VIA Labs gets new VL701 chip certified as first USB 3.0 controller for hard drives

VIA Labs has been able to boast of being the first in a number of designs over the last couple of years. The VL701 Low-power USB 3.0 SATA Bridge Controller is the design to get USB-IF Bus-Powered certification for regular hard drives.

"Featuring an industry-first fully-integrated 5V switching regulator, the VIA Labs VL701 Low-Power USB 3.0 to SATA Bridge is a single-chip solution that achieves the highest power efficiency while offering users transfer rates up to 10 times that of USB 2.0."

VIA Labs will be hoping for a lot of sales of the new chip:

"Cal-Comp Electronics and Communications, a leading Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) that contracts with many name-brand customers worldwide, adopted and integrated the USB-IF Certified VL701 it into its upcoming USB 3.0 external storage products."
-Source.

Chips like WonderMedia's boom

A new IDC report has revealed that revenues from semiconductors for MIDs and eBooks rose 2000% in 2010. The report includes x86 chips and ARM architecture chips like VIA's WonderMedia WM8505, which can be found in entry level tablet PCs. The report on Digitimes suggests that ARM architecture is holding its own against x86 competition in this market. - Source: Digitimes.

Google ARM cooperative platforms to assist WonderMedia

Google and ARM are looking into standardizing features so that tablets and other devices running Android can be updated. At the moment, a lot of smaller players, including VIA's WonderMedia which uses an ARM processor, are part of tablets that run Android but can't have the version updated. Digitimes is reporting that Google and ARM are now working together towards Android 3.0 having known platform features. This would make it easier for smaller players to offer a more robust solution.

VIA Labs and others trying to secure USB 3.0 business

It is a little macabre but VIA Labs and other Taiwanese chip makers are speeding up their certifications in the hope of securing new business that would normally be the domain of Renesas of Japan.

Renesas has closed several plants in Japan because of the earthquake and tsunami, leaving notebook vendors wondering where their alternative suppliers might be when stocks run out.

According to Digitimes, VIA Labs, ASMEdia Technology and Etron Technology are all trying to see if they can supply any of the shortfall, although other reports suggest that Renesas will simply outsource production. - Source.

New VIA8650 Wondermedia chip in E86 Suntoo tablet

VIA's subsidiary, Wondermedia, quietly launched a new SoC for tablets and it has found its way into the E86 tablet from Suntoo. The new 600MHz chip provides a zippy experience with Android 2.2, including Android Market support. The VIA8650 is aiming at the sub-$100 price point and if I'll end up being able to get an Android Market capable tablet for under $100 then I sure am going to be one happy camper!

The E86 Suntoo has an 8-inch resistive touchscreen, 356MB RAM, 2GB flash storage, 3G and Wi-Fi. It's a nice looking tablet, with a glossy black and grey design around the 4:3 aspect ration screen. - Source: Shanzai.com.

VIA Velecom extends agreement with China Telecom

China Telecom is the biggest telecom operator in China. That makes it the biggest telecom operator in the biggest telecom market in the world. VIA Telecom and China Telecom yesterday renewed a year old agreement of cooperation in working together to enhance and develop the CDMA market in China.

"In view of the achievements from this bilateral cooperation on CDMA market development in China over the past two years, the two parties agreed to enhance the depth and breadth of their cooperation to promote the greater prosperity of the whole industry, develop a rich CDMA product line, and drive market competitiveness through the renewal and strengthening of their strategic cooperation agreement." - Source: Press Release.

USB 3.0 external drives on their way

One of VIA's subsidiaries, VIA Labs, is a week or so away from starting to ship the VL701 USB 3.0 controller. The chip is for use with external hard drives. I remember the huge different between an external hardware drive at USB 1.1 speeds and USB 2.0. Let's hope USB 3.0 cracks up to be everything they say it is for external hard drives! Source: Digitimes.