Konami's Early Fighter, Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Joins 3DS Virtual Console In Japan

This week, Konami’s Yie Ar Kung Fu joins the Virtual Console line-up on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS in Japan.

Yie Ar Kung-Fu is an early fighting game released in 1985, where the goal is to defeat all of your opponents using the protagonist. You play the game by holding a direction along with an attack button, which allows for a variety of moves.

The game will be available on the 3DS Virtual Console in Japan on June 19th for 500 yen.

Read more stories about Nintendo 3DS & Nintendo eShop & Yie Ar Kung-Fu on Siliconera.

God of War Ascension in doppia limited edition

God of War: Ascension raddoppia le limited ed offre due esclusivi pacchetti: Special e Collector’s Edition per lo spartano per eccellenza.

God of War: Ascension è senza ombra di dubbio uno dei titoli più attesi e richiesti dall’utenza PlayStation 3, il ritorno di Kratos dopo la splendida chiusura della trilogia avvenuta col terzo capitolo rilasciato esattamente il 17 marzo 2010 in Europa. Quasi a tre anni di distanza, giorno 12 marzo 2013 (profezia Maya permettendo) Kratos tornerà sul monolite casalingo Sony per stupire nuovamente con le sue cruente gesta eroiche (e antieroiche).

Il ritorno di uno dei simboli (vedi PlayStation Battle All Star) del videogioco secondo PlayStation, non poteva avvenire senza almeno due limited edition previste per il mercato. Si chiameranno Special Edition e Collector’s Edition ed includeranno extra succulenti per i fan di God of War.

La Special sarà meno ricca di contenuti ma includerà comunque il gioco dentro una custodia metallica, la colonna sonora ufficiale in formato digitale, un tema dinamico di Ascension per PS3 e dei bonus per gli avatar del PSN, inoltre un extra di punti XP doppi per la modalità multiplayer.

D’altra parte la Collector’s Edition gode di ulteriori aggiunte, tra cui un’action figure da 8 pollici di Kratos, la steelbook per il gioco, la colonna sonora in versione digitale, un tema dinamico PS3 e pacchetto personalizzazione avatar ed inoltre diversi extra per il multiplayer: punti esperienza doppi, DLC pass per sbloccare tutti i futuri DLC del gioco a costo zero ed infine il Mythological Heroes Multiplayer Pack, un pacchetto unico che sarà acquistabile anche singolarmente e che comprenderà un set di quattro armature appartenenti a grandi eroei ellenici quali, Ulisse, Achille, Perseo e Orione.

Il prezzo della Collector’s Edition sarà di circa 79,99 dollari. Le novità su God of War: Ascension non finiscono qui però, proprio il director del gioco, Todd Papy, ha promesso grandi novità sul gioco per domani, 15 ottobre 2012.

Fonte: PlayStation Blog ufficiale 

God of War: Ascension in doppia limited edition, 5.0 out of 5 based on 6 ratings

Classifiche di vendita dal 29 Dicembre 2012 al 5 Gennaio 2013

F [1.9.22_1171]Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Classifica Software Europea

Ed eccoci finalmente sbarcare nel nuovo anno. Nonostante si dovrebbero buttare via le cose vecchie, vediamo che anche nel 2013 certe cose non cambiano. Ed eccolo di nuovo lì, Call of Duty: Black Ops II per PS3 che si gode il primo posto, mentre la versione X360 cala vertiginosamente alla sesta posizione. Il podio è occupato, oltre che da Black Ops II, da FIFA 13, che torna nelle posizioni alte con entrambe le versioni. Far Cry 3 abbandona il podio, ma non si allontana molto. Con grande sorpresa vediamo riapparire in classifica Need for Speed: Most Wanted in versione PS3:

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (PS3)FIFA 13 (PS3)FIFA 13 (X360)Far Cry 3 (X360)Far Cry (PS3)Call of Duty: Black Ops II (X360)Just Dance 4 (Wii)Halo 4 (X360)Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PS3)Assassin’s Creed III (PS3)

Classifica Software Giapponese

Anche in Giappone la prima posizione resta invariata, con Animal Crossing: New Leaf ben deciso a rimanere con la corona in testa, mentre Mario fa una tripletta conquistando la seconda, la terza e la quarta posizione. Nintendo Land continua a salire posizionandosi in sesta posizione, mentre Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 esce dalla classifica. Molto bene anche per Inazuma Eleven Go 2: Chrono Stone:

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)Inazuma Eleven Go 2: Chrono Stone (3DS)Nintendo Land (Wii U)One Piece: Romance Dawn – Bouken no Yoake (PSP)Fantasy Life (PSP)Magician’s Quest: Town of Magic (3DS)Tousouchuu: Shijou Saikyou no Hunter-Tachi Kara Nigekire! (3DS)

Classifica Globale Hardware

Per questa settimana i grani cambiamenti sono tutti nella parte bassa della classifica. vediamo infatti le console portatile di Sony riprendersi dal fondo e raggiungere la quinta e la sesta posizione, superando addirittura la Wii che cala alla settima posizione. Sempre in fondo alla classifica il povero DS, mentre il suo fratello in tre dimensioni resta sempre in prima posizione:

3DSPlayStation 3XBOX 360Wii UPSPPS VitaWiiDS

Parecchio altalenanti le classifiche, ma sempre dalla seconda posizione in poi. Il dominio di certi titoli è ormai evidente, ma riusciranno a superare le prossime uscite? In Giappone la Wii U rimane l’unica console casalinga ad avere titoli in classifica, mentre il 3DS occupa l’intero podio. Avendo abusato dei soliti tioli, il trailer di chiusura sarà dedicato al secondo e terzo classificato della classifica europa: FIFA 13

F [1.9.22_1171]Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)Classifiche di vendita dal 29 Dicembre 2012 al 5 Gennaio 2013, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

Samsung Stealth spotted at FCC

Samsung unveiled their first 4G LTE phone at CES in January, which was the temporary codename then, though it will have a formal name when it goes on retail. Recently, a 4G Samsung handset was spotted at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), called Samsung Stealth, model SCH-I510.

