Jun 30 - ATI Ships ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO. Everyone,
especially home theater owners, can now enjoy the ultimate entertainment
experience with ALL-IN-WONDER(R) 9800 PRO from ATI Technologies Inc.
(NASDAQ:ATYT) (TSX:ATY).
Now shipping in North America for USD$449 (MSRP), ATI's newest multimedia
video card joins the award-winning ALL-IN-WONDER(R) family to deliver
the world's fastest graphics engine with the best in intelligent TV-on-the-PC
and video editing features.
ATI continues to lead the way by being the first digital media solutions
graphics provider to support full Microsoft(R) DirectX(TM) 9.0 and
OpenGL(TM) 2.0 feature sets. ATI is the first and still the only visual
processor unit (VPU) provider to offer eight dedicated pipelines of
rendering power with the RADEON(TM) 9800 series.
ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO becomes ATI's flagship multimedia solution
for home theater applications. The new video card solution features
EAZYLOOK(TM), an eye-catching 10-foot user interface with on-screen
display for home theater settings, which is included in the product
with a new version of ATI's MULTIMEDIA CENTER software.
"ATI's ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO delivers the fastest graphics
available with the richest video features that are generations ahead
of any other solution," said Godfrey Cheng, Director of Marketing,
Multimedia Products, ATI Technologies Inc. "ALL-IN-WONDER 9800
PRO empowers users to effortlessly view, pause and record live TV
programs, plus capture and edit videos on the PC aided by powerful,
easy-to-use video editing software. Captured TV shows and home video
projects can be digitally archived faster than realtime DVD authoring
so favorite video moments can be enjoyed again and again."
The ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO includes ATI's newest powerhouse graphics
chip - the acclaimed RADEON(TM) 9800 PRO - for outstanding achievements
at full precision for the best available image quality.
The fully Microsoft DirectX 9.0 VPU enables cinematic-quality graphics
and blistering performance. Since ATI is the only provider to deliver
fully functional Microsoft DirectX 9.0 graphics solutions, all games
currently on the market or in development have used ATI products as
critical components in their development platforms. ALL-IN-WONDER
9800 PRO users can be assured of 100 per cent Microsoft DirectX 9.0
support for games of today and tomorrow.
ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO also features ATI's THEATER(TM) 200 that enables
exceptional video and stereo audio quality viewing during live TV
and video input and capture.
Visit ATI's Web site at www.ati.com.
Jun 30 - Panasonic Debuts
Centrino Sub-Note With Integrated DVD/CD-RW Drive. Panasonic Computer
Solutions Company, world's leading provider of ruggedized portable
computers, today announced the introduction of a high-style slim line
ultra-portable uniting legendary Toughbook(R) durability with the
unprecedented processing prowess, wireless connectivity, and energy
efficiency of Intel's advanced Centrino(TM) mobility platform.
"Introducing our first CEO-To-Go-styled ultra-portables last
year, I described them as a reaffirmation of Panasonic's commitment
to offer its customers a one-stop portable-computer solution,"
said Panasonic Computer Solutions Company president Rance Poehler.
"Consider the new Toughbook(R) W2 a reaffirmation of our determination
to provide the highest attainable levels of performance, technological
innovation, and durability throughout the entire Toughbook(R) line."
Poehler noted that the new sub-notebook has been totally re-engineered
for maximum integration with Intel's state-of-the-art Centrino mobile
technology. "Adapting Centrino's architecture to this form factor
has enabled us to offer advanced features previously available only
in full-size notebooks with hot, heavy, ultra-capacity power cells,"
Poehler added. "I am particularly proud of the job our engineers
did integrating a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive into W2 without taking any hit
whatsoever in battery runtime, cooling efficiency, portability or
ruggedization.
"Fact is the W2's seven-hour runtime is outstanding even among
sub-notebooks without integrated multimedia drives and the addition
of the drive adds only a tenth of an inch and six ounces to the W2's
profile."
Uncompromised Performance
The new W2 Toughbook is powered by 900MHz ultra-low-voltage Intel(R)
Pentium(R) M CPUs with 1MB on-die L2 cache, 256MB PC2100 DDR RAM (expandable
to 512MB) and a 40MB high-speed UDMA hard drive.
Advanced system and chipset architecture gives the W2 unparalleled
performance in executing instruction sets, transitioning between operations
and responding to component power demands.
Bright And Beautiful
The W2 employs the latest iteration of the revolutionary thin-glass
display technology first introduced in the Toughbook(R) CF-R1, a 12.1-inch
XGA TFT active-matrix LCD almost 25 percent lighter than same-size
conventional panels. The thin-glass display's compact light path and
low-power, high-output backlight result in a class-leading brightness/battery
drain ratio. Maximum resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels at 16M colors
on the internal LCD and 1280 x 1024 pixels at 16M colors on an external
monitor.
Wireless DVD Viewing And CD Burning
The Toughbook W-2's integrated Combo Drive specifications are as
follows:
Read: DVD-8x, CD-24x, Write: CD/R-6x, CD/RW- 4x. Height: 9.5mm.
Toughbooks To The Bone
Durability is a primary consideration in the engineering of every
Toughbook(R) regardless of form factor and feature set. Hard drive
and LCD shock-absorbers, reinforced screen case edges, stainless steel
hinges and a bonded scuff-and-scratch-resistant outer coating round
out the ruggedization package.
Wireless Access
Intel(R) Centrino(TM) mobile technology communications enhancements
include the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless Network Connection 802.11b WLAN
support and advanced encryption and security technology for Virtual
Private Networks. In addition, a 56K V90 analog modem provides added
communications capability.
Pricing and Configuration
Toughbook(R) W2 CF-T2AWAZZKM Intel(R) 900MHz ULV PentiumM CPU, Centrino(TM)
system architecture, 12.1" XGA TFT Active-Matrix Display, 40GB
HDD, 256MB RAM, internal DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, 100BASE-TX/10
BASE-T wired LAN, 56K analog modem. Estimated Street Price: $ 2,250
Information on Panasonic's full line of notebook PCs for the mobile
professional can be obtained at www.panasonic.com/toughbook.
Jun 30 - SOYO releases SLIM-PROFILE ``Mini
DRAGON'' barebone system. SOYO Computer, Inc. (OTCBB:SOYO) manufacturer
of the award winning "DRAGON" motherboard series, announced
the release of its series of slim profile barebone computer systems,
named the Mini DRAGON for Intel Pentium 4 processors with Hyper-Threading
Technology.
The "Mini DRAGON" measured at 8" wide, 2.5" in
height, and is only 10.5" deep. It is strategically designed
for vertical or horizontal configuration.
SOYO's new Mini DRAGON features the SiS 651 chipset, which supports
the Socket 478 Pentium 4 processor from 2.8GHz up to 3.06GHz with
400/533MHz FSB. It accepts up to maximum of 1GB (1-184 pin DDR sockets)
of memory.
The "Mini DRAGON" includes eight (2 front/4 rear/2 on external
"bare-bay" enclosure) USB 2.0 ports and one IEEE 1394 Firewire
port for making quick and easy connections to multimedia peripherals.
The embedded on board 2 channel AC97 Audio Codec and high performance
2D/3D Graphic Engine saves expansion slots on the mainboard and provides
crisp audio and advanced graphics. It is equipped with one AGP slot
(support 2x/4x) to accommodate gaming enthusiasts.
