The LED backlighting reduces heat on this 22″ LCD and it consumes considerably less power as well. LEDs will do that, NEC; I don’t think you get to claim it as some sort of accomplishment of your own.

LED backlighting technology enables the NEC MultiSync EA222WMe to provide the same amount of brightness as other panel types while using 20% less power. Compared to previous generation NEC LCDs, the EA222WMe consumes up to 52% less power, radiates up to 61% less heat, weighs up to 25% less and uses up to 15% less packaging.

Is it 20% less power or 52% less power? Make up your mind, NEC!

I would recommend the monitor except for the fact that its resolution is only 1680×1050. Add one more inch and you can get full HD on there. Of course, those ones aren’t LED-lit. Well, you can’t have everything.

[via SlashGear]

Maybe it’s just me, but this dual-screen notebook Kojinsha started selling in Japan today [JP] looks very futuristic (and very cool) to me. The main selling point is that you get not one but two 10.1-inch LCD screens in a compact body (size: 280×210×19〜42mm, weight: 1.84kg). And you can even buy the DZ6KH16E, which looks like a normal notebook when you use just one of the screens, if you live outside Japan.

The two sliding LCDs feature 1,024×600 resolution and LED backlights each. The notebook also has an Athlon Neo MV-40 (1.6GHz) with a RS780MN chipset and an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics card, 1GB of RAM (upgradeable to 4GB), a 160GB HDD, WiFi, three USB ports, a 1.3MP web camera, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, slots for SD/microSD/MMC/memory sticks and a digital TV tuner (which will work only in Japan and parts of South America) on board. Kojinsha says buyers can expect around 4.5 hours of battery life.

Kohjinsha started selling the DZ6KH16E in Japan today. People living outside this country can get the notebook over at Geek Stuff 4 U for $1,111.28 (Windows and other extras make it more expensive). But remember this is a Japanese device, meaning you’ll have to live with a keyboard with a Japanese layout.

Vizio’s Q3 sales accounted for only 15.7% of the US’s total, while Samsung managed to move 16.8%. iSuppli credited Samsung’s LED backlighting push for the higher sales. LED backlight means thinner TVs. The rest of the manufacturers, LG, Toshiba, and Sony only managed a 8.1%, 7.8%, and 7.8% respective market share.

But here’s the thing, only LG saw its numbers actually increase from the second quarter of 2009. Everyone else, including the top dogs, watched less TVs ship out. Of course that shouldn’t be a problem for the fourth quarter of the year as people pick up TV sets as household holiday gifts.

Globally speaking, there is one clear leader in the LCD TV business: Samsung. The company commands a 23.2% share in this segment, with Sony (13.7%) and Sharp (7%) almost hopelessly behind (according to DisplaySearch). So in June this year already, Sony and Sharp inked a joint venture deal to produce LCD TVs together. And today, the Nikkei (Japan’s biggest business publication), reports that the two former arch rivals decided to further expand their alliance.

The newspaper says Sharp plans to deliver LED backlights to Sony for their LCD TVs as early as next month. Sharp has said it will start producing more LED-based products earlier this year, but the Sony deal is the first time another company is supplied with LED backlights. Backlights account for nearly 20% of overall costs in manufacturing an LCD TV. DisplaySearch projects that by 2013, roughly 40% of all LCD TVs on the market will have LED backlights.

Sharp and Sony will also join forces in R&D for next-generation backlights, the Nikkei learned. The goals are to cut costs and develop TVs with better picture quality and efficient power consumption. Both companies already started operating a Sharp LCD panel production plant in Osaka last month and suffer from losses in their LCD TV divisions.

Via Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]

Acer’s new 18.4-inch AS8940G-6865 is a desktop replacement. And by “desktop replacement” I mean that you could attach four legs to it and use it as your desk. It’s big, is what I’m trying to say. Don’t actually attach legs to it, but I guess take with you the impression that this is a large laptop. Also, it’s powerful, so keep that in mind as well.

The machine boasts a newfangled quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU 720QM at 1.6GHz, an 18.4-inch LCD at 1920×1080 resolution, 4GB of DDR3 memory, an NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M GPU with 1GB of dedicated DDR3 video RAM, 500GB SATA hard drive, Blu-ray/DVD burner combo drive, 8-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

There’s also five USB ports, an HDMI port, eSATA port, card reader, webcam, VGA output, Dolby audio, draft-N wireless, “touch-capacitive media control interface,” and a travel weight of more than 10 pounds.

Pricing starts at $1350 – Newegg seems to be first out of the gate to sell the machine.

Full press release:

New Acer Aspire Notebook PC Maximizes Performance with New Intel Core i7 Quad-Core Processor and Windows 7 Technology

New Aspire AS8940G-6865 Notebook with 18.4-inch Display Delivers Intensive Gaming, Entertainment and Multimedia Performance

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Acer America today introduced the Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 notebook PC, featuring the new Intel® Core™ i7 Quad-Core 720QM processor and Windows® 7 Home Premium. This mobile processor delivers extremely fast performance for the most demanding applications such as playing games and editing digital photos and videos.

Designed for entertainment and multimedia enthusiasts, the Aspire AS8940G-6865 offers superior performance, innovative features and advanced technology for mobile users. This new notebook boasts a large 18.4-inch widescreen HD display for extraordinary visual quality, advanced NVIDIA graphics, Blu-ray technology, a high-quality audio system, a large hard drive and ample memory, making it a mobile powerhouse. The addition of Windows 7 to this new notebook provides users with a new level of performance, simplicity and ease of use.

