-processing speed of 6.4 mega pixels per second, and a maximum accelerating speed of 45 inches/second. The mouse driver, called the Smart X-7, enables users to manually adjust the x/y axis sensitivity levels. It also gives users a massive input flexibility by offering 58 different functions for the mouse buttons in addition to a complete keyboard simulation that works to recreate single or combinational key commands. Lastly, through a high-speed USB connection, the X-750F is eight times faster than conventional mice, providing users with the fastest response time as technically possible.

Final Thoughts

Due to its unique ergonomic design for the thumb support, the X-750F might not be well received by left-handed users. However, its solid construction, well-placed buttons, adjustable DPI (scalable to 2,500 DPI), programmable buttons, and a “3xFire” button, the X-750F will make it easy for even first-time users to start “mousing” with confidence in both gaming and Windows environments. Gamers, specifically, will have an even easier time mowing down their opponents to increase their gaming proficiency in the quickest possible time - just don’t reveal this killer mouse to your opponents though, as doing so would disclose the secret to your gaming prowess.

Product Specifications:

6.4 Mega pixels per second report rate
CPI Resolution: 600, 800 (Green), 1200 (Yellow), 1600 (Red), 2000 (Red and Yellow-Green), 2500 (Green and Orange)
Genuine Teflon Gaming Mouse Feet
Customizable and programmable 5-button Interface
Dimensions: 4.5" X 2.3" X 1.6"
Mouse weight: 0.26 lb.

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2006-07-21T12:30:00.001+08:00

MSI P965 Neo (Intel P965 - Core 2 Ready)

Introduction

Every time the PC industry forces a new platform into the market, it's the users that always get left behind. With AMD, it was an expensive upgrade path and core component overhaul to adopt Socket AM2, but Intel isn't all that better off either. Yes, the new Core 2 processors are more 'upgrade' friendly as they are still based on the LGA775 socket, but most older LGA775 motherboards don't really support the new CPU.

Barring the huge population of enthusiasts out there who are able to just continuously upgrade to the latest and baddest hardware with impunity, we of finite monetary resources have to strike a balance of features and performance. Will you blow your budget on a feature-rich motherboard and settle for a less powerful processor? Or do away with extra features for a higher-end CPU.

Specifications:

CPU Support

Supports 90nm/65nm LGA775 processor package
Supports Intel Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Extreme
Supports Intel Pentium D / Pentium Processor Extreme Edition
Supports Intel Pentium 4 / Pentium 4 Extreme Edition

Chipset

Northbridge: Intel P965

533 / 800 / 1066MHz front side bus
PCI Express x16 graphics

Southbridge: Intel ICH8

Intel High Definition Audio
Supports six PCI Express x1 lanes
Supports up to ten USB 2.0 ports
Supports four SATA 3.0Gbps ports
Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps MAC
Intel Quiet System Technology
Intel Virtualization Technology ready

Memory

Supports four unbuffered DIMM of 1.8 Volt DDR2 SDRAM
Supports 800/677/533 dual channel DDR2 memory architecture

Storage

Intel ICH8 Southbridge

4 x SATA 3.0Gbps interface

JMicron JMB361 SATA/IDE Controller

2 x Ultra ATA 33/66/100/133 (data transfer rate up to 133MB/sec.)
1 x SATA 3.0Gbps interface
Supports AHCI and NCQ

Audio

Intel High Definition Audio (Azalia)
Realtek ALC883 8-channel HD Audio CODEC

Networking

Realtek RTL8110SC PCI Gigabit Ethernet controller

I/O Interface

1 x Floppy connector
1 x Ultra ATA IDE connectors
5 x SATA connectors
10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 x rear, 6 x header)
1 x RJ45 LAN port
8-Channel Audio I/O ports
1 x 9-pin serial port
1 x parallel port
1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 mouse port
1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 keyboard port

Expansion Slots

1 x PCIe x16 slots, PCI Express Bus specification v1.0a compliant
2 x PCIe x1 slots, PCI Express Bus specification v1.0a compliant
3 x 32-bit PCI slots, PCI 2.3 compliant

Special Features

D.O.T. Express (Dynamic Overclocking Technology)

PCB

ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6"(30.5cm x 24.4cm)

Features

While the MSI P965 Neo is based on Intel's new Broadwater platform, its use of the standard 'lite' chipset formula - P965 MCH paired with the basic, suffix-less ICH8 - creates a slim motherboard without any real standout features besides the official support of DDR2-800 memory and more USB 2.0 slots. The P965 Neo is a standard PCI Express motherboard sporting one PCIe x16 interface with a decent mix of two PCIe x1 and three PCI slots for expansion capabilities. However, storage functionality and performance turns out to be rather limited as the ICH8 Southbridge has no support for AHCI, NCQ or RAID, even though it supports fast SATA 3.0Gbps transfer rates.

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Test - BAPco SYSmark 2004

The P965 Neo performed slightly poorer against both the Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6 and ASUS P5W DH Deluxe in SYSmark's overall score, but after breaking down the different workloads, we noticed that the board was actually on par in Internet Content Creation. It did not perform as well in the Office Productivity suite due to a weaker storage subsystem that hadn't support for NCQ, which our test drives support.

2006-07-20T16:16:00.000+08:00

Vosonic VP 8360 Multimedia Viewer (100GB)

A Shutterbug's Companion

Any digital photographer worth his salt should know that half the job involves lugging around an array of essential equipment and it only gets worse when it comes to assignments that stretch over a period of time such as an overseas shoot. With digital storage demands scaling ever upwards at the back of the megapixel race, photographers everywhere are facing a growing issue of storage constraint when on out on the field. Quick to answer the wishes of photographers is Vosonic with their VP8360.

A Spartan Look

Taking up most of the facial estate on the VP8360 is a bright and sharp 3.7-inch QVGA LCD screen and a simple navigation panel that’s ergonomically designed into the right side of the screen for obvious handling reason. A dash of silver on the palm grip and control stick breaks the color monotony of the VP8360 reasonably well, giving the portable media player a clean and welcoming aesthetic signature, which means it should blend in seamlessly with most professional photography equipments. Ergonomically, the matte-black VP8360 is considerably small and sits comfortably in most palms.

Fine Features

Included in the menu are options for quick backup of memory card, audio/video recording, slideshow, radio as well as a simple but highly entertaining Tetris game. As one of the more important functions, the slideshow does not disappoint with programmable transitions as well as options for background music. Video playback mode on the VP8360 itself is modest, capable of handling AVI, MOV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4 and XVID formats at 30fps while recording mode can be initiated in three different resolutions with a maximum of 352x240 pixels at 30fps.

As an added bonus, an infrared remote control is included so you can kick back and enjoy movies or slideshows leisurely.
Finally, the all-important flash memory card reader can be found at the top of VP8360 and this is compatible with CF, MS, SD, MMC, MD, miniSD, RS-MMC, MS-Duo and MS Pro Duo formats. The reader is part of the VP8360’s quick-backup function earlier – perfect for digital photographers.

Size Does Matter

What really sets the VP8360 apart from other funky portable media players that are concurrently flooding retail channels is the upgradeability that Vosonic is advocating. Simple instructions and tools are included to encourage users to replace and modify the VP8360 using their own standard 2.5-inch hard drive – signifying that storage capacity is only as limited as the largest 2.5-inch hard-disk on the market. This upgrade-friendly path is definitely worth a crowd pleaser and will probably put Vosonic on the radar sights of many photographers to come.

Nitpicking

This is not to say the VP8360 is perfect however, as we thought a tougher cover for the card reader could have been used over the stock version as it appears too fragile to accompany photographers on road trips, not to mention lasting the mile. Also, the buttons on the bundled remote control are too rigid for easy usage, thus defeating the intended purpose of convenience.

Final Thoughts

The VP8360 should not be compared side-by-side with consumer portable media players because it was obviously designed to appeal almost exclusively to digital photographers rather than the masses. Fanciful looks and gimmicks aside, the Vosonic VP8360 worked as intended and was easy to use as it was easy to carry around.

Product Specifications:

2.5-inch 100GB HDD (40, 60, 80, 120GB models also available)
3.6-inch TFT LCD (320 x 240 pixels)
Video Formats: MPEG-1, MPEG-4 (Simple Profile), Divx, Xvid, WMV9
Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, CDA
Image Formats: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, RAW
Expansion: CF Type I/II, Memory Stick, SD, MMC, MicroDrive; other types may require an adapter
Analog AV-out composite RCA jack, Stereo earphone jack; Dock included
Video Recording: 352x240 pixels at 30fps
Battery: Li-ion 3.7V, 2,300 mAh battery
Music Playback: Approx 12 hours
Video Playback: Approx 4 hours
Dimensions: 72 x 135 x 23mm (H x W x D)
Weight: 236g (with battery and HDD)

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2006-07-20T16:05:00.000+08:00

Sony Introduces New TV and Wireless Home Entertainment System

Sony Raises the Curtain on Stylishly Designed, Space-Saving Home Theater Systems

NEW YORK, July 18 -- Sony is bringing the listening room to the living room with the launch of two packaged home theater solutions that optimize the company's legacy of design and high-quality A/V performance.

In an industry first, Sony will be integrating a high-definition 32-inch LCD television into a cutting-edge home theater system. It features an audio unit with a single-disc DVD/CD/SA-CD player and a digital amplifier. Additionally, it slides up or down to conceal or reveal the LCD.

Another option the company is introducing is a TV stand with an integrated home theater system. Then you can add a Sony BRAVIA LCD TV for a full home theater experience without rear speakers.

"Unobtrusive home theater systems are soaring in popularity as flat-panel LCD televisions drive the market and, as a result, we have begun to merge home theater products into TV stands specifically designed for these displays," said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Products Division.

All-In-One Solution

The TAV-L1 all-in-one home theater system features a motorized audio unit that with a push of a button automatically slides down, revealing a 32-inch LCD flat-panel HDTV.

The combination LCD TV/home theater system incorporates a slot-loading DVD/CD/SACD player, two powerful vibration canceling subwoofers, Sony's S-Master digital amplifier, and Sony's S-Force Pro virtual surround sound processing for realistic surround sound without rear speakers.

Additionally, the unit includes a pre-programmed remote control and an HDMI input, as well as Dolby(R) Digital, Dolby Pro Logic(R) II and dts processing. The system comes standard with a black speaker grill; optional grills are available in warm gray, burgundy and green colors. Two additional colors, metallic orange and silver, will be available exclusively at Sony Style retail stores across the country and on the web at sonystyle.com.

2006-07-20T16:00:00.000+08:00

Hardware Platforms' WatchGuard's True Zero Day Protection for SMBs

WatchGuard Technologies rolls out its new e-Series UTM platforms. The new line of hardware increases performance, port density and security functionality in the company's Firebox X Core and Peak products.

The new e-Series UTM hardware platforms consist of the Firebox X Edge, X Core with Fireware Pro and the Firebox X Peak with Fireware Pro.

Firebox X Edge security appliances deliver powerful network protection for small businesses and remote/branch offices. Used as a stand-alone integrated security appliance or VPN endpoint solution, the Firebox X Edge offers reliable firewall, VPN, and URL filtering, plus advanced networking and traffic management capabilities to maximize network configurability. An intuitive, Web-based user interface provides quick, out-of-the-box device configuration, while WatchGuard System Manager allows for streamlined centralized management for multi-box environments. results

Firebox X Core Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions provide the most complete security in their class, integrating dependable packet firewall, VPN, true Zero Day attack prevention, anti-spyware, anti-spam, anti-virus, intrusion prevention, and URL filtering on a single appliance – reducing the time and cost associated with managing multiple-point solutions and significantly increasing protection from blended network attacks.

Firebox X Peak security appliance for medium to large enterprises represents the highest-performance line of Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances from WatchGuard, offering true Zero Day protection out of the box, with up to gigabit-per-second firewall throughput. Integrating powerful security capabilities with advanced networking features, the Firebox X Peak delivers a superior overall solution that meets the needs of the most demanding network environments.

Expert Guidance and Support

The WatchGuard LiveSecurity Service is the most comprehensive bundled support and maintenance offering in the industry. Our expert team will equip you with necessary information and skills on how to better manage your network security. LiveSecurity Service offers software updates, expert technical support, up-to the-minute security warning broadcasts, advance hardware replacement, and self-help resources such as training, certification, and tutorial programs. Premium support service is available for companies with mission-critical Internet requirements.

WatchGuard’s Firebox E Edge, X Peak and X Core products are available in Philippines through MSI-ECS (Phils.) Inc.

2006-07-20T15:56:00.000+08:00

Thecus Launches YES nano N1050 Red and White Edition

07/20/2006 – Since the launch of the Thecus YES nano N1050 OTG Photo Bank, users have been unleashing their creativity on the road. No longer constrained by the size of their memory cards, YES nano users can take photos and movies on-the-go without limits. Due to popular demand, Thecus announced today the YES nano N1050 Red and White Editions – two hot new colors for this incredible digital storage device. Now, users can choose the color that suits their personality, making the YES nano N1050 friendlier than ever.

Housing a standard 2.5” hard disk, the YES nano N1050 enables storage of 100GB or more in a device that easily slips into a purse or coat pocket. With nearly limitless storage available on the road, users can take pictures, record movies, or bring thousands of MP3s with them at all times. On-the-go backup is a simple as it gets. Users just plug in their device to the YES nano N1050, and press a button – no computer needed! The included external battery pack even accepts standard, readily-available AA batteries. Easy-to-use and carry, the YES nano N1050 is the perfect travel companion.

Customizable storage means that users can select the storage capacity that’s best for them. A budding professional photographer? Slap in a 60GB hard disk and you are good to go. Multimedia mogul? Install a 100GB hard disk and keep your entire digital media collection with you. With one-touch copy, all the files from your digital camera or camcorder are backed up, allowing you to keep on shooting. USB connectivity enables speedy data transfers, while the included carrying case helps protect your YES nano N1050 from everyday wear.

“People have been given the power to use their digital devices more often on the road with the YES nano N1050,” notes Thecus CEO Edwin Lin. “With powerful features and two hot new colors, the YES nano N1050 is a perfect gift for those who require a large storage capacity on the go.”

For more information on the Thecus YES nano N1050, go to: http://www.thecus.com/products_over.php?cid=1&pid=7

2006-07-19T12:49:00.000+08:00

Samsung SGH-X820 Ultra Edition

Absolut Anorexic

Not since Supermodels Twiggy or Kate Moss has any fashion icon taken the world by storm with their waif looks. Samsung however, might have just done it all again with the world’s slimmest phone, the SGH-X820.

Thin is In...Again!

Despite a serious matte black shade that is typical of Samsung, the sleek X820 silently screams for attention with its ultra-slim profile. Wafer thin at just 6.9mm, it’s hard to describe in words just how thin the X820 really is – the awe of the engineering involved is best left to an actual hands-on experience. Even at its thickest point, the X820 is still delightfully thin at just 9mm; the feature responsible for the slight indulgence in its otherwise waif look would be a respectable 2.0-megapixel camera.

Although two megapixels might not be much these days, the imaging quality of the X820 is still nothing to snuff at and is definitely a technological achievement considering how Samsung managed to embed all the wizardry of modern day telecommunication within a gadget that weighs just 66g. Due to its slim profile, the X820’s side is sparingly furnished with a camera shortcut button, a volume control button as well as a power-in port that doubles as a headset output. In addition to the above features, interested buyers would be please to know that a spacious and intuitive keypad with backlit keys was packed into its tiny frame.

Bend It Like Samsung

Slim and fragile as it may appear, the body of the X820 is actually tougher than it looks and is certainly no "lightweight" as a barrier from cracks, scratches and stains. Even when moderate pressure was applied at both ends of the phone in a breaking motion, the phone was able to take the strain in stride and flexibly bounced back to shape almost immediately. This will quickly ease doubts about the fragility of the X820 (Editor: we would however like to remind our readers to exercise common sense when testing the phone in a similar fashion.
Yes, it's slim and built tough, but it's definitely not indestructible).

Battery Woes?

Sticking to safe and simplistic industrial design, the X820 features a simple 35 x 28mm LCD screen with a native resolution of 220 by 176 pixels. The LCD screen itself is characteristically bright and clear - as expected of Samsung. Our initial assumption that the brightness of the screen was going to have a detrimental effect on battery life eventually proved unfounded, as the phone not only has five selectable levels of brightness but also a programmable backlight dimmer as well as a keypad lighting that can automatically turn on at a pre-selected time – all coming together to deliver a longer battery life.

Digging deeper into the retail package revealed an extra battery and a travel charger. This discovery immediately sparked a paranoia regarding the X820’s battery life – was this a precursor to a terrible battery performance? Fortunately, after some stress testing, the capacity of the standard battery proved sufficient for nearly two days of operation. Besides, it really isn't uncommon to find Korean companies slotting in a spare battery for good measure. A couple of minor issues we could scrape together were the lack of a Vibrate/Ring function and that the phone would get warm to the touch 15 minutes into conversations.

Our Thoughts

Every once in a while a good product would come along to bowl us over. The Samsung X820 certainly won our heart, so much so that we were even contemplating the thought of getting one – our vain side just got the better of our logical side. Overall, the Samsung X820 is an extremely slim and well-built phone boasting a 2.0-megapixel camera as well as a generous keypad. Almost free from flaws, there really isn't much impeding us from strongly recommending the X820 to anyone looking to lighten the overall load of their mobile arsenal.

Product Specifications:

GSM 900/1800/1900
256K-color TFT screen (220 x 176 pixels)
WAP 2.0, GPRS, Bluetooth, USB
2.0-Megapixels camera: 1600 x 1200 pixels / Video: 352 x 288 pixels
80MB internal memory
Battery: Li-Ion Polymer 630 mAh
Standby / Talk Time: Up to 210 / 2.5 hours
Features: Video playback, Java support, MP3 music player, Image editor
Dimensions: 113 x 50 x 6.9 mm (H x W x D)
Weight: 66g

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2006-07-19T12:40:00.000+08:00

Apple's Mac mini and Mac Book

Apple's Mac mini and Mac Book

Although Apple set a conservative deadline that it would only be done updating all its Macintosh computers with Intel dual-core processor by the end of 2006, the reality is that the entire lineup is more or less refreshed – all with the exception of PowerMac. Among the updated Apple machines, the new Mac mini and MacBook are two that caught our fancy, of which the MacBook was created to succeed the Apple iBook series. The new Mac mini and MacBook are more than just superficial rejuvenations of their respective predecessors. Where performance comes to numbers, each is about five times faster than the model they replace and the good news is they are both affordably priced. The price factor alone should give PC users one less excuse not to consider an Apple computing machine, but did we also mention that they are capable of running Windows OS and applications as well? Yes, the day of a Mac-Window has finally arrived.

Windows and Apple Computers In Perfect Union

One of the most affirming reasons why veteran PC users would invest in a Mac today is clearly because of the new dual boot (Windows and OSX) capability. The new Intel-based Macs are currently the only platform that general consumers can purchase off the shelves to harness the best applications of both Windows and Mac without the need to overcome any tricky boot managing software. Windows applications such as Microsoft Office suite can now be ran natively on a Mac. Consumers can simply pick up a copy of Microsoft Office suite that is programmed for Windows and have it installed in the new generation of Mac computers that can run both Windows and Mac OSX operating systems. Also, instead of using Boot Camp, there are interesting third party applications such as 'Parallels' that lets you run both Windows and OSX at the same time through virtualization technology.

The Mac mini

The Mac mini is the smallest Apple computer to date and is designed to be instantly deployed out of the box. Nothing has changed with this refreshment of the petite Mac machine, so much so that it is impossible to separate between the old and the new by appearance alone. Though the processor has been upgraded, the same cannot be said about its graphics specification, as the ATI Radeon 9200 chip installed in previous generation of Mac mini is now replaced by integrated Intel GMA950 graphics instead. Though the "downgrade" is not going to affect gaming experience for titles such as Unreal Tournament 2004, newer games such as Half Life 2 – Episode 1 will very likely slow the Mac mini down to a crawl. As such, we wouldn't recommend playing any of the newer games on the new Mac mini – it wasn't designed to be a gaming machine to begin with.
A fresh sight on the new Mac mini is the 'Front Row' software that first appeared on the iMac. Bundled with the Apple Remote, users can access all multimedia contents (video, photos, music and DVD) through a single interface, and as per Mac mini purchase, consumers are required to purchase a monitor, keyboard and mouse because these are not included.

MacBook Replaces the Old iBook

With a thickness of just one inch; the MacBook is a completely new notebook altogether. Apart from being available in two colors: black and white, there are many new add-ons on the MacBook that owners of older iBook could only envy. Items such as the built-in iSight camera, MagSafe Power Adapter, Sudden Motion Sensor (designed to protect the hard drive) and a smaller 13-inch glossy widescreen display (the most significant change boasted by MacBook) are what Apple has added to inject appeal into its new MacBook series. In contrast to the iBook, the LCD screen of the MacBook is much brighter - although some might find the glossy screen irritating to a certain extent because of its highly reflective nature.

Like the Mac mini, the MacBook also uses integrated Intel GMA950 graphics, which inadvertently tells the same inadequacy story of the MacBook where powering the latest gaming titles is concerned. Also new to the MacBook is the use of a magnetic latch over traditional locking latches. This gives the MacBook a contemporary feel that was lacking in the old iBook and also makes it easier to use because there are no spring levers to operate anymore. Keyboard isn't great; we had to spend some time adjusting to the raised and somewhat unconventionally designed keys.

Ending Notes

Both the Mac mini and MacBook are the best entry-level computers Apple has had to offer right now. If you have been wondering exactly what the appeal of Apple computers really is, you need only look at the user-friendly OSX (currently 10.4, Tiger) and the pricing in comparison to a similar PC equivalent to appreciate the value proposition of Apple machines. If somehow you fear you might regret your decision to switch over to either of the two mentioned computers, fret not as Apple has now provided 'Boot Camp' to lets you run familiar Windows OS and applications easily (though we don't see why anyone would dislike the ease of use of Apple OSX operating system and the bundled iLife'06 applications that lets you easily manage/edit/create video, photos and music).

Both Macs discussed in this article are fine machines that not only look the part but also more than adequate to handle your run-of-the-mill usage. Expect RRP of about US$599 and US$1,099 for the basic Mac mini and MacBook respectively.

Product Specifications:

Mac Mini

Processor: 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo or 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor
Intel GMA950 Graphics with 64MB DDR2 SDRAM (shared)
Hard Drive: 60GB / 80GB 5,400RPM SATA
Optical Drive: Slot-loading Combo / SuperDrive with double-layer support
I/O Ports: 1 x FireWire 400 port, 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x DVI-out (VGA output via adapter), 1 x S-Video out, and 1 x Composite Video out
Audio: Built-in speakers, optical audio in/out (headphone)
Built-in 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
Built-in 802.11g AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR module
Dimensions: 165.1 x 50.8 x 165.1 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 1.31kg

MacBook

Processor: 1.83/2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor
Intel GMA950 Graphics with 64MB DDR2 SDRAM (shared)
13.3-inch glossy TFT widescreen (1280 x 800 pixels)
Hard Drive: 60GB / 80GB 5,400RPM SATA
Optical Drive: Slot-loading Combo / SuperDrive with double-layer support
I/O Ports: 1 x FireWire 400 port, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x Mini-DVI port with support for DVI, VGA, S-Video and Composite Video out (via adapter)
Audio: Built-in speakers, Built-in omnidirectional microphone, optical audio in/out (headphone)
Built-in iSight video camera
Built-in 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
Built-in 802.11g AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR module
Dimensions: 165.1 x 50.8 x 165.1 mm (W x H x D) Weight: 1.31kg

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2006-07-18T14:37:00.000+08:00

HIS Delivers the IceQ edition of X1600XT; 2x Dual Link DVI 128MB

Hong Kong, Jul 17 – HIS (Hightech Information System Limited) delivers the HIS X1600XT IceQ 2x Dual Link DVI 128MB GDDR3 card, promising faster, quieter and cooler radically new 3D performance architecture technology with the double Dual Link DVI feature and the next generation image quality by ATI.

The strongest air cooling technology - IceQ

HIS X1600XT IceQ equips with the most efficient cooling technology among the current graphic cards' series. HIS IceQ can actively draw the air inside your PC case to cool down the card, and blows amounts of hot air out of your case, dramatically decreasing the GPU temperature together with your PC components. Our laboratory tests have proven that there is a temperature decrease at least 11°C, a cooling system with no equivalent! Ultra quiet HIS IceQ fan keeps the noise level below 20dB. HIS X1600XT IceQ is also UV sensitive, enhancing the gamer's UV light case.

