Logitech Introduces Cordless Wave Keyboard

New VIA Nano-ITX Mainboard for Healthcare, Retail and Industrial Applications

Logitech Introduces Cordless Wave Keyboard

Logitech today unveiled a new keyboard design that it claims to be a significant evolution of the familiar straight keyboard. The new Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave kit and the Logitech Wave Keyboard feature the Logitech Comfort Wave Design, which is claimed to increase keyboard comfort for Mac and PC users.

Logitech combined three elements in its new design: a wave key frame design, a U-shaped constant curve, and a cushioned, contoured palm rest. The Wave keyboard keys are highest at the A and Enter keys, which are typically hit by the little fingers. Moving inward toward the pointer fingers, the keys decrease in height until reaching the D and K keys, which are typically hit by the longer middle fingers. The keys move up again in height to accommodate the pointer fingers at the G and H keys. The maximum distance between the keys’ peaks and troughs, the lowest and highest keys, is 4 mm. Because hands and fingers can rest in a more natural position and keys are closer to fingertips, the Wave key frame is said to help eliminate awkward hand and forearm positions, enhancing comfort and improving productivity.

The U-shaped constant curve features consistently sized keys that let people type with confidence and comfort. The subtle 5-degree curve allows people’s hands to open up and take a natural position instead of forcing the wrists to bend. The space bar, the most frequently hit key, also incorporates the wave and curve design – and its increased size makes it easy to hit.

The cushioned, contoured palm rest mirrors the wave-shaped key frame and provides gentle indents that position hands comfortably on the keyboard. With its padded, soft upholstery, the palm rest offers a comfortable place to rest the palms between typing sessions.

The Comfort Wave Design also offers large, convenient hot keys that are easy to see and hit. On both the PC and Mac, with Logitech software installed, hot keys can be mapped to launch folders, Web pages, or applications, such as photo galleries and music applications. For Windows Vista users, shortcut keys activate Flip 3D as well as Windows Sidebar and gadgets. Logitech developed new Vista gadgets: a status indicator for caps lock, num lock and scroll lock; a typing-speed indicator; and an error-rate tracker that calculates the number of times the user hits the backspace key. For Mac users, the default assignment for the Media Center hot key is Front Row.

The Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave features a cordless keyboard with the Comfort Wave Design and a cordless laser mouse. The ambidextrous laser mouse is designed to complement the curved style of the Wave keyboard. The mouse also features pixel-precise laser tracking and a soft rubber grip. Both mouse and keyboard feature a battery indicator light that alerts people when battery power is low.

The Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave keyboard-and-mouse combination is expected to be available worldwide beginning in late August and will have a suggested retail price of $89.99 (U.S.). The corded Logitech Wave Keyboard is expected to be available worldwide beginning in October and will have a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).

Source: Logitech

New VIA Nano-ITX Mainboard for Healthcare, Retail and Industrial Applications

VIA Technologies announced the VIA EPIA NR Nano-ITX mainboard powered by a fanless 1.0GHz VIA C7 processor and VIA CX700 system media processor for ultra compact, quiet and durable embedded systems.

Measuring just 12cm x 12cm, the VIA EPIA NR is the first Nano-ITX mainboard to natively support LVDS in two single or one dual-channel monitor configuration without the need for a daughterboard; this makes it well-suited for a wide range of ultra compact embedded devices requiring two displays, such as healthcare, industrial control, retail and signage systems.

The VIA EPIA NR also provides enough storage options, with Serial ATA and IDE hard drive connectors for mainstream systems and Compact Flash for local OS storage in industrial automation. Moreover, an extensive I/O set includes broadband Ethernet as well as a mini-PCI port, USB2.0, COM, LPC and Super I/O headers; while WLAN connectivity can be supported through an add-in card for greater flexibility in system design.

The VIA EPIA NR Nano-ITX mainboard is powered by the 1GHz VIA C7 processor, enabling convection cooled systems in locations where noiseless or dust-free systems are essential, yet providing desktop performance with a maximum CPU TDP of just 9 watts and average operating power of well below 1 watt. Coupled with up to 1GB of power-efficient DDR2-533 system memory the VIA EPIA NR mainboard operates at an average of below 15.5 watts for regular applications.

Additionally, the VIA EPIA NR leverages the display, storage and I/O flexibility of the VIA CX700 system media processor, the all-in-one, highly integrated embedded chipset featuring the VIA UniChrome Pro II IGP graphics core, to provide embedded developers with an extensive range of options enabling highly customized systems. There is also an optional upgrade to Gigabit Ethernet support for systems that require high bandwidth networking.

Expansion is easy through an array of compatible VIA accessory cards, including a further 4 COM ports (through the LPC interface), and both USB and mini-PCI based wireless modules. Security is provided through the VIA Padlock Security Engine, which when enabled ensures native military grade encryption and superior data security.

For complete specifications please visit this page.

The VIA EPIA NR Nano-ITX mainboard is compatible with all leading embedded and desktop operating systems, including Microsoft Windows 2000/XP, XPe, CE, and Linux.

Pre-release samples of the VIA EPIA NR mainboard are available to project-based customers immediately, and limited quantities will be available for channel customers in early August.

Source: VIA Technologies

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