The Aspire AS8940G with the Intel Core i7 processor delivers a breakthrough in PC performance, allowing users to multitask between applications quicker and enjoy faster performance overall. The new processor features Intel Turbo Boost Technology⁽³⁾, which accelerates processor clock speed up to 75 percent to match a user’s workload⁽⁴⁾ demands, giving more power when it is needed the most. Intel Hyper-Threading Technology⁽⁵⁾ allows applications to work better in parallel, making multitasking quick and easy.

“This new Aspire notebook offers multimedia enthusiasts the ultimate in mobile entertainment – cinematic quality sound and visuals, an industry-leading feature set, and the performance to handle demanding digital media,” said Preeta Anil, Product Manager, Notebooks for Acer America. “The addition of Intel’s new Core i7 processor further boosts the power and performance of the Aspire AS8940G for games, movies, videos and more.”

Superior Technology for Mobile Cinema and Gaming

For the ultimate cinematic experience, the Aspire AS8940G-6865 features cutting-edge visual and sound technology. This new notebook includes an 18.4-inch full HD widescreen CineCrystal™ LED backlit display with a 1920×1080 resolution that exhibits true HDTV with a 16:9 aspect ratio in a new edge-to-edge design that’s perfect for widescreen movies. The certified Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement technology combined with the Acer CineSurround sound system with five built-in speakers and the Acer Tuba CineBass booster bring clear tones and deep bass beats for incredible entertainment.

Users can enjoy the clarity and precision of Blu-ray Disc™ high definition technology for watching Blu-ray movies in extraordinary detail as well as burn CDs and DVDs of music, photos and files. The NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M graphics maximize the gaming experience by providing intense computing power. Additionally, the 1GB of dedicated video memory allows buffering capacity for seamless graphics and visuals.

Further enhancing the multimedia experience, Acer’s Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface allows consumers to quickly and easily control their entertainment choices, including media playback and volume levels. The Aspire AS8940G also comes equipped with a FineTip keyboard with backlight, making it more user friendly when watching movies or listening to music in a dark environment.

Mobile Performance and Connectivity

Additional popular technologies allow customers to stay connected and be productive while on the go. The integrated media card reader, DVD burner and 500GB of hard drive storage enable customers to quickly and easily view, download, store and share their digital media content. Additionally, the Aspire AS8940G offers users further flexibility and expandability with an extra eSATA hard drive port.

The Acer Crystal Eye™ webcam delivers smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. The built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

Consumers can connect via 802.11a/b/g Draft-N with expanded wireless features, and all models include Gigabit Ethernet for a fast wired connection.

Pricing/Configurations/Availability

The Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865 notebook will be available for U.S. customers at leading retailers this holiday season. A sample configuration follows.

Acer Aspire AS8940G-6865

• Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 720QM (1.60GHz, 6MB L3 Cache, 1333MHz FSB)
• 18.4″ Full HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit Display
  (1920×1080 Resolution, 16:9 Aspect Ratio)
• 4GB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTS 250M with 1GB dedicated DDR3 VRAM
• 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive ⁽¹⁾
• 4X Blu-ray Disc^™/DVD SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
• Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 802.11a//bg/Draft-N Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
• Acer Crystal Eye™ Integrated Webcam
• Touch-Capacitive Media Control Interface
• 5 USB 2.0 Ports, 1 HDMI Port, 1 eSATA Port
• 8-cell Li-Ion Battery (4800mAh)
• Dolby Home Theater® Audio Enhancement
• Acer CineSurround Sound System (5 built-in speakers)
• Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• MSRP $1,349.99

Plus the screens have a USB port and SD card slot for photo viewing along with light sensors to automagicly adjust the brightness. Interested? The 19-inch VM190XVT and 23-inch VM230XVT carry MSRPs of $349 and $399, respectively. [via crave]

Samsung has just announced a pair of LCD monitors with built-in TV features that promise to “eliminate the line between work productivity and HD entertainment,” according to the press release. And speaking of that press release, it appears that Samsung has also eliminated the most basic and important spec from the products’ list of features.

Price? Nope, that’s there — $250 for the 933HD+ and $330 for the 2333HD. Resolution? 1360×768 for the 933HD+ and 1920×1080 for the 2333HD. Response time, contrast ratio, that stuff is all there too.

It’s a little known fact that for every one person that writes about technology products, there are 50 public relations people. Maybe 100. It might even be 1000. I don’t know the exact number except to say that they’re everywhere and they all somehow have my phone number and they all somehow know where I live, so I certainly don’t want to brass anyone off but see if you can tell me what’s missing from this press release:

Samsung HDTV Monitors Eliminate Line between Work Productivity and HD Entertainment

Samsung’s 933HD+ and 2333HD LCD Monitors Offer Extensive Range of Entertainment Options

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, the number one worldwide brand of LCD display products, today announced the debut of its entertainment-centric monitors, the 933HD+ and 2333HD. At an estimated street price of $249.99 and $329.99, respectively, both monitors produce picture perfect HD quality in a sleek design and are now available from Samsung resellers and retailers.

“With more homes having multiple entertainment centers, the 933HD+ and 2333HD are the perfect companions for users who want integrated HDTV functionality from a desktop monitor. The added bonus is that both these monitors are self-contained and functional right out of the box, and can quickly connect to any entertainment device,” said Doug Albregts, vice president, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America Inc.

