Quad HD: Seeing Everything May Not Always Be Better

Look, we wouldn't want to be paused for your wicked, Quad HD amusement either. But seeing such a vivid demo on JVC's 4K2K (4,096 x 2,400), super high definition LCD as we strolled through IFA's digital playground reminded us of something: maybe not everything looks better in Quad HD. Think about it before you hustle on over to Japan for Panasonic's 150-inch Quad HD set next year.

The image above was created using JVC "soon to arrive" ultra high-definition player attached over dual-link DVI to the 4k2k display. The video uses MPEG-4AVC compression to convert the 6Gbps original 4K source into 50Mbps. More pics in the gallery below.

via Engadget

Samsung intros 40-, 46-inch LED-backlit HDTVs

In its effort to maintain a market share in the global sales of HDTVs, Samsung demonstrated three new HDTV lines utilizing the company’s backlight LED technology. With the release of the PAVV Bordeaux 780, the Korean company is bringing its second-generation LED backlight technology further downmarket, as the LCD TV is available in 46- and 40-inch sizes. In the fall of 2007, the company released 52- and 57-inch LED-backlit LCD HDTVs, and a 70-inch version before that, in June.

In addition to the 950, 850 and 760 already announced, the new 780 model will feature the company’s latest iteration of “chameleon” LED backlighting that allows it to combine rich colors from the high 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and fast 120Hz display panel.

The new 850 available in 46- and 52-inch sizes, is just 1.75 inches thick, or less than half the size of the model it replaces, will also sport multimedia file support from a USB-connected MP3 player or portable hard disk drive, as well as YouTube videos via an integrated Internet connection. Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network support means users can connect their PCs and play their digital content via the new Samsung 850-series HDTVs.

The new TVs are due for a late 2008 release in Samsung’s home market of Korea as well as Europe. Pricing or US release information has not been announced. [via Tech-On]

AMD selling its TV-chip unit to Broadcom for a cool $192.8 million in cash

AMD wasn't kidding around about trimming and down and driving hard after profitability. The company just struck up a deal with Broadcom to swap its TV-chip unit for $192.8 million in cash to help fight debt and seek out profitability. Broadcom is getting 530 AMD employees out of the deal and AMD's considerable experience in the digital TV chipset game, which will become the "core" of Broadcom's line in that market. The deal should close by the end of the year, and is unrelated to AMD's efforts to spin off its foundry biz.

via Engadget

New BlacX Hard Drive Docking Station

Thermaltake BlacX Series Instant Hot-Swappable hard drive enclosure supports all 2.5” and 3.5” Serial ATA hard drives up to 1TB. With the fast and easy installation process as 3-2-1, this handy HDD docking station has also been designed with fanless, natural ventilation structure, and yet still performing maximum heat dissipation and exhaust. The hard drive will thus be improved with expended lifespan and more stable performance with less harmful heating environment.

via fareastgizmos

AMD Claims New Dual-GPU Card is Fastest Ever

AMD on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 announced dual-GPU versions of the HD Radeon 4850 and 4870, pushing graphics performance – and prices – into the upper high end of the market. The ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2 is currently shipping for $399, while the 4870 X2 is available for a whopping $599, more than the price of some low-end PCs. But according to Neal Robison, director of global ISV relations for AMD, both chips will capture the "super high end" of the market, where price is much less important than performance.

Driving the ultra-enthusiast experience
The ATI Radeon HD 4800 X2 series provides support for ATI CrossFireX™, enabling incredibly fast gaming PCs with unmatched performance at ultra-high settings. Enthusiast gamers can now run the most demanding games smoothly in at the highest settings, enabling modes that were not playable before.⁶ With the efficient use of all four GPUs in a dual ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 CrossFireX configuration, gamers will enjoy more than 3 times the performance of a single ATI Radeon HD 4870 card in many games.⁷

“AMD has regained the graphics performance crown with this launch,” said Patrick Cooper, Director of Product Planning, Alienware. “The ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 is what gamers have been waiting for—blistering performance in DirectX 10.1 games backed by stable drivers for great scaling in ATI CrossFireX mode.”

