Daily Mailbox

Microsoft Announces LifeCam VX-5000, LifeCam VX-500 and LifeChat LX-2000

Matrox Introduces Dual-Link Extio F1240

Creative Introduces Vado Pocket Video Cam

Apple to Showcase Mac OS X Leopard and OS X iPhone Development Platforms at WWDC 2008

SMART Modular Introduces New Low-Power DDR2 FBDIMMs

Daily Mailbox

Microsoft Announces LifeCam VX-5000, LifeCam VX-500 and LifeChat LX-2000

Today, Microsoft announced the LifeCam VX-5000, a webcam with a bendable attachment base that molds to virtually any surface - from a notebook to a desktop - so users can take it anywhere.

For personalized flair, the LifeCam VX-5000 features a brightly colored ring around the front of the webcam in the colors "Cool Blue," "Lucky Green" and "Fire Red," allowing consumers to choose their favorite to suit their style. To complement the look, the LifeCam VX-5000 features MSN Photo Swap, a special feature that lets consumers share digital photos in midvideo conversation and see real-time reactions as both callers view the pictures. The new webcam arrives now to help share summer vacation memories and keep consumers connected throughout the year.

Microsoft is also offering the LifeCam VX-500 and the LifeChat LX-2000 - two affordable products, each with a compact design. The LifeCam VX-500 is a versatile webcam designed to fit on notebooks and desktop PCs. The LifeChat LX-2000 is a full-size headset that folds down into a small, portable shape.

The VX-5000 comes with Windows Live optimizations and the latest version of LifeCam software. Key features and benefits include the following:

• Windows LiveCall Button, located on top of the LifeCam, allows users to open their Contact Picker (a tool showing which contacts are currently online) with one touch, so they can quickly initiate video calls to friends and family.
• LifeCam Dashboard incorporates full LifeCam navigational controls (pan, tilt, zoom, face tracking and Video Effects) within the Windows Live Messenger interface.
• 640x480 video resolution and 1.3-megapixel still photography (interpolated).
• Built-in unidirectional microphone with acoustic noise cancellation.
• Pan, tilt and 3X digital zoom features allow users to adjust the image to see more clearly.

The LifeCam VX-5000 will be available in June 2008 for an estimated retail price of US$49.95. The LifeCam VX-500 and LifeChat LX-2000 will be available in May 2008 for the following estimated retail prices:

• Microsoft LifeCam VX-500, US$16.95
• Microsoft LifeChat LX-2000, US$29.95

The LifeCam VX-5000 and LifeChat LX-2000 are available for pre-sale on Amazon.com, and all three products will be backed worldwide by a three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft.

Source: Microsoft

Matrox Introduces Dual-Link Extio F1240

Matrox Graphics today announced the Matrox Extio F1240, the latest addition to its line of Extio remote graphics units (RGUs), capable of driving two 30-inch displays, each at its native dual-link digital resolution of 2560 x 1600.

A fanless device, the Extio F1240 RGU provides a quiet and secure environment by separating the host computer from the monitors and other peripherals (keyboard, mouse, and audio) by up to 250 meters (820 ft) via fiber-optic cable. Extio RGUs takes advantage of PCI Express bus extension technology to deliver a user experience that parallels working with the computer situated at the user's desk.

The Extio F1240 RGU is equipped with a Matrox-designed graphics chip, 128 MB of graphics memory, dual-LC connector for fiber-optic cable, 2 digital (DVI) and 2 analog (HD-15) monitor connectors that support a variety of resolutions up to 1920x1200 and 2560x1600 (using the digital connectors only), 6 USB 2.0 ports (4 in front, 2 in back), integrated audio hardware, an optical connector for digital audio output, and analog audio connectors for a microphone input, line input, and line output. Extio is available in PCI or PCI Express (PCIe) to meet different slot requirements on host systems.

Key application areas include financial, insurance, and commodities trading systems; emergency and transportation dispatch control systems; process control systems; security systems; command-and-control systems; and other high-reliability applications in enterprise, industrial, and government systems.

