Acer’s Web Surf Station looks like a monitor, acts like an all-in-one

We’d say we’re pretty well-covered when it comes to devices that turn on instantly to let you surf the web, scan your Facebook feed, and browse photos. But if you crave that immediacy and a larger, more comfortable viewing space, Acer’s DX241H Web Station might be the product you’re looking for. Available in wired and wireless models, this 24-inch monitor has a built-in browser, and can get online without being connected to a PC. While web surfing is clearly the marquee feature, you can also watch movies on its 1080p display by using Acer’s clear.fi software to stream video and other media from other devices on the network. Spec-wise, it also boasts DLNA compatibility, VGA and HDMI output, USB ports, and a memory card slot. People in the UK too impatient to wait for an all-in-one to boot up can snag the Web Station for £299 ($495) in May.

Continue reading Acer’s Web Surf Station looks like a monitor, acts like an all-in-one

Acer’s Web Surf Station looks like a monitor, acts like an all-in-one originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chlorine could be key to the cheaper, more efficient OLED TV of your dreams

Chlorinate OLEDs

Chlorine — it’s not just for keeping your clothes white and your pool clean anymore! Soon, layers of the stuff, just a single atom thick, could play a pivotal role in OLED manufacturing. Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that this tiny amount of Cl can almost double the efficiency of existing displays while reducing complexity and driving down costs. Using a rather simple procedure involving UV light, the team was able to chlorinate standard electrode panels found in conventional OLEDs without having toxic chlorine gas wafting about. While this is good news for manufacturers, it’s even better news for consumers. We’ve been itching to mount a big, organic flat-screen in our parents’ basement living room. Finally, we may see cheap OLED TVs on Walmart shelves — right next to the Clorox.

Chlorine could be key to the cheaper, more efficient OLED TV of your dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink OLED-Display.net  |  sourceUniversity of Toronto  | Email this | Comments

ASUS debuts, showcases new 3D and IPS-based Designo displays

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; ASUS has taken this old adage to heart, offering up some moderate, but worthwhile changes to its latest consumer and 3D monitor lines. Retaining the award-winning style of its Designo series, the outfit is launching a trio of new 22-, 23-, and 24-inch IPS and VA panel displays — each vaunting a 178-degree viewing angle, 1920 x 1080 resolution as well as more accurate color reproduction and a higher contrast ratio than previous models. Too bad this change didn’t carry over to ASUS’ 3D line — despite adding an integrated IR transmitter for NVIDIA 3D Vision, the 1080p 27-inch LED VG278H sports a backlit TN panel (boo), same as its predecessor. But hey, at least the integrated transmitter ought to free up some desk space… right? No official price on these just yet, but check out the more coverage link below for a spate of eyes-on impressions.

[Thanks, TheLostSwede]

ASUS debuts, showcases new 3D and IPS-based Designo displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New silver-packing transparent conductive film could mean more durable touchscreens

We first heard of the wonders of silver ink back in 2009, but it wasn’t until earlier this year, with talk of 3M’s new capacitive touchscreens, that we experienced its real-world potential for display technology. Well, it looks like 3M’s not the only name in the Ag game, in fact Tokyo-based Toray Industries recently announced the development of a transparent conductive film that ditches the traditional ITO (indium tin oxide) for silver wire. In order to produce this new material, a layer of Ag wires, measuring several hundred nanometers, is applied to a polyester (PET) film by way of a wet method. The result, the company said, is a more flexible, durable, and transparent film that is well suited to touchscreens of just about any size — what’s more, it decreases dependence on rare earth metals. There’s no word yet on when the film will appear on real-deal devices, but we’ll definitely keep an eye out for the silver screens. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading New silver-packing transparent conductive film could mean more durable touchscreens

New silver-packing transparent conductive film could mean more durable touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Tech-On  |  sourceToray  | Email this | Comments

Acer brings HN274H and HS244HQ 3D monitors to the US, motorbikes not included

In case you’re looking for some more options in the 3D monitor market, Acer’s just announced a couple of new models for the US that might do the job. First up is the HN274H pictured above, which claims to be the first 27-inch LED-backlit monitor supporting both HDMI 3D and NVIDIA 3D Vision — Blu-ray or TV set-top box for the former, PC gaming for the latter (via the usual DVI-DL). Though limited at 1920 x 1080 resolution, this display boasts a 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio with 300cd/m2 brightness and 2ms response time, along with a built-in IR emitter for the included NVIDIA 3D glasses, as well as a handful of ports: VGA, DVI, and three HDMI. All this for $689.

