CeriousTech

LG Display aiming to mass produce 32-inch OLED TVs in 2011

2008-04-24T08:45:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, we're mildly excited that LG Display should be able to start cranking out product from its 8G LCD plant earlier than expected, but the real kicker here is the outfit's outlook on OLED. Merely two days after hearing that Samsung was hoping to dish out affordable medium-to-large OLED displays in 2009 / 2010, we're now getting word that LG Display is looking to offer up a 32-incher the year after. And we're talking "volume production," no less. Makes holding off on that XEL-1 that much easier, doesn't it? Nah, we didn't really think so.

[Via OLED-Info]

Pioneer intros the NavGate AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F700BT GPS units

2008-04-21T07:06:00.001-07:00

If Pioneer's AVIC-F500BT satnav unit got you all hot and bothered, then big brothers NavGate AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F700BT should totally wreck your lifestyle. The new units sport all kinds of funky functions, like a 5.8-inch WVGA touchscreen display, built in DVD player (CD for the F700BT), 3D mapping with text to speech, PMP functionality with playback of MPEG, DivX, MP3, and WMA files, plus Bluetooth support for cell phones and the ability to manage up to 300 contacts. The do-it-all units also feature SD card support and USB jacks. Both new models will go on sale in Europe, Russia, Australia, and the States sometime in June, no word on pricing yet. You can watch a demo of the unit in action in the video after the break. C'mon... you know you want to.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

UntitledHTC spy shot reveals handful of new phones

2008-04-21T02:37:00.001-07:00

Apparently, HTC is having a little trouble keeping people with cameras out of its offices, as evidenced by this totally great spy shot of a what appears to be a bunch of (or two) new phones. We're familiar with quite of few of these devices, like the TyTn II, Touch Cruise, and Touch you see in the upper row, but things get a little stickier down below. Save for that P3470 that's second from left, we have no clue what those slick looking square numbers are. The far left model and the far right might be the same device, but its hard to tell. It also looks like all the devices in this picture are using Windows Mobile, but we're holding out hope that maybe the model on the far right boots Android... and soon.

[Via IntoMobile]

Update: So we figure that one of the two on the right is likely the MDA compact IV for T-Mobile, although that still doesn't explain the generous QWERTY board depicted over there on the left. Can't you just feel the excitement building? Thanks, Marios!

PS3 to get smaller Cell and/or RSX chips in August?

2008-04-21T02:34:00.001-07:00

Nikko Citigroup upgraded its rating on Sony this morning in anticipation of it breaking even on PS3 costs earlier than expected. At the moment, Sony sells the PS3 at a loss. The respected group of analysts is now earmarking August as the milestone month. Sony's CFO recently suggested that the move would occur in the second half of the year -- a date analysts then pegged at November. No details behind the new upbeat expectations were provided by Nikko CG. However, it's safe to assume that the PS3's break-even event will be realized by a switch to a sub-65nm cell processor, sub-90nm RSX graphics chip, or both, since the smaller chips are less-costly to manufacturer.

P.S. It's worth noting that Sony has consistently stated that the PS3 will only break-even when both the Cell and RSX chips have shrunk.

Update: Reader Yaddam205 just reminded us about the "Slim PS3" redesign rumored for release in Autumn. No guarantees but smaller, less power-hungry, and cooler running chips would certainly be at the foundation of such a rig.

ASUS: 10-inch Eee PC coming this year

2008-04-21T02:33:00.001-07:00

Jerry Shen, ASUS CEO, is casually twisting Eee PC fans into a tizzy this morning. At the launch of the 8.9-inch Eee PC 900 in Taiwan, he uttered the magical phrase "10-inch Eee PC" for the first time. Expected sometime later this year, Shen said that the 10-inch screen will be the biggest allowed on the Eee PC. Good for you Jerry, but we've got the feeling that you've completely forgotten about the original promise of a $200, 7-inch laptop. Surely we're due for a price drop now that the 900 is out, right?

Urwerk's UR-202 combines turbines and watches just how you always wanted

2008-04-20T07:20:00.003-07:00

Like your Rolls-Royce, Louis Vuitton bags, and priceless, endangered animal collection, the Urwerk UR-202 turbine regulated watch is another expensive item you don't really need. Still... you want it, right? Who wouldn't want this beast, what with its self-winding kinetic motor, telescopic minute hands, orbiting and revolving hour satellites, and fancy, mechanical turbines that we understand almost nothing about. But hey, when your timepiece is more complicated than a jet plane -- and likely more expensive -- you've probably made it. Check out the totally awesome video after the break to see this thing in... uh, action.

[Via OhGizmo!]

Microsoft adds twist to handhelds with force-sensing technology

2008-04-20T07:20:00.001-07:00

Surely you're not content with just multi-touch and built-in accelerometers, right? Microsoft Research is expecting not, as it's already working towards integrating force-sensing technology that will enable gestures to twist on-screen imagery without crafting UMPCs out of flexible material. Essentially, the gurus behind the idea feel that implementing said tech would "turn an otherwise passive component that just holds the device together into an active input surface." In the future, it's likely that auditory cues would enable users to know when they've applied enough pressure to cause a change, and of course, they expect it to work hand-in-hand with existing human-computer interfaces. Yeah, who needs keypads these days, anyway? [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via BBC, thanks Joe]

Clearvision's clip-on display makes your PlayStation 3 weep

2008-04-20T07:18:00.001-07:00

Sure, there's a clip-on display for gaming on-the-go made for basically every console out there, but for whatever reason, Sony's PlayStation 3 just doesn't lend itself to being the perfect candidate the way Nintendo's Wii does. Who knows, maybe it's that curvaceous design or something. Anyway, Clearvision is hoping that you don't much care how unsightly your console becomes when strapping its PS3 gaming monitor on, which adds a 7-inch LCD, a pair of speakers and little else. Unfortunately for those actually interested in picking one up, it seems you'll have to put in an inquiry with one Shenzhen Madcow Digital Technology Co., Ltd. Good luck with that.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

AT&T Mobile TV (MediaFLO) Details, Price List and Launch DateUntitled

2008-04-17T09:37:00.001-07:00

In our post last month containing live shots of AT&T’s MediaFLO on the LG Vu and Samsung Access. We also told you that the service would launch in May, but further details were under lock and key at the time. Thanks to an anonymous source inside AT&T, we now have all the details you need about the live television service we’ve all been waiting for. First and foremost, the service will launch on May 4 and will be rebranded as AT&T Mobile TV. Three packages will be available as follows:

Mobile TV Limited - $13/month: Includes four channels; Fox Mobile, CBS Mobile, NBC, and NBC News
Mobile TV Basic - $15/month: Includes 9 channels; Fox Mobile, CBS mobile, NBC, NBC News, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, CNN Mobile and ESPN
Mobile TV Plus - $30/month: Includes the nine channels listed above as well as an exclusive Sony Pictures channel

That’s right people, real deal broadcast TV on your mobile with no buffering time. Also, parental controls will be available on both of the initial compatible handsets. In terms of what you can expect all this to do to your battery life, Mobile TV will be roughly equivalent to an active voice call.

eMachines launches two new desktops, puts your pennies into play

2008-04-17T09:28:00.001-07:00

Look, eMachines is just here to help. The low-cost PC maker has introduced a few new desktop models, destined to sit beside your paper plates, can of beans, and tin of generic instant coffee. Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you. The new budget models come in two flavors, the T3646 and T5254, both featuring AMD CPUs (2.2GHz Sempron LE-1250 versus the 2.1GHz dual core Athlon BE-2350), an NVIDIA 6100 graphics chipset, 1GB or 2GB of RAM, a 160GB or 320GB hard drive, DVD+R/RW SuperMulti drive, a handful of ports, a mouse, and really nasty looking cases. Available right now, $299.99 and $399.99, respectively.

Read

Yet another HTC Neon hits the FCC -- this time with US 3G

2008-04-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

Okay, so we know of at least two HTC devices codenamed "Neon" that the friendly bureaucrats up in the FCC have been forced to go through with a fine-tooth comb. Now we have a third -- the descriptively-named NEON300 -- and this might be the money version. As we've pointed out before, the Neon series appears to represent a line of Touches with different guts for different carriers and locales, and the NEON300 possesses something that's music to the ears of the yanks in the audience: HSDPA on the 850 and 1900MHz bands. Along with the recently-announced US Touch Dual, this should be quite a gem in, say, AT&T's lineup -- and with Sprint and Verizon both rocking the same device, can they really afford to turn the other cheek?

