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At its pre-CES press conference today, Sharp introduced a slew of new home theater products, including the world’s first LCD with a built-in Blu-ray player, the company’s first soundbars, and two new Blu-ray players.

First up was the Aquos BD, the world’s first high-def LCD TV series with a built-in Blu-ray player. The series features HD 1080p and comes in 52- (LC-52B᫠U), 46- (LC-46B᫠U), 42- (LC-42B᫠U), 37- (LC-37BᫌU), and 32-inch (LC-32BᫌU) sizes. The TVs all feature a side-loading multi-slot for Blu-ray, DVD, and CD. They Also feature Sharp’s Advanced Super View (ASV) Superlucent panel for a crisper picture and reduced reflection. The AQUOS Pure Mode is optimized for watching Blu-ray titles. The LC-52B᫠U and LC-46B᫠U will be available in February. The LC-42B᫠U, LC-37BᫌU, and LC-32BᫌU will be available this month.

Sharp also introduced the new D65U series featuring a slim design and improved picture quality. The line includes the 52-inch LC-52D65U, the 46-inch LC-46D65U, and the 42-inch LC-42D65U. All of the sizes are Energy Star compliant, featuring low power consumption and a new Power Saving mode. All three TVs are available now for $2,399, $1,899, and $1,499, respectively.

The company’s new Aquos D85U series, meanwhile, feature aesthetic improvements, including new designs with angled edges to “reflect the surrounding décor, allowing it to blend fluidly into the ambiance of any room.” They also offer 120-Hz Fine Motion Enhanced technology and full HD 1080p. Like the D65U, the D85U is entirely Energy Star-compliant.The series comes in 52, 46, and 42-inch versions, for $2,599, $2,199, and $1,799, respectively. All are available now.

The HT-SB300 and HT-SB200, meanwhile, mark the company’s first foray into soundbars. Both 2.1-channel units simulate surround sound, incorporating a right and left speaker and a subwoofer. The HT-SB300 features DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro logic II decoder, and Dolby Virtual Speaker to simulate 5.1. It will be available in April for $299. The HT-SB200 is available this month for $249.

Also new are the BD-HP22U and BD-HP16U Blue-ray players. Both feature HD 1080p, HDMI 1.3 digital output with x.v. color, and 1920-by-1080 video at 24 frames per second output, and Ethernet ports for BD-Live support. The BD-HP22U features 2GB of USB memory and will be available in May for $299. The BD-HP16U will be available in March for $279.99.

For PCMag’s full CES coverage, go to http://www.pcmag.com/categorҼ/0,2806,2235882,00.asp.

Original post by Brian Heater

As hard as it might be for you wizened, Atari-era gamers to understand, there are plenty of people out there who think that today’s gaming controllers need even more inputs; even more buttons. That’s largely thanks to the inclusion of in-game messaging on most platforms, and, for those whose platform of choice is the PlayStation 3, Sony has introduced the QWERTY Wireless Keypad clip-on. It works as advertised, making text entry much easier and including some bonus touchpad functionality too, but along with those new buttons comes a few new headaches, and we’re not entirely sure they’re all worthwhile.

Continue reading PlayStation 3 Wireless Keypad review

Filed under: Gaming

PlayStation 3 Wireless Keypad review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Tim Stevens

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Perhaps you′re looking for a way to track potential cat burglers, give your robot some spacial sense, make your UIs a little more interactive, or you simply want to keep an eye on your “compound.” Panasonic has just released detailed specs for its 3D range sensor — the first, it says, to work in direct sunlight. Exhibited at CEATEC 2008, the device emits light from several dozen LEDs to track the movements of any object in its view. The company’s previous 3D range sensor didn’t function well (if at all) in bright light, but the equipment now compensates for “extremely bright ambient light” by measuring it and eliminating it from the equation. Can’t wait to track your loved ones’ every movement? The 24 volt, USB 2.0 sensor is slated for an April 1, 2009 release.

[Via Tech-On!]