Faster, Quieter and Cooler
Faster: Heat transfers rapidly out of GPU and reduces temperature faster
Cooler: Lower than other cooling solution
Quieter: Less than 20dB
All Cool: Durability, IceQ extends the Card Life

Radically new 3D performance architecture

HIS X1600XT IceQ 2x Dual Link DVI 128MB GDDR3 powered by the new ultra-threaded 3D core architecture, with advanced 90nm micron process, allows the core operating in exceptional performance. Optimizing the latest Shader Model 3.0 and DirectX 9 technologies, which enhances the gaming experience. HIS X1600XT IceQ features new 256-bit Ring Bus memory controller, with the new cache design provides lightning fast memory control for rendering engines.

Next generation image quality

HIS X1600XT IceQ 2x Dual Link DVI 128MB GDDR3 benefits on the latest ATI Avivo technology. With an impressive quality in video capture and play back via H.264/VC1 acceleration and universal connectivity, it turns HIS X1600XT IceQ into an HD ready media PC perfect for watching videos and viewing/editing photos. The advanced High Dynamic Range rendering, enhanced realism with adaptive anti-aliasing. The double Dual Link DVI is implemented, supporting ultra high resolution LCDs capable of 2560 x 1600.

Built for the future, the HIS X1600XT IceQ is CrossFire Ready to deliver the ultimate gaming performance that works with all games.

2006-07-18T14:24:00.000+08:00

MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256E-HD (GeForce 7900 GT 256MB)

More HDCP Choices

Despite their then non-existent support for HDCP ready outputs on their graphics products, the good folks over at ATI and NVIDIA neglected to mention a crucial detail while continuing to claim otherwise in their marketing ? that while their GPUs supports HDCP, their outputs lack the decoding keys needed. Since then, NVIDIA has moved to amend this 'oversight' after news broke about the unfortunate state of affairs . ATI too has prepped variants of HDCP ready products. With the release of the GeForce 7950 GX2, HDCP compliance for graphics cards has finally materialized in retail and it seems that the vendors have now taken the baton by introducing new products that truly live up to their HDCP ready claims.

Specifications:

Graphics Engine

NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT GPU

Stock 3D GPU clock = 500MHz

NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Engine

Vertex Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
Displacement Mapping
Vertex Frequency Stream Divider (Geometry Instancing)
Infinite length vertex programs (supported in hardware)

Pixel Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
Full pixel branching support
Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
Infinite length pixel programs (supported in hardware)

Texturing Engine Features

Accelerated textures access
Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
Support for 16-bit and 32-bit floating point formats
Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
DirectX and S3TC texture compression

Full 128-bit FP Precision Graphics Pipeline

Native support for 32 / 64 / 128 bits per pixel rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology (accelerates shadow computations)
NVIDIA SLI Technology
NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology

16x Anisotropic Filtering
Adaptive Texture Filtering
Gamma-adjusted Rotated Grid Antialiasing
Transparent multisampling and supersampling modes
Fast antialiasing and compression performance
Loss-less Color, Texture and Z-Data Compression algorithms (in real time)
Fast Z-clear
Support for normal map compression

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

Dedicated programmable on-chip video processor
MPEG-2 video encode and decode
High Definition H.264, MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware decode acceleration (up to 1080i)
Post Processing Features

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing (adaptive)
NTSC 3:2 Pulldown / Bad Edit correction
PAL 2:2 Pulldown correction

High quality 4x5 video scaling and filtering
Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR)
Integrated HDTV output (with HDCP support)

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine (for Windows Longhorn)
Built for Windows Vista

Delivers best possible experience when running Windows Vista 3D graphical user interface
New OS supported by renowned NVIDIA Unified Driver Architecture (UDA) for maximum stability and reliability
NVIDIA PureVideo technology delivers high-quality VMR pipeline for best-in-class video for Windows Vista

Advanced Video and Display Functionality

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual-link DVI capability to drive the industry's largest and highest resolution digital flat panel displays up to 2560x1600
Integrated HDTV encoder provides analog TV-output (Component/Composite/S-Video) up to 1080i resolution
nView Multi-display Technology

NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
Designed for PCI Express x16
Advanced thermal monitoring and thermal management

Graphics Memory

256-bit memory interface
256MB Graphics DDR3 SDRAM
Default clock rate of 765MHz (effective speed of 1530MHz DDR)

Display Capabilities

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual-link DVI capability to drive displays of up to 2560x1600

Connectors

1 x mini-DIN connector (for Video-out)
2 x DVI-I connector (HDCP Ready)

Drivers & Software

Driver support for Microsoft Windows Vista/9x/ME/2000/XP/XP MCE/XP Pro x64, Linux and Macintosh OS (including OS X)
MSI Multimedia (Utilities CD)
MSI Star DVD Family
Peter Jackson's King Kong

Other Information

PCI Express x16 slot required
Dedicated 6-pin PCIe Molex power connector required (not shared or split)
Power supply rated for 400W or higher recommended by NVIDIA (500W PSU for SLI setup)

The MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256E-HD

With one glance, you could tell that the MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256E-HD is special. Just from the bright red PCB (compared to NVIDIA's usual dull green) and yellow tipped DVI outputs, it is evident that it is no reference card clone. Coupled with a non-standard cooler, it is a rather eye catching graphics card on the exterior. The practice of jazzing up the special editions with LED lights and unusual PCB colors is old hat in this industry so given these cues, you know immediately that this is a different breed of card.

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Test - 3DMark05 Pro & 3DMark06

Judging from the 3DMark05 results, the MSI NX7900GT-VT2D256E-HD was not the fastest of the lot as the other overclocked cards, especially the Palit, has the core clock advantage, along with a larger frame buffer. Nevertheless, there was a definite improvement over MSI's first attempt at the GeForce 7900 GT, as even with maximum D.O.T, the older MSI NX7900GT-T2D256E failed to equal the newer version. Without D.O.T, the actual difference between the old and new was obvious in 3DMark06, with a 7% to 8% performance gain in favor of the newer MSI card.

2006-07-17T14:49:00.000+08:00

New SMC Enterprise Wireless AP Pack High-End Management & Security

SINGAPORE, 17 July, 2006 -- SMC Networks (www.smc-asia.com) announce the newest, updated versions in its EliteConnect family of Wireless Access Points, SMC2552W-G2 and SMC2555-AG2. The EliteConnect Wireless Access Points is ideal for any SMB or Enterprise Networks, meeting stringent requirements for Enterprises wireless security, range and performance. The EliteConnect Universal Wireless Access Point (SMC2555W-AG2) with 802.11a/b/g compatibility and the EliteConnect Wireless Access Point (SMC2552W-G2) with 802.11b/g is priced at MSRP S$699 and S$599 respectively.

Both the Enterprise Wireless Access Points have added features such as Multiple Service Set Identifier (SSID), Wireless Distribution System (WDS), Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tagging and Wireless Multimedia (WMM) support, making wireless connectivity truly practical for multiple applications. Flexible enterprise network management through Command Line Interface (CLI), Web, Telnet, Secure Shell (SSH), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) make it simple and easy to monitor, troubleshoot, and view event logging.

For extended range and coverage, users can choose among the wide selection of detachable antennas with R-SMA connectors for an optional 2.4GHz High Gain. Both the enterprise level Wireless Access Point supports Power over Ethernet that adheres to 802.3af standard, helping to reduce installation cost by using standard Category 5 cable to provide power to the Access Points.

Security is paramount in today's wireless networks, and these new access points can deliver advanced authentication and encryption security features. These include the new WPA2, up to 152-bit WEP encryption, AES encryption, 802.1x authentications and dynamic key management, support for FUNK Odyssey and Microsoft RADIUS Server, MAC address authentication, disabled SSID broadcast, and VLANs support are also available.

“In the Enterprise environment, security, range and flexibility are key concerns and these wireless access points have it all,” said Jimmy Goh, Vice President of Marketing, SMC Networks Asia Pacific. “SMC’s continued commitment to Enterprise Wireless is shown through these new versions of access points with leading edge technology and features with the flexibility to maximize compatibility, bandwidth and/or range, as needed.

The new EliteConnect Universal Wireless Access Point (SMC2555W-AG2) with 802.11a/b/g connectivity and EliteConnect Wireless Access Point (SMC2552W-G2) with 802.11b/g are available now to bring vital security and management features to any SMB or Enterprise application.

2006-07-17T14:40:00.000+08:00

Sony UX17GP Micro PC

The Smallest VAIO has Arrived

Sony has upped the bar of mobile computing yet again with the unveiling of its smallest VAIO UX series in Japan and USA recently. These micro PCs are all loaded with impressive features such as a built-in keyboard, an Intel Core Solo processor, 512MB RAM, a 30GB HDD, a 4.5-inch LCD display, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity all in a remarkably small package. It didn’t take long for the UX micro PC to quickly find its way to Singapore and with us today is the UX17GP that's targeted at the ASIA market.

Not a UMPC!

Do not mistake the UX17GP for a UMPC like the Samsung Q1 that we previewed recently. Although the UX17GP is smaller than most UMPCs circulating in retail channel right now, we couldn't but feel that Sony could have really gone the extra mile with the onboard 4.5-inch WSVGA touch screen LCD by having Windows XP Tablet edition installed over the plain-Jane Windows XP Professional SP2 operation system to better position its smallest VAIO to date. Due to the latter that is installed as standard, the UX17GP does not offer hand writing recognition. Instead, the UX17GP offers a mini QWERTY keyboard that hides behind the UX17GP's screen for primary input purposes. As for the bundled stylus, its usage is mainly that of a pointing device (pen mouse) and for doodling via the PenPlus application.

In short, Sony engineers summed up the experience of owning and using a UX17GP as: "Go ahead. Put the future of PCs in your pocket today and then go for a walk. You never know when you might need it. You'll be surprised at just how handy the future is".

More or Less the Same

Like the UX180P, the UX17GP also runs on an Intel Core Solo 1.2GHz processor. On that basis, it's best that you lower your expectation on the computing performance of the UX17GP. The built-in 512MB RAM should be sufficient most of the time but it might not be good enough to support Windows Vista even though the device is ready for the operating system when it is scheduled to be released early next year.

The UX17GP also features a 30GB HDD with G-Sensor HDD Shock Protection that works by locking the head of the hard disk drive to protect unwanted scratching of disk surface that could result in data losses.
While the UX17GP shares some specifications with the UX180P, it is not entirely similar in that the latter supports EDGE and comes preloaded with Microsoft Streets & Trips GPS application – just to name a few.

Entertain Me

Nevertheless, the UX17GP is a very competent machine for its size. It is basically an MP3 player, PDA, PC, movie player, and a digital camera rolled up into one portable form. It even comes with two built-in digital cameras with the 1.3-megapixel camera at the rear for digital imaging and one at the front for video conferencing (eg. MSN Video Conversation). Thanks largely to the "XBRITE" technology in the LCD panel, the multimedia experience of the tiny UX17GP was very impressive. DivX videos were silky smooth and high-resolution stills were gloriously drawn.

Onboard audio from a lone mono speaker with the LCD in a down position was hugely disappointing though. However, by simply sliding up the LCD to reveal a second speaker, overall depth and loudness can be instantly enhanced for a richer movie experience – though we highly recommend a good pair of earphones/headphones to truly enjoy movies on such a device.

Other Cool Features

The UX17GP, above all, is a neat and handy Micro PC for traveling. It is capable of performing a multitude of tasks that is commonly performed on desktop computers, but because of its diminutive size and two memory slots (CF and Memory Stick Duo), photographers would find the UX17GP doubling up as an image depository as well as a quick imaging station for field trips. Importantly, the UX17GP has an anti-theft biometric fingerprint sensor for total data security while empowering users with the convenience of not having to remember passwords anymore.

With all the positive attributes mentioned coupled with the fact that the UX17GP has a built-in keyboard that UMPCs do not have, the smallest VAIO from SONY is highly recommended for anyone who wants a small and portable PC on the go. It is currently available at a recommended retail price of S$3,332.00 (US$2106).

For more information about the Sony VAIO UX17GP, please visit: http://www.sony.com.sg/vaio

Product Specifications:

Platform : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Intel Core Solo Processor U1400 (1.2GHz) with Intel 945GMS Express Chipset
Memory : 512MB DDR2 SDRAM (on board)
Hard Disk : 30GB Ultra ATA/100
Display : 4.5-inch WSVGA TFT colour display (1024 X 600 pixels)
Interfaces : 1 x USB 2.0 port, headphone jack (stereo mini), microphone jack (stereo mini), 1 x CompactFlash Slot (Type II), 1 x Memory Stick Duo Slot (MagicGate compatible,
Memory Stick PRO Duo compatible), and I/O connector
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection and Bluetooth
Front Camera : VGA CMOS with 310,000 effective pixels
Back Camera : SXGA CMOS with 1,310,000 effective pixels
Lithium-ion battery : Up to 3.5 hours
Dimensions : 150.2 x 95-100.5 x 32.2-38.2mm (W x H x D)
Weight : 517g (including the supplied battery)

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2006-07-16T14:02:00.000+08:00

SANYO Introduces High-Definition Digital Media Camera

CHATSWORTH, Calif., July 13 -- A video recording mode optimized for the video iPod and other portable video players tops the advanced feature set of the new SANYO Xacti HD1a high-definition compact digital media camera. Following quickly on the strong sales and critical success of the SANYO Xacti HD1 introduced in January 2006, the new high-definition HD1a also adds such compelling features as a selectable 16:9 widescreen still picture mode and easy, convenient in-camera video editing.

