If you own an earlier version of the HP Envy 14 beats edition based on the Intel Core i5 processor, you would have experience the battery indicator issue. This is a well known problem since year end 2010 when the product was released.

In the past, no matter how you charge the battery, Windows 7 64 bits edition will always report a battery life of 1 hr 3 mins. Although most end users aren’t that perturbed with the error as there are third party application BatteryBar that can report the a more accurate value of 3hrs 3 mins.

To correct this issue, HP has just released a BIOS update for the HP Envy 14 beats edition dated DEC 16 2011 which you can download from this page.

I have also update the BIOS on my HP Envy and now it reports the correct battery charge level.  After a full charge, the system reports 2 hrs 50 mins battery power which is quite close to what the software Batterybar reports 3 hrs 3 mins.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-100908-1&cc=sg&dlc=en&lc=en&os=4063&product=4294187&sw_lang=

Details and specifications

File name:		sp55493.exe [1/1, 3.98M]
System requirements:		Operating Systems Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise 64 Edition Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic 64 Edition Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Edition Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 Edition Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Edition
Released:		2011-12-16
Version:		F.26
Compatibility:		Microsoft Windows 7 (64-bit)
Fix/Enhancement:		- Fixes an issue where the battery charge level is not displayed correctly.

HP Envy 14 Spectre sighted at HP Chinese New Year lunch event in Singapore.

This lightweight 14″ Ultrabook was released at CES last week in Las Vegas. Today we see it at the HP event.

Although specifications are sketchy, we checked out the system information of the notebook and found it to be quite similar to the HP Folio13 except the larger screen and comes with Beats Audio. It has a battery life of up to 9 hrs.

The model on display is powered by a 1.6Ghz Intel Core i5-2467M processor with 4GB of RAM running Windows 7 64 bits edition

The HP ENVY14 Spectre, its expected availability is in March 2012.

Below are pictures of the notebook.

Sony Unveils New VAIO S Series of Notebooks for
Mobility and Better Performance
Slim aluminum body and flat design makes it easy to be carried around

(Singapore, 5 July 2011) – Sony has announced a new line-up for the VAIO S Series of notebooks, the perfect balanced mobile notebook that is crafted to be carried around in your daily life. In addition to the current VPCSB model, we are introducing the new VPCSA unit with a thinner and lighter body that provides better performance for your option.

Perfectly Balanced Performance and High Mobility
The new line-up for S Series comes with the Intel® Core™ i7 processor and AMD Radeon™ HD 6630M GPU with 1GB VRAM. The unit has a Performance Switch that supports Dynamic Hybrid Graphic System. This switch allows users to easily choose between SPEED mode for fastest performance or STAMINA mode for a longer battery life.

The S series has six hours of battery life; however, an optional Sheet Battery is available to extend the battery life for up to 12 hours , which is double of the primary battery capability. With this option, you do not have to worry about looking for an electric outlet all day long. There is a dedicated battery charger that you can leave on the desk to charge the Sheet Battery. The optional Sheet Battery is also full-flat which makes the S series easy to be carried around even with the Sheet Battery attached.

Quick Boot and Fast Operation with SSD
The VAIO S Series comes with SSD features Quick Boot and fast operation. With the Quick Boot function, the computer starts up from just 17 seconds from shutdown. This is very convenient for users who do not want to waste any minute at work or study.

Advanced LCD
The new line-up for the S series comes with a 13.3 inch wide screen with 1600 x900 HD resolution. The LCD is anti-reflective glossy finished, which means it is coated with low reflective coating on the surface. This provides a high contrast image, and prevents eyestrain that comes from staring at the monitor for a long time.

Crafted to be Carried
The VPCSA model weighs 1.68 kg and has a 23.3 mm slim body, making it easy to be carried around in a bag. Its aluminum palm rest and magnesium body contribute to its thinness and lightness, while maintaining ruggedness for mobile use.

The hinge is not visible from the front, offering a clean and simple look around the display. A more spacious palm rest and touch pad area contributes to comfortable usability. In addition, the six-sided edge design provides an attractive look no matter what angle the VAIO S Series is being viewed from. This construction succeeds in realising superior robustness and structural integrity.

Usability for smooth operation
To further increase the usability, it comes with backlit keyboard, which makes it easier to type in dimly-lit environments such as during on-board a flight or in a conference room. Isolation keyboard is another user-friendly feature that provides comfortable typing, and touch pad with multi-gesture control supports Flick, Tap and Scroll touch gestures to make it easy to navigate your way around web pages and application screens. This function can be easily enabled or disabled by Fn + F1 key.

The VAIO S Series is preinstalled with various applications and utilities and most of them launch at one touch of a button. Just push the ‘WEB’ button for Quick Web Access, and it allows speedy access to the web browsing. Clicking the ‘VAIO’ button launches Media Gallery that lets you enjoy and organise your photos, videos and music in a fun and easy way. There is also a dedicated ‘ASSIST’ button. It gives one-touch access to VAIO Care which simplifies basic maintenance and troubleshooting tasks to keep your VAIO in good condition. In addition to these instant access buttons, VAIO E Series is also pre-installed with PMB VAIO Edition software to let you easily organize, create and share your photos and videos.