“Gamers that buy Falcon Northwest PCs demand nothing but the best possible performance, and today the one that delivers the best gaming experience, is a quad ATI CrossFireX rig using two ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 cards, like those found in our Mach V,” said Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest. “We’re committed to bringing the world the ultimate gaming PCs featuring the leading technology. With support for the latest DirectX 10.1 games, only ATI Radeon graphics let us do that.”

“As a premier provider of high-performance PCs, the stellar performance and leading technologies of the ATI Radeon HD 4800 X2 series makes it a perfect match for Velocity Micro,” said Randy Copeland, President and CEO, Velocity Micro. “AMD once again has the fastest card around, and with support for the latest DirectX 10.1 games, it makes it a natural choice for gamers wanting the latest and greatest technology in their Velocity Micro system.”

ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2: The world’s fastest graphics card
The ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 delivers unsurpassed graphics horsepower, setting a new performance bar for visual computing with 2.4 teraFLOPS of processing power on a single card. It is also the world’s first graphics card to include 2GB of ultra-high bandwidth GDDR5 memory. The ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 features two GPUs based on a second generation 55nm technology and clocked at 750 MHz, with a combined 1600 stream processors.

CARS THAT TALK! Smart-Vehicle Communication Systems

Using wireless communication cars could, for example, warn other drivers of slippery roads or of a crash which just happened. Smart vehicle communication systems have the potential to make the lives of Europe's drivers safer and easier; according to the European Commission, in 2006 more than 42,000 people died in road accidents in the European Union and more than 1.6 million were injured. One of the steps towards reducing the number of accident victims is this latest decision, which intends to foster investment in smart vehicle communication systems by the automotive industry. Furthermore, the commission hopes to spur public funding in essential roadside infrastructure.

The decision made is to provide a single EU-wide frequency band that can be used for immediate and reliable communication between cars and between cars and theroadside infrastructure. It is 30 MHz of spectrum in the 5.9 Gigahertz (GHz) band which will be allocated within the next six months by national authorities across Europe, improving road safety applications without barring other services already in place (such as amateur radio services).

Numerous examples show why drivers could benefit from the new frequency. For instance, information about a sudden road closure could be transmitted to drivers in the area, so they could change their course via a detour. Furthermore, information about maintenance works, malfunctioned traffic lights, and other traffic-changing events could be sent as well.

“This Commission decision is a decisive step towards meeting the European goal of reducing road accidents. Getting critical messages through quickly and accurately is a must for road safety,” said Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms Commissioner. “We should also keep in mind that with 24% of Europeans' driving time spent in traffic jams the costs caused by congestion could reach €80 billion by 2010. So clearly saving time through smart vehicles communications systems means saving money. Also discovered, Ford’s new blind spot mirror, which has an integrated convex spotter mirror aimed directly at the vehicle’s blind spot, meant to protect drivers and prevent accidents.

HDTV: Funai (Sylvania, Symphonic and Emerson) Will Sell HDTV's With Blu-rays In 'Em

Funai, whose subsidiaries are more familiar to us as Sylvania, Symphonic and Emerson, is planning on selling LCD HDTVs with Blu-rays on-board starting summer 2009. The company's previous successes in recent years with combo units (TVs with VCRs and TVs with DVDs) totaled up 40% and 20% of their sales in the US respectively. So how much will this low-end brand charge you for the all-in-one experience? CrunchGear says the target price for a 42-inch will be between $1100 and $1300. Keep in mind that's a price for something launching a year from now.

via CrunchGear

For TV for PC related software, visit www.BestTVonPCs.com

Mozilla Starts from Scratch

Mozilla Starts from Scratch. View entire article HERE!

