Awarded Products Offer Insight into Design Trends at Computex 2013

Mobility, convergence, and cloud technology spotlighted in the jury selections

A notebook doubling as a tablet PC, cloud storage, cutting-edge gaming devices, ultrabooks, seamless wireless connections, powerful smartphones, mobility, touch-sensing technology and smart video and audio capability were among the primary design elements of the 90 award-winning products at the sixth annual Computex d&i Awards competition hosted by the Computex Taipei 2013 trade show.

The winners were selected from among 254 products entered from seven countries.

New Tech from Acer

Acer Inc. presented its Aspire R7 convertible notebook, H6 display, T2 multi-touch LED display, S7-392 Ultrabook, and Orbe personal cloud storage.

The Aspire R7 features a patented concealable Ezel Hinge, which connects touch display to touchpad keyboard. The hinge allows the monitor to pivot from the hinge's attachment in the middle of the back so the notebook can be used as a tablet PC, notebook or a touch display. The Aspire R7's four powerful Dolby Home Theater v4 speakers pump out four times the acoustic power of conventional notebooks. When the laptop is switched from the traditional mode to display mode, the audio channels switch by themselves, keeping the left audio channel always on user's left and the right on user's right.

The H6 Display features a "zero frame" construction sporting a 0.08-inch frame. The thin design provides seamless streaming pictures on video walls composed of H6 Displays. Hairline brushed finish adds to the visual appeal of the display stand and a magnetic surface allows users to store paper clips and post notes on the stand. Acer H6 is an eco-friendly device with its LED backlight and Acer EcoDisplay technology, which slashes power consumption by up to 68%.

The T2 multi-touch LED display comes with a stylish asymmetric stand that gives the monitor a futuristic look. The stand can be tilted up by 60 degrees for comfort and ergonomic control over a long period of use. With its 10-point multi-touch technology, T2 supports multi-user scenarios. Operating on Windows 8, the edge-to-edge glass screen creates a floating design and new generation IPS/VA LED panels that deliver a wide viewing angle.

The Aspire S7-392 Ultrabook comes with a dual-torque, T-shape hinge frame designed to reduce the wobble effect while enhancing hardness. The display opens flat with a hotkey to flip viewing angle by 180 degrees for easy sharing. The Gorilla Glass 2 cover is beautiful, thin yet strong, scratch resistant and easy to clean and has excellent smoothness. The aluminum unibody is ultra thin, super tough, stylishly finished, and ideal for mobile work. A light-sensing electroluminescence-lit keyboard with refined keys provides excellent visual ergonomics for keyboard operation in dim environments.

Enabled by AcerCloud service, Acer Orbe allows individual users to store, access, share and manage all their files and media content from cloud servers on Internet-connected PCs or mobile devices running on different OS anytime and anywhere. Unlike public cloud services, Acer Orbe personal cloud service is under personal management.

Setting the Pace in Flash Storage

Apacer Technology Inc. of Taiwan submitted its AH135 USB2.0 Flash Drive for this year's award. Made out of zinc alloy, the drive features the advanced chip-on-board (COB) technology as well as boutique-like quality and touch. The AH135 has passed the IEC 60529 IPX 7 tests for waterproofness set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and boasts shock- and dust-proof functions.

Another award winner this year was the AVEXIR Core memory module. The module is designed by Taiwan's AVEXIR Technologies Corp. for gamers looking for both high performance memory and an optimal gaming experience. One of its prominent design features is an LED light guide bar, which makes the module seem to be breathing. Gamers are also certain to welcome the module's electro-optical flint-like effect. The product has been patented in Taiwan.

Measuring 6.5cm (L) by 5cm (W) by 1.2cm (H) in size and weighing 32 grams, the Magic Mobile Stand, designed by Dysan International Enterprise Co., Ltd., can support all smartphone and tablet models at various angles for convenient viewing of multimedia contents on these mobile gadgets. It is the world's first stand for mobile computing devices to be designed with a building-block concept.

Designed by Pebble Technologies of the United States and manufactured by Foxlink of Taiwan, the Pebble smart watch connects to Bluetooth-enabled iPhone and Android smartphones, alerting users with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages. The watch is infinitely customizable, with beautiful downloadable watch faces and useful Internet-connected apps.