The SANYO Xacti HD1a retains its title as the world's smallest and lightest high-definition digital media camera*. Featuring ergonomic, one-handed operation, the camera can record both 720p high-definition video and 5.1 megapixel digital still images to a standard SD flash memory card. It will be available in the U.S. from SANYO, the world's leading manufacturer of digital cameras and components, in September 2006 at a very competitive $699.99** MSRP.

"The remarkable success of our precedent-setting Xacti HD1, along with user feedback, prompted SANYO to incorporate several new key features into the new HD1a," said John Lamb, Senior Marketing Manager, for SANYO Fisher Company's Audio Video Division. "Our inclusion of a 30 frames-per-second 320 x 240 pixel video recording mode -- optimized for viewing MPEG-4 video clips on a video iPod or other portable video player -- reflects a shift by consumers towards on-the-go viewing."

Video recording optimized for personal media players

The HD1a's new "Web-SHQ" recording mode is designed specifically to capture video destined for the video iPod and other popular MPEG-4 capable personal media players. For optimal playback on such devices, video is captured at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and a smooth and natural 30 frames per second.

16:9 still shooting

An all-new 16:9 shooting mode allows users to capture 3.8 megapixel stills in the same widescreen format as their high-definition videos for eye-catching viewing on a 16:9 television screen.

Convenient in-camera video editing

The HD1a features enhanced video editing functions, enabling quick A>B deletions and easy combining of video clips. In-camera editing makes it easy to remove unwanted material and helps conserve memory card space.

High-definition engine

The SANYO Xacti HD1a is powered by high-precision LSI (large-scale integration) circuitry for advanced, high-definition image processing. This powerful "high-definition engine" quickly executes a vast number of calculations and enables the HD1a to realize image processing functions such as high-definition 720p processing, real-time MPEG-4 compression and noise reduction.

2.2-inch LCD display

The HD1a features a large Sanyo-developed 2.2-inch LCD display with 210,000 total pixels for exceptional viewability. The display flips out from the camera and rotates up to 285 degrees on axis for taking great video or still images even in difficult locations.

10x optical zoom

The HD1a features a generous and highly efficient 10x optical zoom lens. Built from 12 elements designed in 9 groups and with a built-in neutral density filter, the 10x zoom lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 in both wide and telephoto angles, allowing for clear images in lower light situations. Combined with a 10x digital zoom capability, the HD1a is capable of a total 100x zoom.

Digital video and stills, all in one

Like the Xacti HD1 and all previous SANYO Xacti digital media cameras, the HD1a can record still images in addition to video clips. Utilizing the 5.36 megapixel (total) CCD, the HD1a captures beautiful 5.1 megapixel still images which are recorded directly onto a standard SD memory card. The camera can record both 5.1 megapixel still images and high-definition (1280 x 720-pixel) digital video at the same time with a simple press of the shutter button during the shooting of a video clip.

21 minutes of HD video per Gigabyte of memory

The HD1a can record up to 21 minutes of 720p HD video per Gigabyte on a standard SD or SDHC memory card. That's up to 42 minutes on a 2-Gigabyte card or 84 minutes on the soon to be released 4-Gigabyte SDHC card (cards sold separately). Alternatively, HD1 users can select to record in Standard Definition mode (640 x 480 pixels at 30fps progressive) for up to one hour per Gigabyte of recording capacity. Users can quickly switch between high-definition and standard-definition recording modes by simply pressing the "HD/Norm" button located beneath the LCD display.

Ergonomic and lightweight

Designed for convenient, one-handed operation and one-thumb control of most key functions, the truly ergonomic SANYO HD1a is ready to use whenever inspiration strikes, at home or away. Lightweight at only 8.3 ounces (including battery and a standard SD memory card), the HD1a measures 3.1" W x 4.7" H x 1.4" D.

Key SANYO Xacti HD1a features include:

320 x 240 "Web-SHQ" video mode; optimal for playback on many personal media players
16:9 widescreen MPEG-4 video (HD-SHQ / HD-HQ modes)
16:9 widescreen digital still mode for stunning widescreen TV playback
Highly efficient 10x optical zoom
2.2" rotating LCD display
CD-quality AAC-LC (MPEG-4 Audio) stereo recording
Enhanced video editing functions for quick A>B deletions and easy combining of clips
60 fps Fluid Motion Recording (640 x 480 TV-HR Mode)
Rapid 5.1 megapixel sequential still shooting
Pop-up flash with double the brightness of conventional models
Anti-shake digital image stabilizer
Talking navigation guide for first-time users
Super-fast 1.7-second camera startup
Versatile manual mode enables advanced-control shooting
Super Macro shooting down to 1 cm (W) / 1 m (T)
Self timer (2 seconds / 10 seconds)
Voice recorder function: over 33 hours recording time with optional 2 GB SD Memory Card
Red-eye reduction mode
Multifunction docking station
High-capacity SANYO rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Remote control included
Exif Print and Print Image Matching III
PictBridge-capable for PC-Free printing with PictBridge-compatible printers

2006-07-16T13:56:00.000+08:00

Toshiba Qosmio G30

The Full Deal

Toshiba Qosmio notebooks have always made it a point to provide users with an audio-visual entertainment experience like no other notebooks could. Although the range is unable to offer the full multimedia spectacle as those offered by 32-inch LCD screens that are backed by high-end audio peripherals, the latest Qosmio on the block, the G30, looks to have done a great job in fulfilling one’s audio-visual needs while offering just that little bit more than competing models.

Sharing Roots

The Qosmio G30 shares the same design as its predecessor: it has a large 17-inch TFT LCD screen, two round speakers at the corners, and a keyboard that still (oddly enough) does not span the width of the notebook. Although the keys are tuned for typing, Toshiba really should have made full use of the width of the G30 by offering a larger keyboard for a typing experience that's closer to a desktop keyboard. In a weird positioning of keys, the "Windows" key has been planted such that it is right at the top row of the keyboard rather than along the bottom row where the spacebar resides. The tilde key is also “lost” since it is found where the "Alt" key should be, and not in its usual position below the "Esc" key. There is also a slight proportional problem with the trackpad as it is too small for navigation in relation to the size of the screen.

Entertainment for Everyone

The Qosmio S30 comes installed with Windows Media Center Edition and a remote control is standard accessory. The OS is extremely easy to use and users will soon find the Media Center remote a delight for quick and easy navigation through all the media features of the computer. Strangely, the G30 requires a separate IR receiver for the remote control even when it already features an IR port right in the front edge of the notebook.
This notebook provides an optical drive up front, but a second glance will have users sitting up in awe instantly because the Qosmio S30 has something that most home theaters owners still do not have: a HD-DVD drive. Though the Windows Media Center does not play HD-DVDs, it will acknowledge the presence of an HD-DVD movie when inserted and immediately launch the WinDVD HD player for playback. Gamers are not neglected as well because the G30 comes equipped with a hefty 256MB GeForce Go7600 that is beefy enough to run all the latest titles in stores at silky smooth frame rates.

Toshiba also brought in a lot of connectivity options through its array of input/output ports – VGA out, S-Video, and HDMI ports are all present, just in case your friends pop by to catch a movie with you. Additionally, composite inputs with left and right audio jacks are included, paving the way to a better auditory experience. Clearly, with all its power-hungry components, you would think that battery life of the G30 is going to be pathetically short, but much to even our own surprise, the behemoth of a notebook was able to manage a whopping 118 minutes of DVD playback time and a battery life rating of 152 minutes for general usage. Finally, the sound coming from the harman/kardon speakers is exceptional for a pair of embedded tweeters that end users will find satisfying.

Final Thoughts

The Toshiba Qosmio G30 provides an all-in-one entertainment showcase like no other. It is a television, a HD-DVD player, a formidable gaming machine, and a productivity device all rolled into one. This notebook even comes with a built-in fingerprint sensor for added data protection and privacy. Price is expected to be hovering at the USD$3,200 range, which is quite a sum for a notebook. And while format war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is still rolling, it is advisable to look beyond the optical drive and get this notebook based on its multimedia and feature merits instead.

Product Specifications:

Processor: Intel Core Duo T2500 2.0GHz
Display: 17-inch TFT LCD (1920 x 1200 pixels)
Memory: 1GB DDR2
Storage: 200GB - 2 x 100GB Toshiba MK1032GSX
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce Go7600 (256MB)
Optical Drive: HD DVD-ROM drive
Input/Output: 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394, LAN, modem, VGA-out, S-Video, HDMI, 1 x
ExpressCard slot, 1 x PC Card slot, mic/headphone/S/PDIF mini-jacks, and a 5-in-1 card reader
Dimensions: 406 x 285 x 45.5-53.5mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 4.5kg

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2006-07-14T12:04:00.000+08:00

Panasonic Toughbook CF-18

One Tough Book to Crack

There is a laptop that is heavily trusted and used by the military, police force, fire department, field scientists, and people who work in harsh outdoor environments wanting a notebook that can withstand tons of beating and abuse: the Panasonic Toughbook. While the basic design of the Toughbook series has barely changed over the years, there really hasn't been a need for a radical design shift because the group of users for which the Toughbook targets is known to be particular about functionality and durability rather than industrial design. Now, with the new Toughbook CF-18, Panasonic looks to continue its core product principles for its Toughbook series.

Not for the Faint Hearted

Upon initial inspection, the Toughbook CF-18 looks undistinguished– looking like one of those hypermart “my first computer” for children. It's only upon closer scrutiny does the Toughbook CF-18 reveal its true character. Encased in a skin of magnesium alloy, the CF-18 should withstand day-to-day knocks without much fuss. Further proof of its ruggedness can be seen by the hardy latch that is similar to those found on toolboxes for securing the LCD screen firmly in place when moving about from places to places with the CF-18 in hand. Even the USB, power, communication, and audio/video connection ports are all protected with rubber covers while larger ports, battery, and drive compartments have separate covers that can be securely latched, thereby making the CF-18 resistant to water splashes.

Two for One

Although the CF-18 runs on Windows XP operating system, the CF-18 can be transformed into a tablet PC simply by rotating and folding the screen down against the keyboard. This ability to transform from a regular notebook to a tablet PC is very handy for mobile warriors where using a stylus or your fingers to drag and drop windows, tap icons, and even write down notes is clearly much more convenient than using a keyboard.

The stylus is tucked away in the bottom left corner of the screen and completely out of sight when its use is not required – finger inputs would do in most cases.
But if running a stylus or your fingers across the screen is still too far out for you, you'll be pleased to know that the Toughbook is every bit as easy to live with as any other humdrum notebook, despite its heavy-duty "armor". The combination of a moisture and dust-resistant LCD and keyboard in particular, allows for worry free handling and usage even amidst heavy rainfall or sandstorm.

Though it may appear clunky, the CF-18 only weighs 2.1 kilograms, and while its dimensions seem to suggest an LCD screen of at least 12-inch, it is in fact only fitted with a 10.4-inch display (due to the heavy padding around the screen), which may cause problems for people with poor eyesight. Thankfully, brightness of the screen can be easily adjusted by splash proof buttons installed at the front of the notebook, along with other buttons frequently used when the CF-18 is used in its tablet form. Granted the industries for which the CF-18 is targeting are mostly staffed by men, the small keys that form the keyboard can therefore be seen as a major ergonomic drawback that might require some getting used to - but even then, do not expect text input to be as comfortable and as fast as typing on your regular keyboard.

Final Thoughts

In all, the CF-18 was designed first for mobility and durability rather than outright raw processing power. By going the way of a Pentium M 753 ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processor that's paired to an integrated graphics chip, the CF-18 is highly energy efficient, lasting close to five hours in our tests on a single charge. If by now you're interested in getting the Toughbook CF-18, you'll do well to know that procuring one is not as easy as walking in to your nearest notebook dealer.

