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Archive for May, 2011

Computex 2011: Asustek announces Padfone, bundling smartphone with tablet PC

May 31st, 2011

Taiwan-based notebook brand vendor Asustek Computer, at its pre-Computex press conference, announced its Padfone, bundling a 4.3-inch smartphone with a 10-inch tablet PC for an estimated price at US$799-1,000. The two devices will adopt Google’s next generation operating system codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich paired with Qualcomm’s processor and will be launched in December in time for the year-end holiday season.

Although Asustek did not showcase the device at the conference, company chairman Jonney Shih held an engineering sample of the device to explain the concept of the new products. Shih pointed out that the Padfone will allow consumers to choose whichever screen size they desire to display their content on, while the tablet PC’s battery can be used to extend the usage time of the smartphone plus the smartphone is also capable of connecting the tablet PC to Internet through its 3G module.

Although the Padfone’s upstream OEM/ODM is currently unknown, sources from the retail channel believe it should be either Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) or Pegatron Technology.

The sources believe that Asustek’s idea of Padfone is meant to boost its smartphone’s brand name through tablet PC sales, but since Asustek’s smartphone is not a mainstream product in the IT market, while the price is set at rather high level, Asustek is believed to be pushing the Padfone mainly in niche markets with the major purpose to show its design capability.

As for Asustek’s Eee PC Transformer, which had sales of 300,000 units in the first two months after the launch, the company is soon to upgrade the device’s operating system to Android 3.1 with its Eee Pad Slider to start selling in July with prices set in between US$650-800 depending on specifications. The company’s 7-inch Eee Pad MeMO 3D will appear in the fourth quarter, featuring 3D capabilities without the need of a 3D glasses, while the device also comes with MeMIC accessory set for playing music and enable phone capability.

Asustek is currently focusing on expanding both its software and hardware R&D teams and is confident of shipping two million Eee Pads to achieve 10% share in non-Apple tablet PC shipments in 2011.

In addition to tablet PCs, Asustek is also launching Eee PC X101, featuring an Intel Atom processor and MeeGo operating system for a price of US$199, while the Windows 7-based model will be priced at US$310-350 and selling in July.

Asustek also announced new UX and N series notebooks as well as WAVI Xtion, a motion detection machine for home entertainment and a 27-inch HD quality Wintel-based all-in-one PC.

Source:http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20110530PD215.html

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Tags: Asustek Computex

Computex 2011 to signal reshuffle of PC software/hardware

May 31st, 2011

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Computex Taipei 2011 opens today with the expectation that more than 35,000 buyers from around the world will descend on Taipei to participate in Asia’s biggest IT trade show. About 1,800 global exhibitors, utilizing over 5,200 booths, up 8% from 2010, will hopefully supply up to US$23 billion in business as a result of the show.

And while Computex is first and foremost an event where IT buyers and suppliers can make deals and solidify relationships, it is also a major IT venue for industry leaders to jostle for mindshare. The hot topics this year include market trends such as color e-book readers, 3D Television and cloud computing, but it will be the tablet market that is expected to grab the main spotlight during the show this year.

The Apple iPad has created a surge in demand for tablet PCs, resulting in a situation where semiconductor firms focusing on x86 architecture – mainly Intel – will face off against ARM-based architecture vendors including Nvidia and Qualcomm, while competition in the software arenas will pit Microsoft and its upcoming Windows 8 operating system against Google Android and Chrome.

Intel to beat drum for tablet PCs

Intel executive vice president and Architecture Group general manager Sean Maloney will introduce Intel’s latest R&D and road map of product development as well as Intel’s competing strategies for tablet PCs and smartphones, market segments where Intel has not been able to claim a leadership position. In addition, corporate vice president and PC Client Group general manager Mooly Eden, corporate vice president and Netbook and Tablet Group general manager Doug Davis as well as Software and Services vice president and System Software Division general manager Doug Fisher will disclose the company’s planning for their respective business units.