The new line-up for VAIO S Series is available in stores from July onwards.

Sony Introduces Lightweight and Powerful VAIO Z Series for the Professional on the Go
Exceptional hexa-shell design and Sheet Battery provide both mobility and extended charge

(Singapore, 5 July 2011) – Sony today announced the launch of its new VAIO Z Series, an ultimate mobile PC that blends ultra-desirable styling and premium carbon fibre without compromising on its specifications and innovative productivity features. Weighing little over a kilogram, the new VAIO Z Series notebook PC from Sony is created for mobile professionals who demand absolute performance and mobility. In the office or on the road, this class-leading business notebook helps demanding users work more efficiently with the ultimate on-the-move computing power.

Thin, Light, yet Powerful

The all-new VAIO Z Series weighs only 1.165 kg and is extremely thin at a mere 16.65 mm. Its high-resolution full HD display with anti-reflective glossy finish provides an exquisite image with vivid colours covering 96% of the Adobe RGB colour gamut.

The VAIO Z is also equipped with the 2nd generation Intel® Core i7 processor and ultra-high speed 3rd generation SSD RAID, offering remarkably fast operation. Moreover, Quick Boot saves precious time when you’re in a hurry, loading Genuine Windows® 7 Professional in about 14 seconds. But equally important is that all this was packed into a slim profile notebook.

Power Media Dock™

The performance of VAIO Z Series is taken to new extremes by the unique Power Media Dock, a docking station that links with VAIO via an optical cable. The proprietary port can also be used to attach regular USB devices to the VAIO when it is not docked. It comes supplied with a stylish design-match stand, and the Dock is also layout-free.

Featuring high-speed I/O data transfer based on the architecture codenamed ‘Light Peak’, the Power Media Dock boosts graphics performance while providing a wide variety of connectivity options and slot-in Blu-ray Disc™ drive.

With a built-in AMD Radeon™ HD 6650M with 1GB VRAM, this high-performance graphics accelerator assures crisp and smooth results, from 3D CAD to gaming.

The VAIO Z Series can manage up to four displays (including the notebook screen) via HDMI and/or VGA output ports when the Power Media Dock is added. With this configuration, the VAIO Z Series makes a compelling choice for design, finance and science professionals who need to work across several screens simultaneously.

Double your battery life with Sheet Battery

The VAIO Z Series offers 6.5 hours[1] of continuous use. By attaching an optional Sheet Battery, the battery life will be extended to 13 hours, to get more than a day’s work done on a single charge. The Sheet Battery can be charged separately from the PC and added on without removing the internal battery. Its flat shape also makes the VAIO Z Series easy to carry around even when the Sheet Battery is attached.

Hexa-shell design and robustness

The VAIO Z Series takes cutting-edge styling by Sony to new extremes, with a ‘full-flat’ body and display lid that are both crafted in tough, ultra-light carbon fibre. Both the VAIO Z Series and Power Media Dock feature a unique hexagonal edge design, adding a unique look while reinforcing durability.

VAIO Z Series delivers a richer communication experience. Digital noise-cancelling headphones will let you listen to music without distraction. The beam-forming microphone directivity and HD web camera powered by Exmor™ technology ensures clearer communication. Also, its Backlit keyboard automatically illuminates when the sensor detects that the room is too dark. Only the letters glow in the dark due to the use of an inorganic silicon EL material.

The new 2011 VAIO Z Series of ultra-mobile performance notebook PC will be available in Singapore at all Sony authorised retailers from end July 2011.

Check out these videos

Digitimes reports that Taiwanese manufacturers – Acer, ASUS, Japanese Sony and Korea’s Samsung are ready to launch their Chrome OS based notebooks featuring Intel or NVIDIA processors at ComputeX Taipei 2011. They come in 10 to 12 ” screen either with Chrome OS or Dual boot configuration (Dual OS).

The Acer and Asustek’s Chrome OS or dual-OS notebooks will have a chance to see prices below US$300 to separate them from the tablet PC market which has a price range above US$499. Meanwhile, Sony’s new 11.6-inch Chrome OS notebook reportedly will adopt Nvidia’s Tegra 2 processor to help its battery longevity reach above eight hours.

SONY AMD Brazos VAIO Y series – VPCYB16KG notebook sighted

It seems that more and more manufacturers are hopping onto the AMD Brazo’s bandwagaon. The VAIO Y series – VPCYB16KG is powered by AMD Dual Core E-350 at 1.6GHz. It has 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320GB HDD and a large 11.6″ (1366×768) wide screen. The graphics embedded is a Radeon HD 6310 Graphics. It has 1 HDMI out and weighs 1.46Kg. Battery life is up to 4 Hrs.

ASUS Launches Eee PC Netbooks Based On the New AMD Brazos Platform

New Eee PC 1015B and 1215B netbooks offer a new choice for consumers

Singapore, 7^th March 2011 — ASUS has released the ASUS Eee PC 1015B and ASUS 1215B netbooks based on the new AMD Brazos platform. The new platform features either an E-Series or C-Series Fusion Accelerated Processing Unit, better known as an APU, which enable visually rich, next-generation, enhanced PC experiences even on small form factor devices while facilitating extended real-world battery life. They integrate a CPU and GPU on the same die, improving data transfer rates between these components with the added benefit of low power consumption. The new platform also incorporates upgraded graphics technology, compatible with the latest in graphics with DirectX® 11 support integrated in to the chip for superior visuals.

