Apr 07 - American Power Conversion
Announces New Low Cost Broadband Power Protection. American Power
Conversion (APC) today announced the Back-UPSÒ ES 725, a complete
broadband power protection solution for home networking equipment.
The unit offers high-level surge protection for high-speed Internet
lines including cable modem, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), telephone,
Ethernet, single line phone/fax, modem and DSS (Digital Subscriber
Service) systems and provides battery backup for your desktop PC,
monitor, hubs/routers and other electronic equipment in case of a
power failure. According to IDC, 49.2 million online U.S. households
are projected to have broadband (cable modem or DSL) access by 2006.
"This newly designed unit offers users great value with up to
60 minutes of runtime and eight outlets to accommodate several peripherals,
all for under a hundred dollars," said Joe Loberti, general manager,
APC Consumer Network Solutions Group. "Users have been looking
for a cost-effective solution not only to protect their networking
investments, but to provide them with availability and data protection
as they use their home systems for more critical functions including
family planning, home banking and investing."
The Back-UPS ES 725 comes equipped with USB (Universal Serial Bus)
connectivity and includes APC's PowerChute® Personal Edition software,
an easy-to-use, safe, system shutdown software with sophisticated
power management functions for use with Windows (XP, ME and 98) and
Macintosh OS X operating systems.
APC's new Back-UPS ES 725 is currently available in North America
and carries a suggested retail price of $99.99 USD.
Visit APC's website at www.apc.com.
Apr 07 - ASI Launches In-Flight Email
From $1.00. ASI Entertainment, Inc (OTCBB:ASIQ) will launch a
revolutionary pricing model for in-flight passenger email at the international
airline Inflight Passenger Entertainment and Communications (IPEC)
conference in London next week.
Based on ASI's unique software system "Data3mail", airlines
will be able to offer access to in-flight email for as little as $1.00.
Ron Chapman, ASI's CEO, believes that "email should be based
on pricing similar to Internet cafes. Our research indicates that
the majority of travellers are used to paying between $3.00 - $5.00
to send or receive email using the global webmail network." Data3mail
offers a comparable service using ASI's proprietary software format,
which greatly reduces file sizes to compensate for the higher satellite
transmission costs.
Unlike all other systems, there will be "no connection fee"
and for only $1.00 passengers can check their inboxes while flying
anywhere in the world. ASI believes this is a very important feature
for the business traveller who during a long flight may only want
to check to see if an important email has arrived. For a few dollars
more, they can select the exact emails they wish to upload and by
using the Data3mail Spam filter, make sure they only pay for the emails
they want. Pricing to send emails will start from $3.50.
Over 2000 aircraft have the Global Data3 capability providing an
existing market for the Data3mail system. Data3mail is undergoing
flight test programs with 2 major international airlines and is expected
to gain considerable attention at the IPEC conference being held in
London between 7 to 9 April 2003.
For further information, go to ASI's websites at
www.data3mail.com and www.asiq.com.
Apr 07 - Alias|Wavefront Announces Maya
5. Alias|Wavefront™, an SGI (NYSE: SGI) company, announced
today Maya® 5 - the latest version of its Oscar® award-winning
3D software. With the eighth release of its flagship software, Alias|Wavefront
delivers a host of innovative new ways to create digital content along
with numerous customer suggested productivity enhancements. Improvements
added to both Maya Complete™ and Maya Unlimited™ software
will energize artist and programmer workflows in such creative industries
as game development, broadcast graphics, web content creation, design
visualization and film production.
"Our team has beta tested the new features in Maya, including
the new fur clumping capabilities and the new wakes and ponds features
in Maya Fluid Effects," said Jami Levesque at Meteor Studios.
"Maya 5 is definitely going to be integrated into our current
pipeline and will be used extensively in our future projects. The
ease of use improvements in this release will simplify our artists'
workflow and the unified rendering options will allow us to choose
which renderer is best for the effects we're looking to achieve."
"We took feedback from our extensive community and built a new
version of Maya that simplifies workflow, boosts productivity and
puts more creative possibilities into their hands," said Bob
Bennett, General Manager, Product Development, Alias|Wavefront. "We've
also 'future-proofed' Maya by working closely with leading Hardware
companies and expanded Maya's ability to work with other applications
such as Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Flash and programs that read
or write AutoCAD DWG files."
Maya Complete for the Windows, IRIX®, Linux® and Mac OS X
operating systems, is priced at $1,999* and includes modeling, rendering,
animation, dynamics, Maya Artisan, Maya Paint Effects, mental ray
for Maya and Maya Embedded Language (MEL), an open interface for programming
and scripting.
Maya Unlimited for the Windows, IRIX and Linux operating systems,
is priced at $6,999 and includes all features in Maya Complete along
with Maya Fluid Effects, Maya Fur, Maya Cloth™ and Maya Live™.
Maya will be available to purchase in May 2003 through the Alias|Wavefront
network of authorized resellers or online at: www.aliaswavefront.com.
Version upgrades for Maya Complete are priced at $899 and for Maya
Unlimited at $1,249.
Apr 07 - LucasArts' Annnounces
Jedi Academy for PC and Xbox. Continuing the epic legacy of the
critically and commercially acclaimed Jedi Knight action game series,
LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, announces Star Wars(R) Jedi Knight(R):
Jedi Academy(TM) for Windows PC and the Xbox(TM) video game system
from Microsoft. Expected for release fall 2003, this latest chapter
in one of interactive entertainment's most celebrated game series
extends the partnership between LucasArts and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI),
through its developer Raven Software.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is the follow up to Star Wars(R)
Jedi Knight(R) II: Jedi Outcast(TM), the best selling premium priced
PC game in America, United Kingdom, and Germany upon initial release
in 2002.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a dynamic single and multiplayer
action experience featuring an all-new epic story. Players are immersed
in the role of apprentice at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy where they
learn the power -- and danger -- of the Force. Amidst a multitude
of complex and richly detailed Star Wars environments, including twice
as many unique locales as those in Star Wars: Jedi Outcast, players
face a variety of powerful and insidious enemies.
For the first time in a Jedi Knight series game, Star Wars Jedi Knight:
Jedi Academy allows players to create and customize their own characters
by choosing various characteristics including species, gender, clothing,
and physical attributes such as hair and facial features. In addition,
players can create a custom lightsaber, selecting from hilt and blade
color. As apprentices progress in their training, different lightsabers
will become available, such as the double-bladed lightsaber or dual
lightsabers.
"With the overwhelming success and critical acclaim of Star
Wars: Jedi Outcast, continuing an alliance with Activision and Raven
Software was a clear and very easy decision," says Simon Jeffery,
president of LucasArts. "As they did with its best selling predecessor,
Raven will bring to Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy innovative,
dynamic, and challenging game play that honors the well-respected
legacy of the series."
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy will be published and distributed
by LucasArts in North America. Activision will publish and distribute
the game in all other territories worldwide.
For mor enformation, visit www.lucasarts.com.
Apr 06 - Sunday Shopping
Watch
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best
Sunday Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. This Sunday all retailers
seem to be over their war jitters and are once again heavily advertising
a variety of systems. They are good buys in all categories.
This Sunday's Special Discounts and Financing.
In addition to sales on specific items, the following store-wide sales
are advertised this week. (Note that these
ads are for the Dayton, Ohio area. Prices or offerings may be different
where you live.)
Best Buy is now offering 3 months of Earthlink with any desktop
or laptop purchase. They are also offering $100 mail-in rebates on
all desktop packages and laptops and 12 month no-interest financing.
Circuit City is offering
12 months no-interest financing and $100 gift cards on all desktop
packages and laptops.
Office
Depot
has no interest, no payment, 6 month financing for purchases over
$298.
CompUSA has no interest, no payment,
12 month financing for purchases over $598. Plus they have $100 rebates
on Intel Pentium 4 computer and monitor bundles, and on Intel processor
notebooks. They also have a $50 on Athlon XP computer and monitor
bundles.
Staples has no flyer, but does have
a few in-store specials which you can view online.
Compare
to Online Prices - Compare the Sunday ad prices to
those being offered at DealTime, it searches over 160 online computer
stores.
InfoHQ Related Shopping Pages
Shopping Alerts
- Our latest shopping advisories on buying digital cameras and camcorders,
desktop computers, and laptops.
Windows XP
Upgrade Guide - All about upgrading to Windows XP.
What You Need to Know
About Dial-up Internet Service Rebates - The pros and cons of
'free' Internet service deals.
Definitions. A complete desktop system/package/complete
package is defined as a computer with monitor and printer
or scanner.
A build-to-order system is customized at the retailer
and then ordered from a computer manufacturer. In addition to the
computer's stated price, you still pay sales tax and shipping charges
(if you order direct from the vendor without going through the chain
store, you may not have to pay sales tax and you could get a better
warranty).
Caution about advertised prices.
When reading advertisements, read the fine print of the ad to make
sure you know what is being advertised and what it cost. For example,
many advertisers will show a complete system with computer, monitor,
and printer but advertise a price for the computer only.
* Prices discussed in this article. We report
prices after rebates and discounts are subtracted.
Items highlighted in Black are good deals.
Items highlighted in Red means prices have
gone up and the system is not a good buy this week.
Items in normal text means prices are about the same as the previous
weeks.
|
Best Sunday Ad Deals
|
|
Category
|
Product Description
|
Price* (see above)
|
Prices up or Down this Week
|
Store
|
|
Best Celeron Deal
|
None Advertised
|
|
|
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Pentium 4 System
|
Compaq 2.4 GHz with 17" monitor
and DVD/CD-RW
|
$799
|
-$100
|
Staples
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Pentium 4 System
|
HP/Compaq 2.53 GHz with 17" monitor
and DVD/CD-RW
|
$999
|
-
|
CompUSA, Office Depot
|
|
1. Best High-end Pentium 4 System
|
HP 2.53 GHz Media Center with 15"
flat panel
|
$1699
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
2. Best High-end Pentium 4 System
|
HP 2.66 GHz Media Center with 15"
flat panel
|
$2049
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best High-end Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.66 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel
|
$1379
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 2400+ computer with 17" monitor
|
$749
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 2600+ complete system
|
$949
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
1.Best Low-cost Notebook
|
Toshiba 1.6 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$899
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
2.Best Low-cost Notebook
|
HP Athlon XP 2000+ with DVD/CD-RW
|
$999
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
3.Best Low-cost Notebook
|
Toshiba 2.2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1099
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
Compaq 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1299
|
-
|
Staples
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba 2.6 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1549
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1599
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
4. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD-RW
|
$1799
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
5. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba 1.4 GHz Centrino with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1999
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
6. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony 1.3 GHz Centrino with DVD/CD-RW
|
$2399
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
|
|
Peripherals
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 60 GB hard drive
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 7200 RPM 80 GB hard drive with
8 MB buffer
|
$79
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Office Depot, Staples
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
TDK 4X DVD-RW
|
$269
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Memorex 52X CD-RW
|
$49
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Sound Blaster Audigy MP3+
|
$69
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Asylum GeForce4 Ti4200 64 MB
|
$79
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Radeon 9700 Pro 128 MB
|
$299
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Asylum GeForce4 Ti4200 128 MB
|
$109
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 7200 RPM 60 GB hard drive
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
|
Additional Information. For additional technical
information, advice on how to buy a laptop or desktop, and vendor
and manufacturer links, please see our Computer
Buying Advice page.
About Sunday Shopping Watch. Sunday Shopping
Watch appears every Sunday (except some holidays like Easter and Christmas)
in our News and Rumors column. It is a review of local (Dayton, Ohio)
computer chain store advertisements. While we can not guarantee your
local chain store has the same items, this article can help you make
informed buying decisions.
Apr 04 - HP Introduces New
Pavilion PCs for Digital Media Enthusiasts. HP (NYSE:HPQ) today
announced a new series of notebook PCs with DVD+R/+RW drives and four
HP Pavilion desktop PCs with rewritable CD or DVD drives, all of which
are ideal for enjoying digital music and editing photos or videos.
The HP Pavilion ze5300 series notebook PCs with rewritable DVD drives
provide users the power, connectivity and convenience demanded by
today's multimedia applications in a full-functioned device that doubles
as a mobile entertainment center when connected to compatible DVD
players.
HP Pavilion desktops offer a full range of powerful, easy-to-use
PCs packed with hardware and software tools to make digital entertainment
capture and editing a snap. The new models include the first desktop
PC with a DVD+RW drive priced under $900.
"The new HP Pavilion lineup offers customers the ability to
capture, create and share digital video and pictures, enjoy music
and play games in the home or on the go," said Sam Szteinbaum,
vice president and general manager, North America consumer computing
organization, HP Personal Systems Group. "By utilizing DVD+R/+RW
drives, we provide consumers a platform that has high compatibility
with DVD players and DVD-ROMs to create an awesome multimedia experience."
Pavilion ze5300 Notebook -- A Portable Entertainment Studio
The ze5300 series uses the DVD+R/+RW format, which is compatible
with more DVD players tested than other formats and is the only DVD
recordable format to support partial overwrite and still maintain
compatibility.
With the ze5300 series, consumers can use the menu screen from a
digital video camera to record directly to a DVD or CD disc without
having to edit movies first. And they can add digital still pictures
to video to create a slide show -- and then record it on a DVD.
In addition to the ability to edit, record and play DVDs, the Pavilion
ze5300 series has a drive that can store up to 4.7 gigabytes of data
on each disc. This equates to the storage capacity of up to seven
CD-R/RW discs.
With a choice of powerful Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 or Celeron(R) desktop
processors and integrated ATI Mobility Radeon graphics controller
with 4X AGP 3D performance, the HP Pavilion ze5300 provides desktop
convenience and functionality in a stylish, mobile design.
Estimated U.S. pricing for the HP Pavilion ze5300 series notebook
configured with a 2.66-GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512-MB RAM,
40-GB hard drive, 802.11b integrated wireless, DVD+R/+RW optical drive
and 15-inch SXGA+ display is $1,725 (after $100 rebate) without a
floppy disc drive.
DVD+R/+RW is currently available on configure-to-order HP Pavilion
ze5300 series notebooks. The notebooks can be customized with a full
range of options and purchased through the Web at www.hpshopping.com.
Pavilion Desktops -- A Digital Media Experience for Most Every
Budget
The new lineup of HP Pavilion desktop PCs, loaded with features to
make digital media quick and easy to enjoy, includes the HP Pavilion
505n, 515n, 725n and the 735n -- which features a rewritable DVD and
CD combo drive for under $900.
Ready to manage digital photography right out of the box, the HP
Pavilion 505n desktop PC features an Intel Celeron 2.2-GHz processor
to support daily computing tasks and make basic computing a breeze.
The 505n also includes a 60-GB hard drive, 256-MB DDR (double data
rate) memory, a 48x CD-RW drive and integrated Intel Extreme UMA graphics
with up to 64-MB shared video memory. At an estimated U.S. street
price of $519, the 505n is expected to be available in retail stores
and on hpshopping.com beginning April 6.
With an estimated U.S. street price of $599, the HP Pavilion 515n
PC is ideal for viewing DVD movies and managing digital photography.
