Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Though making a limited run of LCD HDTVs seems like a curious choice, Sharp is unleashing two of ‘em (again) today in Denver. The 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S and 65-inch LC-65XS1U-S both sport newly-developed 10-bit Advanced Super View (ASV) LCD panels and feature native 1080p resolutions, AQUOS Net capabilities, an RGB-LED backlight system and a dynamic contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1. You’ll also find a super thin integrated sound system powered by a 1-bit digital amplifier, and the entire set is just one-inch thick at its thinnest part. Of note, these units come bundled with a separate AVC system set-top-box for handling inputs, though WHDI was unfortunately left out. Catch the pair this October for currently undisclosed prices, and peep the full release just after the cut.

Continue reading Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S / LC-65XS1U-S AQUOS LCD HDTVs loosed by Sharp

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Why lust after a Zunephone when you can have an Xbox 360 Sidekick LX? Based on an admittedly bizarre and entirely painful-to-watch video posted up in the read link, Soulja Boy is seen spazzing out over what appears to be a special edition Sidekick LX. The unit is branded (at least in the software) with Xbox 360 logos, and there’s also a copy of Resident Evil: Genesis on there that he toys with momentarily. So, the question here: is this thing legit? On one hand, Danger does have a thing for pumping out limited run Sidekicks like they’re going out of style, and plus, it would probably have a hard time convincing an A-list rapper to carry a prototype Sidekick. On the other, we’re really inclined to believe this is just a sad way for Soulja Boy to fill up his inbox with soulless emails. “SouljaBoyTellEm@tmail.com — holla atcha boy!”

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Wait, let’s get this straight. We understood that the newfangled Xbox 360 controller would be limited in nature (though we never understood why), but now you’re telling us that North Americans will have to get lucky on the international second-hand market to obtain one? According to information spilled to Eurogamer, that’s the deal. Microsoft is reportedly loosing the pad in Europe, Asia and Latin America as a “promotional item” that ties in with Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer. Also, it’s very green, and only green. We’re still waiting to hear if Microsoft has plans to bring this stateside or use it to replace the existing controller entirely, but who knows, maybe the US edition will boast four analog sticks and a built-in LCD with real-time LIVE! status checking.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

Well, color us surprised! Here we have yet another “limited edition” PlayStation 3 bundle, this time with Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune packed in alongside a PlayStation Network voucher for PAIN, a DualShock 3 wireless controller and… a 160GB PS3 console? Yep, Sony’s formally introducing us to the new king, which will start shipping to North America this November in the aforementioned kit for $499.99. Curiously, there’s no word as to whether it’ll be released separate from the bundle (we’re guessing yes), and there’s no mention of PS2 backwards compatibility (so don’t count on it). In related news, the “new” $399.99 80GB version is finally shipping to retailers, so you should be able to snap one up in the very, very near future.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

After suffering a presumed Jolly Rancher infestation, ASUS is prepped to loose these artificially flavored Eee PCs onto Korea. Available for pre-order now, the limited edition “pink” (hey, that’s what they say) and Jell-O green Eee PC 901 and Eee PC 1000H ship on the 22nd of August for an undetermined price. Hmmm, blood-red snowflakes and glo-stick mistletoe? Feels like Christmas in our very own Eee PC hell.

Gallery: Limited Edition Eee PCs ready to candy-coat Korea

[Via Akihabara News]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Gaming

As you’ve surely heard (and hopefully confirmed for yourself) by now, The Dark Knight is a runaway hit. So much so, in fact, that a number of manufacturers have figured it prudent to crank our hardware with the iconic Batman logo front and center. Next in line for admission on the bandwagon seems to be Microsoft, which apparently showed off a “limited edition” (read: likely one of a kind) Dark Knight Xbox 360 over in Taiwan. We know, you want the details — eventual release dates, a price, the works. Unfortunately for us all, we’re stuck with just that image above and hope for the future. Hey, at least you can let your imagination run wild.

[Via IGN]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Man, it has been quite awhile since we’ve seen an iPod of any sort get dressed up in limited edition attire. Thinking back to those Harry Potter, Madonna and Tony Hawk editions, we can’t help but wonder how this one missed the boat. Coincidentally (or not) enough, the CBS Store has decided to offer up a special run of 8GB Beverly Hills, 90210 iPod nanos just as The CW pushes the all new rendition of the show. Buyers can add up to 30 characters of text and choose black, pink, green, blue or silver hues, but you better hurry — who knows how fast raving fans will be handing over their $269 in hopes of securing one.

[Via ChipChick]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Apple_s_lawsuit_against_Psystar_examined’;
So we just got our hands on the complaint Apple filed against Psystar for building off-label Mac clones, and as expected, Steve and friends aren’t pulling any punches — in addition to the eight total claims, request for a permanent injunction, and money damages, Apple wants a recall of every Psystar machine ever sold. That’s harsh, but it’s not like Apple to take this lightly. Like we’ve been saying all along, the suit is more about copyright infringement than EULA violations, since Psystar was distributing a modified version of Apple’s copyrighted code outside the terms of the EULA. Grab the complaint here [PDF], and then head after the break for a quick breakdown of what Apple says Psystar is liable for.