New platform, better performance, same trusted reliability

The performance of the new AMD Fusion APUs enables performance not seen before in previous netbooks. The ASUS 1215B is a 12” netbook featuring the AMD E-350 dual core processor running at 1.6GHz, while the Eee PC 1015B is a 10” version featuring the AMD C-50 dual core processor running at 1.0GHz. The TDP power draw of the processors is 18W and 9W, respectively, making the new Eee PC’s incredibly power efficient for the amount of computing power offered.

Integrated GPU for superior graphics performance

The graphics performance offered on the new Brazos platform is comparable to notebooks with a discrete GPU, yet is extremely energy efficient. The ASUS 1215B and Eee PC 1015B integrate an AMD Radeon™ HD6310 GPU and HD6250 GPU, respectively, and have support for DirectX® 11 for a better gaming and multimedia experience. Both models also feature an HDMI port, enabling full 1080p HD playback to a bigger screen.

AMD and ASUS for all day computing

ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine Technology combined with AMD Fusion APU’s low power consumption features promises to extend computer usage beyond the normal range of battery life. Lasting up to 8.5 hours***, the ASUS 1215B and Eee PC 1015B offer more than enough battery life for users to enjoy all day computing without the need to constantly recharge.

Notebook performance, netbook size

Both the ASUS 1215B and Eee PC 1015B come fully equipped with a multitude of ports and connection methods. The ASUS 1215B come with a USB 3.0* port, which support data transfer rates up to ten times faster than USB 2.0, along with Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi to keep users wirelessly connected. The built-in webcam has a user-friendly camera cover design for additional privacy.

ASUS Eee PC 1215B

ASUS Eee PC 1015B

Availability: IT Show 2011

Gigabyte to showcase Slate PC S1080  at CeBIT 2011

At the CeBIT event next week, Gigabyte will be showcasing their tablet based on the Atom processor.

The S1080 Slate PC is powered by Intel Dual Core Atom N550/570 CPU. It uses a 10.1″ capactive multi touch screen. The hardware comes with a 7mm HDD, DDR3, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, D SUB and SD card slot.It will be powered by Windows 7 Home Premium.  The S1080 weighs 880g.

If you noticed, the specs seems to be a netbook. You are right as no tablets has RJ45 LAN port but it is available on the S1080.

On top of that it has WiFi, BT v3.0 and 3.5G HSDPA support.

SONY announces new Bravia 3D TV, 3D Camcorders, cameras and VAIO Notebooks at INSPRING INNOVATION event held at Marina Bay Sands Singapore
bluetooth 22 Feb 2011

Early today, SONY Singapore launches new product line up for year 2011 for South East Asia market. The product ranged from internet capable Bravia 3D TVs, 3D Camcorders, Compact Cameras and latest Intel 2nd generation core i5/i7 powered desktop replacements and notebooks.

For notebooks, SONY announces 4 VAIO series that caters to different group of users.

new lineup of VAIO notebooks and PCs – the VAIO S, F, C and L series. Ranging from all-in-one PCs to sleek notebooks, the new VAIO lineup provides options to meet different lifestyle needs, be it for use at home or on the go, for business or entertainment.

Featuring a light emitting material that stands out beautifully from the crowd, the VAIO C series is designed to brighten the life of users. Sporting a 16 inch Full HD display that is optimised for comfortable, flicker-less viewing, the VAIO F series brings entertainment to life with crisp and brilliant 3D images. The VAIO S series, with a 13.3 inch screen in a slim full-flat design, makes for the ideal mobile PC. The ultimate all-in-one desktop PC offering superior performance, the VAIO L series features a brand new touch function and a 24 inch full HD panel.

VAIO C – High-end performance and unique light emitting material to energise your life

Designed to brighten the lives of users, the 14 inch[1] and 15.5 inch[2] wide screen VAIO C series uses a rare light emitting material on the top panel and palm rest of the body – allowing the notebook to absorb and reemit light that shines through the edge surfaces. With this unique design feature, users are able to choose colours[3] that will best energise add a dash of style to their lives.

VAIO F – Enjoy advanced 3D technology and HD entertainment

The first 3D-compatible VAIO notebook range, the VAIO F Series uses quality frame sequential panel technology with LED backlit control, rather than passive polarised 3D screens. Paired with the same active shutter glasses developed for BRAVIA 3D TVs, this sophisticated technique ensures sharper, brighter images with a super-fast response time and a wide viewing angle, allowing more users to enjoy 3D entertainment on the VAIO at the same time. Frame sequential technology alternately displays Full HD (1920 x 1080) 3D images for the left and right eye at up a smooth 240fps high frame rate. From movies to sports, games and more, users will be rewarded a more relaxed 3D experience, even after extended viewing periods.