The DVW505 SmartCam video monitor, also on the winners' list, was designed by DXG Technology Corp. It offers WiFi connectivity, video-streaming technology and QR code capability, enabling fast video transfer over long distance in just three simple configuration steps. Classical elegance and a neutral design ensure that the monitor will fit seamlessly into any interior.

The Firma F80 is an ergonomic USB flash drive designed by Silicon Power Computer & Communications Inc. of Taiwan. With its chip-on-board technology, the drive measures in with a thickness of just 4.5mm. The drive has a key fob design and can be clipped to a key ring. Made of zinc alloy finished with sandblast processing, the drive has a shiny metal exterior that is resistant to scratching, fingerprint smudges, water, dust, and impact.

The WiDGET portable multifunctional wireless storage device fits snugly into a pocket, making it easy to carry. Designed by EDSLAB Technologies Inc. of Taiwan, the device is integrated with an 802.11 wireless access point and SD card slot/USB. It also has a friendly power bank design to recharge smartphones without switching on its WiFi function. A uniquely designed USB cable is another attraction of this product.

Rechargeable LED Lighting

Designed by ITS Vision Inc., the LT-30A multipurpose rechargeable LED lighting bar is ideal for outdoor applications. It generates 350 lumens of 5000K white light. It is waterproof, with an IP65-rated approval. It comes with a built-in battery, USB charge cable compatible with smartphone cables, and capacitive touch button. It comes with five power settings: six-hour regular mode, 24-hour for eco mode, two-hour high mode, six-hour scan mode and six-hour flash mode.

The Runaway Kappi Dress-Up USB flash drive, designed by Pretec/C-One technology Corp. of Taiwan, features the look of the poplar cartoon bear Kappi. The drive comes with a cute animal costume sheath and doubles as a key fob.

JP Inspiring Knowledge of Portugal designed the award-winning Pupil 108 notebook and ANY 301 tablet for education purpose. The Pupil 108 has a detachable keyboard to double as a tablet. It runs on Windows 8 and comes loaded with tons of apps on its touch screen. The screen edges are rounded for safety. The device also has an axis-rotating hinge and brackets that are designed for more than 50,000 uses.

The ANY 301 tablet features a high definition 10-inch display and a built-in capacitive stylus designed for ergonomic performance. The stylus provides a real pen-like writing experience with its solid structure and 8mm radius. The tablet also has rounded edges and is lightweight and slim, making it friendly and safe for school children.

Senao Networks Inc. of Taiwan is the designer of the ENH900EXT wireless base station and ERB600 wireless repeater.

The ENH900EXT is a carrier-grade wireless networking backbone for bridging solid connectivity coverage. The wireless base station is optimized to deliver reliable performance even in harsh outdoor environments. It supports far-end control technologies for easy administration at remote locations. It is durable and ergonomic. Also, it is easy to install with multiple mountings for different settings.

The ERB600 is a miniature dual-band wireless signal extender packed with features. It delivers superior Internet connectivity performance for digital entertainment home. The device can be used for nearly cable-free HD media data sharing throughout a home. An external WPS push button makes installation a snap. The repeater also has an elegant housing to blend in easily with the surroundings.

The Apollo active stylus is the first iPad-compatible product of its class on the market. Songtak Technology Co., Ltd. of Taiwan designed the stylus with the aim of creating a better pen-grip and writing experience.

Small is Beautiful

The HS-2310 point-of-sale (POS) system is an ideal solution to the problem of tight counter space. Designed by Posiflex Technology Inc. of Taiwan, the POS unit, 10-inch touch screen, thermal printer, MSR, Smart Card Reader, Finger Print Sensor and optional second display are packed into a device smaller than a standard receipt printer. The system delivers outstanding performance while minimizing the counter footprint.

The 2-SKINNY smart keyboard offers iPad users a convenient alternative to the touch screen keypad. The Bluetooth-enabled keyboard has a patented foldable stand, as well as backlight and touch laminate technology for use in dim settings. Designed by Hatch & Co. of Taiwan, the keyboard can operate for 68 hours on a charge.

The Diamond D20 storage device is a USB3.0 hard drive made with nano-imprint lithography technology that gives the device's aluminum case an upscale carbon-fiber-like texture, while also preventing fingerprint smudging. The device is composed of two major parts and has a screw-free design that makes the storage device easy to produce, maintain and assemble. With its slim design, the Diamond 20 fits perfectly into a pocket. The device is designed by SiliconPower Computer & Communications Inc. of Taiwan.

The Elite HE720 external hard drive is only 8.9mm thick, making it the slimmest drive of its kind. The superb hairline brushed and mirror-polish finish on the stainless steel body gives the drive a stylish look. Designed by ADATA Technology Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, the drive can automatically back up and synchronizes data with just one touch.

The O!coat Faagaa iPhone5 snap stand case is designed by OZAKI International Co., Ltd. of Taiwan. The colorful snap stand case comes in seven cartoon animal designs. The whimsical pop-out stand looks like a tongue and can support an iPhone5 in vertical or horizontal positions.

The Edimax N600 Wi-Fi bridge is designed by Gearlab Co., Ltd. and manufactured by Edimax Technology Co., Ltd. of Taiwan for home entertainment systems. The megaphone-shaped device delivers high-quality audio and video streaming over a gigabit connection on the 5GHz spectrum. It is the world's first Wi-Fi bridge supporting music streaming to both iOS and Android handsets.

The USB 3.0 Power Management Docking Station transforms a single PC USB port into a video, audio and Internet docking station. Designed by Good Way Technology Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, the device has a micro control unit that saves energy and meets EuP/ErP requirements. Integrated with Battery Fast Charging 1.2 technology, the station provides convenient charging function for tablet PCs and smartphones. The unit comes with an adjustable stand for vertical or horizontal positioning.

The EasyScan 400 Network Scanner, designed by Plustek Inc. of Taiwan, is a workgroup network coupled with a scanner featuring a 10-inch-wide touch screen and kiosk scanning capability. System integrators and resellers can customize the scanner with Plustek's ezScanCenter software or any Windows-based document management software. The EasyScan 400 can scan papers of various sizes and weight, embossed ID cards and license cards.

The Stylo Bluetooth headset and MBH-700 Bluetooth 4.0 headset are designed by Elecom Co., Ltd. of Japan and manufactured by Mavin Technology Inc. of Taiwan. The device's name alludes to the headset's stylus design. The headset has a clip for attachment to a shirt pocket when not in use. The anodized aluminum body gives the device a shiny and elegant look. The MBH-700 is also made with near-field communications (NFC) technology. With HFP1.6HD Voice and advanced microphone-noise cancellation technologies, the headset comfortably shuts out background noise. The headset earpiece also can rotate for use on either ear.

The ToriPOS True-flat PCT POS system is an ideal point-of-sale terminal for various shops with its sleek front panel and compact size, enabled by a slim computing module inside the base. Designed by Poindus Systems Corp. of Taiwan, the device has an efficient thermal structure that allows an Intel Ivy Bridge processor to be built into the computing terminal. Modularization minimizes maintenance cost of the ToriPOS, which is made up of a touch-screen and an embedded-PC modules. The frameless projected capacitive touch panel is covered with tempered glass for operation in demanding environments.

The R-POS Touch POS terminal is specifically designed for eateries and retail shops. The terminal has two touch screens so cashiers can simultaneously serve multiple customers. Designer Datavan International Corp. of Taiwan claims that the terminal can cut costs by up to 60% thanks to the revolutionary tray design of its Intel Core i5-powered core engine, which is scalable in hardware and functionality without auxiliary tools. The curved stand and stylish silver and black aluminum housing make the POS terminal a good fit in most retail environments.

Smartphone to TV

Trans Electric Co., Ltd. of Taiwan designed the WFD-1000 Wi-Fi AV receiver and the A-6200 Eco HD antenna. The WFD-1000 can wirelessly beam multimedia content from a smartphone to Full-HD TVs. The receiver can be recharged by plugging it into a TV USB port, eliminating the need for an external power adapter.

The A-6200 has unique multiple antenna elements that can receive digital terrestrial TV signals from all directions without frequent adjustments to the receiver angle. The antenna can be powered by plugging it into a TV USB port. The antenna fixing device and storage are located under the unit's solid base, makes installation of the antenna's cables easy and neat.