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Original post by Joseph L. Flatley

Filed under: Cellphones

Not that you really needed any additional instructions on how to operate the BlackBerry Storm, but just in case you′re a little slow on the uptake (or just want to be ultra-prepared come launch day), you′ll certainly want to direct your attention to the video after the break. Yeah, it’s a Vodafone Storm, so those looking for the typical Verizon garb will be a tad disoriented at first, but we’re sure it’ll be of assistance in the long run. Run along and study, kids — release day is, um, soon… ish.

Continue reading Vodafone demonstration video shows you how to use the BlackBerry Storm

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Good news, PSP fans — the PlayStation Store is closer than ever to hitting your handheld, and we’ve got the video to prove it. Sony has hosted up a clip to give us all a better idea of what firmware 5.0 has in store for the PSP, and while there aren’t any real surprises, it’s always good to get a sneak peek. We’re told that users will soon be able to create an account and access the PlayStation Network right on the PlayStation Portable, and the PS Store access is the same as on the Ṕ. Enough chatter — give the video a look in the read link.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio

We knew XM Radio’s XMp3 handheld was on sale and shipping, but if you’ve been holding back and patiently waiting for some live video action of the UI before biting, have a gander at this. One xzitony managed to acquire the new Pioneer-built device and take it for a spin, but rather than just keeping it all to himself, he decided to host up a six minute clip walking us through the user interface. There are just no words to express our gratitude, but you can leave your thanks on his YouTube page after peeping the vid just past the break.

[Thanks, Anthony]

Continue reading Video: XM Radio’s XMѣ interface shown off

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Storage

It has been some time since we′ve seen a new competitor in the photo backup realm, so it’s with a great sigh of relief that we pass along word of Sanho’s HyperDrive COLORSPACE UDMA photo backup device. The unit is capable of sucking down 2GB of data per minute and claims to be “the only storage device in the market that can decode and display true RAW images from any camera on its 3.2-inch (QVGA) color LCD screen.” Furthermore, it orientates images automatically depending on how it’s held, and the included data synchronization functionality enables the drive to sync information with another external HDD or your main rig. Oh, and it can understand 14 different types of memory card, so you’re probably fine on that front. Check it out next month for between $339 (80GB) and $599 (500GB), depending on capacity.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: GPS

Navigon is continuing its full-steam-ahead approach with another addition to its satnav lineup, namely, the 2000S. The 3.5-inch touchscreen device comes loaded with an ATLAS III 375MHz CPU, a SiRF GRʿi+ GPS chip, 64MB of SDRAM, 2GB of flash memory, and microSD support. The 2000S sports a similar feature set the company has rolled out on previous devices, including Reality View Pro (which provides 3D signage to help with interchanges and exits), Lane Assistant Pro, and Directhelp, a push-button service that grabs directions and emergency numbers on the double. According to the kind folks at Navigon, the device will sell for a very affordable $199, and is slated to be available in October.

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

It’s hard to knock Nokia given its market dominating position, outside of the US and Japan anyway. But they certainly haven’t been (b)leading edge when it comes to capitalizing on trends such as ultra-slim handsets, touchscreens, or OLED displays. The use of those 3-inch and smaller OLEDs is just the latest trend that started with Sanyo, Toshiba, and LG all releasing OLED-based cellphones earlier this year. Now, it looks like those brilliant OLED displays, specifically Active Matrix OLED (AMOLED), has a place sometime in Nokia’s future — when is the question. According to DigiTimes‘ sources at handset panel providers, Nokia now requires its panel suppliers to have, “development and volume production plans for AMOLED panels,” before Nokia will sign any long-term partnerships. While it’s no secret that OLED is the future of flat panel technologies both big and small, it’s still nice to see Nokia on the ball with this one even though it doesn’t guarantee a Nokia-branded handset with OLED display anytime soon. Assuming these whispering sources are to be believed, of course.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Laptops