The 515n includes an Intel Celeron 2.3-GHz processor, an 80-GB hard
drive with ample storage for music, digital photography and data,
256-MB DDR memory, a 48x CD-RW drive for CD creation and playback,
a 16x DVD-ROM for watching movies, and integrated Intel Extreme UMA
graphics with up to 64-MB shared video memory. The HP Pavilion 515n
is expected to be available in retail stores and on hpshopping.com
beginning April 6.
The HP Pavilion 725n desktop PC offers photo and video editing capability
at a competitive price, featuring an AMD Athlon XP 2400+ processor,
a large 80-GB hard disk drive, 512-MB DDR memory, 48x CD-RW and 16x
DVD-ROM drives, front- and rear-access IEEE 1394 ports, NVIDIA 64-MB
GeForce4 MX graphics with 64-MB allocated video memory and a six-in-one
media card reader for quick and easy transfer of digital data from
all common flash media formats. With an estimated U.S. street price
of $699, the 725n is expected to be available in retail stores and
on hpshopping.com beginning April 13.
The HP Pavilion 735n desktop PC is an affordable DVD creation and
video editing station, with DVD+RW/CD-RW drive (a DVD writer and CD
writer combination drive) priced under $900. The 735n features an
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ processor, 512-MB DDR memory, NVIDIA GeForce4
MX graphics with 64-MB allocated video memory and front- and rear-access
IEEE 1394 ports for excellent video editing performance.
The 735n also includes a large 80-GB hard drive, a DVD+RW/CD-RW combo
drive, a 48x CD-ROM drive and a six-in-one media card reader. At an
estimated U.S. street price of $899, the 735n is expected to be available
in retail stores and on hpshopping.com beginning April 13.
They also are broadband-ready, enabling users to cruise the Internet
using a built-in V.90 56K modem or a 10/100 Ethernet adapter for high-speed
cable or DSL connections.
More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.
Apr 04 - Addonics Announces Serial ATA
Storage Product Family. Addonics Technologies became the first
storage developer to announce a complete family of high-speed Serial
ATA storage solutions, which includes a line of ATA host controllers,
IDE/ATAPI conversion boards, external hard drive kits and RAID solutions
to support Serial ATA's 150-MB/sec transfer rate.
The initial roll out features seven different Serial ATA solutions,
and includes the first external Serial ATA storage solutions. The
new Addonics Serial ATA product line includes:
-- IDE to Serial ATA Converter (ADIDESA) - $35 MSRP
-- Serial ATA PCI Host Controller (2 ports) (ADSA2) - $39 MSRP
-- External Serial ATA Upgrade Kit (AKBSA) - $59 MSRP
-- Combo External Serial ATA Upgrade Kit (AKCOMSA) - $89 MSRP
-- Serial ATA Combo Hard Drive (AEMED35SA) - $115 MSRP
-- Serial ATA Removable Combo Hard Drive (AERHD35SA) - $105 MSRP
-- Combo RAID System (AERAID35SA) - $169 MSRP
With limited models of Serial ATA hard drives available and no Serial
ATA ATAPI device in the market, Addonics offers converters and cable
solutions to enable standard IDE hard drives and ATAPI devices to
be used as internal Serial ATA or External Serial ATA storage device.
Addonics External Serial ATA storage solutions provide users with
external storage devices without compromising performance in the data
bus. Addonics has even added BUS power to its cable design so that
low power storage devices can be powered directly from the External
Serial ATA port. Customers who already have Addonics external data
storage equipment can transition to Serial ATA with a minimal investment.
Serial ATA also improves the system airflow by utilizing a new thin
cabling system to simplify the connection between the host controller
and the data storage devices. Serial ATA devices can also be hot swapped
without shutting down or restarting the system, and no software changes
are required. The new interface also makes it more cost-effective
to integrate RAID and multidrive systems into present storage applications.
Addonics Offers the First External/Removable Serial ATA Solutions
Addonics has several external solutions for easily upgrading to Serial
ATA. The External Serial ATA Upgrade Kit adds an external Serial ATA
port via a system's PCI slot or the standard DB9 connector hole available
on back of many computer chassis. The Addonics Combo External Serial
ATA Upgrade Kit has the same features, but includes the Serial ATA
PCI Host Controller for users who do not have a Serial ATA port in
their system.
With either kit, customers can use any Addonics storage devices in
the company's Pocket and Mobile series, which includes the Addonics
Pocket DVD, CDRW, DVD/CDRW, DVD-R/RW, CD-ROM, Mobile DVD/CDRW, Mobile
CDRW, Pocket ExDrive, Combo Hard Drive, CD DigiCopier or DVD DigiCopier.
In addition, the booting support in Serial ATA also enables systems
to boot from the Addonics external storage devices.
For a hard drive solution, the Addonics Serial ATA Combo Hard Drive,
and the Serial ATA Removable Combo Hard Drive Kit are the most flexible
hard drive kits on the market. With these kits, any standard 3.5"
IDE hard drive can become an external Serial ATA hard drive, a removable
hard drive, or become part of a high performance RAID system. There
are no special tools required to install a hard drive into either
kit.
As an external hard drive, the Combo Hard Drive can be connected
to any computer or equipment via the Serial ATA interface. By installing
the drive cradle that comes with either kit into a 5 1/4" drive
bay, you can use the Combo Hard Drive as a removable IDE hard drive.
You can also attach the optional Addonics IDE-Serial ATA converter
to the Drive Cradle and turn it into a high performance hot swappable
Serial ATA hard drive. The Serial ATA Combo Hard Drive includes the
Combo Hard Drive enclosure, Combo Hard Drive Desktop Drive Cradle,
the External Serial ATA upgrade kit and 110/220 AC/DC adapter.
The Serial ATA Removable Combo Hard Drive is bundled with Addonics'
IDE-Serial ATA converter, Serial ATA PCI host controller, drive enclosure,
and Desktop Drive Cradle.
Addonics Can Upgrade or Convert any IDE/ATAPI Device to Serial
ATA
The Addonics IDE-Serial ATA converter is the most cost effective
solution for converting standard IDE and ATAPI devices to the new
Serial ATA interface standard. It has been designed to mount to the
back of any IDE hard drive or ATAPI device such as DVD-R/RW, CDRW,
DVD-ROM. The IDE-Serial ATA converter can also mount onto the Addonics
Combo Hard Drive desktop drive cradle, the Pocket ExDrive Drive cradle
and the company's growing list of Addonics internal devices.
The Addonics IDE-Serial ATA converter, when used with the Addonics
Combo HD Drive cradle or Pocket ExDrive Drive cradle, can also add
hot swap function to any IDE hard drive. Coupled with the built-in
RAID 0/1 support on the new Addonics Serial ATA PCI host controller,
users can add high performance RAID to any desktop PC or server with
no additional hardware or software. The Addonics' solution reduces
the cost and complexity of a traditional RAID system, which makes
it a mainstream application rather than a power user or server application.
For users who want a simple Serial ATA upgrade, the Addonics Serial
ATA PCI Host Controller instantly adds two Serial ATA ports to any
desktop computer via a PCI slot. No software drivers or complicated
switches or jumper settings are required. The Addonics Serial ATA
PCI host controller is compatible with all ATA33/66/100/133 hard drives
and ATATPI devices. It includes on board RAID 0 (Mirroring and Duplexing)
and RAID 1 (disk stripping) support.
Addonics Brings RAID to the Mainstream With New Kit
The Addonics Combo RAID System combines the flexibility of the Addonics
Combo Hard Drive and the built in RAID function of the Serial ATA
interface. It is the most innovative RAID solution for building a
high availability or a high performance storage system using the latest
Serial ATA technology. The kits includes: two IDE-Serial ATA converters;
one Serial ATA PCI host controller with on-board RAID Level 0/1 support;
two Combo Hard Drive enclosures; and two Combo Hard Drive Desktop
Drive Cradles.
