Larger prices arrive for larger-sized LCD panels

EL SEGUNDO, USA: Global pricing for large-sized liquid crystal display (LCD) panels used in televisions and computers is rising this month as holiday demand arrives, according to the market research firm iSuppli, now part of IHS Inc.

Pricing for large-sized LCD panels—defined as those 10-inches and larger diagonally—will climb by 0.9 percent in November when averaged out for the three key panel applications in desktop computer monitors, notebook computers and TVs.

While seeming like a miniscule increase, the slight move into positive territory represents the first increase in pricing for large-sized LCD panels since the end of the first quarter.

Panel pricing has been falling every month since March, with the price declines greatest in July and August when levels contracted by approximately 5 percent sequentially from their respective previous months, iSuppli data show.

“With buyers preparing for this year’s holiday season, the introduction of new models in early 2011 and for the Lunar New Year in February, brands and manufacturers alike are starting to buy panels again after maintaining strict inventory control for several months,” said Sweta Dash, senior director for LCD research at iSuppli. “This, combined with lower level of panel inventories, is causing pricing to rise after several months of decline.”

Prices for some TV panels are expected to start to stabilize in November, helped by replenishment in demand from China that will compensate for a sluggish US market. The average price for the 32-inch hi-definition (HD)HD panel—the mainstream size for promotions—is expected to fall to $161 in November, compared to $164 in September.

Panel prices last month also dropped in the 40/42-inch bracket—down $10 to $15—as well as for light-emitting diode (LED)-backlit models—down $15
to $20.

In the monitor segment, suppliers are no longer willing to drop prices any further, especially as panel pricing has fallen to less than cash-cost levels. With suppliers pushing for a rebound in price, an increase is expected in November. The victory for suppliers may be short-lived, however, as the price rebound may not extend very long in light of unpromising system demand.

Among notebook computers, panel pricing in November will be flat or slightly up. As demand rises for panel applications tailored after Apple Inc.’s iPad, a solid rebound is expected in the 10-inch panel size.

Nonetheless, the mainstream 14.0-inch and 15.6-inch wide-version notebook panels may not register any strong increases given that suppliers have agreed to provide a flat price in exchange for a specific number of purchased quantities—profitability being sacrificed in the quest for quantity.

Overall, manufacturers are expected to escalate fab utilization during November to 83.0 percent, up from 76.8 percent in October. The outlook for the LCD fab utilization rate is still uncertain in December, in light of conservative orders for the last month of the year.

Fab utilization rates in November are projected to increase both for Taiwan and China, bringing rates to higher than 70 percent. In comparison, Korean fabs will continue to witness strong results and surpass 95 percent, boosted by production from Samsung Display and LG Display.

Source: iSuppli, USA.

Apac server shipments up 13.4 percent, revenue up 25.7 percent in Q3-2010

SINGAPORE: Asia Pacific server shipments grew 13.4 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2010, while revenue expanded 25.7 percent year on year, according to new market share data from Gartner Inc.

Active IT spending across various market segments led to vibrant server demand in most of Asia Pacific’s major countries such as Korea (up 21 percent in shipments and 24.3 percent in revenue), China (up 18 percent in shipments and 26.7 percent in revenue), Hong Kong (up 18.9 percent in shipments and 37.2 percent in revenue) and Singapore (up 41.4 percent in shipments and 27.7 percent in revenue).

Although server shipments in Australia only grew 2.9 percent year-on-year, vendor revenue was up strongly by 37.3 percent, due to a surge in mainframe investment. Revenue from mainframe sales, which are dominated by IBM, was up 154.5 percent from Q3 2009 in the Asia Pacific region.

“Asia Pacific registered as the third strongest region in vendor revenue growth after Eastern Europe and Latin American in third quarter 2010. Investment in mainframes helped to drive robust revenue growth in Asia Pacific during the period along with continued strength in the x86 segment, which has consistently grown in double digits for four consecutive quarters,” said Erica Gadjuli, principal research analyst at Gartner.

Shipments of x86-based servers increased 13.7 percent year-on-year. This was outpaced by revenue, which grew at 30.6 percent. Increased adoption of blades and richer configurations of rack-based servers helped to push the average selling price up during the quarter.

The vendor revenue derived from RISC/Itanium Unix servers showed a slight improvement with 2.3 percent growth and unit shipments were up 5.4 percent from the same quarter last year, in which both performed better than the worldwide decline trend of 9.5 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

“Virtualization projects in mature countries helped drive average selling prices up, however they slightly dampened server shipment demand,” said Ms. Gadjuli. “Meanwhile, awareness, acceptance and investment of virtualization in emerging countries continued to improve.”

The positive overall trend in the server market during third quarter of 2010 is reflected in the performance of the top five vendors as they all posted double digit growth year-on-year in both shipments and revenue. IBM led the Asia Pacific server market based on revenue with 43.1 percent market share, an increase of 3 percent from 40.5 percent share in 3Q 2009, totaling $928.4 million.

All three server platforms from IBM (System x, Power System and System z) supported its overall year-on-year revenue growth of 33.8 percent.

Table 1: Asia Pacific: Server Vendor Revenue Estimates, 3Q10 (US Dollars)Source: Gartner (November 2010).

HP continued to dominate the Asia Pacific server market based on unit shipments with 29.7 percent share, growing year-on-year at 11.7 percent in this quarter, driven solely by its x86 based ProLiant server.

Blade servers (x86 and non-x86) represented less than 10 percent of total server shipments and 10.5 percent of total revenue in Asia Pacific this quarter. However, their year-on-year growth of 20.0 percent in shipments and 64.6 percent in revenue outpaced the other form factors, namely tower and rack servers, for the period and HP continued to be a leader in both shipment and revenue terms.

Table 2: Asia Pacific: Server Vendor Shipments Estimates, 3Q10 (Units)Source: Gartner (November 2010).

PARC and Soligie to commercialize printed electronics technologies by completing concept-to-market ecosystem

SANTA CLARA, USA; Printed Electronics USA 2010: PARC (Palo Alto Research Center Inc.), a premier center for commercial innovation, and Soligie Inc., a leading provider of design and manufacturing services for flexible and printed electronics, announced an agreement aimed at advancing the commercialization of printed electronics technologies and capabilities.

By working together, both companies will help their customers bring a range of novel and custom electronics solutions to market.

Currently, consumer goods, electronics, healthcare, and materials companies who want to take advantage of emerging product opportunities in printed electronics do not have a clear or streamlined path from lab to market.

For example, while many universities and research centers contribute important early-stage concepts or even components, these entities are not set up to further integrate these components into full systems or to translate this research for production at high volumes.

PARC and Soligie aim to address this gap in the concept-to-market ecosystem for printed electronics. PARC, which already offers printed electronics services ranging from materials characterization and component device design to full system prototyping, specializes in driving printed electronics at the leading edge and early stages of R&D.

Soligie, which already offers capabilities in product development, quality systems, production scale up, and volume production, specializes in driving solutions for manufacturing readiness.

By complementing each other’s unique capabilities, PARC and Soligie together can now integrate services and provide a streamlined path from concept to product launch. Companies and government agencies that want to take advantage of the new opportunities enabled by printed electronics can work with the two companies to deliver end solutions to the market.

Example opportunities include sensors and sensor systems for medical device manufacturers, printed electronics for consumer packaged goods companies, and in-transit monitoring systems for companies with high-value shipments.

“We see great synergies between the two organizations, and look forward to the first fruits of this relationship,” said Matt Timm, president of Soligie. “We have already begun a joint effort in the area of temperature sensing and anticipate being able to prototype and supply temperature sensing systems for customers in early 2011.”

Under the agreement, customers can engage either company to work on their printed electronics projects. Soligie and PARC will work together to understand the customer’s requirements and provide the required expertise and resources accordingly. This approach has proven attractive to potential customers and will remove the barriers preventing companies from commercializing printed electronics solutions.

“PARC turned 40 this year,” reflected Tamara St. Claire, VP of Global Business Development for PARC, “And while we have had great commercial success spinning out related novel electronics competencies through, for example, our spinoff dPix, there are now multiple avenues for driving emerging technologies from this domain to the market. So we are excited to work with Soligie to complete the gap in building the evolving printed electronics ecosystem.”

Bruker intros high resolution nanoelectrical and electrochemical AFM technology

BOSTON, USA: Bruker Corp. announcedat the Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall 2010 Meeting the release of a new generation of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) modes and measurement modules that transform Bruker’s AFM systems into turnkey solutions for nanoscale characterization in renewable energy research.

The most significant of these new AFM accessories, the PeakForce TUNA module, enables very high resolution nanoelectrical characterization on fragile samples, including organic photovoltaics, lithium ion battery composites, and carbon nanotube–based device structures.

Complementing this capability, Bruker’s new offering for electrochemistry research provides wide solvent compatibility, ppm-level environmental control, and easy in-situ liquid scanning on an AFM.

“We are excited to offer ground-breaking new capabilities to scientists in growing areas of nanoelectrical characterization in materials research,” said Dr. Mark R. Munch, President of the Bruker Nano Surfaces Business.

“This new product release represents a significant advance in our continued drive to expand AFM technologies to energy markets by addressing customer needs for quantitative nanoscale characterization. We are gratified that these modules are among our first new product releases as part of Bruker. Building on our leadership position, they are a fitting continuation of the rapid stream of innovative new products that we have delivered over the past three years.”