"Mini DRAGON" comes with a separate "bare-bay"
enclosure, which can accommodate one CD/DVD-ROM, one 3.5" bay
slot for floppy drive, and one standard hard drive. The "bare-bay"
is equipped with two USB 2.0 ports and one parallel IDE ATA 133 hard
drive connector with future upgrade slots for Serial ATA. The "bare-bay"
serves as a "data reader/storage docking station" for the
"Mini DRAGON". The measurements match those of the "Mini
DRAGON" platform, which makes it easy to stack on.
The "Mini DRAGON" will be available for shipping on June
27th. MSRP of $299. Further information on SOYO products can be found
online at www.soyousa.com.
Jun 30 - Recording Industry To Sue Music
Pirates. Even though all the major record labels have made their
music available on a number of legal sites, illegal downloading is
still rampant on the Internet. To combat the problem, the RIAA (Recording
Industry Association of America) announced it will start to gather
evidence tomorrow and will begin filing what could amount to thousands
of lawsuits against individual computer users.
The creation of legal websites like The Apple Music Store, MusicNet,
Pressplay and Rhapsody still haven't deterred some individuals from
illegally distributing music. And they're not just sharing with a
few friends; in some cases, they're illegally passing copyrighted
songs to millions of others. Experts say that illegal file sharing
has already cost thousands of jobs in the music industry.
They also warn that while many falsely believe that illegal file
sharing is anonymous, it's actually a very public activity. A person's
username leads to an IP (Internet Protocol) address, which can then
be subpoenaed to locate the individual.
To avoid being sued, the RIAA recommends taking programs that distribute
music illegally - like Kazaa and Grokster - off your computer if you
have them. At the very least, they advise disabling the software's
uploading capacity. This will not only keep strangers out of your
hard dive, it will keep you from getting sued.
Jun 30 - LURHQ Warns of New ``Windows-Update
Trojan''. LURHQ Corporation, the trusted provider of Managed Security
Services, is tracking the increasing spread of the new blended threat
"Windows-Update Trojan".
The end-user is social engineered into downloading the Trojan, which
connects back to Internet Relay Chat (IRC), enabling the creator to
control the Trojan remotely. The creator can then perform a variety
of activities such as gaining root access to the machine, using the
computer in distributed denial of service attacks, recording passwords
and deleting files.
"We've been tracking and researching the Windows-Update Trojan
since it first appeared," said LURHQ Secure Operations Center
Manager Corey Merchant. "This is a unique blended threat that
combines mass email tactics, social engineering, vulnerability exploits
and Trojan code to infect users across the Internet."
The Windows-Update Trojan is propagated via spam-like techniques.
The email message uses social engineering by making it appear to come
from Microsoft and instructs the user that a new security patch is
necessary for their computer.
The Trojan creator sends recipients to "windows-update.xxx,"
taking advantage of the similarity to Microsoft's legitimate site
"windowsupdate.com."
The Trojan then exploits an Internet Explorer vulnerability that bypasses
typical dialogue boxes and immediately downloads and executes the
code. Once infected, the Trojan's creator can remotely command the
Trojan to conduct distributed denial of service attacks, delete files,
record passwords or any number of other activities.
"This new threat poses a serious risk to Internet users worldwide,"
said LURHQ Senior Intrusion Analyst Joe Stewart. "Gateway Email
Anti-Virus is not able to detect this blended threat since it is delivered
via a link. Also, there are currently no signatures for Desktop Anti-Virus,
leaving users extremely vulnerable to becoming infected by this Trojan."
For remediation instructions and other information visit www.lurhq.com/winupdate.html.
Jun 29 - Sunday Shopping Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best Sunday
Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. A very good week to buy new
laptops and desktops. Good prices can be found on both low-end and
high-end systems.
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 has switched to offering 6 Months of free MSN with any
computer purchase. They are also offering $100 mail-in rebates on
all desktop packages, $150 mail-in rebates on all laptops, and 12
month no-interest financing on all desktop package and laptop purchases.
Circuit City is offering
18 month no-interest financing on all purchases $399 and up. They
are also offering $100-$200 instant savings on all laptops.
Office
Depot
has no ad this Sunday.
CompUSA has 6 months no payment,
no interest financing on purchases of $199 and higher with credit
application and Unadvertised
Specials Ad.
Staples has no store-wide promotions
this Sunday.
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, laptops, and other computer items.
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. Also see our latest InfoHQ Tech Watch
Newsletter; Free
PC and Free Internet 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
|
Compaq 2.5 GHz complete system with 17"
monitor
|
$519
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Compaq 2.4 GHz system with 17" monitor
|
$749
|
-
|
Staples
|
|
2. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Compaq 2.4 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel
|
$919
|
-
|
Circuit City, Best Buy (HP $929)
|
|
3. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.4 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel and DVD-R/W
|
$1049
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
4. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.6 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel and DVD-R/W
|
$1249
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
eMachines 2300+ complete system
|
$429
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$849
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2.2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1049
|
|
Circuit City
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
HP 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1099
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony 2.66 GHz Pentium 4 with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1549
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sharp Pentium 4 2.8 GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1799
|
|
Circuit City
|
|
|
|
Peripherals and Software
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Warcraft III Expansion Set: Frozen Throne
|
$34.99
(get a free $10 gift card)
|
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 200 GB hard
drive with 8 MB buffer
|
$149
(after rebates)
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 80 GB hard
drive with 8 MB buffer
|
$79
(after rebates)
|
+$10
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 7200 RPM 120 GB hard drive with
8 MB buffer
|
$79
(after rebates)
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
ATI Radeon 9200 128 MB
|
$99
(after rebates)
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Sony 4X multiformat DVD-RW
|
$299
(after rebates)
|
-$20
|
CompUSA
|
|
|
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.
Jun 27 - Dell and AT&T
Wireless Team to Provide Internet Access. Dell(tm) (Nasdaq:DELL)
customers can now manage e-mail, browse the Web or access corporate
applications on their Dell notebook computers without worrying about
wires or searching for "hot spots" to connect to the Internet.
Through an agreement with AT&T Wireless, Dell will offer a variety
of AT&T wireless Internet plans based on megabyte usage to meet
individual needs. Connecting to the AT&T wireless data service
is easy with the tri-band Sierra AirCard 750 Wireless cellular modem
which customers may purchase when signing up for a service plan.
"Our customers' time is valuable and we're committed to providing
them a variety of options for wireless connectivity, both local and
wide area networking," said Anthony Bonadero, director of Dell's
wireless product group. "With AT&T Wireless, we can help
mobile computer users stay in touch in more places, and be more productive
at work or on their own time."
Valerie Kahn, senior vice president of enterprise offers for AT&T
Wireless Mobile Multimedia Services, said mobile professionals now
have access to one-stop shopping to meet their mobile computing needs.
"With the largest worldwide footprint of any carrier in the U.S.,
customers can stay connected in thousands of cities around the country
and across the globe through our high-speed GPRS service," she
said.
AT&T Wireless Internet service for GSM (Global System for Mobile
communication) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and the Sierra
AirCard 750 modem use existing AT&T cellular networks to provide
seamless wide area connectivity within broad coverage areas around
the world. GPRS runs at speeds comparable to analog dial-up modems.
AT&T Wireless operates one of the largest GSM/GPRS network in
the United States. They have service in thousands of cities around
the globe with roaming agreements throughout Canada, Europe and Asia.
In contrast, Wi-Fi local area networks require wireless access points
or "hot spots" connected to established hard wired networks
for Internet access within fixed locations.