From the FCC documentation, this phone and the Samsung 4G LTE look different and it is likely both are not one and the same. Earlier news reports stated that the Samsung I510 will feature a 4.3-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display (800x480 resolution), 8-megapixel rear camera, supports Wi-Fi and runs Android 2.2 Froyo mobile operating system. The Samsung SCH-I510 is said to be available in Q2 this year.

Sony brings quot;Cinemagraphy quot; to Android with Motiongraph

Are you looking for something to spice up those boring static photographs that you have in your mobile devices gallery? Well Sony has brought a nice new digital toy for you. Sony Digital Network Applications has recently developed and released a new application that will let you sprinkle bits of fantasy in your pictures.

The name of the app is Motiongraph. To put it simply, it is an application that is designed to create cinemagraphs. To those who are new to the term, cinemagraphs are technically defined as very, very short edited videos that has most or all of its moving visual elements controlled or manipulated in some way. They are in a way similar to a GIF, but the relationship is more of a subtype than that of a synonym. The effects that are brought to cinemagraphs most of the times give the edited images a surreal feel, as they are often given attributes or motion sequences that are usually impossible to do in the real world.

To use the Motiongraph, you first have to use the mobile devices camera to record a very short video of something (2 seconds). Then, you will be given the chance to edit certain elements of the video that you want to move and dont want to move throughout the entire sequence. The final product will be a cinemagraph that is animated or given motion exactly according to your preferences. App usage is mainly divided between the shoot, play/rub and save options. There are also various other lighting or color controls to edit the basic visual properties of the cinemagraph depending on the camera used by your unit.

The Motiongraph app is now available at the Google Play Store (starting December 12, 2012), with a price tag of 104 yen (1.2+ USD).

Source: Androwire (JP)

Razer unleashes ultra-smooth Ironclad gaming mousepad

Razer, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals, today announced the Razer Ironclad elite hard gaming mouse mat - the only metal mat in Razer’s product range built to enhance and optimize the gliding capabilities of your mouse for unparalleled mousing comfort and control.

Equipped with a finely sandblasted surface, the Razer Ironclad minimizes hand discomfort and feels smooth to the touch, allowing for effortless and natural mouse movement over its sleek top. It features just the right amount of friction to deliver the precise targeting you need to eradicate all competition with sharpshooting accuracy without abrasive results.

"The Razer Ironclad stands apart from the pack because it delivers the highest form of comfort and long-lasting performance with its ultra-smooth surface and sturdy metal body," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, President, Razer USA. "We understand the diversity of gamers out there, from ones who demand a large surface area to those who want superior tracking precision. We produced the Razer Ironclad to make winning feel easy, and give every type of gamer the feel, traction and durability that they need to do so."

Made from anodized aluminium, the Razer Ironclad features a robust unibody construction for reinforced strength and extreme durability to withstand the test of time in any gaming environment. Its extra-large surface area catersfor low-sensitivity settings and wide sweeping movements. Gamers can now have a premium combination of both precision and reliability for those kill-or-be-killedmoments in gameplay.

About The Razer Ironclad

The Razer Ironclad combines premium comfort, well-built resilience, and high precision tracking with its ultra-smooth sandblasted surface and extra-wide anodized aluminum body,providing gamers with the ultimate long-lasting hard gaming mouse mat. The non-slip rubber base ensures the mat stays put during the most intense of gaming sessions, and it comes with a carrying case for added mat protection and portability.

Price

US$59.99

Availability

Razerzone - October 2010, Worldwide - November 2010

Product Features

Ultra-smooth sandblasted surface for the best mouse glide comfort and controlAnodized aluminum body for reinforced strength and extended durabilityExtra-large to cater to low-sensitivity gamersCompatible with all miceNon-slip rubber base that stays putProtective carrying case for greater portabilityApproximate size: 320 mm (length) x 270mm (width) x 2.5mm (height)

ViewSonic announces availability of 24-inch, 3D-capable V3D245 monitor in the US

ViewSonic has announced the availability of the new LED-backlit V3D245 monitor which boasts a 24-inch display, along with support for 3D display via the use of NVIDIAs 3D Vision technology.

According to the official press release issued by the company, the new V3D243 3D-capable monitor makes use of a combination of "world-leading LED technology with extraordinary power-saving performance" and is capable of offering a refresh rate of 120Hz, along with an "ultra-fast 2ms video response time", thus "making it ideal for delivering a truly immersive 2D and 3D entertainment and gaming experience". In addition, ViewSonic claims that video-input is achieved via a HDMI port which supports version 1.4 of the HDMI standard, while the 1920x1080 full HD display panel used in the assembly of the V3D243 is capable of achieveing a 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and up to 300 nits of brightness for "great color accuracy and picture detail for unsurpassed 3D image quality".