Update: Pictures of the unit being poked and prodded can be found deep within the test documentation, and sadly, it turns out this is nothing more than the US Touch Dual after all. But come on HTC, seriously, you know you want to make a straight-up Touch with North American HSDPA, too. Thanks, uofmrapper1!

Read

Microsoft patent application shows off wearable mouse concept

2008-04-17T09:26:00.001-07:00

Wearable mice aren't exactly a new idea, but it seems that Microsoft thinks it can do things one better, with a recent patent application revealing its plans for a desk-defying device of its own. As you can see above, this one is designed to be worn even while your typing on a keyboard, with the cursor movement able to be switched on an off with a simple hand gesture. That pointing itself is handled by some gyroscopic sensors, with an accelerometer and a magnetometer apparently also employed for further gesture and position sensing. Needless to say, there's no indication of it becoming an actual product anytime soon but, unlike some of Microsoft's other patent applications, this one seems like it could well find its way off the drawing board sooner rather than later.

[Via istartedsomething]

Samsung CEO charged with fraud, won't be arrested

2008-04-17T08:14:00.001-07:00

Oh Lee Kun-hee -- if you keep this up, you're going to make the Enron CEOs look like choir boys. The latest episode in the unending shame-game that is Samsung's corporate improprieties comes in the form of a an actual indictment against the electronic-maker's top man... for fraud. According to a report out of Australia, prosecutors in Korea have formally charged Kun-hee (who has admitted guilt anyhow), but say they won't arrest him because it would cause "enormous disruption" in the company's operations. Authorities said instead they plan to send him to a week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to a luxurious spa, and hope that a deep tissue rub will rid him of his lawbreaking ways.

[Thanks, Hussain]

OHM Cycles rolls out new line of electric-assist hybrid bicycles

2008-04-15T05:33:00.001-07:00

There's certainly no shortage of options out there for folks wanting a little assistance on their bike commute, but if you're still on the fence, you may want to consider one of OHM Cycles' new models, which includes the Urban XU450 and XU700 for less adventuresome folks, and the Sport XS700 and XS750 for those that like venture off-road occasionally. Each of those include "silent" BionX motors of various wattage, along with Molicel lithium-ion batteries that OHM says can be fully recharged in about three hours. You'll also get a "command console" that displays all your vitals, and an integrated security system (complete with an alarm) that promises to keep those lazy bike thieves out there at bay. No word on prices for any of them just yet, but the bikes are apparently making their way to dealers this month, so you should be able to get a quote soon enough.

Cyber-Rain XCI gives you wireless control of your sprinkler system

2008-04-15T05:32:00.001-07:00

Frustrated with that exorbitantly high water bill stemming from all the H20 wastefully spewed out from that non-intelligent sprinkler system? Enter the Cyber-Rain XCI, which gives owners wireless control of up to eight watering zones. After hooking up the controller(s) and plugging a wireless access point into your PC via USB, users can look forward to the solution automatically tweaking their irrigation system based on weather conditions, seasons, etc. It'll even log water savings and chuck out a graph to prove its value. C'mon, you know it's worth $349 to make your thumb look way greener than it actually is (and save some water, too).

[Via Unplggd]

IOGEAR extender takes DVI signals 100-feet over Ethernet

2008-04-14T22:23:00.001-07:00

Granted, we've cast our glances upon DVI Extenders before, but IOGEAR's latest comes in just south of the magical $500 price point and is apt to warm the hearts of digital signage professionals everywhere. The simply titled DVI Video / Audio Extender Kit consists of a pair of DVI units, a local transmitter and a remote receiver, which owners connect with a CAT5e / 6 Ethernet cable. You'll also find an analog 3.5-millimeter jack for hooking up stereo speakers, and the three-year warranty should help you rest easy all the while. Available as we speak for $499.95.