COMPACT TV WITH CONNECTIVITY

The 933HD+ and 2333HD have all the benefits of a compact television including a digital TV tuner with an optional cable or satellite connection and up to two HDMI connections, depending on model, to connect digital devices such as a Blu-Ray player and gaming system. The integrated stereo sound system offers great sound and includes Dolby Digital (2333HD). The 933HD+ and 2333HD’s slick glossy black finish features a rounded bottom edge with matching crystal-like acrylic bar.

MULTI-PERFORMANCE

Whether watching movies, sports or a PowerPoint presentation, the 933HD+ and 2333HD offer Samsung’s quality performance with a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and 5 millisecond response rate. Movies can be fully appreciated in 16:9 widescreen formats without distortion or stretching and there is ample space to run multiple applications simultaneously. Settings, such as brightness, backlight and color effects, can be quickly customized with a touch of a key using the MagicColor, MagicBright, Color Effect and Image Size functions.

“With more users viewing HD broadcast, watching Blu-ray movies and playing video games on their monitors, the 933HD+ and 2333HD are space savers for those looking for a multi-purpose monitor to place in a tight space, like a studio apartment or dorm room,” said Young Bae, director, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America Inc.

933HD+ and 2333HD

• 1360 x768 or 1920×1080 (2333HD only) resolution
• Dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 5ms response time
• Remote control

Monitors are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting www.samsung.com. Samsung Power Partners receive special promotions, lead referrals, training and technical support, as well as collateral and marketing materials. Samsung also recycles all monitors through its RECYCLING DIRECT^SM Program. To find out more about becoming a Samsung Power Partner or the RECYCLING DIRECT^SM Program, visit www.samsungpartner.com.

Here’s the live copy, which will hopefully be updated by the time you read this (it’s been over two hours already, though).

UPDATE/SPOILER: Samsung e-mailed saying that the 933HD+ and 2333HD displays are 19 and 23 inches, respectively. So there you have it. Sweet, sweet closure.

If you think about it, you’ll probably only need to hang your flat panel TV on the wall once. Maybe twice. Maybe three times if you really move around a lot, like in the middle of the night when you hear a knock on your door and thank god you slept in your clothes because there’s only enough time to put on a pair of Velcro shoes and grab your 40-inch TV.

Basically what I’m saying is if you want your one-time TV hanging experience to be as smooth as possible or if you have a habit of bolting down fire escapes in the middle of the night, then Samsung’s recently-unveiled 3.3 millimeter thick 40-inch LED TV might be right up your alley.

There’s not a whole lot of info other than that the TV contains a 40-inch, 120Hz panel, a total thickness of just 3.3 millimeters, and a contrast ratio of 5000:1 – pricing and availability (and weight) are unknown, although Akihabara reports that Samsung is looking to get the TV on the market as soon as possible.

[via Akihabara]

Sharp has announced four new LCD TVs with some impressive specs for the Japanese market today [press release in English]. The TVs will be available in four sizes: 40, 46, 52 and 60 inches. All models are full HD and feature LED backlight for improved picture quality.

The TVs from the so-called LX series feature a fantastic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, extra-low power consumption levels (Sharp speaks of the lowest in the industry) and an RSS six-speaker system with duo bass sub-woofer and a 2.1-channel set-up (except for the 40-inch model).

The 60-inch flagship model will go on sale in Japan on November 25, and it isn’t cheap (price: $6,100). The other models prove that quality has its price, too: Sharp sells the 52-incher for $5,000, the 46-incher for $3,900 and the 40-inch model for $2,800. The company hasn’t laid out international distribution plans for the LX series yet.

The main idea is to use a special material that reacts to UV radiation. The liquid crystal molecules align in accordance with the direction of the radiation so that the screen can display dark blacks. Sharp says the the contrast ratio is enhanced by 60% to 5,000:1, compared with conventional LCD screens. The response time is even doubled, according to the company. The new technology also leads to a more efficient use of the backlight, which means you can save up to 20% energy when you watch TV.

Sharp says production of LCDs making use of the new system will begin in a Japanese plant as early as next month.

At $4500 for the 46-inch and $5000 for the 52-inch, they are in the upper-end of consumer LED LCDs. Both do rock standard features of this price-point too: DLNA media streaming, YouTube, Amazon on Demand, Netflix, Slacker Internet Radio, and Yahoo! Gadgets. But even those don’t make up for the high price. Sorry, Sony, wireless is great, but most would rather opt for a cheaper, but also more reliable wired, LCD. I would.

SONY ADDS SUPER SLIM EDGE-LIT LED MODELS TO BRAVIA HDTV LINE
New XBR10 LCDs Feature 1080p Wireless High Definition Leaving the Cables Behind

ATLANTA (CEDIA Booth # 1409), Sept. 9, 2009 – Sony today introduced a new line of ultra-thin BRAVIA™ LCD HDTVs featuring an advanced edge-lit LED backlight and exceptional contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1.

The XBR10-series models also deliver full 1080p wireless transmission of high definition signals from a separate media box to a receiver embedded in the TV, allowing source components to be placed out of sight.

“BRAVIA is on the cutting edge of television technology and the XBR10 series pushes the limits of industry-leading, innovative features,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of the television business for Sony Electronics. “Not only will this TV look striking when hanging on a wall, the wireless feature clears the clutter of components and messy tangles of unsightly wires, allowing you to hide components away across the room.”

The XBR10 models also feature an Ethernet connection allowing them to directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband network. The platform offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Slacker Internet Radio, and, later this fall, Netflix.

