CeBIT Hannover 2007 (Part 9)
In Episode 9 of CeBIT 2007, we share with you our findings from Ality, Beyond The Ordinary (BTO), Commodore, ECS, Elixir, Gigabyte's Communication department, PQI, Sennheiser and SIS. Don't miss this edition as interesting gadgets and solutions await from these vendors!
Ality's Booth
Ality had a variety of digital photo frames on display, but they developed a new intuitive model that's to be released around the June timeframe and looks like it will stir up the market.
Enter the Wireless Pixxa digital photo frame. Unlike most traditional digital photo frames that play a slideshow and background music, this device does a whole lot more. Highlights include Live New, Photo Messenger, Live Calendar, in addition to the usual photo, video and audio playback support. It can offer such a broad range of services because its custom GUI and operating platform relies on the Internet. Just plug this device to your home network and enjoy the Internet collaboration functions it supports. Specs: an 800x600 resolution 4:3 screen, built-in speakers, on-board memory of up to 2GB, supports MS/MMC/SD/CF/XD memory cards, USB host and slave ports, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g support, real-time clock (syncs with the Internet) and a remote control. Expected SRP is about US$350, but it could be worth it.
Based on a user account service, you can send messages, photos and even chat with friends from your Pixxa or Ality online account with that of your friend's Pixxa account. News and live feeds of your interest are displayed on the screen after the initial configuration while Live Calendar synchronizes your schedules from Google Calendar to the Wireless Pixxa (or vice versa). In a live demonstration of the Photo Messenger, the demo personnel sent an e-mail message with a photo using his Pixxa account to the test unit's account and the picture message came up in a jiffy. The Wireless Pixxa demoed here is a prototype model and its physical frame would be smaller yet in the final unit. Overall, we feel this gadget has potential to even give the HP Touchsmart PC a competition for those who require nifty and simple collaboration device without requiring an entire PC. It even supports multiple user accounts!
Elixir's Booth
Elixir, the retail branding of Nanya memory was proudly showcasing its latest range as well as DD3 parts, which in their view are ready for retail as soon as the motherboards arrive.
Here's a 1GB DDR-1066 memory module from Elixir. Operating at 1.5V, its memory timings are 7-7-7. From what we've heard, DDR3 performs similar to DDR2 clock-for-clock. Thus some memory vendors we spoke to mentioned that they would only debut DDR3 memory modules at speeds higher than what current DDR2 parts can handle. Besides, there's plenty of DDR2 in the market already and it won't help if DDR3 is introduced to compete against these.
Here are a handful of DDR3 memory devices up-close.
Beyond The Ordinary (BTO)'s Booth
Beyond The Ordinary (BTO) had an interesting audio companion unit called the Plusdeck EX. In this tiny SFF-like unit, it integrates a stand-alone 7.1-channel USB audio sound system, S/PDIF (Coaxial and Optical) input and output, several audio inputs (including LP), has stand-alone functions like radio and even cassette tape. Interfacing with the PC via USB 2.0, it this is a very useful unit to quickly convert analog audio tracks to digital formats.
A cassette deck is getting as rare as the LP these days, but many older folks still use cassettes as it�s a really affordable and easy to use format - plus it�s the familiarity that counts most. This Plusdeck EX not only plays audio tapes, but also records to it, be it from the FM radio source, all the way to the digital tracks that one has on the PC (it does the necessary conversion) and other external sources connected to the unit.
The various connectivity options it boasts. The only thing else you require is a pair of speakers as it does not have an integrated speaker unit. The Plusdeck EX should be ready by June for retail.
There's even a PC-only version of sort called the Plusdeck 2c, though this has been in their lineup for a long while now. It's primarily a tape to MP3 converter since the rest of the functions of the above external unit is handled by the PC.