Intel is expected to showcase Oak Trail tablet PCs supporting MeeGo, Windows and Android as well as inexpensive netbook models and Chrome notebook PCs jointly developed by Google. Sandy Bridge models and Z68 motherboards developed by Intel’s Taiwan-based hardware partners will also be exhibited and Intel is expected to release details on its next-generation Ivy Bridge platform.

Intel will also exhibit the X79 chipset (code name Patsburg-HEDT) that will be offered in August 2011, with the chipset to match three 6-core and quad-core Sandy Bridge-E processors to form the Waimea Bay platform.

During Intel’s recent analyst day, the company indicated it would be making two major high level changes in its roadmap and those changes should be evident at the Computex show. The first initiative is a renewed focus on essentially reinventing its vision of the PC, one that was much more CE device oriented and featuring ultra-thin, ultra secure and ultra-responsive devices in its plan. The company is stressing features that put it into head-to-head competition with its rivals from the ARM camp, including features such as instant on, always on and always connected, as well as 10 hours of battery life.

While not directly conceding that it needs to better compete with ARM in the tablet segment, Intel most definitely reminded the world why it is the industry leader in the semiconductor industry with its second initiative, which is to accelerate its SoC development strategy. The company plans to halve its two-year process technology development cycle for SoCs for smartphones and tablets starting from 32nm products next year (Medfield) and then 22nm (Silvermont) products in 2013 and 14nm products (Airmont) in 2014, essentially doubling the speed of Moore’s Law to help the company improve its standing in the ultra-mobility market.

Even though Intel has yet to become a major player in the smartphone or tablet industry, the company has the resources and advantages in process technology to keeps its competitors from discounting the prospects of the chip giant. Moreover, Intel is quick to point out based on tablets on smartphones, it is the number one silicon vendor in the market in terms of profits, since every 600 smartphones sold and/or every 122 tablets sold creates the sale of a server, most likely a high-margin Intel product

AMD to showcase Llano

AMD unveiled Brazos, a low-power Fusion APU, in January 2011 and has shipped more than three million chips. AMD will exhibit Llano, its latest Fusion APU, at Computex 2011, with company senior vice president and chief marketing officer Nigel Dessau to introduce details on AMD’s most advanced architectures and technology.

Viewing that Brazos has successfully been adopted by Sony, Hewlett-Packard and Taiwan-based Acer and Asustek Computer for their notebook PCs, AMD will ship Llano to notebook PC vendors first in June and then to retail market in July. According to AMD internal estimates, monthly shipments of Llano will keep increasing from one million units in June to 1.5 million units in July and further to 8.0-9.0 million units at the end of 2011.

Made on a 32nm process, Llano has built-in graphics chip Radeon HD 6550 or 6450 which is functionally equivalent to the Nvidia GeForce GT 240. Liano motherboards equipped with Socket FM1 A75 chipset support Dual Graphics technology and related motherboard graphics performance can be increased by 80% using CrossFire.

There will be three series of Llano APUs for use in notebook PCs, that is, A6-3400M, A4-3300M and E2-3000M. AMD will soon unveil Llano APUs for use in desktop PCs which will include at least five A series and one E series.

AMD will also unveil its road maps of tablet PC architectures, and is cooperating with Microsoft to develop Windows 8-based platforms which will be released as early as the first quarter of 2012.

Nvidia Tegra 2 seeing booming demand

CEO and president Huang Jen-hsun will introduce Nvidia’s road maps of developing Tegra and architectures.

However, Nvidia’s possible participation in Microsoft’s Integrated Development Program specifically for developing Windows 8 is expected to be the question that the media will be asking.

Absent from Computex in 2007-2010, Nvidia will return to the IT event this year to showcase the achievement of Tegra 2, including applications to tablet PCs, smartphones and automotive electronics as well as release quad-core processors and Project Denver. Nvidia plans to unveil quad-core Tegra 3 (Project Kal-El) in the second half of 2011, Tegra 4 (Wayne) in 2012, Tegra 5 (Logan) in 2013 and Tegra 6 (Stark) in 2014.

