CrunchGear » Search Results » oled

The 2011 Audi A8 bests K.I.T.T. in the gadget department

Matt Burns — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:30:51 +0000

Cars are increasingly becoming more circuits than gears and the 2011 Audi A8 is a prime example of this transformation. There is likely more tech packed in the full-size Audi sedan than the International Space Station. In fact, if you think the laptop steering wheel table is the ultimate driver distraction, click the read link below to see what the flagship Audi packs.

First, let’s start with the creature comforts.

Heated, cooled, and massaging seats
Standard 12-way adjustable seats or optional 22-way adjustable optional seats
Vibration-canceling motor in the steering wheel
Interior LED ambient lighting system
Four climate zones

Entertainment system

Standard 14 speaker Bose system or optional 1,400 Watt, 19 speaker Bang & Olufsen system
Google maps-enabled GPS system with handwriting input mode
8-inch LCD info screen
20GB hard drive
WiFi, USB, and AUX-inputs
Dual 10.2-inch rear seat displays with its own DVD player, 20GB hard drive, and controls
WLAN via UMTS that turns the car into a mobile HotSpot

Safety equipment

Night vision
R8-style LED headlights
Adaptive cruise control
Radar that detect collisions that automatically tight seat belts and adjusts seats
Speed limit camera that actually reads roadside signs and displays them as graphics on the dash

Of course the A8 has the powertrain to back up this massive saloon with an 8-speed triptronic system and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, along with a direct fuel injection 372 HP V8 engine. Too bad Audi hasn’t announced the price yet, but chances are it doesn’t matter. The only people that can probably afford all this luxurious Audi technology are those that will likely be overwhelmed by it. Or douchebag bankers.

Orbeos OLED lights are warm and round

Devin Coldewey — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:40:58 +0000

So far, I’ve avoided the CFL and LED light bulb revolution. The savings, it seems, come around in the second year, which means that whoever has my apartment next will have a reduced power bill. I could always take my light bulbs with me, but that seems a bit miserly. Besides, my power bill is like $5 a month and 90% of that is my fridge and my desktop.

But these Orbeos OLED lights are as bright and efficient as any LED or CFL, but are both warm, diffuse, and dimmable. I might choose them over regular bulbs just because they have the best of all worlds.

They’re extremely flat, so they can go just about anywhere, but that same flatness means they won’t work to illuminate a whole area unless you have a few. Some OLEDs, however, are flexible, and once they can stretch the matrix into a light bulb-esque shape, you might be able to put them into your regular sockets.

[via OLED-Display.net]

Contest: 10 free codes for Pet Acoustics Pet Jingles app

Scott Merrill — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:30:23 +0000

If you got excited reading about the Pet Acoustics app for pets, but were dismayed by the whopping $2 price tag, here’s some holiday cheer that might help your heart grow three sizes larger: we have ten codes for the Pet Jingles holiday app from Pet Acoustics! And just like Santa, we’re going to make a list, and check it twice. How do you get on that list? I’m glad you asked!

To enter our little contest, just send an email to contest@crunchgear.com with the subject “PET JINGLES”, and include a picture or video of you and your pet sharing some holiday cheer. Whether it’s listening to Ol’ Blue Eyes croon some carols, or making a snowman together, or decorating the family tree, the cuter the better! The cuteness is strictly for our viewing pleasure, as the codes will be doled out first come, first served – so act fast. Your picture or video will be posted when we announce the winners, to help spread holiday cheer to all the CrunchGear readers!

And for those of you that have already bought the Pet Jingles app, or will buy it because you don’t win the contest, you can feel extra good about yourselves: a portion of every sale of Pet Jingles goes to the American Humane Association!

Apple Tablet will now come with an 9.7-inch OLED screen, says latest rumor

Matt Burns — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:30:40 +0000

Oh, iTablet. When will you ever come out? At this point, it might be better for Apple if it was never released and the company keeps leading everyone, including shareholders, around. But according to DigiTimes, the Apple Tablet is real and was delayed until the second half of 2010 so that it could use a 9.7-inch LG OLED screen in one model. I know, the Internet has cried wolf too many times.

DigiTimes,

The sources also indicated that in addition to Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), Quanta Computer and Pegatron Technology are expected to be manufacturing partners for Apple’s two tablet PC models – one of which will have a 10.6-inch TFT LCD panel while the other will have a 9.7-inch OLED panel. However, the sources did not explain how production for the two models would be split between the three makers.

Even if this rumor is mostly wrong and the Apple Slate comes with standard LCD panels, the 2H2010 launch window seems about right. Consumer electronic products as a whole aren’t exactly moving off shelves these days. Retailers are expecting the worst this holiday seasons as unemployment is the highest it’s been in the US since 1983.

But next year, hopefully it won’t be as bad. Also, more consumers will be familiar and comfortable with the idea of a dedicated tablet PC as ebook readers become more common. If there is one thing Apple knows, it’s timing.

T3’s “Netpad” puts a few new twists on the tablet format

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:38:19 +0000

Product differentiation is getting more and more difficult these days. The lozenge-shaped, touch-enabled, all-purpose computing device is fast on its way, and while things like the Courier are still serving up surprises, you could be forgiven for thinking most of these big blank screens are pretty similar. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to see some smart additions to the tablet form factor in this concept design by T3. While I think a lot of these additions might be very difficult to get right, I don’t see why we shouldn’t give them a shot.

