If you've been wanting to break into the exciting, fast-paced, cut-throat world of ultra-compact desktop PC construction, but didn't know where to begin, VIA has got your number. The company has just launched the ARTIGO Pico-ITX builder kit, a complete VIA-based system that you can snap together in the privacy of your own home. The bundle includes a Pico-ITX motherboard with a VIA C7 1GHz CPU, support for up to 1GB of RAM, IDE and eSATA connectors, VGA output, four USB ports, audio line in / out jacks, and 10/100 ethernet. The package includes everything but a hard drive and memory, and is available right now for around $300. Check the video after the break and experience the joy of construction.

[Thanks, Stewart]

So it looks like Sony is about to break us off with a very nicely spec'ed little waif of a camera, the 8 megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-T200 (pictured left). Oddly enough, SonyStyle Canada has all the juicy details about this unannounced, significant upgrade to the DSC-T100 -- and its little brother, the DSC-T70 (pictured right) -- posted up for the world to see before a single press released has passed our desks; we're talking 3.5-inch touchscreen, 5x optical zoom (3-inch / 3x on the T70), claimed 3200 max ISO, VGA video at 30fps, automatic face detection, and even optical image stabilization, all in sub-160-gram packages. No wireless radios onboard, unfortunately, but you are getting the ability to dock with Sony's optional CSS-HD1 Cyber-shot Station for TV, allowing images to be viewed in their full glory on high definition sets. Despite the mounds of info and images displayed on these microsites -- along with overseas enthusiast site e-Photographia -- there are still no pricing / release details to be found, so we'll keep our eyes open. You can check out the T200, lens cover down, after the break...

[Thanks yik, images courtesy of e-Photographia]

Read - DSC-T200
Read - DSC-T70

One might wonder if Sony packed a little too much into the relatively compact DSC-G1, but as we'd already seen, even the CNET review crew didn't really think so. The only noticeable digs were the slightly larger-than-usual frame and additional weight added on, and unfortunately, the "slow-going" WiFi wizardry. To its credit, the WiFi features did seem to elicit quite a bit of smiles once the initial kinks were worked out, and while they weren't crazy about the "narrow, slow zoom lens" per se, the image quality seemed on par. Additionally, the digicam's 3.5-inch LCD monitor was dubbed "a television" in an of itself thanks to the impressive resolution, and the 2GB of internal memory along with an additional Memory Stick expansion slot was also highly regarded. Another seemingly minor thumbs-up was given to this unit's ability to accept "drag-and-drop" music file transfers to play back on the built-in media player, which is a much appreciated departure from previous cams that forced users to rely on Sony's SonicStage software. Still, $600 isn't chump change for a pocket-based camera, so be sure and read up on the full skinny before throwing down on the (admittedly flashy) G1.

[Thanks, Antipathy]

No double agent facade is complete with just an uber-stealthy Sony Ericsson cellphone, as everyone understands that no impossible improbable heist goes down without wiring a few mil to that heavily secured offshore account. Stepping up to the oh-so-dodgy challenge is Sony's own 007 Edition VAIO TX ultraportable, slimmed down to just 1-inch thick and weighing 2.8 pounds in order to fit comfortably in the matching Attaché briefcase. The 11.1-inch machine touts a carbon fiber enclosure, WXGA XBRITE display, 1.2GHz Intel U1400 Core Solo processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 80GB 4200RPM hard drive, Intel's GMA950 integrated graphics set, dual-layer DVD burner, and a snazzy "privacy screen" that blurs all on-screen content to curious enemies not looking head-on. The Casino Royale-approved device also touts audio in / out, Ethernet, 56k modem, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, 4-pin FireWire, MS / MSPro reader, PCMCIA, and the wireless tools (read: WiFi / Bluetooth) no undercover assassin could function without. For snapping up those incriminating reconnaissance photos, Sony bundles in a DSC-T50B (the "B" is for Bond, presumably) which rocks the same bevy of specs found on its less-secretive sibling, but sports a sleek, black finish and the obligatory 007 logo. While you may have got turned down when looking to become Pierce Brosnan's sure-to-be-legendary successor, you can live vicariously through Sony for just $4,299.99 -- but those desirable silhouettes are unfortunately not included.