David Rossi, VP and GM of Bruker’s AFM Unit, added: "Our new suite of nanoelectrical and electrochemical products are part of our development team’s long heritage of AFM innovations in nanoscale research and they build on the foundation of PeakForce Tapping and ScanAsyst modes.

"We see unmet need for non-destructive and artifact-free nanoelectrical and electrochemical characterization in the growing arena of future energy generation and storage materials, and we are partnering with leading researchers and companies in those fields to deliver innovative products to enable their success."

SanDisk, Nikon and Sony propose industry standards for next-gen high-speed memory card format

MILPITAS, USA: SanDisk Corp., Nikon Corp. and Sony Corp. announced the joint development of a set of specifications that addresses the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash Association (CFA), the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.

Professional photography and High Definition (HD) video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards.

Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.

The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec) (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the highly versatile PCI Express interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification’s Parallel ATA (PATA) interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec.

The new specifications’ faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life.

In addition to industry-leading performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also meet the future capacity and durability requirements of professional imaging applications. The proposed new format has the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond two terabytes (TB), making it especially useful for high resolution images and HD video applications.

Similar in size to a CompactFlash card, the new format’s access control function and highly durable form factor produce a combination of physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for professional usage models.

“This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers,” said Shigeto Kanda, Canon, and chairman of the board, CFA. “This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs.”

“The ultra high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment,” said Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer, vice president and general manager, development headquarters, imaging company, Nikon.

Worldwide PC shipments to grow 14 percent in 2010; five disruptive forces challenging PC industry

STAMFORD, USA: Worldwide PC shipments are on pace to total 352.4 million units in 2010, a 14.3 percent increase from 2009, according to the latest preliminary forecast by Gartner, Inc. These projections are down from Gartner’s previous PC shipment forecast in September of 17.9 percent growth.

The 2011 worldwide PC shipments are forecast to reach 409 million units, a 15.9 percent increase from 2010. This is down from Gartner’s earlier estimate of 18.1 percent growth for 2011.

“These results reflect marked reductions in expected near-term unit growth based on expectations of weaker consumer demand, due in no small part to growing user interest in media tablets such as the iPad,” said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner. “Over the longer term, media tablets are expected to displace around 10 percent of PC units by 2014.”

While Gartner does not regard the current dynamics in the PC market quite yet as an inflexion point, analysts do see many disruptive forces coming together that will weaken the market moving forward.

“PC market growth will be impacted by devices that enable better on-the-go content consumption such as media tablets and next-generation smartphones,” said Raphael Vasquez, research analyst at Gartner.

“These devices will be increasing embraced as complements if not substitutes for PCs where voice and light data consumption are desired. It is likely that desk-based PCs will be adversely impacted over the long-term by the adoption of hosted virtual desktops, which can readily use other devices like thin clients.”

“PCs are still seen as necessities, but the PC industry's inability to significantly innovate and its overreliance on a business model predicated on driving volume through price declines are finally impacting the industry's ability to induce new replacement cycles,” said George Shiffler, research director at Gartner.

“As the PC market slows, vendors that differentiate themselves through services and technology innovation rather than unit volume and price will dictate the future. Even then, leading vendors will be challenged to keep PCs from losing the device ‘limelight’ to more innovative products that offer better dedicated compute capabilities.”

In the near term, many consumers and businesses will continue to refrain from buying PCs, as they collectively rebuild their finances in the face of slower income growth, weaker employment gains and a cloudy economic outlook. Over the longer-term, users are likely to slow PC replacements and extend PC lifetimes as they turn to other devices as their primary computing platform.

Gartner analysts said there are five dynamics that are challenging the PC industry:

Emerging markets continue to drive growth
While we expect a continued upside in our emerging market forecast, leading to emerging markets gaining more than 50 percent of the total worldwide PC market by the end of 2011, mature markets will face mounting challenges.

Furthermore, in emerging markets, there is good chance that consumers will simply leap frog PCs and move directly to alternative devices in the coming years rather than following the traditional pattern of purchasing a PC as their first computing device.

Consumer wallet continues to shrink
Home mobile PCs have suffered the steepest downgrade with shipments in mature markets expected to be significantly weaker. Consumers in the US and Western Europe continue to postpone purchases in the face of financial and economic uncertainty.

However, Gartner said that the bigger issue for PCs in the home market is consumers temporarily, if not permanently, forgoing PC purchases in favor of media tablets.

Challenge of emerging devices
Media tablet capabilities are expected to become more PC-like in the coming years, luring consumers away from PCs and displacing a significant volume of PC shipments, especially mini-notebooks. Media tablets are rapidly finding favor with PC buyers who are attracted to their more-dedicated entertainment-driven features and their instant-on capability.

Extended life cycle impact
The ascent of emerging devices will have an important indirect impact on PCs – the extension of average PC lifecycles. The effect of this ascent will be to spread traditional PC functionality over a variety of complementary devices. As this happens, analysts foresee users extending the lifetimes of PCs because there will be less need to replace them as often.

Uptake of thin clients
Hosted virtual desktops (HVDs) are not expected to earnestly impact mature professional markets until 2012, at the earliest. Longer term, users that adopt HVDs to access their compute capabilities will do so predominantly by using refurbished PCs and thin clients. These alternative devices will displace new PC units, thereby reducing expected future desk-based shipment growth.

Roller coaster ride in LCD equipment industry

NEW TRIPOLI, USA: TFT-LCD equipment, which grew 28 percent in 2008, and dropped 16 percent in 2009, is geared to increase 66.8 percent in 2010, according to the report, titled: LCD Market: Technology Directions and Market Analysis, recently published by The Information Network.

At the end of 2009, we saw utilization rates above 90 percent for all TFT-LCD manufacturing and nearly 95 percent for G6 and above plants – a driver for increased capex and equipment purchases in 2010. The 66.8 percent growth is the greatest since 2000.

Sales of the array processing equipment were in response to the resurgence in purchases of TVs, notebooks, and desktops following the global economic recession in 2009. Korea led in capex spending from LG Display and Samsung.Source: The Information Network.

Large-size TFT-LCD panel shipments increased 21 percent from 436.6 million units in 2008 to 528.3 million units in 2009. Revenues decreased 15 percent from $72.7 billion in 2008 to $61.8 billion in 2009. LG Display led the market based on shipments with nearly 25 percent share, taking the lead from Samsung. The latter company led the market based on revenues with more than 27 percent share.

Ulvac continues to be the dominant supplier of equipment, having led the market for the past four years and with revenues more than twice its nearest competitor, TEL, in 2009. Applied Materials/AKT, the only non-Japanese manufacturer of equipment, was fourth in 2009 on revenues of $402 million.Source: The Information Network.

Transcend launches 64 GB class10 SDXC memory cards

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Transcend Information Inc. recently announced the company’s first 64GB Class 10 SDXC memory cards.

Featuring an unprecedented amount of storage capacity and ultra fast transfer rates up to 25 MB/s, Transcend’s new Ultimate SDXC cards are perfect for consumers in need of extended Full HD video recording time and improved camera performance for high-resolution digital photography.

Gordon Wu, regional head, SARRC, Transcend, said: "SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) is the next-generation standard for SD cards established by the Secure Digital Association (SDA). With supported capacities up to 2TB, SDXC offers vastly greater storage potential compared to the SDHC standard, which only supports capacities up to 32GB.

"A 64GB SDXC card can store a maximum of 26208 pictures (based on 5 megapixel JPEG compression format), 352 hours of standard quality video (MPEG-4 video at 384 Kbps), or 640 minutes of 1920x1080 Full HD videos. Thanks to its use of the exFAT file system that supports files larger than 4GB, Transcend’s SDXC cards are the ideal complement to today’s high-end SDXC-compatible DSLR cameras and HD camcorders."

Fully Class 10 compliant, Transcend Ultimate SDXC cards boast read speeds up to 25 MB/s. This exceptional data transfer performance not only prevents lag when recording 1920x1080 Full HD videos, but also enables high-speed consecutive shooting at sporting or other fast-motion events.

As more and more consumer electronic products such as HDTVs, Blu-ray players and mobile phones are expected to support SDXC in the near future, widespread adoption of SDXC is just around the corner.

iPad vs. Galaxy Tab: The winner is… something else?

Michell Prunty, Consumer Analyst, Semico Research

PHOENIX, USA: I’ve always been unlucky when it comes to notebooks. They never last more than a few years before their motherboard explodes, usually just a few days after the warranty expires. That’s why last year I decided to get a desktop instead. It has everything I’ll ever need (hopefully) in a computer:

* Intel i5 CPU
* 8 GB DDR3
* 500 GB HDD
* Windows 7 64-bit OS
* NVIDIA graphics card
* Dual monitors from Acer

In fact, the only thing my desktop lacks is mobility, which is why I keep ending up staring at the iPad display in every electronics store I wander into and why I have been obsessively reading reviews for the Galaxy Tab, stalking my local Radio Shack until they finally put one on display.

Sure, the Tab only has a 7” display, but that means I can throw it in my bag and go, unlike the iPad, which will require a larger bag though it is easier to interact with. The iPad is established with people across the board praising it and remarking how it is changing the way children interact with electronics. As a bonus, the iPad has a larger marketplace and everything is plug and play. But do I want to support something that isn’t open source?

And round and round we go. Electronically, both devices are similar. For someone who is constantly on the go and wants to keep up with social networking, ebooks, games, and some light business, both devices will fit those needs. And as for price, both the Tab and iPad have different price points depending on 3G, but $400+ is guaranteed.