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LG's planet-saving W2252TE LCD tested

Here's the fact: LG's claims of significant power savings with the W2252TE 22-inch LCD are no lie. As it turns out, the monitor sips even less juice than LG claimed, a mere 19.4 watts -- less than half of its Dell and Acer counterparts. The folks at SmartPlanet also found the display to perform "above average," and pack all the relevant features you'd expect on a modern LCD. LG doesn't win any green points for its completely traditional plastic and non-recycled cardboard packaging, and since there's no word on price yet, we're just going to have to assume the W2252TE will carry a price premium relative to its power saving prowess, but maybe that's just us being pessimistic. It should be hitting shelves next month.

via Engadget

For viewing TV on your PC, visit HERE.

Real-time 3D HD teleconference demo scheduled

AT&T may be missing out on this "reach out and touch someone" opportunity, but Dreamworks SKG is there to score on the first real-time 3D HD broadcast. SKG CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg will be interviewed in stereoscopic 3D HD glory by 3Ality Digital, and the resulting bits will be beamed by satellite company Arqiva to Amsterdam. The demo will be the first real-time 3D HD broadcast, and the "real-time" angle is definitely where the challenges are. The two HD camera feeds are muxed together at the source into a (very strange looking, we assume) 2D image, which is demuxed on the receiving end before being beamed out to Christie projectors. Neat stuff, and we're just waiting for the day this tech comes to distance workers all over.

via Engadget

Air purifiers under fire for Ozone Emission

Normally we're supposed to be concerned about depleting ozone levels to the point where we inhabit one big sauna, but according to an investigative piece by the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), household air purifiers which produce the gas as a byproduct may also pose a significant threat. Studies cited by the Journal suggest that both ozone generation as well as filtration models can emit dangerous levels of the reactive gas, which can be harmful either when inhaled directly or when combined with other common chemicals. While the CSPC is currently studying hard emissions caps to place on these products, California has already taken a first step by limiting purifier ozone output to 50 parts-per-billion starting in 2010. Meanwhile, executives from mall mainstay The Sharper Image are scrambling to discover another gimmicky product they can hang their hats on.

via Engadget

View a few of my SAFE Air Purifiers HERE!

New Dell Latitude E Series Professional Laptop Line

Roadmaps to charts, this E Series can do it all! Here's what's happening: Dell is kicking the D series to the curb, and is going E with its professional line. Improvements include the perks of Centrino 2, more WWAN and other wireless chips, eSATA and Display Port plugs, thinner dockable laptops and huge ass batteries for all-day usage. The E6400 boasts 19 hours of battery with a 9-cell. On the smaller end, the E 4200 offers a 12.1-inch WXGA screen in a 2.2 pound form factor, with 32GB and 64GB SSD options. The E4300 bumps that up to 13.3-inches and 3.4 pounds. At the other end of the spectrum, the E 6400 ATG is a 5.6 pound beast designed to withstand drops, dust and moisture. The E 5400, 5500 and 6400 are the mainstreamers, with 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch screens, disc drives and all the other toys you'd expect. Dell's roadmap has the larger laptops hitting in August, with the 12 and 13-inchers showing up in September. Check out some of the Dell Favorites.


via Engadget

RingCube's MojoPac software: Now take your PC anywhere you like!

If your remote access setup just isn't doing what you need it to do, RingCube Technologies has developed a software program that allows your iPod, external HDD, USB drive, or other fancy form of storage to be utilized as a "private and portable PC." MojoPac compacts your Windows XP desktop, settings, accounts, and even programs/preferences onto any portable storage medium to be accessed as a virtual desktop. The software relocates your data to an "on-the-go" device, while it borrows the resources from any other Windows XP computer you manage to locate. RingCube boasts the software's ability to run "side-by-side" with the host PC, allowing you to work in both domains while keeping all of your private information secure; since all data transmissions occur on your MojoPac-equipped storage device, no traces of your work are saved on the host PC. Of course, the utility of such a setup is greatly reliant on the speed of your storage device, so attempting to render a Photoshop document from a USB 1.1 thumb drive would likely create a fair amount of frustration. Needless to say, satisfying your curiosity here won't cost a dime -- MojoPac is currently available for a free month trial, after which the "introductory price" is $29.99 for the initial license ($14.99 for add-ons). Those who wait too long could end up paying nearly double the price. Make sure and check out FolderClone for easy back-ups.

via Engadget