To top off the package, ViewSonic has also claimed that the V3D243s built-un support for NVIDIA 3D Vision technology allows users "to play more than 550 3D games in full 1080p, 60 fps resolution, view 3D videos and photos, and stream 3D web content" when the monitor is hooked up to a PC which utilizes a supported GeForce graphics card. Alternatively, users can also make use of the built-in HDMI-in port to connect various media devices such as the "latest Blu-ray 3D players" or video game consoles. Last but definitely not least, the company has confirmed that the monitor will also feature an "integrated two-watt SRS Premium Sound audio speakers provides consumers the ultimate multimedia entertainment display".

No information about global availability has been announced at this point of time, although ViewSonic has confirmed that the V3D245 3D monitor, along with the bundled pair of NVIDIA 3D Vision active stereo 3D glasses, will be available for sale in North America come mid-to-late August at the estimated retail price of US$499.

Source: Engadget

Toshiba Cell Chipset Board

Toshiba Corporation today took major steps toward creating a comprehensivedevelopment environment for applications based on the Cell microprocessor withthe announcement of a Cell Chip Set consisting of the new microprocessor and keyperipheral chips, and a Cell Reference Set development platform. The chip setand the reference set will support development of digital consumer products andcommunication equipment that draw on the powerful broadband capabilities of theCell microprocessor.

"Software developers and other customers will be eager to make full use ofCell's unsurpassed multitasking and real-time processing functions," saidTomotaka Saito, General Manager of Broadband System LSI Division, ToshibaCorporation Semiconductor Company. "The Cell Chip Set and Reference Set willsupport them in developing products and applications that reach new levels ofperformance and excitement."

The Cell Chip Set is composed of the Cell processor, a Super Companion Chip—theinterface between Cell and external audio/visual input/output equipment—and apower supply system chip optimized to drive the Cell microprocessor.

The Cell Reference Set development platform consists of a Cell microprocessor,peripheral chips mounted on a printed circuit board with a general-useinterface, peripheral equipment, such as DVD and HDD drives, and coolingequipment required for stable operation, all housed in case. The availablesoftware includes operating systems and middleware and software developmenttools. This combination of hardware and software reduces development costs, cutsturnaround time and simplifies testing.

Toshiba expects to start marketing the chips set and reference set in April 2006or later, once it has assured supply of the component chips and all relateddocumentation.

Toshiba Corporation will showcase the Cell Chip Set and Cell Reference Set, anddemonstrate digital media applications on the Cell Reference Set at the Toshibabooth of CEATEC JAPAN 2005, from October 4 to October 8 at Makuhari Messe.

Outlines of Cell Chip Set and Cell Reference Set:

Cell Chip Set:

Cell microprocessor: Next generation microprocessor jointly developed by IBM,Sony Group and Toshiba. Adopts a multi-core architecture and offers superhigh-speed data transfer capability. The processor is expected to findapplication in equipment handling data-rich media applications.

Super Companion Chip: Cell's peripheral LSI, which houses audio and imageinterfaces supporting Cell's super high-speed data transfer capability. The chipalso supports a group of interfaces for various systems (video, audioinput/output, digital AV interface, IEEE1394, digital tuner interface) and agroup of interfaces that make it easier to connect standard input/output devices(standard bus interface, high speed network interface and storage deviceinterface.)

Highly efficient power supply system: The supply system is optimized to drivethe Cell processor. Includes controller LSI, TB6814FLG, which makes it possibleto offer high-speed response and high-accuracy required by Cell. Includesmulti-chip module, TB7003FL, which embeds power device in a small 8mm x 8mmpackage. Realizes small, high-power and high-efficient power supply system whichhas 4 phases of 1MHz high-speed switches.

Cell Reference Set:

Development platform for Cell-based, next generation digital consumer products,
High-speed multi-bit wiring technology and wide variety of interfaces thatsupports broadband system architecture
Linux and ITRON are both provided on the hypervisor OS that manages hardwareresources. This approach facilitates the reuse of application property.
A comprehensive development environment including the Eclipse framework basededitor, compiler, debugger, and performance monitor.
An audio-visual application model includes simultaneous multiple digital andanalog broadcast television reception, recording and playback.

DFI LP UT X58-T3 Board Quick Test

VR-zone got hold of some early tests on the DFI LANPARTY UT X58-T3 using the 2.93GHz Core i7 processor. DFI is currently revising the board so that 3-way SLI can perform optimally. The current revision runs in x16/x16/x4 configuration while the new revision will run in x16/x8/x8 configuration.

8 phase power

Debug LED

Reset & Power On/Off Buttons

Easy Replaceable BIOS Chip

Core i7 Stability Test

Panasonic Announces 85 inch Full HD Plasma Display

The size wars is picking up again, this time by Panasonic Japan with its recent announcment on a 85 inch Full HD (1920x1080 resolution) Plasma display.

Intriguing? Perhaps not as it was Panasonic who have developed the world's largest 103-inch plasma display to the market in 2006. So what's so special with this 85 inch display ?