One of the reasons why the Tab is so intriguing is that I also have an HTC EVO 4G, and I love it. They have the same operating system (and the same lag problems), so basically this would just be like getting a larger version of my phone.

Semico is forecasting that the Tablet market will reach 24 million shipments by the end of 2011, meaning the next year is going to be inundated with tablets, much like last year was inundated with ereaders and they’ll all be focused on being sleek and stylish. Its enough to make someone focus on the product instead of their own needs.

Which is what I’ve been doing obsessing over these products. What exactly will I be using this mobile device for? Typing on the go and internet browsing.

So with that in mind, what is my choice?

I’m going with the Eee PC 1015PEM. Seems crazy, I know. But it has a 13 hour battery life, a keyboard, clam shell for the screen protection, no service agreement, and an LED-backlit display. Oh, and its half the price. My heart breaks a little because this little netbook isn’t as sleek as the two tablets, but I know I won’t use half of the capabilities of either the iPad or the Tab, so its hard to justify purchasing them, no matter how much I want to.

I may regret this choice by the second half of 2011, considering multiple companies will be releasing tablets over the next few months, including LG, Notion Ink, Acer (April), Toshiba, Dell, RIM (Blackberry PlayBook), Kno (a Dual-screen tablet), JooJoo, HP, etc.

Maybe I’ll get lucky and the motherboard will explode. It’ll be the perfect excuse to upgrade.

Mitsubishi Electric launches 9-inch QHD color TFT LCD module

TOKYO, JAPAN: Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has developed a new 9.0-inch color TFT LCD module in quarter high definition (QHD, 960 × 540) format, which provides half the resolution of full high definition (full HD, 1,920 × 1,080) screens both horizontally and vertically.

The QHD format allows smooth conversion from full HD, making it suitable for applications like video monitors for broadcasting. The new module will be launched on December 1, 2010 through the Mitsubishi Electric sales website.

With the recent spread of digital television broadcasting, networks are introducing equipment compatible with full HD resolution. There is considerable demand for studio video monitors incorporating TFT LCD modules that are compact but also capable of displaying high resolution videos smoothly and clearly.

In addition to its 9-inch screen size, Mitsubishi Electric's AA090AA01 features high response speed, super-wide viewing angles and high contrast, thereby meeting the needs of broadcasters.

Sling Media announces availability of SlingPlayer mobile for iPad

FOSTER CITY, USA: Sling Media Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp., announced the availability of the SlingPlayer Mobile player for the Apple iPad.

Available for purchase on the iTunes App Store, SlingPlayer Mobile software for iPad lets Slingbox owners extend their living room TV experience to their iPad and takes advantage of the iPad's high-resolution, 9.7-inch LED-backlit display for great video quality. The revamped program guide uses the iPad's intuitive native interface, and a recent channels feature puts a viewer's recent channels at his fingertips.

"A Slingbox is the perfect accessory to an iPad," said John M. Paul, executive vice president of products at Sling Media. "When combined with the new SlingPlayer Mobile app, now anyone with an iPad can enjoy a beautiful, personalized TV experience anywhere in the world."

When connected to a Slingbox SOLO or PRO-HD, the award-winning SlingPlayer Mobile software makes it easy to watch your home TV on your iPad. Now Slingbox owners with iPads can change channels, control their DVRs and watch their favorite shows anywhere they have an internet connection. They never have to miss another show or game, no matter where they are.

INSIDE strengthens family of smart card reader solutions

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE: INSIDE Contactless, a leader in semiconductor solutions for secure transactions and digital identity, has integrated new, proprietary advanced firmware into its AT90SCR series of smart card reader microcontrollers to enable device manufacturers to create a complete, ready-to-use family of low-cost smart card reader solutions tailored to speed the development of a variety of high-volume contact and contactless applications.

The industry’s first family of turnkey smart card reader solutions based on advanced 0.15-micron technology, INSIDE’s AT90SCR100 and AT90SCR050 microcontrollers are pre-certified to all relevant industry standards, including EMV2000, PC/SC, ISO 7816 and WHQL, and are able to slash customer development times from about a year to just two to four weeks.

“The announcement demonstrates our commitment to customers to continue providing a compelling family of turnkey smart card solutions they can depend on for creating new contact and contactless designs,” said Jean-Charles Lesage, smart card reader business line manager for INSIDE Contactless. “Now our customers can continue to optimize their applications using our pre-certified one-chip solutions with confidence while having the flexibility to select the one best suited to their needs.”

All of INSIDE’s AT90SCR-series smart card microcontrollers create a bridge between the host processor and a contact or USB smart card. They all feature INSIDE’s proven smart card interface block, an ISO 7816 UART compliant with ISO 7816, EMV2000, and WHQL 5-, 3-, 1.8-V standards that provides up to a 12MHz clock to the smart card. INSIDE’s efficient DC-to-DC converter offers high efficiency when supplying the standard smart card voltages. All AT90SCR series solutions also offer USB and serial host interfaces for maximum design flexibility.

INSIDE’s AT90SCR100 series features a robust assortment of communication, smart card and peripheral configurations, including high-speed and standard SPI interfaces, two-wire interface and USB 2.0 full speed device and host controller able to support USB smart cards, as well as a hardware AES crypto engine and random number generator. All offer 4KB of data SRAM and EEPROM plus 16KB, 32KB or 64KB of flash code memory.

INSIDE’s AT90SCR050 is designed to provide a solution everywhere a simple, very low cost USB smart card reader is needed. While this 16KB ROM-based solution offers a more limited set of features, it employs the same powerful 8/16-bit RISC core as AT90SCR100 flash-based devices and 100-percent byte code compatibility in a choice of several compacts packages, including die form.

“INSIDE has outdone themselves with their new turnkey smart card solutions, providing all the features and functionality we have come to expect from them with a very competitive price point and the certainty of their availability well into the future because of the modern process technology,” said Indranil Sinha, senior product manager, Innovative Products Group at INTEL. “In addition, because their firmware has been developed in house, INSIDE was able to offer us a custom solution suited to our specific needs.”

Built-in car Wi-Fi shipments to rise to 7.2 million in 2017

EL SEGUNDO, USA: Global shipments of built-in car Wi-Fi systems are set to soar by more than fortyfold by 2017, as automakers increasingly view wireless connectivity as a key competitive differentiator, according to iSuppli Corp., now part of IHS Inc.

Worldwide automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) shipments of Wi-Fi systems will rise to 7.2 million units in 2017, up from just 174,000 in 2010, as presented in the figure.Source: iSuppli, USA.

“Wi-Fi in the car is a hot topic these days, with major OEMs noticeably incorporating it into new-model releases,” said Stacey Oh, analyst and regional manager for Asia automotive research at iSuppli. “Whereas Wi-Fi was an aftermarket accessory in the past, OEMs now are touting it as a key offering.”

For Ford Motor Co., the company is turning its vehicles into Wi-Fi hot spots with the next generation of its Sync in-car connectivity system. MyFord is able to incorporate in-car Wi-Fi connectivity, powered by any customer’s existing USB mobile broadband modem. The solution inherently reduces cost for the consumer and the OEM, while requiring less space in the vehicle for a modem.

Further, the system is also able to integrate WLAN from a local hotspot and utilize it for downloads into the vehicle, which could in the future include anything from map updates to software patches and vehicle dynamics revisions.

Via SIM card
Meanwhile, European OEMs are taking a different route. Marvell Technology and Harman Automotive in August announced integrated Wi-Fi connectivity via Marvell Mobile Hotspot (MMH) technology, with the 2010 Audi A8 as the first vehicle on the market to feature the factory-installed mobile hotspot.

Together, Marvell and Harman Automotive have integrated MMH technology into the Audi vehicle through a built-in WLAN module, enabling high-speed online and Internet access via cellular link or Bluetooth devices.

Implementing a full-featured, WLAN access point integrated entirely on the wireless chip, the MMH technology is incorporated into Harman’s connectivity system and has a local Wi-Fi mobile hotspot within the vehicle, giving passengers access to Web-based services.

Up to eight devices can be supported, from smart phones, to tablets, to other advanced mobile devices. To activate web access, the user has to insert a SIM card—usually a duplicate—so users receive one bill) into the SIM slot, which is part of the optional Bluetooth Auto Telephone.

Marvell’s Wi-Fi software architecture, on the other hand, is optimized for low electricity consumption on battery-powered consumer electronics, enabling passengers to connect to the vehicle’s network without affecting the battery life of their connected devices.

A competitive advantage
“Wi-Fi gives OEMs a competitive advantage,” Oh observed. “Staying connected is important to users and can improve the overall in-vehicle experience. And, as Sync has elevated Ford’s image as a cutting-edge technology brand, OEMs probably want their brands to be associated with Wi-Fi to at least be relevant in this connected era.”

However, unlike Internet usage on the vehicle headunit from a telematics service, which can be tracked by automakers for information gathering or Client Relationship Management (CRM) purposes, mobile-device-based Internet usage information will not directly benefit the OEM.

However, data that can be collected via a connected in-vehicle system is accessible to the OEM. Knowing which services that drivers and passengers are using in the vehicle can give OEMs clues on what the next killer app might be. In the long run, OEMs must make sure that they maintain a constant connection to their customers, rather than just provide them with a pipe.

Source: iSuppli, USA.