A slide-out keyboard, for instance. It’s going to be a battle over the next few years whether to include a hard keyboard or not. I personally like a hard keyboard smaller devices like mobiles, but it’s possible that a soft keyboard will be perfectly usable on larger tablets like the CrunchPad and that Apple one. A slide-out keyboard would have to be a compromise, because there’s almost no room for key depression. But a little give is better than none.

The “control strip” is a great idea. With little OLED displays like those the Optimus Maximus and G19 keyboards becoming more common, I don’t see why we shouldn’t have a little context-sensitive strip like that. You kind of saw what it could do in that four-screened laptop from a few months back, but that was pretty over the top. We’re talking media controls, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggles, that kind of thing. Putting it on the slanted edge there separates it physically but not visually and really is a great solution.

Multi-purpose, convertible casing: if someone can pull this off, it’d be awesome. An integrated screen protector that doubles as a stand? God damn, sign me up. If it’s reliable, it’d really simplify the accessory situation.

The trouble, of course, is that this little “Netpad,” as they call it, would cost a mint. The many moving parts, expensive materials (carbon fiber, magnesium), and multiple touchscreen surfaces would probably propel the final price to… I’d guess about $2000 at least. And since part of the selling point of tablets is their simplicity and low cost, you’d have trouble making money with the thing, cool as it is. Still, if any of these features make it into the next generation of tablets, I’ll be pumped.

More info over at T3, where hopefully they’ll continue updating this thing.

Gift Guide 2009: Portable Media Players

Doug Aamoth — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:29:04 +0000

Intro

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The common portable media player has a tough existence. It’s expected to handle many tasks well, while being rugged enough to withstand daily (ab)use. It’s expected to look nice, it’s expected to provide more-than-decent battery life, and it’s expected to provide a simple enough interface that it can be operated almost exclusively while on the go. If the world’s greatest mom were a consumer electronics device, she’d be a portable media player.

And while there’s no shortage of portable media players in existence, here’s a quick list of some worthy gift options (in no particular order).

Archos

Archos 5 Internet Tablet: Starting at $379.99 (Archos.com)

A device with a nearly unlimited potential thanks to the inclusion of the Android operating system, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is part media player, part web browser, part digital video recorder, part GPS system, part game player… you get the idea.

Features:

Screen: 4.8-inch 800×480 touchscreen
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth, GPS
Codec Support: MP4, WMV, MPEG-2, H.264, MP3, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA
Promised Battery Life: 22 hours audio, 7 hours video
Expansion: microSD
Other: Android OS, web browser, downloadable apps, optional DVR, FM receiver
Dimensions: 5.63” x 3.1” x 0.4” and 6.4 ounces (32GB version), 5.63” x 3.1” x 0.78” and 10 ounces (160GB and 500GB versions)

Available in 32GB, 160GB, and 500GB for $380, $400, and $500, respectively.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Apple

Apple iPod touch: Starting at $199 (Apple.com)

The iPod touch may very well be the reigning king of portable media players with its slick interface, great web browser, and a direct pipeline into the most popular mobile applications store around.

Features:

Screen: 3.5-inch 480×320 multi-touchscreen
Connectivity: 802.11b/g wireless, Bluetooth, Nike + iPod
Codec Support: MP4, H.264, MOV, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV
Promised Battery Life: 30 hours audio, 6 hours video
Expansion: None
Other: Safari web browser, iTunes App Store
Dimensions: 4.3” x 2.4” x 0.33” and 4.05 ounces

Available in 8GB, 32GB, and 64GB for $199, $299, and $399, respectively. The 32GB and 64GB models feature voice control and faster processors than the 8GB version.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review (8GB version)

Microsoft

Microsoft Zune HD: Starting at $219 (Zune.net)

Not content to let Apple have all the fun, Microsoft’s recent makeover of its Zune line of digital media players has produced an attractive contender in the Zune HD.

Features:

Screen: 3.3-inch 480×272 touchscreen
Connectivity: 802.11b/g wireless
Codec Support: WMV, MP4, H.264, DVR-MS, MP3, WMA, AAC
Promised Battery Life: 33 hours audio, 8.5 hours video
Expansion: None
Other: HD Radio receiver, Zune app store, web browser, wireless sync
Dimensions: 2” x 4” x 0.35” and 2.6 ounces

Available in 16GB and 32GB for $219 and $289, respectively.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Sony

Sony X Series Walkman: Starting at $299.95 (SonyStyle.com)

The inventor of the portable audio player is at it again with the new X Series Walkman, featuring a vibrant 3-inch OLED touchscreen, premium noise-canceling headphones, and 30+ hour battery life for music playback.

Features:

Screen: 3-inch 432×240 OLED touchscreen
Connectivity: 802.11b/g wireless
Codec Support: WMV, MP4, H.264, MP3, WMA, AAC
Promised Battery Life: 33 hours audio, 9 hours video
Expansion: None
Other: FM radio, web browser, digital noise cancellation, Slacker Radio
Dimensions: 2” x 4” x 0.5” and 3.5 ounces

Available in 16GB and 32GB for $299.95 and $399.95, respectively.

