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The BlackBerry Storm 9530 from Research in Motion (RIM) carries a combined materials and manufacturing cost of US$202.89, according to a teardown conducted by iSuppli. This cost includes all parts and manufacturing costs for the Storm but excludes other expenses, including Intellectual Property (IP), royalties and licensing fees, software, shipping, logistics marketing and other channel costs.

In the US, Verizon is selling the Storm for US$249.99 with a US$50 rebate, bringing the balance to US$199.99 – the same selling price point as iPhone. However, carriers like Verizon and AT&T sell their mobile phones at subsidized pricing, so the actual price and materials/manufacturing margin for the product is difficult to determine.

Storm vs. iPhone

The Storm matches up with the iPhone 3G very well in terms of attributes and functionality. Both phones combine wireless voice communications with a range of other convergence features, including Internet access, email, built-in GPS, messaging and an integrated camera.

The Storm features a color 3.25-inch TFT-LCD display, with 65,000 colors and a 480 by 360 pixel resolution. However, the inclusion of the touchscreen is what really puts the Storm into the same class as the iPhone 3G, according to iSuppli.

“The touchscreen and the resulting user interface represent the focal point of the Storm’s design from the user’s point of view, as it is with the iPhone,” said Andrew Rassweiler, principal analyst, teardown services manager, for iSuppli. “However, RIM has added a special differentiating feature from the iPhone: the ‘clickable’ screen. The one thing that existing touchscreens lack is the feedback mechanism users get from a conventional keyboard that clicks when a key is depressed, letting you know quickly that your choice has been registered. Clearly, RIM felt this was lacking and added an actual physical button that allows users to feel and hear a click when they make a selection on the display.”

“While the Storm is very competitive with the iPhone in terms of features and hardware, it does not have iPhone’s multi-touch technology,” said Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli. “The Storm uses a simple physical button under the primary touch screen to provide haptic feedback. This allows one physical key press at a time, meaning there is no double-tapping capability with the Storm.”

On the other hand, the Storm is capable of roaming with more operators globally than the iPhone due to its support for the EVDO air standard, along with CDMA 2000, GSM, WCDMA and HSDPA. This allows Verizon’s Storm users to roam around the world without having to rent a separate device, depending on operator restrictions.

The Storm, when compared with the Apple iPhone 3G, is marginally more expensive and complex in terms of sheer component count.

In July 2008, iSuppli issued a preliminary estimate of US$174.33 for initial production costs for the 8GB iPhone 3G, US$28.56 less than the Storm. The Storm’s total component count is 1,177, of which 151 are mechanical in nature. The iPhone 3G includes 1,116 components.

“The higher cost and component cost of the Storm are to be expected, given its support for both 3GPP – and 3GPP2 – based technologies,” Rassweiler said.

BOMs away

The US$202.89 BOM/manufacturing cost of the Blackberry Storm 9530 consists of US$186 for components and other materials, and US$16.07 for manufacturing. This total is about $27 more expensive than the Bold, another smartphone model from RIM, based on pricing from October 2008, according to iSuppli’s Teardown Analysis Service. The cost differential is mainly accounted for by the touchscreen and its supporting electronics, according to Francis Sideco, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli.

Qualcomm scores design win

The use of the Qualcomm MSM7600 baseband processor represents the first time iSuppli’s Teardown Analysis Service has detected a part from this manufacturer in a RIM product. Previous teardowns noted that RIM employed Marvell chips for this function. For example, the Bold used Marvell Technology Group’s PXA9xx Integrated Baseband processor. The Qualcomm part not only provides support for the EVDO air standard, making it a more of a worldwide phone, but it also eliminates the need for multiple basebands and radio frequency chains, saving some cost.

At an estimated price of US$34.82, the MSM7600 accounts for 17.2% of the Storm’s total component cost. Qualcomm also provided two RF transceivers and a power management IC for the Storm, giving the company a 21.1% share of the total component costs for the product.

Other component supplier winners in the Storm include: Synaptics, which contributed a US$15.50 capacitive touchscreen overlay; SanDisk, which provided an 8GB MicroSD memory card priced at US$11.50; Samsung Electronics, which supplied a US$7.50 multi-chip package (MCP) containing 8Gb of Multi-Level Cell (MLC) memory, according to iSuppli.

source: DigiTimes

Asustek Computer has announced the F50 notebook series targeting the consumer entertainment market.All F50 notebook models feature either a 16-inch or 15.6-inch HD panel. The F50GX comes with Nvidia’s 9400M GPU while the F50Z is based on AMD’s Turion platform.

source: DigiTimes

Powerful One Terabyte High Definition DVR With Integrated Slingbox Features Radical Departure From Traditional STB by Introducing Touchpad Remote Control and Tile-Based User Interface.