With a thickness of 99mm, Panasonic's 85 inch Full HD plasma display incoporates Panasonic's NeoPDP energy-efficient, double luminance technology.The display will sport a contrast ratio of 40,000:1, max. 2,000,000:15.An overall improvement as compared to the bigger display

The display has a viewing area of 1,889 mm (W) x 1,062 mm (H), weighs about 130kg and boasts a long life of 100,000 hours. Retail price and launch date is not confirmed yet.

Piracy is Good For Business Who Said That Angry Birds, That's Who!

Regardless of the industry you work in, counterfeiting or unauthorized distribution is something youll have to learn to live with. The biggest difference is how you treat the end customer - are you going to punish or educate the customer. While MPAA and RIAA are hell bent on punishing the customer, even when that customer is U.S. Congress, or the actual offices of MPAA and RIAA themselves, there are companies that strive on educating the customer and expanding their own ecosystem to cover counterfeited products as well.

One such example is Rovio Mobile and their Angry Birds franchise. At Midem 2012 conference in Cannes, France, CEO of Rovio Mobile Mikael Hed stepped forward and made a daring statement: "We have some issues with piracy, not only in apps, but also especially in the consumer products. There are tons and tons of merchandise out there, especially in Asia, which are not officially licensed products," continuing with "we could learn a lot from the music industry, and the rather terrible ways the music industry has tried to combat piracy."

Seeing multi-billion dollar companies like Valve, Blizzard as well as music artists actually thriving on changing their business models to protect their own content and yet protect the consumer at the same time is the right way forward. Digital distribution channels created tens of billions of dollars in revenue which did not exist before.
"Already our apps are becoming channels, and we can use that channel to cross-promote - to sell further content," Mikael said. "The content itself has transformed into the channel, and the traditional distribution channels are no longer the kingmakers."

The conclusion of his speech was "Piracy may not be a bad thing: it can get us more business at the end of the day."

The problem with RIAA and MPAA model is ultimately, it is more about the control of the user than the control of who owns the content - given the number of artists who have their own parallel channels of their own content distribution. But the companies like Rovio Mobile can challenge the counterfeiting and piracy, educate the consumer and earn ton of money in the process. Will it account for lost sales - they certainly would. But they will be too busy counting the money earned by customer education.

Powermat aims to expand its reach this year

Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain (February 15, 2010) – Powermat will expand its reach at an ambitious rate of one global market per month through the end of 2010. The bold announcement was made today in support of the unyielding appetite of partners around the world, who have called upon the wireless charging pioneer to access every market that can benefit from wireless energy.

Just four months ago, Powermat launched its premiere product line in the US to great success as consumers flocked to stores with over 750,000 units shipped and widespread sell outs in just the first two months of availability. Having solidified a stronghold on the consumer market, Powermat will now introduce new supportive technology aimed at the OEM. The company will pioneer its new Adaptive ASIC (A²) chip; a breakthrough achieved by miniaturizing Powermat technology to a level that allows for seamless integration into virtually any device. Adaptive ASIC draws on infrastructure already in place by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) as a basis for adapting Powermat wireless capability to fit the need of the OEM rather than the other way around.

The company will also introduce an entirely new line of products in 2010, which offer consumers additional options in both the number of devices they can wirelessly charge as well as the number of ways they can charge them.

Powermat 2010 Product Introductions

Powermat Receivers
The Powermat Powerpak receiver provides seamless integration into virtually any phone by allowing consumers to upgrade to wireless charging with no change to the phone’s ergonomics and design. More than a dozen models from HTC, Blackberry, Nokia, LG, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson will debut by June 2010. Powermat also expands its support of the iPhone 3G/3GS by introducing 2 new models; a silicone case receiver and an extended battery case receiver, which combines the dual benefits of extended battery life and wireless charging.

Powermat Home & Office Mats
Powermat will launch a sleek new line of single, double and triple position mats for home and office use – Powermat 1X, Powermat 2X & Powermat 3X. These new models offer a wider range of price points to a broader audience. Powermat will also offer Prepack Bundles, whereby a charging mat is bundled together with a receiver; such as the Powermat 1X single position mat with iPhone Receiver Case, or Powermat 2X double position mat with Powercube.

Powermat Portable Mat
Embedded into a double position portable mat – Powermat Portable 2X - is a high capacity battery, which allows users to charge their devices without the need to plug into an outlet. The mat also folds into a sleek carrying case for easy portability and comes complete with a set of international plugs.

Powermat Netbook Mat
The Powermat 3X Netbook is a complete charging solution that simultaneously charges both a netbook and 2 additional low power devices such as phones, music players, Bluetooth headsets, eBooks and more. Since Netbooks are also coveted for their easy portability, the Powermat Netbook mat folds into a carrying case to maintain that convenience.

Powermat Car Charger
Powermat extends its reach to motorists by introducing the Powermat Car Charger, which eliminates the constant need to plug and unplug when entering and exiting a car. The Powermat Car Charger wirelessly charges hundreds of devices while travelling on the road with a simple Drop & Charge.

Prolimatech Unleashes First VGA Cooler

MK-13

Prolimatech, well-known for its Megahalems line of high performance CPU coolers, has released the MK-13 VGA cooler.