Vizio and Samsung split leadership in US TV market in Q3

EL SEGUNDO, USA: In the latest twist in the battle between Vizio Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd for leadership in the US television market, Vizio managed to retake the No. 1 rank in LCD TV shipments, while Samsung maintained the top position in overall flat-panel sets, according to the display market research firm iSuppli Corp, now part of IHS Inc.

Vizio in the third quarter shipped 1.6 million LCD TVs, up 14.9 percent from 1.4 million in the second quarter. This gave the U.S. LCD TV maker a 19.9 percent share, allowing it to surpass Samsung, to take the No. 1 rank. Samsung’s shipments declined by a slight 1.5 percent in the third quarter, leaving it with it a 17.7 percent share.

However, Samsung held onto its first-place position in U.S. shipments of overall flat-panel televisions, a category consisting of LCD TVs and plasma sets. The South Korean technology giant shipped 1.82 million flat-panel sets in the third quarter, up 0.2 percent from 1.81 million in the second quarter. This gave Samsung a 19.3 percent share of shipments, enough to maintain the No. 1 rank over Vizio.

Vizio’s evolution
“Vizio in the third quarter managed to retake leadership in the US LCD TV market based on strong shipments of sets equipped with LED backlighting,” said Riddhi Patel, principal analyst, television systems, for iSuppli.

“Consumer demand is rising rapidly for LED-backlit LCD TVs because of their thinner form factors, improved picture quality, better color saturation, lower power consumption and other green attributes—along their with declining prices. This allowed Vizio to increase its LCD TV sales by 208,000 units in the third quarter compared to the second.”

Vizio’s competitiveness in the LED backlit television market reflect how much the company has evolved from its beginnings as a low-end LCD TV seller. LED backlighting represents a premium feature, not associated with inexpensive LCD TVs.

“Vizio can no longer be called a value LCD TV brand and now is a direct competitor with premium sellers, including Samsung,” Patel observed.

The last time Vizio held the top rank for LCD TV shipments was in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Table 1 presents iSuppli’s ranking of the Top seven LCD-TV brands in the United States in the third quarter.Source: iSuppli, USA.

Samsung leverages breadth
Samsung in the third quarter capitalized on its broad product line to hold on to US flat panel leadership. Along with its LCD TV line, Samsung is a major seller of plasma sets. The company achieved a 7.2 percent increase in plasma set shipments, more than compensating for its LCD TV decline.

The overall plasma TV shipments in the United States increased in the third quarter compared to the second because of renewed consumer interest due to aggressive pricing. Also, consumers are showing interest in the 50-inch and larger plasma TVs from premium brands that boast of features like built-in Internet connections and full HD resolution at lower prices than comparable LCD-TVs.

Table 2 presents iSuppli’s ranking of the Top seven flat-panel television brands in the United States in the third quarter.Source: iSuppli, USA.

A mixed LCD TV bag in Q3
US LCD TV shipments expanded in on a sequential basis in the third quarter as a range of compelling new models arrived on the market. Shipments amounted to 8.04 million units, up 8.1 percent from 7.4 million in the second quarter.

However, in a worrying sign for the US LCD TV market in 2010, shipments declined slightly compared to 8.09 million units in the third quarter of 2009.

“Sales promotions in the third quarter did not offer very aggressive price cuts, because pricing already was at low levels,” Patel said. “This kept shipment levels flat compared to a year earlier, and contributed to a buildup of LCD TV inventory among retailers.”

Source: iSuppli, USA.

Transcend intros 64GB model in ultra speed USB flash drives series

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Transcend Information Inc. has announced the addition of 64GB models to its Ultra Speed series USB flash drives. Featuring an incredible combination of storage capacity and transfer performance, the JetFlash 600 and JetFlash 620 Flash Drives can satisfy even the most demanding users, allowing them to store a lot more in significantly less time.

According to Gordon Wu, Regional head, SARRC Transcend: “It is hard to imagine how many files and data one can operate in this age of information explosion. Transcend’s Ultra Speed USB flash drives now come in an enormous 64 GB of storage capacity, enabling users to store over 16,000 high-quality pictures or songs, 640 minutes of Full HD videos, or seemingly limitless amount of documents—all in a tiny thumb-sized storage device.”

Taking full advantage of the dual-channel technology, Transcend’s Ultra Speed series USB flash drives deliver read speeds of up to 32MB/s and write speeds of up to 18 MB/s. The outstanding performance dramatically shortens the transfer time, making it ideal for transferring large amounts of data such as music, digital photos and even Full HD videos.

For added value, the JetFlash 620 comes bundled with Transcend’s exclusive JetFlash SecureDrive software. The powerful software helps safeguard users’ confidential data by creating a private, password-protected area on their JetFlash drive, ensuring that their sensitive data never falls into the hands of hackers, nosy co-workers, curious family members or identity thieves.

Both the sleek black JetFlash 600 and the gloss white JetFlash 620 are now offered in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, and carry Transcend’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. Users can download and install Transcend’s free JetFlash Elite data management tools onto the JetFlash drive to enhance mobile productivity.

3DFusion NO-glasses 3D display technology accepted by industry experts as commercially ready

NEW YORK, USA: After a number of public events involving presentations of 3DFusion display technology, Insight Media Analyst Matt Brenneshultz stated in the November 11, 2010 Display Daily publication, “The 3D Fusion display is the one I was thinking of when I said Auto Stereoscopic Displays (ASD) were good enough for digital signage.”

On Oct. 27th, 2010, 3DFusion participated in the Kagan/Panasonic 3D Media Markets event at the Waldorf Astoria, organized by PK World Media.

The event included such industry figures as Jeffrey Katzenberg and John Landau. The overall consensus was that 3D without glasses is five to 10 years away.

3DFusion president Steve Blumenthal was on the Roster as a member of the technology panel and surprised the audience by inviting them to visit the 3DFusion business suite, located upstairs in the Waldorf, to experience the picture perfect 3DFMax glasses free 3D ASD, and to see a real time, live 3D stereo camera capture display.

The members of the audience who followed Steve’s invitation knew that they had just seen “the future” of 3DTV, 5 to 10 years ahead of time. The conclusion was plain and simple, 3DTV without glasses is here, NOW.

A short, two weeks later, at its Public Debut, 3DFusion treated two different audiences to its commercially ready glasses free 3D technology. At an invitation of AEG and Island Def Jam Music Group, 3DFusion converted the Bon Jovi music video of “What Do You Got?” into glasses free 3D format.

3DFusion treated the Best Buy Theater Times Square audience of the Bon Jovi concert, to a presentation of the glasses free 3D video on four 3DFusion displays. The audience was stunned.

The unique position of the 3DFusion end to end technology platform is that it addresses all of the aspects of glasses free solutions. The key to the 3DFusion 3DTV platform is its ability to adjust the depth factors of the image, to the taste, comfort and visual preference level of the viewer.

The company is looking for investors and strategic partners to make this technology available for widespread vertical market applications.

OmniVision starts mass production of ultra-compact OV6930 medical image sensor

SANTA CLARA, USA: OmniVision Technologies Inc., a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, announced the initiation of mass production of the ultra-compact, high-performance OV6930.

With a packaged footprint of only 1.8 x 1.8 mm, the OV6930 is the ideal solution for applications favoring a small profile. It is excellently suited to serve a broad range of medical endoscopy applications, including bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, gastroscopy, OB/GYN and urology, and can facilitate development of medical devices that require an outside diameter under 2.6 mm.

OmniVision also announced OV6930 design wins for two new medical device modules from Hong Kong based COMedia Ltd.

“OmniVision’s advanced digital imaging technologies offer significant potential advantages in the development of improved medical imaging applications that enable less invasive and more precise medical procedures,” said James Lei, director of marketing for medical solutions for OmniVision. “Additionally, our advanced pixel design and proven manufacturing process keep our products affordable, allowing medical devices to be made disposable while increasing patient safety, operating room hygiene and ease-of-use for medical practitioners.”

The OV6930’s unique architecture combines ultra-low power consumption with OmniVision’s best-in-class pixel technology, OmniPixel3-HS™, enabling low-light performance of 3300 mV/lux-sec. The 1/10-inch array is capable of operating up to 30 frames per second (fps) in 400 x 400 HVGA or 60 fps in 400 x 200 resolution, providing RAW serial output. The low-voltage OV6930 allows cabling up to 14 ft.

Growing support for Flash places renewed pressure on Apple

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Apple will come under increasing pressure to reverse its Adobe Flash ban as support for the technology grows among other smartphone platforms, according to Ovum.

According to new research from the independent telecoms analyst, Flash 10.1 support will grow across the smartphone market, leading to pressure from developers and users for Apple to support the technology on its iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices.

Data from Ovum’s Smartphone Capability Analyzer Update 3Q10 shows that the first six devices which support Flash 10.1 arrived in Q3 and the analyst expects this number to grow rapidly in the future. The analyzer provides a quantitative view of smartphones and their capabilities, with the aim of highlighting the evolving capabilities of phones in the fast-moving smartphone market.

Android 2.2 was the first platform to support Flash 10.1and Blackberry, Windows Phone, Symbian, MeeGo and WebOS have all already announced that they plan to support it in the future.

Nick Dillon, Ovum analyst, said: “With support for Flash 10.1 growing, users will become accustomed to a similar web browsing experience on both mobile and desktop devices; this will ultimately impact the attractiveness of Apple’s proposition”.

“Flash certainly looks to be gaining ground with device vendors and Apple may need to re-evaluate its position if its dominance is threatened as a result”.