Bravia Internet Widgets, powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, also expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such information as weather reports, stock information, financial news, Twitter, and additional content.

The full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) models also feature Sony’s Motionflow™ 240Hz technology, which delivers exceptionally crisp and detailed images with natural motion. The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames.

The models are Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music, and video stored on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV’s remote control. They also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and music files from a USB storage device.

Other notable features include:

BRAVIA Engine™ 3
24p True Cinema™
xross media bar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen

BRAVIA Sync™
4 HDMI inputs
RS232C
Single PC, component, composite and component/composite selectable inputs

The XBR10 models exceed Energy Star® 3.0 guidelines for energy efficiency and use Sony’s Light Sensor® technology to adjust backlight intensity based on ambient room light helping to save energy and reduce the user’s overall carbon footprint.

The KDL-52XBR10 and KDL-46XBR10 models will be available this October at Sony Style retail stores, www.sonystyle.com and at and at similar authorized Sony retail outlets across the country, for about $5,000 and $4,500, respectively.

Behold! The Toshiba JournE Touch! Behold its icons and weep!

The JournE touch is a communication and infotainment hub for the whole family
• Easy access to the internet and social networks such as YouTube, Acetrax video on demand, MSN Messenger and RSS feeds
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g built in, supporting WEP, WPA. WPA2
• Measures 189mm (w) x 133.6mm (d) x 14mm (h) and weighs only 450grams
• 7‘‘ TFT touch sensitive display with LED backlight
• Brightness: typ. 250 cd/m2, Contrast: typ. 300:1
• Supported file formats: Picture: JPEG; Audio, MP3, WMA, Video: MPEG 4, H.264,divX, WMV
• Win CE 6.0 pro with Internet Explorer and Windows Multimedia Player 9.0
• YouTube: the most used video sharing platform that allows people to easily upload and share video clips
• Acetrax: Video on demand service with the possibility of downloading and streaming movies directly on the device
• FrameChannel: allows users to choose from a panel of different content providers what should be pushed down to their devices (TVs, MIDs, picture frames, set-top boxes).
• Picasa: organizes users’ personal photos on an online platform and makes photo sharing with friends and family members easy.
• Flickr: a popular online photo management and sharing application
• MSN Messenger: voice and message-based chatting • RSS: RSS feeds keep users posted about news, weather,
financials, or sports.
Content sharing on a TV set

Full PR after the jump.

Home Multimedia Tablet: Toshiba unveils JournE touch
Family touch screen device offering easy and instant-on access to web based services and social networks.
Neuss, Germany, 3rd September 2009 –Toshiba Europe GmbH today launched the Toshiba JournE touch, a portable, wireless home multimedia tablet with a 7” (17,78 cm) touch screen display which serves as a communication and infotainment centre for all housemates. The easy to use JournE touch enables users to browse the internet and download digital content at a fingertip – anywhere in the house and whenever as the device boots instantaneously. The JournE touch will be available from the forth quarter 2009 on via selected resellers in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Not mine but ours – a communication hub for the whole family
“With the launch of the JournE touch, Toshiba is entering a new market for portable home multimedia devices,” says Marco Perino, General Manager PC Options, Peripherals and Service Division, Toshiba Europe GmbH. “The wireless device complements families’ digital lifestyles by offering easy access to and sharing of information, entertainment, and multimedia files from anywhere in the home.” It even cements family ties and friendships as it facilitates to stay in touch with relatives or friends wherever they are living via social networks and messaging services.
Easy and quick access to the world of online services
“The JournE touch is a wonderful innovation and we are particularly excited to think about the ways and places people will be able to interact and engage with YouTube using the device,” says Francisco Varela, YouTube Strategic Partnership Development Manager based in San Bruno, California, USA.
Youtube is one service out of a broad assortment which is preset on the JournE touch to ensure quick and easy access via WLAN to information, fun, entertainment, and social platforms:
JournE touch
Facts & Figures

An optional available cradle for JournE touch comes with an USB port and an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) to provide for a connection to a laptop or a TV set to display content – self generated photos and videos or content downloaded from the internet – on a larger screen and share it with other family members. “Certainly one of the most exciting features of the new JournE touch is its capability to bring interactive services like Video on Demand not only to people’s fingertips but also right onto their TV screens at home,” says Rolf Uwe Placzek, CEO of Acetrax, the European multi- territory digital movie retailer holding agreements with major Hollywood studios as well as Independents and record labels.
Infotainment at your fingertip
Users can navigate around the 7” (17,78 cm) LCD 16:9 LED backlit touch screen with a fingertip menu and digital keyboard. The JournE touch is customizable as users can easily add applications, change icons and insert new links to favorite online platforms. The multimedia device measures 189 mm (w) x 133.6 mm (d) x 14 mm (h) and weighs only 450 grams. The Lithium-Polymer battery can run for up
to 14 hours, allowing plenty of time to play music. Videos or exploring the internet is possible for up to two hours. It comes with an internal memory of 1 GB that can be extended with an additional SD card of up to 32 GB.
00 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing US$67 billion (as of March 31st, 2009).

The fit of the headphones is exactly like that of the Carcharias headset, which is a very good thing. Of all the headsets I have (and trust me, it’s a lot), the Megalodon is the most comfortable. It’s even got a slight edge on the Carcharias in that it doesn’t have a cord pulling down one side (we’ll get to that). The Megalodon has the same lightness, excellent padding, and soft materials as the Carcharias, and it’s a joy to wear for long gaming sessions.