Dell customers can choose from a variety of AT&T Wireless plans
ranging from 10 megabytes to 100+ megabytes per month with usage fees
starting as low as $29.99 per month. Dell offers the tri-band Sierra
AirCard 750 Wireless GPRS Modem for a retail list price of $299.99
-- with special promotional pricing as low as $224.99 for a limited
time with certain restrictions. Additional information can be found
at www.dell.com/s&p.
Jun 27 - AMD Anticipates Lower
Than Expected Second Quarter Sales. AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced
that sales for the second quarter ending June 29, 2003 are anticipated
to be approximately $615 million. The Company's projection made in
connection with the release of first quarter results was for second
quarter sales to be at least $715 million.
"The anticipated global sales improvement in the month of June
did not materialize as we had anticipated," said Robert J. Rivet,
AMD's Chief Financial Officer. "In particular, the decline in
personal computer and handset sell-through in China and other Asian
markets, largely related to the SARS epidemic, significantly affected
AMD's sales in the second quarter."
AMD will report its second quarter 2003 results on July 16, 2003.
For more AMD news and product information, visit www.amd.com.
Jun 27 - Dell Precision
M60 Packs Desktop Workstation Performance Into A Notebook. Imagine
reviewing an aircraft design while flying in one or modifying architectural
floor plans while on-site. Today's worldwide introduction of the Dell(tm)
(Nasdaq:DELL) Precision Workstation M60 satisfies the demands of professionals
who require the optimal combination of performance and mobility for
business-critical applications.
The Dell Precision(tm) M60's 128MB NVIDIA Quadro FX Go700 graphics
accelerator delivers richly detailed images to the 15.4-inch UltraSharp(tm)
wide-aspect display, which allows users room for large designs &
assemblies, multiple windows or expansive tool palettes. Graphics
performance is a strong suit of the M60, with workstation-class OpenGL
hardware acceleration and certifications on the leading computer-aided
design and digital content creation applications. As with all Dell
Precision Workstations, the M60 comes standard with 24x7 dedicated
phone support.
Designers who manipulate large, complex models will appreciate the
M60's support of up to 2 GB of DDR-SDRAM and available 7200 RPM hard
drives, as well as an integrated gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet controller
for ultra-fast file transfers over a network. At the M60's core is
the Intel(R) Pentium(tm) M mobile processor, which supports Centrino(tm)
wireless technology and has been shown to improve performance over
its predecessor, the M50. The system also features an integrated SmartCard
reader for security, two USB 2.0 ports, hot-swappable media bay and
tough new Tri-Metal(tm) chassis.
"Workstation customers desire mobility without having to compromise
performance," said Tim Mattox, vice president of client product
marketing. "The M60 offers best-in-class graphics, storage and
industrial design that extends Precision's product leadership position,
delivering the performance of a true workstation in a mobile form
factor."
The Dell Precision Workstation M60 starts at $2,599 and includes
a 1.4 GHz Intel Pentium M processor (400 MHz FSB), 256 MB DDR266 SDRAM,
40GB 5400 RPM hard drive, 128 MB NVIDIA Quadro FX Go700 graphics card,
Microsoft Windows XP Professional and a three-year next-business-day
onsite service with dedicated telephone support.
Dell Precision workstations are designed for customers who demand
workstation hardware certification with independent software vendors
in the computer-aided design, engineering, digital content creation,
geographic information systems, computer animation, software development
and financial analysis markets. Complete product details can be found
at www.dell.com/precision.
Jun 27 - Dell Introduces Redesigned
UltraSharp Flat Panel Displays. Dell(tm) (Nasdaq:DELL), the worldwide
leader in LCD monitor shipments, today unveiled two new UltraSharp(tm)
flat panel displays incorporating advanced features for great performance
and ease of use. Priced starting at $499, the new models are the first
in Dell's redesigned line of displays.
The Dell UltraSharp 1703FP and UltraSharp 1901FP are 17- and 19-inch
monitors with several new features, including a thin, 0.7-inch, bezel
that saves desk space; a height-adjustable stand (up to 5.1 inches)
that allows users to set the monitor to their own comfort level; and
an optional detachable sound bar that delivers 14 watts of total output.
Four USB 2.0 ports -- two on the side and two behind the display --
give users convenient access points to plug in devices such as keyboards,
digital cameras, secondary hard drives and printers.
The two new Dell UltraSharp monitors also provide more viewing options,
with panels that swivel, tilt and pivot to support portrait and landscape
orientations. Each monitor's panel is detachable for easy wall mounting
through a quick-release, tool-less mechanism. These new flat panel
displays offer both analog and digital inputs for attaching to a system.
The 1703FP and 1901FP feature distortion-free images due to 25 millisecond
response times and rich, powerful colors with 600:1 contrast ratios.
Vertical and horizontal viewing angles of 85 degrees enable a clear
view of the screen from virtually any location around the display
-- an advantage for multiple users sharing the same display.
"Dell is offering customers industry-leading value by incorporating
great performance in a sleek industrial design at a low price point,"
said Tim Mattox, vice president of client product marketing for Dell.
"These products also continue Dell's efforts to provide environmentally
sensitive solutions to our customers by offering flat panels that
contain significantly less lead and use less energy than traditional
CRT displays."
The 1703FP is currently being offered worldwide for $499 and the
1901FP will be available for $740, beginning in July. The Dell AS500
sound bar can be purchased separately for $39 and is compatible with
both monitors.
More details on the 1703FP and 1901FP can be found online at www.dell.com/monitors.
Jun 27 - Toshiba Introduces High-Capacity
2.5-Inch Hard Disk Drives. Toshiba's Storage Device Division (SDD),
the industry pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs),
today announced an 80GB 2.5-inch hard disk drive. With an areal density
of 64.8 gigabits per square inch and a super slim package measuring
9.5mm high, Toshiba's MK8025GAS hard disk drive provides an ideal
solution for mobile computing and consumer electronics.
Toshiba's lightweight, two-platter 80GB hard disk drive weighs only
98 grams, providing high performance in a slim design. Also available
in a 40GB capacity (MK4025GAS), Toshiba's latest hard disk drives
accommodate the storage needs of multi-functional mobile PCs and other
applications, such as telecommunications, printers, copiers, GPS systems
and MP3 players.
"Toshiba is continuing to lead the way in small, portable, high-capacity
hard disk drives," said Amy Dalphy, manager, HDD business unit,
Toshiba SDD. "These new drives provide capacious storage to portable
devices, expanding product possibilities for the world's ever-shrinking,
ever-more-mobile digital designs."
Toshiba's hard disk drives can withstand operational shock of up
to 200G and non-operating shock of up to 800G, providing PC and consumer
electronics manufacturers with a rugged, durable storage solution.
The 2.5-inch drives support the ATA-6 interface and have a rotational
speed of 4,200 RPM.
Toshiba's 40GB and 80GB drives are available now. For more information,
visit www.harddrives.toshiba.com.
Jun 27 - I/OMagic Launches Next Generation
CD Duplicator. /OMagic Corp. (OTCBB:IOMG), a leading developer
and marketer of data storage and digital entertainment devices, today
announced that it has launched the next edition of CD Duplicators
into its optical storage line-up -- the 52x24x52/54x CD Duplicator
with LCD Display and USB 2.0. The new I/OMagic 52x CD Duplicator is
a stand alone, easy-to-use device that copies a full 700MB CD in less
than three minutes. Its features include a backlit LCD panel that
monitors disc status and percent complete, and USB 2.0 to allow for
faster burn speeds.