System requirements for all new products in the Addonics Serial ATA
product line include a Pentium 486 or greater; minimum 32MB RAM; 10MB
minimum free hard disk space; and one of the following operating systems
-- DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 / 95 / 98SE / NT/ 2000 PRO/ Me / XP. All Addonics
Serial ATA solutions are scheduled to begin shipping 4/7/03.
Addonics products are available through major catalog companies,
resellers, VARs and distributors, including StorageUSA.com, Amazon.com,
PC Connection, CDW, Buy.com, Provantage.com, Insight, Ingram Micro,
and Ma Lab.
Visit Addonics at www.addonics.com.
Apr 04 - Dolby Introduces Dolby Pro Logic
II Encoding for Broadcast Television. Dolby Laboratories will
debut Dolby® Pro Logic® II encoding for television broadcast
at the 2003 NAB show in Las Vegas (booth SU4555). Dolby Pro Logic
II encoding allows networks to broadcast a high-quality, matrixed,
five-channel surround sound signal through any existing analog or
digital stereo medium, complementing the Dolby Digital 5.1 experience
delivered on HDTV and DTV services.
Dolby Pro Logic II decoding, rapidly becoming a standard feature
in A/V receivers and home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems, transforms
any high-quality two-channel source content (such as compact discs,
MP3 files, and stereo broadcasts) into a lush surround sound experience.
When Dolby Pro Logic II encoding is applied by a broadcaster or content
provider, and later decoded by a Dolby Pro Logic II receiver in the
home environment, listeners are afforded an even more exact and realistic
surround sound experience.
"We are introducing Dolby Pro Logic II encoding to the broadcast
industry to enable broadcasters to deliver dynamic five-channel surround
sound over their existing analog or digital stereo infrastructure,"
said Tom Daily, Marketing Director, Professional Audio, Dolby Laboratories.
"For the ultimate television experience, many broadcasters include
Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. However, Dolby Pro Logic II processing offers
the next-best solution for stations not currently able to make the
transition to true discrete 5.1-channel audio. Our goal is to provide
a variety of solutions to meet the audio needs of every broadcaster."
About Dolby Pro Logic II
Dolby Pro Logic II technology provides full-bandwidth, five-channel
sound for applications ranging from home theater systems to PC audio,
game consoles, and in-car entertainment devices. Dolby Pro Logic II
incorporates recent advances in matrixed surround decoding to achieve
better channel separation than previously possible. Broadcasters and
content creators can use Dolby Pro Logic II technology to provide
a surround sound experience for viewers of stereo TV services with
no change to the broadcast delivery infrastructure. For game developers,
Dolby Pro Logic II allows next-generation game consoles to deliver
five-channel sound with virtually no cost to the host CPU.
Dolby Pro Logic II is also fully backward-compatible with Dolby Surround
Pro Logic technology, and can optimally decode the thousands of commercially
available Dolby Surround movies and television shows with enhanced
surround spatiality. In addition, Dolby Pro Logic II converts any
high-quality stereo programming, especially music, into a natural,
immersing surround sound experience.
For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies,
visit www.dolby.com.
Apr 04 - Dell Begins Worldwide Manufacturing
of Entry-Level Dell EMC Storage Systems. Dell (Nasdaq:DELL) today
announced that it has begun manufacturing Dell EMC CX200 storage systems
worldwide, and has introduced new entry-level storage area network
(SAN) "bundles" to support the business-critical application
needs of small- and medium-sized businesses.
Growing businesses are increasingly moving to high-availability networked
storage to provide maximum uptime for their applications. The new
SAN bundles based on the Dell EMC CX200 storage system are ideal for
small-scale database applications, including Oracle9i(tm) Database.
In addition, as customers' data requirements grow, the modular architecture
of Dell EMC storage arrays allows customers to scale their systems
to meet changing business needs. To simplify the management of Dell
EMC storage systems, customers can use VisualSAN(tm) software to monitor
and control the SAN from a central console, as well as troubleshoot
issues through online support tools.
"Since we announced our strategic relationship over a year ago,
more than 2,500 new customers have realized the performance, value
and cost advantages of purchasing Dell EMC storage systems,"
said Russ Holt, vice president and general manager of Dell's storage
business. "Applying our world-class manufacturing and supply
chain efficiencies is helping to further drive down the cost of managing
business-critical applications -- making networked storage affordable
for organizations of all sizes, across all industries."
Dell, which co-brands a full range of storage systems including the
Dell EMC CX200, CX400 and CX600, is EMC's largest partner, Holt said.
Pricing and Availability
Customers can choose Dell EMC CX200 SAN bundles for Oracle and Microsoft
SQL Server databases, as well as for file and print management and
backup applications in both Red Hat Linux Advanced Server and Microsoft
Windows environments. Pricing for specific applications depends on
customers' deployment requirements. For example, a Dell EMC CX200
storage system configured for two PowerEdge(tm) servers with three
years of service and support is available for prices starting at $19,500.
Dell also offers training, planning and implementation services to
help customers design and deploy their SAN.
For more information on Dell EMC networked storage solutions, services
and storage consolidation tools, visit www.dell.com/emc.
Apr 03 - ATI Ships RADEON
9800 PRO. ATI Technologies Inc. (TSX: ATY) (NASDAQ: ATYT) is now
shipping its RADEON(TM) 9800 PRO visual processing unit (VPU). Boards
based on the world's fastest VPU have shipped to OEM, retail, distribution
and online customers, fulfilling ATI's promise of delivering product
within 30 days of the March 6 launch.
The RADEON 9800 PRO VPU is the only visual processor to run at full
speed and full precision all of the time, providing excellent performance
and visual quality without compromise. Numerous positive reviews and
awards from leading online and print technology publications have
generated huge demand for the graphics boards. A limited quantity
pre-order campaign on ATI's web site (www.ati.com)
saw excellent demand for the RADEON 9800 PRO, selling out in a matter
of days. Products for customers who pre-ordered RADEON 9800 PRO boards
begin shipping today.
"Once again we promised and we delivered. Consumers and all
of our channel partners are about to get their hands on the fastest,
best image quality graphics cards available," said Rick Bergman,
Senior Vice President, Marketing and General Manager, Desktop, ATI
Technologies Inc. "We will ship our RADEON 9600 and RADEON 9200
products later this month, delivering on that promise as well."
Graphics boards based on the RADEON 9800 PRO VPU, from ATI and its
numerous board partners, will be available in systems from the world's
leading OEMs and system integrators. For more information on ATI's
partners or products, please visit www.ati.com.
Apr 03 - ATI's New TV WONDER PRO Delivers
Cost-Effective Digital VCR Solution. ATI Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ATYT)(TSX:ATY)
today announced the new TV WONDER(TM) PRO, which provides a digital
VCR and electronic program guide (EPG) plus improved video capture
quality. Available this spring, the new TV WONDER PRO plugs easily
into any PCI (peripheral component interconnect) slot, available on
almost all PCs.
The TV WONDER(TM) family lineup now includes the new TV WONDER(TM)
PRO - Remote Control Edition for $99, the new TV WONDER PRO for $69,
the new TV WONDER(TM) VE - Remote Control Edition for $79, and the
existing TV WONDER(TM) VE for $49.
The TV WONDER family enables MULTVIEW(TM) dual TV tuner input that
provides Picture-in-Picture support for any ALL-IN-WONDER(R) since
ALL-IN-WONDER(R) RADEON(TM) using ATI's MULTIMEDIA CENTER 8.1 or later.
