about-electronics.eu

IntoMobile: Michael Dell, the founder of the computer manufacturer that bears his namesake, has hinted at the possibility that Dell is entering the handset business. More specifically, Dell could be poised to take a swing at the smartphone segment that fellow computer-maker Apple has so successfully tapped.

In response to an interview question recently posed by GigaOm’s Om Malik, in regards to whether Dell would be working Android or Symbian, Dell said his company “is kind of working on that.”

Dell’s intimation that an Android- or Symbian-powered handset is in the product pipeline is reminiscent of rumors that had Dell working with Google to launch and Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2008.

read more

Electronista:  Vizio provided early details of three new display lines, including the company’s first true hybrid display.

Known so far as the VMM Monitor, the 26-inch LCD will have dual HDMI inputs but also DVI and VGA as well as RCA audio inputs for built-in 3W speakers.

In its more familiar business, VIZIO also plans to launch an environmentally friendly 32-inch set.

The ECO is capped to 720p but consumes about 65 watts less than a typical 32-inch model. The TV maker gives the screen a 2,500:1 contrast ratio as well as three HDMI inputs and dual RCA.

A third introduction will see VIZIO debut the Java FHD line, which will give the company’s smaller TVs a more upscale copper-and-black look as well as 1080p at sizes as small as 32 and 37 inches.

read more

Tech Digest: There are an increasing number of hybrid displays appearing on the market, offering both computer monitor and TV functionality in one, and LG’s M94D series is just one ultra sleek example of that.

LG lists a few specifications, such as 16:10 ratio (standard for many widescreen computer monitors, and meaning you’ll get black bars top and bottom of any 16:9 widescreen movie you watch), 20,000:1 Digital Fine Contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 300 nits brightness, in-built TV tuner, and HDMI port for connecting up other equipment such as a Blu-ray player or PS3.

read more

PC Advisor: Mobile phones have always been about helping you keep in touch. Now they’re helping you stay healthy.

Eager to discover the next new trend in mobile phone technology, Japanese mobile carriers are developing and rolling out services that tie a user’s desire to keep fit with their mobile phone and network-linked services.

First off the starting block has been KDDI’s Au unit, which launched a service earlier this year called Smart Sports.

Most of its new handsets incorporate the service to some degree but three recently-launched models are fully equipped to take advantage of the technology. Inside the phones, a motion sensor and GPS work together so that when you’re running, the number of steps taken, distance, and calories burned are measured and recorded – and the phone does this even if the phone’s dedicated ‘Run&Walk’ application isn’t launched.

When you’re done work-out information can be sent to a server and later your run can be mapped and analysed through a PC.

And because the beat of music can help you during your daily exercise, the service links in with Au’s ‘Lismo’ music download service and can send selected tunes to a pair of wireless headphones. Using the ‘Beat Run’ playback mode, it will also match musical tracks and the pace of the exercise.

Rival carrier NTT DoCoMo is also developing health-related applications.

read more

Electricpig: Nokia’s touchscreen mobile’s been spotted in Batman: The Dark Knight, and now it’s got itself snapped in the wild.

Due to be dubbed the 5800 XpressMusic, new reports suggest it’ll weigh just 104g, and measure 111mm x 52mm x 14.5mm.

There’s GPS inside too, but no Wi-Fi, although Nokia will pack a 3.2 megapixel camera into its rear.

Most interesting though, are the interface shots spied by Unwired View. The phone’s interface looks clean, simple and elegant.

read more

HDTVorg: If you are looking for the perfect accompaniment to your LG Scarlet LCD TV, then the Korean manufacturers HT953TV, styled to compliment there latest range of flat panel screens could be the answer.

Echoing the unique styling first seen on the LCD Scarlet range, the HT953TV also has the spec to back up the extravagant styling. 1000W powered speakers are joined by a DVD player with 1080P up-scaling along with HDMI in/out.

The HT953TV also sports 10.1 Virtual Surround sound along with iDock functionality which allows you to plug your iPod directly into the system.

read more

Techradar.com: It’s only six months since we first clapped eyes on it in the research labs, but KDDI’s new super-fast version of the wireless infrared link appears ready for the prime time.

The Japanese telco’s Giga-IR technology has been demonstrated at a trade show this week near Tokyo, where gadget makers were able to get a hands-on with the 1Gbit/s alternative to Bluetooth.

Unlike standard infrared, which has an upper limit of 4Mbit/s, Giga-IR can be used to share large amounts of data between devices.

KDDI says it has deliberately targeted a higher class of wireless link to distinguish Giga-IR from Bluetooth and other cable-free rivals.

A spokesperson said, “We aimed at a sharp increase in data rates, considering rates of around 100Mbit/s are not fast enough to differentiate our technology from existing wireless technologies.”

read more

Techradar.com: The launch of the Samsung INNOV8 showed the Koreans know how to put together a top-end handset to compete with the best. But it has also shown it can create a decent range of phones as well, with the unveiling of the i740.

Designed for the mid to low end of the business market, this Windows Mobile handset only works on GSM and EDGE networks, and dispenses with the battery-eating WiFi.

Many in the business world only want a nice-looking handset that can handle basic email, calling and calendar functions, with a camera for the odd photo, which this has by including a 3.2MP snapper on the back.

The handset also feature the innovative optical mouse.

read more

Bloomberg: LG Display, the world’s second- largest maker of liquid-crystal displays, plans to reduce its LCD output by about 10 percent from full capacity by the end of August because of “uncertainty” in the market.

The company started the production cuts on July 25, said Park Sang Bae, a spokesman for the Seoul-based company.

Third-quarter profitability will fall more than analysts estimated on declining panel prices, LG Display forecast earlier this month. LCD prices will probably decline in July and August, Chief Financial Officer James Jeong said on July 9, citing weaker-than-expected demand.

read more

Techradar.com: Watchmaker Tag Heuer has had its first phone unveiled through the FCC.

The Meridiist is a high-end device designed to appeal to the fashion conscious rather than the mobile phone lovers of the world.

Hardly feature packed, this device carries a price tag of up to £3000 (3800 euro), only barely justified by the sapphire coating that helps it remain scratch-proof from all the jewels you’re likely to wear if you can afford this.

An OLED screen on the top of this candybar device shows you interesting status updates, like what’s happening on the media player.

A 2MP camera is safely protected by a sliding cover, so you won’t scratch it up and get fuzzy pictures.

read more

PC Advisor: Google may use a user-driven rating system to help keep bad or harmful applications off Android-based smartphones.

The search giant is in talks with mobile operators about offering phones based on its Android open-source platform, said Rich Miner, group manager of mobile platforms at Google, in an interview at the AlwaysOn Stanford Summit.

However, the carriers want reassurance that users won’t install troublesome applications, Miner said.

Google is making Android freely available to developers under the Apache open-source licence and not restricting what they build with it.

The company says its aim is to establish a common software platform for many handsets and help mobile applications proliferate. In much of the world, software for mobile phones traditionally has been supplied through carriers after laborious reviews and modifications.

read more

Slashgear.com: Revo have added iPod compatibility to new models in their iBLIK range of DAB digital radios and WiFi streamers. 

The iBLIK RadioStation features DAB and DAB+ radio reception, FM radio with RDS, WiFi internet radio and digital music streaming from PC or Mac. 

There’s also an iPod dock which both plays back content stored on the PMP and simultaneously recharges it.

Another mode, the iBLIK Wi-Fi, keeps the streaming and iPod functionality but omits DAB digital radio. 

The two new iBLIK models will be sold in Europe by both Apple and independent retailers. 

read more