Further, Digitimes reports; " Motherboard prices were hiked by 5-10% in early 2011 to reflect increased material costs and the impact of labor shortages, and by 3-8% in April 2011 due to increased costs of some components arising from the earthquake hitting northeastern Japan in March.

Copper pricing has risen from US$8,000 per metric ton (MT) before the 2012 to US$8,600/MT currently, causing hikes in the cost of copper-clad laminates, and in turn production cost of motherboards.

As for labor costs in China, minimum monthly wage in Beijing was hiked from CNY1,160 to CNY1,260 ($184 - $200USD) on January 1, 2012. Shanghai will raise wages from $178 to $203 on April 1, and Shenzhen raised wages from $209 to $238USD on February 1.

ASUS and Gigabyte expect their motherboard shipments in the first quarter of 2012 to increase 10% and 20%, respectively, on quarter."

Affected by the Lunar New Year holidays, which reduces the overall working days in January, and the Europe market, the largest market base of Asustek, still remains in economy turmoil, Asustek is expected to see 10% sequential decline in notebook shipments in the first quarter with its tablet PCs and Eee PCs also unlikely to enjoy growth. "

For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. LEARN MORE."

"The mass suicide threat stemmed from an incident on Jan. 2, in which the workers asked for a raise and were told to either quit with compensation or keep their jobs and receive no pay increase, according to a report from WantChinaTines.com In response, the employees went to the top of a building at a Foxconn Technology Park and threatened to jump, according to the report. The mayor of the town eventually came and talked them out of it.

Suicide at Foxconn has been a serious problem in the past. At least 14 Foxconn workers in plants in the Chinese cities of Shenzen and Chengdu have taken their own lives since a string of worker suicides began in early 2010."

Here's the full PR on all the 'talent' promoting techno-thing-a-ma-bobs at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas.

"Hollywood stars, sports legends, musical icons and entertainers will attend the 2012 International CES® to showcase and promote the innovative products and technologies shaping consumer technology. The 2012 International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, is scheduled January 10-13, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Actress Eliza Dushku will represent the Entertainment Matters at CES program as the Entertainment Matters Ambassador.  Back for its second year, the Entertainment Matters program is designed by and for Hollywood's film, television and digital communities.

As part of her ambassadorship, Dushku will contribute to Spike TV's “CES All Access Live” broadcast coverage from 12:30-1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, and she will also host the network's exclusive VIP CES party that evening at Tryst Nightclub in the Wynn Las Vegas. Dushku rose to fame with her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She is also known for her starring role in the network series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse, as well as roles in True Lies, Bring it On, This Boy's Life, Wrong Turn and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Jillian Michaels, inspirational television personality and fitness guru, will highlight the marriage of tech and fitness at the CES TechZone FitnessTech. From 10:30-11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10, Michaels will discuss the impact of digital innovation and her recent partnership with BodyMedia, an on-body monitor company, in N256, North Hall. She will also be available for interviews on Tuesday upon request.

Acclaimed rapper 50 Cent will sign autographs from 3-4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, Wednesday, January 11 and Thursday, January 12 for his new audio company, SMS Audio, which combines technology, function and style to bring the highest caliber of sound, comfort and fashion to every product, at their booth (LVCC, South Hall, #20818). He'll also be on hand to discuss his new line of wireless headphones with the editors of TechCrunch at the AOL Studio (LVCC, Grand Lobby) on Wednesday, January 11 from 12-12:30 p.m. He is also scheduled to interview with CNET at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11.

Grammy-nominated platinum pop megastar, Justin Bieber, will be appearing with TOSY Robotics at this year's CES. Justin Bieber is helping TOSY unveil their new innovative entertainment robot at the their booth which is located in the Robotics TechZone of the LVCC South Hall ground level (#21964, 21968, 22064, 22066 and 22068) on Wednesday, January 11 from 1-3 p.m.

Dennis Rodman, NBA Hall of Fame player, will be at the 2012 CES representing Paltalk, a service that allows users to explore the online world of chat sites with community chat rooms and cool webcam technology that lets you see and be seen. Dennis will make an appearance at Paltalk's booth (LVCC, South Hall, #26915) from 2-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12.

Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan, will walk the CES show floor from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10. Teresa competed in the 2011 Miss America pageant as Miss Nebraska. The Miss America 2012 pageant is scheduled January 14 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be televised on ABC.

Haier America will host NBA legends Robert Horry and John Salley, and celebrity chef Allison Fishman. Seven-time NBA Champion and current sports commentator Robert Horry will make an appearance at Haier's booth (LVCC, Central Hall, #9826) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10. Horry is one of only two players to have won NBA championships with three different teams. John Salley, the first NBA player to win four championships with three different teams, will make an appearance at the booth from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11. Allison Fishman, cookbook author and creator of The Wooden Spoon cooking school, will give a cooking demo and make daily appearances at Haier's booth from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on both Wednesday, January 11 and Thursday, January 12.