"We believe consumers will appreciate the versatility and lightning-fast
speed of our latest CD Duplicator offering," said Tony Andrews,
vice president of Engineering and Product Development for I/OMagic
Corp. "This product, at 52x, is one of the fastest, stand alone,
easy-to-use duplicators on the market."
Highlights of the I/OMagic 52x24x52/54x CD Duplicator are that it
has dual operating modes. It can be used either as a stand alone device
or as an external USB 2.0 mode with up to 480Mbits per second, or
it is backwards compatible with USB 1.1.
Users can create custom music CDs, make and share photo albums and
duplicate back-up discs with the 52x24x52x/54x CD Duplicator. It has
a 52x maximum write speed, a 24x maximum rewrite speed, a 52x maximum
read speed and the source drive is a 54x CD-ROM.
The 52x CD Duplicator incorporates a unique two-way adjustable L.E.D.
lighting system (blue/red/off). The I/OMagic 52x24x52/54x CD Duplicator
supports RAW Mode Copy for original CD back-up, and is Windows XP,
2000, Me and 98 plug 'n play compatible.
The I/OMagic 52x24x52/54x CD Duplicator has an introductory price
of $279 and is currently available at Circuit City and Best Buy Canada.
For more information, visit the I/OMagic Web site at www.iomagic.com.
Jun 27 - Laplink Software, Inc. Releases
LapLink Gold version 11.5. Laplink(R) Software, Inc., the recognized
world leader in file transfer and synchronization, today announces
the release of version 11.5 of the popular LapLink Gold(TM) file transfer
and remote control product.
LapLink Gold 11.5 now supports a reliable direct connect USB transfer
for both USB 1.1 and 2.0 standards as well as new secure firewall
navigation using the LapLink Everywhere network. Many additional refinements
have been added to simplify the user interface as well as performance
enhancements for file transfer, synchronization, and remote control
features. LapLink Gold version 11.5 is now also available preloaded
on a USB "pen drive" for maximum flexibility and mobility.
"Our new direct connect USB support delivers optimal performance
of up to 60 (Mb) megabits per second with rock solid reliability and
ease of use that has been a longtime trademark of Laplink products,"
said Mark Eppley, President of Laplink Software, Inc. "Adding
support for connecting over our LapLink Everywhere network solves
a major usage issue and now allows our customers with no previous
working knowledge of firewall or router configurations to connect
easily, all while maintaining the high security standards Laplink
has always had."
Also new to LapLink Gold version 11.5 is a lowered price point of
$99.95 for the downloaded version, $109.95 for the packaged product
version, and $129.95 preloaded on a USB pen drive. This option provides
mobile users with a hard copy of LapLink and allows them to use it
on computers that may not have a CDROM drive.
Laplink products are available through its Web site at www.laplink.com
and most retail outlets.
Jun 26 - Apple Unleashes the World’s
Fastest Personal Computer—the Power Mac G5. Apple® has
unleashed the world’s fastest personal computer—the Power
Mac® G5—featuring the world’s first 64-bit desktop processor
and the industry’s first 1 GHz front-side bus. Powered by the
revolutionary PowerPC G5 processor designed by IBM and Apple, the
Power Mac G5 is the first personal computer to utilize 64-bit processing
technology for unprecedented memory expansion (up to 8GB) and advanced
64-bit computation, while running existing 32-bit applications natively.
“The 64-bit revolution has begun and the personal computer will
never be the same again,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.
“The new Power Mac G5 combines the world’s first 64-bit
desktop processor, the industry’s first 1 GHz front-side bus,
and up to 8GB of memory to beat the fastest Pentium 4 and dual Xeon-based
systems in industry-standard benchmarks and real-world professional
applications.”
Delivering the industry’s highest system bandwidth, the Power
Mac G5 line offers dual 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processors, each with an
independent 1 GHz front-side bus, for an astounding 16 GBps of bandwidth.
The line also features the industry’s highest bandwidth memory
(400 MHz 128-bit DDR SDRAM with throughput up to 6.4 GBps); the industry’s
fastest PCI interface available on a desktop (133 MHz PCI-X); and
cutting-edge AGP 8X Pro graphics capabilities, all within a stunning
new professional aluminum enclosure featuring innovative computer-controlled
cooling for quiet operation.
The PowerPC G5 processor is a result of the strategic relationship
between Apple and IBM. At frequencies up to 2 GHz, the PowerPC G5
introduces 64-bit processing technology to desktop computing, while
also running 32-bit applications natively. The PowerPC G5 processor
architecture is based on a completely new execution core that features
massively parallel computation for an unprecedented 215 in-flight
instructions, full symmetric multi-processing, two double precision
floating point units and an optimized Velocity Engine™. The PowerPC
G5 chips are fabricated in IBM’s $3 billion state-of-the-art
semiconductor facility in East Fishkill, N.Y.
The new Power Mac G5 is the world’s fastest personal computer
based on SPEC® CPU 2000 benchmark results and leading professional
application performance tests when compared against 3.0 GHz Pentium
4-based systems and 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon-based systems:
In the SPEC CPU 2000 independent testing comparing the Power Mac
G5 against leading 3.0 GHz Pentium 4-based systems and 3.06 GHz Dual
Xeon-based systems, the Power Mac G5 won three out of four key benchmark
tests.
All tests were run with the same industry standard GCC 3.3 compiler
to insure a fair comparison;
Single processor tests results show the Power Mac G5 an impressive
21 percent faster than the 3.0 GHz Pentium 4-based PC on SPECfp_base2000,
which measures single processor floating point performance, and 10
percent slower on SPECint_base2000, which measures single processor
integer performance;
and Dual processor tests results, which determine the fastest personal
computer since dual processor systems are faster than single processor
systems, are a clean sweep with the Power Mac G5 beating the 3.06
GHz Dual Xeon workstations by an incredible 41 percent on SPECfp_rate_base2000,
which measures the total floating point throughput of the system,
and edging out the same system by three percent on SPECint_rate_base2000,
which measures total integer computation throughput.
In addition to outperforming Pentium 4- and Dual Xeon-based systems
in industry-standard benchmarks, the Power Mac G5 ran significantly
faster than Pentium 4 and Dual Xeon-based systems on performance tests
of the most popular applications for creative professionals:
On a test of 45 commonly used actions, Adobe Photoshop ran twice
as fast on the Power Mac G5 than on 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon workstations;
Logic Audio on the Power Mac G5 can play nearly 40 percent more tracks
with reverbs applied than Cubase SX running on a 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon
workstation; and Genentech Blast runs up to five times faster on a
Power Mac G5 than on a 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon workstation.
Complementing its computational power, the Power Mac G5 provides
leading-edge expansion with dual 1.5 Gbps serial ATA interfaces; the
industry’s fastest PCI interface available on a desktop with
a 133 MHz and two 100 MHz, 64-bit PCI-X slots; and AGP 8X Pro graphics
capable of supporting the power and thermal demands of high-end professional
graphics cards.
The Power Mac G5 comes standard with either the NVIDIA GeForceFX
5200 or the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro graphics card. As a build-to-order
option for unprecedented 3D design, visualization and gaming, the
Power Mac G5 line also features the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro—a workstation-class
graphics card featuring per pixel and vertex shaders, and providing
an astonishing fill rate of 3 billion textured pixels/second.
The Power Mac G5 delivers industry-leading connectivity and high-performance
I/O for creative professionals with Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire®
800, two FireWire 400 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, dual display support,
optical digital audio input and output, analog audio input and output
and a headphone jack. The system also supports 54 Mbps AirPort®
Extreme wireless networking and is Bluetooth ready for wireless connections
to a host of Bluetooth-enabled peripherals.
