Want an ultra-portable notebook that doesn’t sacrifice performance for portability? You might want to check out Hypersonic’s new Avenger AG2 Notebook series which they announced last week. The compact 12 inch notebook has both style and performance with features such as the latest Intel Penryn processors, up to 4GB of DDR2-667 RAM, and up to 320GB of hard drive space. The full feature list is as follows:

• 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo processors (up to Core 2 Duo T9300 processor – 2.5 GHz)
• Intel GM965 chipset + ICH8M
• Up to 4GB RAM
• Up to 320GB HDD
• Choice of colors – from white, pink, yellow, blue, to metallic black
• 12.1 inch WXGA display with glossy finish
• Intel GM965 X3100 graphics
• 8X DVD+-R/RW + 4x DL Combo Drive
• Intel HD Audio
• 1 Express Card 34/54 slot
• A4 sized keyboard
• 1 VGA out, 1 Firewire, 3 USB 2.0, 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack, 1 S/PDIF jack, 1 Ethernet, 1 Modem
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi network
• Bluetooth 2.0 support
• Integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Built-in 7-in-1 media card reader
• Measures 11.8 x 8.6 x 1.04 inches and weighs 4.14 lbs with battery
• Windows Vista Home Premium

The base system with an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, DVD burner costs $1359.

[Check it out via ExtremeTech]

Technorati Tags: Hypersonic, Avenger AG2

Looking to capitalize on the Eee PC buzz, ASUS is planning to add a desktop form factor to the Eee PC product family. The new system will launch globally in July and will be called the Eee Box. According to PC World, the system has a white mini-PC form factor about the size of a hardback book and will come with either Windows XP or a Linux OS. System specs include the following:

• 80G to 250 GB hard drives
• 802.11n Wi-Fi support
• Four USB ports (two in the front and two in the back)
• Memory card slots (MMC, SD, and Memory Stick)

The basic version of the Eee Box will be an 80GB system with the Linux OS and will run around $328. No word on the processor powering the system (but let’s hope for at least an Intel Atom processor inside!!)

It’s unclear whether people will jump on the Eee Box like they’ve done with the Eee PC. Having a small inexpensive portable notebook is one thing, but a small inexpensive desktop system is hard to distinguish from the many other players out there in this space. ASUS might not be able to duplicate the success that it’s enjoyed with the Eee PC.

[Check it out via Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: ASUS, Eee Box,

Jealousy ensues here at Krunker.. as CNET’s Crave UK has managed to get their hands on an upcoming MSI Wind mini-notebook system. They’ve published several pictures of the system here on their website and also written a preview here. They had this to say:

This could be the best mini laptop so far — it’s comfortable to use, has a good display, is super-affordable and promises great performance

They’re not spilling the beans on the processor but we’ve already heard rumors that they are shipping the Intel Atom processor inside.. so that’s definitely good news from the Atom front. The specs that they did confirm are as follows:

• 1GB RAM
• 80GB HDD
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Three USB 2.0 ports
• D-Sub video out
• 4-in-1 memory card reader
• 3 cell battery
• 10 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display

Finally.. check out their picture of the power brick.. it’s nearly as large as the system itself!

[Check it out via Crave]

Technorati Tags: MSI Wind, CNET Crave UK

Transcend has updated their JetFlash Hi-Speed Series with the JetFlash 110 USB 2.0 Flash Drive which now sports 8GB of storage space. The JetFlash 110 comes with a retractable USB connector which means the drive itself is capless. Features of the flash drive include:

• Retractable USB connector with lock-switch
• Works with Windows Vista ReadyBoost
• USB 2.0 interface
• Includes free JetFlash elite software download:
  • Website AutoLogin: Automatically login to your online accounts
  • PC-Lock: Use the JetFlash 110 as a key to lock / unlock computers
  • Mobile Favorites: Browse bookmarked websites on any computer
  • Secret-Zip: Compress and password-protect files with powerful encryption
  • E-Mail: Use any computer to securely check, save and send email
  • DataBackup: Backup, restore and synchronize mobile data
  • Online Update: Easily upgrade to the latest version of JetFlash elite

The 110 is also available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB capacities.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Transcend, JetFlash 110

Looking to build your Blu-ray film collection? Amazon is running exclusive Blu-ray bundle deals where you can save up to 45% off the titles. Bundles are as follows:

• Blu-ray War Classics Bundle (Patton / The Longest Day / Sand Pebbles) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray War Bundle (Battle of Britain / A Bridge Too Far / Flyboys) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Action Bundle (Robocop / Predator / Terminator) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Sci-Fi Bundle (I Robot / Independence Day / Day After Tomorrow) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Comedy Bundle (Juno / The Devil Wears Prada / Mrs. Doubtfire) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Comedy Bundle (Simpsons the Movie / Me, Myself and Irene / Meet the Spartans) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Horror Bundle (The Hills Have Eyes 2 / 28 Weeks Later / 28 Days Later) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray War Bundle (Rescue Dawn / Windtalkers / Behind Enemy Lines) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Suspense and Thriller Bundle (The Usual Suspects / Speed / Phone Booth) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Kids and Family Bundle (Ice Age / Alvin and the Chipmunks /Night at the Museum) [Blu-ray]
• Blu-ray Superhero Bundle (Fantastic Four / Fantastic Four – Rise of the Silver Surfer / X-Men 3 – The Last Stand) [Blu-ray]

Technorati Tags: Amazon, Blu-ray Bundles, Blu-ray Deals,

Intel and Micron Technology introduced the industry’s first 34nm 32 gigabit (Gb) NAND chip. The new 34nm process technology was jointly developed by Intel and Micron and manufactured by the companies’ NAND flash joint venture – IM Flash Technologies. It is currently the smallest NAND process geometry on the market. You can expect shipments of this new chip to begin in June with mass production during the second half of this year.