[Thanks, Will]

Better known for its ultra-wide and uber-powerful lap-burners, CompAmerica is taking things down a few notches with its newly-released Snow Leopard 6220. Complimenting the high-end machines, this ultralight "bundle of mobile computing joy" sports the usual me-too white enclosure, 12-inch WXGA LCD, 1.2GHz Intel U1400 Core Solo processor, 512MB of RAM, 40GB 5400RPM hard drive, dual-layer DVD±R / RW burner, 802.11a/b/g, integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics set, and a 4-in-1 flash card reader. This 2.8-pound (including battery) notebook also sports a myriad of ports, including 4-pin FireWire, PCMCIA, 56k modem, audio out, Ethernet, VGA output, and a trio of USB 2.0 connectors. While the Windows XP-powered machine may mimic the ole MacBook at first glance, the magnesium alloy casing should withstand a bit more abuse, and the built-in fingerprint scanner offers up a warm feeling of security to boot. The Snow Leopard 6220 can make your holidays white regardless of locale for $1,399.

[Via Laptoping]

Pentax is throwing down some lightweight love today, too, with its Optio T20 ultracompact joining the beefier K10D DSLR we just brought you. Sporting most of the niceties found on the Optio T10 -- including that ultrathin 0.77-inch enclosure and expansive 3-inch touchscreen LCD -- the Optio T20 also packs a 7 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 640 x 480 movie mode at 30fps, and a nifty stylus used to decorate your images in-camera via the "Drawing Function." You'll also find a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, 12MB of internal storage, and an SD card slot here (sorry, no SDHC just yet) -- all for a reasonable $350. Sadly, though, you'll have to wait until next month to get your hands on one of these shiny little point-and-shoots -- but hey, that's the price you pay for demanding only the freshest gadget news.

Casio just announced a new addition to its popular lineup of Exilim ultracompacts, the EX-Z700. This model is almost exactly the same as the six megapixel EX-Z600 -- both devices feature a 3x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, and 112-gram weight -- but as the model number indicates, it bumps the resolution up to seven megapixels. The only other real difference here lies in the preset scene modes: Casio added Auto Framing and Layout Shot (which creates a composite image from two or three separate photos) to its suite of Best Shot settings. Expect the Z700 to hit stores sometime next month, and although pricing has not yet been revealed, we're thinking it'll go for around $350.

When it comes to ultracompact digital cameras, they don't get much more pocketable than the Fujifilm Finepix F470 we first spotted at CES, which at 122-grams, is one of the lightest six megapixel shooters you can buy, Yet according to Digital Camera Review, the diminutive F470 is also an excellent performer, with almost insignificant startup times and shutter lag, low to acceptable noise levels up to ISO 400, and most importantly, accurate color and white balance -- save for some purple fringing on shots captured at full 3x zoom. You're also getting a 2.5-inch LCD, VGA video at 30fps, and 16MB of onboard memory, plus, the few downsides here don't sound all that bad: below average life from the included rechargeable battery, only six steps on the optical zoom, and an Exposure Compensation setting that doesn't auto-reset are the only gripes this reviewer had. Oh, that and the fact that you'll have to shell out for an xD card along with your purchase, because chances are you don't already have one, and Fuji doesn't include one in the box.

Since they don't release these products in the US, you might not know that Acer's got quite the little digital camera business going on overseas, and now they've announced three more new models to join the 8.28 megapixel CP 8660 we spotted earlier. If you were hoping for some of the retro styling or compelling features we saw on the CP-8660, though, you'll probably be disappointed, as there's not much noteworthy about the 5.05 megapixel CE 5430 and 6.36 megapixel CE 6430 point-and-shoots or the 5.05 megapixel CL 5300 (pictured), other than the fact that this latter model seems to be Acer's first foray into ultracompacts. Both new members of the CE line feature those standard 3x optical zooms that have become so tiresome along with 2.36-inch TFT LCDs (no viewfinder here), while the 5300 sports a 2.0-inch LCD and seemingly no optical zoom. Rounding out the ho-hum specs for all three devices are a USB 1.1 connection, SD slot, PictBridge support, and that old standby, QVGA video capture (thankfully it's at least 30fps), although so far pricing remains a mystery. Keep reading to check out the two new CE models, although we should warn you that they look like a thousand other cameras you've seen before...

Read- CL 5300
Read- CE 5430
Read- CE 6430