MK-13 with Accessories


MK-13 Poster


Measuring 205 x 43.5 x 99.87mm and weighing 555g, the nickel plated cooler has six copper heatpipes, a copper base and supports upto four 120mm fans. Representing Prolimatech’s first foray into highperformance GPU coolers, the MK-13 looks impressive and features theOmniMount Retention system, which makes it fully compatible with allsingle-GPU graphics cards (e.g. ATI Radeon HD X1000/2000/3000/4000/5000series, and NVIDIA GeForce 6/7/8/9/200 series). Bundled with allnecessary mountings and a syringe of Prolimatech thermal compound, theMK-13 VGA cooler is can be purchased from major retailers and e-tailersat a MSRP of 49.90 EUR in January 2010.

News via [Caseandcooling]

Japan's sumo wrestlers grapple with Apple's iPad

Enlarge

After years of fat-fingered struggles to type emails and text messages on tiny mobile phone keypads, Japan's sumo wrestlers have been given Apple's iPad to pound with their jumbo-sized digits.

With the sport's reputation tarnished by recent scandals, the Japan Sumo Association is distributing about 60 iPads among all the 51 training stables and top association officials from this week to help improve communication.

And it's a giant leap for a super-sized sport that has until now relied on old-school modes of telephone and fax machines.

"It seems rather easy to use," association chief Hanaregoma said following a brief training session on the popular tablet gadget. "Sending emails was very easy."

A digital novice himself, the 62-year-old former wrestler admitted that while he can read incoming text messages on his mobile phone, he doesn't know how to write replies and does not usually use a computer.

But "time flies if you play with this", he said of the Apple gadget.

The

Judge hand-picked jurors for Apple vs. Samsung trial

Jury duties are usually not very interesting, but in the case of Apple vs. Samsung, jury duty is so important that presiding Judge Lucy Koh hand-picked the jurors to prevent biasness.

Judge Koh questioned potential jurors about various topics including what were their choices of phones, how the economic downturn affected them, experiences with the legal system, and connections to Apple, Samsung, or Google.

A Google employee was excused, and so was an Apple employee who said that he hoped his employer will win the case. Additionally, another person was excused because he felt that the Apple vs. Samsung case was similar to the past Apple vs. Microsoft case.

"In my mind this is practically the exact same thing, but now just dealing with slightly different technology," he said.

The case deals with patents (among other things), so a man with over 120 patents to his name was also eliminated.

Apple already won two early victories by obtaining bans on the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and a pretrial ban on the Galaxy Nexus in the U.S. The trial is expected to last at least one month.

Source: Reuters

Intel Mobile Processors Pricing Updated

The first quad-core mobile part, the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 for Montevina Platform will come along in Q3 for $ 1038. Intel has also added two new Celeron processors; Celeron 585 and 575 based on the older 65nm Merom core for the Montevina Value Platform. Lastly, the Atom N270 (1.66GHz/533FSB) for Basic Notebook Platform will arrive in Q2 for S$ 44.

Microsoft and Samsung brings Surface to Southeast Asia

Today, Samsung Asia launched the next generation Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface which claims to feature PixelSense technology. The Pixelsense technology allows the LCD panels to "see" (viatransistors embedded within the pixels which can sense Infrared) and respond to touch and objects without the use of cameras. The SUR40featuresa slim 4-inch profile, a40-inch Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) LCD LED-backlit panel with Gorilla glass for superb durability, and supports up to 50 points of contact at one time. It can connect to a wide range of peripherals including barcode scanners, cameras and printers via Wi-Fi (802.11n), Bluetooth or Ethernet connectivity for expansion.

Microsoft Surface partners Object Consulting, NeoProducts and aZaas were also at todays event to demonstrate how users can maximise the Samsung SUR40 for a fully connected experience. Object Consulting demonstrated their travel and museum app based in Australia, while aZaas showcased a golf app for members to login, managegolf booking,upload their scores etc. NeoProducts showcased a customized SUR40 (above) which allow users to choose and purchase photobook, and customize to their requirement. According to NeoProducts, Fujifilm have plans to roll-out the SUR40 to customers in Australia, Europe and other countries in the next few months; for Singapore, it would be early next year.

Consumer brands and other technology partners include Fujifilm, Le Metier de Beaute and Industrial Color, have plans to use the Samsung SUR40 to supportretail scenarious, professional tools and marketing efforts.Do note that the Samsung SUR40isnt designed formainstream consumers, but companies who are looking to provide immersive experience to their customers. The Samsung SUR40 is priced at an estimated US$11,960for only the display, and US$12,590 for the display with matching stand.You can visit www.samsunglfd.com/solution/sur40.do for moredetails.

Industry's First 'Smart' SD Memory Card

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic brand products, has developed the industry’s first SD Memory Card with contactless smart card capabilities. Called smartSD Card, the new SD Memory Card combines the convenience of contactless data communication capabilities with large storage capacity and high security. The company will position the smartSD Card as key to realizing the "ubiquitous network society" and will strive to create new business opportunities not only in the device sector but also in the system and solution service sectors. Sample shipments of the smartSD Cards will commence in December 2004. Commercial shipments are expected to follow in the fall of 2005.

_______________________________________________________________
About SD cards:
A Secure Digital (SD) card is a tiny memory card used to make storage portable among various devices, such as car navigation systems, cellular phones, eBooks, PDAs, smartphones, digital cameras, music players, camcorders, and personal computers. An SD card features a high data transfer rate and low battery consumption, both primary considerations for portable devices. It uses flash memory to provide nonvolatile storage, which means that a power source is not required to retain stored data.
_______________________________________________________________
Smart cards are rapidly expanding into many new markets including finance, transportation, distribution, industry and government administrations and have been introduced in a wide variety of applications such as transport ticket payments, access control, electronic money and credit cards. In 2003, some 51 million smart cards were issued in Japan and the number is expected to rise to 340 million by 2010. Meanwhile, since the introduction of the SD Memory Card in July 2000, 220 makers have announced over 2,600 SD Memory Card-compatible products and approximately 41 million SD Memory Cards were sold in 2003, attaining number one global market share in the memory card industry.