Product Page

Creative

Creative Zen X-Fi2: Starting at $129.99 (Creative.com)

Creative’s latest entry to the PMP market is the Zen X-Fi2, which features a 3-inch touchscreen, low starting price, and thoughtful extras like built-in support for synching RSS feeds from your computer to be read on the device.

Features:

Screen: 3-inch 400×240 touchscreen
Connectivity: None
Codec Support: WMV, MP4, DivX, XviD, MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, Audible
Promised Battery Life: 25 hours audio, 5 hours video
Expansion: microSD
Other: FM radio, organizer, offline RSS reader
Dimensions: 4” x 2.2” x 0.5” and 2.6 ounces

Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB for $129.99, $179.99, and $229.99, respectively.

Product Page

Cowon

Cowon S9: Starting at $169.99 (CowonAmerica.com)

South Korea’s Cowon may not be as widely well known here in the U.S. as some of its competitors but the company’s line of portable media players are traditionally pretty stylish. The S9, for example, sports a 3.3-inch capacitive AMOLED touchscreen, handsome interface, thin form factor, and built-in Bluetooth.

Features:

Screen: 3.3-inch 480×272 AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Codec Support: AVI, WMV, XviD, MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, OGG, APE
Promised Battery Life: 55 hours audio, 11 hours video
Expansion: None
Other: Composite AV output, FM radio, Flash player, calculator
Dimensions: 4.17” x 2.2” x 0.5” and 2.7 ounces

Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB for $169.99, $204.99, and $259.99, respectively. There’s also a 16GB version for $199.99, which features a chrome/black finish instead of the titanium/black finish found on the other S9 players.

Product Page

iRiver

iRiver P7: Starting at $179.99 (iRiver)

The iRiver P7 strays from traditional PMP design somewhat to offer a “Magazine Look UI” contained inside a lightweight aluminum enclosure. The device features a 4.3-inch touchscreen and built-in text reader to complement the other media playback functions.

Features:

Screen: 4.3-inch 480×272 touchscreen
Connectivity: None
Codec Support: AVI, MP4, DAT, MPEG, VOB, WMV, RM, FLV, 3GP, XviD, MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, OGG
Promised Battery Life: 35 hours audio, 7 hours video
Expansion: microSD
Other: FM radio, text reader
Dimensions: 4.42” x 2.89” x 0.52” and 6.18 ounces

Available in 8GB and 16GB for $179.99 and $209.99, respectively.

Product Page

Mouse and keyboard vs. Console controller: Let’s bury the hatchet

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:43:08 +0000

I suck at GoldenEye. There, I’ve said it. I get schooled every time I play, even if I’m Odd Job. And chances are, everyone who reads this is better than me at Halo, Killzone, and pretty much every other console FPS. That’s just an upfront disclosure in case you want to skip this post and get right to the flaming. After all, I’m just writing this because I’m bad at these games, right?

The thing is, I would probably ruin you in Counter-Strike or Team Fortress 2. In fact, it seems to me that every time I read about a PC team going up against a console team in the same game, the console team gets manhandled. Why is that? Well, probably because a mouse and keyboard is a better way of controlling a first-person shooter. You know it, I know it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.

Here’s the thing: the gaming world isn’t governed by players and their preferences. It’s a business, subject to market forces, development pressures, and all that sort of thing. Remember when Halo was going to be a Mac exclusive? That didn’t happen for a reason: because there was more money to be made in launching it with a new console. Was it a better or worse game for it? I don’t know, I’m not a freaking oracle. And that’s not the point of this post anyway.

Look, making a big game is a nightmare. A studio needs to get a return on a huge investment, and where are the sales? In the piracy-ridden, heterogenous PC market, where you have to cater to every possible hardware configuration? No, but the game will probably be at its best on a high-end PC, so you kind of want to hit that anyway. But the main thing is to get a game onto the PS3 and 360 in as playable a form as possible. That way you have a guaranteed base of 40 or 50 million units that will all run it perfectly and work together just the way they’re designed to. Maybe they won’t have a mouse, but so what?

So you get AAA FPS titles like Modern Warfare 2 on a console, where people can play the game just fine against each other and enjoy the full experience — with a dual shock. Is the PC version the “definitive” version of the game? With MW2 I would suggest not, but with others it may be the case (GTA4 for instance). To make a blanket statement on this would be to commit a pretty foolish error. At the same time, don’t take someone to task for saying that Borderlands is better on the PC. I mean, what? It is!

Besides, I don’t think it’s an insult against console gamers or their games to say that a mouse and keyboard is the better control method. It’s like saying a wheel controller with pedals is a better controller for racing games. It just is! It doesn’t mean that everyone sucks without one, or that games that don’t support wheels are garbage. It’s just presenting an ideal. Can there be great FPSes on consoles? Sure! But let’s be honest about it and qualify that by saying that there’s auto-aim, the enemies shoot slower, and they generally have a more horizontally-orientated environment. It just makes it a better game on the console. They switch it up for the PC version, if they make one; if I can get headshots 90% of the time in Gears on PC, versus 10% on console, they better damn sure make it so that doesn’t break the game.

The console versus PC debate, which is what the mouse vs. controller thing is really about, ends up being a kind of silly one. There are fantastic games on both platforms, and some just work better on one or the other. Platformers are best with a specific controller, joystick sensitivity, and button layout. Real-time strategy demands a level of versatility, precision, and resolution that’s only available on PCs. And if we’re honest, so do FPSes in their ideal format. But that’s not always possible; the convenience and standard hardware of consoles often means a better deal for developers, and sometimes a better game for the consumer.