New hardware

Since the headset’s design is unchanged for the most part, the newness must lie elsewhere. And indeed, the whole interface has changed: the Megalodon connects via USB, and there is a little… something in between. I guess you could call it a puck, though it’s a bit big for that; it sits on your table or desk and has all the controls for the headset on it. The short cord between it an the headset means you’re not likely to get it tangled on anything, and you’re not dragging six feet of cable whenever you move your head. I find it liberating.

The USB interface is handy because, obviously, you can plug it in just about anywhere (as opposed to the back of your tower, like I’ve been doing for, oh, five years). Hardly a unique feature, but it’s better than the triple-analog system on the otherwise-excellent Tritton AX Pro or even the Carcharias, which unless you’ve got mic and audio ports handy, you have attach to your sound card.

So what’s on the puck (I forgot to take pictures so here’s their shot)? Well, it’s a lot like the AX Pro’s in-line remote. It lets you switch between virtualized surround and regular stereo, adjust the levels of each of the channels, and change the mic level and sensitivity. Basically you’ve got a few buttons and a wheel; it looks daunting at first, but it’s pretty intuitive after you’ve used it for a few minutes. Turning up the bass and, say, rear channel, is extremely easy. The backlighting even turns red past a certain point to give you a sort of bearing. It remembers your settings universally, though there are no presets for different games. I found it convenient and precise.

My question, however, is this: why isn’t there a button to just completely turn off the headphones? That way I could plug them in the back of my PC and forget about it. Turning them off completely would return sound to the normal drivers and I wouldn’t have to be constantly wrapping them up and putting them away — they could just live on my desk.

That the Lycosa has no GUI is, I think, a benefit. Like the AX Pro, all your audio needs are attended to by the puck, so there’s no reason to have a configuration window. It also means there are no drivers to worry about. Bonus!

The sound

Of course, the most comfortable and convenient headset is useless without good sound. Fortunately, that’s not a problem for the Megalodon for the most part. The stereo output is perfectly good, much like the Carcharias. Nice and balanced, with the added bonus of being able to adjust the bass separately from the other channels. Music sounds good, better than with the Logitechs, which had a very clear, but sort of distant sound to them in stereo mode.

But of course, this is a surround-sound headset and that’s what you want to hear about. The Megalodon’s primary competition is with other virtual-surround headsets, and I think it stands up perfectly well. I recently reviewed the G35, so it’s been my primary comparison. They’re similar in price and in what they promise, after all.

In case you didn’t read the Carcharias review, I should say that both they and the Megalodon use an open headphone design, meaning that they’re lighter and more airy, but also let sound out and in. If you’re in a dorm or something, it’s probably worth considering that if you have these up loud, your roommates will hear everything. Likewise, you’ll hear the music they’re playing, cars in the street and so on. This is neither a good nor a bad thing — it’s just a choice you have to make. The G35s had superb isolation, being closed and well-fitted, but they made my ears sweat. Yeah, gross, I know, but if you have loud roommates as I did in college, it might be worth it to get some closed cans.

On the flip side, the sound doesn’t seem to be affected by their openness. There’s a sort of common wisdom that closed headphones provide better sound, and while they do provide better isolation, the sound can still vary considerably. This headset sounds great; if you have a game or movie that actually supports virtual surround (more on this shortly), you’re golden. I felt that the high end was more balanced on the Megalodon than the G35 — or maybe it was how they handled the surround, but the hissing of dispensers in Team Fortress 2 was nowhere near as harsh. Sound placement was great, and the surround sound functioned just fine in several games.

The main issue I had is this: if you’re listening to something that isn’t surround sound, the Megalodon is pretty awful at faking it. I found that the G35s were passable at taking a stereo signal, or a non-compatible surround sound signal, and making it at least a little bigger. But the Megalodon does something to non-surround inputs that makes them sound like you’re in a can. A small can. Now, this is easily remedied by switching to non-virtualized regular stereo sound — which is fine — but it’s a little disappointing that it can’t fake it as well as the others.

The microphone works with no trouble and sounds just fine; the ability to tweak it in-game is great, since I don’t trust my in-OS or in-game sensitivity to work all the time. You can change the actual sensitivity, mute it, or adjust the feedback (so you don’t yell — seriously, people).

Overall the sound is great. If you can deal with not being able to watch a stereo movie in virtualized surround, there’s not a problem to be found.

What’s with the stand?

Here’s something I expect to be fixed in the next generation of these things. The Megalodon (and can I just say, referring to it in the singular is extremely difficult for me to do) comes with a stand… and it’s a joke. They need to tie the guy who made this thing to a post and whip him with Cat 5 cables until he admits it’s a piece of garbage. Sorry, but it’s terrible. It’s not tall enough to hold the headphones, really — they slouch and fall off. Where does the cable go? You can roll it up and put it in the hollow center, I guess, and then seal it in with the puck, but man that is difficult and awkward, and then you’ve got this other cord going to the headphones themselves. Seriously, I’d love to put these on a stand — they look great — but this thing is a disaster.

On the plus side, they also come with this genuinely awesome carrying case. You want to look cool at a LAN party? Bust out this professional-looking piece of kit. Everybody will fear you.

The other shoe

Razer has continually impressed me with their gaming headsets, and the Megalodon is the best yet. It adds functionality to the already-solid Carcharias without compromising in any way, and apart from the metallic effect when you have an incompatible source, the sound is great.

