Gizmodo: benq

BenQ 27-inch M2700HD Monitor Could Make Big Screens Affordable

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:20:00 EST

BenQ used to be a company that made cheap, decent gear. Now they make cheap stuff and slightly more premium stuff. I'm not sure what their first 27-incher will cost when it hits this month, but it might be cheap.

And no matter what, the model should be competitively priced.

The M2700HD is a 27-inch, 16x9 monitor running at 1080P. No straight contract ratio is listed, but the dynamic contrast ratio is 50,000:1, for whatever that's worth. Still, with two HDMI inputs and 10W of virtual surround speakers, the M2700HD is ready to fill the PC or TV niche without too much difficulty. And like I've said like five times now, it might be kinda cheap. [BenQ via Softpedia]

This Skinny BenQ T850 Packs a Fat Touch Screen

Mark Wilson — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:10:00 EDT

BenQ's gear is usually pretty standard stuff, but the new T850 is pushing the envelope a bit. Claiming to be the world's thinnest 8MP camera at 14.9 millimeters thin, it also manages to squeeze in a large 3-inch LCD display. But the neatest part is that after you take shots with up to 3X zoom and 1600 ISO, you can tap, circle and swipe your way through the photos. I'm not quite convinced that touchscreens are needed in a well-designed point-and-shoot, but as long as the controls are optional, it's certainly not hurting anyone. No word on price yet. [BenQ via Crave]

Benq C36 Cellphone Thinks it's a Webcam and Radio Recorder Too

Kit Eaton — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:50:00 EDT

Benq's new C36 cellphone is labelled a "Music Phone" but it also squeezes in a 1.3 megapixel webcam function and has a built-in FM radio with a recording function. This last even has a scheduling function, so you won't miss your shows. It plays MP3s, WAV, MIDI and AMR, has a 2-inch color LCD, built-in speakers, records voice notes, has microSD memory expansion and 180 hours standby and 2.4 hour talk time. The phone even has a "Health management" option, dealing with BMI and menstrual matters—we'd love to have been at the design meeting where they dreamed that up. The little 0.17-pound phone is available in blue, in Indonesia in May at first, with other countries to follow. No info on pricing. [Benq via TFTS]

BenQ Takes T's Name in Vain with New T60 Mobile

AddyDugdale — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:04:00 EDT

Don't know who BenQ is, but sucka's been taking my name in vain. Look at his new cellphone—T60 he calls it—is like me, but then it's not like me. So, let's look at it in detail, shall we? It's black. That's like me. It's slim. That's not like me.

One thing it does have a handy little thing to let you block calls, which means that fool Murdock can't bug me no more, pretending to be Hulk Hogan. Funnily enough, my fist does the same job. What else is like me?

It's got 24MB internal memory. That's not like me. It's got an integrated stereo FM radio with scheduled recording function. Not like me. Micro SD card slot. Not like me either. Bluetooth? NOT LIKE ME. USB connectivity? Mr. Period. T is getting angry now. Standby is 200 hours—yeah, I can do that. Finally, jibber-jabber time is just three hours. That all? What do you think T stands for? [MobileWhack]

BenQ's V2400W is the World's Slimmest 24-inch LCD

Jason Chen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:30:31 EDT

People who want big screen space without having to buy a wide desk to support it can take a look at this BenQ V2400W, which is the world's slimmest 24-inch widescreen monitor. It's apparently more than 21% slimmer than the next slimmest monitor at 2.44 inches, and has a 4000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and 1080p HD support. Two and a half inches. Thinner than most of the stuff we've got dangling around. [Far East Gizmos]

Mobile Internet Device from BenQ—Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture

AddyDugdale — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:17:39 EST

We've already seen a video of BenQ's imaginatively named "mobile internet device" (you can call it MID) in action, but more details have been emerging about the touchscreen device, with its customized UI, in Barcelona this week—including the intriguing news that you can shake it, rather like an Etch-A-Sketch, to minimize open windows. More deets, plus a press shot, below.

When the MID finally goes on sale, sometime in the next few months, it will have an 0.3-megapixel webcam, 4.8.inch touchscreen with 1024 x 600 resolution, Wi-Fi and HSDPA. Inside is Intel's Menlow platform with Silverthorne processor. [BenQ via jkkmobile]

G900W Monitor from BenQ is 19 Inches of Worldwide Cheapness

AddyDugdale — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:11:02 EST

BenQ is rolling out its G900W worldwide, a 19-inch monitor for PCs. You've got resolution of 1440 x 900 and 800:1 contrast, D-SUB and DVI ports. Response time is 5 ms. Price and another shot below.