Because the CF-18 is not meant for the masses and given it has a price tag ranging between USD$3,000 to USD$3,600, prospective buyers have no other choice other than to contact local Panasonic office for purchase enquiries – yes, it's expensive, but for people who cannot afford to lose precious data and documents while on the job, this Toughbook promises to be with you through all the good times and bad – literally.

Product Specifications:

Processor: Intel Pentium M ULV 753 1.2GHz
Display: 10.4-inch TFT LCD (1024 x 768 pixels)
Memory: 512MB DDR2
Storage: 60GB Hitachi HTS541060G9AT00 (5,400RPM)
Intel 915GM graphics (128MB shared memory)
Input/Output: 2 x USB 2.0, LAN, modem, VGA-out, 2 x PC Card slot, mic/headphone
mini-jacks, SD card slot, and serial port
Dimensions: 21 x 216 x 49mm (W x D x H)
Weight: 2.1kg

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2006-07-13T12:46:00.000+08:00

Nikon COOLPIX P3

Finally Stabilized

Veteran users of compact camera will tell you that taking sharp close up shots of subjects without using tripods is as hard as it gets. Due to subtle vibrations from handshakes, photos would often end up being blurry and unusable even after extensive image editing. There are many cameras in the market today that offer "anti-handshake" via optical lens shifting and one of them is the Nikon VR (Vibration Reduction) technology. While Nikon's VR technology has always been available in its DSLR and prosumer series of cameras, it was not until the release of the COOLPIX P3 at PMA 2006 did Nikon finally joined the competition in offering compacts with "anti-handshake" technology. The big question now is naturally to find out just how the COOLPIX P3 would stake up to other compact cameras that have received "anti-handshake" technology several years earlier.

Better Late Than Never

The first thing you need to know about the P3 is that it offers not one but two different VR modes: Active and Normal. The Normal VR mode should suffice in most occasions while Active mode works best when conditions are a bit more topsy-turvy such as trying to capture a cool-looking Mazda RX8 on the road while in motion. In any case, both VR modes compensate "shakes" and unwanted vibrations in a continuous manner to ensure clear and stable shots as much as possible. A dedicated VR button located at the top of the camera makes it easy for users to activate VR mode.

Hopping Onto the WiFi Bandwagon

Because the P3 is slightly thicker and thus less aesthetically pleasing as the S6, it is not entirely appropriate to classify it within the same ultra compact camera class as the latter Nikon model. To be fair, there's not much to fault about its size because it is after all loaded with more useful features than the S6.
Like the S6 however, the P3 is also endowed with wireless connectivity, thereby allowing users to conveniently transfer photos wirelessly to any computer with wireless connection, wireless router or access point (in infrastructure mode), and wireless printing. These wireless means of sharing photos are a godsend especially when you are away on vacations and need to offload photos to your notebook to free up storage and for wireless printing via self-help printing kiosks for which the latter are becoming more common these days - just imagine how helpless you would be if you lost the docking cradle, cables or have no other means to store your photos when you have exhausted the storage capacity of your memory card.

Final Thoughts

Our field-testing concluded the COOLPIX P3 to possess good auto focus quality. Focusing was generally smooth under favorable lighting conditions but telephoto focusing was expectedly rough under poor lightings. Where image quality was concerned, noise (grains) was notable from ISO 200 onwards - thankfully, they appeared more like film grain than unsightly color blotches. The VR modes also worked a treat, giving us at least a 2-stop allowance in aperture and shutter speed. Although night shots returned noticeable softening of edges, they can be easily remedied using any photo editing software, which was just about our only gripe with the COOLPIX P3.

To sum up, the P3 is a pretty handy camera that is well capable of helping you capture precious memories in vivid digital impressions. Of course, the noteworthy points are the VR modes and Wi-Fi connection, which considering its small and highly manageable form for ease of use when on the go means the US$449.95 P3 is definitely worthy of a consideration.

Product Specifications:

Effective pixels: 8.1 million
CCD: 1/1.8-inch type (8.31 million total pixels)
2.5-inch TFT LCD monitor with brightness adjustment
Storage media: Internal memory (approx. 23MB), SD memory expansion slot
Interface: IEEE 802.11b/g, USB, Audio Video output
Wireless capability: IEEE802.11b/g, wireless range up to 30m (depending on environment)
Battery Life: Approx 200 shots on rechargeable Battery (based on CIPA standard)
Dimensions: 92 x 61 x 31mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 170g

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2006-07-12T11:05:00.000+08:00

ASUS Announces Inaugural Motherboard for Republic of Gamers Series

ASUS Technology Pte Ltd (ASUS) debuts an all-new product series, Republic of Gamers (R.O.G). As the name suggests, all R.O.G products are made to provide the best performing solutions for serious gamers and overclockers. The inaugural solution of R.O.G is the Crosshair motherboard, which implemented convenient features for system tweaking to provide players and overclockers with a solution to build their power gaming systems.

Easy System Tweaking with Style – LCD Poster

LCD Poster is an excellent feature for system tuning and upgrades. Most hardcore users and engineers install a debug card, which displays a two-digit code that enables them to recognize which part of the system is responsible for hanging the system during boot-up.

LCD Poster, located at the back I/O, displays the names of each boot-process instead of using codes. When system hangs due to faulty connection or configuration, the LCD Poster will freeze on the displayed process name that caused the hang up, allowing users to know exactly what needs to be fixed.

Other features tailored for building a PC are EL I/O, onboard LED, onboard switches, Q-Fan Plus and Q-Connector. Please visit the Crosshair webpage for more detail information.

Performance and Reliability – 8-Phase EL Cap-less Power Designs

This innovative designs implemented by the Crosshair embody two commitments of R.O.G: ultimate overclockability and ultimate reliability.

8-Phase EL Cap-less Power design removed the bulky cylinder-type capacitors and replaced them with chip-style polymer aluminum electrolyte capacitors, which are used in server level systems, for better spacing and thermal environment. In addition, unlike the conventional EL capacitors, which are susceptible to leakage and blowups, the new design eliminates capacitor damages once and for all.

The so called 8-phase design further delivers steadier power supply for the CPU by generating less heat than conventional power solutions and providing a cool computing environment for stable performance and higher overclocking margin. It reduces input ripple current and output ripple voltage, preventing the CPU and power modules from the risk of high power stress.

Connect in the Dark – EL I/O

Today's gamers demand more than good performance. They demand features that are tailor made for their usage experience. The Crosshair comes with the EL I/O, an impressive feature that simplifies connecting devices by lighting up the back I/O panel for convenient connection in dark environments such as LAN Parties. No more jamming devices into the wrong connectors!

Sound with Clarity – SupremeFX and Array Mic

The SupremeFX audio card is designed to provide the best gaming audio experience. With 24bit/192kHz full sampling in all surround channels, whether you're hearing game actions through headphones or 7.1 surround speakers, all sound effects will be loud and clear.

The audio card is supplemented with the bundled sophisticated Array Microphone. While competing in game tournaments, the microphone receives only the sound coming from the reception cone and ignores the sound coming from other directions, eliminating a large number of interferences including neighboring speakers and reverberations. It also features “Echo Cancellation Technology”, which eliminates the annoying echo during audio and voice applications.

Rich Software Bundle

The Crosshair bundles 3DMark 06 Advanced Edition. It is the most popular and authoritative 3D benchmark application used by professionals around the world. The 3DMark06 is the latest version in the popular 3DMark series, including advanced SM2.0 and HDR/SM3.0 Shader graphics tests and now including single, multiple core and multiple processor CPU tests as part of the 3DMark score! The accurate performance and image quality diagnostic tool, designed for DirectX®9.0c, provides all the information needed to make all other competitors look bad.

Specifications Summary:

AMD Socket AM2
NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP
Dual Channel DDR2 800/667/533
2 x PCIe x16, support NVIDIA SLI at full x16, x16 speed
8 x SATA 3.0 Gb/p including two external ports / 1 x Ultra DMA
Dual Gigabit LAN
SupremeFX sound card featuring ADI 1988b High-Definition Audio with 8-channel surround sound.

For more information on R.O.G and the Crosshair motherboard, please visit the company homepage at www.asus.com.

2006-07-12T10:58:00.000+08:00

A-Data Thumb-Drives

Standing Out in a Crowded Room

With the widespread acceptance of thumb-drives as a conventional tool at the workplace, many manufacturers have been cashing in on them. It's now hard to tell apart the plethora of thumb-drives in the market without benchmarking their data throughput, and even then, there would be little to rave about as USB 2.0 technology has matured somewhat. Competition is tough and A-data is not being left behind with their latest showcase of innovative thumb-drives.

The Organizer

It's hard to tell your thumb-drives apart just by looking at its cover, especially when you have more then one of the same design. However, A-data's ShowMeDisk thumb-drive will definitely catch your wonder and approval regarding this issue – it features a panel that greets you with 11 customizable characters and remaining capacity in numerical or pie-chart format. But what makes this thumb-drive even more special is the panel's independence of batteries. Using Bi-stable Cholesteric Display technology, the customizable label and capacity remains there even after removing the thumb-drive from the USB port.

The All-Terrain

A-data's Football inspired innovation is the rugged variant in its lineup of thumb-drives. Literally for road-warriors, it is entirely padded with rubber that is water-resistant as well as shockproof. This thumb-drive was a big disappointment to many after it was promptly stomped on, sat upon and thrown against a wall – the data within was absolutely intact and proved all the naysayers wrong. We were even more impressed when we noticed how much attention to detail was given for something so simple and rugged - the LED is individually covered by its own transparent rubber coating!
The Safe

Bringing a whole new meaning to the word 'thumb-drive', A-data's Fingerprint Disk is a biometric thumb-drive that can be protected by your thumbprint. Those skeptical of this feature would quickly be won over by its ease of use. On initial plug-in, a window pops up and takes three swipes of your chosen finger or thumb along with an alternate password. On subsequent use, the same window will prompt you to swipe for entry. Not entering the correct print or password will bar intruders from accessing the information within – absolutely reassuring considering there aren't any two thumbprints that are the same. Should in an unlikely case that you might actually lose your fingerprint or the reader is a little picky, the alternative password can be used to reset the security options. Finally, A-data's Fingerprint Disk comes in an irresistible Mac-white look.

The Oriental

Nothing like a fresh breath of culture to re-inject culture into our technology dominated lifestyle - A-Data introduces a gorgeous thumb-drive inspired by Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Within its elegant transparent thumb-drive casing, intricate slivers of calligraphy or art can be slipped within for a customized look. It even comes along with an elaborate dongle to compliment your thumb-drive. All of this comes packaged in a beautiful black box with velvet cushioning within.

Our Thoughts

Do not judge A-data's simple packaging, as what lies within is what actually counts. Simple but innovative ideas are what sets A-data apart from the pack. We give two thumbs up for A-data's effort to innovate within the saturated market of typical metallic looking thumb-drives.

Product Specifications

BC2 ShowMeDiskCustomizable Bi-Stable Cholesteric Display USB 2.0, High Speed, LED, Lifetime Warranty Size: 78 x 21 x 12.9mm Weight: 19g Available in: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB
RB16 Football DiskShock Resistant 1000G, Water-ResistantUSB 2.0, High Speed, LED, Lifetime Warranty Size: 59.2 x 21.66 x 14.34mm Weight: 16gAvailable in: 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB
FP1 Fingerprint DiskSweep Type Fingerprint Sensor, Only in WindowsUSB 2.0, High Speed, LED, Lifetime Warranty Size: 66.4 x 24 x 9.3mm Weight: 15gAvailable in: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB
PD3 Oriental EliteClassical Chinese Calligraphy InsertsUSB 2.0, High Speed, LED, Lifetime WarrantySize: 69.8 x 19.3 x 10mmWeight: 12gAvailable in: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB or 4GB

Picture

2006-07-12T10:53:00.000+08:00

LG Launches New Range of Ultra High Contrast LCD Monitors

Singapore, 11 July, 2006 -- LG Electronics Singapore announces the launch of its new range of LCD monitors equipped with contrast-ratio enhancing DFC technology. The LCD monitors boast contrast ratios of between 1400:1 and 2000:1 (the world’s highest contrast ratio available today). The new line-up also features a total of seven new DFC models.

DFC technology in the LG FLATRON monitor series is the latest technological breakthrough in LG’s unique ‘f-ENGINE’ technology. This technology uses the world’s first LCD picture-enhancing chip to provide astounding color backed by enhanced contrast and image quality.
LG’s DFC technology offers users clearer, brighter and crisp images. It operates in ‘MOVIE MODE’ and features ‘Smart Function’ capability, enabling users to optimise the brightness levels of the monitors for a greater movie and gaming experience.

