ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

The first week of March 2013 means one thing-- we head to Hannover for the show we love to hate, CeBIT 2013, still one of the biggest trade shows of its kind in the world.

Now in its 27th edition, CeBIT houses nearly 4100 companies from 70 countries within 17 exhibition halls, 2 conference centres, 3 VIP lounges and a matchmaking area at the Hannover Exhibition Centre.

Poland is the Partner Country of the year, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel at the official opening ceremony, before the actual floodgates are opened on 5 March.

Following MWC 2013 Fujitsu goes for a more business-oriented approach at CeBIT 2013-- with announcements including the availability of PalmSecure security technologies and new premium laptops.

PalmSecure technologies use contactless palm readings (specifically the "unique pattern of oxygen-depleted veins") to confirm user identity, a biometric means of identification Fujitsu claims is more both more secure and easier to use than chip & PIN alternatives.

The technology was shown off by means of a proof-of-concept tablet-- a prototype device with a 10-inch display and built-in palm reader. Like other PalmSecure applications, one only need to hover a hand (either left or right) over the sensor for it to actually work.

Fujitsu says Palmsecure-equipped tablets will hit European markets from June 2013, following launch in Japan.

Also seen at Fujitsu's CeBIT 2013 stand are a trio of Lifebook E Line series business notebooks (the 13.3-inch E733, 14-inch E743 and 15.6-inch E753) and the first touchscreen-equipped clamshell laptop from the company, the "Made in Germany" AH562.

Go Fujitsu PalmSecure Puts Identity Back in your Hands

Go Fujitsu Optimises Enterprise Mobility

HGST announces it managed to combine self-assembling molecule and nanoimprinting technologies to create “dense patterns of magnetic islands” only 10nm wide-- allowing it to increase the densities of future HDDs.

The company says the 10nm pattern shows "excellent" initial read-write and data retention results from lab tests, as well as double the bit density of current disk drive platters.

The highest capacity (4TB) HDDs on the market have a platter density of 1TB, meaning the doubling of densities can bring about 10TB HDDs.

HGST says it will use the nanotechnologies for HDD production by at least the end of the decade.

Go HGST Reaches 10nm Patterned-Bit Milestone

IDC forecasts the PC market will decline for a second consecutive year in 2013, with global shipments to drop by -1.3% despite industry efforts to overcome current market inertia.

Overall 2012 sees global shipments decline by -3.7%, with volumes dropping even in emerging markets. According to the analyst 2012 ended on a particularly sour note, with Q4 2012 shipments shrinking by -8.3% due to an underwhelming Windows 8 launch, pressures from tablets and further economic woes hitting the market during H2 2012.

"The PC market is still looking for updated models to gain traction and demonstrate sufficient appeal to drive growth in a very competitive market," IDC comments. "Growth in emerging regions has slowed considerably, and we continue to see constrained PC demand as buyers favor other devices for their mobility and convenience features. We still don't see tablets as functional competitors to PCs-– but they are winning consumer dollars with mobility and consumer appeal nevertheless."

For the future, IDC predicts growth to reach single-digits in 2014 and 2015 (thanks to refresh cycle momentum from businesses replacing Windows XP machines) before shipments contract even further in later years

Go PC Market Forecast to Decline in 2013 According to IDC