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US charges Chinese, Taiwan firms for stealing secrets from Micron
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice has filed charges against a Taiwanese company, a Chinese PRC-backed company, and three Taiwanese nationals of economic espionage against Idaho-based semiconductor manufacturer Micron over the production of F32nm DRAM. Sessions also announced the creation of the China Initiative, led by Assistant Attorney General John Demers, to identify Chinese trade theft and allocate the necessary resources to go after these cases.
Brando HD Media Player Docking Station does multi-format 1080p
It seems that Brando can't go a month without bringing out yet another slightly-improved domicile for your orphaned SATA HDDs. Following in the footsteps of the very recent Multimedia Dock, the latest unit adds H.264 decoding to the already present DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4, while output graduates to full 1080p. Featuring HDMI and a plethora of supported media formats, the humble docking station has certainly grown up, but is it enough to compete with standalone media players? Input flexibility would suggest so -- the new device accepts 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives, alongside USB flash memory, SD, MMC, and MS cards -- but alas, Brando loses the plot at the final hurdle, asking for an astronomical $199. With prettier alternatives available at half the price, this is unlikely to sell like hotcakes, but Brando's breakneck refresh cycle give us the feeling it won't be long before we see that perfect do-it-all dock.
ATP PhotoFinder Pro loses the base station, takes us to geotagging nirvana
Despite new cameras being riddled with borderline useless features and modes, useful functionality like automatic geotagging is getting little love from the big players. All the more reason for third parties to sneak in and make a few bucks, and ATP certainly seems to be on top of it. We liked the idea of the company's PhotoFinder, but that base station looked like needless desk clutter. The new PhotoFinder Pro does away with it, featuring an integrated SD, Memory Stick, and MMC card reader. Just sync up the clock in the unit with that of your shooter, clip it onto your camera bag for a day of scenic photography, and then pop your card in before downloading the pics that night. It'll automatically add coordinates to each photo's EXIF information, drastically reducing the likelihood of future spousal arguments about the whereabouts of certain Kodak moments. That sounds like a beautiful thing, and at $119 a good deal, too. Update: Dan commented to point out that, with the help of an external USB card reader, the PhotoFinder Pro can also tag pics on CF, xD, or any other FAT/FAT32 formatted cards you might have sliding around in the bottom of your junk drawer. [Via Photography Blog]
MMCA announces MiCard specification for MMC / USB combo cards
The MultiMediaCard Association (MMC) has set the stage for yet another memory card format to compete for your photos and other media, today announcing the specification for its new MiCard multiple-interface memory cards. That "multiple-interface" consists of the standard MMC interface, along with an integrated USB connector to eliminate the need for a separate card reader -- something that's already relatively common with SD cards. What's more the MiCard will also be smaller than a standard MMC card, measuring 12mm x 21mm x 1.95mm, although it'll still be compatible with existing MMC-based devices through the use of an adapter. According to EETimes BenQ, A-Data, Pretec, and a number of other companies have already signed on to support the new format, although it's not clear when the first MiCards will actually be available.[Via EETimes]
Fortuna NaView GPS-610B gets thumbs-up from FCC
With all these foreign-based GPS units suddenly making their way stateside, we're thrilled to see yet another Taiwanese navigation device get that coveted FCC seal of approval. The latest to pave its way to North American soil is Fortuna's NaView GPS-610B, and while we only truly know that it'll sport an SD / MMC slot, built-in stereo speakers for MP3 playback / turn-by-turn guidance, rechargeable battery pack, external antenna connector, car mounting kit, mini-USB support, integrated microphone for handsfree use, an audio out jack, and a four-inch touchscreen LCD, we suspect it'll resemble the GPS-600 pretty much to a T. If it does, you'll find a SiRF Star III receiver, 64MB of onboard NAND memory, 64MB of SDRAM, a Samsung CPU, and an optional Bluetooth transceiver. Per usual, those FCC documents aren't spilling any beans regarding pricing or availability, but it shouldn't be too long until the GPS-610B can enjoy the American air (and mile-long traffic jams).[Via NaviGadget]