Price in Japan is 27800 , that translates to around $245, but expect it to be a tad cheaper over here. [Akihabara News]

BenQ Digital Camera Has Seriously High ISO Sensitivity

Haroon Malik — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:50:00 EST

The X835 digital camera from BenQ has an 8MP sensor, packs in a 3x optical zoom and can handle sensitivities of up to ISO 2000 during still image capture. The ISO sensitivity during video capture is set at a maximum of 6400. The addition of such functionality comes at a price; the noise in the captured images will probably be enough to cause an avalanche in the Alps from a 500 mile distance.

Most standard cameras have sensitivities of less than ISO 1600; an increase in the value allows better utilization of ambient light, foregoing the necessity for a flash in lower light conditions. The camera will also have a 2.5-inch LCD, 16MB internal memory and an SD/SDHC slot, with support for up to 4GB cards. Price and shipping dates are not available, but the camera will ship in red and black colors when it eventually does. [Macnn]

BenQ Mobile Internet Device Running Linux

blongo3 — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:30:31 EDT

BenQ was hitting the floors of IDF showing off a new UMPC (although they call it a 'mobile internet device'). While it may look like just a poor attempt to capture iPhone/iPod touch hype, it was surprisingly running Linux. Could we be moving towards a non-Microsoft based ultra-mobile future? [JKKMobile]

Just What We Needed: Another Memory Card Standard

Matt Buchanan — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:00:40 EDT

The MultiMedia Card Association (who?) has approved a new "global memory card standard" developed by a Taiwanese research institute—dubbed the miCard (Multiple Interface Card)—which will work with both USB and MMC slots.

Skepticism over new formats aside, the specs seem fairly impressive: initial transfer rate and storage will be around 480Mbit/sec and 8GB, respectively, with both improving over time. The expected maximum capacity? 2048GB. I can definitely get behind two terabytes in my pocket. (I'm also happy to see you.)

Twelve companies are already backing the new format:

A-Data Technology Inc., Asustek Computer Inc., BenQ Corp., Carry Computer Eng. Co., C-One Technology Corp., DBTel Inc., Power Digital Card Co. and RiChip Inc.

Of course, adoption by technical associations and corporations (and calling it a "global standard") doesn't necessarily mean consumers will also take up the new cards, but backwards compatibility with current standard ports, like USB, should help. What do you think? Do we really need yet another format taking up shelf space at Best Buy? – Matt Buchanan

Taiwan's miCard chosen as global memory card standard [Computerworld via /.]

BenQ's Fat-measuring Phone Keeps Your Spare Tire in Check

Louis Ramirez — Fri, 04 May 2007 10:00:52 EDT

We've seen phones with lots of crazy features, but in my opinion BenQ's fat-measuring phone beats them all. The alleged phone keeps track of your pudge by shooting out a micro-current that travels through your body.

When you touch two separate electrodes on the phone, a special chip will measure the electrical signal and before you know it, you'll be dropping those Twinkies in no time flat. I think the idea is pretty far-fetched—the last thing anyone wants is a phone telling them when they've had one too many Doritos. – Louis Ramirez

Body Fat Measuring Phone from BenQ [Unwired View]

Confirmed: Xbox 360 Elite Doesn't Use Super-Quiet BenQ Drives

Jason Chen — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:28:28 EDT

If you remember back to our Xbox 360 DVD drive comparison, you'll remember that the order of quietness in the units went Toshiba-Samsung loudest (the launch drives), Hitachi-LG in the middle, and BenQ LiteOn-Philips quietest (all Xboxes manufactured after November '06). So which do you think the Xbox 360 Elite would have? If you guessed BenQ, you'd be wrong.

Unless our Elite was manufactured before Nov '06, it seems likely that Microsoft is still using Hitachi-LG drives in their Xbox 360s (both regular and Elite). We'll have to check when more Elite units make it into the general population.

A better look after the jump.

– Jason Chen

Giznotes: April 13, 2007

blongo3 — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:20:54 EDT

Cisco has fixed a couple of Wi-Fi Vulnerabilities. If left unpatched, an unintended user could gain access to your network. Click here for more info.

Tisk tisk, two of BenQ's execs (Chairman Lee Kun-Yao & President Sheaffer Lee) are being charged with insider trading.

It's official: Google is buying web-advertiser DoubleClick for $3,100,000,000. Man that is a lot of 0's.

PRMTXT is a program that will text your prom-going kid not to drink or do ~~fun~~ stupid things on prom night. Here's a tip, maybe your kid would actually take your advice if you'd talk to him/her instead of having canned text messages do it for you.– Ben Longo

BenQ Readying Its First UMPC

Louis Ramirez — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:33:20 EDT

The details are still pretty slim, but DigiTimes is reporting that BenQ is prepping its first UMPC to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year. BenQ would be joining the ranks of Sony, Samsung, and Asus, all of which have UMPCs out.

