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BenQ FP241W unveils its 24-incher, includes HDMI
BenQ's just launched a solid-looking 24-incher that comes with HDMI in and a 6ms response time, taking the cake from its 22- and 19-inch recent releases. The new FP241W (previously released in Asia this past summer) also includes HDCP support, displays at 1920 x 1200 WUXGA, packs a 1000:1 contrast ratio, takes D-Sub, DVI-D, S-Video, composite, and yes, component. The sultry screen will slide to the streets for $1100 later this month.
BenQ's W10000 1080p DLP projector
Man, if you thought BenQ's PE8720 was a winner, then try on the Full HD W10000 DLP projector. Just like its 720p bro, the W10000 pumps a 10:000:1 contrast ratio with TI's DarkChip3 DLP at the guts and brings a 250W lamp capable of delivering 1,100 lumens over a life of between 2,000 hours on up to 3,000 hours in economy mode. And yeah, Benq's calling "Full HD" on this as is the trend, so we're talkin' heaps of pixels in this 1080p (1920x1080) resolution projector operating at 25dB normally, or as low as 23dB in eco-mode. As for the inputs, you'll get what you need: HDMI v1.2, S-Video, 2x component, RGB, and RS-232. Expected to start shipping first in Japan starting early November for ¥628,000 or about $5,253 -- righteous pricing for a DarkChip3 core. Click-on for a pic of the backside inputs.Update: Er, after posting, BenQ rolled with the english press release, The W10000 is a single-chip color-wheel based DLP, only.[Via Impress]
BenQ's 4,000 lumen SP831 DLP projector
Here's the latest DLP projector from BenQ, the SP831. Besides requiring the not one, but two skinny product-waifs to hoist the unit for photos, the SP831 features a 2000:1 contrast ratio and is capable of blasting 1280x768 resolution images at 4,000 lumens off that 300W bulb. That puts this projector a notch above their SP820 announced earlier. From the photos we can also see that the unit ships with laser-etched keys, DVI (with HDCP support), Ethernet, and a smattering of in and outs with Twin View (POP,POP,PAP) capabilities for viewing multiple sources at the same time. No word on price or availability yet, but you can expect it to be priced a bit above the $4,699 SP820 whenever it ships. In the mean time, we'll treat ya to some more snaps after the break.
BenQ busts out P52 and R55 dual core Joybooks
Two new ones from BenQ, the quite similarly specced P52 (pictured) and R55 Joybooks. Both laptops feature 15.4-inch WXGA displays with 200 nits of brightness and 16ms response times and weigh 6.2 pounds, but the P52 goes for an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor, while the R55 sports Intel's Core 2 Duo chip. Both Joybooks are also privy to Bluetooth 2.0 and S-Video. For graphics, the P52 has the 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, while the R55 goes for the 256MB GeForce Go 7400 from NVIDIA. The Intel model also has SPDIF sound, while its AMD sibling has a DVI-D port, but we're in the dark in regards to the rest of the specs, and price and availability prove equally evasive. At least these two desktop replacements are looking sharp, though they do seem to be Korean bound, so it's not like we're going to get much action with these anyways.Read - BenQ Joybook P52Read - BenQ Joybook R55
BenQ announces dangerously-slim 7.2 megapixel X720
Just last month we saw BenQ bust out a super-slim 7 megapixel shooter called the E720, which at just 19.5 millimeters thick, was one of the trimmest cameras at this resolution level -- even beating out waifs like Casio's Exilim EX-Z700 and Sony's Cybershot DSC-T50. Well if you thought that the E720 was as thin as they come, think again, because old BenQ has managed to shave off almost five full millimeters with its brand new 7.2 megapixel X720 (we're pretty sure the "x" stands for "xtra breakable"). Besides being almost as thin as a credit card (not really), this award-winning ultracompact boasts a pretty impressive set of features, including a maximum ISO of 4000 (no word on noise at that level, however), 2.5-inch LCD, and Super Shake-Free image stabilization. Less impressive is the familiar 3x optical zoom, although you're still getting 30fps VGA video with sound, and they even managed to cram a regular SD slot into that tiny 120-gram body. Unfortunately BenQ's press release was so eager to tout the benefits of this "perfect blender of pleasure and work" that it neglected to mention pricing or availability, but this model may be snazzy enough to warrant a separate post when we catch wind of those deets, so keep your eye out.