"Customers are demanding enhanced desktop PCs with very affordable
intelligent TV features," said Godfrey Cheng, Director of Marketing,
Multimedia Products, ATI Technologies Inc. "ATI has the products
to meet that growing need, including the TV WONDER family, by offering
a Digital VCR with a no-fee EPG, quality signal reception, low computer
system demands and more. People can stay entertained and informed
as they watch TV on their PCs or while working or browsing the web."
For more information on ATI's partners or products, please visit
www.ati.com.
Apr 03 - ADS Tech Announces Dual Link
USB 2.0 and FireWire Combo Product Line. ADS Tech a leader in
consumer video solutions, today launched the Dual Link product line
for PC's and Mac's at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
show. In response to the growing popularity of digital video editing
and resulting need for data storage, ADS Tech has designed Dual Link
products to combine and simplify USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity.
Dual Link offers high-speed performance and Plug and Play ease of
use for both USB 2.0 and FireWire video devices and storage solutions.
Dual Link Drive Kit (PC & Mac)
ADS Tech's newest hardware device, Dual Link Drive Kit, is designed
to allow users to easily add external FireWire or USB 2.0 drives to
their existing desktop systems.
The kit is perfect for adding multi-gig storage capacity to a system
(via hard drive addition) or equally ideal for turning a CD or DVD
drive into a portable, self-contained unit. Users simply plug their
drive into the sleek smoke and gray casing, and the drive mounts automatically.
Super fast and reliable, the drive kit provides two 400-Mbps FireWire
ports and one 480-Mbps USB 2.0 port -- each offering sustained data
transfer rates of up to 35-Mbps. The kit also includes a pop-out front
bezel to cover a hard drive or it can be removed for CD/DVD drive
installation.
The Dual Link Drive Kit ships in April at an estimated street price
(ESP) of $99.
Dual Link PCI Card (for PC & Mac desktop systems)
For desktop users who wish to bring their systems current with the
latest in high-speed connectivity, ADS Tech introduces the Dual Link
PCI Card. This card, when added to a computer, gives users the flexibility
and convenience of three USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire ports.
With these high-speed interfaces, users can easily connect to the
latest high-bandwidth devices such as hard drives, CD/DVD burners,
DV camcorders and other video capture devices. With data transfer
rates of up to 480-Mbps (USB 2.0) and 400-Mbps (FireWire), this card
allows users to benefit from up to 127 daisy-chained USB 2.0 devices
and up to 63 daisy-chained FireWire devices.
The Dual Link PCI Card begins shipping immediately and will be offered
for an ESP of $99.
Dual Link Cardbus (for PC & Mac laptops)
Similar to the Dual Link PCI Card (above), the Dual Link Cardbus
is designed expressly for the mobile road warrior and allows this
user group to take advantage of the latest in high-speed connectivity
--even on the go. With many power laptop users now taking their work
and hobbies on the road, this cardbus is the perfect way to get the
fastest speeds from a laptop.
With two high-speed USB 2.0 Plug and Play ports (one USB 2.0 powered
and one non-power) and one high-speed FireWire Plug and Play port,
laptop users no longer have to feel left behind when it comes to accessing
their high-bandwidth peripherals. The cardbus also ships with Ulead's
VideoStudio 6.0 for powerful video editing. The Dual Link Cardbus
is now available at an ESP of $99.
For more information, visit www.ADStech.com.
Apr 03 - AMD Researchers Achieve Key Transistor
Developments. AMD (NYSE:AMD) researchers have become the first
in the semiconductor industry to achieve critical research milestones
for next-generation transistor development.
In lab work to be fully unveiled in June, AMD researchers have created
and demonstrated a high-performance transistor that is up to 30% faster
than the best published PMOS (P-channel metal-oxide semiconductor)
transistor today. The transistor employs proprietary AMD technologies
involving what is commonly referred to as Fully Depleted Silicon-on-Insulator.
In related research, AMD researchers have also become the first in
the industry to demonstrate a strained silicon transistor achieving
20-25% higher performance than conventional strained silicon devices
through the successful use of metal gates.
These achievements are key milestones in AMD's aggressive process
technology roadmap, enabling the design of future microprocessors
that can meet customers' top requirements.
"By staying at the forefront of research on transistors that
operate with higher performance, less current leakage and lower voltage
requirements, we are providing AMD design teams with the building
blocks they need to create the solutions customers want," said
Craig Sander, vice president of process technology development at
AMD.
These latest research achievements are expected to play a critical
role in semiconductor manufacturing in the second half of this decade.
Both will be presented in detail at this year's VLSI Symposium June
11 and 12 in Kyoto, Japan, where AMD will publish the research for
the first time. For further information, see the VLSI web site at
www.vlsisymposium.org.
Apr 03 - Wind Chill Being Replaced by
More Accurate RealFeel Temperature. Do you want to know what it
really feels like outside this winter?
AccuWeather, Inc., the world's best-known commercial weather service,
has the only real answer: the exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature™.
It replaces the misleading Wind Chill factor available from the government's
National Weather Service.
AccuWeather's leading meteorologists have spent the past 20 years
researching a more accurate indicator of how weather phenomena conspire
to make us feel miserable, comfortable or just bearable. The resulting
RealFeel Temperature is a patent-pending formula that calculates the
first index to provide a true measure of how a person will perceive
the temperature and weather, given appropriate dress and activity.
"AccuWeather's RealFeel Temperature is unique in that it accounts
for the effects of seven different weather phenomena," says Dr.
Joel N. Myers, president and founder of AccuWeather, Inc. "Unlike
the Wind Chill index, the RealFeel Temperature measures how the weather
really feels by factoring in not just ambient temperature and wind
speed, but also solar intensity, humidity, precipitation, elevation
and cloudiness."
According to Dr. Myers, part of the problem with the Wind Chill factor
is that it is based on concepts developed some 50 years ago by a team
of geologists interested in arctic weather. Their measure was based
on studies of how quickly water froze in an outdoor container.
"Meteorology has advanced greatly since that time," says
Myers. "Yet, each day, millions of Americans rely on an outmoded
measure and make bad decisions based on it. While the National Weather
Service has updated their Wind Chill index recently, it still often
overstates how cold it feels, and thus needlessly discourages outdoor
activities in the winter. That hurts a variety of businesses."
As an example, consider a winter day with a temperature of 30 degrees,
no wind, and a clear, sunny sky. The RealFeel Temperature accounts
for the sunshine and correctly indicates that it will feel like a
more temperate 44 degrees. Since the Wind Chill index ignores the
sunshine, it only reports the apparent temperature as a cold and discouraging
30 degrees. Add a 10 mph wind to the scenario, and the Wind Chill
estimate of perceived temperature drops from 30 to 21. The RealFeel
Temperature properly balances the offsetting effects of wind and sun
and correctly estimates the perceived temperature as a more moderate
26 degrees.
Dr. Myers is so confident of his new measure that AccuWeather.com,
his firm's industry-leading weather Web site, now offers it with every
forecast, and AccuWeather TV and radio weathercasters across the country
are adopting this new, more accurate measure as a way of expressing
how cold and warmth actually feel.
"Our goal is to set the record straight and provide average
Americans more accurate information which can help them live better
lives," says Dr. Myers. "If in five years, no one remembers
the Wind Chill, all the better. It's time to retire this antiquated
index, and the RealFeel Temperature is the best indicator yet for
measuring how warm or cold it really feels."
The RealFeel Temperature Index was developed in cooperation between
Dr. Myers and AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologists Elliot Abrams,
Dr. Joseph Sobel, Michael Steinberg and Evan Myers. The exclusive
AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature is available for free by logging
onto AccuWeather's Web site at www.accuweather.com.
Apr 02 - AMD and Fujitsu Announce New
Flash Memory Company. AMD (NYSE:AMD) and Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702)
("Fujitsu") today announced they have executed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) to establish a new Flash memory semiconductor
company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
A Japan headquarters will be located in Tokyo. The new company, to
be called FASL LLC, will be based on the integration of AMD and Fujitsu's
Flash memory businesses, including their existing joint manufacturing
venture, Fujitsu AMD Semiconductor Limited. The new company is expected
to begin operations in the third quarter of this year.
The combination of a customer-centric approach, industry-leading
technology expertise, integrated manufacturing, and a streamlined
business model is intended to create the pre-eminent global Flash
memory provider.
"Customers are looking for a strong, collaborative partner in
the Flash memory category, and that's what we intend to create with
this new company," said Hector Ruiz, AMD president and chief
executive officer.
"AMD and Fujitsu have a long history of cooperation. Our joint
manufacturing venture, which commenced in 1993, has been a model of
success for U.S.-Japanese joint ventures. Today we are taking that
relationship to the next level. I believe this new flash memory company
will have all of the necessary ingredients, including scale of operations
and revenues, to contend for market leadership. This is the right
move, at the right time, for both our customers and our companies."
The MOU provides for:
-- AMD to own a 60% interest in the new company and Fujitsu to own
a 40% interest; the financial results will be consolidated in AMD's
financial statements
-- Contributions of gross assets with a net book value in excess
of $2.5 billion
-- AMD to appoint the CEO of the company, Bertrand Cambou, AMD senior
vice president, Memory Group
-- Fujitsu to appoint the first chairman of the board, Masamichi
Ogura, Fujitsu corporate senior vice president & group president,
Electronic Devices Business Group
-- A board of directors consisting of ten members, six appointed
by AMD and four appointed by Fujitsu
-- A marketing arrangement whereby the new company will sell
Flash memory products through AMD and Fujitsu and their
respective sales forces, under a product brand name to be
announced by the start of operations of the new company
-- An initial global workforce of approximately 7,000.
"We expect this new company to be a more formidable competitor
in the Flash memory business," said Masamichi Ogura, Fujitsu
Limited corporate senior vice president and group president of Fujitsu's
Electronic Devices Business Group.
"By joining together in a more comprehensive alliance, we can
improve our market position through consolidated research and development
efforts, as well as benefit from greater access to each other's technology
and manufacturing expertise. Both AMD and Fujitsu share a common goal
to make FASL a market leader in the Flash memory business and today's
MOU is an important step towards reaching that goal."
For more information about AMD, visit www.amd.com.
For more information about Fujitsu, please see: www.fujitsu.com.
Apr 02 - Envision Unveils
19'' LCD Monitor. Envision Monitors has expanded its award-winning
line of computer monitors for the home and small office market.
The EN9110 is a 19" ultra-thin LCD monitor that is both feature-rich
and affordable.
The EN9110 is a value-priced monitor with the advanced features and
performance of high-end display technologies. With its expansive 19"
screen, DVI-D digital input and sharp 1280 x 1024 resolution, the
EN9110 offers pristine image quality. Other features include one-touch
display adjustments and plug and play functionality.
For users who want to conserve energy, the EN9110 consumes 60% less
power than comparable CRT monitors and has earned the EPA ENERGY STAR(R)
rating. For the space-conscious, the EN9110 can be used as a wall-mounted
display, with a separate VESA compatible bracket or arm, as well as
a desktop monitor.
"Envision is committed to providing its customers with the latest
technology at the best prices," said Michael Lien, retail sales
director for Envision. "With the introduction of the EN9110,
small office and home users finally have an affordable LCD monitor
option with high-end features such as DVI-D digital input and a 19"
display."
Envision's EN9110 19" LCD monitor is now available at major
retailers including all 1,100+ Staples locations. The estimated street
price is $749. All Envision monitors are backed by a three-year parts
and labor warranty.
For more information, visit www.envisionmonitor.com.
Apr 02 - Fabless Semiconductor Survey
Indicates a Six Percent Sequential Decrease in Wafer Prices. The
Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA), a premier semiconductor trade
organization, today announced the results of its quarterly wafer pricing
survey. The 2003 Q1 survey gauged the average price paid per wafer
by 134 fabless companies and integrated device manufacturers (IDMs).
Not surprisingly, the responses indicate a six percent sequential
decrease in average wafer prices from 2002 Q4 to 2003 Q1.
"With lackluster wafer demand and low foundry utilization rates
in Q4 2002, wafer pricing has fallen over the past several months,"
said Jodi Shelton, co-founder and executive director of the FSA. "This
is not surprising, given that the foundry sector is being flooded
with new players, causing competitive pricing to become a key factor
in customer retention strategies. We expect to see continued pricing
pressure in 2003."
The 2003 Q1 report is available via the FSA's Web site at www.fsa.org.
Apr 02 - I/OMagic Announces Dual Function
`MediaStation Writer'. I/OMagic Corporation (OTCBB: IOMG), a leading
developer and marketer of optical storage and digital entertainment
devices, today announced that it is expanding its data storage line-up
with the release of a unique new magnetic device known as the 'MediaStation
Writer.'
"I/OMagic closes the gap between digital image photography and
optical storage needs by integrating a 6-n-1 flash card reader into
its external CD-RW drive," said Tony Andrews, vice president
of Engineering and Product Development for I/OMagic Corporation. "The
MediaStation Writer is a sleek, modern-looking compact unit that features
a three-way adjustable lighting system and was designed for maximum
use of space."
The MediaStation Writer is a first-of-its-kind external CD-RW drive
plus 6-n-1 flash media reader combination device.
Highlights of the product are the proprietary design with the adjustable
lighting system, and the dual function, lightning fast 52x24x52 external
USB 2.0 CD-RW drive, and the onboard reader that supports up to six
different types of flash media including: Compact Flash (CF), IBM
Micro Drive, PCMCIA-ATA, Multimedia (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), Memory
Stick (MS) and Smart Media (SM). The MediaStation Writer is also Windows
XP, 2000, Me and 98 Plug 'n Play compatible.
I/OMagic Corporation has received commitments from some of the nation's
largest retailers for the MediaStation Writer. The Company expects
it will appear on retail shelves by May 2003 with an MSRP of $159.00.
For more information, visit the I/OMagic Web site at www.iomagic.com.
Apr 02 - Ricochet Launches $29.95 High-Speed
Access Plan. Ricochet Networks, Inc. today launched Ricochet Access,
a new service plan that lets customers keep their email address while
bringing their own access for just $29.95 a month. The new service
offers simple broadband Internet access over Ricochet's proprietary
high-speed wireless data network providing unlimited access and 24/7
customer service. It's the most affordable way for people to access
the Internet wirelessly at speeds five times faster than dial-up,
on average.
For dial-up users who want high-speed Internet access and want to
keep their AOL, EarthLink, Hotmail, MSN, Qwest or Yahoo! email addresses,
Ricochet Access is an ideal solution. The Ricochet Access $29.95/month
price plan requires the purchase of an external Ricochet modem or
an internal PC-card modem that configures and connects your home desktop
PC or laptop to the Internet in minutes.
For users who want everything they need from an Internet service
provider at a price that's comparable to traditional "tethered"
broadband service and less than the cost of dial-up Internet and a
second phone line, there's Ricochet Complete. For $44.95 a month,
Ricochet Complete provides unlimited Internet access including up
to 10 free email accounts, Web mail, 10 Mb of personal Web space,
national dial service and 24/7 toll-free customer support.