The launch of the LG DFC models will boost LG’s strategy of providing superior products focusing on the end user’s benefit. Mr. Sang Han Yoon, Executive Vice President and CEO of LG Electronics Digital Display Company said, “LG’s lifestyle approach and consumer-oriented strategy in its overall digital display business are highlighted in the DFC technology. LG will continue the trend with the upgraded models and position itself as global leader in digital display.”

LG’s goal is to become the number one in the global display market by achieving USD 10 billion in sales by 2010. To achieve this goal, LG will focus on securing leadership in technology and new standards.

“Wide format” monitor for enjoying HD contents – L194W and L204W

The new LG widescreen FLATRON LCD monitors (L194WT/L204WT) are custom designed for multimedia contents such as fast motion video contents and dynamic graphic games. Consumers can enjoy full body of motion contents and images, no image loss, with a 16:10 wide format. Together with enhanced contrast technology, DFC (Digital Fine Contrast), the L4WT series has the highest contrast ratio 2000:1 available in the LCD monitor market.

LG FLATRON L4WT series are perfect for die-hard gamers who desire fast motion images with perfect image clarity. LG’s exceptional, lightning fast response time, 5ms (GTG) creates the perfect blend of high speed responsiveness and color management for movies, video games and animations, while ensuring perfect contrast ratio and sharpness without ghosting effects.

Its simple and practical narrow bezel design and wide field of view enables the consumers to make the most of using space with the widescreen, reflecting user-interface. LG’s FLATRON “Wide” L194W and L204W monitors also allow users to multi-task because they can open many windows to view various applications on the wide screen at the same time. LG’s FLATRON “Wide” L194W and L204W monitors are customised to support the new O/S Windows Vista features with its wide screen. The wide screen has extra pixels on its side where a sidebar can be located. The sidebar allows user to see information at a glance without having to stop primary work.

LG unveils the L1900 “Fantasy” series LCD monitor

LG sets new standards with its innovative premium design of the L1900 “Fantasy” series with the world’s slimmest depth at 18mm.

LG 1900 “Fantasy” Series LCD monitor features the world’s highest contrast ratio of 2000:1, fast response-time of 4ms, crisp and clear imagery via its ‘f-engine’, and has an ultra slim depth of 18mm. The “Fantasy” series with its figurative stand design was conceived with the principal of creating a premium design series, setting the trend for future generation monitors.

The L1900 “Fantasy” series presents not only visual beauty but also a “Fantasy” sensation for the user. The “Fantasy” series seeks to provide relief from long hours of computer use, and also aesthetic pleasure with its simple and elegant outline.

The L1900“Fantasy” series’ stand comes in different 3 variations (Ring, Jar, and Eclipse) together with a luxurious glossy black finishing and an attractive red LED lighting, it provides consumers the freedom of choice for their desired style.

All in all, the “Fantasy” series is not simply a monitor. It is an evolutionary user-friendly concept that enables Fantasy communication between user and product. It has convenient features like Button-less Picture Control with ‘Forte Manager’, Analog and Digital Interface available together via One cable (DVI-I) and also allows easy connection to a separate cable hub.

The craftsmanship committed towards making this artistic masterpiece makes this “Fantasy”, a must have.

Award-winning L1970HR designed to perform

The world’s slimmest in its class at 65mm when completely folded, FLATRON L1970HR delivers not only superior design, but also superior performance with both PCs and Macs.

The LCD can be folded and installed within a small space. It can be attached to the wall without detaching the base, thanks to its unique construction and advanced dual-hinged stand. It automatically locks when the monitor folds, enhancing safety and convenience of use.

Besides a 2000:1 contrast ratio, the FLATRON L1970HR features a lightning fast response time of 2ms (GTG). The 2ms (GTG) response time is more than twice as fast as existing products, whose response times are typically 8~12ms. Therefore, LG’s new FLATRON L1970HR is perfect for die-hard gamers who desire fast motion images with perfect image clarity.

The FLATRON L1970HR’s exceptional response time also creates the perfect blend of high speed responsiveness and color management, whilst ensuring picture perfect contrast and sharpness without ghosting effects.

For more information, please visit http://sg.lge.com/index.do

2006-07-12T10:50:00.000+08:00

D-Link Flip-Style Wi-Fi Phone Now Shipping

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 10 -- D-Link began shipping its flip-style Wi-Fi Phone that combines the cost-savings of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology with 802.11 wireless connectivity in a compact Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based package. The sleek portable D-Link Wi-Fi Phone, together with an Internet VoIP phone service, provides both consumers and businesses a stylish way to dramatically reduce local and long distance telephone charges compared to standard telephone service. VoIP phone calls can be made where there is a Wi-Fi network or open hot spot to the Internet -- without the use of a PC.

"We are pleased to announce immediate availability of the D-Link Wi-Fi Phone to the thousands of consumers and business customers that have been anxiously awaiting the product since we demonstrated a prototype at the VON show this past spring," said Steven Joe, president and CEO of D-Link Systems, Inc. "Our phone is truly a first of its kind in both design and functionality, and the potential cost savings to be realized from this type of device are astounding. This product will act as a flagship for D-Link in this key emerging market, complimenting our popular wireless networking and VoIP telephony solutions."

Weighing only 3.74 ounces in a compact clamshell design, the phones feature large, bright color displays for easy viewing of numbers as they are dialed, storage of up to 100 address book entries, caller ID and polyphonic ring tones with seven-step volume control, as well as support for redial, mute, hold and text messaging. Users can expect about three hours of talk time and 70 hours of standby time on a single charge of the Li-Ion, 900mAh battery. An external power adapter and mini-USB cable are included.

The D-Link Wi-Fi Phone has the same look and feel of a flip-style cell phone, but is based on 802.11 wireless and VoIP technology. To make and receive calls, users need only an 802.11b, g or n wireless network with high-speed Internet access.

In addition, the phone, which uses a Broadcom chipset for low-power consumption and a small footprint, offers echo cancellation, packet delay compensation and lost packet recovery, resulting in similar or improved voice quality over traditional phones. The D-Link Wi-Fi Phone uses the popular SIP technology and is ready to be used with many VoIP service plans.

For accessing secure wireless networks, the Wi-Fi Phone supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption.

D-Link's new Wi-Fi Phone is compliant with Public SIP Telephone Network (PsipTN), the telephony technology expected to be available in the third quarter this year. Users will be able to make and receive free calls within the network via a firmware upgrade and a one-year subscription. PsipTN also allows users to receive calls from regular phones for free.

To take full advantage of the convenience and money-saving features of D-Link's new Wi-Fi Phone and make calls to standard landline or cellular phones, users must select an Internet (VoIP) Phone Service Plan and sign up for service; rates and features may vary depending on the service provider. For a complete list of compatible VoIP service plans, visit www.dlink.com

2006-07-12T10:48:00.000+08:00

New BRAVIA S-series LCD TVs Deliver High Picture Performance

Singapore, 11th July 2006 -- With High Definition taking the lead in today’s televisions, Sony has announced the latest addition to its BRAVIA LCD television range, the S-series lineup from 46 to 26 inches – KLV-46S200A, KLV-40S200A, KLV-32S200A and KLV-26S200A.

Sony’s newly developed BRAVIA Engine is the first to be implemented in the S-series. This one chip digital processor reproduces pictures in enhanced contrast to produce sharp and vivid colours with complex noise reduction techniques. It generates high saturation in greens, blues and strengthens the blacks to make viewing more credible and filled with life. In addition, it reduces MPEG noise to form clearer and sharper edges. The S-PVA panel provides an ultra-wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, allowing one to enjoy the BRAVIA LCD television from many positions, as well as by many more viewers at the same time, while ensuring that colours remain rich and bright. This greater advantage of viewing also allows flexible placement of the S-series television set. The S-PVA panel also delivers high contrast ratio of 1300:1, giving deeper depths in dark scenes for a three-dimensional feel.

“Sony has expanded its BRAVIA High Definition LCD television range with the S-series that offers outstanding picture and audio quality at an affordable price. The S-series reaches out to a wider population to experience High Definition at its best, with unprecedented colour accuracy and wide viewing angle for maximum enjoyment, “states Mr Hiroshi Kikuchi, General Manager of Display Marketing Group, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific.

Complementing the picture quality of the S-series is SRS TruSurround XT that delivers a virtual surround-sound experience. This gives viewers the immersion into the show especially for action-packed movies. For news and talkshows, the S-series offers dialog clarity that increases the crispness of the voices to bring it closer to the listeners. Even without the installation of 5.1ch surround sound speakers, dynamic surround sound can still be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home.

The S-series is HD-ready with support for both 1080i and 720p HD signals. It also supports High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Input for High Definition digital video and audio streaming via one cable from source to television eliminating the hassle and sight of messy wires. Users can also connect their PC to the S-Series via a PC (HD15) cable, using the S-series as a large screen monitor. Other useful features of the S-series include setting the television to turn itself off automatically, acting as a clock with its time display function and a power saving mode to reduce electricity costs. Its silent start prevents startling the user with loud volume from the last use. The new S-series BRAVIA models are available in Asia Pacific from July onwards.

2006-07-11T12:01:00.000+08:00

Sony Ericsson Launches K610i

Singapore, 7 July 2006 -- Sony Ericsson announces that K610i - a slim, lightweight and affordable UMTS imaging phone that opens up the world of 3G to a much wider population – will be available in Singapore from tomorrow. Just 17mm thick and weighing 89 grams, the K610i will be one of the smallest and lightest 3G phones to be available in the market with its size and weight of a typical 2G stick phone. It packs into its slender frame a suite of advanced communication, business and entertainment applications, Bluetooth connectivity plus a 2.0 megapixel camera and Memory Stick removable storage.

“The K610i has a classic Sony Ericsson design reminiscent of the iconic and much loved T610i, with a balance of form and function that makes it simply irresistible,” said Jack Tan, Branch Manager, Singapore Office, Sony Ericsson. “Coupled with UMTS connectivity, the K610i is a must-own for those who price efficiency and functionality with no compromise on style.”

The K610i’s pure lines, combined with a solid, quality feel, make it a pleasure to hold and use. It is also incredibly practical and easy to use, with bright illumination, a large keypad and 262K colour display.

With a 2 megapixel camera and UMTS connectivity, the K610i makes an ideal tool to shoot images and share them instantly - whether for business or pleasure – via email or MMS. Sharing images with friends and loved ones is made easy with Google’s Blogger. With just a few clicks on the K610i, users can create and update their personal blogs easily to share their daily experiences with friends and loved ones.
High speed email, web access and a range of business-friendly applications make the K610i the ideal partner for the productive mobile office. Standard push e-mail support (P-IMAP) sends messages direct to the phone without having to download them, and a flight mode allows users to continue working when offline.

A comprehensive connectivity suite that keeps the user in touch always further strengthens the phone’s practical use as a business tool. UMTS is supplemented by Bluetooth, Infrared, Memory Stick Micro (M2) and USB 2.0 mass storage, which can also be used to synchronise the handset with Microsoft Outlook in the PC to ensure calendar and contacts are always up-to-date.

Browsing the Internet on the K610i is a graphic-rich experience that is very similar to using the PC, thanks to the NetFront browser. HTML pages are presented in full with photos, video, words and graphics adapted to fit the 1.9” colour display, making it easy to scroll, browse and follow links between sites. New support for RSS Feeds allows users to subscribe to news services to receive updates direct to the phone.

The K610i’s integrated music player makes listening to music on the move simple. Music files can be stored on Memory Stick Micro (M2), which can be expanded to 1GB. It is easy to create and manage playlists while supplied software handles transfer of music files between the user’s PC and the phone. The music player delivers a top notch listening experience, together with the phone’s high quality stereo headphones and built-in equaliser.

The Sony Ericsson K610i, available in Urban Silver, will be sold islandwide at the following recommended retail prices:
With standard two-year mobile plan -S$498.00; Without plan -S$598.00

2006-07-11T11:57:00.000+08:00

Epson Launches Highly Versatile & Affordable Projector

Singapore, 7th July 2006 -- Epson has unveiled its latest feature-rich and versatile multimedia projector. With significant enhancements over its predecessor, the EPSON EMP-S4 is positioned as the definitive projector for the Small Office Home Office (SOHO) and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) segments, educational institutions and also as part of a home entertainment system.

The EPSON EMP-S4 is a highly portable projector packed with features which small business users demand. It uses the sophisticated 3LCD technology which creates sharper, clearer and more vivid visual reproductions, and supports the true expression of colour and natural gradation. Images are further optimized using Epson’s innovative E-TORL (Epson-Twin Optimise Reflection Lamp) technology, which enhances lamp brilliance by reducing light leakage and diffraction. As a result, viewers can experience significantly brighter picture quality in a smaller package with less noise and heat because a smaller and lower-wattage lamp is used. The EPSON EMP-S4 also boasts a blistering four-second start-up time and instant-off functions, which are further improvements to Epson’s strong industry reputation for fast start-ups and rapid shut downs.