But here’s where we hit a bit of a bump. These bastards cost $150, and I don’t see them around for any less. Even Logitech, famous for expensive gear, has the G35 for considerably less — under $115 at B&H, as I write this. As great as the Megalodon is, I can’t say it’s $40 better than the G35 — or for that matter, $80 better than the Carcharias, with which they have so much in common. I’ve recommended expensive headphones before (the Klipsch X5s at over $200), but that was because they were exceptional. The Megalodon is merely excellent. If you’re on a budget right now, your best bet is to hold off. This is a great headset, but, at $150, a luxury.

Just in case you needed another netbook option, Hannspree is here to help. The company’s first entry into the netbook contest comes packed with the standard fare besides the somewhat large and sexy 10-inch LED-backlit LCD.

You can probably guess the rest of the specs:

• Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU
• Windows XP
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB 5400 RPM SATA HDD
• 802.11b/g/n, 10/100 LAN
• Bluetooth
• 1.3MP webcam
• 3-1 card reader
• 6-Cell Li-Ion battery
• 2.9 lbs. with battery attached
• Black model -  SN10E11BUF
• White model - SN10E11WUF

Interested? You will be able to find the netbook online with a MSRP of $379.

Hannspree Introduces HannsNote 10″ Ultra-Mobile Laptop PCs

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Hannspree North America, Inc., a leading developer of lifestyle and design-centric consumer electronic products, today announced its new line of 10″ ultra-mobile laptop PCs to the US market at $379.99 MSRP. The HannsNote is ideal for those that are always on-the-go and is offered in two colors: High-gloss Pearl Black and Pearl White.
With a footprint smaller than a letter-sized sheet of paper, the HannsNote fits easily in a backpack, briefcase, or even a handbag. And with the battery attached, it only weighs 2.9 lbs. The HannsNote includes a 6-Cell Lithum-Ion battery that will last up to 5 hours on a single charge. The HannsNote packs a big performance punch using latest technology, including Intel(R) Atom processor, Windows(R) XP operating system, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3MP webcam, 3-in-1 card reader, and full-function keyboard. A protective carrying sleeve and cleaning cloth are included with the HannsNote, providing additional value to the user.
“We are entering the mini-laptop market with a strong product. The HannsNote offers many benefits to the consumer. This mini-laptop is ideal for business or school use, or for anyone who is always on-the-go because of its ultra-portability and performance. We are very confident not only in the quality and performance of the HannsNote, but also in the service we provide,” said Wynn Yiu, president of Hannspree North America, Inc.
Pricing and Availability

MSRP: $379.99
Online: tigerdirect.com and other fine e-tailers
Distribution: D&H
Pearl Black Model Number: SN10E11BUF
Pearl White Model Number: SN10E11WUF

Technical specifications and features:

10" LCD with LED backlight
Intel(R) Atom(TM) N270 1.6GHz processor
Windows(R) XP Home Edition SP3
1GB RAM (Expandable up to 2GB)
160GB SATA HDD (5400 RPM)
802.11b/g/n, 10/100 LAN
Bluetooth(R) 2.0
1.3MP webcam
Built-in mic/stereo speakers
Full-function keyboard
3-in-1 card reader
6-Cell Li-Ion battery
Protective sleeve and cleaning cloth included
2.9 lbs. with battery attached
10.2"(w) x 1.8"(h) x 7.1"(d) with battery attached
Energy Star and RoHS compliant
1-Year Parts and Labor Warranty / 6-Month Battery and Power Supply
 Warranty

The SL80 (above) and 90s (below) have an edge to edge, bezel-less design with motion smoothing and improved contrast ratio.

• The SL80 series utilizes slim CCFL technology with TruMotion 240Hz to achieve its dramatically thin profile and provide superior picture quality. Delivering consumers a compelling visual experience, the SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick at its slimmest point. The SL80 will be available beginning in August, in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs of $1,599.95, $1,899.95 and $2,799.95 respectively.
• The SL90’s LED display technology provides enhanced picture quality and energy efficiency. The SL90 series will be released later this year in 42- and 47-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs to be announced later.

LG Electronics’ New HDTVs Turn Heads; Global Design Platform Launched in USA

Unique Design, Advanced Display Technologies Expand Home Entertainment Options
NEW YORK, July 30 /PRNewswire/ — Offering consumers endless entertainment and design possibilities, LG Electronics today unveiled its newest LCD (SL80 series) and LED (SL90 series) HDTVs at the company’s annual Summer Line Show.

Both the SL80 and SL90 series feature a single edge-to-edge panel of glass over an ultra-slim bezel creating a seamless, sophisticated look that turns heads whether the TV is on or off. LG’s exclusive Invisible Speaker design further accentuates the seamless style by eliminating large speaker grills on the front bezel for a more streamlined home entertainment system aesthetic.

“Consumers are looking for stylish technology that fits seamlessly into their existing home environment, without sacrificing the advanced technology they’ve grown accustomed to,” said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing and strategy, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “With the SL80 and SL90, LG has combined the best of design and display technology – transforming the home entertainment experience from something ordinary into something better.”

Reiner explained that LG’s newest line of LCD HDTVs blend beautifully into a variety of home entertainment systems and room environments. In addition to the cutting-edge design, they both incorporate the latest picture technology, convenience and energy saving features, such as Intelligent Sensor, which automatically adjusts the TV’s picture to the lighting conditions in your room, for a more enjoyable viewing experience.

The LG Electronics USA Summer Line Show in New York is the first public showing in the world for the new SL80/SL90 series, which represent a new global flat-panel design platform.