I may never be good at GoldenEye, but I could never say that game sucked. So let’s stop being such prideful bastards about our games and just agree to say “whatever works for you.”

IBM developing zero-emission data center technology

Nicholas Deleon — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

We’ve already established that your favorite tech company, from Apple to HP to Nintendo, and everyone in between, is being pressured to go green. While some of the tactics may be a bit silly, I think it’s safe to say that you’d rather see these companies green than not green, right? It makes us feel good about ourselves, that even though we’re buying hunks of plastic and metal—Lord knows what chemicals are in these things—the company in question is trying to make everything as environmentally friendly as possible. In the spotlight today is IBM, which continues to develop technology that could, one day, lead to zero-emission data centers.

The key to such data centers lies in a new cooling technology that IBM is currently toying around with.

Says Bruno Michel, an IBM research manager:

High-performance liquid cooling allows data centers to operate with coolant temperatures above the free cooling limit in all climates, eliminating the need for chillers and allowing the thermal energy to be reused in cold climates. [In so doing, Michel] demonstrated the removal of 85 percent of the heat load from high-performance compute nodes at a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius and compared their energy and emission balance with a classical air-cooled data center, a data center with free cooling in a cold climate zone and a data center with chiller-mediated energy reuse.

In other words, thanks to this fancy new cooling technology, IBM has to use less energy than it otherwise would have it.

The whole system reuses about 75 percent of the energy initially put into it. It’s that loss of only around 25 percent that makes the whole thing so efficient.

In other news, I have a massive headache. Is there an App for that?

Casio plans to enter the OLED game

Serkan Toto — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:00:34 +0000

OLED can still pretty much be considered a thing of the future, but we’re getting closer to use the technology in our homes every month. Today, Casio Computer announced [JP] it has teamed up with Tokyo-based technology company Toppan Printing to develop and produce OLED panels. The new joint venture will start operations from April 2010, with both companies involved saying they’ll focus on manufacturing OLED panels sized ten inches and smaller first (like the one you see in the picture).

Those OLED screens are supposed to be used in digital cameras and cell phones by 2015. But Casio and Toppan also said they will conduct R&D to eventually develop bigger sized OLEDs, for example for TVs, too. The OLEDs will be manufactured using high-polymer-type organic electroluminescent compounds, whereas OLED production today is mainly based on low-polymer organic compounds. According to the companies, their method is more efficient and simpler.

Casio will first transfer 600 employees to a new firm, which will be established in February and will focus exclusively on OLED development. Toppan says it will then buy 80% of all outstanding shares of the joint venture (total capitalization: $4.5 million).

Docupen releases the X Series, a sexy personal scanner

John Biggs — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:21:18 +0000

I rarely use the words “sexy” and “personal scanner” in rapid succession but today I’m happy to report that Planon has created something special. The X Series is a tiny personal scanner that can scan and send images to laptops, Blackberry phones, and even Planon’s own personal printers.

Although I never really saw the value in these before, I’ve recently been on the road a lot and could have used this to scan research for my book. The pen scans in color up and black and white and supports MicroSD card expansion as well as Bluetooth transmission. It has a large OLED screen and only four buttons.

The X10 ($389) includes a 12v automobile adapter while the X05 ($369) does not. The X50 with OCR software costs $439. It will be available next month.

Product Page

LG shows off their new 15-inch transparent AMOLED monitor

Dave Freeman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:30:15 +0000

LG showed off their newest project at the FPD-International 2009 show in Japan recently, a 15-inch transparent display. Are we seeing the future of TV and computer monitors? Who knows, but it’s interesting to see nonetheless.

Of course, it’s still a prototype, and we have no idea when we’ll see it in retail, how much it will cost, or anything specific. We do know that it uses AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diode) technology, but that’s about it. Other companies, like Philips, are also checking out this technology, and it was even rumored that Apple was going to create a device utilizing a transparent display. Nothing has really come to market yet (though the Zune HD screen has been getting good reviews), but we’ll keep you informed when and if something does.

[via OLED Display]

TMOS displays: the next step after AMOLED-backed LCDs?

Devin Coldewey — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:30:57 +0000

I believe that headline contains what’s known as a gaggle of acronyms. TMOS (time-multiplexed optical shutter) is a new display technology that claims brighter, thinner, longer-lasting, higher-resolution displays. Hey! I hear you giggling out there. “Yeah, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.” Okay, so extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I’d say their pitch is somewhere short of extraordinary, but if there’s anything to the technology, it really may just be all that they say. The company and technology have been around for a while, but they’re actually approaching the market at this point and you might want to know something about it before you start seeing the name pop up all over.

The idea is that by taking out as many layers of the display as possible, you reduce light interference (increasing brightness), power draw (better battery life) and component number (allowing for more pixels per square unit). But what to strip out? Uni-Pixel, the people behind TMOS note that instead of having three dots per pixel (red, green, blue in varying intensity), you could just have one, but with the dot changing color so rapidly that your eye only perceives the aggregate color. I’m not going to get all neuroscience on you here, but allow me to just say that there are biological reasons both for and against this technology, which I’m sure Uni-Pixel is aware of.