A single touch of the 3D button converts 2D viewing into 3D, giving users more ways to experience their favourite entertainment. Apart from ‘native’ supported 3D content which includes movies on Blu-ray Disc™, games and videos, users can also enjoy 3D images captured with select Cyber-shot™ digital cameras and α DSLR cameras. What’s more, 2D movies on Blu-ray Disc, DVD or personal videos can also be instantly converted to simulated 3D video. For a larger viewing experience, users can effortlessly connect the PC to a compatible HDTV with 3D via its HDMI™ output[4].

VAIO L – Ideal all-in-one PC with full HD touch panel provides fun for the whole family

Beautifully-styled in glossy black, the new VAIO L Series delivers all the power of a premium entertainment PC in a slim, stylish all-in-one design that sits perfectly with any home décor. Featuring a newly developed touch function and superior performance, the VAIO L series comes pack with a performance-enhancing 8GB of memory and a roomy 1TB hard disk, providing generous space for multimedia content.

Users can browse through digital images, videos, games, music tracks or web pages effortlessly with flick, drag and rotate gestures on the 24 inch full HD touch screen. Unique to the VAIO L series, the display has an extended touchable area, with sensors located on the bezel. This technology provides simple access to everyday shortcuts without interrupting the current view on the screen.

The touch panel is also a brilliant tool for children draw and paint with their fingers in a fuss-free way, thanks to the new easy-to-use YouPaint software. The WebCam Message Board allows users to take photos with the built-in camera and add hand-written messages, which can even be sent as email attachments. The VAIO L series supports multi-touch for up to two points, enabling co-creation and sharing of fun and entertainment.  

VAIO S – the ultimate mobile PC with the perfect balance of design and performance

Weighing just 1.71 kg[5] in a 23.9mm slim full-flat body, the VAIO S series features an aluminum palm rest and magnesium body, allowing the notebook to remain thin and light while maintaining the necessary ruggedness for mobile use. To increase mobility, the VAIO S series also comes with an optional extended battery that increases battery life to 12 hours[6], doubling the primary battery capacity of 6 hours[7].  Further optimizing its efficiency, the VAIO S series comes with a convenient Quick Boot feature, starting up the computer just within 17 seconds[8] from shut down.

The new VAIO S Series features a 13.3 inch LCD screen that comes with an anti-reflective glossy finish, providing a high contrast image that is easy on the eyes. The clean, slick, well thought out design of the VAIO S series is not only attractive – it is also key in realising superior robustness and structural integrity to ensure portability for the mobile professional or tech-savvy student.

Packed with convenient features to enrich users’ experience

To best take care of all entertainment and business needs, the new VAIO PCs run on the power-packed Intel® Core™ i7 processor[9]. Additionally, the VAIO F and L series are supported by NVIDIA® GeForce GT 540M GPU, while the VAIO C comes with the latest AMD Radeon™ HD 6630M discrete GPU with 1GB VRAM, while the VAIO S Series is powered by AMD Radeon^TM HD6470. To maximise performance while reducing power consumption, the VAIO C and S series come with the Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System. The VAIO S series even features a performance switch that allows users to easily choose between the SPEED mode for the fastest performance or STAMINA mode to allow the battery to last even longer.  All four new VAIO series also feature the USB3.0m which transfers large size data almost ten times[10] faster than USB2.0.

Plug in headphones in to the VAIO F and L series and users can enjoy music and movies in cinematic surround sound with Dolby® Home Theater v3 – delivering an extra dimension of audio entertainment. For a robust 3D entertainment experience on the VAIO F, the S-force front surround 3D technology creates a virtual 5.1 channel surround sound effect from two Inbox bass-reflex speakers, resulting in powerful, realistic sound that enhances both 3D and 2D content.

The VAIO C, F and L series feature an in-built HD web camera powered by the “Exmor” CMOS sensor, providing high-quality images and allowing users to share photos, videos, or chat at 1.3M pixel HD resolution[11] with noise reduction in low-light situations.

The new VAIO range are equipped with a variety of useful features, such as the ‘WEB’ button for speedy access to the browser without booting up the operation system, a dedicated ‘ASSIST’ button that gives one-touch access to VAIO Care for basic maintenance and troubleshooting and a ‘VAIO’ button which launches Media Gallery for effortless browsing through users’ various media files.

CUPERTINO, California—February 24, 2011—Apple® today updated the industry-leading MacBook® Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime® HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.* 

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”

Starting at $1,199 the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers amazing value and performance in a compact design. The highly portable 13-inch MacBook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications. 

MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s innovative FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone® 4 and the current generation iPod touch®. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac® App Store℠ for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature its gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and 7-hour battery.**

As the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting the standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.*** Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed with recyclable materials.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ’11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

Pricing & Availability
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499. 

Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbookpro.

*Testing conducted by Apple in February 2011 using preproduction MacBook Pro configurations. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html.

**The new Wireless Web protocol testing was conducted by Apple in February 2011 using preproduction MacBook Pro configurations. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html.

Kingston Technology Brings Performance, Endurance and Productivity to Ultra-Portable 1.8” Devices

Kingston SSDNow V+180 for road warriors

Hsinchu, Taiwan – October 19, 2010 — Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of the Kingston SSDNow V+180 range, bringing the performance, endurance and productivity of solid state drives (SSD) to the 1.8” form factor. Part of the second generation Kingston SSDNow V+ range, the Kingston SSDNow V+180 is designed for today’s ultra-mobile devices, and with road warriors in mind.