Star of the hit CBS drama NCIS: LOS ANGELES, LL COOL J will introduce exciting new technology from Boomdizzle on the CNET stage (LVCC, South Hall Lobby) on Tuesday, January 10 at approximately 2 p.m. In addition, LL COOL J will make a public appearance at the Dolby Booth (Central Hall - #8153) on Tuesday, January 10th at 4 p.m. to demo a track he created using Boomdizzle, playing it back on a Dolby technology-enabled laptop to a full home-theater surround sound system.

Television actor Greg Grunberg, best known for his starring role on the NBC television series Heroes, andEmmy winner and Grammy nominated actor, singer, Wayne Brady, known for his work as a regular on the American version of comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, will join OnStar for their Tweet House sessions, the official social media track for CES, on Wednesday, January 11 from 1-5 p.m. in N254, North Hall. Greg and Wayne will also attend OnStar's “It Won't Stay in Vegas” party on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Stirling Club.

Zeikos USA, Inc.'s trademark iHip will introduce an all star lineup at CES, including Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, best known for her role on the most talked about reality TV show Jersey Shore, Former NFL linebacker Carl Banks and urban music pioneer Jose “Hyde” Cotto.  

Snooki will make a guest appearance and sign autographs at iHip's booth (LVCC, South Hall, #21920) from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10 and will also host iHip's new line and 2012 collaboration celebration on Tuesday evening from 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at the Gallery at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Carl Banks, New York Giants legend and Superbowl champion, will make an appearance at iHip's celebration on Tuesday evening and will launch his new NFL line at iHip's booth on Wednesday, January 11. Jose “Hyde” Cotto, along with Mas Flow, “El Verdadero Quimico,” Luny Tunes and DJ Nelson will perform at iHip's celebration on Tuesday evening and will be signing autographs at the booth on Thursday, January 12.

Panasonic will host Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's second annual Directors' Panel.  This year's panel discussion will kick off the 50th anniversary of MGM's James Bond on Tuesday, January 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Panasonic's booth (LVCC, Central Hall, #9806).  Critically acclaimed directors John Glen (For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, License to Kill), Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale) and Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough) will  take a look back at the legacy of the iconic character and have a candid discussion about how technology has changed their approach to filmmaking.  Additionally, former Bond girls Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) and Caterina Murino (Casino Royale) will be on hand for a special presentation that will include props from the legendary film franchise.

Jabbawockeez, the all-male, hip-hop dance crew best known for winning season one of MTV's “America's Best Dance Crew” and headliner at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, making them the first and only dance crew to headline their own show in Las Vegas will perform at CES, opening Qualcomm's keynote address, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10 in the Venetian's Palazzo Ballroom.

Monster, Inc. will host their annual Retailer Awards and Concert, featuring real music from the legendary Chicago, on Wednesday, January 11 at the Paris Hotel. Awards will begin at approximately 8:45 p.m.

Jamie Michelle, one of southern California's most requested models, will be at CES representing automotive audio company Powerbass USA, Inc. Michelle has been modeling for the past nine years for online and commercial print work, calendars and swimsuit fashion shows, and has worked with famous photographers such as Ladi Van Jansky and Mike Prado. She will be in the Powerbass booth (LVCC, North Hall, #920) from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, and 1:30-4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11.

Alistair Overeem, three-time World Champion Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter and winner of the recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight bout, will battle against Qualcomm executives and media in mobile MMA fight games, including “Fight Game Heroes” at Qualcomm's booth (LVCC, South Hall, #30313) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11 and 12 p.m. on Thursday, January 12. Overeem will be available for interviews and autographs following the in-booth battles.

Jordan Rudess, recording artist, composer, producer and performer, will be representing iConnectivity at CES, demonstrating software applications from Wizdom Music including their innovative Sample Wiz and Geo Synth applications, and connecting his iPad to his musical gear with iConnectMIDI, the ultimate MIDI interface. Rudess will make appearances at iConnectivity's booth (LVCC, North Hall, #3922) at 11 a.m., 2 p.m and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11and Thursday, January 12, and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, January 13.

A band comprised of top Australian musicians including drummer Andy Fisenden, bass, guitarist and vocalist Simon Fisenden and monster bass player Dane Alderton will be playing at Audiofly's booth ( LVCC, South Hall, #26728) at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day. World renowned graffiti artist “The Yok” will also be at the booth throughout the show creating some of his artwork.

The segment will heat up in the second quarter of 2012 as Google reportedly may launch a tablet PC in April, competing with Kindle Fire in the entry-level segment, noted the sources.

But a true battle for market share will arrive in the second half of the year when Apple ships its iPad 4 in October, about the time when Microsoft releases its Window 8