Micro-mirrors would direct light from side-mounted LEDs, which sounds clumsy to me, but they say it’ll result in refresh rates far above current displays’. They would also be simpler to manufacture, more durable, and more flexible. Anyhow, the engineering challenges are serious, but they say they should be able to put one in a product in 2010. Guess we’ll just have to wait!

These Best Buy stores will be open until midnight for Modern Warfare 2

Matt Burns — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:29 +0000

Are you stoked about Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2? Dude, I am, but I don’t know if I’m willing to go out at midnight on November 10 to buy the damn game. If you are, click through for the full list of Best Buy locations that will be open to support your gaming addiction.

ALABAMA
Alabaster
Auburn
Hoover
Huntsville
Mobile
Montgomery
Oxford
Trussville

ALASKA
Anchorage

ARIZONA
Ahwatukee
Arrowhead
Avondale
Camelback
Casa Grande
Chandler
E. Tucson
Fiesta Mall
Flagstaff
Goodyear
North Scottsdale
Paradise Valley
Prescott
Scottsdale Shea
Superstition Sprg
S.W. Tucson
Thunderbird Rd
Tucson
Yuma

ARKANSAS
Fort Smith
Rogers

CALIFORNIA
Apple Valley
Bakersfield
Brentwood
Cerritos
Citrus Heights
City of Industry
Clovis
Colma
Corona
Costa Mesa
Culver City
Downey
Duarte
East Orange
Elk Grove
Fairfield
Fresno
Fullerton
Glendale
Hawthorne
Irvine
Jamboree
La Quinta
Lakewood
Long Beach
Manteca
Marina
Menifee
Mira Mesa
Mission Viejo
Montclair
Montebello
Moreno Valley East
Natomas
Northridge
Oceanside
Ontario
Orange
Oxnard
Pasadena
Pinole
Pleasant Hill
Porter Ranch
Rancho Cucamonga
Riverside
Roseville
San Bruno
San Carlos
San Francisco
Santa Clarita
Santa Maria
Santa Rosa
Santana Row
Sherman Oaks
Signal Hill
Simi Valley
Thousand Oaks
Torrance
Tracy
Tustin
Vallejo
Victorville
Visalia
West Covina
West Hollywood
West L.A.
Westminster Mall
Westwood
Woodland Hills
Yorba Linda

COLORADO
Arapahoe and Parker
Boulder
Colorado Springs II
First and Main
Fort Collins
Grand Junction
I-70 and Tower Rd.
Northglenn
Parker
S.E. Denver
Southwest
Westminster

CONNECTICUT
Manchester
West Hartford

DELAWARE
Christiana
Wilmington

FLORIDA
Aventura
Boca Raton
Bradenton
Brandon
Coral Springs
Dadeland
Daytona Beach
Doral
Florida City
Fort Myers
Gainesville
Gulf Coast
Hialeah
Jacksonville N
Jensen Beach
Kissimmee
Lady Lake
Miami Beach
Millenia Mall
Oldsmar
Orange Park
Pembroke Pines
Pensacola
Pinecrest
Regency Mall
S. Tampa
Saint Johns
Sanford
Sawgrass
St. Petersburg
Tallahassee
Tropicaire
W. Kendall
W. Palm Beach
Waterford Lakes
Wesley Chapel
Winter Garden

GEORGIA
Alpharetta
Athens
Atlanta (Midtown)
Augusta
Columbus
Cumberland
Gainesville
Gwinnett
Kennesaw
Macon
Perimeter
Savannah

HAWAII
Aiea
Honolulu

IDAHO
Nampa
Twin Falls

ILLINOIS
Algonquin
Arlington Heights
Bloomingdale
Bloomington
Bolingbrook
Burbank
Butterfield Road
Champaign
Crystal Lake
Dekalb
Edwardsville
Evanston
Geneva
Gurnee
Harlem and Irving
Joliet
Kankakee
Kildeer
Mundelein
North Avenue
Orland Park
Schaumburg
Springfield
Tinley Park
Vernon Hills
W. Dundee

INDIANA
Apple Glen Cross
Bloomington
Clarksville
Evansville
Fort Wayne
Greenwood
Kokomo
Lafayette
Mishawaka
Muncie
Valparaiso

IOWA
Ames
Ankeny
Cedar Rapids
Davenport
Des Moines I
Des Moines II
Iowa City
Waterloo

KANSAS
Lawrence
Manhattan
Oak Park
Olathe
Overland Park
Topeka

KENTUCKY
Bowling Green
Elizabethtown
Florence
Hamburg Pavillion
Lexington
Outer Loop
Shelbyville

LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
Lake Charles
Shreveport
Veterans Blvd.
Westbank

MAINE
Bangor

MARYLAND
Arundel Mills
Frederick
Germantown
Glen Burnie
Hunt Valley
Lexington Park
Rockville

MASSACHUSETTS
Brockton
Milford
North Dartmouth
Pittsfield
Saugus
Seekonk
South Bay
Taunton
Worcester

MICHIGAN
Allen Park
Ann Arbor
Brighton
Farmington Hills
Flint
Grand Rapids II
Gratiot
Kalamazoo
Lansing
Madison Heights/Troy
Novi
Port Huron
Saginaw
Southfield

MINNESOTA
Apple Valley
Baxter
Blaine
Duluth
Maple Grove
Minnetonka
Northtown
Oakdale
Richfield
Roseville
Shakopee