The EPSON EMP-S4 is specifically designed for small business users for whom multimedia presentations are almost a daily occurrence. The new projector integrates features which allow users to rapidly set-up, quickly stop or resume a presentation, and shut down the machine immediately with minimal intervention. Its excellent visual display quality also means the EPSON EMP-S4 is versatile enough for users looking for a projector to complement home entertainment needs. The EPSON EMP-S4’s exciting features offer greater convenience and enhanced productivity at an affordable pricing, making it the perfect projection system for the modern business and home user,” said Mr Kent Lew, Manager for Visual Instruments at Epson Singapore.

Innovative A/V mute slide

Among the list of impressive functions, the main highlight of the EPSON EMP-S4 is the innovative A/V mute slide function which cuts out all light and reduces fan noise when projector operations need to be suspended momentarily by the user.

The A/V mute slide function is fast-becoming a standard feature for all projectors and Epson has built-in its new A/V slide feature onto the EPSON EMP-S4. To activate this feature, users only need to slide the shutter to cover the projector’s lens. This simple action cuts out light completely and automatically triggers the projector to reduce noise to an indiscernible level. This will allow presentations and meetings to be carried out without the distracting light seepage and fan whirl. To de-activate, the user just needs to slide the shutter to reveal the lens and the images are immediately projected without delay.

Mr Lew added, “Through our interactions with consumers, many said they were bothered by the constant droning of the fan in the background when they had to temporarily stop a presentation to conduct a discussion. Also, users usually had to use a book or other materials on hand to shield light from the projector’s lens during a break in the presentation. Some also told us they had to shut down the projector completely when not in use and re-power up the system when they were ready to continue. This resulted in unnecessary waiting time for both the presenter and the audience. With the advanced A/V mute slide, it ensures presentations are at a constant ready-state and addresses the concern of light and noise interruption.”

With the advanced features, the EPSON EMP-S4 is attractively priced at S1, 499.00.
Please visit www.epson.com.sg/products/projectors/EMP-S4.shtml for more details. The product is available from July 2006.

2006-07-08T12:27:00.000+08:00

Gigabyte GV-NX73T256P-RH (GeForce 7300 GT 256MB DDR2)

Turbo Powered Low-End

Those who went through our initial article about NVIDIA's latest low-end SKU, the GeForce 7300 GT, would be understandably excited about the surprising performance of the Gainward Bliss 7300GT PCX. While it is no doubt rather refreshing to find a GeForce 7300 series card hitting way above its hierarchy in the benchmarking, in the process eclipsing the GeForce 7600 GS, the fine performance was due to the rather extreme specifications of that limited edition GeForce 7300 GT. Most GeForce 7300 GT cards would more likely stick to their low-end roots and come equipped with inexpensive memory and more mundane clock speeds. Given the freedom to tinker by NVIDIA, one can expect to find quite a range of clock speeds for this product from the usual manufacturing partners. In short, there's no fixed 'standard' GeForce 7300 GT one can use as the base.

Specifications:

Graphics Engine

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT GPU

177 million transistors on a 90nm fabrication process
Stock 3D GPU clock = 450MHz
5 vertex pipelines
8 pixel pipelines

NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Engine

Vertex Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
Displacement Mapping
Vertex Frequency Stream Divider (Geometry Instancing)
Infinite length vertex programs (supported in hardware)

Pixel Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
Full pixel branching support
Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
Infinite length pixel programs (supported in hardware)

Texturing Engine Features

Accelerated textures access
Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
Support for 16-bit and 32-bit floating point formats
Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
DirectX and S3TC texture compression

Full 128-bit FP Precision Graphics Pipeline

Native support for 32 / 64 / 128 bits per pixel rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology (accelerates shadow computations)
NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology

16x Anisotropic Filtering
Adaptive Texture Filtering
Gamma-adjusted Rotated Grid Antialiasing
Transparent multisampling and supersampling modes
Fast antialiasing and compression performance
Loss-less Color, Texture and Z-Data Compression algorithms (in real time)
Fast Z-clear
Support for normal map compression

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

Dedicated programmable on-chip video processor
MPEG-2 video encode and decode
High Definition MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware decode acceleration (up to 1080i)
Post Processing Features

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing (adaptive)
NTSC 3:2 Pulldown / Bad Edit correction
PAL 2:2 Pulldown correction

High quality 4x5 video scaling and filtering
Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR)
Integrated HDTV output

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine
Advanced Video and Display Functionality

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual DVO ports for interfacing external TMDS transmitters and external TV/HDTV encoder
nView Multi-display Technology

NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
Designed for PCI Express x16
Advanced thermal monitoring and thermal management

Graphics Memory

128-bit memory interface
256MB Graphics DDR2 SDRAM
Default clock rate of 800MHz DDR

Display Capabilities

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual DVO ports for interfacing to external TMDS transmitters and external TV encoders

Connectors

1x mini-DIN connector (for Video-out)
1 x DVI-I connector (Dual-link)
1 x analog VGA connector

Drivers & Software

Driver support for Microsoft Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP/XP MCE/XP Pro x64, Linux and Macintosh OS (including OS X)
Gigabyte V-Tuner 2 Plus
CyberLink Power DVD 6.0
Serious Sam II

Other Information

PCI Express x16 slot required

Gigabyte's GeForce 7300 GT 256MB DDR2

Like many low-end graphics products, Gigabyte's version features a passive cooler. While NVIDIA may not have issued any edict regarding the kind of cooling on the GeForce 7300 GT, the trend does appear to favor the silent type. Such a design would emphasize the suitability of the GeForce 7300 GT in HTPC setups and make it more attractive to budding HTPC enthusiasts. The cooler on the Gigabyte utilizes heat pipe technology to transfer the heat to a special section of cooling fins, which should dissipate heat faster than the conventional chunk of aluminum heatsink.

Picture

Test - 3DMark05 Pro & 3DMark06 Pro

With its more modest clock speeds, the Gigabyte GeForce 7300 GT trailed the speedy version from Gainward by a fair amount in both 3DMark05 and 3DMark06. More importantly, normal service was resumed as the GeForce 7600 GS narrowly held off the challenge of the Gigabyte. ATI fans also have cause to celebrate as its mid-range Radeon X1600 XT emerged tops in 3DMark05 and did very well in 3DMark06.

From the look of things, the Gigabyte may have clock speeds that are rather similar and even superior to the standard GeForce 7600 GS but its lesser number of pixel pipelines was its undoing. Its position in this benchmark was right in between the older GeForce 6600 GT and the GeForce 7600 GS and a fairer reflection of where NVIDIA probably intends the GeForce 7300 GT to be in, rather than the exalted performance of the Gainward GeForce 7300 GT

2006-07-07T13:18:00.000+08:00

XFX GeForce 7950 GX2 570M 1GB DDR3 XXX

Technological Rat Race

A prominent local blogger generated much commentary in the blogosphere after his satire lamenting the price of progress and cost of living in Singapore received a typically humorless retort from the authorities. While we are not getting into that issue here, it reminded us of the technological progress made in 3D graphics. From the very first appearance of 3D graphics accelerators for PCs from now defunct names like 3dfx and Rendition, the obvious graphical improvements quickly lead to both hardware and software developers working together to enable more realistic and immersive graphics. It was the beginning of an era. 3dfx was the first to market dual graphics card to increase 3D performance with their version of SLI but they went bankrupt within a couple of years. Its competitor NVIDIA acquired the remnants and reinvented the SLI brand with its own take on the multi-GPU concept.

One glance at any modern 3D game will convince anyone of the technological progress made since those early days. The goal towards ever-greater photo-realism has continued unabated and while the latest games may look amazing, the cost of getting a top end graphics card is probably as high as ever. For those who can still remember, a pair of Voodoo 2 for SLI cost around US$600 and well, that happens to be quite similar (inflation not withstanding) to NVIDIA's latest SLI advancement, the US$599 GeForce 7950 GX2, which combines two GPUs onto a single card ostensibly but both GPUs have their own PCB. Its main achievement however, has to be how NVIDIA has finally managed to do away with the requirement of a SLI compatible motherboard. This will definitely lower the barriers to entry for extreme graphics performance, though most enthusiasts who would consider getting the GeForce 7950 GX2 would most likely have a SLI motherboard.

Specifications:

Graphics Engine

NVIDIA G71 GPU

Stock 3D GPU clock = 570MHz

NVIDIA CineFX 4.0 Shading Engine

Vertex Shaders
- Support for DX 9.0 Vertex Shader 3.0
- Displacement Mapping
- Vertex Frequency Stream Divider (Geometry Instancing)
- Infinite length vertex programs (supported in hardware)
Pixel Shaders

Support for DX 9.0 Pixel Shader 3.0
Full pixel branching support
Multiple Render Targets (MRTs)
Infinite length pixel programs (supported in hardware)

Texturing Engine Features

Accelerated textures access
Up to 16 textures per rendering pass
Support for 16-bit and 32-bit floating point formats
Support for sRGB texture format for gamma textures
DirectX and S3TC texture compression

Full 128-bit FP Precision Graphics Pipeline

Native support for 32 / 64 / 128 bits per pixel rendering modes

64-Bit Texture Filtering and Blending
NVIDIA UltraShadow II Technology (accelerates shadow computations)
NVIDIA SLI Technology
NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 Technology

16x Anisotropic Filtering
Adaptive Texture Filtering
Gamma-adjusted Rotated Grid Antialiasing
Transparent multisampling and supersampling modes
Fast antialiasing and compression performance
Loss-less Color, Texture and Z-Data Compression algorithms (in real time)
Fast Z-clear
Support for normal map compression

NVIDIA PureVideo Technology

Dedicated programmable on-chip video processor
MPEG-2 video encode and decode
High Definition H.264, MPEG-2 and WMV9 hardware decode acceleration (up to 1080i)
Post Processing Features

Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing (adaptive)
NTSC 3:2 Pulldown / Bad Edit correction
PAL 2:2 Pulldown correction

High quality 4x5 video scaling and filtering
Microsoft Video Mixing Renderer (VMR)
Integrated HDTV output (with HDCP support)

Composited Desktop Hardware Engine (for Windows Longhorn)
Built for Windows Vista

Delivers best possible experience when running Windows Vista 3D graphical user interface
New OS supported by renowned NVIDIA Unified Driver Architecture (UDA) for maximum stability and reliability
NVIDIA PureVideo technology delivers high-quality VMR pipeline for best-in-class video for Windows Vista

Advanced Video and Display Functionality

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual-link DVI capability to drive the industry's largest and highest resolution digital flat panel displays up to 2560x1600
Integrated HDTV encoder provides analog TV-output (Component/Composite/S-Video) up to 1080i resolution
nView Multi-display Technology

NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) 3.0
Designed for PCI Express x16
Advanced thermal monitoring and thermal management

Graphics Memory

256-bit memory interface for each GPU
1GB Graphics DDR3 SDRAM (Cumulative)
Default clock rate of 775MHz (effective speed of 1550MHz DDR)

Display Capabilities

Dual 400MHz RAMDACs that support resolutions of 2048x1536@85Hz
Dual-link DVI capability to drive displays of up to 2560x1600

Connectors

1 x mini-DIN connector (for Video-out)
2 x DVI-I connector (2 x Dual-link, HDCP ready)

Drivers & Software

Driver support for Microsoft Windows Vista/9x/ME/2000/XP/XP MCE/XP Pro x64, Linux and Macintosh OS (including OS X)
Tomb Raider: Legend

Other Information

PCI Express x16 slot required
Dedicated 6-pin PCIe Molex power connector required (not shared or split)
Power supply rated for 400W or higher recommended by NVIDIA

XFX's Overclocked GeForce 7950 GX2

The appearance of the XFX GeForce 7950 GX2 570M 1GB DDR3 XXX is as undistinguished as its name is long. We have encountered XFX's rather confusing product names before and the company seems to have a rather simplistic notion of appending more suffixes to the original product when they introduce a special or different edition. This time, the name may be long and unmemorable but at least the strings of numbers give a hint of what the card is all about; as long as you know in advance that is.