According to the Intel press release, the new 34 nm 32Gb chips were “designed with solid-state drives in mind.” The new NAND flash chips will enable more cost effective SSDs – doubling the current storage capacities that are available today and delivering capacities greater than 256GBs in current 1.8 inch SSDs. You can expect to find these 32Gb NAND chips in the upcoming Intel SSD drives that were announced earlier.

[Check it out via News.com]

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Harman Kardon also introduced their new Bridge II docking station for the Apple iPod or iPhone. The Bridge II is designed to work with a Harman Kardon “The Bridge ready” A/V receiver and brings the iPod to the home theater environment. You’ll be able to play your iPod through your home theater system, enjoy on-screen iPod menu display, remote control operations, and charging of the iPod. The Bridge II will connect to the Harman Kardon DMC 1000 digital media center, the new AVR 354 receiver, the HK 3490 stereo receiver, and other Harman Kardon The Bridge-ready receivers. Harman Kardon’s The Bridge II will be available early this summer at $129 dollars. It will also be included as part of the new AVR 354 A/V receiver.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Harman Kardon, The Bridge II, iPod, iPhone

Harman Kardon announced five new receivers today – the 7.1 channel AVR 354 and AVR 254 A/V receiver, the 5.1 channel AVR 154 A/V receiver, the HK 3490 stereo receiver, and the HK 3390 stereo receiver.  The new 7.1 channel A/V receivers come with features such as HDMI 1.3a capability, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, a new graphical on-screen menu, and improved iPod interface via The Bridge II docking station. All the multi-channel receivers offer HDMI 1.3a support and pass video signals at 1080p resolutions. The AVR 354 and 254 has a cool high definition full-color on-screen menu system that guides the entire home theater setup.

Here are some of the specs for the systems (from the Harman Kardon website).

The AVR 354 features:

• HDMI 1.3a support
• Upscaling to 1080p
• Full complement of Dolby and DTS decoding technologies
• HDMI repeater capability
• Faroudja DCDi Cinema processing
• EzSet/EQ equalization and multi-room capability
• Full-color graphical user interface
• Eight device programmable remote
• Suggested retail price of $899

The AVR 254 features

• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding
• Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processing to 1080p
• Three HDMI inputs
• EzSet/EQ technology
• RS-232 port
• Suggested retail price of $649

No word on the actual specs of the AVR 154 but it has a suggested retail price of $399 and will be available in late spring of this year (which means it’s soon!)

The HK 3490 features:

• High performance phono preamp
• preout/main-in jacks
• high-current amplification
• Digital audio inputs
• Dual subwoofer outputs
• Dolby Virtual Speaker technology
• Suggested retail price of $499

The HK 3390 features:

• High current, ultrawide bandwidth amplification
• Four high quality composite video inputs
• Front panel inputs
• Suggested retail price of $399

Technorati Tags: Harman Kardon, AVR 354, AVR 254, AVR 154, HK 3490, HK 3390

Vigor Gaming is introducing a new gaming rig called the Force Recon SP that will sport the new AMD GAME! logo which is AMD’s new labeling scheme for systems optimized for gaming performance under Windows Vista. The Force Recon SP will be available in two desktop configurations by Vigor Gaming (along with many self-build options). There’s a basic Force Recon SP configuration and a Force Recon SP with the AMD GAME! Ultra configuration.

Specs for the Force Recon SP config are as follows:

• AMD Athlon X2 5600+ processor
• Dual ATI Radeon HD 3650 graphic cards
• AMD 770 chipset or NVIDIA nForc 500 series chipst
• 2GB of RAM
• MSRP of $1845

Specs for the Force Recon SP with AMD GAME! Ultra config are as follows:

• AMD Phnom X4 9650 processor
• 2GB RAM
• ATI Radeon HD 3870 graphics card
• AMD 770 chipset
• MSRP of $2733

The systems come with Windows Vista 32 bit Home Basic Edition – hmm.. couldn’t they give you Windows Vista Premium or Ultimate with the prices that you’re paying by default?

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Vigor Gaming, Force Recon SP, AMD GAME!

Just a head’s up to all you OS X users out there – Apple has released the 10.5.3 update of OS X which you can download by running Software Update on your desktop or download from the Apple website directly. There’s a lot of things in 10.5.3. You can see the complete list after the jump or you can check out the support knowledge base here:

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Apple, OS X, 10.5.3