As smart cards become more convenient, the need for greater data capacity and high security has increased. The smartSD Card combines the advanced copyright protection, portability, and easy connectivity of the SD Memory Card with the convenience of a contactless smart card, allowing the card to send/receive large amounts of data at high speed and with high security, thereby supporting a variety of new applications. The smart card in the smartSD Card uses non-volatile FeRAM (ferroelectric RAM), which enables high-speed data writing, five times faster than conventional EEPROM-based smart cards. The large-capacity flash memory in the smartSD Card can be used as an extra storage area for the smart card module and the stored data is protected by cipher technology. The secured extended memory also transfers data at the rate of about 600 Kbytes per second.

Offering large secure storage, authentication and contactless data communication capabilities, the new type of SD Memory Card can be used for a wider variety of smart-card applications. Mr. Masaki Akiyama, President, Panasonic System Solutions Company, said, “Our hope is to create new businesses deriving from the special features of the smartSD Card. These include corporate solutions dealing with information leakage prevention, mobile service solutions dealing with content distribution and home service businesses dealing with content distribution for home AV equipment. We will continue to offer new secure services in the broadening SD world to make our daily lives more convenient and safe.”

Panasonic will exhibit and demonstrate new applications using the smartSD Card at CEATEC Japan (October 5 to 9, 2004).

Lenovo N100 Widescreen Notebook PC

Lenovo today announced the company's first Lenovo-branded notebook PC tofeature Intel Core 2 Duo, the Lenovo N100 widescreen notebook PC.Featuring such innovations in PC technology as next-generation WiFiconnectivity, enhanced multimedia features, the latest Intel(r) Core(tm)2 Duoprocessor, Vista Premium-ready capabilities and industry-leading system support,the Lenovo N100 is a notebook PC engineered specifically for small businesscustomers.

The Lenovo N100 includes the latest in wireless and multimedia features forenhanced PC connectivity and an improved viewing experience. Featuring "MultipleIn/Multiple Out" (MIMO), the next-generation WiFi technology based on 802.11nstandards, the N100 enables faster connectivity and greater wireless range thanPCs set with previous standards. The N100 is also equipped with a 15.4-inch (1)VibrantView display that delivers sharp contrast, crisp images, increased colordepth and wider viewing angles. VibrantView also optimizes the multimediaexperience by enabling users to view high-end graphic and video content in lowlylit environments.

"The new Lenovo N100 offers small business customers better, faster connectivityand performance while delivering the reliability, ease of use and value ourcustomers expect," said Marc Godin, vice president of worldwide notebookmarketing, Lenovo. "With the increased performance of Intel's latest processors,better wireless connectivity and Vista upgradeability, the new N100 combinesgreat value and the latest features to give our customers a worry-free computingexperience."

For power-efficient mobile dual-core performance, the N100 includes the latestIntel CoreTM2 Duo (64-bit) and Intel Celeron M processors. This technology helpssmall business customers, by allowing them to leverage the power of 64-bittechnology to manage heavier applications and experience greater multimediaperformance.

The Lenovo N100 offers full Vista-capable support and select models will beVista Premium ready. The N100 15.4-inch wide notebook PC also offers the NVIDIAGeForce Go 7300 with either 64Mbps or 128Mbps in select models to drive high-endgraphics performance.

The Lenovo N100 also includes Lenovo Care productivity tools that help automatemany routine security and maintenance tasks. Lenovo Care tools include

+ A one-button system recovery to help users diagnose, get help, and recoversystems to a previously saved state following catastrophic software failurescaused by today's viruses and malware.

+ Automatic updates that download and install critical updates for Lenovosoftware on a user-configured schedule to help keep the system operating at peakperformance.

+ Easy connectivity for simple wired or wireless set up for home office, officeand leisure connections.(2)

Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo N100 will be available in Singapore from 1 October. Prices for theLenovo N100 start at S$ 1,799.

Launch of New Coloud Headphones

2009 marks the 70th Anniversary of MARVEL Comics and the world greatest heroes and most feared villains look as Marvelous as ever. Just thinking that it's been that long since Martin Goodman and StanLee sat down to make timeless characters like Human Torch and Captain America makes you wonder how many times the world has actually been saved.

COLOUD MARVEL COLLECTION

Available in: MARVEL HULK, MARVEL IRON MAN, MARVEL X-MEN RETRO (available in June 2010), MARVEL PUNISHER and MARVEL WOLVERINE

The 25 May1977 theatrical debut of Star Wars - on a scant 32 screens across America - was destined to change the face of cinema forever. An instant classic and a unparalleled box office success, the rousing "space opera" was equal parts fairy tale, western, 1930s serial and special effects extravaganza, with roots in mythologies from cultures around the world. May the Force be with you.