The SL80 series utilizes slim CCFL technology with TruMotion 240Hz to achieve its dramatically thin profile and provide superior picture quality. Delivering consumers a compelling visual experience, the SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick at its slimmest point. The SL80 will be available beginning in August, in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs of $1,599.95, $1,899.95 and $2,799.95 respectively.
The SL90’s LED display technology provides enhanced picture quality and energy efficiency. The SL90 series will be released later this year in 42- and 47-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs to be announced later.
Style Expansion

Packing advanced technology into a beautiful design, the SL80 is ideal for movie and sports enthusiasts, incorporating TruMotion 240Hz technology to improve motion picture response time so consumers experience a smoother, more natural picture. For a complete cinematic home experience, the SL80 has a dynamic contrast ratio of 150,000:1 for amazing clarity and color detail, even during fast-action sports and movie scenes.

Extending the seamless design concept of the SL80, LG will introduce the SL90 series of Full HD 1080p LED HDTVs, later this year. At only 1.15 inches thin, the SL90 offers consumers a sleek, slim LED.

With the SL90’s 3,000,000:1 LED Mega Contrast Ratio, consumers can expect superior image quality coupled with unparalleled design. The SL90 series also features LG’s TruMotion 120Hz to reduce motion blur and create more natural looking images. LG offers consumers an LCD HDTV that looks great whether the screen is turned on or off.

Advanced Technology

The SL80 and SL90 series further extend the consumer experience by providing LG’s four Core Technologies that are easy-to-use including:

AV Mode II: LG HDTVs include three AV Modes, preset to optimize picture and sound settings based on Cinema, Sports or Game content.
Invisible Speaker System: Fine-tuned by renowned audio expert Mr. Mark Levinson, LG TVs utilize a unique speaker system that delivers a clean, polished look and enhanced audio with a wider sound field.
Picture Wizard: Enables easy self-calibration by providing on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements, such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels.
Clear Voice II: Automatically enhances and amplifies the sound of the human voice frequency range to help keep dialogue audible when background noise swells. This can also be personalized with a new 12-step adjustment level.

TwitterSoldier69: What a day! Glad it’s almost lunch! Need to reload machine gun later! Mondays, blah!

The iKey AK-39 may just be the most intimidating keyboard ever. Well, maybe not but it does look pretty cool for a keyboard. It features green LED backlighting and can even be configured in night-vision mode.

It’s built for drops, spills, and harsh elements, too, as it’s rugged enough to meet MIL-461 military standards.

According to the product description:

“The AK-39’s small-footprint design features essential components for military and public safety applications, including an integrated Force Sensing ResistorTM (FSR) pointing device with left- and right-click functionality, and adjustable green LED backlighting that is also available in a night vision (NVIS) compatible configuration. Designed with gloved users in mind, the AK-39’s snap-on faceplate eliminates accidental key strokes and can be easily removed to clean the pad.”

If you’re thinking of buying one, prepare to pay. There’s no pricing info except for an “Add to Quote” button on the company’s site. Any time a company representative has to call you to sell you a keyboard, it’s not going to be cheap.

iKey AK-39 [ikey.com via Engadget]

Actually, it seems this is just the first barrage of new Aquos TVs; they’re planning on releasing many species of display over the next few months, including local-dimming LED-backlights, cheaper edge-lit ones, and I done heard tell of even some RGB LED arrays, which you will be paying through the nose for. As for internet services (streaming content, local weather and the like), we’ll be seeing those later as well.

So who’s going to buy these “beta” TVs? I sure wouldn’t if I knew there were far more options coming. I’m sure they’re very nice TVs, but it makes no sense for anyone to pick one up at this time. Here is the pricing and press release, anyhow:

* The LC-52LE700UN: $2,799.99
* The LC-46LE700UN: $2,199.99
* The LC-40LE700UN: $1,699.99
* The LC-32LE700UN: $1,099.99

SHARP INTRODUCES AQUOS® LED

Breakthrough New Line of LED Backlit LCD TVs Bring Superior Brightness and Image Quality Combined with Industry’s Lowest Power Consumption for True Value

NEW YORK, July 7, 2009 – Sharp Electronics unveils, for the first time worldwide, AQUOS LED, an LCD TV series that provides the ultimate in picture quality and value, offering consumers the lowest power consumption of any available LCD TV. A new series of LCD TVs that combines Sharp’s award-winning AQUOS LCD technology with a Full-Array LED backlight system, the new LE700 AQUOS LED series delivers unprecedented image quality and energy-efficient, eco-friendly performance. This Full-HD 1080p LCD TV series, available in 52- (LC-52LE700UN), 46- (LC-46LE700UN), 40- (LC-40E700UN) and 32-inch (LC-32LE700UN) screen class sizes (52 1/32″, 45 63/64″, 40″, and 31 35/64″ diagonal respectively), introduces a newly-developed X-Gen Panel with advanced pixel control for extremely deep black levels.

The AQUOS LED series also includes Sharp’s AQUOS Net™* capability, a service that gives users instant access to customized Web-based content as well as real-time customer support.

“Sharp demonstrated the unlimited possibilities of LCD, bringing the first LED back-lit AQUOS LCD TV to market last year, and we continue to advance the category today,” said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. “With the introduction of the AQUOS LED series, we are bringing consumers an affordable display solution with superior picture and environmental performance that provides a true value. Sharp is able to deliver a price-competitive yet high-performance product by producing many of the key components of the TV, including the LED components and the LCD panel.”