ARM president Tudor Brown

ARM president Tudor Brown and executive vice president of marketing Ian Drew will introduce ARM’s business outlook and performance of ARM architectures used in tablet PCs and handsets. In addition, ARM will showcase new ARM-based devices developed by hardware partners.

Source:http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20110530VL200.html

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Tags: AMD INTEL Nvidia

EU probes two U.S.-Asian computer hardware deals

May 31st, 2011

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EU regulators opened in-depth probes on Monday into two takeover bids in the computer hardware sector involving two Asian companies and two U.S. peers, saying it was concerned the deals would reduce the number of rivals.

U.S.-based Seagate Technology has said it wants to buy Samsung Electronics Co’s loss-making hard disk drive unit for $1.4 billion — a deal that will give Seagate access to Samsung’s NAND-type flash chips for its solid-state drive products.

Western Digital plans to purchase Hitachi Ltd’s hard disk drive business for $4.3 billion to give it an edge in developing next-generation storage technology.

The European Commission, the EU competition watchdog, which is now reviewing the two deals, said it wanted to take a closer look.

“Hard drives are the backbone of the digital economy. The sector has already experienced significant consolidation, and the proposed acquisitions will further reduce competition,” Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement.

The EU executive said the Seagate and Samsung deal would consolidate the U.S. company’s position in the hard disk drive market, leaving only two rivals, Western Digital and Hitachi.

The Western Digital and Hitachi transaction would result in only one company competing in desktop hard disk drives and just two rivals in mobile hard disk drives, the Commission said.

The respective deals would increase Seagate’s market share to 40 percent, while Western Digital and Hitachi combined will have around half the market, according to analysts.

Western Digital said it was proceeding, on plan, with its integration-planning activities related to the proposed deal, and now expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The Commission will decide by October 10 whether to clear or block the two deals. The previous deadline for a decision on the Seagate and Samsung deal was Monday, while that for Western Digital and Hitachi was Tuesday.

Source:http://ca.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idCATRE74T3IS20110530

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Tags: computer Hardware

Asus launches ultrathin UX, Eee PC X101 at Computex

May 31st, 2011

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The 11-inch Asus UX has an aluminum alloy shell with a polished finish, and the company claims that it “draws inspiration from luxury timepieces.” The chassis is 17mm at its thickest point and, like the MacBook Air, uses SSD hard drives and even has an instant-on resume feature. (Note that Asus used the name UX for different laptops over the years.)

Where the new UX stands out, at least on paper, is its Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs. The system on display at Computex reportedly had an Intel Core i5-2557M, which is a full-voltage chip, not a ULV version, but we’re not yet sure what version of the more powerful Core i7 will be offered.

Asus also had on hand an updated version of the Eee PC Netbook. This latest version, called the Eee PC X101, has a 10.1-inch display, and runs either Windows 7 or Intel’s proprietary MeeGo operating system (a hybrid version of the X101 will run both, allowing users to choose at startup).

The X101 is rumored to cost as little as $200 (likely for the MeeGo-only version), while the UX should be priced a bit less than the MacBook Air. When will these new laptops be available in the US? Judging by past Asus releases, we’ll probably only know when they suddenly turn up in the catalogs of online retailers such as NewEgg or Amazon.

Source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20067412-1/asus-launches-ultrathin-ux-eee-pc-x101-at-computex/

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Tags: Asus Hard Drive Laptop Macbook PC

Team #01Synergy off to Costa Rica to participate in Costa Rica Technology Insight

May 31st, 2011

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(http://www.crtechnologyinsight.com/content/) , is one of the most exclusive digital technology (DT) summit in Latin America, combining both, business meetings & conference activities and can act as a platform for the establishment of new businesses in the digital technologies industry, in Latin America. We at 01Synergy are glad to be part of the delegation of ten Indian IT companies representing India at Costa Rica Technology Insight.

With more than 200 participants from different countries and regions such as Panamá, Central America, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Chile, Mexico, United States, Canada, Europe and India, the 01 Synergy team will get a chance to meet with Costa Rican counterparts under a great business atmosphere and get a chance to forge partnerships.