The Power Mac G5 features a stunning new anodized aluminum alloy
enclosure, designed to meet the needs of the most demanding professionals.
The new enclosure is built around four independently controlled thermal
zones for advanced airflow management, with fans in each zone that
are individually controlled based on a sophisticated combination of
thermal and power monitoring, resulting in the Power Mac G5 running
two times quieter than the previous Power Mac G4.
The G5 enclosure also features an easy-to-open access panel allowing
quick access to internal components for tool-less installation of
memory, hard drives, optical drives or an AirPort Extreme card. Front
and rear handles allow professionals to rapidly and safely move Power
Mac G5s when and where they need them, and front-mounted FireWire,
USB2, and headphone ports provide convenient access for popular peripherals.
Pricing & Availability
The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes:
Dual 2.0 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5;
Dual Independent 1 GHz front-side buses;
512MB 400 MHz Dual Channel (128-bit) DDR;
8 DIMMs, 8GB maximum memory;
160GB Serial ATA hard drive;
AGP 8X Pro graphics slot;
RADEON 9600 Pro-64MB DDR;
3 PCI-X slots (one 64-bit 133 MHz, two 64-bit 100 MHz); and
4x SuperDrive™.
The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $2,399 (US), includes:
1.8 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5;
900 MHz front-side bus;
512MB 400 MHz Dual Channel (128-bit) DDR;
8 DIMMs, 8GB maximum memory;
160GB Serial ATA hard drive;
AGP 8X Pro graphics slot;
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra-64MB DDR;
3 PCI-X slots (one 64-bit, 133 MHz, two 64-bit 100 MHz); and
4x SuperDrive.
The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
1.6 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5;
800 MHz front-side bus;
256MB 333 MHz Dual Channel (128-bit) DDR;
4 DIMMs, 4GB maximum memory;
80GB Serial ATA hard drive;
AGP 8X Pro graphics slot;
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra-64MB DDR;
3 PCI slots (64-bit, 33 MHz); and
4x SuperDrive.
The Power Mac G5 line will be available in August. The Power Mac
G5 will be available in build-to-order configurations through the
Apple Store® (www.apple.com). Options
include up to 8GB of RAM, 250GB hard drives, Combo drive, graphics
cards (NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200, ATI Radeon 9600, ATI Radeon 9800),
AirPort Extreme Card, Bluetooth module and an Apple Fibre Channel
PCI Card.
Jun 26 - Toshiba Introduces New Desktop
Replacement Notebook PCs. Toshiba's Computer Systems Group (CSG)
today introduced the Satellite A20/25-S207 Series and Satellite A25-S307
Series notebooks offering powerful desktop-like performance in a mobile
form factor for students, families and small businesses. Pricing begins
at $1,499.
Whether developing an interactive multimedia presentation, backing
up large amounts of data or simply watching a DVD movie, these new
notebooks deliver a rich feature-set including a 15.0" diagonal
XGA display, Secure Digital(TM) (SD) slot and 512MB memory.
Eliminating the need for a bulky desktop PC while adding the flexibility
to remain mobile, the Satellite A20/25-S207 Series and Satellite A25-S307
Series notebook PCs are a welcome addition to any college dorm room,
home or small office. Additionally, the Satellite A25-S307 Series
continues Toshiba's drive to deliver new technology to its customers
by incorporating a DVD-R/RW multi-function drive, expanding multimedia
and productivity capabilities.
Whether e-mailing large files or performing online research, both
the Satellite A20/25-S207 Series and Satellite A25-S307 Series notebook
PCs feature built-in Wi-Fi(R) (IEEE 802.11b) wireless connectivity,
for convenient access to the Internet at a wireless campus, public
hotspot or wireless home network.
For more information visit the company's Web site at www.csd.toshiba.com.
Jun 26 - Intel Helps Push
High Performance Computing Mainstream. More than one-third of
the world's most powerful computers with Intel processors inside of
them are now deployed in commercial settings, signaling that high
performance computing (HPC) is evolving from its academic and research
origins to mainstream business usage.
The list of the world's 500 most powerful computers, issued today
at www.top500.org and in conjunction with the International Supercomputer
Conference in Heidelberg, Germany, also reveals that Intel-based systems
on the elite TOP500 list totaled 119, more than double the 56 systems
on the list only six months ago, and up dramatically from just three
on the list three years ago. Nineteen Intel® Itanium® family-based
systems appeared on the list, up from two last time.
In addition, systems with as few as 92 Intel processors are appearing
on the list for the first time. These are some of the smallest and
most affordable systems to ever make the list delivering better performance
at a lower cost vs. many proprietary systems.
"HPC is going mainstream," said John Davies vice president,
Intel Sales and Marketing Group. "Businesses like BP, Lockheed
Martin and DaimlerChrysler are joining leading academic institutions
and research labs in using powerful, standards-based Intel processors
and software to tackle the world's most complex computing challenges.
With these powerful modeling and research systems, they can gain a
tremendous business advantage."
The Intel® Itanium® 2 processor family also broke into the
top 10 for the first time. An HP system in use at the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. secured the eighth position
on the list.
Notably, the Intel® Xeon processor-based cluster at Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory achieved No. 3 on the list, the highest
position ever for any cluster. It uses a Quadrics interconnect and
was manufactured by Linux Networx. Cluster systems such as this are
also being discussed this week at the ClusterWorld show in San Jose,
Calif.
Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com.
TOP500 Supercomputers List, www.top500.org.
Jun 26 - DPS Ships Que!007 Portable DVD
Burner and Digital Theater Device. Digital Peripheral Solutions
Inc. (DPS) today announced it is shipping its Que!007(TM) Portable
DVD Burner and Digital Theater. The sleek, portable, all-in-one convergence
device features a FireWire DVD burner that also plays DVDs, CDs, MP3s,
Picture CDs and PowerPoint presentations.
Unlike competitive units, the Que!007 works equally well as a computer
peripheral or as a standalone battery-powered device. The built-in
FireWire interface allows PC and Mac users to easily record, erase
and rewrite DVDs, CDs and MP3 files. The Que!007 also plays DVD movies,
audio CDs, MP3s, karaoke, picture CDs and PowerPoint presentations
directly to a TV or flat-screen display.
"We designed the Que!007 to replace several of today's most
popular PC/Mac peripherals -- DVD Burners, set-top/portable DVD players,
MP3 players, audio CD players and presentation projectors --with a
single, all-in-one, portable, battery-operated device," said
Pierre Abboud, vice president of DPS. "This not only makes it
easy for users to carry an entire home theater/entertainment center
in the palm of their hand, it also saves them hundreds of dollars."
As a computer peripheral, the Que!007 can be used as a transportable
data storage or data archiving drive. It includes an impressive array
of features for burning DVDs and CDs as well as for playing DVD movies
on PCs or Macs. In addition, it allows business users to display PowerPoint
presentations, DVD-based industrial training videos, and impressive
digital slide shows with built-in interactive screen transitions that
pan, zoom, flip and rotate screen effects directly from the Que!007
without requiring bulky, expensive digital projectors or notebook
computers.
As a 9-volt DC-powered portable digital theater/entertainment center,
the Que!007 serves as a mobile DVD/CD/MP3 player, plays DVD movies
in an RV or boat, and entertains children on long car rides (which
many parents consider the drive's biggest benefit).