Commodore's Booth
Commodore International Corporation is going strong in the European region with the release of their multi media entertainment platform CommodoreWorld and a series of Wi-Fi enabled media players (Gravel). CommodoreWorld is basically an online media environment providing a reservoir of entertainment content which can be accessed on demand only via their new range of Gravel Wi-Fi enabled media players (be it at home or on the road).
In their hand-held Gravel series range, the Gravel In Pocket model is their newest entry will be launched soon. Basically a mini PMP with a 2.8-inch QVGA TFT screen supporting MP3, WAV, WMA, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX and XviD media playback. Comes with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/ support, 1GB or 2GB of internal flash storage and an SD/MMC card slot to extend storage capacity.
Its dimensions are a handy 84 x 72 x 17 (W x H x D) and is extremely light.
What's unique to this PMP that we've not encountered from other rivals is its unique GUI and rear joystick for single-handed navigation. Might take a little getting used to, but its really neat. There's practically no other buttons (apart from the CommodoreWorld direct-connect) to control this little player.
Here's yet another view.
This is the Gravel Personal full-fledged PMP player with a 4-inch widescreen TFT screen, speakers, microphone, 2MP camera integrated to it rear and has 2 to 4 GB of internal storage. This was already launched a little earlier to the market.
Over at their extreme gaming booth, they had this realistic racing simulator on display.
ECS' Booth
ECS had quite a big booth space, but their motherboard display was their main attraction.
PCCHIPS, an ECS subsidiary, has this low-cost LGA775 motherboard (P51G) to offer based on the VIA P4M900 chipset.
Focusing on ECS' mainstream products based on their own branding, here's the new MCP68-M motherboard for Socket AM2 processors. It's using the NVIDIA GeForce 7050SE + nForce 630a single-chip solution. SATA 3Gbps with RAID, Gigabit LAN and DVI output are its highlights.
Here's the Intel version of the above board. The MCP73T-M uses the GeForce 7050 + nForce 630i platform solution.
The ECS G33T-M is based on the upcoming Bearlake chipset using the Intel G33 and ICH9DH. This is the first board in our CeBIT tour using the ICH9DH Southbridge that not only supports Intel Viiv technology, but also the much talked about Intel Robson technology. Supports upcoming 45nm processors, 1333MHz FSB processors, dual-channel DDR2-800 memory and has FireWire and DVI-D output.
Using a similar layout as the above board, here's a business class Q35T-M motherboard using the Q35 + ICH9DO chipset. Instead of Viiv, this board supports Intel vPro technology. DVI-D output and FireWire features are still retained though.
This is likely ECS' flagship motherboard model to come in May. The P35T-A is based on the Intel P35 + ICH9DH chipset. Used DDR3-1066 memory, supports Intel Viiv technology, Intel Robson technology, ATI CrossFire and has the chipset's overspeed protection removed.
Gigabyte's Mobile Phones
Gigabyte's Communications division have been designing and manufacturing handheld devices since 2004 and have been marketing their products under the Gsmart branding. They had a couple of new phones to show off here at CeBIT and we took a look at these.
This is the Gigabyte q60, a 3G mobile phone for videoconferencing purpose and a powerful PDA. Uses an Intel PXA270 520MHz processor and operates on the Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS. Features: 2.5-inch 260K TFT LCD touch screen (320x240), Rear 2.1MP camera, 300K forward VGA camera, Push e-mail, MSN messenger, Bluetooth 2.0, mini USB 2.0 and an Micro SD expansion slot. Options include digital TV, DAB, GPS and Wi-Fi. Networks supported include WCDMA2100, HSDPA, EDGE, GSM900/1800/1900 and GPRS class 10.
Touted to be the world's first DVB-T/H tri-band mobile phone, here are the features of the t600: DVB-T, DVB-H, T-DMB, DAB, 2MP camera with video recording, TV-out, Bluetooth 2.0, mini USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11b/g, Micro SD expansion slot, 2.6-inch 260K TFT LCD touch screen (640x480), 256MB ROM, 96MB RAM, Intel PXA270 520MHz processor and uses the Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS.
