Archives for January 2006

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Konica Minolta hoists the white flag

Damian Koh  |  Jan 19, 2006

As if in a race to see who can outdo the other in closing down their business, Konica Minolta today announced its withdrawal plans for its camera and photofinishing business. Its announcement makes it the second to exit the market, following HP's similar, if less drastic, departure from the Asian digicam market some five months back.

Konica Minolta's exit comes just a week after Nikon revealed plans to strengthen its digital lineup, and a month before the big annual Photo Marketing Association show in February.

Konica Minolta had earlier made known its intention to scale down the consumer business in July 2005. An agreement was then reached between the company and Sony Corp to transfer a portion of its camera business assets to the latter. Sony also announced it would develop digital SLRs compatible with Dynax lens mount systems, so current users will still be able to use them on Sony's dSLRs.

Amid escalating losses, Konica Minolta has finally decided to throw in the towel for its camera and photo business in a breaking announcement today. As part of its restructuring plan, the company will cut 3,700 jobs from its original headcount of 33,000 worldwide. This whole process will be completed by September 30, 2007.

Closer to home, this decision is expected to affect approximately a dozen employees in Singapore, with the numbers hitting a higher note in Malaysia and Thailand.

So does this mean the end of the Group's consumer business? Yes. The company will from here focus its resources on several fields including the optic, display, medical imaging, and sensing industries.

From April 1 onwards, Sony will implement service operations for Konica Minolta cameras and its related products including lenses and accessories.

Konica Minolta throws in the towel.


Filed under:  Digital Cameras
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ASUS manufactures Intel-Lamborghini notebook

Darius Chang  |  Jan 19, 2006

Since the announcement of the Intel-Lamborghini notebook collaboration last year, there have been speculations over how a chip maker and automobile manufacturer would design and market their mobile computer. It turns out that ASUS has been chosen as their front man in this enterprise.

The Lamborghini VX1 is available in yellow or black. Polished to a mirror shine, the design of the cover and position of the logo bear striking resemblance to the hood of a car. Though the specifications have not been issued, we are quite sure this notebook will be using the latest Core Duo technology recently launched by Intel. The size of the keyboard suggests the LCD display hovers around 15 inches. Stay tuned for more information. Click here for larger image

Filed under:  Notebooks
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MoGo Mouse BT

Juniper Foo  |  Jan 19, 2006

What's that about carpel tunnel syndrome? Newton's rodent is too flat out cool not to own one and show off. It's business card-sized, Bluetooth-enabled, and tucks away in your laptop's PC Card slot when not in use. What's more, this award-winning mouse even recharges while napping in its slot. Goes matchingly well with your RAZR phone.

See packaging | other angles

Price: About US$69.95; it is now available in most IT shops in Singapore at S$129
Availability: More info here
Device: Notebook mouse
Basic specs: Bluetooth

Filed under:  PC & Peripherals
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Tags: mouse, bluetooth
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Smart phones overtake PDAs

Juniper Foo  |  Jan 18, 2006

PDAs aren't going to die anytime soon. Still, they're being given a run for their money by smart phones. Canalys reported global shipments of smart phones up 75 percent year-to-year in Q3 2005. Next to them, shipment for standalone handhelds dropped 18 percent, while converged devices more than doubled in volume during the same time frame.

In all, the worldwide market for "disconnected" handheld devices recorded its seventh consecutive quarter of year-to-year decline in Q3 2005.

Meanwhile, take a gander at the following stats PDABuzz has compiled

  • Nokia ships a record 7.1 million smart phones, up 142 percent year-to-year.
  • Palm shipments were down 2 percent overall, although Treo smart phones went up 71 percent, overtaking its handhelds for first time.
  • 20 million smart phones and 13 million PDAs are expected to ship in 2006
  • Global PDA shipments are expected to grow 22 percent in 2006
  • Smart phone shipments were up 288 percent in Q2 2005
  • The global handheld market fell 16.9 percent in Q3 2005
  • 50 percent of new PDAs sold in Europe have a GPS unit
  • In 2008, 56 percent of all handsets will have Bluetooth
  • Most important functions in a mobile device: Voice, address book, text messaging

    Filed under:  Handhelds
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    • Hardy handheld that'll endure

    Juniper Foo  |  Jan 18, 2006

    It's no surprise the rugged MC9097 handheld computer looks like a barcode scanner. That's because Symbol Technologies is best known for its barcode scanning devices. The MC9097 is among the heavy-duty wireless products that the company is rolling out in an aim to extend its reach into new markets, including the healthcare sector.

    So what's hardy about the 32-ounce MC9097? For one, it's waterproof. For another, you can drop it 6ft down onto solid concrete and run it over with a truck, and it'll still bounce back into action. Now all that's needed is for it to get smaller and smarter looking.
    Filed under:  Handhelds
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