He added: “In addition to garnering support for Flash 10, Adobe has launched its own app distribution service for Flash and AIR applications. InMarket will help developers to sell their apps across various devices. This is clearly a big draw for developers and will threaten the dominance of platform vendors in the mobile apps market.”

1Q11 NB shipment will be triggered by new Huron River platform; 2011 NB shipment growth rate is 15.4 percent under cannibalization of tablet PC

TAIWAN: Most NB ODM vendors just released their October NB shipment recently. According to DRAMeXchange, the overall Oct. NB shipment declined 5.7 percent MoM to 17.3 million.

As for the 4Q10 outlook, DRAMeXchange expects that the overall NB growth rate will be 2.1 percent QoQ and -0.4 percent YoY, scaled in 50.3 million units in 4Q10 given the healthy inventory level and rebounding European market. The 2010 overall NB shipment is expected to be 193 million units, YoY 20.8 percent.

Intel will launch new Huron River platform in 1Q11 accordingly. Compared with the dual core Calpella, Sandy Bridge CPU is migrated and improved to quad core CPU with the consistent power consumption at the level of Nehalem CPU in Calpella platform.
Also, Huron River platform enhance the performance of integrated graphic functionality. New Intel platform launch will be expected to trigger the PC replacement according to the historical pattern.

DRAMeXchange thinks that the new CPU launch will not only trigger the new demand but also will help to lower the price on old models for price promotion. Some demand in 4Q10 is believed to be delayed to 1Q11. Also, China market will account around 20 percent of total PC shares world widely and Chinese New Year plays important factor in terms of shipment.

DRAMeXchange forecasts that the 1Q11 PC shipment will decline 5-10 percent and QoQ is around -1.4 percent.Source: DRAMeXchange.

After launch in April, iPad shipment has already reached 7.5 million units by 3Q10. Other vendors will also aggressively penetrate into this market and we are carefully watching that if other vendors can compete with iPad in hardware and software manners.

Besides, Dell launched 5” and 7” tablet “Streak”, and Samsung also launched the new Galaxy Tab. HP also launched Wintel version Slate 500 and will likely deliver Web-OS platform tablet in 2011. Acer will also launch series of tablet ranged from US$299 to US$699 while Lenovo and Asus have tablet plans after that. Also, we see some mobile vendors such as RIM, Motorola and Nokia will also participate in the market.

DRAMeXchange thinks that iPad will account more than 95 percent market share given the better integration of software and hardware and total tablet PC shipment will be around 15.2 million units in 2011. The 2011 tablet shipment is expected to be 51.3 million units since more products will be ready for the market.

However, iPad is forecast to account more than 80 percent market share since most non-iPad tablet will be ready in 2H11.Source: DRAMeXchange.

DRAMeXchange thinks that 15-20 percent tablet PC will cannibalize the original NB demand. Take the total 51.3 million units shipment in 2011, tablet PC will cannibalize 7-10 million units NB demand.

Despite the new Intel CPU launch in 1Q11, 2011 overall NB growth will be around 15.4 percent YoY and 222.7 million units in scale, which is lower than historical 20 percent YoY growth pattern.

However, the overall 2010 NB shipment will be 208.2 million and will grow 31.6 percent to 274 million units in 2011 if the tablet is included.

Addonics announces one-touch solution for duplicating all flash media

SAN JOSE, USA: Addonics Technologies has announced the Universal Flash Media Duplicator, a one-touch, stand-alone solution for duplicating virtually every type of flash media.

The new Addonics duplicator (model UFMDU) is the perfect solution for making quick copies of flash media or making copies onto different flash media. The device supports any type of flash card and does not require a computer or complex software to operate.

Users just insert the flash card to be copied into the “source” reader/writer and any flash card of equal or greater capacity into the “destination flash media slot.” Press the start button and copies are made at up to 133 MB/sec depending on the type of media.

Flash media use has expanded dramatically because of the reduction in cost, greater reliability of no moving parts, and the small size. With so many devices able to use flash media, the Addonics UFMDU is a rock solid way for content providers and endusers to make quick and reliable flash media copies for smart phones, Tablet PCs, portable gaming devices, digital cameras, computers, interactive devices such as kiosks, and other hardware applications.

The Addonics duplicator features four physical slots for direct access of Compact Flash, Secure Digital and SDHC, Multi Media Card, and Memory Stick.

Users can duplicate or mix and match 15 types of popular flash media including: Micro SD, Sony M2, Secure Digital and SDHC, mini SD, Multi Media Card (MMC & MMC Plus 4.2), Reduced Size MMC (adapter needed), Memory Stick/Magic Gate, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, Compact Flash Type I and Type II, MicroDrive, Smart Media, and xD. The Universal Flash Duplicator is upgradeable to future flash card standards through firmware updates.

Jabra in exclusive pact with Redington to expand in India

BANGALORE, INDIA: An exclusive alliance in mobile-accessory segment is set to take the niche industry by storm.

Jabra, the global leader in hands free solutions, has appointed Redington as their exclusive distributor for Jabra mobile communication devices in India. Redington is the largest end-to-end supply chain management of IT and non-IT products across India, Singapore, Middle East and Africa. This strategic partnership is set to develop and grow Jabra’s India’s market share in the consumer and retail channels.

Statistics show that India’s mobile accessories market is estimated to be around US$300 million for 2010 with a growth of about 20% per annum. Within this, the Bluetooth accessories’ market alone is worth about US$45 million.

Jonathan Tang, MD of Jabra, said: “India is one of the most important markets for us. We see this exclusive pact with Redington as a synergistic approach to reset and develop India consumer and retail segments. To quote an example of our key growth market - China.

“Over the last two years, owing to exclusive partner and dedicated channel support, market share in China has grown significantly and Jabra stands at No. 2 in the competitive market place. With Jabra’s expertise and innovative, exciting product roadmap for 2011, I am confident that we will increase our presence and visibility throughout India.”

With significant product innovation and go-to-market advantages over other global and regional brands, Jabra is the undisputed leader in handsfree solution devices. Jabra’s vision is to provide a total solution and the best-user experience to the end users with freedom in communicating. At Jabra, there is a coming together of divisions, from Sales to R&D, focusing on optimizing voice communication experience on Jabra’s products.

Kasturi Rangan, president, Redington (India), said: "Bluetooth devices are not looked as mere accessories anymore in India. They are turning out to be lifestyle products with youth exploiting the technology to the core. We believe "Jabra" is a strong brand well represented in both ends of the segment and goes well with our channel for Smart phones and other premium accessories."

He added, “With our pan-India presence and retail strength, we are confident of growing Jabra’s market share in India.”

Redington is also the exclusive distributor for Blackberry smartphones and an
authorized distributor for Apple iPods and iMac. Coupled with a strong presence in the Large Format Retail space (LFR), this in a way, gives us more mileage in connecting our customers.

The first step of the channel expansion has already taken place, with regional distributors in key metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, being appointed already. The next steps would be to reach out to India’s Tier II network in the coming months.

Zebronics intros 'Zebmate-75 Unique' portable music player

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Top Notch Infotronix, India’s leading supplier of products and accessories for Computers, Consumer Electronics and Communication under the brand ‘ZEBRONICS, has introduced their latest digital music player – the Zebmate-75 Unique – in their lineup of premium portable media players.

The game-changing feature of the new player is its 75-hour playing time on a single full-charge of the battery. The long battery life gives you freedom from being tethered to the power source and you can enjoy the music than worrying about the remaining battery life.

The Zebmate-75 Unique digital music player adds to Zebronics’ range of players in the Zebmate line-up known for excellent sound quality, aesthetics and appealing external design and rich features. The line-up includes the Zebmate-10 and Zebmate-20 that were launched a few months ago.

In terms of outer design and colours, the Zebmate-75 comes in two versions “For Him” and “For Her”. Targeted toward the young, lifestyle users, the “For Him” model is in a combination white-fascia and deep blue back panel while the “For Her” model has a white-facia with a cherry-colored back panel. The design and aesthetics of the player are striking and would appeal to every individual’s personality. The player has very sturdy build with quality feel to it.

The audio playback quality is excellent and the player reproduces rich tones faithfully. It comes bundled with high-quality in-ear phones which take the listening experience to a whole new level. Other standard accessories include the charger, neckband, carrying pouch and USB cable. The playback has various equalizer modes to enhance the music according to ones preferences. It also incorporates an FM receiver.

The Zebmate-75 has 4GB internal memory. The 1-inch color screen is easy on the eyes even in sunlight. The user interface is intuitive and friendly so that it’s a breeze getting to know how to use its features. Apart from the usual audio formats, it also supports playback of the flac format, a lossless format. There is an in-built mic for recording – useful for those quick interviews and class-lectures.

The Zebmate-75 (4GB) is available from computer accessories and electronics stores at an amazing price of Rs 1,999.

CUI Inc announces its acceptance as member of DOSA

TUALATIN, USA: Waytronx Inc., a platform company dedicated to the acquisition, development, and commercialization of new, innovative technologies along with its wholly owned subsidiaries, CUI, Inc, a provider of electromechanical components and CUI-Japan, its Japanese subsidiary, and Comex Electronics, a partially owned (49 percent) Japanese subsidiary, announced that CUI is now a member of the Distributed-power Open Standards Alliance (DOSA).

DOSA is a global association dedicated to furthering compatibility and standardization in the DC-DC board mounted power conversion market. Current members include founding members Lineage Power and SynQor as well as AcBel, Bel Power, Delta Electronics, Emerson Network Power, Ericsson Power Modules, FDK, Murata Power Solutions, NetPower Technologies, Power-One, TDK-Lambda and Wall Industries.