EchoStar Technologies LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), introduced today at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show the EchoStar SlingLoaded(TM) 922 HD DVR, the world’s first high definition digital video recorder that incorporates Sling Media’s patented placeshifting technology.

The EchoStar 922’s unique user interface and remote control were selected as CES Innovations 2009 Design and Engineering Award honorees. Demonstrations of the 922 will be held in the Sling Media, Inc., booth and in the DISH Network Corporation booth located in the southeast corner of Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 8-11.

The EchoStar 922 is an entertainment centerpiece combining the best of video and IP technologies into a stylish, black-chassis, set-top box displaying a capacitive-touch, backlit front bezel. By integrating Sling Media’s Slingbox technology, the EchoStar 922 allows TV aficionados to watch and control their favorite TV shows and sporting events from anywhere in the world via a broadband Internet connection on their laptop or mobile phone. Accessing multiple video sources, viewers will never run out of shows to watch. The EchoStar 922 features a massive 1 terabyte hard drive for up to 1,000 hours of storage and supports connecting an external hard drive for more storage.

The EchoStar 922 is a revolutionary departure from the traditional cable or satellite set-top box. Its touchpad remote control, which eliminates half the buttons of a standard remote control, gives users cursor-like navigation on their TV screen. With a slide of the thumb, viewers experience scroll-over activation of widget-like tiles and pop-up menus, all selectable by an underside index finger trigger. These radio frequency remote controls offer two-way learning of codes from other AV equipment remote controls and can store DVR timers, favorites lists and other viewer preferences for ease of resetting or replacing equipment.The new user interface goes beyond traditional text-based user interfaces by using movie poster graphics, tiles or widget-based menus, and cursor-type navigation for a powerful yet simplified user experience that is highly adaptable to future applications. The EchoStar 922’s menu displays integrated RSS feeds, giving viewers instant access to national news, weather, sports, and stock quotes. The 922 also organizes channels by channel name or number.

The EchoStar 922 can be controlled via the Internet using SlingGuide(TM), a new web-based way to control your TV viewing experience. SlingGuide features a powerful search engine for the TV and the ability to schedule the EchoStar 922 DVR timers remotely.

Other 922 features include the following:

–  Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480i, and 480p.
–  Internet-delivered Video on Demand.
–  Users can move forward one day at a time in the guide while browsing a
full or partial screen program guide.
–  Connect to the home network via Ethernet, HomePlug Turbo (using home
power lines), or WiFi (with optional WiFi adapter).
–  Comprehensive search capability across all available video sources,
including IP, VOD, linear TV or DVR.
–  Intuitive timer creation and DVR management, allowing users to
categorize programming by groups (video source, title, genres) or by
content description (date, length, ratings and more).
–  Load photos, MP3s and selected Internet content.
–  Future upgrades may include photo sharing, movie ticket purchases,
family calendar, instant messaging, streaming audio, and ability to
transfer content within a home network.

Digital media operators, including cable, telco and satellite, can benefit from the design and engineering expertise of EchoStar and the features of its 922, including its ability to reduce operational-related customer calls while providing a platform for launching multiple customer-requested content and features beyond linear programming. Diagnostic software tools allow service providers to analyze and cater to the needs of their overall customer base, improving customer service and reducing churn.

“EchoStar and Sling’s software and hardware engineers have created one of the most powerful set-top boxes ever made, with the ability to watch television and other media anywhere in the home or anyplace in the world,” said Mark Jackson, president of EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. “Embedding the SlingLoaded suite of technologies, we’re harnessing the robust search and discovery tools we take for granted on the Internet and bringing them to the DVR. In short, SlingLoaded technologies are redefining what a set-top box is.”

EchoStar will deliver the EchoStar 922 to its first operator, DISH Network, in spring 2009 as the HD DuoDVR(TM) SlingLoaded(TM) ViP® 922, furnishing satellite TV customers with a break-through TV experience and letting DISH Network customers take their favorite shows on the road or into another room. EchoStar will also leverage the features of the 922 by announcing this spring a tru2way SlingLoaded STB for trials for the cable industry.