The Que!007 includes 4.7GB of storage, a 2MB buffer, built-in LCD
display, Dolby(TM) Pro Logic and 3D Virtual Surround, a universal
headphone/analog/optical audio output jack, and more. Accessories
include a 36-key remote, external power supply adapter, detachable
rechargeable battery pack, headphone set and all necessary cables.
Bundled software includes a DVD authoring program for PCs and a CD
mastering program for PCs and Macs.
The device supports virtually all disc formats and most media, including
DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and CD-RW. The unit itself is shock and
vibration resistant.
MSRP for the Que!007 Portable DVD Burner and Digital Theater is $599;
it is available through PC/Mac Warehouse, PC/Mac Mall and PC/Mac Zone
and through distribution from Ingram Micro. For further information,
contact DPS at www.qps-inc.com.
Jun 26 - Noted Analyst Calls For New
PC Classification. Citing Intel's successful classification of
integrated graphics parts based on "good enough" graphics
for office computing, Dr. Jon Peddie of Jon Peddie Research, the Tiburon,
Calif.-based leading multimedia and graphics market research firm,
says there is a need to re-classify the PC in a way that will help
consumers understand what kind of computer they are buying and what
the capabilities of that computer are.
Peddie recommends that the PC industry create two classes of Entry-Level
PCs, Corporate Entry-Level PCs for business; and Entry-Level Entertainment
PCs (EEPCs) for gaming, DVD, video editing, and music. For gamers,
the difference between the two means "good enough" for office
computing or great for game play. Better yet, the step up to hot game
play graphics can cost the consumer as little as $50 more, a price
most would be happy to pay to be sure and get a machine that matches
their expectations.
Microsoft agrees. General Manager for Windows Graphics and Gaming
at Microsoft, Dean Lester, said, "I believe there is a lot more
we as an industry can and should be doing in order to assist consumers
in making smart choices with their hardware and software purchasing
decisions."
The confusion started when the PC industry established a "Value
PC" segment comprising PCs that typically sell for less than
$1,000 and use integrated graphics parts to keep the manufacturing
cost down. These parts are either integrated graphics controllers
(IGCs) or integrated graphics processors (IGPs), an entirely new category
of chipset. The integrated graphics controllers (IGCs) offered by
Intel, VIA and XGI (formerly SIS) cannot run newer Microsoft DirectX8
level graphics-rich games and other multimedia applications. The new
category of high performance integrated parts using integrated graphics
processors (IGPs), on the other hand, can run applications based on
DirectX8.
But pity the consumer who enters a retail outlet, sees an active
demo of a high-end PC running a fantastic game or multimedia applications
such as a DVD movie, music mixing, photo editing, etc. but recoils
at the system price -- typically $1,500. Not wanting to lose a sale,
eager salespeople direct the buyer to a lower priced value PC but
neglect to reveal that those low-end machines with an IGC are not
designed to play the kind of games or multimedia applications that
consumer saw demonstrated on the high end system.
Many times the salesperson isn't aware of the difference either. But,
once consumers bring the IGC-based system home, they're liable to
be frustrated and the retail outlet typically has to take back the
system from the disappointed customer. The solution is to define the
Value PC segment as containing chipsets designed for the corporate
user or for entertainment applications.
"With a simple designation that distinguishes between an entry
level corporate PC designed for office productivity or an entry-level
entertainment PC designed to play the new games being introduced as
well as video, compressed audio, and streaming media, salespeople
can clearly explain to the consumer what to expect," said Dr.
Jon Peddie. "A PC with an integrated graphics processor may cost
$50 more, and consumers will gladly pay the higher price, knowing
they'll get the performance they expect. It's a win-win for everyone."
Peddie says that by creating these new classifications, IGP suppliers
such as ATI and Nvidia will get a higher ASP (average selling price),
the box builders get more, and the retailer gets more. And best of
all, the consumer's expectations are met by an affordable system designed
to play today's and tomorrow's games.
Jon Peddie Research can be ound online at www.jonpeddie.com.
Jun 26 - Users Spend About One Quarter
of Each Workday on E-mail. According to a new survey from the
American Management Association, Clearswift, and The ePolicy Institute,
22% of companies have terminated an employee for e-mail infractions
and e-mail users spend about 25% of the workday on e-mail. Over 1,100
US employers participated in the 2003 E-Mail Survey, a follow-up to
an e-mail survey conducted by the American Management Association
and ePolicy Institute in 2001.
The survey in detail revealed that 14% of respondents noted that
their organization has been ordered by a court or regulatory body
to produce employee e-mail an increase of 5% over 2001, when 9% of
respondents reported employee e-mail had been subpoenaed.
The average respondent spends about 107 minutes (1 hour 47 minutes)
on e-mail every day ... about 25% of the workday. While 24% report
spending less than one hour, 31% spend more than two hours and 8%
more than four hours.
Eighty-six percent of respondents agree that e-mail has made them
more efficient, in spite of the fact that 92% receive spam mail at
work. Fully 47% say spam constitutes more than 10% of all their e-mail;
7% report spam represents over 50% of all e-mail received.
According to the compiled data, in 2003, more than half (52%) of
U.S. companies engage in some form of e-mail monitoring of employees
and enforce e-mail policies with discipline or other methods. In fact,
22% of companies have terminated an employee for e-mail infractions.
The use of technology to monitor e-mail and control message content
has increased since 2001, when 24% of respondents reported using software
to conduct key word or key phrase searches of e-mail and/or computer
files. In 2003, over 40% of employers report using software to control
written e-mail content.
Jun 25 - Microsoft Unveils
Windows Mobile 2003 Software for Pocket PCs. Microsoft Corp. today
announced the availability of Windows Mobile™ 2003 software for
Pocket PCs.
Customers can choose among a variety of devices based
on Windows Mobile software, available for purchase today. This new
version of Microsoft® Windows Mobile software enhances the Pocket
PC software experience by including support for easy access to wireless
networks, a powerful digital media experience, and support for developers
building Microsoft .NET services and applications.
Industry partners around the world, including new and
existing Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC manufacturers, mobile operators
and independent software vendors (ISVs), joined Microsoft in the introduction
of this offering. In related news, Microsoft today also announced
the new Windows Mobile brand, a single brand that extends the familiarity
of the Windows® brand, while reflecting the uniqueness of software
for mobile devices.
“Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs creates new opportunities
for hardware, software and wireless companies to partner and deliver
innovative solutions to help improve the way people work and live,”
said Juha Christensen, corporate vice president for the Mobile Devices
Division at Microsoft. “By improving the core elements of Windows
Mobile software, Microsoft has enabled customers to take advantage
of software features that are wireless-ready and easy to use, and
to connect with people and information with a broader range of new
device hardware — and at attractive prices.”
New Devices and Partner
Microsoft is pleased to announce two new manufacturers for the Windows
Mobile platform, Gateway Inc. and JVC Company of America, which will
introduce new Pocket PCs later this year.
Customers can choose among a variety of devices from ASUSTeK Computer
Inc., Dell, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, HP, Toshiba America Information
Systems Inc. and ViewSonic based on Windows Mobile software, available
for purchase today. In addition, Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC devices
will be available soon from existing device manufacturers including
Acer Incorporated, ASUSTeK Computer, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens Computers,
HP, Intermec Technologies Corp., Legend Group Ltd., MiTAC, Panasonic
Computer Solutions Co., Symbol Technologies Inc., Toshiba America
Information Systems, Trimble and ViewSonic.
In conjunction with today’s announcement, Microsoft and Wi-Fi
industry leader T-Mobile HotSpot, along with Boingo Wireless Inc.
and Wayport Inc., announced offers to provide free 30-day access with
new qualifying subscriptions to their Wi-Fi services to U.S. customers
who purchase a Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC.