BenQ's FP92W: an all purpose 19-inch LCD
BenQ has a new 19-incher they're prepping to hock onto the low-end display market. The FP92W delivers a 1440x900 WXGA+ LCD with a 5ms response, 700:1 contrast, 300cd/m2 brightness, and 160-degree top/bottom and 170-degree left/right visibility. It also features 2x DVI and D-Sub 15 inputs. Set to roll in Japan on October 16 for an estimated street price of ¥33,000 (about $276) making this a decent, all-media panel for dorm room livin' on the cheap. [Via Impress]
The BenQ-Siemens Black Box concept phone that never was
You know, it's too bad that BenQ-Siemens' European operations had to go under before it managed to get this slick handset out the door. From what we can make out based on these photos spotted on a Czech website, BenQ-Siemens had developed a "Black Box concept phone," which took home some Chinese design award earlier this year. The idea apparently is to turn the phone into one large screen, and change function depending on whatever application you need at the time: a calculator, an FM radio, the phone itself (duh), and something that looks like a game involving a goldfish and possibly a bathtub drain (we're not really sure). You know, this reminds us a lot of that possible iPhone patent we spotted earlier this month -- hopefully Apple can pick up where BenQ-Siemens left off?[Via Slashphone]
BenQ pulls the plug on its German mobile division
Auf wiedersehen, BenQ-Siemens, we hardly knew ye. Yes, the struggling German mobile division of BenQ has just filed for bankruptcy protection as per orders from BenQ headquarters in Taiwan. The International Herald Tribune reports that BenQ estimated the company has lost $762 million on the mobile division (which employs 3,000 workers) since it took over the Siemens business in October 2005. Further, The Associated Press adds that the German division will be completely excised from BenQ "financially and operationally once the bankruptcy protection is approved." It's too bad that we won't have the maker of "feminine luxury" or of the "Treo 600-killing" P50 to kick around anymore, because really, who doesn't love a good underdog? Read - IHTRead - AP[Thanks, Antti]
BenQ Joybook R41E targets the young key-pounding set
BenQ has just come out with a new model in its Joybook R series, aimed squarely at "young professionals," leaving all those folks that we know left sadly clutching yesterday's laptops. The new Joybook R41E comes configurable with options like an Intel Celeron M Processor 420 and above, "genuine" Windows XP Home / Professional, up to 2GB of RAM, a 60 - 120GB SATA drive, dual-layer DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, a 14-inch 1280 x 800 screen decked out with "Display Brilliance Enhancement Film," and a keyboard so durable that it can withstand "8 million keystrokes," which, believe it or not is really not all that incredibly much. There's no word on pricing or availability -- but a soon-ish ship date and a low price would surely bring a little bit more joy into the lives of those Taiwanese yuppies well-to-do enough to land one.
BenQ jumps aboard 22-inch bandwagon with the FP222W
All the cool kids are busting out 22-inch LCDs to prep for the impending release of Vista, and now BenQ is joining the fray with their new FP222W. Samsung has supposedly teamed up with the Microsoftees for an "official" Windows Vista 22-inch widescreen, and now it seems everybody is taking a stab at the blessed display size -- BenQ included. Their FP222W display runs a 1680 x 1050 resolution, has dual DVI and D-sub inputs, runs at a lovable 5ms response time, and also features BenQ's proprietary "Senseye" tech for automatic image enhancement. We're supposed to be seeing this one "in the beginning of September," so any day now.[Via TG Daily]
BenQ's ultraportable, 7 megapixel DC E720
Tsk, tsk, BenQ. You know how we like to round up all your cookie-cutter cameras into one post, so we're a little disappointed that you didn't tell us about your new DC E720 at the same time you announced the other three new members of your consumer lineup yesterday. No matter, we're still committed to bringing our readers all that is new and exciting in the world of digital photography, even if the 7 megapixel E720 doesn't really stand out from the crowd in any discernible manner. With this model, you're basically getting a slimmed down version of the C740 -- they both sport a 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, 30fps VGA video mode, and SD card support -- but at only 130 grams and 19.5 millimeters thick, the E720 definitely takes home the "most pocketable" award. No word so far on pricing and availability for this model, but judging from the sparse, negative reaction that yesterday's releases got, we highly doubt that many of you will be seeking this one out, anyway.