As a technology company dedicated to the development, commercialization, manufacture, and distribution of innovative electronic components, acceptance into DOSA serves to highlight CUI’s commitment in providing competitive power products to a global market. CUI’s power line, V-Infinity, encompasses board level dc-dc converters, embedded ac-dc power supplies, and external ac-dc power adapters that range from 0.25 to 2400 watts with a focus on the networking, medical, consumer, and industrial markets.

“We thrive on being flexible in the power industry, striving to create long term, collaborative relationships with our customers,” said Matt McKenzie, President CUI Inc. “As a member of DOSA, we can leverage our growing global reach to promote DC-DC power conversion platform standardization utilizing our advanced technology for the benefit of our customers and members of the alliance.”

DOSA was founded in 2004, by Lineage Power and SynQor, to develop standards for DC-DC converters to ensure compatibility and facilitate second sourcing for customers. DOSA carries the mission of establishing standards over a broad range of power converter form factors, footprints, feature sets and functionality for both non-isolated point-of-load (POL) and isolated applications.

Hitachi GST first hard drive supplier to deliver enterprise-class SAS and FC SSDs

SAN JOSE, USA: Leveraging more than 50 years of design and qualification experience, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) announced its new Ultrastar solid state drive (SSD) family.

The new Ultrastar SSD400S family comes in 100GB, 200GB and 400GB capacities, featuring both 2.5-inch 6Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and 3.5-inch 4Gb/s Fibre Channel (FC) interfaces.

As the world’s first jointly developed SAS and FC enterprise-class SSDs, the Ultrastar SSD400S family combines Hitachi’s proven enterprise hard disk drive (HDD) expertise with Intel®’s extensive capabilities in developing high-endurance 34-nanometer (nm), single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory and advanced SSD technology.

This combination provides unique value to customers who are increasingly looking to tiered storage as a method of managing the escalating performance, capacity, endurance and reliability demands of today's data centers.

“Hitachi’s strategic investment and commitment in the enterprise market is evident with the new Ultrastar SSD family. Our new SSD product family not only symbolizes our market opportunity to serve evolving cloud data center infrastructures, but also delivers value to our customers in terms of increasing data center performance and reducing total cost of ownership,” said Mike Cordano, executive vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Hitachi GST.

“We have a strong track record of working with global enterprise customers and are proud to report favorable responses to the Ultrastar SSD400S family. With qualifications now underway, we anticipate volume shipments to commence in the first half of 2011.”

3M energy-efficiency film technology enhances power savings and display quality of Acer TimelineX notebooks

ST. PAUL, USA: The elusive goal of developing a notebook computer with an eight-hour battery life1 has become a reality. Users have demanded extended performance, along with a slim form factor, without sacrificing high-quality resolution.

Building upon its commitment to improve energy efficiency in electronic devices, 3M’s Optical Systems Division today announced that it is working with Acer to usher in a new era of energy-efficient notebooks.

Specifically, Acer, the world’s No. 2 notebook company, has utilized 3M’s multi-layer optical films in its Aspire TimelineX series. The new notebook series provides an impressive extended battery life of eight hours, as well as superior display performance and an ultra slim form factor.

3M’s multi-layer optical films can increase power savings in notebook displays. The additional brightness budget can be used to extend battery life and/or reduce the weight of the battery. Based on a recent market survey with 1,1892 respondents conducted by 3M, 85 percent of those surveyed liked the display with 3M film solutions not only for its brightness, but also enhanced picture quality.

Also, 89 percent of those surveyed are willing to pay more for a display with 3M solution. 3M’s optical film solution not only increases the brightness, but can also enhance the display’s form factor.

According to Acer, 3M was one of its innovation partners that helped achieve the energy-efficient notebook design. Specifically, the company’s multi-layer optical film is one of the key components that have enabled Acer to achieve an extended battery life.

In addition, 3M’s multi-layer optical films allow the flat panel displays used in the Aspire TimelineX series to be brighter, with wider viewing angles, while reducing internal components—contributing to an ultra-thin, sleek form factor. Acer continues to seek and deliver technology solutions that address the specific needs of mobile users.

Datacenter infrastructure market gains ground in Q2 as revenue growth approaches 7 percent

FRAMINGHAM, USA: The worldwide datacenter infrastructure market for power distribution units (PDUs), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), cooling, and racks made a significant rebound in the second quarter of 2010 (2Q10) with revenues and shipments expanding 6.9 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively, over the first quarter of 2010.

According to the latest Worldwide Quarterly Datacenter Infrastructure QView from International Data Corp. (IDC), datacenter infrastructure revenues fought back losses and were down just 1.8 percent, while shipments were up 2.6 percent year over year.

From the vendor perspective, Emerson Network Power and Liebert led the datacenter cooling market, combining for 47.9 percent of revenues in 2Q10. Despite losing 3.3 percent of its revenue share quarter over quarter, APC by Schneider Electric remained the leader in the datacenter power distribution units (PDU) market in 2Q10 with 29.1 percent of the market.

In the datacenter rack market, HP outpaced its nearest competitor, Emerson, with 22.5 percent of revenues. In the datacenter uninterruptible power supply (UPS) market, Eaton's share was up 0.8 percent quarter over quarter, and the company led the market with 30.2 percent of revenue.

"The rebound of the datacenter infrastructure market in the second quarter reflects the overall IT recovery from the Great Recession. More new datacenters are being built while old datacenters are being retrofitted with new, more efficient datacenter infrastructure," said Katherine Broderick, senior research analyst, IDC's Enterprise Servers and Datacenter Trends.

"IDC attributes much of this datacenter growth to wholesale datacenter providers and hosters."

Luxtera’s silicon photonics technology enables 100Gbps data center interconnects

SC10, NEW ORLEANS, USA: Luxtera, the worldwide leader in Silicon CMOS Photonics, has demonstrated a 25Gbps receiver technology in its CMOS-based Silicon Photonics platform.

Leveraging the benefits of Silicon Photonics to overcome the barriers of current generation parallel and serial 10Gbps solutions, Luxtera can now fully support unmatched levels of optical interconnect bandwidth while offering extended reach at low cost.

This technology, combined with Luxtera’s recently announced 25Gbps transmitters, enables development of products for parallel 100Gbps InfiniBand and Ethernet, as well as for serial 32G Fibre Channel applications. Recognizing its potential impact in the high performance computing (HPC) market, Luxtera was selected to showcase its transceivers as part of the disruptive technologies exhibit at this year’s SuperComputing (SC10) in New Orleans.

Silicon Photonics utilizes CMOS processes to deliver on-chip waveguide level modulation and photo-detection. Unlike traditional directly modulated transceivers, lasers in silicon photonics applications are always on, acting as a continuous supply of photons to the chip - analogous to electrical power suppliers in electronic applications.

In addition, light from a single laser is utilized to power multiple optical transmitters on a chip eliminating the need for multiple lasers and reducing transceiver cost. This fact allows Luxtera to reuse the same laser used in current production 10Gbps transceivers to power next generation higher speed products, thus eliminating the need for development of higher speed light sources. When combined with single-mode fiber and waveguide photodetector receivers, this solution offers practically unlimited reach and performance at 25Gbps.

“Our 25Gbps silicon proven transceiver technology will enable data centers to keep pace with growing bandwidth demands, providing end-users with enhanced connectivity; all at a cost per gigabit lower than the current generation of interconnects,” said Peter De Dobbelaere, vice president of engineering at Luxtera. “Selection to showcase in this year’s SC10 disruptive technologies exhibit further underscores the technology’s potential to disrupt the HPC landscape.”

For the third year in a row, Luxtera’s 40Gbps Active Optical Cables (AOC), Blazar, will provide connectivity for the SC10 SCinet InfiniBand network, built for HPC demonstrations. Selected for its extended reach and reliability, Blazar can support up to 4,000 meters and offers the industry’s lowest power consumption of 20mW per Gigabit.

Symmetricom announces new contract for technology advancement of miniaturized/chip scale atomic clock products

SAN JOSE, USA: Symmetricom Inc., a leader in precise time and frequency technologies, announced today that the ManTech Program, funded by the US Army, GPS Wing and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), has agreed to sponsor enhancements to Symmetricom’s Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) technology.

Atomic clock technology advancements, as well as research on precise time recovery and IEEE 1588 Precise Time Protocol applications, will be discussed at the 42nd Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Systems and Applications Meeting on November 15-18, at the Hyatt Regency Reston, Virginia.

At PTTI, Symmetricom’s world recognized timing experts will lead key tutorials and present industry papers, as well as exhibit its industry-leading precise timing solutions for government/military and metrology applications.

“Symmetricom is a leader in the development of Chip Scale Atomic Clock technology, as demonstrated by our successful completion of Phases I through IV of the original DARPA CSAC development contract,” said Dan Scharre, executive vice president and general manager at Symmetricom.

“This contract is a strong vote of confidence in our continued leadership with miniature, low power atomic clock technology such as our CSAC product. The ManTech award funds us to accelerate manufacturing cost reductions to more aggressively address the broad applications of our product.”

VMIX spearheads global expansion with new offices in London and Glasgow

SAN DIEGO, USA: VMIX, a leading US online video platform provider, announced the opening of offices in the United Kingdom as part of the company’s strategy to expand internationally.

VMIX (UK) Ltd will focus on business development and market penetration in the region. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, with a second office in London, England, the division will include a local sales and marketing team.