The focus of the event will be in three main areas; networking, business meetings and conferences, promoting this way, the establishment of new business opportunities, for both national and international participants, 01Synergy hopes to find business partners in Central America.

01 Synergy has also been invited for Reception with the Indian Ambassador in Colombia H.E. Mr Warjri for the Indian Delegation.

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Tags: Central America Colombia Costa Rica Latin America Partnership Technology

Keeping it in the family

May 30th, 2011

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When their father died in an accident earlier this year, sister and brother Sarah Downing and David McClelland say it was never a question whether they would take over managing the Old Town Fort Collins store that Tom McClelland had worked so hard to build.

Both had worked summers at the Downtown Ace Hardware store as kids, and although neither had run a business before, they say loyal employees and customers have eased the transition for them as they have taken over management.

“We have one goal in common,” Downing said during a recent interview, looking at her brother. “To keep the successful business running.”

Tom McClelland died in a snowmobile crash in Jackson County, near Gould, in March. He owned the franchise store outright, and its management has passed to his two children. He opened the store in 1990, although it’s now in its second Old Town location at 227 S. College.

Since their father’s death, Downing and David McClelland have taken on new duties, from ordering supplies to getting their father’s dream for a patio furniture section up and running in the store’s basement level.

“My dad had a very high standard for the store, and we will be keeping it,” Downing said.

The two have been sharing duties, learning from and leaning on longtime store employees who usually know in a moment exactly where and in what aisle any particular item can be found. On Thursday, while David McClelland helped stock shelves, his sister worked in the store’s office. The store has about 50 full- and part-time employees.

“We’re learning as rapidly as we can,” said Downing, who has a young child and a husband in Denver and has been commuting to Fort Collins to help her brother, who is 20 and plans to study business at Colorado State University in the fall.

Downing said their father’s best friend runs an Ace store, and they have leaned on him for expertise and guidance they can trust.

“No one has been pushy or overstepped,” she said. “But they are all ready and offering to help.”

As the summer approaches, the store, and Downing and her brother, are geared up to help area residents plant and maintain their gardens, decorate their patios and get yard work done.

“We have very loyal customers, and we love that,” Downing said. “This is a great community to be in.”

Source:http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110530/BUSINESS/105300323/Keeping-family?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

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Tags: Ace Hardware

For each game the right PC

May 30th, 2011

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PC buyers can assess in advance is difficult often to make certain games with the selected computer model and the particular hardware configuration can play as well. The German PC vendor Agando offers on its website ( http://www.agando.de ) so from now on offer for all the new computer “game check.

On the basis of an innovative evaluation system with clear icons shop customers see at a glance how their PCs reflected in individual categories such as action, sports, adventure, racing games, strategy or simulation. In addition, individual data allow many games of each genre’s. Not only current releases can be found, but also the most popular games of recent time and widespread classic. The quality levels to provide information on whether a game in minimum resolution (few details), the recommended resolution (detail), high resolution (very detailed) or even the highest resolution (maximum frame rate even on multiple monitors) can be played.

The special feature: the Game-Check Agando considered changes to the configuration in the shop in quasi real time. If selected for the PC for example, a faster processor or a more powerful graphics card, the effects are directly visible. The customer thus receives immediate feedback as to how the changes impact equipment to gaming capabilities of your computer.

Parallel to the Game-Check Agando has also introduced a general performance indicator. This sets out how the PC is appropriate for certain applications and areas such as video and image processing, office, multitasking, CAD / Visualization.

“Many PC buyers want to know as precisely as possible before buying, whether their favorite games can be played in an appropriate resolution,” says Jörg bondage, CEO of Source IT Distribution GmbH “We have in recent months, so very hard on our new game Check worked. We provide customer specific information contained in this form for competitors not previously available. ”

The Game-Check is now available for all PCs in Agando online shop and can view articles on the “Game-Check” will be called directly.

The quality ratings of Agando game checks take into account the hardware of the computer and are based on values determined by Agando and manufacturer information.

Source:http://www.pressebox.de/pressemeldungen/source-it-distribution-gmbh/boxid/427030