Front:

• A - 4 USB 2.0 ports
• B - Microphone, mini-jack connector with bias current (3.5 mm / 1/8")
• G - Audio-in, mini-stereo-jack connector (3.5 mm / 1/8")
• D - Audio-out, mini-stereo-jack connector (3.5 mm / 1/8")

Back:

• E - Audio-out, mini-Toslink connector (3.5 mm / 1/8")
• F - 2 USB 2.0 ports
• G - Fiber-optic, dual-LC connector
• H - 2 RGB and 2 DVI connectors
• I - Power input, lock-in, DIN-4 (12 VDC, 5 A) connector

Source: Matrox Graphics

Creative Introduces Vado Pocket Video Cam

Creative Technology today announced the compact Creative Vado Pocket Video Cam. The SG$169 novelty is available in silver or "hot pink" colors and features 2GB of internal memory.

The press release stresses upon easiness of operation, light weight and compact size of Creative Vado. The camera has a built-in USB interface and an application that will prompt you to copy the video, or you can just drag the videos directly to your PC. You are also provided with a simplified way of uploading videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net.

Creative Vado features:

• Slim, lightweight, pocket-sized design
• Built-in two-inch colour LCD screen
• Removable rechargeable battery
• 640 x 480 VGA video resolution
• Built-in USB connector for PC
• Built-in software program for posting videos to YouTube or Photobucket
• Enable friends and family to download your videos from Box.net

The Creative Vado will be first available from 12 June 2008 at the PC Show and Creative Stores in Singapore at the suggested retail price of SG$169. The list of accessories includes:

• A pouch to stow your Creative Vado Pocket Video Cam, priced at SG$25.
• Spare batteries providing up to two hours of recording or playback, priced at SG$25.
• A power adapter with charging station so your Creative Vado is ready to go when you are, priced at SG$45.
• An A/V cable for sharing your Creative Vado video on your TV screen, priced at SG$15.

Source: Creative Technology

Apple to Showcase Mac OS X Leopard and OS X iPhone Development Platforms at WWDC 2008

Apple today announced that a team of Apple executives, led by CEO Steve Jobs, will kick off the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008 at San Francisco's Moscone West. This year's WWDC will showcase two development platforms: the innovations of OS X Leopard and OS X iPhone, claimed to be world's most advanced mobile operating system.

The five-day WWDC event, which runs from June 9 to June 13, will feature the first ever iPhone track for mobile developers with in-depth sessions and hands-on labs to fully explore the capabilities of the OS X iPhone 2.0 software, including the iPhone SDK and the App Store, a way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to iPhone and iPod touch users.

The iPhone track will also enable mobile developers to work side by side with Apple engineers to create applications that leverage iPhone's Multi-Touch user interface, animation technology, rich set of APIs, including programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa Touch technologies, built-in three axis accelerometer and geographical location technology.

This year's Mac track will give newcomers and seasoned veterans alike the technical foundation and techniques needed to develop world-class OS X Leopard applications with sessions that discuss every level of the system, including interface design and implementation, application frameworks, security, localization and networking.

Source: Apple

SMART Modular Introduces New Low-Power DDR2 FBDIMMs

SMART Modular Technologies today announced its new lineup of low-power fully-buffered DIMMs (FBDIMMs) available in densities up to 4GB for mainstream server and high performance computing (HPC) applications.

Utilizing the industry's lowest power 1.5V DRAMs and advanced memory buffers (AMBs), SMART's new modules achieve an average of 20 percent power savings compared to modules using standard 1.8V DRAMs and AMBs. Reducing power consumption in servers is now a top priority for OEM system designers because improving server efficiency helps reduce power consumption and minimize thermal issues that can degrade system reliability and data integrity.

By using 1.5V 1Gb DRAMs in conjunction with x8-based configurations, SMART's new modules cut in half the number of DRAMs needed per rank from 18 to 9, helping OEMs achieve the lowest possible power combination.

SMART offers 1.55V FBDIMMs, which are targeted at Intel-based server platforms specifically configured to support 1.5V operation, in DDR2-667 and DDR2-800 speed grades.

Source: SMART Modular Technologies

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