It looks like a $6.5 billion dollar bailout of Taiwan’s DRAM industry is in the works, a move that is proving as controversial on the island as the auto bailout is Stateside. The DRAM market has been in decline a while now, as evidenced by the recent closure of the Hynix plant in Eugene, where some 1,100 souls once worked doggedly to topple the likes of Intel and AMD. Now, we don’t really know all the particulars of this admittedly complex situation, but we sure hope that lawmakers over there are able to work something out — after the recent debut of Phantom of the Opera peformed by robots at Taiwan’s University of Science and Technology, we’re sure that people there could use something to lift their spirits.

[Via TG Daily]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Taiwan’s proposed DRAM industry bailout puts the word “global” in economic downturn originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Ask Engadget, Misc. Gadgets

We’ll be honest — Dave has run into a magnificent problem to have, but it’s still an issue in need of an answer. And before you get too engrossed, may we remind you that you can send in questions of your own to ask at engadget dawt com.

“I live in Canada and have relatives visiting Taiwan in the near future. What hawt Asia-only, non-igloo-related gadget should I ask them to grip for me? Thanks!”

We’re going to take the liberty of expanding this question to involve all of Asia, given that quite a few others are probably headed to Akihabara in the foreseeable future. So, what’s the best gizmos(s) to pick up if heading over to the other side for what may be the first and last time ever?

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Filed under: Robots

Look National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, we understand this is your first walking, bi-pedal robot — but why the peel-away face? Just slap in some big manga eyes and button-mouth and we might be able to sleep at night. But no, you show up at the Taipei International Invention Show with this creepoid, capable of singing via synthesizer and walking 2-meters in a straight line — presumably in preparation to celebrate our demise.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Far from being the first dual-mode handset we’ve seen (heck, it’s not even the first WiMAX-friendly dualie), Qsida’s recently showcased slider is still quite intriguing. The currently unnamed cellphone supports both 802.16e WiMAX as well as GSM / GPRS / EDGE networks, and just in case you’re hankering for another way to get connected, there’s a built-in WiFi module too. Reportedly, the smartphone is a test device used in the M-Taiwan initiative to promote WiMAX, and aside from handling voice calls via (almost) any flavor of wireless protocol, you’ll also find Windows Mobile 6.1 running the show. Granted, this particular unit wasn’t down with 3G, but a spokesperson was adamant that such a handset would be added to its portfolio eventually.

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Filed under: Transportation

Anyone can claim to be a friend of the environment while proudly jaunting about in a sporty Tesla, so what really separates the hardcore greens from the Hollywood posers is the willingness to shell out nearly twenty-five grand for a no-frills, no hype (and no doors?) solar-powered runabout. It must be this dedicated demographic that a team of builders and racers from Taiwan’s National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences are targeting with the vehicle you see above, which is based on their successful design that ranked second of fifty cars in the latest Australian World Solar Challenge. Unlike their single-passenger, 145kph (90mph) race car, however, the multi-seat commercial ride is speculated to max out at around 70kph (43mph); fine for short city commutes, but not really practical for road trips (and with the three-hour battery, forget about cruising around much at night). Still, those ready to fork over an estimated 800,000 New Taiwanese Dollars ($24,617) for a vehicle that only a short-sighted mother could love should be able to order one as early as next year — probably not tomorrow, though.

[Via The Raw Feed]

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Filed under: Cellphones

According to Bill Chen, General Manager of Motorola Taiwan’s Mobile Device business, the second generation Linux-based Ming handset won’t launch until Q2 of 2008. Not February as initially rumored. What’s more, the handset will be introduced in high-end and entry-level configurations — unfortunately, both are GSM/EDGE, not 3G capable. DigiTimes says that Inventec won the manufacturing contract of this MOTO Beijing designed handset. Given the unusual (for MOTO) use of a vowel in the name, there’s a good chance this was never meant for Stateside consumption anyway. Too bad, eh?

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Handhelds

While the first generation (and second generation for that matter) of UMPCs fell well short of the bloated origami hype, Compal sees big growth from Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) in 2008. According to DigiTimes, this belief has prompted the giant, Taiwanese ODM to dedicate an entire team to the mobile platform unveiled by Intel in April 2007. As such, MID devices will receive special attention, away from their laptop and UMPC efforts. If nothing else, we find it reassuring that somebody out there can understand the difference between a UMPC and MID device with such clarity.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones

Hello Kitty has certainly claimed her fair share of cellphones in the past, but she’s going totally diva on the Okwap C150T. From top to bottom, side to side, this GSM handset is smothered in cuteness, and reportedly, it boasts a built-in media player, a two-megapixel camera, and a myriad Hello Kitty themes / backgrounds. Regrettably, there’s no word on a price just yet, and it’s doubtful you’ll find this thing anywhere in America, but go on and click through for shots of the interface if you just can’t get enough.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Continue reading Okwap’s C150T gets mauled by Hello Kitty

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Handhelds

Check out the MTube. Sure, the name is weird and maybe a little pointless, but the device itself is pretty interesting. We don’t have a ton of detail on the little guy — which was put together by Taiwan’s Science and Technology Advisory Group — except that it’s built atop VIA’s Mobile-ITX motherboard, features a 2.8-inch, 640 x 480 touchscreen, 8GB of flash memory, a 1GHz VIA CPU, and is running some form of Linux. The new, miniscule ITX form factor apparently also includes a CDMA baseband chip, which opens up wireless connectivity possibilities for devices of this type. Right now this is just a prototype, but production is planned for 2009, and once VIA’s credit-card sized motherboard hits the market, we suspect we’ll be seeing all kinds of new gadgetry like this popping up.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!