“Kingston Technology has listened to its customers, delivering the SSDNow V+180 Series,” said Nathan Su, Flash Memory Sales Director, APAC Region, Kingston. “Enterprises, SMBs and consumers can upgrade ultra-thin notebooks, certain notebooks, netbooks, and tablet PC with a 1.8” form factor to enjoy supercharged performance, enhanced endurance and boosted productivity.”

Independent IT analyst IDC estimates that the number of mobile workers will hit 1 billion by 2011, driven by technology advances such as high speed networking, and the desire for greater work/life balance. Today’s road warriors demand the highest performance and durability in the smallest and most mobile configuration. Kingston’s SSDNow V+180 Series brings speed and endurance to the ultra-portable 1.8” form factor:

• Kingston’s SSDNow can out-perform hard disk drives (HDD) by up to five times, enabling boot times up to 60 percent faster and allowing users to load, switch and run multiple applications at the same time more effectively.
• SSD’s hugely enhanced endurance brings confidence, particularly when users are on the road and away from IT support. The Kingston SSDNow V+ Series is up to eight times more shock-resistant than hard disk drives and because they have no moving parts, they are less prone to mechanical failures. 
• Less power-hungry than HDDs, SSDs also enhance battery life, meaning users work faster for longer.

The Kingston SSDNow V+180 is available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities, and is the latest addition to the Kingston SSDNow V+ Series family. It is backed by a three-year warranty, free tech support and legendary Kingston reliability. For more information, please visit www.kingston.com/asia.

Kingston SSDNow V+ 180 Features and Specifications:

• Sequential speed*: 230MB/sec. (read), 180MB/sec. (write)
• Innovative: 1.8″ form factor; uses MLC NAND Flash memory components
• Silent: runs silent and cool with no moving parts
• Shock resistant: no moving mechanical parts means the SSD handles rougher conditions
• Cache: 128MB onboard cache
• PCMark HDD 2005 Score †

64GB – 38,177

128GB – 38,065

256GB – 38,272

• Supports S.M.A.R.T.: Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology
• Guaranteed: three-year Kingston warranty, free tech support
• Interface: Micro SATA (mSATA) 1.5 Gb/s & 3.0 Gb/s
• Capacity¹: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
• Storage temperatures: -40° C to 85° C
• Operating temperatures: 0° C to 70° C
• Dimensions: 54mm x 78.5mm x 5mm
• Weight: 48 grams (+/- 2 grams)
• Vibration operating: 2.7G
• Vibration non-operating: 20G
• Operating shock: 1500G
• Power specs: Active: 2.9W (TYP); Idle: 47mW (TYP)
• Life expectancy: 1,000,000 hours MTBF

* Based on internal testing. Performance may vary based on system settings.

1 Some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. For more information, please consult Kingston’s Flash Memory Guide at Kingston.com/Flash_Memory_Guide. 

† Test system: Intel DG45ID Desktop Motherboard, Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 CPU @ 2.83GHz. System Memory 4GB, On-Board SATA 3Gbps with AHCI-Enabled Window XP SP3 32-bit.

Usually we only see 9-11″ netbooks. As for Notebooks, it is not that common. Panasonic surprises us with their latest Intel notebook. The J9 series offers a 10″ screen and it is paired with the most power Intel Core i5 and i7 processor!

The J9 comes in 2 different models. There is the Standard model and a high performance model. There are two high performance models, one is with SSD while the other is the traditional HDD.

The Premium edition uses the Intel Core i3-M 370M, Core i5-460M. The top performing model uses the Intel Core i7-M 670M.

The models weigh around 0.9-1.21KG and it is definitely lightweight compared to traditional notebooks.

New features include :

1. Improved mainboard design for better thermal. The size is 24% smaller too compared to the R9 model. It uses the Core i series of processor.

2. The notebook uses SSD and speeds up Windows boot up by 15 seconds.

3. Customers can purchase a Jacket for it to protect the notebook from scratches and pressure.

The J9 is priced from 120000 to 28000 Japanese Yen.

We have expanded the existing graphics card discussion section of the forum to include more areas of discussions. You can now comment or give suggestions on the latest Graphics cards, SSD, HDD, RAM, LAN right here at this URL

Ultimate Gaming NBs—MSI GX660/GX660R
Raises Bar for Multimedia Performance
The MSI GX660 features TDE technology and superior Dynaudio sound. It also supports dual hard disk architecture; doubling capacity and performance (GX660R comes with RAID 0 architecture). Powerful performance and multimedia capabilities designed to overwhelm your senses.
Taipei—MSI’s unparalleled team of designers has once again done its magic, creating the GX660 and GX660R, the latest G series laptop computers destined to cause serious salivation among gamers. Under the hood, both are fitted with top end ATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870 discrete graphics card (with 1GB GDDR5 VRAM) and the ultimate in sound from Dynaudio. The GX660R also comes with RAID 0 architecture, doubling capacity to 1TB, while doubling read speed. The powerful performance and unmatched multimedia specs will knock your socks off.
MSI Marketing Director Sam Chern adds that MSI’s GX660 not only comes with an advanced discrete graphics card and Dynaudio sound, it also boasts Intel’s most powerful Core i7 processor and MSI’s own TDE technology to throttle up system performance with just one touch. These NBs mark the start of a new era in gaming excitement. MSI also incorporated its exclusive, user friendly Cooler Boost technology to boost fan RPMs at the touch of a finger for better heat dissipation, while MSI’s ECO technology provides you with a powerful, silent, and extended computing experience.