COLOUD STAR WARS COLLECTION

Available in: STAR WARS DARTH VADER (available in June 2010), STAR WARS LIGHTSPEED and STARWARS REBEL ALLIANCE

After almost three decades of awards, musicals and a worldwide revolution of popular culture, Fame is asking the world to dance once again. When first released, ballet was the only option for dancers who where seeking a professional career. Fame ended a conservative era and changed dance, music and fashion overnight by introducing energy and self-expression to anyone who saw the inspiring kids at New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Get ready to tap in once again, but never forget the Fame ideal: “It's not about how big you make it, it is all about how far you take it.”

COLOUD FAME COLLECTION

Available in: FAME WHITE & GOLD and FAME BLACK & RED

Product Specifications

Driver Unit: 40 mm Power Drivers
Frequency Range: 20 Hz~20001 Hz
Impedance: 32 ohms
1KHz Sensitivity: 120 dB
Max Input Powerspan: 100 mW
Plug: 3.5 mm
Coil Cord: 1.2 m
Size: One size fits all
Warranty: 1-year

Recommended Retail Price: S$79
Available at all Coloud resellers such as TANGS, Robinsons and EpicCentre.

Microsoft holds product launch for 4 hardware products

Alan Chou, senior group marketing manager SEA for Entertainment & Devices division, Microsoft, kickstart the launch and introduces the new hardware products for the day. According to Chou, the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 was on sale at Comex last week and was widely received by public even before its official launch.

Microsoft claims that the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 is the thinnest keyboard ever, and is designed for both notebook and desktop computers. Powered by a AAA battery,it features the company's Comfort Curve layoutthat provides substantial comfort while using, even through long hours.

The keyboard also comes with a portable Bluetooth Number Pad for users who may require it. The Number Pad comes with a carrying case for added portability too.

Japan computer smashes speed record

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A Japanese supercomputer has broken its own record as the world's fastest machine by performing 10 quadrillion calculations per second, its developers announced.

The "K Computer", which has more than 88,000 central

Supercomputers operate roughly 10,000 times faster than ordinary personal computers.

Among other things, supercomputers are used by scientists investigating the effects of seismic waves and tsunamis to predict what effect they may have on buildings.

Ryoji Noyori, president of Riken, the company that jointly developed the machine alongside Fujitsu, said it was a landmark achievement in computing.

"The K Computer is a key national technology that will help lay the foundation for Japan's further progress," he said on Wednesday.

"I am delighted that it has achieved its major objective, demonstrating our strong technical power."

Japan phones built to survive showers, toilet-drops

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Japanese women are so fond of their phones, they even use them in the shower, say manufacturers. This makes waterproofing a must -- also good against rainstorms and accidents while texting on the toilet.

Panasonic and

"Cellphones have become 'must products'."

Panasonic is looking to re-enter the European market after pulling out in 2005 to concentrate on its domestic sales.

"The reason we decided to come back is that there have been a lot of changes in this industry with the introduction of the smartphone," which has become a "global product," he said.

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Dust-proofing meanwhile can appeal to customers such as construction workers, he added.

Fujitsu, which has a fifth of the Japanese

While better known abroad for their laptops, the Japanese giant is now also trying to sell phones to Western markets.

In Barcelona, it showcased its range of phones already available in Japan, as well as a new "quad-core" phone with extra processing power.

Besides being waterproof, the

This technology includes sensors that raise or lower the volume of a call, or even slow down speech if the caller is speaking too quickly.

LG launches Optimus 2X and Optimus Black Android smartphones

James Park, president of LG Southeast Asia, region representative, said that the LG Optimus devices that are introduced today feature worlds first technological and innovative designs that set new standards for the user experience.

Augustine Lim, director for Mobile Communications, LG Electronics Singapore, was there to share the companys aggressive vision to be the leader in the smartphone market.

"Starting from today, LG will set new standards for smartphones in 2011. The range of Optimus devices will ensure that there will always be a device to meet your requirements. From 2009 to 2010, the world has experienced exponential growth in the smartphone segment - approximately 67%. This phenomenon growth rate will also be seen here in Singapore where we expect in excess of 70% adoption of smartphones by the year 2011. This would probably be the highest in the world.," Lim says.

At the event, VR-Zone has the opportunity to hands-on the Optimus Black and Optimus 2X.

LG Optimus Black

The LG Optimus Black features a 4-inch NOVA display that boasts 700 nits brightness. This means even if you areunder the outdoor sun, you will have no problem looking at the screen and navigate the various phone functions you want.

At the top, we find the power button, micro USB and 3.5mm audio connectors. Above the display is the 2-megapixel camera for video calls. The Optimus Black is also extremely slim, measuring approximately 9.2mm.

On the right are the volume controls and a unique "G" button (or Gesture button). Pressing and holding the G button allows user to do various things with the phone by touching or shaking the phone.

Opening the rear cover reveals the 3.7V 1500 mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, the SIM card slot which is beside the rear 5-megapixel camera, and the microSD card slot.

The LG Optimus Black will be available in April 2011 at a recommended retail price of S$768 (before telco subsidies). It is currently running Android 2.2 Froyo, though LG mentioned that it will receive upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread in the near future.

Maxtor SATA Ultra16 Hard Drive Kits

Maxtor today announced that it is shipping its new Maxtor SATA Ultra16(TM)Hard Drive Kits. As the only retail hard drive featuring a 16MB buffer andoffering best-in-class 7200RPM performance(1), Maxtor's new Ultra16 kits areperfect for consumers who want to upgrade their systems for an improvedmultimedia, computing and gaming experience. The new Ultra16 Hard Drive Kitscome with a high-performance Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive and offer capacitiesup to 300GB, allowing consumers to store 5,000 hours of their favorite MP3s,230,000 digital photos (JPEG) or 144 high-definition video games(2).