Sources: SlingMedia & CNN

The personal computer industry is poised to sell tens of millions of small, energy-efficient Internet-centric devices. Curiously, some of the biggest companies in the business consider this bad news.

In a tale of sales success breeding resentment, computer companies are wary of the new breed of computers because they sell for a low price that could threaten the PC makers’ already thin profit margins.

The new devices, often called netbooks, have scant built-in memory and are intended largely for surfing Web sites and checking e-mail accounts. The companies that pioneered the category, like Asus and Everex, both of Taiwan, are small, and so is the price. Some sell for as little as $300.

Despite their wariness of these slim machines, Dell and Acer, two of the biggest PC manufacturers, are not about to let the upstarts have this market to themselves. Hewlett-Packard, the world’s biggest PC maker, recently sidled into the market with a hybrid of a notebook and netbook that it calls the Mini-Note.

Several makers are taking the low-powered PCs one step further. In the coming months, they are expected to introduce “net-tops,” low-cost versions of desktop computers intended for Internet access. A Silicon Valley start-up called CherryPal says it will challenge the idea that high-powered machines are required to allow basic computing functions in the Internet age. It is bringing out a $300 desktop PC that is the size of a paperback and uses 2 watts of power, compared with the 100 watts of some desktops.

It wants to take advantage of “cloud computing,” in which data is managed and stored in distant servers, not on the actual machine.

Industry analysts say that the emergence of this new class of low-cost, cloud-centric machines could threaten titans like Microsoft, Intel, HP and Dell, because they have built their companies on the notion that consumers want more power and functions built into their next computer.

Some of the big computer companies put a positive spin on the low-cost machines, saying they welcome new categories. But they would just as soon this niche did not take off, given the relatively low profit margins.

“When I talk to PC vendors, the No. 1 question I get is, how do I compete with these netbooks when what we really want to do is sell PCs that cost a lot more money,” said J.P. Gownder, an analyst with Forrester Research.

Even as some PC vendors are jumping into the fray, others say they are resisting. Fujitsu, one of the world’s top 10 personal computer makers, said that it believes the low-cost netbook trend is a dangerous one for the bottom line.

“We’re sitting on the sidelines because even if this category takes off, and we get our piece of the pie, it doesn’t add up,” said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product management for Fujitsu. “It’s a product that essentially has no margin.”

Stan Glasgow, chief executive of Sony Electronics, said, “We are not looking at competing with Asus.” But he said the company was investigating what consumers wanted in a second PC.

It is a market that caught the major computer companies - both hardware and software - by surprise after Asus brought out the $300 Eee PC. The company thought it would be used primarily in education, or as a starter laptop for adolescents, but the interest has turned out to be broader.

With an emphasis on Internet-based applications like Google Docs, the Linux-based Eee PC sold out its 350,000 global inventory. It has been in short supply ever since, said Jackie Hsu, president of the American division of Asus. Everex has sold around 20,000 of its CloudBook, which sells for about $350.

The sales are a veritable drop in the bucket compared with the 271 million desktop and laptop PCs shipped globally last year.

But IDC, a research firm, predicts that the category could grow from fewer than 500,000 in 2007 to nine million in 2012 as the market for second computers expands in developed economies.

Intel, meanwhile, is projecting that by 2011, the market for the netbooks will be 40 million units a year, which is why it is jumping in with low-powered chips for netbooks and  net-tops.

Intel’s new Atom chip is competing against upstarts including Via, a Taiwanese company that has a chip called the C7. The C7 is showing up in netbooks and is being used in the Everex models and in HP’s $500 Mini-Note.

William Calder, an Intel spokesman, said that the cost of the Atom for PC makers was around $44, compared with $100 for a state-of-the-art chip. Intel executives think the market for low-cost PCs is too big to pass up, he said, though it raised a potential threat to more powerful and more profitable computing lines.

source: International Herald Tribune

On July 23 Livescribe Inc. announced its national retail rollout for the Pulse™ smartpen, with availability at Target, Target.com, Amazon.com, and major college and university bookstores supported by The Douglas Stewart Company.

“Our partnerships with Target, Amazon, and Douglas Stewart will greatly expand the availability of Pulse smartpens and accessories to consumers across the country,” said Byron Connell, chief marketing officer at Livescribe. “At Target stores, consumers will be able to see the Pulse smartpen first hand and learn more about its capabilities through an interactive video demonstration.”

the SmartPen will be available July 1st and will sell for 1 gb/$149 US and 2 gb/$199 US.