President and CEO of VMIX Pat Burns said the launch of VMIX UK is the first stage in the San Diego-based company’s plan to establish itself as a global provider and extend the reach of its Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions for enterprise-grade online video.

“This is a well-considered step in our international growth plan,” said Burns. “Establishing a presence in the UK allows us to build personal relationships with our European-based clients and partners, and provides critical insight into the growing online-video integration market there.”

Burns noted that an extension of the VMIX platform will follow in coming months that includes local video storage and processing to meet the needs of European clients.

The UK office will be headed by Brian Keating as Director of VMIX (UK) ltd. Keating has substantial experience working for multi-national companies like Apple, Newbridge Networks and Alcatel. As the founder and CEO of Thirdspace, he built up the broadband TV solutions company before it was acquired by Alcatel in 2003.

World smart card market worth $6.6 billion by 2015

DALLAS, USA: According to a new market research report, ‘World smart card- advanced technologies, application and global forecast (2008 – 2015)’, published by MarketsandMarkets, the total global smart card market is expected to be worth $6.6 billion by 2015, out of which the telecom sector will account for nearly 53.8 percent of the total revenues. The global market is expected to record a CAGR of 7.3 percent from 2009 to 2014.

Growing mobile penetration, surge in acceptance from various governments and increased security and reliability has spurred the growth of smart card shipments, which reached 5.2 billion in 2009.

Advent of new form factors such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, growing government ID projects across the globe and EMV compliance will support the growth of smart cards for next five years, resulting into 8.8 billion smart cards shipment by the end of 2015.

The smart card market revenue is expected to grow from $4,498.9 million in 2009 to reach $6,600 million in 2015 with a CAGR of 7.3 percent from 2010 to 2015. EMEA region holds the maximum share of revenue in consumer electronics market on account of technological competence, high adoption of high end smart cards and growing need of secure transaction and identity and access control.

The Asian region, especially, India and China have emerged as smart card hotspots with continuous development of the cellular markets and the increasing 3G penetration and increased governmental interest across the region.

The smart card technology is a major driving force for the payment transaction market as it allows customers to make secure payments. Thus, it is expected that microprocessor based smart cards will continue to dominate the smart card shipments, as compared to the memory chip based smart cards.

The microprocessor segment has accounted for shipments of 4.5 billion smart cards in 2009, which was 86.5 percent of the overall shipments (5.2 billion) of smart cards. The report provides extensive analysis of the smart card industry, current market trends, industry drivers and challenges for better understanding of the smart card market structure.

Finelite’s Curve LED desk lamp earns Energy Star label

UNION CITY, USA: Finelite, a leader in energy efficient lighting solutions, announced that its Curve LED desk lamp has earned the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR label for solid-state luminaires.

ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol that makes it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills. Only products that operate more efficiently or improve performance qualify.

Jane White, VP of Sales and Marketing of Finelite, said, “Promises of performance are not enough. Independent and rigorous testing of LED luminaires, like that completed to achieve ENERGY STAR, means we can provide customers with a product that will perform for years to come.”

Tranex achieves ISO 9001:2008 certification

COLORADO SPRINGS, USA: Tranex Inc., a leading supplier of custom, semi-custom, and standard transformer products, has received the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 Certificate of Registration on behalf of Platinum Registration Inc.

Recognized as the standard for quality management, certification provides a set of requirements for managing an organization's processes to consistently manufacture products that satisfy customer expectations. Awarded only to companies that can meet stringent regulations for quality management systems, it is a testament to the continuous quality improvement and "transformer excellence" at Tranex.

"It's this commitment to reliability, customization, service, and cost conscious design that has always made Tranex a leader," said Jerry B. Smith, CEO and owner. "Achieving certification illustrates our employee's serious commitment to customer satisfaction, repeatability and reliability in all products we produce. We're honored to have our expertise validated and look forward to further development of our service capabilities."

Macquarie Electronics announces partnership with MVTS Technologies to remarket automated test equipment

SAN DIEGO, USA: Macquarie Electronics, a member of the Macquarie Group, has entered into an exclusive partnership with MVTS Technologies (MVTS) to utilize MVTS’ full range of services to remarket selected automated test equipment (ATE) inventory.

Under the agreement, MVTS will provide Macquarie Electronics with global sales, marketing, operations and support services, and Macquarie Electronics will provide selected inventory to the program.

"This partnership with MVTS enables Macquarie to offer a turnkey full service platform to our clients," said David Coons, president of Macquarie Electronics. "MVTS is recognized as the premier refurbished back-end provider and in combination with Macquarie’s significant financial solutions portfolio and ATE inventory, we have created a unique opportunity in this market."

Ron Maassen, CEO of MVTS, said: "Macquarie and MVTS are leaders in their respective markets and have both acquired a reputation for quality, a strong global network and flexibility. Working together we will provide our customers with unparalleled sales and services, and offer a larger range of products and financial solutions to build a foundation for further growth."

Samsung India launches world’s smallest laser multifunction printer SCX 3201 in India

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Samsung Electronics has enhanced its printer line-up by launching the world’s smallest laser multifunction printer – SCX 3201 in the Indian market.

The SCX 3201 encapsulates the Samsung business philosophy of bringing “True Value” printers in the market with the Best specs, Best Price and Best cost per page.

Ranjit Yadav, director, Mobile & IT, Samsung Electronics said: “The Samsung Printer business is in its hi-growth phase. The launch of SCX 3201 is a great example of our continuous endeavor to launch Innovative products with superior performance features.”

The new Samsung Printer SCX 3201 can print, copy and scan and comes with the standard one year onsite warranty. An additional two-year warranty on this printer is available at Rs. 499/- only.

The ultra compact size of SCX – 3201, its LED indicator and the clear & concise OP add to the overall appeal of the printer. The new SCX printer can be installed anywhere at home or office and consumes less space.

The Samsung SCX -3201 is equipped with Samsung’s unique Print Screen button, which provides a quick and easy way to print content. The ‘Eco-Print” button on the OP panel provides economic and easy print-outs in 2 –up and 600 dpi resolution while saving paper, toner and time.

Further, the SCX – 3201 has a Soft Power button located in the Front Panel which not only makes it easy to use but also avoids unnecessary power consumption. The AnyWeb print software allows consumers to drag and drop content from different sources and consolidate into one page and maximize the overall user experience of the SCX-3201. It has a 32 MB memory , Toner Saver Mode and a monthly duty cycle of upto 5000 pages. The Samsung SCX – 3201 is priced at Rs. 8999/- with a Full Starter toner.

With the launch of the new range of printers, Samsung has a lineup of 33 Printers across the Mono and Colour Single Function Laser Printers and Multi Function Printers. The Samsung Printer range is priced in the range between Rs 5499/- to Rs 230,000/-. “Based on our enhanced product line up and distribution, we are expecting to notch up a 60 percent jump in volumes in the Printer category this year,” states Yadav.

Avtex acquires Convergent

MINNEAPOLIS, USA: Avtex Solutions, LLC announced the acquisition of Convergent, a technology solutions provider recognized nationally for its expertise in Microsoft Unified Communications (UC) and storage solutions.

This announcement comes two months after the announced merger of Avtex and Inetium, two technology firms of the Pohlad Family Companies. Under the umbrella of the Pohlad Family Companies, the union of Convergent, Inetium and Avtex is part of a broader strategy to integrate complimentary technology organizations, building upon each set of strengths to bring solutions and services to market.

Convergent, founded a decade ago by John Dusek, has built a solid reputation and a loyal client base by applying technology solutions and processes to improve employee productivity and company-wide efficiency. By focusing on simplifying enterprise storage and streamlining communications, the company quickly earned national recognition including an elite status with Microsoft as one of the first enterprise voice specialists with proven expertise in UC.

“By combining Convergent’s proven skills in unified communications with Avtex’s core competency in contact centers and Inetium’s SharePoint and CRM experience, we are well positioned to impact the enterprise communication and collaboration marketplace,” said Dave Johnson who serves as CEO of Avtex Solutions, LLC. and oversees the technology holdings of Pohlad Family Companies.

The new Avtex will also be investing in innovation. A newly formed innovation team made up of individuals from Inetium, Avtex and Convergent is already at work developing solutions focusing on the core platforms of Microsoft SharePoint, Lync, and Dynamics CRM.

OmniVision launches 8-Megapixel RAW CMOS image sensor for smart phone market

SANTA CLARA, USA: OmniVision Technologies Inc. has introduced the OV8820, a 1/3.2-inch 8-megapixel RAW CMOS image sensor based on OmniVision’s proven 1.4-micron OmniBSITM pixel architecture.

The sensor delivers high frame rate 1080p/30 and 720p/60 high-definition (HD) video with electronic image stabilization (EIS) and full horizontal field of view (FOV) designed specifically to meet the demands of the rapidly growing smart phone markets.

The feature rich OV8820 also offers advanced video capabilities that support mobile YouTube and Facebook applications, making it an ideal solution for tomorrow’s video-centric camera phones.

“Industry research firm Yole Developpement is forecasting that 8-megapixel resolution sensors will hold over a third of the market share for camera phones by 2015,” said Vinoo Margasahayam, product marketing manager for OmniVision.

“The smart phone segment is leading this trend towards higher resolution sensors requiring near-DSC quality photography, autofocus functionality and high quality video recording. The OV8820’s ability to deliver high quality, fast frame rate image capture and HD video recording in a compact format meets the critical requirements for next generation mobile handsets, and particularly for smart phones.