PS3 firmware v2.30 is out: new PS Store and DTS-HD MA now yours for the taking

2008-04-14T22:21:00.001-07:00

It's April 15th which means one thing: ~~taxes~~ PS3 firmware 2.30 is due. Right on cue, Sony made good on the new PlayStation Store and DTS-HD Master Audio sound reproduction sure to make audiophile-types lean in for a listen. The Store is acting a bit sluggish at the moment, something that's likely to get sorted once the rolling update is completed. Nevertheless, users are claiming easier navigation and richer experience. So whatcha looking at -- get out of here kid, there's on-line updating to be done.

[Thanks, Paul R., Nathan, and everyone who sent this in]

Video: Little Big Man -- today is a good day to die

2008-04-14T09:47:00.001-07:00

We both fear and heart our cuddly, skull crushing robotic overlords here at Engadget; that we can't deny. Now meet the work of Nemo Gould, artist of post-consumer waste, liege, and robot supreme commander. His latest work entitled Little Big Man is on display at the San Jose Museum of Art for the new Robots: Evolution of a Cultural Icon show. The 8-foot tall Big Man is made from a vintage radio cabinet, street light poles, and of course, antlers among other human scrap and squander. Little Man sits at the heart of the beast and pulls the levers which drive the malice from within. Check the video clip after the break.

[Via Technabob]

Read -- Little Big Man
Read -- Robots: Evolution of a Cultural Icon show

Zoombak Universal GPS locator tracks down your other stuff

2008-04-14T09:45:00.001-07:00

Zoombak is launching another package for its convenient little Zoombak GPS locator device, in addition to the existing Car and Pet versions. Zoombak Universal comes with a new universal carrying case designed to let you mount the device to just about anything else you'd care to track -- like a bike or a wayward child, for instance. It looks like it'll be retailing for the same $199 and require the same $9.99 monthly fee as its predecessors, but you will be able to pick this version up at major electronics retailers in May.

Panasonic unveils SDHC-lovin' AG-HMC150 HD camcorder

2008-04-14T09:44:00.001-07:00

If you thought the HD camcorder announcements at NAB Show 2008 started and ended with Canon's new duo, you'd be sorely mistaken. Panasonic is launching a new one of its own under the limelight: the Fall-bound AG-HMC150. This handheld rig is the newest member of the AVCCAM family and can capture clips at 1,280 x 720 or 1,440 x 1,080 while utilizing the industry standard MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 compression profile. You'll also find native 16:9 1 / 3-inch 3CCD imagers, a digital signal processor with 14-bit A / D conversion and 19-bit processing, 13x Leica Dicomar zoom lens, optical image stabilization and the ability to store footage on SD / SDHC flash cards. Sure, $4,500 is still a lot of coin, but it's certainly within the realm of reason for many prosumers out there.

HP bumps xw8600 and xw9400 workstations to the latest Intel and AMD chips

2008-04-14T09:43:00.001-07:00

We're smack dab in the middle of NAB week, which means a steady progression of high-end product launches for things that we can't really afford but sure wouldn't mind cluttering up the HQ gadget stash. Like these here workstations from HP, the xw8600 and the xw9400. The former sports up to two Quad-Core Intel Xeon X5482 processors, while the latter runs on Quad-Core AMD Opteron 2300 procs. No word on price for either of these insanely fast configurations, but with the other niceties HP is tossing in, you're looking at a starting price above four grand.

iriver E100 is now for sale, still kind of chubby

2008-04-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

We weren't terribly impressed by the iriver E100's size or functionality, but at $110 for a 4GB player with this size of screen, it's certainly hard to complain. For $50 more you can get an 8GB player, and both sizes come in pink, black, blue and brown and white flavors. You can pick it up now at Amazon.com or J&R, and we're sure other online retailers will be quick to jump on board.

[Thanks, KC]

Samsung set to release Aura R410 14-inch laptop

2008-04-14T09:41:00.001-07:00

Samsung hasn't exactly been flooding the market with its Aura laptops since it kicked off the line last year, but the few models it has released so far have certainly been decent enough, and its just-announced R410 model looks to be no exception. This one squeezes right into the middle of the pack with a 14.1-inch, 1,280 x 800 display, which gets backed up by "Intel's latest 45nm Penryn CPUs," ATI Radeon Xpress 1250M graphics, a DVD burner, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, and a welcome ExpressCard slot. All of that comes in an expectedly glossy package that weighs in at just over five pounds, and boasts a starting price of £499 (or about $1,000). Look for it to hit Europe in May, with no word of a release 'round these parts just yet.