It’s time for more Dell E-series netbook rumors, you ready? According to DigiTimes and its industry sources, Compal Electronics is slapping together both 8.9-inch and 10-inch E-series netbooks for Dell. Previously, we’ve only heard mention of an 8.9-inch E and 12.1-inch E Slim. The 10-inch E is scheduled for an October product launch while the 8.9-incher was previously rumored for August. Interestingly, Dell expects the 10-incher to experience almost twice the demand of the 8.9-inch model (assuming a sole-source manufacturing deal) based on Compal’s monthly production estimates of 400k-450k and 250k units, respectively. There’s a Dell press event later on today where we might just bring all these Dell netbook rumors to rest. Stay tuned, as they say.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Laptops

Taiwanese industry and rumor site DigiTimes is reporting (without citing a source) that ASUS expects to deliver “whole-day” battery options to its Eee PC range of netbooks. In addition, ASUS also plans to offer some level of Internet storage, apparently beyond the 20GB they already offer to new Eee PC 901 and 1000 owners — a move that we hope will become a trend amongst netbook providers in order to offset the miniscule flash drives found inside the lowest of the low-cost, mini laptops. Both changes are expected before the year is up. Incredibly, ASUS also plans to push out new software and hardware upgrades every month to “fill gaps in the netbook market.” Funny, we didn’t think any gaps remained in this over-saturated niche.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We′ve already seen some attempts to create a tricorder-like device, but this latest crack it at by some researchers at Georgia Tech looks like it could well be the closest to the real thing to date — if it ever turns into an actual device, that is. The big advance with this one, it seems, is the use of a new mosaic narrowband filter, which includes photosensitive pixel sensors that can observe different wavelengths and allow for multispectral imaging. According to the researchers, the filter could also be laminated with standard imaging sensors used in digital cameras, making an all-in-one handheld device possible. That would apparently let individuals use the device to detect everything from the severity of bruises to contamination in food, or even perform remote sensing in mining, to name but a few applications. The researchers still have quite a bit more work to do on it before any of that’s possible, however, and they′re now seeking collaborative or financial support to further develop the device.

[Via Daily Tech]

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Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Microsoft’s no stranger to appealing antitrust decisions before the European Commission’s Court of the First Instance, and it looks like it’s saddling up for another go ’round: the software giant has decided to appeal that $1.3B antitrust fine handed down in February. Saying that it was only filing as part of a “constructive effort to seek clarity from the court,” Microsoft has asked that the decision be annulled. Yeah, that seems pretty clear. As always, our suggestions that this be resolved with a GTA IV / CoD4 round-robin deathmatch on Live have gone unheeded in favor of tedious paperwork and months of delay, but we′re still holding out hope.

[Thanks, Hosain]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Features, Laptops

If you’re a gamer on the move (and we think that you are), you’re probably eyeing some monster laptops. If you’re looking to bro-down with one in the near future, take a moment to familiarize yourself with Gateway’s latest 17-incher, the P-172X FX. The updated rig (a new riff on the similarly-themed P-171) features a Core 2 Duo CPU (the 2.4GHz T8300), 1920 x 1200 resolution, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, NVIDIA’s GeForce 8800M GTS GPU (with 512MB of GDD̷ RAM), a DVD-R/RW/RAM optical drive, and a nasty mess of ports and card slots. We got to take the dude out for a spin, and performance was definitely up to par (translation: it plays Crysis), though the design left a little something to be desired, like… style. A cheaper, 2.0GHz version with half the drive space, lower screen resolution, and a gig less RAM is available, though it maintains the GPU and graphics memory. The P-172X FX is available right now for $1,999, and kid brother P-172S FX will run you $1,399. Check the gallery below for a full and proper look.

 

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Erbert & Gerbert’s, the Midwest sandwich shop that brought you humanflipbook.com, comes the world’s most powerful air vortex cannon (www.candlecannon.com). Prepare to be amazed by this candle blowing air cannon. Yeah sure it’s designed to blow out candles, but it could just as easily be aimed at unsuspecting victims on the street up to 180 feet away resulting in comments like,  &quotWTF was that?&quot

Tags: air vortex cannon, erbertandgerberts.com, Erbert &amp Gerbert, sandwich shop

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