BenQ's new consumer cams, the C540, C740 and C1000
As Photokina looms ever nearer, camera manufacturers continue their stream of announcements, and BenQ seems to think today's their lucky day. They've got three new ones to show, and there seem to be plenty of megapixels and piddling feature sets between them. Headlining the trio is the C1000 (pictured), which packs a 10 megapixel CCD, 3x zoom and 2.4-inch LCD. There's also 24MB of built-in memory, an 8 second shutter night scene mode, and quick 4 continuous shot mode -- exciting, we know. Next up there's the C540 and C740, which bump the LCD size to a whole 2.5-inches, and manage 5 and 7 megapixels respectively. Both of the cams feature a "Shake-Free" mode, along with 1000 ISO sensitivity for extra nighttime fun. Yeah, not a whole lotta excitement to be had here, but at least these three cams should be fairly cheap when they drop in September. Keep reading for pics of the C540 and C740.Read - BenQ DC C540Read - BenQ DC C740Read - BenQ DC C1000
BenQ-Siemens' SL80 offers "feminine luxury"
Siemens' SL75 slider is all growed up now, and besides adding 5 to the model number, the SL80 (now by BenQ-Siemens, of course) seems to have developed an affinity for the fairer sex. Unlike its older sibling, the SL80 is only available in the decidedly feminine "Mauve Sensation," and BenQ is pulling no punches in saying the phone is aimed squarely at women. Skimming through the specs, it seems to be a modest upgrade from the SL75, offering an identical shell and button layout, the same tri-band GSM and EDGE support, 1.3-megapixel camera, 52MB of internal memory, Bluetooth, and music player. In fact, the more we look, the more it seems the SL80 is just a pink SL75. The boys among us are feeling far less excluded now than they were a few minutes ago; as for the ladies, you can pick up your own Mauve Sensation starting in October.[Via Slashphone]
BenQ-Siemens' Hello Kitty-themed AL61
We've certainly seen our fair share of Hello Kitty products -- heck, we've even gone through a few Hello Kitty cellphones -- but what BenQ-Siemens' Hello Kitty AL61 lacks in originality, it makes up in brand recognition (bear in mind the last Hello Kitty-themed handset we saw came from Taiwan's OKWAP). The AL61 is a fairly pedestrian slider, offering a marginal 130 x 130 display with not a camera to be found, but of course the draw here is what you get on the side: themed wallpapers, ringtones, games, and so on, not to mention the soft pink / translucent white case that only a die-hard Hello Kitty fan could love. Look for the handset to land in markets worldwide as soon as this month. Or, as in our case, don't look for it.
