June 30 - 12:00pm EDT   BenQ recently announced the release of its latest netbook PC, the Joybook Lite U102. The PC is powered by Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM and sports a 10.1-inch, 1024x600 resolution LED-backlit screen as well as built in Wi-Fi, all of which are par for netbooks. Where the U102 breaks from the norm is with its 250GB hard drive and optional 3G access. There is a dedicated shortcut key for switching between the two types of wireless networks. [full story]

June 16 - 4:00pm EDT   BenQ recently announced the upcoming release of its ultra-portable netbook, the 13.3-inch Joybook Lite T131. Weighing in at just under 4lbs, the 13.3-inch T131 sports a 1.6GHz AMD Sempron 200U processor based on the same platform as the Athlon Neo and which should give performance better than netbooks without a major increase in bulk. A minimum of 1GB of RAM is onboard, as is an ATI Mobility Radeon X1270 graphics chipset that can drive HD video playback. The standard 250GB hard drive -- a 320GB drive is an option -- comes preloaded with Windows Vista Home Basic. [full story]

June 5 - 2:15pm EDT   BenQ late Thursday confirmed that it was developing its first devices to use Google's Android as an operating system. Both a smartphone and a netbook are due to use the mobile OS and should be available sometime next year. What features they would have isn't definitive at this stage, though Android is designed around touchscreen interfaces for phones and requires relatively little hardware to run smoothly either on phones or on full computers. [full story]

June 3 - 3:10pm EDT   Taiwanese hardware maker BenQ on Tuesday announced the upcoming release of its latest ultra-portable netbook PC, the 2.9lb, 11.6-inch Joybook Lite U121 Eco. Sporting a screen resolution of 1366x768 and a 16:9 aspect ratio, combined with the availability of large-capacity storage drives and an HDMI output, the Joybook Lite U121 Eco is intended as a minor media hub. Processing power comes from a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 that, with the optional six-cell battery, gives it a life expectancy of eight hours. A three-cell battery is the default choice. [full story]

May 18 - 1:35pm EDT   BenQ has started the week with the appearance of two compact cameras with slight edges over other competing models in the class. Both the 10-megapixel C1020 and 12-megapixel C1220 switch out the typical 4:3 ratio, 640x480 video recording mode for a 16:9 720x400 format better-suited to modern TVs. They can also zoom while capturing video and have a smile detection mode for still shots. [full story]

March 5 - 11:35am EST   BenQ on Wednesday announced the release of the new Joybook S57, a media-centric notebook with a 15.6-inch, LED-backlit screen capable of a greater-than-720p (1366x768) resolution. The high-spec screen, which also has a relatively quick 8ms response time, plays movies at their native 16:9 ratio. The system is also taxed only lightly when playing HD video from the optional Blu-ray combo drive thanks to hardware decoding on an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 graphics chipset, which also brings mid-range gaming to the notebook. [full story]

February 18 - 4:10pm EST   BenQ on Wednesday announced it has developed two all-in-one PCs, part of its nScreen range, with the 18.5-inch i91 and 21.5-inch i221. The two PCs sport 16:9 aspect ratio displays and built-in 1.3-megapixel webcams. The i221 can display 1080p resolution images, while the i91's maximum resolution is fixed at 720p, or 1366x768. BenQ is touting ease of use for all members of the family, including seniors, as the PCs' strong suit. The large, radio-like knob on the bottom corner of the diplays allows users to power on the machine, adjust its volume, brightness and other functions. [full story]

January 20 - 7:35am EST   BenQ has quietly added to its G series LCDs with several new 16:9 aspect ratio computer displays that are said to lower prices and complement the 16:10 models that form the bulk of the line. The refresh starts off with the G2410HD and G2411HD/HDA, a round of 23.6- and 24-inch 1080p displays that tout an Advanced Motion Accelerator feature which the company claims improves both response time as well as brightness. Their input also ranges from just VGA on the G2411HDA to the addition of DVI on the G2410HD; these plus HDMI and stereo speakers are included on the G2411HD. [full story]

December 1 - 4:00pm EST   BenQ has released its Joybook Lite U101 netbook in its home market of Taiwan. The netbook sports a 10.1-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio screen with an LED backlight unit that provides a resolution of 1280x800 pixels and a response time of 8ms. It uses an Intel Atom CPU rated at 1.6GHz and can be ordered with either 120GB or 160GB hard disks or 4GB or 16GB solid state drives preloaded with either Linux or Windows XP Home. Graphics processing is handled by the onboard Intel 945GSE chipiset while built-in memory is rated at 512MB, upgradeable to 1GB. [full story]

November 13 - 3:00pm EST   In Japan, BenQ announced the upcoming release of its MP624 DLP projector with 1024x768 resolution and 2500:1 contrast ratio along with a 3,000 lumens brightness level. BenQ foresees the MP624 will be used for business presentations or home entertainment use. It uses a 0.55-inch DLP chip and a 200W lamp with a life rating of 4,000 hours. [full story]

October 20 - 7:50am EDT   Intel today at the start of its fall Developer Forum showed off a working example of a Moorestown-based device, putting the chipset on track for its 2009-2010 launch window. The chipmaker has yet to describe the device but reiterates that the technology should be much more effective for mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and ultra-mobile PCs. Through a 45 nanometer process as well as a redesign of the processor itself, the idle power alone will represent just a tenth that of an Atom system today, Intel claims. [full story]

October 17 - 1:55pm EDT   BenQ's JoyBook Lite U101 -- only recently revealed -- is now on sale in Hong Kong, reports say. The 10.2-inch netbook was originally expected to ship in November, following the release of an 8.9-inch system. English-language slides from BenQ have meanwhile disclosed some more features, such as the use of a 10.1-inch 16:9 LCD display, rather than one in the 4:3 or 16:10 formats more common to both notebooks and netbooks. The screen is also LED backlit, which provides uniform color and better power efficiency. [full story]

October 8 - 4:15pm EDT   BenQ on Tuesday unveiled its newest digital camera, the DC C1060, which features a 10-megapixel sensor and 3X optical zoom when recording 720x400 videos in 16:9 format or 640x480 videos at 30fps in the Motion JPEG format. For added grip and an upscale look, BenQ equipped the DC C1060 with a leather grip, while users view and frame photos via a 2.7-inch LCD screen. The digital camera also sports an ISO setting of 3200 for use in low-light environments. [full story]

October 6 - 4:35pm EDT   The previously announced BenQ S6 mobile Internet device (MID) that launched in Italy will be making its way to other markets soon, as indicated by BenQ’s global product page for the gadget. The device uses an Intel Atom processor running at 800MHz and a 4.8-inch, 800x480 touchscreen for data access that is faster than 3G but not quite up to 4G network speeds. A video user guide has also surfaced, showcasing the device’s Free Surf user interface. [full story]

September 26 - 12:45pm EDT   BenQ has launched a new mobile Internet device (MID), according to reports out of Italy. The S6 is based on Intel's mobile Atom processor, and uses a 4.8-inch touchscreen for navigating a PlayStation 3-like menu system. Although music, photos and videos are said to be important functions, the focus is of course on Internet access, which can be delivered through either Wi-Fi or 3G cellular connections. Users can view both e-mail and a web browser. [full story]