Promate Technologies of mainland China is the designer of the bluTrend touch control Hi-Fi Bluetooth headphone, bluPen.2 Bluetooth stereo stylus pen, pocketMateLT Lightning & MicroUSB Powerbank, and Syntax Ultra Slim Bluetooth keyboard.

The blueTrend comes with a multi-point pairing function, built-in microphone, cutting-edge audio technology, simple control interface, and dual sound-track synchronous mobile connectivity. It can play music from a smartphone, tablet PC, laptop and other music devices, in addition to taking calls from mobile phones. The unit has a smart touch control for music playing, volume tuning, phone dialing, denial of incoming call, call ending, and redialing. There is also a built-in balancer with rock, pop, classical, jazz and dance settings. CSR's sixth-generation processor ensures noise- and echo-free headset sound.

The bluPen.2 Bluetooth stereo stylus pen combines a headset and stylus for smartphones and tablet PCs. It has an ultra-sensitive microphone and built-in mini stereo speaker, as well as CSR's fifth-generation chipset to deliver superb sound quality with noise suppression and echo cancellation technology.

The pocketMateLT Lightning & MicroUSB Powerbank is a pocket-size battery charger with an integrated Apple Lightning connector, micro-USB port and charging-USB port for lithium-polymer battery. The device has a power capacity of 2600mAh with a rated input of 5V/1A, rated output of 5V/1A and charging time of two hours.

The Syntax Ultra Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is detachable a keyboard designed for the iPhone 5. The highly sensitive keyboard doubles as an ultra-slim shell protecting the handset. The device charges without cables on a specially designed charging pad using magnetic induction technology.

Juicing Up on the Go

The PROBOX mini HE2-52U2 is a portable power pack designed by Hotway Technology Corp. of Taiwan. The pocket-size charger uses the top quality battery cells from Japan and comes with a built-in micro USB cable and standard 5V USB port, enabling charging without the cable mess of conventional chargers.

Designed by Taiwan's Avision Inc., the Miwand 2 Wi-Fi PRO Mobile Scanner is powered by a lithium-ion battery and can scan any flat document in just two seconds. Scanned images are displayed on its color screen and automatically stored on a microSD card. The scanner can beam images to an iPad, smartphones or other mobile computing devices through a built-in Wi-Fi module. Image resolution goes up to 1200 dpi and an A4 color document can be scanned in just 1.6 seconds at the 300dpi setting.

KYE Systems Corp. of Taiwan designed the Gila Gaming Mouse and the Manticore Gaming FPS/MMO/RTS Keyboard. The Gila is a professional laser gaming mouse designed for MMORPG and RTS, with an ergonomic grip for comfortable control. The mouse also comes with user-configurable chromatic-totality emitters The X/Y axis resolution dpi also adjustable and programmable control buttons can by reconfigured or assigned to hotkeys.

The Manticore has a mechanical touch designed for FPS, MMO, and RTS video games. The compact and simple looking keyboard has a generous palm rest for comfortable support. Its 16-million-color RGB LED backlight palette can be adjusted for color and brightness. The Multimedia, G-KEY and Profile function keys are ergonomically placed for easy access by gamers focused on the screen.

The MobileCinema A50P Pico Projector is a mobile device embedded with MHL cable to support for micro HDMI, micro UBS, NB, tablet and PS3 game consoles. Designed by AIPTEK, the projector can beam game video onto screens as big as 60 inches. Using the latest mirror projection technology, the projector is plugged to beam. It also has a TI DLP chip that produces vivid images on the screen. A high energy-density lithium-polymer battery pack can power the projector for up to 100 minutes.

The Smart Bluetooth Gunilamp, designed by Gunitech Corp. of Taiwan, is an LED lamp with high-power red, green, blue and white emitters that jointly can produce 4.2 billion light colors. The lamp is the world's first LED lamp with Bluetooth technology. The lamp's light color can be changed from a smartphone with the lamp's app. The lamp's control timing can also be set. A unique antenna and exterior design give the lamp a signal transmission range superior to that of typical wirelessly connected LED lamps. The modularized design reduces the lamp size and boosts its thermal dissipation efficiency.