Wireless high-def courtesy of Benq
This wireless high-def solution came out of no-where. We knew people were working on wireless high-def products but didn't expect to see Benq with one of the first. It is a rather slick interface and is meant to be used on their MP620, MP770, and MP720p projectors, but we don't see why it could be adapted to other devices. It looks like the wireless receiver simply attaches to the DVI port on the back of the projector and can accept the signal from ether a 802.11a/b/g or Ethernet connection. To be very honest the max throughput of the model is 1024 x 768 that is a hair from being true high-def but it is awful close to the real McCoy. [More pics after the jump]
BenQ's IMS-100 Bluetooth speaker
We're not sure there's going to be a whole lot of amplification going on with a 1.6-inch thick speaker that weighs 9.5 ounces, but we're sure BenQ's IMS-100 will give your tunes its best shot. The good news is that it'll look good pumping out those three watts, and the Bluetooth ability means no wires will have to get in the way. You can also do the boring thing and hook this up with a regular ol' mini-jack. The device operates on 4 AA batteries or an external adapter, works for speakerphone action and should be out in August.[Via MobileMag]
BenQ's Joybook P52 15.4-incher with DVB-T
The latest from BenQ is a well-specced AMD Turion-based laptop with plenty to love. Beyond the large range of dual-core Turion 64 X2 processors, the Joybook P52 features an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 card with 512MB of memory, up to 2GB of RAM, a 120GB SATA HDD, dual-layer DVD burning and DVI-D in/out. There's four USB 2.0 ports, Firewire, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a/b/g WiFi for connectivity, along with a 5-in-1 card reader. The 15.4-inch screen manages a 1280 x 800 resolution and 16ms response times, and there's an included DVB-T tuner to round it all off. The main thing the computer seems to lack is the built-in webcams of its contemporaries, but at 1.2-inches thick and 5.6 pounds, it seems BenQ did a pretty job with this one all the same. No word on price or availability, but hopefully those AMD chips point to budget-friendly leanings.[Via Engadget Chinese]
BenQ P50 gets a (belated) review
Suffering from one of the most excruciatingly long, drawn-out releases in smartphone history, BenQ's, uh, Treo 600-killing P50 had already fallen behind the pack by the time it made it to the masses. That being said, it's still a unique Windows Mobile device -- albeit 2003 Second Edition -- and worthy of an in-depth review, especially considering its quadband GSM capability. MobileTechReview's done the honors for us here, noting that the P50 is bundled with an array of high-quality accessories, including a screen protector (hallelujah). Build quality was found to be impressive, as was size, though anyone migrating from a Treo will find little difference there. The P50's 416MHz XScale satisfies the speed demon in us in ways most other Pocket PC phones have not, but the 128MB combined ROM and RAM is a disappointment -- a complaint the P51 happily addresses. In the end, MobileTechReview finds the P50's flaws too great to justify the cost of admission. With nothing but GPRS for data, we agree, especially with a successor waiting in the wings.
BenQ-Siemens adds trio of handsets
In the event Europeans are still unhappy with their selection of 3G-capable devices, BenQ's trying to come to the rescue this week, showing their UMTS SL91 slider and E81 candybar -- along with the more pedestrian EDGE-only E71. All three handsets share some visual cues, sporting glossy black finishes and rounded lines, though the similarities mostly end there; potentially most interesting of the three is the SL91, a Chocolate-esque, "mysteriously opaque" device featuring the LG phone's now-trademark disappearing navigation keys. Besides UMTS, the SL91 goes big with a 3.2-megapixel camera, QVGA display, and FM radio with RDS. One notch down the food chain is the E81, giving up some screen real estate with its 220 x 176 display and trading 3.2 megapixels for the more standard 1.3, but mercifully hanging on to the microSD slot. Finally, the EDGE-only E71 steps back up to QVGA, but the real draw here should be its "innovative non-stick coating" that promises to hide fingerprints on its shiny exterior. All three phones look to drop before the year's out, though odds are slim Americans are invited to the party. That's alright, BenQ; we prefer our phones good and smudged with fingerprints, anyway.[Via Reg Hardware]
BenQ-Siemens goes girly with EF61 Mia Special Edition
If the lack of a built-in compact mirror was turning you off from Philips' 588, BenQ-Siemens has you covered with the just-launched EF61 "Mia Special Edition." Besides the mirror and the phone's artsy shell, you'll get a 1.3 megapixel shooter, microSD slot, and "5 Minutes to Fabulous," an app that apparently guides you through the process of applying makeup in (you guessed it) five minutes. Running £99.99 (about $180) when it drops in September, we can see this gussied-up EF61 appealing to a few members of the fairer sex -- but if you really have to rely on your phone to put your face on, we suspect you might come away sorely disappointed.