If you prefer something smaller and more budget friendly, then there’s the 23.6-inch HS244HQ as well. For $449 you get the same HD resolution, brightness, and response time, though contrast ratio is lowered to 12,000,000:1. Most importantly, there’s no support for NVIDIA 3D Vision here (though you still get a pair of Acer 3D glasses), meaning gamers will have to consider other options. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Acer brings HN274H and HS244HQ 3D monitors to the US, motorbikes not included

Acer brings HN274H and HS244HQ 3D monitors to the US, motorbikes not included originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG shows off 47-inch transparent IPS LCD with multitouch and Full HD resolution (video)

Where Samsung leads, LG inevitably follows (and vice versa, of course). The Korean electronic arms race has now heated up by an extra few degrees with LG’s demo of a crazy new 47-inch display that packs in everything a geek could want: IPS technology, 1080p resolution, multitouch, and some good old transparency… just because. This so-called Window Display is sadly intended for advertisers and other digital signage proprietors, meaning that even if it wasn’t still at the concept stage, it likely wouldn’t be populating living rooms anyway. Ah well, so long as LG makes sure John Anderton and the precrime unit get one, we’ll be happy. Video for the rest of us after the break.

Continue reading LG shows off 47-inch transparent IPS LCD with multitouch and Full HD resolution (video)

LG shows off 47-inch transparent IPS LCD with multitouch and Full HD resolution (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceOLED-Display.net  | Email this | Comments

Samsung mass-producing 22-inch transparent LCD, your desktop monitor seethes with jealousy

They said they would do it, and by golly it’s nearly here — Samsung just revealed that its assembly lines are starting to churn out see-thru computer screens that don’t require power-sucking backlights to function. Unfortunately, it looks like the amazing AMOLED variety is still on the drawing board, but ambient light-powered LCDs are on the way, with Samsung offering a 22-inch, 1680 x 1050 resolution panel with a 500:1 contrast ratio to begin with. Sammy suggests we’ll see it in HDMI and USB-compatible monitors and suspects it’ll be used in advertising and teleconferencing first — which suggests this display won’t come cheap — but we all know the true killer app will be a nice big frameless laptop screen. We’ll take two, please. PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung mass-producing 22-inch transparent LCD, your desktop monitor seethes with jealousy

Samsung mass-producing 22-inch transparent LCD, your desktop monitor seethes with jealousy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung mass producing 22-inch transparent LCD, your desktop monitor seethes with jealousy

They said they would do it, and by golly it’s nearly here — Samsung just revealed that its assembly lines are starting to churn out see-thru computer screens that don’t require power-sucking backlights to function. Unfortunately, it looks like the amazing AMOLED variety is still on the drawing board, but ambient light-powered LCDs are on the way, with Samsung offering a 22-inch, 1680 x 1050 resolution panel with a 500:1 contrast ratio to begin with. Sammy suggests we’ll see it in HDMI and USB-compatible monitors and suspects it’ll be used in advertising and teleconferencing first — which suggests this display won’t come cheap — but we all know the true killer app will be a nice big frameless laptop screen. We’ll take two, please. PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung mass producing 22-inch transparent LCD, your desktop monitor seethes with jealousy

Samsung mass producing 22-inch transparent LCD, your desktop monitor seethes with jealousy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hanwha unleashes HDMI / USB adapter for iPad, iPhone 4, and fourth-gen iPod touch

Feel the desire to watch your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch (fourth gen) videos on the big screen, but looking for something with a little more girth than Apple’s HDMI solution? