VIA Technologies, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the launch of VIA's first embedded box computer; the VIA AMOS-3000. Ideal for a variety of embedded applications, the VIA AMOS-3000 is a robust, custom-designed system based on the ultra compact and versatile VIA EPIA-P700 Pico-ITX board. Inspired by classical Chinese architecture, the VIA AMOS-3000 chassis combines heavy-duty steel, aluminum and copper in a unique heat fin design that offers superb heat dissipation. Using a total of only five mechanical pieces - top cover, bottom plate, front and rear I/O access plates and DOM module - and measuring only 13.5cm(w) x 4.5cm(h) x 13.1cm(d), the VIA AMOS-3000 is strong, durable and heat efficient, yet tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

NVIDIA CEO and president Jen-Hsun Huang has revealed to DigiTimes that in 2009 NVIDIA will launch an Ion platform called ION 2 that will support VIA Technologies' Nano CPUs. Huang also noted that the platform is already in development, and it is only a matter of technological time until the final product arrives. VIA Nano are the first 64-bit, superscalar VIA processors. The VIA Nano chips range in clock speeds from 1 GHz to 1.8 GHz and with a proper video support from NVIDIA we can have a winner in the ultra portable world. This will also give nettop and netbook manufacturers an option of building a non-Intel platforms.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA NSR7800 2U rackmount server for network storage solution providers. Powered by a 1.5GHz VIA C7 processor, the VIA NSR7800 offers system integrators the opportunity to provide unparalleled power and energy-efficient server solutions to today's energy-conscious small and medium sized business customers.

With eight 3.5" S-ATA II hard drive bays, the VIA NSR7800 is the perfect balance of power-efficiency, performance and capacity, an ideal starting point for a variety of rackmount server applications including email, file and web server products. The VIA NSR7800's drive bays are easily accessible through lockable front levers that allow hard drives to be securely installed in moments. Dual Gigabit LAN ensures fast data transfer speeds.

The state of the world economy has become a soft-target, an easy excuse, for several companies in pessimism, or simply in a wilt, to plan and execute large-scale layoffs, better termed workforce reductions. S3 Graphics, a company that once showed signs of growth post acquisition by VIA with the introduction of entry-level, yet current-generation graphics accelerators, has reduced its United States workforce by as much as 25%. While the figure appears to be a large number of jobs, it counts in hundreds, which still includes a sizable amount of S3 Graphics employees across various divisions of the company, including some sections of the parent company.

As expected the most likely cause is the company's reaction to the global economic slowdown, with depleting market-share and profitability. While normally companies look to sustain operations post such workforce reductions in pursuit of growth, in the case of S3 Graphics, this instead puts the development of the company's next-generation graphics processor (GPU) in uncertainty, as portions of the engineering departments weren't immune to the reductions either. Currently, S3 Graphics with its Chrome 500 series graphics accelerators are eying its share of the entry-level discrete graphics market, with its products designed for HD entertainment, GPGPU and 3D acceleration. The graphics technologies of S3 have been in use by its parent company for years, with its chipset products. S3's next-generation graphics processor is expected to incorporate newer manufacturing technologies from Taiwan-based foundry companies.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA NSD7800 home server, supporting up to 8 full sized hard drives with a fraction of the hassle associated with larger servers, enabling system integrators to offer the ideal solution for SOHO and family storage needs. Measuring only 13.4" x 13.4" x 5.9" (34cm x 34cm x 15cm) and powered by an energy-efficient 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor, the VIA NSD7800 offers substantial storage space through its eight easy access 3.5" drive bays. The VIA NSD7800 server is fully compatible with Microsoft Windows Home Server so that users can now securely store their personal data and enjoy peace of mind with automatic data mirroring, as well as easy access to documents while away from home.

VIA, the third active player in the x86 processor market, is known for its low-power processors catering to the ULPC segment of the market. Sources tell HKEPC that the firm is now readying a dual-core variant of its Intel Atom competitor, the Nano 3000. The Nano 3000 series, slated for launches throughout 2009 includes a new architecture by VIA, while bearing the same essential Nano-BGA package.

The processor would use a boarder system interface with the 1333 MHz VIA V4 bus (FSB). It will feature x86-64 extension along with the SSE4 instruction sets to make it standards compliant. It will feature 128KB of L1 and 1MB of L2 caches. VIA is also looking to improve the processor's number-crunching capabilities by working on its integer and floating-point operations efficiency. The processor will be built on the Japanese Fujitsu 65nm manufacturing process which has so far been VIA's foundry partner with processors and S3 Graphics products. The company is also considering a switch to the TSMC 40nm or 45nm node later, sources note. The VIA Nano 3000 Dual-Core variant can be expected in the second-half of 2009, while single core variants of the architecture can be expected earlier.

A computing segment conceived by low-power CPU vendors such as VIA, that only got materialised with the participation of Intel with the Atom processor, the ULPC expects competition provided by the likes of VIA. According to news reports by a Chinese daily citing sources at VIA, the company's ULPC platforms have accounted for anywhere between 10 and 15 percent of ULPC shipments.

VIA, the third most popular x86 CPU producer specialises in low-power, low-cost CPUs to cater to the ULPC and UMPC segments. Its two main processor brands for this segment include C7 and Nano. With "low-power" being the selling point and Intel for a competitor, the major direction for CPU development would be performance per Watt while maintaining low thermal footprints. During its development in 2008, the VIA platform in general was able to reduce CPU size and power consumptions by up to 33 percent, which is further expected to drop by as much as 41% in 2009.

VIA Technologies, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced a powerful new 3-chip silicon platform that brings HD performance to ultra compact systems for a far richer user experience.

While desktop PCs, notebooks and embedded devices are getting smaller and thinner, demands on system resources are growing by the day, with higher definition video content, richer Internet resources and increasingly complex image manipulation requiring more powerful processing, video and graphics capabilities. Codenamed "VIA Trinity", the new platform meets all these performance requirements using much less board real estate than traditional 4-chip platforms, yet still within a comparably low power envelope.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA ARTiGO A2000 barebone storage mini-server. The perfect balance of size and space, the ARTiGO A2000 packs terabytes of storage capacity within a stylish, compact, low power and low noise system.

Today's users are seeing their PCs filling up with gigabytes and even terabytes of locally stored media, and the proliferation of home DVD projects and high definition video downloads means file sizes are on the rise. The VIA ARTiGO A2000 consumes far less power and space than a regular desktop, yet provides ample storage for large home media libraries of music, photos and HD video. It can also serve as a headless Network Attached Storage box or media storage and streaming device in home server applications.

VIA Technologies, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today introduced the new Aristo Pico 840 mini-note, the latest model in the Aristo Pico Series to be based on the ultra low power VIA C7-M processor platform.
Building on the success of the Aristo Pico 640 and 740, the Aristo Pico 840 has been custom designed for both the professional on the go and the digital traveler looking for on-line entertainment on the move. Its A4 notebook size, crisp 8.9 inch 1024x600 screen and light weight, at just over 1kg, make it the perfect travel companion for short trips or long journeys.

Now that Intel's Atom is on top of the netbook processor market, while VIA and AMD are trying to compete somehow, it appears that a fourth chip maker is going to enter the netbook business and try to give Intel's Atom architecture a run for its money. ARM and Canonical, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, are co-operating to make Ubuntu Desktop operating system that will run well with ARM's ARMv7 processor architecture. This will enable new Linux netbooks and hybrid computers to enter the market.
"The release of a full Ubuntu desktop distribution supporting latest ARM technology will enable rapid growth, with internet everywhere, connected ultra portable devices," said Ian Drew, vice president of Marketing, ARM. "The always-on experience available with mobile devices is rapidly expanding to new device categories such as netbooks, laptops and other internet connected products. Working with Canonical will pave the way for the development of new features and innovations to all connected platforms."
This version of the Ubuntu Desktop operating system will handle the ARM Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 processor-based systems. The final Ubuntu ARM distribution will debut in April 2009. Now we only need volunteers to choose ARM and Linux for their netbooks.

The Intel Atom processor saw the company create a new niche, that of netbooks (sub-notebooks) and nettops. It has become the de-facto choice of OEM builders who are themselves teething in this new market. Intel Atom finds direct competition in VIA Nano, which offers the same x86 embedded options, at nearly the same thermal footprints, although AMD has some catching up to do in this segment.

Industry observer, DigiTimes, notes that Acer could be eying non-Atom options for its upcoming nettop SKUs. These products could feature VIA Nano, or AMD Athlon low-power processors. The company is basing it on the issue, that it plans to sell around 12~13 million nettop units, and given the situation, sourcing all the processors from Intel doesn't seem feasible. The silicon giant is already dealing with massive back-orders, backlog and stock shortages for the amount of demand the Atom has created. Acer also has three OEM sources in mind to make the nettop: Quanta Computer, Wistron and Micro-Star International (MSI). The company is expected to reach a decision in December.

VIA and NVIDIA have had a decent association going their way for some time now, with the latter offering to design platform core logic (chipset) embedding the GeForce Integrated graphics, which gives VIA's Nano processor, an edge over Intel's Atom platform using obsolete core logic technologies.

Sources at VIA tell DigiTimes, that the deal between the two companies, to work on an inexpensive netbook platform, may have been shelved. The two companies had earlier planned to pair VIA's Nano processor with NVIDIA's MCP79 IGP (which now seems to have a fair bit of success in its Intel Core 2 microprocessor-supportive avatar). Although cooperation on the platform is suspended, VIA said the two are still continuing to cooperate and will showcase co-developed desktop PC (read: nettop) products at CES 2009.

VIA Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EPIA-P710, the world's first single board computer based on the new Pico-ITXe specification of the Small Form Factor Special Interest Group (SFF-SIG), providing a more rational approach to system design.

Supporting up to four customizable I/O expansion modules, the VIA EPIA-P710 Pico-ITXe enables a highly flexible and affordable implementation of serial connectivity options. Designed as the perfect baseboard, the VIA EPIA-P710 uses an intelligent board layout to allow efficient module stacking and aid heat dissipation.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms today announced the 'Global Mobility Bazaar' (GMB), an innovative industry infrastructure program aimed at driving the rapid global adoption of affordable mobile computing devices.

Through the GMB program, VIA is partnering with over 15 GMB manufacturers and infrastructure partners in China on the development of a wide variety of mini-notes, netbooks, and notebooks based around VIA's ultra low power processor platforms.

VIA Technologies, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and embedded platform solutions, today announced it will be demonstrating the first VIA Nano processor-based Mini-ITX board this week at the Embedded Systems Conference, Boston, MA in booth 914.
The VIA VB8001 board is a full featured Mini-ITX board using the eagerly-awaited 1.6GHz VIA Nano processor, which boasts support for up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, Gigabit LAN and two Serial ATA ports, delivering exceptional 64-bit performance within a rigidly low thermal envelope, while a mini-PC slot can extend connectivity to wireless broadband.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today showed that the cryptographic performance of the VIA Nano processor is the most power efficient on the market, due to its dedicated VIA PadLock Security Engine, a suite of security tools integrated directly into the processor die.

The hardware security implementation within the VIA Nano processor means that user data is handled more efficiently and safely by circuitry deep inside the silicon, rather than by using more vulnerable operating system, memory and software resources.

With ULPC, "small is big", they say. This summer, we had seen something not thought of since the days of the Cyrix processor: VIA (that eventually acquired Cyrix), battled with Intel for supremacy in regard to a segment of processors, in this case, ULPC. The VIA Nano proved to be a worthy alternative to Intel's Atom processor. However, with Intel releasing a dual-core version of the chip that remains within the 10W thermal envelope, it seemed like Intel leaped ahead of VIA Nano.

Fresh news suggests that VIA would release a dual-core version of the Nano processor by the end of this year to be able to make it to next year's CES held at Las Vegas. VIA has already earned itself production and supply contracts from HP, this could be accelerating the development of the new chip. In essence, the Nano could make it to HP's netbooks right upon release.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EPIA N700 Nano-ITX board, designed as a complete solution for compact industrial PC and embedded automation devices. Featuring a 1.5GHz VIA C7 or 500MHz VIA Eden processor, the VIA EPIA N700 is the first Nano-ITX board to feature the latest VIA VX800 media system processor, offering system designers the perfect balance of ruthless miniaturization and uncompromising functionality.

Compact, yet user friendly, the VIA EPIA N700 uses additional onboard ports to make system design of compact PCs easier; two S-ATA ports, a Gigabit LAN port, a COM port, two USB 2.0 ports and a VGA port are provided, with additional COM, LVDS and IDE support available through onboard pin-headers. With the VX800 offering an integrated DX9 graphics core and excellent hardware accelerated video playback, this compact, low heat, power-efficient board is the ultimate solution for designing low heat, compact systems.

In a rather surprising for me move VIA, the company that has always been third in the motherboard and processor battle for supremacy, announced today it's stepping down from the motherboard business. Production of future chipsets for third party AMD and Intel processors will be halted. Instead, VIA will migrate in the x86 processor business and the integrated motherboard market. Speaking to Custom PC, VIA's vice president of corporate marketing in Taiwan, Richard Brown, explained that "One of the main reasons we originally moved into the x86 processor business was because we believed that ultimately the third party chipset market would disappear, and we would need to have the capability to provide a complete platform." That time has come and moving to the x86 processor business is the right decision to make. Most of the chipset business is now handled by Intel and NVIDIA. ATI and AMD also have complete solutions to offer. VIA's departure from the motherboard business won't make a big gap in the market. Chipsets from the above named companies will quickly share the left piece of the cake in between each other.

Relations between NVIDIA and Intel have not been at their best of late, with each trying to take every opportunity to take pot-shots at each other. There is still uncertainty about NVIDIA getting the technology assistance to devise a motherboard chipset for Intel's next generation desktop processors.

However, the Ultra Low-Cost PC (ULPC) market has been an overnight success for several companies, be the likes of ASUS and their dozens and dozens of laptops and upcoming desktops for the ULPC market or others like MSI and ECS trying to bring ULPC to the desktop with their motherboard solutions.

The competition heats up with compact-computing. MSI has released a special motherboard which could compete with the VIA Pico-ITX board. This compact motherboard has a hardwired Intel Atom N230 processor clocked at 1.60 GHz that is passively cooled by an aluminum heatsink, it shares this heatsink with a Intel 945GC northbridge that's the core-logic used accompnied with a ICH7 southbridge. It features an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 and Realtek ALC 888HD audio.

While the board doesn't feature an onboard PSU unlike the offering from VIA, it features two DDR2 slots for DDR2 667/533 MHz, two SATA II ports, an IDE connector, ports arranged in the standard ATX fashion. A PCI slot is provided. The board features onboard ethernet along with 6-channel audio. This board has started selling in Japan, where it's priced at approx. US $95 and measures 19cm x 17cm.

VIA Technologies, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EPIA P700 Pico-ITX board that couples more features within a streamlined, ultra compact footprint designed for low profile systems, with extended I/O port options through two companion boards.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced a new standard for Mini-ITX boards to ensure an optimized multimedia and computing experience in small form factor desktop PCs.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the new VIA Nano processor family based on the VIA Isaiah Architecture. Building on the market-leading energy efficiency of the VIA C7 processor family, the VIA Nano processor family offers as much as four times the performance within the same power range to extend VIA's performance per watt leadership, while pin compatibility with VIA C7 processors will ensure a smooth transition for OEMs and motherboard vendors, and provides them with an easy upgrade path for current system or board designs.