Superior Picture Quality

The proprietary AQUOS LED system incorporates Sharp’s UltraBrilliant LED backlight technology that illuminates the TV to extremely high brightness and contrast levels. The system includes a full array of LEDs evenly dispersed behind the diffuser, resulting in more uniform colors and brightness across the entire screen, as well as improved color purity for the smoothest picture possible. Additionally, this series uses Sharp’s proprietary next-generation Full HD 1080p X-Gen LCD panel with 10-bit processing, designed with advanced pixel control to minimize light leakage, producing extremely deep black levels. The X-Gen panel also provides a wider aperture to allow more light to pass through the panel, resulting in higher peak brightness. The panel provides Spectral Contrast Engine MC for an extremely high Dynamic Contrast Ratio of more than 2,000,000:1 for crisp picture quality and vibrant colors, as well as a special dejudder feature (on the LC-52LE700UN and LC-46LE700UN) that results in the smooth reproduction of film content.

Rounding out this premium picture, the series offers Fine Motion Enhanced technology for 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a fast pixel response time of 4ms, providing the ultimate medium for high-definition viewing, ensuring viewers never miss a detail. For flexible room placement, the series has impressive 176-degree viewing angles, enabling the color reproduction to appear bright and vivid from virtually anywhere in a room.

Eco-Efficient Design

In addition to a first-class picture, the AQUOS LED series was designed to bring overall value to the consumer, with several eco-friendly improvements enabled by LED technology. The UltraBrilliant full array LED backlight enables precise light output with higher luminance per watt so less power is needed. The TV is also equipped with a system designed to lower power consumption during use by adjusting the screen brightness based on the level of brightness in the area of installation. In fact, this series offers the industry’s lowest power consumption of any LCD TV currently available on the market.** The LC-52LE700UN consumes 105W, exceeding the EPA’s ENERGY STAR criteria for TVs: Version 3.0 by 68 percent; the LC-46LE700UN consumes 90W, exceeding ENERGY STAR guidelines by 63 percent; the LC-40LE700UN consumes 75W, exceeding ENERGY STAR guidelines by 60 percent; and the LC-32LE700UN consumes 55W, exceeding ENERGY STAR guidelines by 52 percent.

In addition to lower power consumption, the AQUOS LED series is built to last longer – as a solid-state light source, LEDs generate less heat and are more durable, leading to a longer lifespan – an expected 100,000 hours, two thirds longer than traditional LCD TVs.

This TV series also uses eco-friendly components and uses no mercury – LED is a mercury-free light source. The units house fewer components with a reduction of heavy metals, which makes for easy recycling and an overall carbon footprint reduction.

AQUOS Net

Included in the LE700 series*, AQUOS Net is an internet-based service that gives Sharp AQUOS customers access to personalized information. Viewers can check everyday information with a push of a button on the television’s remote control, in either full screen or split screen. Currently available through AQUOS Net is content from Weatherbug to check the local forecast, NASDAQ for stock quotes, Accedo Broadband for casual games such as blackjack and Sudoku, UCLICK to follow daily comic strips, daily local NAVTEQ Traffic™ reports, AQUOS Gallery, which provides users with beautiful high-resolution 1080p images of scenery and nature, and a variety of web-based content from NBCU’s broad portfolio.

Through AQUOS Net, consumers also have access to unparalleled customer support for their television, including the ability to have dedicated AQUOS AdvantageSM advisors connect remotely to their TV to assist in adjusting the TV’s settings and optimizing picture quality for the best viewing experience. This interactive tool, known as AQUOS Advantage LiveSM, is easily accessible from the AQUOS Net home page.

Advanced Connectivity

These Full-HD 1080p models boast an array of connection options, including four HDMI™ (v1.3 with Deep Color) and two component video inputs, all of which are 1080p compatible, accepting signals from Blu-ray Disc™ players and advanced gaming devices. A true high-definition TV, each model houses a built-in ATSC, QAM and NTSC tuner for access to DTV and analog TV channels. The LE700 series also features an RS-232C input for custom installations and a PC input so the TV serves a dual purpose as a PC monitor. Additionally, Sharp’s AQUOS LINK™ feature allows users to seamlessly control compatible, HDMI-connected products using a single remote control. The series also includes a USB photo/music player* for the convenience of high-resolution digital photo viewing and MP3 music enjoyment on the TV.

Availability

* The LC-52LE700UN will be available in July for a Manufacturer’s Suggested List Price of $2,799.99
* The LC-46LE700UN will be available in July for an MSRP of $2,199.99
* The LC-40LE700UN will be available in July for an MSRP of $1,699.99
* The LC-32LE700UN will be available in July for an MSRP of $1,099.99

For more information on Sharp’s full line of Liquid Crystal Televisions, contact Sharp Electronics Corporation, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, N.J., 07495-1163, or call 800-BE-SHARP. For online product information, visit Sharp’s Web site at sharpusa.com. Become a fan of Sharp AQUOS at www.facebook.com/SharpAQUOS.

Usually with cool technologies like this, it’s all being done in one guy’s lab at University of BFE, and they’ve got to get grants, talk with manufacturers, and all that stuff. But apparently this Fraunhofer team is on the fast track and they’re planning on getting these batteries rolled out, so to speak, before 2010.

The applications are limited because one battery can only produce 1.5V, but a series of those could easily power an e-book without a backlight or be woven into clothing for whatever purpose you can think of. And maybe mobile phones will get even thinner!