PS. - Somewhat charmingly, we’re quoted in the factual allegations section as calling the Psystar machine we reviewed “crazy loud” — aww, you shouldn’t have, guys. Maybe you want to throw in a citation next time, though? Just a thought.

Continue reading Apple’s lawsuit against Psystar examined

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Desktops

We weren’t terribly impressed with Psystar’s Open Computer the first time around, but hopefully this new revision will perk things up a bit — along with dealing with that insufferable fan noise. Psystar is making no such promises, but it has quitely rolled out a new case design, along with tossing in a NVIDIA GeForce 7200GS 256MB graphics card — a decent bump over the original’s integrated graphics. The price is still $399, and it still costs $155 extra to get Leopard pre-installed on the system.

[Thanks, iPod Macman]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Displays

Oh yeah, round displays have been around the proverbial block before (probably on wheels, which are also akin to a circle), but LG Display is attempting to make a splash of its own in the unorthodox display arena with two new developments. Hailed as the “world’s largest 6-inch elliptical and 1.4-inch circular-shaped LCDs,” both units are capable of displaying up to 262,000 colors and have a near 160-degree viewing angle. We’re told that the devices could eventually find homes in digital photo frames as well as a variety of household / automotive applications, but we won’t be getting any further details ’til they’re both showcased at SID next week. One more look is waiting after the jump.

Continue reading LG Display develops small elliptical and circular-shaped LCDs

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

If you’re a tech lover like me–and since you’re reading a gadget guide by geeks, for geeks, you probably are–then it’s a safe bet that you’ve been carrying around a hoopty too. I’ve carried the same USB thumbdrive on my keychain for about two years now. The cap doesn’t fit, the plastic is worn down, and the design? It’s basically a stick. But still, it’s functional, and 2GB seemed large (well large enough, anyway), so I didn’t give two thoughts about upgrading it.

Until I saw the new hotness from Transcend, anyway.

The Transcend JetFlash V90c packs 4GB of flash goodness into a tiny metal body barely bigger than the first joint of your thumb. The memory modules themselves are hidden within the body of the drive, and fold out easily enough. But it’s the distinctive swirly pattern that really caught my eye–and that of the judges behind the Red Dot Design Awards, who just awarded Transcend for making such a neat device.

Still not sold? Transcend sells these things online for just $27 bucks. Isn’t it time you upgraded too?

Original post by Jeremy Kaplan

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Laptops

While solid-state hard drives are still only just beginning to catch on, if a group of researchers from Thorrn Micro Technologies have their way, there could soon be another solid-state laptop component headed your way. That component in question is a microchip-sized fan, which boasts no moving parts but is apparently capable of keeping a laptop or other electronic devices cool. To do that, the fan reportedly makes use of the same technology found in household air purifiers, which results in a flow rate three times greater than typical small mechanical fan, not to mention lower power consumption and completely silent operation. Of course, the fan is still in the early testing stages, but the researchers see virtually no end to its potential, with them boasting that it’s “one of the most significant advancements in electronics cooling since heat pipes,” and adding that it could “change the cooling paradigm for mobile electronics.”

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

After the European PR agency seemingly jumped the gun, we finally get some actual hands-on shots of Sony’s newest video Walkman. The NW-A820 series as it’s known in Japan does everything its other NWZ-A820 brother can do in Europe (and presumably the US) only with that icky ATRAC and SonicStage baggage in tow. Sony also announced a new ¥20,000 (about $186) VRC-NW10 cradle with video-out and trick little video-in capability for real-time MPEG-4 recordings straight back to your A820-series player. A SRS-NWT10M external speaker is priced low enough at ¥3,000 ($28) that every teen-age jackass riding the subway will have one. Japan will see the new players in black, white and pink and in 16GB and 8GB models priced at ¥38,000 ($354) and ¥28,000 ($260), respectively.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

After the European PR agency seemingly jumped the gun, we finally get some actual hands-on shots of Sony’s newest video Walkman. The NW-A820 series as it’s known in Japan does everything its other NWZ-A820 brother can do in Europe (and presumably the US) only with that icky ATRAC and SonicStage baggage in tow. Sony also announced a new ¥20,000 (about $186) VRC-NW10 cradle with video-out and trick little video-in capability for real-time MPEG-4 recordings straight back to your A820-series player. A SRS-NWT10M external speaker is priced low enough at ¥3,000 ($28) that every teen-age jackass riding the subway will have one. Japan will see the new players in black, white and pink and in 16GB and 8GB models priced at ¥38,000 ($354) and ¥28,000 ($260), respectively. Check the gallery for hot A820 on iPod touch action.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Oh sure, one could argue (quite successfully, we might add) that Nyko’s Wireless Nunchuck was quite the blessing for those sick and tired of the factory tether, but what about all us chaps and dames who already purchased Nintendo’s version of the Nunchuck? Fret not, Wii faithful, as Nyko is coming to your rescue once more. The aptly-titled Cord-Free Adapter for Wii Nunchuck enables current wired Nunchuck owners to simply holster their peripherals, wind up the cord and enjoy all sorts of wireless freedom. Granted, we still feel that this February-bound accessory is priced a touch high at $19.99, but hey, it’s cheaper than buying an all new third-party ‘chuck, eh?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph