Filed under: Displays

Korean manufacturer Daysis has entered the crowded fray of 20-inch widescreen LCDs with its DS201W monitor, which looks to be thoroughly average in every respect except for one key area: price. Spec-wise, the display pumps out the standard 1680 x 1050 resolution and promises an 800:1 contrast ratio, 300cd/m² brightness, and 12 ms refresh rate, with the LCD panel itself coming courtesy of LG. Both VGA and DVI ports are included, as well as an audio-in port if you want to use the sure-to-sound-great built-in speakers. Best of all, however, the display costs just 300,000 won (about $300 US), although actually getting one over here would probably prove to be more trouble than it’s worth.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

Samsung has taken the wraps off what they claim to to be the world’s first 3-inch VGA LCD that meets industry standards for use in digital cameras. With a 300nit brightness and 350:1 contrast ration, the 640 x 480 LCD also promises to consume less power than displays currently used in digital cameras, operating on a 30Hz source driver instead of the 60Hz commonly used now, as well as employing a so-called “dot inversion scheme” that reduces flickering associated with 30Hz LCDs. We’re assuming the water is intended to show how sharp the image is, not that it’s waterproof, but you never know. Commercial production is set to begin in the first half of 2007.

[Via Photography Blog]

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Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

If you can look past the circa-1999 Cinema Display design and the 4:3 aspect ratio, OPPO Digital's new LT-2007 LCD TV/DVD Player Combo doesn't look too incredibly shabby. Beyond the obvious DVD playback provided by the display's base, there are VGA, Component and S-Video inputs for use with a general selection of 480i/p, 720p and 1080i devices. To further its stand alone properties, the unit includes built-in stereo speakers, and supports USB storage devices for a good selection of video, audio and photo formats. This actual display is a 20-inch LCD at a 800 x 600 resolution, and features a 500:1 contrast ratio. There is also a built-in NTSC tuner and a shiny remote control to round out the package. The LT-2007 goes for $600, and looks to be available now.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

It’s fairly obvious that anything sold “exclusively” in Best Buy might be a bit suspect, and their Insignia house brand is no different. The Amigo, however, is a surprisingly decent looking flash-based DAP with a built-in FM tuner and OLED display. Not much bigger than an iPod Shuffle, it comes in 1GB and 2GB flavors, supports MP3, WMA, Audible, WMA-DRM (PlaysForSure-ready), and touts the ability to display pictures and album art on the external display. The removable, rechargeable battery keeps the tracks spinning for 18 hours, and they even toss in a carrying case and mini-USB cable to boot. While the package is far from remarkable, and the branding isn’t likely to boost your social status, the Amigo is well-suited for conquistadors on a budget; if you can wade through the pestering boys in blue, the Amigos are available now for $99 (1GB) and $129 (2GB).

[Via DAPreview]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

So we’re not sure if this is the same Vista-focused product that the company was supposedly working on with Microsoft, but Samsung has just revealed a new 22-inch widescreen LCD known as the CX223B/W that should go nicely with the upcoming OS. Available in black or silver, this monitor features a pretty decent 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, 5-millisecond response time, and most importantly for HD fans, an HDCP-enabled DVI port (though HDMI seems to be missing). The lack of info on other important specs such as contrast or brightness makes us think that the display is not scheduled for an impending release, a notion that’s only further supported by the lack of any pricing details. If you can’t wait for the CX223BW to start shipping in the US, there’s always that LCM-22w2 from Westinghouse to keep you occupied for the time being, and both Dell and LG are expected to drop new 22-inch models in the near future as well.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

If you though that Apple’s 20-inch iMac was an impressive all-in-one computer, just wait till you hear about Samsung’s new 40-inch 400PXn and 46-inch 460PXn LCD displays, both of which feature embedded versions of Windows XP. Designed for use in commercial applications such as signage, the two monitors sport an updated version of Samsung’s MagicNet technology, which allows them to run slideshows or video without the need for an external server; if a server is being used to stream data, it can control up to four of the displays at once, feeding them either separate images or one tiled picture (arrays of 4 x 4 units are possible). Specs-wise, both products are pretty run-of-the-mill: you get a 1,366 x 768 resolution, 8-millisecond response time, 800:1 contrast ratio, and 500cd/m² maximum brightness. Although they’re available immediately, Sammy hasn’t released any pricing info for these models, but TG Daily points out that the previous, non-XP versions cost $8,950 (460Pn, pictured) and $6,750 (400Pn), respectively — so we can be sure the upgraded editions won’t come cheap.

[Via TG Daily]

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Filed under: Displays

So NEC's got another pair of monitors, submitted here for your approval: the LCD1990FX, and its black counterpart, the LCD1990FXp. Oh, you know, they're just your usual overpriced ultrathin-bezeled (7mm) EIZO-like professional studio monitors with the usual features; 178° viewing angles, 250cd/m2 brightness, 1500:1 contrast ratio, 20ms response time, DVI, VGA, and 19-inch 1280 x 1024 resolutions. In otherwords , probably not enough to justify that ¥102,900 ($880 US) price tag, but that bezel man, that bezel. If you ever wanted to build that grid of LCDs, this screen's is your obvious choice.

[Via Far East Gizmos]

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Filed under: Displays

Samsung has taken the wraps off its latest SyncMaster LCD display, the 19-inch CX930B, boasting mostly about the monitor's 97% color reproduction, although how that's measured exactly is unclear. As impressive as that may or may not be, the CX930B's other specs are pretty sweet any way you slice them, with a fast 2 ms response time and deep 2,000:1 contrast ratio. The display also includes a "print view" feature, which works in conjunction with your printer, supposedly giving you an accurate preview of what a printed page will look like. It should be available later this year, in Korea at least, for about $430 US. Now, just give us a 24-inch widescreen version and we're sold.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Prepare yourselves for a slew of new LCD sets from Syntax-Brillian that will be released in the coming months, as the newly-merged company has announced three new series of TVs under the Olevia brand that each consist of numerous different models. Out of the 3-series, 5-series, and 7-series lineups, the most is known about the fives, as these four units -- the 27-inch 527V, 32-inch 532H, 37-inch 537H, and 42-inch 542i -- are shipping immediately. Like the as-yet-unannounced members of the 3-series, these models all sport a 1,366 x 768 resolution, and also feature 8-millisecond response times, 1600:1 contrast ratios, built-in digital ATSC tuners, and HDMI, VGA, and HD component inputs. All that's known about the 7-series, on the other hand, is the fact that its constituent models will all offer full 1,080p resolution and RS232C control capability, along with what's being touted as "Hollywood Quality Video," which either means that picture quality is very good or stifled by DRM restrictions. No pricing or release details are available for any of the 3- or 7-series models -- they're scheduled "to be introduced to the market incrementally through September" is all we can say for sure -- and out of all the 5-series models that are supposedly shipping right now, we could only find a price for the 527V, which you can pick up for $800 or less.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

It’s coming out a little later than we expected, but Sony has finally announced a solid release window for the Bravia TAV-L1 complete home theater system that we first spotted all the way back in February. As you may recall, this model consists of a 32-inch LCD monitor covered by a motorized panel containing speakers and a slot-loading DVD/SACD player, along with a single HDMI input and two vibration-canceling subwoofers in the base. Knowing full well that consumers love to personalize their gear, Sony will be offering the L1 with optional green, gray, burgundy, orange, or silver speaker grills for $100 apiece starting in September, about a month after the product itself is released. Also on the horizon is a $1,300 system called the RHT-G1000, which features speakers and a receiver built right into a TV stand, allowing users to hook up their own flat panel sets and rear satellites for the full home theater experience. Expect the G1000 to be available sometime in October, while the $4,000 TAV-L1 is scheduled for release next month — well past the May launch we’d first heard, but also a lot cheaper than the $7,000 we originally reported.

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Filed under: Displays

If your future as a professional depends upon having those colors show up just right on your LCD, then LaCie is probably on your short list for display manufacturers. They’ve just updated their pro-line 300 series with some sexy 12-bit gamma correction, allowing for smoother color gradients and photophile bragging rights. They’ve also added a 20-inch model to their range of displays, the Lacie 319, 320 and 321. Despite the minor size differences, prices range from $879 to $1599, plus another $200 if you want LaCie’s blue eye pro colorimeter for calibration. All that display dollar will get you, at least in the 320, a 1600 x 1200 resolution, CRT-grade color gamut, 700:1 contrast ratio, 280 cd/m2 luminance and of course that 12-bit gamma — 4 times as accurate as the usually pro 10-bit spec. Not shabby at all, if you can swallow the pricetag. All three displays are available for order now from LaCie.

[Via MacMinute]

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We’re liking that LCD viewscreen on our digital cameras, and haven’t used that little peephole (isn’t it called a viewfinder?) in ages, but sometimes there are good reasons to use the viewfinder instead of the LCD. A little tutorial at the Digital Photography School suggests that the LCD is great for convenience, gives you instant playback, enhances creativity by allowing you to hold the camera at all kinds of weird angles, and helps overcome framing inaccuracy of some cameras’ viewfinders. The LCD is also great for those of us who wear glasses.

With all those great reasons, why would you ever not want to use the LCD? Well, for one, it’s a drain on the batteries. Plus, you can’t hold the camera as steady at arms length, so your shots might not be as sharp when using the LCD, and sometimes sunlight is too bright to even see the thing. And, with some DSLRs you might not even be able to use the LCD as a viewfinder anyway. On the other hand, some lower-end compact cameras have no viewfinder. For us, the LCD reigns supreme, especially if it’s a 3-incher. – Charlie White

Should I use the LCD or Viewfinder on my Digital Camera? [Digital Photography School]

Filed under: Displays, Gaming

When it comes to gaming monitors, performance is everything, so Asus was off to a good start by endowing its new 19-inch PG191 LCD with a zippy 2-millisecond response time. However, we're not sure that it was also a good idea to build two speakers and a subwoofer into this unit; although they do lend the monitor a rather, um, distinctive look, it would seem that most consumers who are really into their gaming already own a set of dedicated speakers -- and probably a 5.1 or 6.1 setup -- which perform better than the ones Asus is offering here. Also, part of the package is a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera, which may indicate that the company is actually targeting wannabe-gamers with this model -- folks who envy the rockstar lifestyle portrayed by Fatal1ty and friends, but who have yet to begin accessorizing their own PCs. Rounding out the specs are your standard 1,280 x 1,024 resolution, 800:1 contrast ratio, and 320cd/m2 brightness, along with a DVI port, in-game video capture software, and special audio/video settings designed to enhance gameplay. No word yet on pricing or availability, but if the speakers and camera add too much loot to the bottom line, we can't imagine that many real gamers will be interested.

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Panasonic will be adding two models to its Viera line of HDTV LCDs in the coming weeks with BS/110 CS digital tuners. Both the 26-inch TH-26LX65 and the 32-inch TH-32LX65 are high definition LCDs with 1,366 x 768 (720p native) resolution. They also come with all the right inputs to make your HDTV watching experience a pleasurable one, including the new kid on the block, HDMI. (There’s also a D4 input, which is found mainly in Japanese TVs, as well as S-Video and composite, among others.) The built-in speakers supposedly deliver fine-sounding stereo sound, but you’d have to be a dope to purchase an HDTV and not opt for a proper audio setup. Panasonic even threw in an SD card slot, presumably to display your slideshows shown on the big screen. Won’t Grandma be happy.

The 26-inch TH-26LX65 will retail for about $1,820 and the 32-inch TH-32LX65 for about $2,170. Both are due this September in Japan. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Specs (in Japanese) [Panasonic via Fareastgizmos.com]

Filed under: HDTV

Panasonic just slipped a couple more LCD panels into their Viera line-up of televisions. Both the 32-inch TH-32LX65 and 26-inch TH-26LX65 feature a 1366×768 pixel resolution, 178-degree visibility, and a single HDMI-in on top of a slathering of Japanese D4, composite, S-Video, digital optical and Ethernet connections. And yeah, it integrates seamlessly with Panny’s Viera Link HDMI remote for universal control over your HDMI-equipped home entertainment center. Both the 32 and 26-inchers will begin shipping in Japan on September 1st for ¥250,000 (about $2,193) and ¥210,000 (about $1,843), respectively.

