Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Samsung NC20 12.1" Mini-Notebook with VIA Nano Processor

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced that Samsung has adopted the VIA Nano processor in the new Samsung NC20 mini-notebook.

Combining the power efficient 1.3+GHz VIA Nano processor with the highly-integrated VIA VX800 system media processor, the Samsung NC20 also features a stunning 1280x800 12.1" display, ensuring an outstanding video experience and enabling a full-size 12" notebook keyboard with optimized 18.5mm key spacing and larger touchpad in a highly portable device that weighs just 1.52kg. You can expect 1GB of DDR2 RAM, integrated VIA Chrome9 video chipset and 160GB hard drive.

Mobility is enhanced by 802.11b/g and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and a six-cell battery that provides up to 6.5 hours of use independent of any power supply, while storage options include either a solid state disk or a SATA hard disk drive. Other features include an integrated 1.3 mega pixel digital motion camera, 3-in-1 memory card reader and three built-in USB ports.



Samsung NC20 features a 12.1-inch 1280×800 LED-backlit LCD screen, a 1.3 Megapixel webcam, Atheros WiFi 802.11b/g module, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 3-in-1 card reader. It comes with a 6-cell battery.

Samsung NC20 VIA Nano netbook will be available in the US on 16 March.


Mitsubishi XD221U Projector with a 10-watt speaker and audio mix capability

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America's Presentation Products Division, known for award-winning, high-quality, high-definition presentation and display products, today announced its new XD221U classroom projector. With a 10-watt speaker and audio mix capability, closed captioning decoder, user-friendly menus, and low cost of ownership, Mitsubishi’s XD221U offers a rich combination of audio-visual features that makes teaching more effective with technology that is easy to use.

“Teachers and trainers capture more attention and have greater impact when using multimedia technology, and our new XD221U makes presenting easier than ever,” said Wayne Kozuki, product manager, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Presentation Products Division. “The audio features enhance the teachers’ ability to make the subject interesting not only visually, but also through clearer sounds and audible information.”

Mitsubishi’s XD221U is designed with two separate 3.5mm audio inputs and a special built-in audio mixer so the projector can simultaneously project audio from two sources, such as a DVD and a third-party wireless microphone. Unlike any other projector available on the market today, the XD221U’s “Audio Mix” feature allows users to adjust the volume levels of each input for its 10W built-in speaker. With this uncommon configuration, an instructor can orally interject key points during a presentation and be heard over the video.

“Teachers and trainers capture more attention and have greater impact when using multimedia technology, and our new XD221U makes presenting easier than ever,” said Wayne Kozuki, product manager, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Presentation Products Division. “The audio features enhance the teachers’ ability to make the subject interesting not only visually, but also through clearer sounds and audible information.”

Mitsubishi’s XD221U is designed with two separate 3.5mm audio inputs and a special built-in audio mixer so the projector can simultaneously project audio from two sources, such as a DVD and a third-party wireless microphone. Unlike any other projector available on the market today, the XD221U’s “Audio Mix” feature allows users to adjust the volume levels of each input for its 10W built-in speaker. With this uncommon configuration, an instructor can orally interject key points during a presentation and be heard over the video.

“I remember sitting in class trying to hear a teacher speak over the volume of an educational program that we were watching, and the audio of the material tended to be louder than the teacher’s voice,” said Kozuki. “With the XD221U, teachers can now clearly point out particular details while the audience hears the other audio source at the same time. Students will pay closer attention, be less distracted, and might even learn a little better.”

When the speaker is not in use, the projector has an ultra-hushed noise level of only 26 dBA in low mode, so students hear the teacher and not the annoying hum of a fan. It also offers closed captioning from a supported source. With a touch of a button, the built-in decoder transforms words into subtitles projected on the screen, an important function for hearing-impaired students.

In order to lessen the impact on natural resources, Mitsubishi has engineered energy-efficient, earth-friendly features into all of its new projector models. They have a low standby power mode using less than one watt of power, lead-free solder on all printed circuit boards, and are paint free.

The XD221U blasts a rated 2300 lumens, ample brightness for well-lit classrooms, and is a native XGA (1024 x 768 pixels) resolution projector that uses Texas Instruments’ DLP® technology that is filter-free and helps decrease dust accumulation. Eliminating the filter saves on maintenance costs, and a lamp-life rated to up to 4000 hours (in low mode) reduces the need for lamp replacement. A convenient top-access lamp design saves time and money during infrequent lamp replacements. The projector also features BrilliantColor®, which creates clear, vivid images from a computer or video signal.

The new XD221U includes dual 15-pin computer inputs as well as S-video and RCA video inputs, so users can switch between a computer presentation and video with just a press of a button. It also includes a built-in RJ-45 port for remote operation and management over a LAN, WAN or the Internet.

Pricing, Availability, Warranty

Mitsubishi offers government, education and non-profit discount pricing for its projectors through its network of authorized Mitsubishi dealers. The projector is currently available and comes with Mitsubishi’s three-year limited warranty on parts and labor plus a one-year limited warranty on the lamp. The XD221U is also covered by Mitsubishi’s award-winning three year Express Replacement Assistance (ERA) Program, a nationwide comprehensive service provided for units under warranty that offers next business-day replacement for down units.

TK-FCP004 QWERTY Ultra Slim Keyboard


TK-FCP004, Elecom’s Latest JP and QWERTY Ultra Slim Keyboard available in White, Black, and Silver, the TK-FCP004 is an average 103 key Japanese thingy but in a more compact, squarish, and stylish design at a size of 375.5x115.5x14.4mm.

Intel Atom Processor Targets Cars, Internet Phones

Advancing innovation around the Intel Atom processor with a goal to target additional market segments, Intel Corporation today announced four unique versions of processors and two new system controller hub additions to the company’s “embedded” business division product line-up. The new products for the Intel Atom processor Z5xx series include industrial-temperature options, as well as different package-size choices better suited for in-car infotainment devices, media phones, eco-technologies and other industrial-strength applications.

The low-power Intel Atom processor is behind much of Intel’s growth into several new computing-related market segments, extending the popular Intel architecture to embedded industries such as automotive in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), industrial control and automation, and media phones. These products also enable market segment innovation through advancements in integrated 2-D and 3-D graphics, video acceleration and support for multiple operating systems including several versions of Windows and Linux.



“With the addition of these new products, we can bring the benefits of Intel processors to new applications, devices and customers who develop products used in unconstrained thermal environments with low-power in mind,” said Doug Davis, vice president, Digital Enterprise Group and general manager, Embedded and Communications Group, Intel. “Meeting the needs of embedded environments and new market segments will play a large role in delivering the connectivity and functionality necessary as the number of devices connecting to the embedded Internet is expected to grow to an estimated 15 billion devices by 2015,” Davis added, citing a January report by IDC’s John Gantz titled “The Embedded Internet: Methodology and Findings.”

The Intel Atom processor is the company’s smallest built with the world’s smallest and most energy-efficient transistors. Intel’s 30-year-old embedded computing division focuses on machines, devices and equipment that have computing and Internet capabilities but are not traditional PCs, laptops or servers. Intel offers an extended 7-year lifecycle for those areas that require longer product refresh cycles such as IVI.