If you want to buy the Pulse SmartPen please click here.
If you want to check the videos please visit http://www.livescribe.com/smartpen/videos.html

Pulse SmartPen Technical Specs:

About DealExtreme:

“DealExtreme.com is the next generation of online shopping center. Here, you get a large selection of gadgets at very attractive prices. While quality issues are generally tied to low prices in the industry, we hand test most of our shipments unit-by-unit to ensure your satisfaction. New products are selected with reliability considerations and your expectations in mind.”

it’s a really cool website, you can find great gadgets with great prices plus free shipping, although the shipping takes 12-17 days to deliver but it’s free, it ships from Hong Kong, they use paypal so it’s secure shopping.

Hovo 

Steven Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, is hoping to expand the iPhone’s appeal by luring software developers to create programs for it.

John Doerr, the venture capitalist, is adding an incentive: his firm is putting up $100 million to invest in the work of those programmers.

At an event Thursday at Apple headquarters, Jobs announced a low-cost software development kit that outside programmers can use to create programs for the iPhone, much as they now write the vast majority of the programs created for the Macintosh. Until now, iPhones have officially been able to run only the limited assortment of applications that Apple includes. (Some buyers have modified the phones to add unauthorized software.)

“We’re very excited about this,” said Jobs, who also announced that the company was adding features to make the iPhone more appealing to business users. “We think a lot of people, after understanding where we are going, are going to want to become an iPhone developer.”

Sharing the stage with Jobs, Doerr announced that his firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, had established a $100 million venture capital fund for iPhone entrepreneurs. Called the iFund, it is the largest fund the company has created for a specific technology.

“The potential for iPhone is huge,” Doerr said.

Matt Murphy, the Kleiner partner overseeing the fund, said he expected the fund to last two to three years, after which the company might decide to add more capital.

Jobs said Apple would offer a developer kit for $99 that would allow programmers to create everything from games to business programs. On Thursday, Sega and AOL demonstrated applications they created for the iPhone using the kit.

The programs that are created will then be available to iPhone users exclusively through a new service on all iPhones called the Apps Store, an aspect of the plan that may discourage some developers. Apple will keep 30 percent of the sale price.

Jobs said that Apple would offer only those programs that it approves, rejecting pornography, for example, and programs that might not provide adequate security for users.

He argued that developers would benefit from Apple’s being the sole distributor because only Apple could give third-party programs such wide exposure to customers. All iPhone users will be able to browse the available programs directly from their devices. Customers will also benefit, he said, from Apple’s weeding out of malicious programs.

“We can track the developers and we can tell their parents,” Jobs said, joking about the demographic profile of many Apple entrepreneurs.

In an attempt to lure corporate customers, Apple executives also announced that the iPhone would be able to work directly with Microsoft’s Exchange software, allowing it to interact closely with corporate networks and e-mail systems in much the way that BlackBerry devices do. Apple said Genentech and Nike were among the companies that were already taking advantage of this feature.

The new business abilities will be added to the iPhone in June and will come to existing owners in a free upgrade. The software will include extensive security features, like the ability to lock and erase the system remotely in the event of loss or theft.

“The majority of the objections IT managers have had about the iPhone have been addressed today,” said Van Baker, an analyst with Gartner Inc., referring to corporate information technology managers. “It’s a very valid and robust device, and for that reason it’s a viable platform for the enterprise in competition with the BlackBerry and others.”

But attracting a huge following among corporations is something Apple has not been able to achieve with the Macintosh, and it remains to be seen whether the iPhone will take sales from the BlackBerry, the popular business communicator sold by Research in Motion of Waterloo, Ontario.

“It’s a better device and platform that does more things than the BlackBerry,” Murphy said. If people have been questioning whether the iPhone is a business tool, the integration with Exchange “takes the issue off the table,” he said.

The iPhone is already the second most popular smartphone after the BlackBerry, with a 28 percent share of the market, but its inability to communicate with corporate computer systems running Microsoft Exchange has hindered its growth in that market.

source: International Herald Tribune

Sony recently announced its 13.6-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W300 digital camera.

The camera features a CCD imager along with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD screen and an eye-level viewfinder in a compact size.

Sony’s Smile Shutter technology prioritizes the faces of children or adults so that the camera takes the photo at the moment the intended subject smiles.

The DSC-W300 and optional accessories will be available in May for about US$350.

source: DigiTimes

Kingston Technology introduced its DataTraveler Micro Reader, which is an all-in-one USB flash drive and reader that can store, transfer and read content on mobile memory cards.

The DataTraveler Micro Reader is enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost, and features onboard Flash memory up to 4GB and an expansion slot to read microSD, microSDHC, or Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards.

source: DigiTimes

Today at Mobile World Congress 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced that Sony Ericsson will deliver a new Windows Mobile phone, the XPERIA™ X1, which blends mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment, to meet consumer demand for a premium mobile experience for work and play.”People should be able to have phones that deliver what they need throughout the day and stay connected with today’s broad array of on-demand information and entertainment no matter where they are, said Pieter Knook, senior vice president, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. “Our shared vision with Sony Ericsson is to make the concept of ‘One Phone for Your Life’ a reality and finally give consumers the freedom of true mobility. The XPERIA X1 from Sony Ericsson lets users choose from a dynamic range of activities for work and play backed by the familiarity of Microsoft Windows and extensive availability of Windows Mobile applications and services.

To be introduced in the second half of 2008, XPERIA X1 is the first phone to realize the vision of XPERIA, a new Sony Ericsson sub-brand that reflects a premium experience of energized communication. “XPERIA is our promise to think foremost about user experience and to deliver on our goal of providing a true premium experience - anytime, anywhere, anything, with anyone,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, head of Portfolio and Proposition at Sony Ericsson. “By working with Microsoft on the XPERIA X1, we have been able to couple our excellence in creating compelling consumer propositions with the productivity capabilities of Windows Mobile to deliver a seamless blend of mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment within a distinctive design.”Sony Ericsson is the latest leading device manufacturer to design and market mobile phones based on the Windows Mobile platform. The company sold more than 100 million handsets in 2007 and excelled in sales of imaging and music-enabled devices, such as Cyber-shot and Walkman phones. In fiscal year 2007, Microsoft sold 11 million Windows Mobile licenses and expects to sell more than 20 million licenses in fiscal year 2008, making Windows Mobile a leading smartphone platform globally.

With the addition of the XPERIA X1 from Sony Ericsson, four of the world’s top five makers of mobile phones will ship Windows Mobile devices in 2008. “The agreement between Microsoft and Sony Ericsson is undoubtedly a win- win for both companies,” said Lars Vestergaard, research director, European Wireless and Mobile Communications at IDC. “Marrying the power and ease of use of the Windows Mobile platform with the advanced consumer features Sony Ericsson is known for has the potential to reach the ’sweet spot’ for mobile phones.”The XPERIA X1 features include the following:

• Unique arc slider with wide-pitch, easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard, 3-inch clear wide VGA display and high-quality high-finish metal body
• Windows Mobile, HSDPA/HSUPA and Wi-Fi™ support so customers can enjoy their favorite entertainment and work efficiently on the move
• XPERIA™ panels to navigate Web, multimedia and other applications with the tip of a finger

The XPERIATM X1 combines a 3-inch clear wide VGA display and a full QWERTY keyboard within a quality metal-finish body. With Windows Mobile® inside, the XPERIA™ X1 lets you choose from a dynamic range of activities at anytime and anywhere; from enjoying your favourite entertainment content to working efficiently on-the-move. Access a world of experiences simply by touching the XPERIA™ panel on the screen.”XPERIA™ represents the first brand that is truly borne from within Sony Ericsson. It represents our vision for a premium, energised communication experience,” said Dee Dutta, Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson. “This launch, and the announcement of the X1, further strengthens the overall Sony Ericsson brand and places us at the forefront of mobile convergence.“Our vision for the XPERIA™ X1 is to deliver a seamless blend of mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment within a distinctive design,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Head of Portfolio and Propositions, Sony Ericsson. “XPERIA™ is our promise to think foremost of user experience and to deliver the premium experience – anytime, anywhere, anything, with anyone.

read more at ecoustics.com

The Wii, the popular game console from Nintendo, may be a major headache for a rival like Sony, but for operators of game arcades the pain is proving just as intense.

In an unexpected downward revision to its earnings outlook, Namco Bandai Holdings, a toy and amusement arcade company, said it would close 50 to 60, or about one-fifth, of its arcades, depressing its shares for a second consecutive session Thursday.

“A lot of the types of games that people played at an arcade can now be done at home,” said a Namco spokesman, Yuji Machida.

The Wii, which has gained worldwide popularity, offers an innovative motion-sensing controller that can be swung like a bat or a sword.

The addition of “Wii Fit,” which features a pressure-sensing board that players can use to simulate ski jumps or surfing, has also propelled sales for the company.

Many Japanese children received a Wii last year, particularly over the holiday season, and it seems as if much of their pocket money is now being saved to buy more hardware or software for the console, Machida said.

As a result of high oil prices, Japanese families, have reduced the number of trips to big shopping malls, where many of the company’s family-oriented arcades are located, the spokesman added.

Namco Bandai is the second arcade operator to announce a major overhaul. Sega Sammy Holdings also plans to close around 100 of its arcades.

Namco Bandai, perhaps best known for the virtual pet toy Tamagotchi, slashed its full-year net profit outlook by 38 percent from an earlier estimate to ¥16.5 billion, or $155 million.

Its shares closed down by their daily limit again Thursday at ¥1,095, a 27 percent decline since Tuesday’s close.

Sega Sammy shares closed down 5.0 percent to ¥1,102.

source: Herald Tribune

Sony Ericsson recently announced the launch of its T270 and T280 handsets.

The T270 and T280 are less than 13mm slim and built using brushed light metal with a glass finish. The T280 features a 1.3-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom.

The two GSM-based phones will be available in the same colors, silver on black and copper on silver. They will be available in selected markets from the first quarter of 2008.

This is whipper!!! i could easily recommend this beauty to any one working in a TPO or BPO related job environment …as its a phone thats has MP3 ringtones,BT,Limited Mem,NO CAM(preffered)& BEST RADIO RECEPTION with RDS …who needs more than the…

source: DigiTimes

Sharp will introduce into the Japanese market four new models in the Aquos E series of LCD TVs.

All models feature a contrast ratio of 15,000:1. Proprietary 12-bit BDE circuitry controls the LCD panel to reproduce subtle changes in color values (color gradations) for a smooth, natural-looking picture.

The TVs also have double-speed (120-Hz frame rate conversion) full-HD LCD technology for fast-motion image processing.

source: DigiTimes 

Planar Systems recently introduced the Planar m70L, a full-featured commercial-grade, high-definition 70-inch LCD monitor.

The Planar m70L offers high-end professional features such as built-in power management and automation, a 178-degree viewing angle and broad video source compatibility.

The m70L’s full HD 1080p resolution, extra-large screen size, high brightness (600 nits) and HD-SDI connectivity create more realistic and life-like images.

source: DigiTimes

Panasonic, a leader in High Definition technology, today announced the development of the world’s first* 32 Gigabyte (GB) SD High Capacity (SDHC)** Memory Card with Class 6 speed specification, perfect for recording High Definition video. With the ability to store up to eight hours of High Definition video, the 32GB SDHC Memory Card prototype will be showcased at the 2008 International CES in Las Vegas from January 7-10 at the Panasonic booth #9405.

The newly developed card, featuring a massive 32GB of capacity is introduced in line with the huge growth in High Definition SD Camcorders and AVCHD High Definition video recording. With double the storage capacity of the current 16GB card, the 32GB card is able to record approximately eight hours of 1440 x 1080i High Definition video and approximately five hours and 20 minutes of 1920 x 1080i full High Definition video. Hours and hours of High definition recording time ensures that you never miss out on a moment. Fly on the wall documentary at work sound interesting? You will have no problems in capturing your whole day with the ability to record around eight hours worth of high definition footage. With the Class 6 speed specification and maximum data transfer speeds up to an impressive 20MB/s, the 32GB card is the industries fastest of its size, allowing users to enjoy superb performance and high-quality recording.

The card is also equipped with a new user-friendly labeling feature, which allows users to write titles or comments directly onto labels on the front and back of the card. Archiving all those holiday snaps has never become so easy. Panasonic is planning to introduce the new labeling feature in its other SD Memory Card models, with a running changeover from the current card designs in spring 2008.

The arrival of Panasonic’s 32GB model further strengthens its Pro High Speed line-up which currently has five models available: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB card sizes with the Class 6 speed specification. The 32GB SDHC memory card will be available from March 2008.

source: dpnow.com