Sony BRAVIA XBR 2008 roadmap leaked

2008-04-14T09:40:00.001-07:00

Good news for the pixel-starved: Boy Genius got a hold of a Sony's 2008 BRAVIA roadmap, which includes word of new XBR6, XBR7 and XBR8 LCD displays. We caught wind of the new XBR6 line at CES, along with the KDL-40Z4100 and the KDL-46Z4100, but apparently things are going to get much more interesting in August when the KDL-46XBR8 drops. New features include "Triluminos" RGB LED backlight, Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO and BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO 1080p video processor. The XBR7 panels measure as large as 70-inches, and will launch in October, but sport features more in line with the XBR6. Everything is naturally 1080p and 120Hz.

Sony's Full HD PMW-EX3 camcorder outed at NAB

2008-04-14T09:39:00.001-07:00

As the HD camcorder onslaught continues, Sony is making sure it doesn't get left out by showcasing the PMW-EX3 in Las Vegas. Aside from handling interchangeable lenses, this cam also features a trifecta of 0.5-inch CCDs with Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution, native 24p support, XDCAM HD EX recording on dual SxS cards, HD-SDI output, USB / 4-pin FireWire sockets and an optional 60GB disk recorder that plugs in via a SxS slot. Of course, we seriously hope you're planning to put this on the studio's plastic -- after all, it's not like you want that $13,000 charge hitting your card, right?

[Via Broadcast Newsroom]

blueLounge's The Sanctuary keeps your gadgets encased, charged

2008-04-12T18:04:00.001-07:00

We'll be honest -- we weren't exactly feeling blueLounge's grossly overpriced SpaceStation, but its boldly-named The Sanctuary actually strikes us as quite useful. The gadget organizer allows technophiles to stuff their handhelds into this black or white container for easy carriage / storage, and moreover, it includes a built-in panel of labeled plugs in order to connect all your gizmos to power at once. The unit comes with a dozen connectors for the most popular items around, but since it's universal, your options are bordering on limitless. Heck, there's even a USB port thrown in to charge any oddball device you may have laying around. Yeah, $129.95 is still a touch steep, but for the avid traveler who can never find room for 12 or so AC adapters in that carry-on bag, it's probably well worth the cost.

[Via iLounge]

Gallery: blueLounge's The Sanctuary keeps your gadgets encased, charged

Omron's Okao Catch measures the intensity of your smile

2008-04-12T18:03:00.001-07:00

It was inevitable, really. Not even two months after jolly researchers at Kansai University developed a machine to calculate the quantity of a person's laughter comes a new method of measuring just how hard you're cheesing. According to Omron's Yasushi Kawamoto, the Okao Catch technology is able to closely analyze "the curves of the lips, eye movement and other facial characteristics to decide how much a person is smiling." In a recent demonstration, it threw up percentages as people moved in front of a camcorder and began to grin, and while a somber individual did net an astounding score of zero, it doesn't seem that negative numbers are doled out for frowners. Besides being incredibly novel, the creators are hoping that it can be used in the medical field for accurately judging the "emotional state of patients," in robotics for helping androids "decipher human reactions" and in dressing rooms assisting B-list celebs improve their charm.

[Via Tarakash]

Sales cease on Dell 3008WFP 30-incher due to "technical issue"

2008-04-12T18:01:00.001-07:00

Looks like Dell's run into some issues with its highest end monitor, the droolworthy DisplayPort-packing 30-inch 3008WFP. We heard it'd mysteriously vanished from the site with nary a trace, so we pinged the folks in Round Rock. This is what they had to say:

"The Dell 3008 monitor has been well received since launch and has been very popular with customers. In February we experienced a small technical issue with the product that has been long resolved. [Um, it's only April? -Ed.] Currently the monitors are on extended lead times and in order to manage demand, the 3008 is not available on dell.com. We are managing orders on a prioritized basis and hope to have the product available to all customers in the near future."

So there you go, down but not out. Expect 'em back, um, eventually.

[Thanks, Duane]