Both service plans require the purchase of an external Ricochet modem
or an internal PC-card modem for $99.95. For the month of April 2003,
new customers can sign up for Ricochet Access or Ricochet Complete
and receive a FREE $99.95 Ricochet modem with rebate by signing up
for a six-month service commitment.
For more information, please visit the Web site at www.ricochet.com.
Apr 01 - America Online
Launches AOL For Broadband. America Online, Inc., the world's
leading interactive services company, today announced the beginning
of a major campaign to grow membership and usage of its AOL(R) for
Broadband service. The new initiative is built around four key elements:
-- The Company's first-ever marketing campaign for broadband,
|featuring new television advertising, a new deal with Infinity
Broadcasting's 183 radio stations, and a 50-city mobile
marketing tour;
-- New pricing that highlights the value of AOL for Broadband
using a "bring your own access" (BYOA(TM)) plan, including
special incentives for AOL members who upgrade to broadband
service;
-- A range of new content agreements and cornerstone programming
initiatives that add to AOL's leadership in providing
exclusive, on-demand, and compelling online programming --
with offerings that would cost more than $50 per month if
purchased separately; and
-- The introduction this week of AOL(R) 8.0 Plus with features
designed to further optimize the broadband experience by
focusing on what members want most: help to get what they want
online effortlessly; enhanced communications tools; a safer
Internet experience; and even more robust entertainment
offerings.
AOL for Broadband is available to consumers nationwide over any
high-speed connection, as well as through bundled plans offered in
partnership with leading cable and DSL providers. Currently, approximately
2.7 million U.S. AOL members use the AOL for Broadband service despite
little marketing to date for broadband and none for the "bring
your own access" option.
The service offers the Internet's best selection of multimedia content
-- such as CD-quality radio, and video clips including movie trailers,
sports highlights, and live news reports -- all seamlessly integrated
with AOL's hallmark easy-to-use features such as AOL Mail, Instant
Messenger(TM) and the Buddy List(R) feature plus the best safety and
security features in the industry, including AOL Parental Controls.
Lisa Hook, President of AOL for Broadband, said: "With our dedicated
marketing, new pricing, expanded content and enhanced features, AOL
for Broadband is on the move. Nobody can match what AOL offers broadband
consumers, because no one else has AOL's ability to create unique
and compelling interactive experiences, our wealth of exclusive content,
or our commitment to listening to consumers and delivering real value
to them. With our BYOA service, we're available anyplace consumers
want us, and can market aggressively to the millions of consumers
who already have broadband connections --whether or not they're already
AOL members."
For additional information about AOL for Broadband,
members can visit AOL Keyword: Broadband where they can learn about
broadband and place an order. Or visit www.aolbroadband.com.
Apr 01 - Adobe Unveils New
DVD Authoring Application. Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE)
today announced Adobe(R) Encore(TM) DVD, a professional DVD authoring
application that extends the Adobe digital video product line. Adobe
Encore DVD software lets professional videographers, DVD authors and
independent producers create sophisticated, multi-language DVDs with
stunning interactive menus, multiple audio tracks and subtitles.
Adobe's latest video application combines an integrated authoring
environment; a flexible, creative design interface; and unrivalled
integration with Adobe Photoshop(R), the most widely used application
in DVD authoring.
Adobe will debut the product during its keynote Super Session at
the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) tradeshow on Monday,
April 7 in Las Vegas.
Interactive Menus and Design Tools
Adobe Encore DVD includes a comprehensive set of design tools and
a powerful menu editor, adding a new level of creativity to the DVD
authoring process. The integration between Adobe Encore DVD and Photoshop
allows users to edit menus, without flattening or re-rendering Photoshop
files that make up the menu backgrounds for the majority of professionally-produced
DVDs. Changes are instantaneous, easily reversible, and save hours
of production time. The sophisticated menu designer also provides
access to Photoshop text design tools -- to edit, style and align
text within the project window.
Getting started with Adobe Encore DVD is straightforward and intuitive
with pre-designed button and menu styles that incorporate motion and
still backgrounds. A simple interface within Adobe Encore DVD provides
full control over navigation, allowing authors to specify playback
behavior for their DVDs. A customizable library palette lets users
save their favorite button and background designs for future use.
In addition, Adobe Encore DVD automatically creates chapters from
recognized marker points in Adobe Premiere and can import After Effects
AVI files to create motion menu loops.
"Our research indicates the DVD authoring market is exploding
this year with a CAGR of 391%. Adobe's introduction of Adobe Encore
DVD couldn't come at a better time," said Dr. Jon Peddie, president
of Jon Peddie Research, a leading multimedia market research firm.
"By incorporating professional-level control with entry-level
functionality, Adobe is positioned to fill the needs of professional
videographers at either end of the spectrum, allowing virtually anyone
to create and burn their own professional DVDs."
Pricing and Availability
Adobe Encore DVD for Windows XP is expected to ship in the United
States in the third quarter of 2003. The estimated street price is
US $549. Adobe Encore DVD will be available for purchase from Adobe.com,
retail outlets and Adobe certified resellers. Information regarding
international pricing and support policies is available on the Adobe
website at www.adobe.com.
Apr 01 - Worldwide Semiconductor
Sales Down 3.3% in February. Worldwide semiconductor sales totaled
$11.8 billion in February 2003, a 3.3% decrease from the $12.2 billion
in revenue reported in January 2003 and an 18% increase from the $10.0
billion recorded in February 2002, the Semiconductor Industry Association
(SIA) reported today.
"The recovery in the semiconductor industry that has been underway
for more than fifteen months appears to have stalled in February,"
said SIA President George Scalise. "Demand has softened in the
markets that drove growth throughout the past year, including PC's,
global wireless and consumer. The traditional seasonally flat first
quarter has been further impacted this year by geopolitical uncertainty.
We expect demand to strengthen as we approach the second half of the
year resulting in growth for the year in double digits," Scalise
stated.
He went on to say "although capacity utilization at the leading
edge is a strong 89%, excess capacity at the trailing edge is exerting
pricing pressure and impacting revenue across the market at this time."
On a unit volume basis, year-over-year chip sales have continued
to rise by double digits for the past ten months, with an average
of 25% per month from July of 2002 through February of 2003. Year
over year revenue comparisons also remain favorable, as the industry
has climbed out of the downturn, with an average 18-20% gain over
the seven months through February 2003.
More information about the SIA can be found at www.sia-online.org.
Apr 01 - Intermec Introduces Rugged Tablet
PC. Intermec Technologies Corp. today introduced the CT60, a new
rugged tablet personal computer designed to bring the ease of a tablet
PC to mobile workers no matter what their work environment.
The Intermec CT60 performs flawlessly in freezing temperatures, pouring
rain and other demanding situations. It delivers reliable mobile computing
power on the job, whether that's behind a desk, on the road or in
the field. Its "grab and go" capabilities mean it can be
moved from its docking station to remote use without powering down.
The
CT60 operates Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating
system and contains a Mobile Intel Pentium III Processor-M for speed
and productivity. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition allows users to run
full Windows-based applications using a pen or speech, annotate documents,
and create handwritten documents using digital ink. It is fully compatible
with other Intermec computers with Windows-based operating systems.
The CT60 is available with 256 or 512 MB RAM, 20 or 40 GB hard drive,
dual hot-swappable batteries and built-in wireless connectivity, all
critical features for seamless operations, real-time information exchange
and improved productivity.
The unit is protected by a fully sealed, vacuum-tested, milled aluminum
housing. "Ours is the only rugged tablet PC with a milled-aluminum
housing," said Dave Grainger, chief executive of Walkabout Computers,
which manufactures the CT60. "It won't bend or flex and is so
rugged you could drive a truck over it."
