about-electronics.eu

Mad4mobilephones: Telecom Italia, the leading network in Italy, have partnered with Polymer Vision to launch the world’s first mobile device with a rollable display.

The handset, which will be presented to the industry at 3GSM next week, uses a rollable display technology allowing a screen much larger than the handset to be stored internally and unrolled when it needs to be used.

Readability is similar to printed paper thanks to 16 grey levels and high contrast and the device is smaller than a typical phone despite the display measuring 5 inches. Future developments include colour images and a display capable of showing moving pictures.

The display allows users to read full newspapers as well as downloadable books which can be bought via the TIM network. Storage is 4GB so plenty of content can be stored. TIM has integrated a number of services such as RSS and email to allow users to make full use of the large screen.

A touch sensitive interface operates the phone and LED indicators make it look great as well. One of the best features is the low power consumption of the display – it will last for 10 days between charges.

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SmartHouseNews: Shipments of 40-inch LCD panels totaled 7.8 million units in 2006, 400,000 units more than the 7.4 million units for plasma TVs, according to the latest market share figures from Displaybank.

This is being driven by mass rertailers selling low priced LCD TV screens.  However, according to the research, high-end retailers are still selling more plasma than LCD TV’s.

LCD panel shipments surpassed those of plasma’s since August 2006, noted the research firm, adding that LCD shipments rose at a monthly rate of 5%, while plasma shipments plunged by more than 10%.

Shipments of 40-inch range LCD panels jumped from 90,000 units in 2004 to 1.2 million units in 2005, and then skyrocketed by more than six times on year in 2006, the research said.

Displaybank predicts that the market share of 40-inch-range LCD panels will likely rise even more in 2007. The firm also added that plasma panel shipments are expected to hit 8.1 million units this year, while those of LCD panels may top 16.4 million units.

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Popgadget: Bang & Olufsen comes out with products that make you ogle at them endlessly in their classy showrooms. However, only a very few of us can think of taking them home given their pricing. Following in the same tradition are the latest range of Beo speakers, the Beolab 9.

The unique conical shaped cabinet houses the usual mid-range and bass units. Sitting atop the speaker is the B&O patented Acoustic Lens that disperses the treble within a 180 degrees arc. This, according to the company, guarantees uniform sound characteristics in front of the speaker, letting the listener hear constant timbre even while he is shifting places. The absence of a sub-woofer is compensated for by another technology, “Adaptive Bass Linearisation,” that prevents distortion while delivering excellent bass performance. The speaker also has a manual position switch that changes the sound based on it’s position in the room. The speaker can be placed in an open area, a corner or against a flat wall without any compromise of the sound.

While the speakers may be overkill for just listening to music, they will fit in well with a high-end home theatre system. The speakers come in red, blue, dark grey, and black, and will set you back almost 10,000 bucks (7700 euro).

(more…)

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New York Times: Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, jolted the record industry on Tuesday by calling on its largest companies to allow online music sales unfettered by antipiracy software.

The move is a gamble for Apple. Its iPod players and iTunes Store have defined the online music market, and they have much at stake in the current copy-protection system.

Under terms reached with the major record labels, online music stores embed software code into the digital song files they sell to restrict the ability to copy them. Because Apple uses its own system, the songs it sells can be played only on the iPod. That limitation has drawn increasing scrutiny from European governments, pressure that Apple has recently begun to acknowledge.

Mr. Jobs’s appeal, posted on the company’s Web site Tuesday, came in the form of an essay titled “Thoughts on Music,” but in essence it was a letter to the “Big 4” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI.

(more…)

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AV zombie: According to a new survey by Amazon.co.uk, the average Brit is a gadget-addict who likes nothing better than to listen to indie rock and watch DVD box sets of their favourite TV shows. (…)

When it came to online searches, the top honours went to Nintendo. Amazon recorded almost 300,000 searches for ‘Wii‘ or ‘Nintendo Wii’ during one Christmas week alone. Searches for Star Wars came in second, and the iPod third.

