Hasta La Gadget!

We’re gearing up for CES 2010, which means the race to show off an even thinner “worlds thinnest” LCD TV panel is heating up — and it looks like LG’s taking an early lead by announcing a new 42-inch 1080p panel that’s just 2.6mm (.1 inch) thin. The prototype LED-backlit 120Hz display weighs just under 8.8 pounds , but we don’t have any other specs on it just yet — but we’re sure we’ll find out far more 17 days from now in Vegas. Press release below.

Continue reading LG announces “world’s thinnest” 42-inch LCD panel

LG announces “world’s thinnest” 42-inch LCD panel originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Nook or by crook, you will get that book! That is, almost, what Barnes & Noble is saying to those worried about not receiving their Nook e-readers in time for Christmas.

Desperate to get the Nook in time to make some fast Christmas cash, B&N decided an early launch with not enough units would be a good idea. Now, as customers start to worry that the gifts won’t arrive in time for Christmas Day, B&N has sent an email promising a $100 gift voucher to anyone whose Nook doesn’t make it. Here’s a follow up email send to the Consumerist, featuring the somewhat over-PC use of the word “holidays” to refer to Christmas Day itself:

The vast majority of customers who pre-ordered nooks and were given a pre-holiday estimated shipping date should receive their devices in time for the holidays […] Unfortunately, there may be a very small percentage of customers who may not receive their nooks before the holiday.

In its initial email to customers, Barnes & Noble has tried to weasel its way out of the real reason for the problem (not enough Nooks) by blaming shipping:

Although your shipment has been slightly delayed, we are aiming for your order to leave out warehouse in time for you to receive your nook by December 24th.

And how, given the sorry state of the B&N warehouse and its inability to get things out of the door, is the company addressing the problem?

We are sending a special nook Holiday Certificate to the shipping address provided when you placed your nook order. [emphasis in original]

That’s right. Despite not being able to ship the Nook itself, B&N can manage to print and post some gift cards. We guess the company is more experienced with dead tree products than this fancy new-fangled gadgetry after all.

We tease, but this is a nice piece of pre-emptive customer service. At least your unlucky giftee will have something to open on “Holiday” Day Morning, and the bonus of $100 to spend when the thing finally turns up.

Barnes & Noble Will Send You $100 If Nook Doesn’t Show Up By Christmas [Consumerist]

Home automation and multiroom A/V remote controls might still be a relatively niche and nascent segment of the electronics market, but that hasn’t stopped Elan from proclaiming its new g! series to be groundbreaking. Then again, its software includes irrigation controls, so what do we know — maybe the company’s talking literally. Building on the software legacy of HomeLogic, the interface is said to be consistent across all platforms, which include an OLED display as part of the hardware package, as well as iPhone, PC and TV integration for a truly flexible control scheme. In terms of pricing, this is aimed at competing with Control4 setups, and we’re told that a “decent” multiroom system could be had for $5,000. Full details are set to be unveiled on January 1, which should give you enough time to decide if you can continue living with an un-automated pool.

Elan g! home automation system is heavy on hype, light on details originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheelskates, from company Chariot Skates, look more like some kind of medieval torture device – designed to painfully separate femur from knee – than a new kind of leisure activity. The skates are billed as something between in-line skates, skis, and a bike, and allow you to careen speedily across terrain normally off-limits to small-wheeled roller-skates. But enough of that. You want to see a video of them in action, right?

They look like a lot of fun, and remind me of 1970s UK TV kids show Chorlton and the Wheelies.

It’s tricky to see from the video, but the skates just have one large wheel each. Your legs are strapped in to a series of torsion and leg-supporting struts (made from carbon fiber), placing the feet below the wheel axles for stability. Equilibrium is further helped by putting your weight, and point of balance, onto the balls of the feet, exactly where they would be on pair of bike pedals (assuming you are riding properly).

The FAQ tells us that experienced skaters will be up and rolling in no time, and that the Wheelskates are no harder to learn that regular ‘blades are for novices. It also tells us that there are no brakes, and that they are faster than regular street-skates. This is not surprising as Chariot Skates is based in Australia, home of people who seem to be very good at sports, and home to a large proportion of the world’s deadliest critters. In short, the Australians laugh at danger.

The skates are still being tested, but a launch is planned for February 2010. Price is as yet unknown, but likely to be closer to the cost of a carbon fiber bike than of a pair of cheap inline skates.

Wheelskates [Chariot Skates via Oh Gizmo]