Technology offers new powerful, quiet experience
TDE technology boosts performance by 83%: MSI’s exclusive TDE (Turbo Drive Engine) technology revs up processor performance with just one touch of the luminescent Turbo hotkey located above the keyboard, increasing system speed by 83%, while keeping your system from bogging down when you’re using load-intensive applications. This highly responsive computer has got your back when you’re surrounded by hordes of angry orcs or careening through the universe at light speed.
Cooler Boost technology: In addition to the instant turbo boost courtesy of the TDE technology, the GX660 has another cool feature—MSI’s own Cooler Boost technology. Just a touch of the luminescent hotkey located above the keyboard kicks in the powerful cooling action.Allowing this NB to stay cool as a cucumber even when it has to work for extended periods in high temperatures.
Zounds! What sounds!
A match made in sound heaven: World leader in computer technology MSI and world leader in sound Dynaudio got together and it was a match made in heaven. The resulting GX660 gives you unprecedented high fidelity.
Perfect position: To build a laptop with superb sound, you need to be meticulous about every detail. Speaker locations and sound field design have to be calculated with precision. Vast amounts of study and countless calculations were carried out on the GX660 to determine the ideal locations to install speakers to obtain obstruction-free sound transmission.
Optimal speaker units, sound card circuit: MSI and Dynaudio have designed high quality speaker units with almost no coloration as well as an optimal sound card circuit based on speaker and system configuration. Over 1200 hours went into testing and tweaking each frequency to obtain ideal tone and balance for crisp, clean sound at all frequency levels.
Advanced specs for instant power boost
ATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870 discrete graphics card: The MSI GX660 features the most advanced ATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870 discrete graphics card (w/ 1GB GDDR5 VRAM) for powerful graphics processing. It also supports DirectX 11 for smooth, clear, true-to-life 3D HD graphics to maximize your interactive gaming experience.
Large capacity RAID 0 architecture: The GX660R supports two disk architecture, doubling memory storage and increasing read speed by 70% instantly.
Three DDR3 memory slots: To provide gamers powerful performance, the GX660 comes with three DDR3 slots to allow up to 12GB of extra memory, giving this notebook server-class computing power.
USB3.0 slots: The MSI GX660 also comes equipped with USB3.0 slots which can transfer data at 5GB a second—more than ten times faster than conventional USB2.0 slots, and which provides 80% more power to recharge handheld devices. Now data transferring and battery recharging is much faster.
Awesome presence
Cool exterior: Following in the footsteps of other MSI G series NB computers, the GX660 is really cool looking. The blazing white MSI logo on the cover is set in the middle of a raised black diamond trident below a smoldering red slash. Hip yet low key—that’s the GT660. The rhombic pattern on the wrist areas and high tech brush finish on the touchpad add class and texture. The body is sheathed in MSI’s exclusive glossy color film print to protect the GX660 from scratching and wear, while further enhancing its awesome presence.
Light and sound show technology: The MSI GX660 has another great feature—a one-of-a-kind LED light show, highlighting LED lights around the NB’s edges. So whether you’re listening to music or engrossed in an exciting, fast paced game, you can flick on the MSI LED light show hotkey with the touch of a finger. Lights embedded on either side of the notebook and in front of the keyboard will pulsate automatically to sounds emitted by your laptop, kicking the thrill level of your GX660 up a few notches.
About MSI NOTEBOOK
MSI Notebook’s goal is to become the most trusted name in laptop computers. We stand by our principles of breakthroughs in design, the pursuit of excellence, and technological innovation as we have continued to raise the bar for ourselves and have accomplished a great deal of pioneering work in the industry. If you need more product information, please visit http://www.msi.com
GX660 Specs
CPU Intel Core i7 processor
ChipsetIntel PM55
GraphicsATi Mobility Radeon HD 5870 with 1G GDDR5 VRAM
MemoryDDRIII 1066/1333 MHz x3 SODIMM slot
LCD15.6” HD / Full HD LED backlight display
HDD500GB SATA x 2
Card reader4-in-1 (XD/SD/MMC/memory stick)
I/OHDMI, D-sub, USB 2.0*2, USB 3.0 *2, e-SATA, mic-in, headphone out, RJ-45
Battery9 cells
WirelessIntel 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth V2.1+EDR
WebcamHD webcam
Sound2 theater-class speakers + subwoofer
Dimensions396mm (L) x 269 mm (W) x 55 mm (H)
Weight3.5 kg
Special FeaturesMSI TDE, MSI Cooler Boost, Dynaudio, DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC, ECO Engine Dynamic LED lightning effect, 3D Color-Film-Print

The 4th Generation Eee PC™—Mobile Cloud Computing at its very Best
Three Cutting-edge Models to Suit Every Lifestyle

[Singapore, 21 July 2010] ASUS today announces the launch of the new 4th generation Eee PC™. These latest iterations of the iconic netbook deliver the best cloud computing experience in an array of bold designs to suit the tech-savvy lifestyles of the social elite, professionals, and just about everyone else.