MISSISSIPPI
Gulfport
Hattiesburg

MISSOURI
Cape Girardeau
Columbia
Lees Summit
Manchester
Mid Rivers Mall
South County
Watson Road

MONTANA
Billings
Kalispell
Missoula

NEBRASKA
Lincoln
Omaha
W. Omaha

NEVADA
Carson Valley
Centennial
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S.W. Las Vegas

NEW HAMPSHIRE
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Salem

NEW JERSEY
Cherry Hill
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NEW MEXICO
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W Albuquerque II

NEW YORK
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Riverhead
Syracuse
Vestal
W. Nyack
Westbury

NORTH CAROLINA
Asheville
Asheville South
Burlington
Cary
Charlotte North Lake
Durham New Hope Commons
Durham Renaissance Court
Gastonia
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Rocky Mount
University Place
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Wilmington
Wilson
Winston-Salem

NORTH DAKOTA
Fargo

OHIO
Avon
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Dayton Mall
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Mayfield Road
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Western Hills
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OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City North
Owasso
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OREGON
Gresham
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PENNSYLVANIA
Altoona
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Mechanicsburg
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Middletown

SOUTH CAROLINA
Anderson
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Two Notch

SOUTH DAKOTA
Rapid City
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TENNESSEE
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Rivergate

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UTAH
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VERMONT
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Springfield Mall
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Virginia Beach
Virginia Center Commons
W. Broad
Williamsburg

WASHINGTON
Bellevue
Bellingham
Burlington
E. Spokane
Everett
Olympia
Puyallup
Seattle-Northgate
Spokane North

WEST VIRGINIA
Granville
Huntington

WISCONSIN
Bluemound Plaza
E. Madison
Green Bay
Kenosha
La Crosse
Racine
Southridge
W. Madison

WYOMING
Casper

[via Kotaku]

Acer adds dual-core CPUs, Windows 7, and an 11.6-inch model to Timeline series

Doug Aamoth — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:29:00 +0000

Keeping with the idea of netbook portability and battery life yet with standard notebook power, Acer’s bumped its Timeline series to dual-core CPUs, added Windows 7, and slid an 11.6-inch model weighing just over three pounds into the mix at just $600.

There will be four Windows 7 base Timeline models available on October 22nd:

The 11.6-inch AS180T (pictured above) weighs 3.08 pounds, MSRP of $600
The 13.3-inch AS3810T weighs 3.5 pounds, MSRP of $800
The 14-inch AS4810TZ weighs 4.4 pounds, MSRP of $650
The 15.6-inch AS5810TZ weighs 5.3 pounds, MSRP of $650

All models feature dual-core low voltage Pentium CPUs, six-cell batteries good for up to eight hours of use, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 4GB of RAM, and 320GB SATA hard drives. The 14- and 15.6-inch models also come with optical drives.

Full press release:

Acer Adds New 11.6-Inch Model to Aspire Timeline Notebook Series;
Expands Entire Line with Dual-Core Processors for Enhanced Power, Performance

Latest Aspire Timeline series offers style and performance with eight hours of battery life, Windows 7, and a sleek, thin and light design