Personally, I've yet to see a UMPC I'd spend my hard-earned cash on (though some have come close), so I'd be more impressed if BenQ strayed from the pack a bit and came out with a radical design instead of more of what we've already seen. – Louis Ramirez

BenQ Lends Support t o UMPC Platform [DigiTimes via SlashGear]

BenQ-Mobile Being Hocked on Ebay: What Would Gizmodo Do?

Travis Hudson — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:45:25 EST

If you remember, back in September BenQ canned their German mobile phone division. After months and months of failed attempts of searching for a buyer, BenQ has decided to sell it all on Ebay. Yes, you can own everything from the office plants to computers to furniture and probably a hell of a lot of phones (that may or may not work) if you are the highest bidder. Surely some, young, stupid and rich entrepreneur out there wants to buy it all up and start up a mobile phone manufacturer. This begs the question: what would Gizmodo do with a mobile phone company?

It is obvious what we would do. Owning a failing company like BenQ-Mobile would finally allows us to pursue an invention that has been lingering in our minds for years. BenQ-Mobile would finally allow us to produce the ... Jizzmondo! Remember the Gizmondo? This is that and more. The

Jizzmondo is a touchscreen mobile phone that can do GPS, media playback, Internet, e-mail, toasting, and more. It includes a 600GB hard drive, Bluetooth, push-to-talk and runs off a hybrid Windows VistOS X. It comes in a minimalistic white shell with Apple logos plastered all over it (it's okay, we can afford the lawsuits).

Oh, and did I mention the significance behind the name? Yeah, it will also be a unisex sex toy (think about it). The Jizzmondo will put the RAZR, iPhone, BlackBerry and Treo all to shame. Can any of those phones be crammed in various orifices for pleasure? I think not.

–Travis Hudson

Bankrupt BenQ Mobile Germany assets head for eBay [Reuters]

How To Tell If You Have the Quiet Xbox 360 DVD

Jason Chen — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:30:11 EST

You may have heard that all Xbox 360 DVD drives manufacturered after November '06 were getting the quieter BenQ drives. Why's this important? Because the earlier models were like having your wife blow-dry her hair every time you were trying to play Gears online.

So how do you tell which one you've got? Xbox Scene has a comparison with all three drives. Toshiba/Samsung on the left, Hitachi/LG in the middle, and BenQ on the right. If you've just purchased a drive in the last few weeks and don't have the BenQ drive, take it back to the store for an exchange and see if you can get lucky. – Jason Chen

Compare Xbox360 DVD Trays: Toshiba-Samsung, Hitachi-LG and Benq [Xbox-Scene]

BenQ's E610 and C610: 6-Megapixel Entry Level Cameras for Newbies

Gizloco — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:45:24 EST

BenQ still fancies itself a player in the digital camera scene and has two more lower end digital cameras for you. You've got the 6.1-megapixel E610 and 6.0-megapixel C610, both of which are aimed at digital camera newcomers. Of the two, the C610 is the more basic, having only a 2.0-inch screen whereas the E610's screen is 2.4-inches. There's no pricing info in sight and it appears that the cameras may be Europe-only for the time being. BenQ has a history of releasing low-end digital cameras to very little fanfare, so why should this be any different? I guess if you don't have the scratch to pony up for a DSLR this could do the trick. – Nicholas Deleon

Press Release [BenQ via Fareastgizmos.com]

BenQ Apologizes for Pissing all over the WTC

Travis Hudson — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:29:54 EST

If you recall, BenQ recently ran an advertisement for their silly dog tag MP3 player featuring a guy standing in front of rubble from the World Trade Center bombing. Well, they have since took down the page and placed a apology letter in its place.

So, forgive them? Thanks, Reggie – Travis Hudson

BenQ MusicQ Site, Apology Letter

BenQ MusiQ 9.11/WTC Site Translation

Jason Chen — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:50:11 EST

We showed you BenQ China's questionable ad site for their Dog Tag MP3 players this morning, now here's the translation of the stuff on the page.

Translation and details after the jump.

The words are:

1st line: Even if
2nd line: The World is destroy to dust, I still believe in
3rd line: Music

So, "Even if the world is destroy[ed] to dust, I still believe in music".

The guy apparently is the lead singer for some Taiwanese/Chinese band called Mayday. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. The other half is getting your ad department to run their images past some Americans before putting them live. – Jason Chen

Thanks Mark!

WTF Alert: Chinese BenQ MusiQ Dog Tag Player Site Has Guy Posing In Front of WTC Ruins

Jason Chen — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:00:21 EST

These BenQ MusiQ Dog Tag MP3 players may be quite stylish, but wtf is up with their Chinese site? The splash page features some one gloved Michael Jackson guy standing in front of what looks like the WTC ruins. Yeah? Seemed like a good idea at the time?

BenQ must have taken a page from BlackBerry's Pearl Harbor ad campaign where the Japanese were depicted as dropping smartphones into the hands of screaming Cingular users. – Jason Chen

Product Page [BenQ - Thanks Nick!]