Intel To Develop Chips For Digital TVs

Intel plans to develop a chip that could lead to slimmer andcheaper rear-projection TVs. The move would fall in line with the computerindustry's growing attraction to the consumer electronics market, where digitaltelevision sales are soaring and profit margins are still healthy but thinningas competition increases. Intel president and chief operating officer PaulOtelliniare is expected to disclose at next month's CES Show in Las Vegas, isalready creating a stir among industry analysts. With its research anddevelopment heft, analysts say Intel could do for big-screen TVs what it did forpersonal computers: improve quality and substantially lower prices. The entry ofIntel would pose a serious threat to established consumer electronics companiesin Europe and Japan, such as Philips and Sony as well as emerging players likeTexas Instruments Inc.

Intel is exploring a technology called liquid crystal onsilicon. The technology is a hybrid between the more expensive siliconmicrochips and liquid crystal displays. A few companies already have tried tointroduce LCos products, but they haven't made any deep inroads in the market.LCoS technology competes against other new display technologies that havealready invigorated the rear-projection TV market, most notably the digitallight processing (DLP) chip pioneered by Texas Instruments. The DLP chip usesnearly a million microscopic mirrors that tilt and reflect light to create animage. DLP technology has led to models slimmer and lighter than the traditionalbulky big-screen TVs, but remain relatively expensive.

For instance, a Samsung 43-inch DLP high-definition TV is 68pounds, 15.7 inches deep, and has a suggested retail price of $ 3,999. An LCoSchip uses tiny crystals instead of mirrors, an approach that Doherty and otherindustry analysts say is cheaper to make, easier to improve upon, and thus morelikely to deliver better picture quality at lower prices. Even ultra-sleekplasma TVs, which are gaining in popularity, will feel the competitive pinchfrom LCos TVs. LCoS technology could lead to lightweight 50-inch screens for aslow as $ 2,000 by the end of 2004 and half that price a year later.

Mobile Sempron Notebooks In Mid Aug

HP, Acer, Asustek and eMachines are expected to start marketing low-cost, entry-level notebooks, running AMD’s K8-core Mobile Sempron processors in the middle of the third quarter. The K8 Mobile Sempron notebooks are likely to receive some momentum in the global notebook market in the second half, thanks to the delay of Intel’s Alviso chipsets. With simple adjustments, makers can easily upgrade their notebooks from a K7 to a K8 platform without involving any redesign to the motherboards.

Lian Li Preps TYR PC-X2000F Full Tower Case for Release

Lian Li Industrial Co. Ltd, well-known for their quality aluminum PCcases for enthusiasts, is preparing the TYR PC-X2000F full tower case for release .











Measuring 240 x 695 x 442mm and weighing 11.7kg, the tool-free aluminumcase has four 5.25” drive bays, seven 3.5” bays, eight expansion slots,2mm thick aluminum alloy side panels, holes for water cooling tubes, afan speed controller, support for graphic cards up to 340mm in length,and a top side I/O panel with one e-SATA, four USB 3.0 ports, and audioconnectors. It is fully compatible with all E-ATX/ ATX/ Mirco-ATXmotherboards and has support for up to six fans (comes pre-installedwith three 140mm fans (front) & two 140mm fans (rear)). Covered by atwo year warranty, the TYR PC-X2000F full tower case can be purchasedfrom major retailers, e-tailers and distributors at a MSRP of USD 529(price excludes tax) in end May.


Features:
Supports Extended ATX, ATX, and Micro-ATX motherboardsFour tool-less ODD bays placed either the right or left sideSeven tool-less HDD mounting racksMore cable storage space behind motherboard trayFan control-switch on the back panelFour USB 3.0 multimedia I/O ports & one e-SATA/HD audio portThree 140mm LED fans at front & two 140mm fans at rearAvailability: Arriving at local distributors end of MayMSRP : US$539+local VAT; only black color is available

News via [Techconnect]

Monster unleashes six new colors to Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Headphones

Startthe new year with thelatest and exciting additionsfrom Monster. The Consumer Electronics companyhas introduced six exciting new colour editions of Beats by Dr. Dre Studio High-Definition Headphones to music lovers. The headphones are equipped with Monsters powered isolation technology,which canactively cut external noise such that it allowsaudiophiles to experience all the rich detailstheir favorite artists want themto hear. The Beats by Dr. Dre Studio High-Definition headphones come with spacious earcups that giveextra room for a higher level of listening comfort, and plush ear cushions covered with ultra-soft breathable materials keep listeners cool. On top of that, the headphones also have an additional Monster iSoniTalk iPhone-enabled headphone cable with built-in answer button and microphone so that you can easily stop the music playback and answer your calls.

The Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio High-Definition Headphones retails from S$699 and is available at Audio House, Alpha Audio, Best Denki, Courts, DG Lifestyle Store, Epicentre, Farle Innovation, Harvey Norman, HMV, i Studio, iP Case, Macshop, Nubox, Stereo and all Two Bros outlets.

Leaked Sony Ericsson Xperia X7 and X7 Mini, based on Windows Phone 7

Sony Ericsson has beenquiet, except for the announcement that the company is dropping Symbian OS and the Android 2.1 update for the Xperia X10 series of phones. But it seems like whatever they are doing behind our back, has just been unveiled (well, leaked. Sony Ericsson is making smartphones based on the latest Windows Phone 7, namely the Xperia X7 and X7 Mini.

The Xperia X7 will sport a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480x800 pixels) and powered by 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor. Other features include 8.1-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording and HDMI output with Dhoby Digital Plus surround sound.

The smaller Xperia X7 mini will come with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 1GHz Qualcomm processor and also 10.1-megapixel camera with HD video recording and Xenon flash.

Both the Xperia X7 and X7 Mini are scheduled to be available in Q1 next year. No pricing information have been released yet.

Source: Techtree

Here's a video of the powerpoint slide:-

Megaupload founder unveils file-hosting replacement

Megaupload made headlines earlier this year after it was taken down by the FBI and US Department of Justice, but its founder, Kim Dotcom, has unveiled a replacement service called Mega, set to launch in January.

In order to avoid a similar fate to Megaupload, one of the worlds largest file-hosting services, Mega will adopt a number of changes to how it works, first of which is avoiding US companies for hosting any data.“The new Mega will not be threatened by US prosecutors,” Dotcom told Reuters. “The new Mega avoids any dealings with US hosters, US domains and US backbone providers and has changed the way it operates to avoid another takedown.”Encryption will also play a huge role in the new service, with users able to encrypt their files and hand out unique decryption keys to share them with others. This will not only make the service more secure, it will ensure Mega is not liable if the files breach copyright, since it will not actually have access to the files themselves.“Content owners can still remove infringing material and they will even get direct delete access if they agree not to make us responsible for actions of users,” Dotcom explained, marking a major shift from the approach used at Megaupload, where the website moderators would have to look for and remove infringing content.Dotcom claimed that the FBI was flooding the new Mega website with traffic as it was unveiled, delaying the unveiling. He still faces charges of copyright infringement, fraud and money laundering, with an extradition hearing planned for not long after Megas official launch.Source: Reuters

Japanese 'Mimi Switch' allows remote control through facial expression

TOKYO (AFP) - A wink, a smile or a raised eyebrow could soon change the music on your iPod or start up the washing machine, thanks to a new Japanese gadget.

The device looks like a normal set of headphones but is fitted with a set of infrared sensors that measure tiny movements inside the ear that result from different facial expressions.

The gizmo -- called the "Mimi Switch" or "Ear Switch" -- is connected to a micro-computer that can control electronic devices, essentially making it a hands-free remote control for anything.

"You will be able to turn on room lights or swing your washing machine into action with a quick twitch of your mouth," said its inventor, Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Osaka University.

"An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue out, like in the famous Einstein picture. If he opens his eyes wide, the machine skips to the next tune. A wink with the right eye makes it go back.

"The machine can be programmed to run with various other facial expressions, such as a wriggle of the nose or a smile."

The Mimi Switch could also store and interpret data and get to know its user, said Taniguchi, chief researcher at Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering Science in western Japan.

"It monitors natural movements of the face in everyday life and accumulates data," Taniguchi told AFP in an interview. "If it judges that you aren't smiling enough, it may play a cheerful song."

Some may use the device for relaxation -- perhaps by changing music hands-free while reading a book -- but Taniguchi said it could also have more serious applications to make people's lives safer and easier.

"If the system is mounted on a hearing aid for elderly people, it could tell how often they sneeze or whether they are eating regularly," he said.

"If it believes they are not well, it could send a warning message to relatives."

The device could also serve as a remote control for appliances for physically disabled people, from cameras and computers to air conditioners, or alert medical services if a person has a fit, he said.

The Ear Switch follows on from an earlier device called the Temple Switch that was small enough to fit inside a pair of eyeglasses and also read the flick of an eyelid.

"As the ear switch is put in the ears, its optical sensors are unaffected by sunlight," Taniguchi said.

He said he was planning to patent his new device in Japan and abroad, work on a wireless version, and seek corporate funding to market it for practical uses -- something he expected might take two or three years.

Source: AFP