Maxtor's easy-to-install SATA Ultra16 Hard Drive Kit includes an installationguide with step-by-step instructions, a SATA cable and mounting screws. The kitalso includes Maxtor's popular MaxBlast(TM) installation software, whichpartitions and formats the drive for use, and helps copy files from the old harddrive to the new Maxtor drive. In addition, the new Ultra16 drive offers a150MB/sec interface speed and SATA II features including Native Command Queuing(NCQ) for more intelligent hard drive operation, and runs quietly with a fluiddynamic bearing motor.

"Customers continue to rely on Maxtor's innovative storage solutions. Our retailproduct line, including our award-winning Maxtor OneTouch(TM) external drive,has become the industry benchmark in desktop performance, reliability andbackup," said Stacey Lund, executive director of Maxtor's Consumer ProductsGroup. "We take pride in offering a desktop hard drive solution for everyonefrom extreme gamers to cost-conscious consumers."

PC or Mac users who play intense games, edit digital videos, juggle multipleapplications at once, or who have an older parallel ATA system are perfectcandidates to upgrade their systems to SATA. To upgrade, customers simplyinstall a Maxtor Ultra16 hard drive and a SATA controller card, or install thedrive directly with any new motherboard that supports SATA. Compared to parallelATA, new SATA-enabled PC systems, particularly with NCQ, will show improvedperformance while multithreading or running two streams of multimedia content atthe same time.

Pricing and Availability

Maxtor 250GB and 300GB SATA Ultra16 Hard Drive Kits are available through majordistribution and retail channels. Manufacturer's suggested retail prices are$ 239.95 and $ 279.95 respectively. Parallel ATA Ultra16 Hard Drive Kits will beavailable in Q4 2004.

Fujitsu digitizes sticky-note brainstorming with proprietary digital pen technology

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Fujitsu Laboratories today announced that it has developed an industry-first technology supporting the digitization of results from sticky-note brainstorming sessions by utilizing a digital pen.

Sticky-note

Key Features of the New Technology

1. High-precision note area extraction system

This system automatically extracts sticky-note surface area data from images captured by a digital camera with a high degree of precision. Because the system converts the image to a multi-tiered binary format and hierarchically analyzes the results to locate each sticky-notes' surface area, data can be extracted with high accuracy, regardless of the illumination level.

2. Method for mapping digital pen stroke information with sticky-notes

Since pen stroke information can be recorded using a digital pen, character recognition utilizing that information produces results of a higher precision than traditional handwritten character recognition based on images alone. The system collates image data from the extracted sticky-note surface area and the stroke information from the digital pen. It can also automatically input the results of the handwritten digitization by more than 80% compared with conventional manual input. The results of brainstorming sessions can be easily converted to other formats, including PowerPoint or Excel, enabling utilization in a variety of ways, such as looking back to brainstorming processes at a later date and reorganizing brainstorming data.

IBM introduces new powerful mainframe computers

IBM on Tuesday introduced a new line of mainframe computers the company calls its most powerful and technologically advanced ever.

IBM said its zEnterprise EC12 mainframe server is designed to help clients securely and quickly sift through massive amounts of data, meeting the demands of retail and other clients in the age of "Big Data." Running at 5.5 GHz, IBM said the

"Whether its retail or whether its transportation, making reservations, whatever it is, the system has been built really to help clients do those new types of new-age transactions," said Doug Brown, an IBM vice president of marketing.

IBM says more than $1 billion was spent on research and development for the system at 18 sites worldwide, with most of it in Poughkeepsie, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of its headquarters in Armonk in Westchester County.

The new mainframe is being promoted as one of the most secure systems ever with a tamper-resistant cryptographic co-processor to provide privacy for sensitive transactions.

IBM has been focusing on its software and services divisions, which are more profitable than selling the mainframe computers that made the company famous decades ago. But the sales of those mainframes help feed demand for IBM services.

LunaTik lets you wear your iPod Nano on your wrist

If you are the owner of the stylish Apple iPod Nano, you would probablywant this cool watch kit to make theportable media player into a watch.Launched at the recent COMEX Show in Singapore, and carried by Tat Chuan Acoustic Pte Ltd in Singapore, the LunaTik isa premiumconversion kit designed for those want toconvert their iPod Nanoas a wristwatch. The product comes with a tool kit that lets you screw in the nano into the wristband.The LunaTik case is forged from aircraft-grade aluminium with great durability and the straps are made from compression moulded high-grade silicone rubber with anti-dust coating while the hardware is made from stainless steel. Available in silver, black andred, the LunaTik is retailing at S$129 (with GST).

The other model, which is called TikTok,has asimple snap-in design that allows the user to quickly and securely snap the iPod Nano in and out of the wrist dock. It integrates the media playerand transforms it into a modern multi-function timepiece. TikTok is designed for those who want to easily transition from clip mode to watch mode. Moulded from reinforced PC/ABS, the straps are made from compression moulded high-grade silicone rubber withanti-dust coatingand the hardware is stainless steel. The TikTok isavailable in black or white at S$69 (with GST).