“T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi promise of wireless broadband solutions
where you already go means our customers can check e-mail, download
large files or access corporate intranets at T-1 speeds,” said
Joe Sims, vice president and general manager of T-Mobile HotSpot.
“T-Mobile is excited to work with Microsoft to launch Windows
Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs. We believe that this software
will further enhance our customer’s user experience.”
Pocket PC, Refined
This latest version of Windows Mobile improves the core elements
of the Pocket PC software through enhancements in wireless connectivity,
easy navigation and rapid application development support as well
as more entertainment options. Enhancements include these:
- Enables easy connection to a variety of wireless networks. Automatically
detects and easily connects to Wi-Fi networks and personal area networks
via native support for Bluetooth®
- Delivers a great messaging and e-mail experience. Enables always-up-to-date
e-mail synchronisation through integration with the upcoming Microsoft
Exchange Server 2003 and encourages further hardware innovation with
native support for integrated keyboard devices
- Expands the digital media experience. Offers improved mobile experiences
with users’ photos, music and home movies through support of
Windows Media® 9 Series audio and video technology:
-- Pictures. Users can store, edit and display digital photos on their
device.
-- Windows Media Player 9:
--- Provides access to a wider range of high-quality digital media
content (no longer just content formatted for portable devices) over
Wi-Fi networks at speeds of up to 300 Kbps.
--- Enables playback of home movies and digital photo albums created
with Windows Movie Maker 2 or Plus! Photo Story.
--- Supports Plus! Sync & Go, allowing users to synchronise digital
content from the Internet or their PC.
- Encourages platform innovation. Includes integrated support for
the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework, providing an exciting opportunity
for enterprise developers, ISVs and solution providers with a rapid
application development platform for a wide variety of applications
that can take full advantage of Web services and XML
“Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs continue to generate increased
interest from users and developers alike,” said Laura Rippy,
chief executive of Handango. “The community of Windows Mobile
developers selling Pocket PC applications has nearly doubled and is
up 95 percent in the first quarter of 2003 over the first quarter
of 2002, and Pocket PC software sales are up over 67 percent from
the first quarter of 2002.”
More information about the new lineup of Windows Mobile-based Pocket
PCs is available at www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/windowsmobile2003launch/default.asp.
Jun 25 - Bill Gates Speaks Out Against
Spam. In the latest in a series of Executive E-Mails to Microsoft
customers, Bill Gates details Microsoft's commitment to combatting
spam and a vision for how industry, government and individual e-mail
users can join to reach a spam-free future.
To read the letter, visit Microsoft's
web site.
Jun 25 - Toshiba Launches New PDAs Powered
by Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Software. Toshiba's Computer
Systems Group (CSG) today announced the Pocket PC e750/755 Series
and e350/e355 Series personal digital assistants (PDAs) powered by
the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs delivering
enhanced wireless connectivity and multimedia applications for business
users and consumers.
The Pocket PC e350/e355 Series is now available for $299 and the
wireless-enabled Pocket PC e750/e755 Series is available for $499.
With the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs, Toshiba's
new PDAs offer greater mobility and productivity with new media and
entertainment applications including Microsoft Windows Media Player
9 for Windows Mobile 2003, improved e-mail synchronization and Wi-Fi(R)
(IEEE 802.11b) wireless connectivity detection for convenient access
to a wireless-enabled public hotspot. Familiar productivity applications
such as Pocket Word, Pocket Excel and Pocket Outlook are also included.
"Toshiba continues to diversify its PDA offerings with features
for the corporate and consumer environment including wireless connectivity,
increased expansion capabilities and ample storage capacity,"
said Oscar Koenders, vice president of product marketing and worldwide
product planning. "Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software for
Pocket PCs enhances the PDA experience by incorporating better ways
to connect wirelessly and deliver new multimedia applications for
the mobile user."
"Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs is an exciting
new platform designed to keep PDA users connected and allow them to
enjoy new media applications, whether they're at the office or on
the road," said Juha Christensen, corporate vice president of
the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. "Toshiba has embraced
the benefits of Windows Mobile 2003 software with its new handheld
devices, allowing its customers to maximize the full potential of
the PDA as a mobile productivity tool."
Pocket PC e750/e755 Series
Priced at only $499 and designed for the business user and professional
consumer, the Pocket PC e750/e755 Series features integrated Wi-Fi
(IEEE 802.11b) wireless connectivity allowing users to check e-mail
and view files from a public hotspot or other wireless locations.
Complementing Toshiba's drive to develop new voice and data applications
with Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) wireless technology, the Pocket PC e750/e755
Series includes voice over IP (VoIP) capabilities through an optional
hands-free headset via the integrated headphone/microphone jack (requires
additional software, and Internet connectivity).
Maximizing storage management and expansion functionality, the Pocket
PC e750/e755 Series offers 96MB of memory, 32MB of which is dedicated
NAND flash memory. Files, critical applications or programs stored
in the NAND flash memory will remain intact even if the battery of
the device runs down or needs to be reset. Integrated CompactFlash(R)
II and Secure Digital(TM) (SD) expansion slots are also included for
additional storage and data transfer capabilities.
Pocket PC e350/e355 Series
The Pocket PC e350/e355 Series allows users to do more than just
simple calendar and address book functionality to manage their busy
lifestyle. Combined with the Bluetooth(TM) native support of the Microsoft
Windows Mobile 2003 software and the built-in SD expansion slot, users
can exchange information wirelessly (via the optional Bluetooth SD
card) with other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Pocket PC e350/e355 Series
customers can also conveniently transfer digital images, video and
audio files from any SD-equipped device for added flexibility.
Priced at only $299, the Pocket PC e350/e355 Series is one of the
thinnest PDAs in the industry and weighs a mere 5.2 ounces so mobility
is never compromised. Adding style with productivity, the new PDA
is packaged in an attractive premium graphite casing, designed for
the active lifestyle.
Convenient Upgrade to Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Software for
Pocket PCs
Toshiba Pocket PC e750/e755 Series customers can take advantage of
the benefits of Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket
PCs via a technology upgrade program. Users who purchased a Pocket
PC e750/e755 Series device from May 23, 2003-Sept. 23, 2003 are eligible
to upgrade to the new operating system for free plus $15.99 for shipping
and handling.
Customers who purchased the Pocket PC e750/e755 Series with the Pocket
PC 2002 operating system before May 23, 2003 will be able to upgrade
to Windows Mobile 2003 for $50 (shipping and handling included). Full
program details can be found by visiting www.shoptoshiba.com.
Jun 25 - HP Unveils Its Broadest Range
of Handhelds Ever. HP (NYSE:HPQ) today expanded the award-winning
HP iPAQ Pocket PC product line to offer customers a full range of
handheld computing options. New models include the HP iPAQ h2210,
the smallest dual slot pocket PC; the HP iPAQ Pocket PC h1940, a slim,
value-priced pocket PC; and the HP iPAQ h5150 and h5550, which include
a 128-MB RAM power machine.
HP iPAQ Pocket PCs, the No. 1 selling Pocket PC family worldwide,
include common features such as a brilliant and vivid transflective
display, a secure digital input/output (SDIO) expansion slot allowing
for additional storage and capability, removable batteries, mobile
printing software, and the company's exclusive iPAQ Image Viewer for
viewing images and creating slide shows.