"Intermec's rugged tablet PC demonstrates the capability and
resources Windows XP Tablet PC Edition can bring to the mobile worker,"
said Robert Williams, group manager, business development of the Tablet
PC at Microsoft Corp. "Together, Microsoft and Intermec make
it simple: the full power of a PC in a more mobile and versatile form
factor that will deliver increased productivity and real-time information
to frontline workers everywhere."
The combination of wireless communications capabilities, full Windows
power, rugged design and the ability to move from docking station
to work location without powering down make the CT60 a formidable
productivity tool.
"Our customers expect more, and we deliver," said Intermec
Vice President Mike Colwell. "Our partnerships with Walkabout
and Microsoft mean our customers can trust they are getting Intermec-strength
ruggedness, Intermec's legendary commitment to customer service, and
cutting edge capabilities from quality-driven technology companies."
Visit Intermec's web site at www.intermec.com.
Apr 01 - AuthenTec's TruePrint Technology
Enables Biometric Security for New Samsung Notebook PC. AuthenTec,
Inc., the leader in advanced biometric fingerprint sensors, today
announced the integration of its EntrePad AES3500 fingerprint sensor
featuring TruePrint(TM) technology with Samsung's ultra-light, super-thin
X10 notebook PC.
Samsung's X10 notebook PC offers users the ability to conveniently
secure notebook and data with the touch of a finger, in the first
and only biometrically enabled Centrino laptop on the market.
The X10 is the latest high-performance notebook PC from Samsung featuring
Intel's Centrino mobile PC platform and a CDRW/DVD combo drive, along
with AuthenTec's EntrePad AES3500 fingerprint sensor, which provides
user identification and authentication, protecting the user's notebook
PC and personal data.
The AES3500 sensor is part of a new, integrated biometric touchpad
product offering from Synaptics, the Fingerprint TouchPad module,
which provides an integrated security solution with a touch of the
finger, enabling the user to securely access the notebook PC, Windows(R),
email, the Web, corporate or personal data and more.
The AES3500 sensor is based on AuthenTec's patented TruePrint technology,
which reads below the surface layer of the skin to the live layer,
where the true fingerprint resides. Uniquely, TruePrint is the only
fingerprint technology capable of capturing anyone's fingerprint under
virtually any condition. Used to replace PINs, passwords, and physical
access cards and keys, the Company's silicon and TruePrint-based sensors
provide the most convenient and reliable fingerprint security solutions
available today for the PC/mobile, wireless, access control and automotive
markets.
"The collaboration between Samsung and AuthenTec offers the
consumer an advanced, affordable biometric security option when purchasing
his or her next notebook PC," said Steve Mansfield, vice president
of marketing with AuthenTec. "Our technology has progressed to
the point where a customer can now buy a state-of-the-art security
feature and simultaneously eliminate the hassle of having to remember
PINs or passwords - for a nominal price to the original equipment
manufacturer."
For more information about AuthenTec, visit www.authentec.com.
Mar 31 - HP Introduces New Compaq Presario
Desktop and Notebook PC Lineup. HP (NYSE:HPQ) today introduced
a full line of Compaq Presario PCs, including the newly designed Compaq
Presario S3000 series desktops and the Compaq Presario 2500 and 2100
series notebooks with integrated 54g wireless LAN technology.
The new notebooks provide higher data transfer speeds over longer
distances than other wireless LAN technologies while providing backward
compatibility to existing 802.11 standards, thus enabling mobile customers
to significantly enhance their productivity from work, home or on
the go.
The redesigned Compaq Presario S3000 series desktop PCs feature high-capacity
hard drives and DVD or rewritable CD drives at affordable prices --
making them perfect for work, school or play.
"Our continued investment in the Compaq Presario brand --including
advanced wireless connectivity for Compaq Presario notebooks and digital
recording capabilities in all Compaq Presario desktops --reaffirms
HP's commitment to providing consumers the latest technologies at
great values," said Sam Szteinbaum, vice president and general
manager, HP North America Consumer Computing.
New Compaq Presario Notebook PCs
Designed to work with new wireless networks based on the draft 802.11g
specification as well as existing 802.11b wireless networks, the Compaq
Presario 2500 series notebook PCs let customers take advantage of
speeds up to almost five times faster (54 Mbps) than current 802.11b
wireless networks.
Faster file sharing, a richer digital media experience or a more
advanced head-to-head gaming experience are only a few of the benefits
users can experience when operating in an 802.11g environment. This
next-generation wireless technology is also more secure, supporting
various security features including 128-bit WEP (wired equivalent
privacy) encryption.
Delivering desktop-class performance, the Compaq Presario 2500 notebook
PC features fast Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 processors up to 2.8 GHz. The
notebook is an ideal portable system for the home and home office
user that requires exceptional performance with its up to 15-inch
high-resolution TFT display, ATI Mobility Radeon integrated graphics,
IEEE 1394 input and wireless connectivity.
The Compaq Presario 2100 series notebook PCs offer advantages customers
need for work, school or home use with a high level of performance
for productivity or digital entertainment purposes. Sporting a sleek,
attractive design in two-tone graphite and silver, the mobile notebook
is 1.5-inches thin and weighs as light as 6.7 pounds.
The notebook includes up to a 15-inch display, ATI Mobility Radeon
graphics and a full range of Intel Celeron(R) and Mobile Pentium 4-m
processors. The notebook also offers double data rate (DDR) system
memory configurations up to 1 GB and a Type I/II/III PC card slot
that ensures expandability. Selected models also include an IEEE-1394
high-speed digital video port.
Estimated U.S. pricing starts at $1,094 after $100 mail-in rebate
for the Compaq Presario 2500 series with 54g and at $819 after $100
mail-in rebate for the Compaq Presario 2100 series with 54g.
Compaq Presario S3000 Series Desktop PCs
The Compaq Presario S3000 series -- which includes the S3000NX, S3100NX,
S3200NX and S3300NX -- features a sleek new design that makes these
PCs a stylish addition to any home, home office or den.
The Compaq Presario S3000NX is an affordable PC that gives consumers
the power and speed to enhance productivity, conveniently burn their
own music CD collection or quickly and easily surf the Web. At an
estimated street price of $449 after a $50 mail-in rebate,(2) the
Compaq Presario S3000NX features an AMD Athlon XP 2000+ processor
to support daily computing tasks, 256-MB DDR memory, a 40-GB hard
drive, a 48x CD-RW drive, 32-MB integrated graphics and an open AGP
slot.
The S3000NX desktop PC is expected to be available in retail stores
and on hpshopping.com beginning April 6.
The perfect tool to handle everything from music and games to school
work and the household budget, the Compaq Presario S3100NX features
an AMD Athlon XP 2200+ processor, 256-MB DDR memory, 32-MB integrated
graphics, an 80-GB hard drive, open AGP slot, a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo
drive for recording digital music, watching DVD movies or backup and
storage of home office or creative projects.
At an estimated U.S. street price of $539 after a $50 mail-in rebate,
the S3100NX desktop PC is available today in retail stores and on
hpshopping.com.
For consumers demanding a powerful machine and fast performance at
a competitive price, the Compaq Presario S3200NX features an AMD Athlon
XP 2400+ processor, 256-MB DDR memory, a 48x CD-RW drive, a 16x DVD-ROM
drive, 32-MB integrated graphics and an open AGP slot.
With a high-capacity 120-GB hard drive, this PC has ample room to
download, create and save digital music, photo and video collections.
At an estimated U.S. street price of $619 after a $50 mail-in rebate,
the S3200NX desktop PC is now available in retail stores and on hpshopping.com.
With a 128-MB NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440 graphics card, the Compaq Presario
S3300NX provides advanced graphics perf
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