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Test - 3DMark05 Pro & 3DMark06 Pro

So what will you get for the higher clock speeds on the XFX? An improvement ranging between 5% and 14% in 3DMark05 apparently. As the graphs below show, there was a definite boost in scores, a magnitude that increased along with the resolution. This trend was also evident in 3DMark06, though this time, the margin was much smaller at 2% to 9%. However, this was enough to make the XFX the fastest GeForce 7950 GX2 in the market and probably the fastest 'single' graphics card now. A SLI setup of dual GeForce 7900 GTX still holds the performance crown but the margin was not that impressive and the cost of doing so would be much higher than the GeForce 7950 GX2.

2006-07-06T12:05:00.000+08:00

Transcend Launches its Tiny MP3 Player T.sonic 530

Taipei, July 5, 2006 -- Transcend Information is proud to announce the release of its All-new, feature loaded Flash MP3 Player, the T.sonic 530. The T.sonic 530 is a tiny MP3 Player that has a unique design, which incorporates Pattern-Art into the player’s faceplate. One of the T.sonic 530’s many extra features is its Karaoke-type lyrics display function, which encourages you to sing-along to your favorite tunes by displaying the words of the song on the player’s bright, color OLED screen. The T.sonic 530 supports all the popular music formats, MP3, WMA, WAV and has a rechargeable Li-ion battery that lasts an impressive 15 hours. In addition, the T.sonic 530 includes FM Radio and a Digital Voice Recorder as standard, so now you can enjoy your music and recordings wherever you go.

The stylishly compact T.sonic 530 measures a mere 51mm x 26mm x 19mm and weighs only 22g (without the battery). The T.sonic 530’s user friendly design means transferring music to the player could not be easier, simply connect the player to your computer and drag and drop your digital music onto the T.sonic, the USB connection will take care of the rest. You can even use the T.sonic 530 as a transfer and storage device for your computer files and the included software can be used to Lock your computer and setup Password protection for your files.

The T.sonic 530’s FM Radio can preset your 20 favorite stations and has the ability to record from the Radio. In addition to the Radio the player’s Digital Voice Recorder can be used to record memos to yourself, or from others. The T.sonic 530’s A-B repeat feature allows you to replay a designated section of a track, which makes a nifty language-learning tool. Other impressive T.sonic 530 features include 6 Equalizer effects with a customizable USER EQ mode, support for displaying filenames and song/artist titles in 12 user languages and Hot-Key control. So, give your music a makeover with the cute, stylish and fully featured T.sonic 530 MP3 Player, available now in 512MB and 1GB flavors.

Product Features

MP3 Player that supports MP3, WMA and WAV music formats
FM Radio (FM Radio recording and the ability to preset 20 FM radio stations)
Digital Voice Recorder
Karaoke-type lyrics display
A-B repeat function allows you to continuously replay a designated section of a track
Supports 12 user languages including song/artist name display
USB Flash Drive capabilities for data transfer and storage
Included Software can be used to Lock your computer and setup Password protection for your files
Self-luminous Color OLED Display produces a vibrant clear display, easily viewed at any angle and in any light
6 Equalizer effects, including a customizable USER EQ setting
Powered using a rechargeable Li-ion battery (fully charged battery supports over 15 hours of continuous operation)
Mini USB port for easy computer connectivity and file transfers
Auto-powers off after 2, 10, or 30 minutes of no usage
Automatic screen saver runs if the unit is idle for more than a few seconds, this acts as a battery saving measure

2006-07-06T12:01:00.000+08:00

Genius Introduces USB Speakers for Digital Audio

Genius adds the SP-i201U, 2-piece USB speakers, to its USB speaker series. Using an advanced high-efficiency digital class-D IC, the sound performance is crystal clear with bass enhancement and minimal distortion, which is better than the current analog solution. A 2” micro driver protected by a metal grill cover with chrome ring decoration in a piano black cabinet gives you a stylish design that looks great with your notebook or your LCD desktop. In addition, the volume adjustment on the front panel for easy operation is different from other USB speakers, which control the volume from a PC or notebook.

There’s also a headphone jack for private listening and a line in jack with extra stereo audio cable for listening or sharing MP3 or other stereo devices. Installation is easy; just plug and play your favorite songs, watch movies, or make a private multimedia presentation through the USB cable without the need for an additional power supply.

2006-07-06T11:51:00.000+08:00

Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series and Aurvana Headphones

From Audio to Headphones

In any informal good soundcard survey, one brand that would almost always spring to mind is Creative Technology. Soundcards are unquestionably the Singapore-based company's core product, but in light of a waning demand on add-on soundcards, Creative has had to expand its product portfolio and one of them was its earphone/headphone line. Just recently, Creative announced its Fatal1ty and Aurvana series of headphones that are catered to gamers and audiophiles respectively. Along with its award winning portable media players, Creative is finally able to offer a complete audio solution and experience that's entirely Creative.

Take It From Fatal1ty

Jonathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel, a multi-champion of gaming competitions, revealed that his success lies heavily in the use of sound to pinpoint the whereabouts of his opponents and the only soundcard so far to have met his expectations is from none other than Creative. His confidence in Creative products has even culminated in him endorsing Creative's X-Fi series of soundcards and the Fatal1ty series of gaming mice. Joining the latest Fatal1ty endorsed "family" of products is the Fatal1ty Professional series headset.

Ask any competitive gamer and they'll tell you that only headphones are allowed in credible competitions to minimize distractions to other players. Given the success Fatal1ty has in gaming and Creative in audio products, it was really only a matter of time before the two converged to develop a professional gaming headphone to give gamers a competitive edge. Upon first gaze, the new Fatal1ty Professional series headset does bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain Sennheiser headphone. On the left of the headphone is a flexible microphone boom that can be adjusted such that the microphone is parked right next to the mouth for the optimum voice pickup. It also comes with active noise cancellation to further reduce ambient noise just so your teammates will always understand you in the heat of battles.
We really loved the heavily cushioned earpads, which was what made wearing the headphones for hours on the trot without discomfort possible. Also playing a part in the comfort factor was the lightweight plastic material used in the production of the headset. By wiring in a volume control and a microphone on/off switch for instant control, gamers will have two more compelling reasons to consider getting the Creative Fatal1ty heaphones.

Music In My Ears

Over at the music end of the spectrum, the Aurvana follows closely to the in-ear design of most high-end earphones. The immediate advantage is that it provides good isolation from ambient noise and delivers music smoothly into the ear. Although a splitting image of the Shure's E3c, wearing the Aurvana is different from that of the former in that it is worn directly and not looped over the ear. Thanks to the soft rubbery silicon ear buds, the Aurvana can be comfortably worn for an extended period of time, therefore it's only good news when we found not two but three pairs of differently sized ear buds, cleaning tool, airplane adaptor and a convenient travel case.

Final Thoughts

The introduction of both the Fatal1ty Professional and Aurvana series of headsets have certainly set Creative in the right direction. Nicely complemented by its award winning X-Fi soundcards and portable media players, Creative can now take huge pride in being a provider of total audio entertainment and solution. Where the headsets were concerned, the Fatal1ty performed well in most of the games we tried with our only gripe being its premium price of US$129. The Aurvana earphones on the other hand was great for music but would have made purchasing one all the more worthwhile if it had packed more punch in the bass department - something like the Creative EP630 earphone.

Product Specifications

Fatal1ty Professional series headset:

Driver Units: 40mm Neodymium Magnet
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Impedance: 32ohms
Sound Output Level: 112dB (@1kHz)
Microphone Type: Patented Active Noise-Canceling
Frequency Response: 100Hz ~ 10kHz
Impedance: 650ohms

The Aurvana in-ear earphones:

Driver Unit: Balanced Armature
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Impedance: 42ohms
Sensitivity: 115dB
Cord Length: 1.2m (Oxygen-Free Copper cable)
Input Plug: 3.5mm stereo gold-plated miniplug
Net Weight: 13g (without packaging)

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2006-07-05T12:35:00.000+08:00

Pentax to Introduce New Entry-level K110D DSLR Camera

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to introduce the PENTAX K110D, an entry-class lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera that combines a host of advanced technologies with a simple, user-friendly operation system and a compact, lightweight body. It brings high-quality digital SLR photography to everyone — especially to first-time digital SLR users.

Developed as a starter camera for beginning digital SLR photographers, the K110D is designed to capture high-quality images with simplified operation in a variety of applications, including the documentation of hobby scenes and the preservation of family events. In addition to a sophisticated autofocus system that rivals the performance of higher-grade models, the high-performance K110D offers such outstanding features as a bright, clear viewfinder, an extra-large, wide-view LCD monitor, and 6.1 effective megapixels.

Major Features

11-point wide-frame AF to capture off-center subjects in crisp focus The K110D’s sophisticated SAFOX VIII autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors in the middle) to automatically focus on the subject with utmost precision, even when it is positioned off center. The in-focus sensor point is automatically superimposed in red in the viewfinder for at-a-glance confirmation. This
high-precision AF system offers a choice of two AF modes: the conventional single AF, and the continuous AF, which maintains focus on the moving subject as long as the shutter release button is pressed halfway down.
Bright, clear viewfinder
The K110D features a lightweight penta-mirror viewfinder, which combines a PENTAX-original finder optics with a Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen to deliver a bright, clear subject image with a 0.85-times magnification and a 96-percent field of view.
Large LCD monitor to facilitate image viewing and menu setting The K110D incorporates a large 2.5-inch color LCD monitor on its back panel. Its wide-view design allows the photographer to check the monitor image over 140 degrees vertically and horizontally, ensuring effortless image viewing even from a diagonal position. With a total of approximately 210,000 pixels, it also offers digital zooming of playback images up to 12 times for easy confirmation of the image’s focusing status and details. The large monitor size allows for large letters, digits and icons on the menu screens to facilitate menu confirmation and camera operations. In addition, the color scheme between the menu listings and the background is optimized for each menu screen to assure at-a-glance confirmation, even under varying shooting conditions.
Auto Picture Mode for effortless point-and-shoot SLR photography The K110D offers the PENTAX-developed Auto Picture Mode, which automatically and instantly selects one of the five Picture modes — including Portrait, Landscape and Macro — by calculating various photographic factors to assure optimum results. Since this advanced shooting mode takes away all the concerns about aperture, shutter-speed, white-balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness settings, the photographer can concentrate on image composition and shutter opportunity.
Auto sensitivity control up to 3200 standard output sensitivity The K110D features an auto sensitivity control function, which automatically sets the optimum standard output sensitivity — up to 3200, which is the highest automatic setting in its class — based on such data as the subject’s brightness level and the lens’ focal length. Since this function allows the use of higher shutter speeds in poor lighting situations (such as indoor sports events and night scenes), it helps the photographer to effectively reduce camera shake and prevent blurred images.
AA-battery power supply for easy battery replacement on the road The K110D is powered by four AA-size batteries — available nearly everywhere around the globe — for worry-free batter replacement. It also accepts two CR-V3 lithium batteries.
True-to-life, rich-gradation images assured by 6.1 effective megapixels The K110D features a large, high-performance 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD as its image sensor, assuring the faithful reproduction of the desired photographic intention in the resulting images — from images with beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds to those with edge-to-edge sharpness. By combining 6.1 effective megapixels with a high-performance imaging engine and advanced image-processing technologies, the K110D is designed to produce beautiful, true-to-life images that are rich in gradation. What’s more, it offers a choice of two finishing touches of “Natural” or “Bright” to create a distinctive atmosphere.
Compatibility with existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses
The K110D is compatible with all existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses — both old and new. This compatibility lets the photographer use various lenses for the same subject, or select the most appropriate lens for a given situation, assuring the top visual creativity available only through SLR photography.
Super-compact, ultra-lightweight body, with outstanding rigidity While the K110D is designed to be compact and lightweight to enhance operability and portability, it also incorporates a newly developed stainless-steel chassis and a fiber-reinforced engineering plastic housing to reinforce its overall rigidity and durability.
Other Features

High-speed shutter unit, with a top speed of 1/4000 second
High-speed continuous shooting, up to five images (at “Best” image quality in JPEG format) at the speed of approx. 2.8 images per second
Eight distinctive Scene modes to accommodate specific subjects/applications
19 custom functions to personalize camera operations
SD memory card compatibility
Choice of two preview functions (digital/optical)
Storage of recorded images in day-by-day files on an SD memory card
Choice of 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic applications
Noise reduction mechanism to reduce digital noise during extended exposures
USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED) compatibility for speedy data transfer to PC
Choice of image format between JPEG (Best, Better or Good) and RAW
Five digital filters (Black-and-white, Sepia, Slim, Soft and Brightness) for easy editing of recorded images
PictBridge compatibility
Standard software package, featuring PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 3 RAW data processing software and PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3 image browser software