Amazon’s sales figures reveal that there’s been a big swing in interest from movies to TV shows on DVD over the past year. 46 per cent of DVDs sold in 2006 were of TV series. Predictably the best selling movie DVD was Pirates of the Caribbean Dead. The most popular rental title was the high-brow The constant gardener. (…)

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AV zombie: Sound pioneer Dolby Laboratories saw earning spike according to its first quarter financials. Dolby’s net income soared to 29.8 million dollars (22,9 million euro), up from 17 million (13 million euro) year on year. Said Bill Jasper, Dolby President and Chief Executive Officer: “With Dolby’s recognized global brand, broad industry presence, and solid business model, we entered fiscal 2007 in a strong position. With the first quarter completed, I am encouraged by our continued progress. We continue to extend our technologies throughout newer markets, to drive the adoption of additional Dolby technologies, and to innovate.”
New technologies for 2007 include Dolby Volume, aimed at TV manufacturers and Dolby TrueHD, for high definition media. (…)

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AV zombie: The first hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD player went on sale in the US on Saturday 3rd February, marking a milestone in the ongoing battle between the two formats.

The so-called Super Multi-Blue BH-100 player from LG became available through 500 Best Buy and Circuit City stores, priced at 1,199 dollars (925 euro). It shipped despite speculation that its inability to play the iHD layer of HD DVD discs might deprive it of its HD DVD compatibility claims. When fed an HD DVD disc, the player fails to offer access to a disc’s interactive features, or even the menu system.

“We know our customers want high-definition content for their HDTVs. We also know a format war keeps people on the sidelines,” said Mike Vitelli, senior vice president of merchandising at Best Buy. “With this new dual-format player, LG is offering a viable solution to this dispute. This is the kind of customer-focused approach that Best Buy looks to bring to our customers.”

The player is expected to reach the UK as early as April.

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Guardian: Video gaming’s preoccupation with guns and violence is usually more suited to an episode of The Sopranos than the warble of a mezzosoprano. But hi-tech and highbrow will come together this month as Sony attempts to bring a flavour of the PlayStation to Puccini.In an unlikely alliance between an English opera company and a Japanese electronics giant, Sony’s PlayStation 3 games console is sponsoring a production of La Bohème which opens in London later this month. As a result, the 103-year old London Coliseum will host hi-tech PS3 machines in the theatre foyer and the show will be supported by interactive programs, in an attempt to woo fans of the high art to more modern forms of entertainment. (more…)

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Engdaget: This new aftermarket visor packs a seven-inch widescreen display, built-in DVD / CD /MP3 player, TV tuner, and even includes an SD slot and USB port for additional expansion options.

Moreover, you’ll get integrated controls and a wireless remote, and while we’re not sure if this thing includes a built-in speaker, we do spot a couple of headphone jacks just in case.

So if you’re looking for an admittedly tacky way to add a bit of in-car entertainment before your next journey, the Sun Visor Theater is available now for $299.95 (around €231).

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Gizmodo: Looking for the right set up to match your 60-inch wooden plasma? Holland Electro’s new “Theatre” should complement it just fine.

Designed by Marcel Wanders, the theatre is a wooden side table with a built-in DVD player and integrated central speaker. Surround sound is achieved through the addition of 4 stone-like speakers. Not bad for $400, or around €310 (cat not included).

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Akihabara News: LG has launched their new XCanvas TVs, which include a line-up of 5 Full HD TVs with a 160GB hard disk to copy your favorite TV show in HD without having to mess with a DVR.

160GB may be too light for some of you, but the TVs are equipped with a USB 2.0 port so you can connect an external hard disk, and therefore as much disk space as you can afford.

The TVs are also equipped with the new XD Engine and XCC to reduce the image noise. The new TVs include LCD models measuring 37, 42 and 47”, and Plasma models measuring 50 and 60”.

Their price ranges from €2,000 to €7,300.

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Auto Express: Sat-nav owners are less likely to have a crash. That’s the UK’s RAC view, in spite of Government research that said the kit could be a distraction.

The motoring group’s insurer claims it’s the only provider to offer premium discounts for motorists who use the direction-finding kit.

“Owners basically have someone telling them what to do while they concentrate on the road,” said an RAC spokesman. “It means you don’t have to constantly look at road names, warning signs and so on – it makes you a lower risk.”

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