Integrated Bluetooth(TM) wireless capability is offered across the
entire iPAQ Pocket PC family announced today, allowing connectivity
to Bluetooth notebook PCs, printers and accessories, as well as access
to remote data when combined with a Bluetooth enabled phone. Bluetooth
enables users to effortlessly synchronize and share data through their
own personal area networks.
Mobile printing software shipping with the new models allows customers
to take advantage of the integrated Bluetooth capability to wirelessly
print e-mail attachments, documents or photos conveniently from the
Pocket PC to a Bluetooth enabled HP printer.
The HP iPAQ Pocket PC's innovative screen technology continues in
the new models. The transflective liquid crystal display combines
the rich color saturation and high contrast of a backlit TFT display,
while remaining viewable outdoors in bright sunlight. All of these
models are powered by Microsoft Windows(R) Mobile 2003 software for
Pocket PC.
"By creating feature-rich handhelds for every need and every
budget, HP continues to drive industry-leading innovation with industry-leading
value," said Ted Clark, vice president handhelds, mobile computing
group, HP Personal Systems Group. "The combination of wireless
connectivity and expandability across the HP iPAQ Pocket PC product
line empowers our customers to be more productive at home, at work
or on the go."
HP iPAQ h2210 -- the Smallest Dual Slot Pocket PC Available
Designed for the mobile professional, the HP iPAQ h2210 is the smallest
Pocket PC on the market to include dual slot expansion (Compact Flash
Type II and Secure Digital). This offers customers the ability to
increase data storage, play more music and view more photos while
extending the capability of the device based on the card that best
fits their needs.
The h2210's small, sleek design includes integrated Bluetooth wireless
capability, enabling wireless synchronization and data sharing through
a personal area network.
Also included in the h2210 is the Nevo universal remote control software,
allowing users to control all their home and office audio and video
equipment with a single device.
The device comes with 64 MB of RAM (56 MB of main memory) and the
400-MHz Intel(R) X-Scale PXA255 applications processor for accelerated
multimedia and security. A slipcase and desktop cradle with an extra
battery slot for charging is included with the device, and a variety
of optional accessories are available including extra styli, a spare
lithium-ion battery, auto adapter and a variety of cases. Its estimated
street price is $399.
Slim and Affordable HP iPAQ Pocket PC h1940
The iPAQ Pocket PC h1940 offers consumers and mobile professionals
integrated expansion and wireless connectivity at a low estimated
price of $299.
Building on the success of the h1910, the h1940 has a similar slim
and sleek design and includes a dazzling color display, SDIO and integrated
Bluetooth wireless capability. The h1940 weighs a mere 4.37 ounces
and easily slips into a shirt pocket or purse.
The SDIO expansion slot allows customers to do even more with the
iPAQ Pocket PC by adding not only memory cards but also wireless cards,
digital cameras and other features in the future.
The h1940 includes 64 MB of RAM (56 MB of main memory) and the Samsung
S3C2410 processor (266-MHz processor). A synchronization cable is
included with the device, and a variety of optional accessories are
available including a USB cradle with an extra battery slot for charging,
extra styli, a spare lithium-ion battery, auto adapter and a variety
of cases. Street price varies by country. Estimated U.S. pricing for
the h1940 is $299.
Versatile and Expandable HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5150 and h5550
The HP iPAQ Pocket PC h5150 and h5550 offer small- and medium-sized
businesses and enterprise customers a powerful and expandable option
for their handheld computing needs.
Building on the success of the h5450 model introduced in 2002, the
h5150 and h5550 offer a stable platform that allows customers to get
more from their iPAQ Pocket PC by adding expansion packs with additional
capabilities. Both models include a removable slim battery (1250mAh)
and integrated Bluetooth capability.
The h5550 is the first Pocket PC to include an unparalleled 128 MB
of RAM as well as integrated biometrics security and wireless LAN
network access (802.11b). This model also includes up to 17 MB of
iPAQ File Store (non-volatile flash storage). Its estimated street
price is $649.
Through wireless LAN networks, the h5550 and h5150 allow access to
information when connected to a corporate network or wireless "hotspot,"
making it an ideal component of any mobile business solution. (The
h5150 requires the addition of a wireless LAN card for wireless access.)
When combined with a Bluetooth enabled phone, this allows access to
remote data while waiting for a flight, meeting with customers or
sitting in a hotel.
A thermal biometric fingerprint reader on the h5550 helps to ensure
that critical data is protected from unauthorized access by authenticating
the owner's unique fingerprint, which can then be combined with a
personal identification number, password or both.
The h5150 allows additional expansion and, like the other models
announced today, incorporates Bluetooth wireless technology so customers
can exchange and print documents and photos without the need for a
cable or specific print drivers. Users can also choose to add an SDIO
wireless LAN card or the HP PC Card Expansion Pack Plus and a wireless
LAN card to connect to high-speed wireless LAN networks. This model
includes 64 MB of RAM and up to 4 MB of iPAQ File Store. Its estimated
street price is $549.
The h5150 and 5550 also incorporate a wide range of applications
such as the iPAQ Backup utility and iPAQ Task Manager. These models
feature a 400-MHz Intel X-Scale PXA255 processor for accelerated multimedia
and security. A desktop cradle and holster case is included with the
device, and a variety of optional accessories are available including
slim and extended removable batteries, extra styli, auto adapter and
a variety of cases.
To further expand the capabilities of the HP iPAQ Pocket PC, various
solutions and tools are available at the HP iPAQ Pocket PC Solutions
Catalog Web site, http://www.hp.com/go/ipaqsolutions.
More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
Jun 25 - ATI's New Chipsets Enable Entry-Level
Gaming PCs and Notebooks. In a breakthrough that will deliver
true gaming performance to value PC and notebook users, ATI Technologies
Inc. (Nasdaq:ATYT) (TSX:ATY) today unveiled a powerful new family
of IGPs (integrated graphics processors), RADEON(TM) 9100 IGP and
MOBILITY(TM) RADEON(TM) 9100 IGP.
The competitively-priced, high performance chipsets leverage ATI's
award-winning desktop and mobile technology to deliver better visual
effects and up to six times the graphics performance of competing
solutions.
RADEON 9100 IGP and MOBILITY RADEON 9100 IGP redefine integrated
graphics by delivering breathtaking graphics performance to value
and mainstream PC and notebook PC users -- up to six times the performance
of the fastest competitors in tests using the industry-standard 3DMark03
benchmark from Futuremark.
In a breakthrough for entry-level users, RADEON 9100 IGP and MOBILITY
RADEON 9100 IGP will for the first time enable them to see the spectacular
visual effects implemented in the latest games, thanks to the inclusion
of advanced programmable pixel shading technology, a first for the
chipset industry.
"Dramatic growth in the size of the gaming population, coupled
with the increasing complexity of PC games and the increased popularity
of value PC systems has created a void where regular and casual gamers
want to play the latest games but don't have the graphics technology
to do so," said Dr. Jon Peddie, President, Jon Peddie Research,
the leading multimedia and graphics market research firm.
"This has created a new segmentation in the value category, the
entry-level gaming PC. With RADEON 9100 IGP and MOBILITY RADEON 9100
IGP," Peddie added, "ATI is uniquely positioned to offer
a cost-effective solution that addresses this problem, and provides
business and consumer PC and notebook users with the graphics performance
and features they've been looking for in the value space."
"Decent visual quality, sophisticated graphics features, and
high performance graphics used to be the exclusive preserve of the
high-end PC or notebook user," said Philip Eisler, VP and General
Manager, Integrated and Mobile Business Unit, ATI Technologies Inc.
"With the
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