"If infantry robot #2245 was human, it might have been concerned about the sound of helicopter rotors in the distance. If it was psychic, it might even have sensed that the helicopter contained twelve soldiers that had been sent to kill it. Instead, IR-1 #2245 simply fed the data from its soundwave receptors down to the VIA NanoBook in its interface silo."

Will it be destroyed? Read on.

Secondly, they have a few entries in their competition to find out weird, wacky and maybe even useful items, to include as MobilityPLUS modules. The VIA NanoBook reference design includes a space next to the 7" screen for any type of module that can be connected via USB. One entry suggests:

"I've got a idea I think is the tops A Swiss army Pocket module. It'd come with your standard Swiss army items like knife, toothpick ,nail file, etc (Ok maybe the spoon in these knives has to go :P). However there is a twist It'd have a 1/2/4 gig flash module (I know there already is a swiss army knife USBkey), flash light (to light up the keyboard at night or it can be removed to be a regular flashlight), and too keep the idea of personal protection a finger print scanner would be placed on the module."

I'm not sure that security guards at airports would agree with that suggestion! If you have a suggestion, register at UltraMobileLife.com and post a comment here. There are memory sticks to be won!

Adding a fourth option in the staple of VIA EPIA Nano-ITX boards, VIA have announced the EPIA NR, with features specifically designed to cater for the healthcare, retail and industrial applications. These features include UDMA, SATA and compact flash; native dual LVDS support; and of course, the low profile fanless design that EPIA boards are so well known for.

"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 ideal 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 considerable 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." Read the full Press Release here.