The Gsmart i120 is a slightly older tri-band phone but its still a capable smartphone. Features: NTSC/PAL/SECAM TV tuner, FM receiver, 2.1MP camera with video recording, Push e-mail, MSN messenger, Bluetooth 1.2, mini USB 1.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Mini SD expansion slot, 2.4-inch 262K TFT touch screen LCD (320x240), 256MB ROM, 64MB RAM, Intel PXA272 416MHz applications processors and uses the Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC edition.
The Gsmart i128 is quite similar to the i120 model but has only 128MB ROM.
PQI's Booth
PQI's focus at this period seems to be its flash variety of products, from consumers to industrial applications.
For industrial applications, PQI has been supplying flash-based hard drives for a while now. The largest shipping capacities for PQI at the moment are 128GB of 3.5-inch form factor, 64GB for 2.5-inch form factor and 32GB for a 1.8-inch form factor.
However in a few months, PQI will have a 2.5-inch flash hard drive with a 128GB capacity. At the moment, it's in its early stage and as seen in the picture, it is physically larger than a standard 2.5-inch drive. If they can churn this fast enough, they could be the first to achieve this capacity.
Sennheiser's Booth
This is Sennheiser's business class headset, the BW 900. However, its functionality is great for even home use, if the estimated price of 300 Euros isn't going to hurt the wallet too much. This headset is ideal to pair with Bluetooth capable phones/PDAs, Notebook/PC for VOIP phone use and it even connects to your normal PSTN phone line to enable one to answer calls via the Bluetooth headset.
The powerful Bluetooth headset has an operating range of up to 100 meters from the base unit. The 'mouth piece' has built-in noise canceling technology while the earpiece automatically adjusts the volume depending on how noisy or quiet the surrounding environment and this works on the fly. The unit also a removable rechargeable battery and although the base acts as a recharging station, there is secondary battery within the base station to swap with the headset's own piece.
Here's a 'head shot' of the BW 900 when worn.
Another overall view of the Sennheiser BW 900.
SiS' Booth
Main highlight for SiS was their latest SiS 672 series chipset that is Windows Vista Premium certified. It is still paired with the SiS 968 Southbridge.
This is SiS 672FX chipset for the Intel platform. Although the SiS 671FX boards that we've featured in our CeBIT 2007 coverage are rather new and have just recently been rolling out, these are only Windows Vista Basic certified due to its Mirage 3 graphics engine. The SiS 672FX that's ready to roll out soon uses a faster Mirage 3+ graphics engine and has a couple more advances to its multimedia handling, thus giving the SiS 672FX chipsets the Vista Premium certified labeling. Like the 671 series, there are the FX and non-FX versions as well in the 672 series. The difference is in the FSB speed supported. FX handles up to 1066MHz while the non-FX makes do with 800MHz (i.e. low-end Intel processor offerings only).
Already several manufacturers have SiS 672 series boards ready to ship as it is directly pin-to-pin compatible with existing 671 series boards. SiS mentioned that the board manufacturers should be tweaking their solutions at the moment and should be out by early next month.
Here's a Foxconn SiS 672FX motherboard. If you take a look back at our Foxconn coverage, you'll realize that it is identical to its current SiS 671FX based board.
There's also the mobile version known as the 672MX chipset and here's an early reference design shown at their booth.
There's also an AMD platform equivalent with the SiS 771 chipset and the reference board has been in its final state for sometime now, but as SiS explained, its tough to get partners to hop on to this platform with AMD having ATI in its pocket. They had a SiS 771 reference board set up for demo as well and it was running perfectly without any form of chipset cooling; not even a heatsink! SiS has been known to produce very low power efficient chipsets and they are still upholding this tradition.
Apart from platform chipsets, they have many other application specific chipsets, such this wireless LAN 802.11a/g compatible solution. Supports TKIP, AES encryption and QoS (802.11e) standard.
An eSATA controller too is in their list, so expect to see these chips in future motherboards from time to time.
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