Dotted Design Co. is the designer behind the Charcoal Stylus Pen, whose charred branch design makes it look like a real charcoal pen. There are five touch points on the pen to adjust the stroke width to at least eight different settings, giving users the sense of using a real charcoal pen. The pen also has a dedicated app.

The Urban S41 PC chassis and CRONOS gaming headset were designed by Tt Design and produced by Thermaltake Technology Co., Ltd. Both companies are based in Taiwan.

The Urban S41 gets its simple and elegant look from a large brushed aluminum door-front panel, single-piece top panel and raised foot stands. The panels are lined with foam to significantly reduce noise from the computer. The chassis has four USB ports including two USB 3.0 ports, as well as an HDD docking station, tool-less drive bays, cooling fans, grommet holes for liquid cooling system, and advanced cable management.

The CRONOS gaming headset comes with a Lycra head-pad that reduces pressure on the head for more comfortable use over long periods, while also enabling high-performance frequency response. Its foldable microphone has a 3.5mm gold-plated plug that smoothes signal transmission between game console and the headset. The headset also has a Tt eSPORTS Battle Dragon LED display on the USB plug, adding a stylish touch.

Sound Connections

Antec Mobile Products (a.m.p.) of the United States is the designer of the SP1 NFC-enabled Bluetooth speaker. The speaker delivers authentic, high-quality sound for music, movie, and game applications. The SP1 is equipped with NFC pairing technology via a Bluetooth connection, making it easy to pair with the users' devices. It can be tagged, paired, and enjoyed in just two steps.

Gajah International Pte. Ltd. and OAXIS Holdings Pte. Ltd. of Singapore design and manufacture the Oaxis AT3001 wireless charging pad, OAXIS TB2007 Android TV box, and OAXIS BK6025 eBook reader.

The Oaxis AT3001 is a wireless charging pad based on the QI standard for induction charging and is compatible with QI-enabled mobile phones. The pad has a generous rounded square form. The raised rubberized bumps provide traction for the phone and a visual guide to help position the phone. Devices can be charged simply by placing them on the induction charging pad, providing a convenient alternative to charging via cables.

The Oaxis BK6025 is a basic eBook reader that provides a no-frills reading experience. The dual tone design with svelte profile gives the reader a simple yet distinctive look. The rubberized soft touch keypad seamlessly blends the buttons into the faceplate, adding to the subtly of the design. The rubberized components also make it easier to grip the device for long periods of use. The BK6025's button-based interface provides a smooth reading experience. The six-inch epaper display is integrated with front illumination to deliver a paper-like reading experience in the day and a uniformly lit display at night.

The OAXIS TB2007 Android TV BOX departs from the box-like design of most TV set-top box with a sensual design inspired by the form of a manta ray. Beneath its discreet form is an Android TV Box that can turn any television set into a smart TV for music, video, games and web browsing on the big screen.

The RP-AC52 Dual-band AC750 Range Extender, VariDrive optical driver and PadFone Infinity smartphone were among the award-winners from ASUSTek Computer Inc.

The RP-AC50 makes blind spot a thing of the past with its high-powered internal MIMO antennas. The strong repeating functionality brings wireless networking to every corner of the house, with excellent signal reception to enjoy lag-free gaming and HD multimedia streaming.

The VariDrive is a super multi DVD drive incorporating reading, writing and peripheral connection functionality. It has three USB3.0 cables for high-speed data connections to PC peripherals, optical media devices and external ports to laptops or ultrabooks. HDMI, VGA and Ethernet connectors are located under the stand for connection to displays and other networking devices.

The PadFone Infinity smartphone is driven by the Android 4.1 OS and outfitted with a five-inch Full HD display. The LTE wireless technology accelerates downloads to speeds of up to 100Mbits per second. The PadFone Infinity is 6.3mm thin and weighs just 145 grams. It has an aluminum unibody design and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon(TM) 600 processor with quad-core CPU. When docked to the station, the PadFone Infinity becomes a sleek 10.1-inch tablet with a Full HD display and three times longer battery life than the stand-alone phone. Apps are seamlessly reformatted to suit the larger screen and the LTE connection is shared to lower mobile data costs.