Axxen kicks out trio of portable HDD enclosure / card reader hybrids
It's just impossible not to love a little consolidation done right, and Axxen's trio of new devices aims to give you a good reason to ditch that easy-to-misplace flash card reader and pick up an external HDD enclosure while you're at it. The A-3500, A-2500, and A-1800 all sport a sleek, black casing, and can handle your choice of 3.5-, 2.5-, or 1.5-inch hard drive, respectively. Aside from functioning as your run-of-the-mill external HDD, the drives also serve as a memory card reader for CF, SM, xD, MS, MSPro, MSDuo, SD, miniSD, MMC, and MD cards, and it interfaces with your computer via USB 2.0. Notably, each unit also boasts a "one-touch" backup function to keep your files sufficiently duplicated, and while we're not sure how much Axxen plans on charging for these nifty multitaskers, they should be hitting South Korea real soon.[Via MobileWhack]
Shenzen Leadertone intros GPS3000 navigation system
Ah, just what we needed -- yet another Chinese navigation system that touts mutiple layers of functionality, but probably doesn't really excel in any of them. Shenzen Leadertone has its Windows CE-powered GPS3000 on deck and ready for showing at next week's CES, and aside from the somewhat gaudy window attachment, it manages to sport a 3.5-inch 4:3 touchscreen, SD / MMC flash card slots, rechargeable four-hour battery, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and a built-in, brain-rattling one-watt speaker to crank out the MP3, WMA, and WAV files. Additionally, it can playback ASF and AVI video formats, recognize text files / pictures, and touts automatic redirecting, 3D / "overlook" views, and an integrated 159dBm GPS antenna. Of course, it the included one isn't up to your requirements, you can attach an external antenna of your own thanks to the MCX port. No information regarding pricing or availability has been released just yet, but all that should become perfectly clear when it hits the Vegas floors in just a few days.[Via Navigadget]
NOVOMAX's Joypot JP C210 DAP / flash card reader
If you're feeling the screenless, shirt-pocket-friendly DAP design, but want a bit more utility / expandability than what's offered in Apple's 2G Shuffle, NOVOMAX has just the thing. The Joypot CP C210 sports a palm-sized enclosure, weighs just 25 grams, and comes sans internal memory if you choose, or you can pick it up with 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB of internal storage. For those toting more than a couple records, you can store the excess on an SD, miniSD, or MMC card, and the unit also doubles as a card reader for transferring any files from one device to another or to your computer's HDD. Featuring USB 2.0 connectivity, the JP C210 also touts five built-in equalizer modes, "about ten hours" of battery life on a single AAA cell, and (unsurprisingly) comes in black or white color schemes. There's no information regarding pricing or availability as of now, but if this thing can manage to undercut Apple's littlest rendition, it'd be hard to not recommend.[Via Slashgear]
Samsung's HP-T5064: a 50-inch Plasma with "Multi Media Center"
Samsung has a couple of 50-inch plasmas on the way in their HP-T5054 and HP-T5064. That's right, plasmas, not the 50-inch LCDs they're building with Sony. Details are sketchy at best, but we can tell ya that the new panels will feature improved contrast ratio in bright rooms and a unique, automatic wall mount adjustment thrown in just for kicks. The T5064 also features an MMC -- no, not Mandatory Managed Copy, rather a Multi Media Center with built-in disk drive (of unspecified capacity) to host recorded broadcasts or downloaded PC content. Now we're not sure, but this is sounding a whole, hell of a lot like the wireless SPD-50P7HDT we already saw announced in Sammy's hometown of Korea. Nevertheless, we'll be trolling for details come January's CES where these will no doubt be on display.
ATP intros 4GB ProMax MMCplus HC flash card
While the NAND-based MMCplus format hasn't exactly reached SD status in terms of universal acceptance and recognition, ATP is unveiling a 4GB high capacity (HC) flavor to level up with its 4GB ProMax SDHC card. It sports a speed rating of 166x (25MB per second) and was designed to "maximize the performance of next generation digital devices requiring larger capacities and higher transfer rates" such as quick-shooting DSLRs. The card is also resistant to "water and extreme temperatures," but similar to shoving an SDHC card into an SD-only reader, the HC format can't be utilized by earlier MMCplus readers. Unsurprisingly, pricing and release information isn't readily available, but you'll probably see these in memory shops soon.