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2009 – Acer America, part of the world’s third largest manufacturer of notebook PCs⁽¹⁾, today expands its Aspire Timeline series of all day computing ⁽³⁾ notebooks with a new 11.6-inch model that is ideal for road warriors and ultraportable enthusiasts.
In addition, the company announced today that it has expanded its entire line of Acer Aspire Timeline series notebooks with models that feature Windows 7 and new Intel CULV dual-core processors for enhanced performance and functionality. The lines starts at just $549.99 (MSRP) and the line comes in several color choices including a new chic, yet subtle “espresso” color for the 15.6-inch model.
The new Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810TZ 11.6-inch notebook brings the promise of all day computing to a new ultraportable size. This new notebook offers users elegant styling, great performance and advanced functionality in a thin and light design. Boasting an 11.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, a full-size keyboard, HD audio/visual enjoyment, advanced wireless connectivity and 8 plus hours⁽³⁾ of computing time, the notebooks are ideal for road warriors and anyone who needs to be connected and productive while on-the-go.
All day computing is made easy with the Aspire Timeline series. On just a single charge, consumers can remain productive and entertained from morning to night, making it easier to get more done while travelling and working remotely.
“Acer is providing consumers with the best of all worlds with the new 11.6-inch Timeline – an affordable ultraportable that delivers long battery life and great performance in a compact and stylish design,” said Ray Sawall, senior manager of product marketing for Acer America. “By adding dual-core processors to the entire line, we’ve taken affordable mobile computing solutions to a new level.”
Dual-Core Processors Add Power and Energy Efficiency to All Day Computing
The new Aspire Timeline series is more powerful, energy-efficient and light. All of the new notebooks feature Intel dual-core ultra-low voltage processors, allowing users to take advantage of great performance while saving energy, enabling longer battery life and generating less heat. Several of the notebooks feature Intel’s Laminar Wall Jet technology that allows air to be jet cooled and redirected along the bottom of the system, making the notebooks cooler to the touch.
A single charge to the standard high-capacity 6-cell Li-ion battery gives users eight hours of battery life ⁽³⁾, allowing all day, on-the-go computing. Convenience features such as the PowerSmart button also help save valuable battery consumption. A simple push of the button enters the notebook into power saving mode. Another push and the notebooks are quickly ready for maximum performance. Additionally, the Acer PowerSmart Adapter senses when the notebook is fully charged and stops consuming energy.
Mobile Computing that is Both Stylish and Practical
With prices starting at $549.99, the new Timeline series models offers something for everyone – road warriors, families or students. The notebooks offer users a range of choices in size and color.
The new Timeline AS1810 is the thinnest and lightest of the new notebooks, weighing only 3.08 pounds with an 11.6-inch display. For those in need of a slightly larger mobile system, the AS3810 weighs 3.5 pounds and offers a 13.3-inch display while the AS4810 adds an optical drive and 14-inch display and weighs 4.4 pounds. For those in need of an even larger screen with optical drive and dedicated numeric keypad, the AS5810 weighs 5.3 pounds and features a 15.6-inch screen.
At its slimmest point, all models are less than one-inch thin, and just over one-inch at their thickest. This thin and lightweight design enhances the notebooks’ mobility, making them easy to carry in a backpack, briefcase, laptop carrying case, or even a purse.
The elegant, high-tech design also provides solid protection to the display and internal components. The system is also lead- and mercury-free, making it easier to recycle. The new Timeline notebooks come in a variety of colors (depending on the model), including Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue, Brushed Aluminum and the new Espresso.
Enhanced Performance to Maximize Mobile Capabilities
The new Timeline notebooks pack powerful performance and features in a small package. In addition to the Intel CULV dual-core processors, the notebooks feature ample memory for multitasking and large hard drives for quickly storing and retrieving files.
Usability is significant in the design of these notebooks. The Timeline features high-definition CineCrystal LED-backlit widescreen displays (16:9 ratio) that bring superb color and motion to any digital media while being energy efficient. Additionally, full size keyboards make computing easier and more comfortable.
Keep in touch easily by accessing email, browsing the web or connecting to a social network with 802.11b/g Draft-N wireless or Gigabit Ethernet LAN. An integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam and digital microphone delivers smooth video and voice quality for real-time video streaming, online chatting, and video conferences. Consumers can also enjoy surround sound music and video sound with the Dolby Sound Room from headphones or stereo speakers.
A Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to pinch, flick and swirl their fingers across the touchpad for more natural photo and video viewing as well as intuitive navigation of websites. The Multi-Gesture Touchpad allows users to scroll, zoom in and out and flip through web pages, photos, spreadsheets and more. The TouchPad can also be disabled with a one-touch button, eliminating accidental cursor movement with palms and wrists when using an external mouse.
The Timeline family of notebooks also includes a backup button that lets consumers easily select and protect their irreplaceable digital files through regular scheduled backups or on an as-needed basis. Data can be backed up to an external hard drive, flash card, thumb drive or to a secure hidden partition on their PC.
Additionally, the addition of the new Windows 7 Home Premium makes mobile computing more reliable and responsive, enhancing the user experience.
Configurations, Pricing and Availability
Available October 22, the Acer Aspire Timeline series includes numerous models within the 11.6-inch AS1810, 13.3-inch AS3810, 14-inch AS4810 and 15.6-inch AS5810 lines. A sample configuration from each is listed below.
Acer Aspire Timeline AS1810T-8679

Intel^® Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
Windows7 Home Premium 64-bit
11.6-inch HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
4096MB DDR2 Dual-Channel 667MHz memory
320GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
Integrated Acer Crystal Eye webcam
Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
Intel^® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
Bluetooth^® 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
3 – USB 2.0 ports
HDMI port
Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip
Full –size Acer FineTip keyboard
Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
3.08 lbs.
11.2” (W) x 0.87” to 1.18” (H) x 8.03” (D)
Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
MSRP $599.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS3810T-8737

Intel^® Core 2 Duo Processor SU7300 (1.3GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
Windows7 Home Premium 64-bit
13.3-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
500GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
Integrated HD webcam
Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
2^nd Generation Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
Intel® WiFi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
3 – USB 2.0 ports
HDMI port
Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip

Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)

Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
3.5 lbs.
12.7” (W) x 0.9” to 1.1” (H) x 9.0” (D)
Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
MSRP $799.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810TZ-4508

Intel Pentium^® Dual-Core Processor SU4100 (1.30GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
Windows7 Home Premium 64-bit
14-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
320GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
Integrated HD webcam
Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
2^nd Generation Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi CERTIFIED®
3 – USB 2.0 ports
HDMI port
Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip

Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)

Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
4.4 lbs.
13.3” (W) x 0.9” to 1.1” (H) x 9.44” (D)
Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
MSRP $649.99

Acer Aspire Timeline AS5810TZ-4784

Intel Pentium^® Dual-Core Processor SU4100 (1.30GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)

Windows7 Home Premium 64-bit
15.6-inch HD Widescreen Acer CineCrystal™ LED-backlit TFT LCD (resolution 1366 x 768, 16:9 aspect ratio)
Mobile Intel^®GS45 Express Chipset
Intel^® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz memory
320GB⁽²⁾ 5400RPM SATA hard drive
8x DVD-SuperMulti Double-Layer Drive
Integrated HD webcam
Multi-in-1 digital media card reader
2^nd Generation Dolby Sound Room^® Audio Enhancement
Intel® WiFi Link 1000 802.11b/g/Draft-N WiFi certified
4 – USB 2.0 ports
HDMI port
Multi-Gesture Touchpad pointing device supporting circular-motion scrolling, pinch-action zoom, page flip

Acer touch-sensitive hotkeys (Touchpad Lock, Backup Manager, PowerSmart)

Standard 6-cell Li-ion (5600 mAh) Battery
5.3 lbs.
14.9” (W) x 0.97” to 1.16” (H) x 10.2” (D)
Energy Star^® 5.0 compliant
MSRP $649.99

All models come with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. Additionally, some models have longer warranties offered through specific channel partners. All Acer notebook PCs are backed by toll-free service and support.

Mitsubishi’s modular Diamond Vision OLED system demoed

Matt Burns — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:26:00 +0000

OLED has had issues gaining traction mainly because of the cost of manufacturing large screens. People like large screens. That’s the fact, jack. Anyway, Mitsubishi has developed a system that seems like it would help. It uses small, modular panels that can be combined to make a screen of nearly any size or shape. The system is intended for outdoor advertising, but if it matures enough, I don’t see why it couldn’t find a home in the home entertainment market either.

OLED TV shipments to increase 200% by 2015, but to remain a small niche market

Matt Burns — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:30:44 +0000

You would be hard pressed to find an OLED TV in any brick and mortar retailer besides the Sony Store right now. The technology is amazing, but they just aren’t available yet and that might not change soon according to a iSuppli report. The TVs are too small and the prices are too high to gain any real traction. But, as we all know, that will change as the display tech evolves. However, don’t expect to see a wall full of OLED because the LCD market isn’t slowing down.

Digitimes,

However, even with this growth, unit shipments of OLED TV panels will amount to just 850,000 units in 2013 and only 4.7 million units in 2015, up from 25,000 in 2009. This represents a tiny number of shipments compared to the LCD TV panel market, which is set to reach 232.6 million units in 2013.

What we will likely see is similar to the CRT projection TV market growth compared to plasma TVs from earlier in this decade. Stores will carry a few OLED TVs to draw people in like they did with plasma TVs. But once the average Joe sees the price and size compared to an LCD, they will likely opt for the cheaper option and larger option.

As long as OLED continues to mature and carve out a market, it might eventually become the dominate display option. Unless, of course, something new and sexier doesn’t come to market first. Or 3D display take off. *shudder*

Toshiba L01 prototype on display at CEATEC

Scott Merrill — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:30:38 +0000

While Sony is prototyping a single-piece flexible OLED netbook, Toshiba is going the modular route with their L01 series netbook thingie. A 7-inch display is paired with a separate QWERTY keyboard, giving you something akin to a traditional laptop experience. Or you can leave off the keyboard and use the L01 as a digital photo display, if that’s your thing.

It runs Windows Mobile 6.5, as do many of the smaller devices in the Toshiba booth. I’m not sure how useful this thing will be in the real world. Would you use it?

Sony Flexible OLED display on display at CEATEC

Scott Merrill — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:10 +0000

Sony, and just about everyone else, has been fooling around with OLEDs for quite some time, and they’re starting to come up with some pretty clever applications of the technology. Flexible OLEDs have been in the news this year, and Sony’s getting into that game, too. In this short video we see a 0.2mm thin OLED display being gently bent back and forth, while actively showing content on its surface.

What might such a flexible OLED be used for? How about a single-surface multi-touch computer? No separate keyboard and screen, no hinge, and all sex appeal.

If that’s not enough for you, how about an all-touch Walkman, in the form of a bracelet? Or an all-touch eReader? This is a seriously good idea, and I hope Sony product-izes this tech soon.

New Thermaltake case looks hot, runs cool

Dave Freeman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:00:27 +0000

Thermaltake is one of my personal favorite case makers, I’ve owned a few of their products in my time, but this Level 10 is exceptional. Announced at CeBit in March, the Level 10 was designed with the help of BMW DesignWorks, and it is amazing. MaximumPC got one first, but they were kind enough so share some unboxing pictures with the world.

This case looks like nothing else I’ve ever seen. The components hang out the side of the case, but they’re all enclosed in their own separate area. The left side contains the motherboard, and then each self-contained and cooled compartment holds a different item. The case has six hot-swappable SATA bays, room for three optical drives, and a enclosed and cooled compartment in the top rear for the power supply.

The Level 10 will be available in mid-October for $700. You can see the official product page here. I have to admit though, I think they should have called it the Level 11.

Video: Why think when you can watch this fun Philips Lumiblade demonstration?

Nicholas Deleon — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:30:20 +0000

There’s not too many gadgets out there that I’d spend money on. There’s the Zune HD, which, while totally unreadable in direct sunlight, is still otherwise a fine portable media player. So that’s one. Another one would be that Philips Wake-up Light (though that will have to wait till next month; stupid Zune HD was expensive!) I bring this up only, and I do mean only, to segue into a brief discussion of this here video of the Philips Lumiblade OLED, um, thing. Get it, Philips, lights, OLED, etc. Very high-concept.

As the crazy video shows, the OLEDs turn on and off based on your position in front of them. Neat, exactly,

It was recently demoed at some London design fair, along with a bunch of other Lumiblade items, like those pebble-looking things.

Yeah, not too much going on here, just a fun video to start your Monday. At ease.