“We have also added some unique features to OV8820 that improve the user experience, such as full field of view HD video with image stabilization, making this sensor a highly attractive product for this fast growing market segment.”

In full 8-megapixel (3264 x 2448) resolution, the OV8820 operates at 24 frames per second (fps) in a 4:3 format and in 6-megapixel (3264 x 1836) resolution at 30 fps in a 16:9 format.

These higher frame rates enable a number of key benefits, including: no image lag for shutter-less designs, continuous shooting, minimized rolling shutter effect, real-time image capture with no lag between resolutions, and full HD at 30 or 60 fps. A high-speed, 4-lane MIPI interface facilitates the required high data transfer rate.

One of the advanced features of the OV8820 is an integrated scaler, which enables EIS and maintains full FOV with improved signal-to-noise performance in 1080p HD video mode operating at 30 fps. Another key image processing feature is a 2 x 2 binning functionality with a post-binning re-sampling filter function that minimizes spatial artifacts and removes image artifacts around edges to deliver clean, crisp color images. This is important to achieve best-in-class 720p HD video.

OmniVision’s OmniBSI backside illumination pixel architecture delivers excellent low-light sensitivity. The technology also provides improved quantum efficiency, reduced cross talk and low photo response non-uniformity, which all contribute towards significant improvements in image quality and overall camera performance.

As a RAW sensor, the OV8820 is designed for 2-chip solutions that involve the sensor working in conjunction with a baseband or an application processor with integrated image signal processing. The low power OV8820 has an on-chip VCM driver and fast mode switching between different resolutions. Other integrated features of the OV8820 include temperature sensing, 256 bytes of one-time programmable memory, lens shading correction and defect pixel correction. The OV8820 fits into the industry standard module size of 8.5x8.5mm.

The OV8820 is available for sampling now and is expected to enter mass production in March 2011.

Zoran joins MoCA

SAN RAMON, USA: Zoran Corp., a leading provider of digital solutions for the digital entertainment market, has joined MoCA, the worldwide standard for home entertainment networking, as an Associate level member.

Zoran supplies SD and HD set-top box processor platforms to operators across the globe for digital satellite, cable and terrestrial set-top applications. To date, Zoran has shipped more than 30 million units to the pay-TV and retail set-top box markets.

"As a leader in digital television and a provider of advanced processor platforms for set-top boxes, we view MoCA membership as a way of expanding our offerings to our customers by incorporating important home entertainment networking capabilities," said Ram Ofir, senior VP and GM, Home Entertainment Division for Zoran.

"Integrating MoCA technology will give Zoran the opportunity to better address the high-growth market for whole home networking," said Charles Cerino, MoCA president. "Zoran's decision to join MoCA as an Associate level member makes good commercial sense, as MoCA continues to dominate this sector in the US and is starting to make in-roads among pay TV operators in Europe and Asia."

MoCA technology is permeating the pay-TV market and has been deployed for multi-room DVR applications across all three pay TV segments (cable, satellite and IPTV). MoCA is also working closely with CEDIA and the professional installer community.

Russian LCD-TV sales continue to soar

EL SEGUNDO, USA: With their hold intensifying on the Russian TV market, LCD-TVs will cause the sales of older tube-type CRTs to disappear in the country within four to five years, according to the market research firm iSuppli Corp.

Shipments of LCD-TVs to the Russian Federation, the world’s biggest country by area, are projected to reach 5.9 million sets at the end of 2010, up a solid 18 percent from 5 million in 2009.

“In a market that iSuppli believes is 98 percent saturated—with nearly every Russian household owning at least one TV set—the popularity of LCD TVs continues to draw new buyers,” said Riddhi Patel, director and principal analyst for TV systems at iSuppli.

“In contrast, CRT-TVs are on a steady decline.” Although still comprising the second largest television segment in Russia in 2010, shipments of CRT-TVs will plunge to a mere 193,000 by 2014, down from 1.3 million units this year. Unit share of shipments for CRT-TVs will fall to just 4 percent in 2014, down from 16 percent in 2010, while LCD-TVs will expand by 3 points to 79 percent.

As the Russian market increasingly transitions to flat-panel TVs, the CRT-TV segment will vanish into insignificance after 2015, iSuppli television research shows.

For their part, plasma TVs—at present the smallest segment of the Russian TV market—will see their share of unit shipments grow from the current 13 percent to slightly more than one-fifth of the total market, or 21 percent, in just four years.

Larger-sized LCD TVs gain popularity
Among LCD-TVs, the 32-inch model is the most popular screen size in the Russian market, making up 43 percent of total LCD-TV shipments in 2010, iSuppli data indicate.

However, while leading the way in LCD-TV market growth for the next three to four years, the 32-inch market will yield gradually to 40-inch-and-larger models after that, especially as prices retreat for the bigger sizes.

In particular, the Winter Olympics sports event—scheduled to be held in the southwest Russian city of Sochi in 2014—is expected to contribute to a significant increase in sales of large-sized TVs.

Unlike the great popularity of the overall LCD-TV market, the newer technology represented by the LED backlit sub-segment is still making its way slowly through the country. Nonetheless, LED market share is projected to increase substantially in the coming years, with the energy savings of the sets proving attractive to consumers.

By 2014, iSuppli estimates that LED-backlit LCD-TVs will comprise more than 50 percent of all LCD-TV shipments in Russia.

Already, market leaders such as Samsung Electronics, Toshiba Corp., LG Electronics, Sony Corp. and Philips Electronics have started producing or importing LED models. Local manufacturers likewise have included LED backlit sets in their latest product portfolios.

For 3-D, televisions featuring the technology are considered a premium item and account for less than 2 percent of total LCD-TV shipments in 2010. With the development of 3-D content, however, share is anticipated to climb to almost one-third of total LCD-TV shipments by 2014.

Overall, manufacturers have restarted production facilities while also increasing the number of TVs being produced in the country. LCD manufacturers such as Samsung and LG are either making the sets in their own facilities, or are assigning them for production to contract manufacturers like Sony and Philips. Panasonic Corp., which imports a range of plasma TVs into Russia, also has plans to start manufacturing in the country in the near future, according to research from iSuppli.

The average selling price (ASP) in the country for LCD-TVs this year will rise approximately 7 percent from 2009 to reach $726. In comparison, the average monthly income of the Russian population in 2009 was $536.

Aptina looks forward with high dynamic range automotive image sensor

SAN JOSE, USA & MUNICH, GERMANY: Aptina, the leading innovator of CMOS image sensors, has launched the MT9M024 image sensor, the latest addition to the company’s growing portfolio of automotive imaging solutions.

The 1.2-megapixel, 1/3-inch optical format sensor provides a variety of advanced features that include high dynamic range (HDR) greater than 115dB, full motion compensation and DR-Pix technology that enhances the performance of the pixel in very low light conditions.

Detail-rich high definition (HD) video (720p/60fps), and surround-view ready, the MT9M024 provides advanced imaging technology to improve driver safety as a result of excellent image quality for automotive forward-facing solutions like lane departure warning (LDW) and traffic sign recognition (TSR).

“We listened to our customers in the automotive market and understand the need for high performance imaging solutions in automotive applications,” said David Zimpfer, Vice President and General Manager, Automotive and Industrial Business Unit at Aptina.

“Forward-facing and surround-view applications demand a greater level of technology and sophistication to assist the driver. Solutions like our new MT9M024 enable lane departure warning, sign recognition, stereo vision, pedestrian detection, rear view, surround view and drowsy driver applications.”

Vectron announces 1588 oscillator family optimized for precision packet timing

electronica 2010, MUNICH, GERMANY: Vectron International, a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of Precision Frequency Control and Timing Solutions, has announced its new family of 1588 oscillators.

The OX-402, OX-222 and OX-202 are specifically designed and tested to support 1588-based timing applications. These products will be showcased in Hall B5, Booth 237 at electronica 2010, from November 9-11.

Service providers are moving to all IP-based networks to address the need for increased scalability at reduced costs. However, IP infrastructures present new obstacles to the distribution of timing and equipment vendors are turning to packet-based standards like IEEE-1588.

These protocols come with their own set of challenges—the noise caused by inherent variations that take place in a packet network strongly influences the accuracy of timing. To compensate for this ‘network noise’ and resolve these timing uncertainties requires oscillators that have the best stability characteristics.

Vectron’s 1588 oscillator family is specifically designed and tested to support packet based timing systems. The high stability performance of the OX-402, OX-222 and OX-202 enables 1588 system architects to provide a solution that is more robust in the presence of packet delay variation, can derive timing over more ‘hops’, and can be deployed in a more demanding network environment.

“For more than 50 years, Vectron has worked closely with its clients to provide the highest quality timing solutions for their network designs,” says Alan Mond, vice president and general manager of Vectron’s communication business unit. “Our 1588 oscillators are optimized to help customers meet the timing challenges associated with transitioning to all IP-based networks today. As the network evolves, we will continue to innovate to meet future challenges.”

The OX-402, OX-222 and OX-202 bring the best possible stability characteristics to a cost effective platform with a small footprint, and come in industry standard 14x20, 22x25 and 25x25 footprints, respectively.

All devices are Stratum 3E compliant and are currently available with output frequencies of 10MHz, 12.8MHz and 20MHz. In addition to high stability OCXOs, Vectron also offers customers innovative clock path technology including TCXOs, XOs VCXOs, VCSOs and jitter attenuators that provide ultra low jitter timing solutions.