Becker burns out with Ferrari-themed Traffic Assist Pro GPS
If you'll be hitting the streets this winter, and want to feel like you're on the autobahn no matter what roadway you embrace, Becker has unveiled a Ferrari-branded Traffic Assist Pro that takes navigation to an entirely different level. Originally crafted to fit in the exquisite F430 automobile, this luxurious GPS sports a 4-inch touchscreen, SiRF Star III receiver, 400MHz processor, 64MB of RAM, 64MB of flash memory, SD / MMC slots, USB 1.1 connectivity, 3.5-millimeter audio output, 2-watt integrated speaker, and a connector for an external antenna. Moreover, it boasts MP3 / WMA playback, doubles as a JPEG viewer, and houses NAVTEQ maps of 37 European countries. As expected, a list of speed radars will always be on tap thanks to its connection to the SCDB database, so you can put those massive vented brakes to use just in time; also, you'll have access to a basic flow of traffic information with the purchase, while a "premium" (read: more expansive road selection) service will be available for €50 ($64) per year. So if you need yet another exotic gadget to tide you over until you can afford the real deal, Becker's Ferrari-styled GPS will be available later this month for €699 ($898).[Via NaviGadget]
Newman's do-it-all, swivel-screen M790 DAP
You'd think that we would have heard of a company that's made (or perhaps rebadged) literally hundreds of DAPs and PMPs since 2004, but until we came across the swivel-screen M790, we'd never caught wind of a Chinese manufacturer called Newman. Most of its products are simply cookie-cutter devices that resemble so many of the other products we've featured on these pages, but the M790's unique design and large-ish 2.5-inch screen convinced us to give it another look. As with many foreign products of its ilk, this DAP's exact specs are a little hard to come by, but we do know that it sports a QVGA resolution, built-in speakers, a camera of some undetermined pixel count (machine translation pegs it as a 20 megapixel shooter, but frankly we're a bit suspect), and support for MP3, WMA, JPEG, and unspecified video files. Storage on this one is a paltry 512MB (expandable through the SD / MMC slot), but that's just as well, as it'll take a pretty long time to load up even that amount of data over the sluggish USB 1.1 connection. Also along for the ride are your typical assortment of dictionaries, games, voice recording, audio line-in, and the all important timekeeping functionality. It seems like you can pick up the M790 sometime this month (maybe even right now!), but it's obviously not available in the US, so factor in the cost of a plane ticket to China along with however many yuan this happens to be retailing for.[Via Anything But iPod]
Cima Lab's new DVD player rocks DivX, card slots, and USB
We remember when $70 wouldn't even buy you a decent VCR, but oh, how times have changed. With upscaling DVD players -- not to mention next-gen optical formats Blu-ray and HD DVD -- currently all the rage, now that same $70 will buy you a device that not only plays DVDs but features memory card slots and a USB port as well. Coming in September for about 7,980 yen ($68 -- why, that's even less than 70 bucks!), the CDP-200UCR from Cima Laboratory will happily spin all of your plain jane DVDs and CDs, but ups the ante by including DivX, MP3, and WMA support as well. You're also getting 5.1 analog audio, an integrated card reader with SD / MMC, MemoryStick, and yes, even SmartMedia slots (do they even sell that format anymore?) plus a front-panel USB jack for piping in content from compatible devices. Sure this player may never make it Stateside, but its nice to know that our friends in Japan have all their bases covered.
Samsung debuts bigger, faster MMC cards
Samsung announced a pair of new MMC card advancements today, introducing both higher density and higher performance cards for all you media-happy junkies out there. The company's touting its NAND-based MMCplus card as the most capacious in the industry, topping out at a hefty 8GB, with 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB rounding out the line. On the other side of things are a pair of decidedly smaller but speedier 1GB and 2GB cards, promising a read-speed of 40 MB/s and a write-speed of 25 MB/s, which should be enough to transfer six MP3 songs per second. Prices don't seem to have been announced, but the whole lot should be available by the end of the year.
Maxell announces SDHC-compliant card reader
Accessory manufacturers like Hitachi-owned Maxell must love new memory card formats almost as much as we hate them, because each tiny new card that hits the market requires a corresponding round of high-profit-margin peripherals to support it. We already knew that the new high-capacity SD version 2.0 (or SDHC) cards would not work in readers that don't support the FAT32 file format, so Maxell has leveraged this incompatibility to come up with a new 5-in-1 reader that will support the 4+GB cards when they hit the market, along with MMC, MemoryStick/MS Pro, and our old favorite, xD. Better known as the UA20-SDMSXD, the new reader will be available sometime this summer -- about the same time we're expecting the first SDHC cards from Panasonic.
Samsung's 2GB MMCmicro cards announced, industry yawns
Samsung just laid their 2GB MMCmicro cards on the table. These little slivers of NAND-based flash memory are said to be the "fastest and highest capacity mobile phone" memory cards available... once they uh, actually ship. Come on Sammy, we're still waiting on your 1GB cards to hit the market, not to mention devices which use them before getting too worked up over this, mkay?
Sony's HDPS-L1 brings photos to your HDTV screen
Because what you really want is a $300 device that connects to your TV and displays pictures. If you're still listening, and I'm sure Sony hopes you are, know that the HDPS-L1 will output JPEG or RAW files at 720p over its component output (what, no 1080p or HDMI Sony?), either from the 80GB hard drive or various flash media cards. Just to top things off, it has preinstalled background music and slideshows that must be quite enthralling.Honestly, we're not sure exactly how to take this thing. $300 for a card reader when we could spend the same $300 on an Xbox 360 Core system, stream the photos from a PC AND play videogames
The unwieldy MacMini Portable
Usually I love hardware hackery in all its glorious shapes and forms, but occasionally I stop and scratch my head. Why, for instance would you want to take a Mac mini, hide its sleek design inside a metal box, graft a black LCD screen on top with a tiny thumb keyboard and non-centered trackpad? Behold the MMP: MacMini Portable. Perhaps Peter Green's MMP will inspire you to build yourself a better portable Mac mini. The more likely scenario is that you'll opt for the lighter (albeit less hack-like) option of a discounted iBook. It's your choice. [via Engadget]