With features like 500GB of ASUS WebStorage, ASUS GamePark, ASUS@Vibe, LocaleMe and Boingo, these ultra-thin and lightweight netbooks have everything to support a cloud computing lifestyle.

Other features include USB 3.0 ports for faster data transfers and USB-charging capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0, as well as a camera covers for additional privacy.

Eee PC 1018—the Premium Netbook
At less than 1-inch thick, the Eee PC 1018 Series features a lightweight (1.1kg) aluminum chassis that gives a premium and sophisticated touch to suit the stylish and jet set.

Its tactile, patterned finish is available in Brushed Black and Etch White, and houses a chiclet keyboard and a large Multi-touch trackpad.

Eee PC 1015—the Seashell Revisited
The Eee PC 1015 Series features the power-saving ASUS-exclusive Super Hybrid Engine technology which gives it a 13.5-hour battery life*, making it ideal for travelers.

The 1015 Series’ streamlined shape is complemented by ergonomic features like a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, chiclet keyboard, and touchpad with Palm-Proof technology. Available in an array of colors, it comes with matte, textured, or glossy finishes.

Eee PC 1016—the Business Netbook
With its brushed aluminum chassis finished in Casual Black or Modern Silver, the Eee PC 1016 Series’ understated elegance makes it ideal for the business world.

The 1016 Series caters to the business professional’s needs, with a single hotkey that immediately sets it up to presentation mode. With the Syncables Desktop, the 1016 Series easily syncs up emails and calendars with other PCs and mobile devices to keep the user’s information up-to-date.
* May vary by model.

The annual PC SHOW 2010 will start in 2 days time. Are you ready for the best bargain at the show? Looking for price lists and updates, do check out our dedicated forum with latest flyers posted and recommended star buys updated regularly from the following brands

PC SHOW 2010 pricelist Pluto, imation, ovation, A4tech, Buffalo, Canon, Seagate, WD, Aztech, Epicentre, Lenovo, Toshiba, Fujifilm IOmega, LG, Dell, Fujitsu, ASUS, Palladine, HP, Starhub, Singtel, M1, Sony, Acer, MSI, Compaq, Auzentech, HIS, Seasonic, Zyxel

Bookmark the link today.

Cloud Computing, Gaming, Enthusiast PC Components, Multimedia and Green Computing are the main focus of ASUS at this year’s Computex Taipei 2010 trade show. Other than showing off it’s latest PC DIY mainboards and VGA cards, the focus this year seems to on 3D and tablet devices.

Below is a list of exhibits shown at the exhibition

1 Cloud Computing: Eee Pad, Eee Tablet, Garmin-Asus A10 Smartphone
2. Gaming: ROG CG8490 gaming station, ASUS G53, ASUS G73, MATRIX5870 and ARES graphics cards
3. Enthusiast PC Components: ENGTX400 series graphics cards, M4A89/M4A88/M4A87 Series Motherboards (highlighting the Turbo Unlocker Technology)
4. Multimedia: EeeTop PC ET 24?, Blu-ray 3D Optical Disc Drive, VG236H 3D LCD Monitor and O!Play HD2 Media Player
5. Green Computing: U Series Bamboo Collection, ASUS’ ultra-slim Designo Series LED monitors, ASUS Business Series B43 and B53 with the green Boston-Power Sonata® battery.

For more pictures and details, please click this link.

In Day 1, we take a look at the exhibits first at ASRock booth. They have tons of boards. One of such is an unreleased product based on a Intel P67 chipset is also on the show. Another is P55 Extreme3 which is world’s first board to support 2 front panel USB 3 ports. The focus this year is on their new HTPC the Vision 3D w/ Aiwi.

Motherboard

Word’s First Motherboard Supports Front USB3.0 – P55 Extreme3

Unprecedentedly, ASRock will showcase the soon to be released P55 Extreme3 motherboard with its unique external Front USB3.0 panel. Exclusively bundled with ASRock Front USB3.0 Panel that comes with 2 x USB3.0 ports, P55 Extreme3 facilitates the computing operation! Along with every other component maker, ASRock will be also showing off it’s bevy of P55 motherboard beauties. The new Core i7 unlocked 875K CPU from Intel is one of the few really new products shown at Computex this year!

2 x Front USB3.0 support
World’s First Motherboard Supports 4 x USB3.0 – 890FX Deluxe3

USB3.0 interface will become the mainstream in the coming future. Extraordinarily equipped with 4 x USB3.0 ports on the I/O panel, ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 allows a more convenient computing operation environment! For users seeking for the ultimate motherboard configurations, ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 can satisfy you with a host of technologies include ATI Quad CrossFireX, 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossFireX, Cool Heatpipe Design that can dissipate heat from CPU power mosfet and northbridge rapidly and make your system running much cooler, 8 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, 6 x SATA3 are sourced from AMD SB850, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and RAID 5), the remaining 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s are from Marvell. Special introduce here is ASRock unique multi-function Turbo UCC technology. Turbo UCC provides you an all-in-one solution to unlock the hidden cpu cores in the CPU, get the amazing system performance boost by auto-overclocking, and running the system in a certainly lower power consumption level as well.

4 x USB3.0 Ports

Intel Core i7 980X 6-Core CPU Live Demo – X58 Extreme3

In conjunction with ASRock CeBIT2010, ASRock will also reappear the awesome live demo by running the Intel Core i7 980X 6-Core CPU on our feature-complete motherboard – X58 Extreme3. Delivering outstanding features for power users and gaming enthusiasts including a Cool Heatpipe Fan design that makes the system cooler than ever, NVIDIA Quad SLI, ATI CrossFireX and Quad CrossFireX, 7.1 CH, VIA VT2020 Audio Codec which supports Premium Blu-ray audio as well as support for the latest USB3.0. As part of ASRock SuperSpeed USB3.0 lineup, X58 Extreme3 comes with 2 x SATA3 6Gb/s connectors, 1 x Powered eSATAIII/USB2.0 connector, 2 x USB3.0 connectors, it is the outright performance leader of its class.

ASRock AIWI Rock You Everywhere – Playing Games by Holding Your iPhone

ASRock motherboard solutions offer advanced performance for customized environments. At Computex there will be a wide selection of innovative boards in terms of Intel and AMD platform. To make differentiation from other normal motherboards, this year, ASRock is going to show you something really different! ASRock will showcase our newly launched ASRock AIWI utility running on our motherboards and HTPC systems. ASRock AIWI is the world’s first utility to turn your iPhone/iPod touch as a game joystick to control your PC games. Simply installing ASRock AIWI utility onboard and download free AIWI Lite from App store to your iPhone/iPod touch. Connecting your PC and apple devices via Bluetooth or WiFi networks, then you can start experiencing the exciting motion controlled games. ASRock AIWI motherboard will ensure you to enjoy a rich variety of gaming and be entertained by a better way. Just come to ASRock Computex at Nangang Hall, L0118 to experience how fantastic the ASRock AIWI program will be.

HTPC System

The Most Powerful 3D HTPC on the Planet – Vision 3D

ASRock Vision 3D HTPC Series is developed to match the trend of 3D entertainment. It has a powerful build-in graphic card which supports 3D game and 3D movie, allowing users to enjoy a high class entertainment experience! The soon to be released ASRock Vision 3D comes with everything essential for a HTPC platform. Featuring Intel Core architecture-based processors and NVIDIA 3D Vision Capable, GeForce 300 / 400 Series, ASRock Vision 3D can provide you an absolutely realistic 3D image display!

Still, ASRock Vision 3D has adopted lots luxury components include the stylish, high glossy aluminum housing, SuperSpeed USB3.0 support that delivers data transfer rates up to 10X faster than USB2.0, slot-in optical drive that provides a more convenient way of computing operation! For audio aspect, Vision 3D supports 7.1 CH HD audio with professional THX TruStudio PRO solution which allows user to have a rich variety of programming and be entertained by a better way! To realize modern computing mission, ASRock Vision 3D series equipped with BD Combo, 802.11n Wireless network, and even bundled with a user-friendly MCE remote controller.
As such, ASRock Vision 3D HTPC Series operates with a high resolution 3D video which allows a realistic and solid picture scene in your interactive game or movie, providing a cinematic environment in your home! At Computex there will be a modern living scenario setting with ASRock Vision 3D system in ASRock booth, we’ll demo the latest ASRock AIWI gaming program there, just quickly join ASRock Computex, and you will exactly understand why 3DTV can be so fantastic!

Your Perfect Choice for mini HTPC System – Core 100

With intention to present an affordable and functionable HTPC product to users, ASRock will also showcase the newly launched Core 100 HTPC series at Computex. This series totally comes with three models – Core 100HT-BD, Core 100HT and Core 100. By adopting the Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 and Arrandale-based processors, Core 100 series features Intel HD Graphics that offers great FullHD 1080P performance and energy-efficient capability. Features abundant, ASRock Core 100 HTPC series is the world’s first USB3.0 onboard system on the market, and specially bundled with THX TruStudio PRO solution, ASRock Core 100 even supports the unmatched audio quality and stunning movie experience.

Based on the Intel HM55 Express chipset, Core 100 series features Dual Channel DDR3 1066 memory, 2 x SO-DIMM slots, Max. 8GB, 2.5” HDD up to 500 GB supports 2nd 2.5” HDD. Other excellent features include BD Combo, WiFi 802.11n networking as well as MCE remote controller!

Your Perfect Choice for HTPC System – ION2

HTPC wisely replaces a desktop place and thus easily PClizes any multimedia entertainments and thoughtfully save space for you! The exclusively launched ASRock ION2 HTPC series (includes ION2HT-BD, ION2HT, ION2) target users who want most out of their PCs from standard work to entertainment and extremely gaming. This series features Intel Dual Core D510 processor, Intel CH8M Chipset, NVIDIA ION2 graphics, and THX TruStudio PRO solution. In addition, ASRock ION2 HTPC series features the latest ASRock App Charger function that allows you to quickly charge many Apple devices simultaneously and provides you a much faster charging experience.

Below are pictures of the exhibits. More pictures on the following pages.