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Filed under: Displays, Gaming

So PCMag decided to run LG's 19-inch Flatron L1970HR LCD through their suite of tests to see if its 2-millisecond response time really performs as advertised, and the good news for gamers is that this display indeed delivers excellent motion performance with little ghosting and few artifacts. You're also getting good color reproduction and a contrast ratio of 1600:1 that sounds great on paper, but in reality you can expect some loss of shadow detail and noticeable compression at both ends of the greyscale. Another trade-off for that zippy response time is resolution, as the 1,280 x 1,024 pixel array may not be enough for hardcore gamers or folks working on documents and photos all day, with the biggest knock being the monitor's inability to render smaller-sized fonts. In the end, unless all that you're doing is watching movies and playing video games all day (in which case we'd like to hear more about your job), it sounds like super-smooth video may not be worth the sacrifices you're making in other departments.

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Filed under: Displays

Speak of the devil. We were just chatting up the incoming wave of 22-inch LCDs, and here’s Westinghouse with their very own display of the Vista-friendly variety. The LCM-22w2 runs at 1680 x 1050, has a 5ms response time, 300 nits of brightness and a 700:1 contrast ratio. It’s a 16:10 widescreen display, but we’re not sure about the inputs — we’re guessing DVI and VGA. The 22w2 should be available now for $500.

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Filed under: Desktops, Displays

We were just getting used to that whole wave of 21-inch LCDs, when it looks like 22-inchers are going to be the hip new thing in the coming months. A new report is out claiming that Microsoft is working with Samsung to produce a special 22-inch widescreen LCD to work with Windows Vista and be branded with the Microsoft logo. Sounds like they're trying to promote widescreen monitor usage with their new OS, and we're guessing Microsoft wouldn't mind making a few bucks while they're at it. The word from Chi Mei Optoelectronics makes us think that Microsoft and Samsung aren't the only ones to get the 22-inch bug. Dell has reportedly just made a large order for 22-inch widescreen panels from CMO, and LG.Philips and AU are jumping on board as well. There's no telling how heavily Microsoft is going to be recommending 22-inch displays to the users of Aero, but it doesn't look like anybody wants to be left out.

[Thanks, Mr. Kaiser and Will P.]

Read - Microsoft and Samsung team for 22-inch LCD
Read - Dell orders from CMO

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Filed under: Displays

Nothing too standout, but Eizo has announced couple of new FlexScan LCDs for Japan. Both the 21.3-inch S2100 and the 20.1-inch S2000 screens sport 1600 x 1200 resolutions, 1000:1 contrast ratios, 8ms response times, 300cd/m2 of brightness, and 178 degrees of viewing angle. The displays have the DVI hookup and some USB jazz, but we're quite in the dark as to the price and release date of these screens.

[Via Akihabara]

Read - FlexScan S2000
Read - FlexScan S2100

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Filed under: Displays

Until the entirety of the corporate world finally comes around to modern utilities like Outlook reminders and Google Calendar, those little yellow Post-Its will continue to dominate desktops across the land. Apparently Sony Europe has chosen to facilitate this environmentally irresponsible practice, by adding a special panel for the increasingly-obsolete sticky notes below the screens on their new E series LCD monitors. The panel also boasts a "handy groove which is ideal for holding pens" so you'll never miss a message in case, you know, you forget you're sitting right in front of a computer. Both the 17-inch and 19-inch models max out at 1280 x 1024 resolution and sport an average response time of 8 milliseconds, so we'll be interested to see how many extra Euros a run-of-the-mill monitor costs when it has a piece of plastic slapped on the front that may or may not disable screen angle and height adjustability.

[Via Gadgetizer]

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Filed under: Displays

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

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Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

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Filed under: Displays

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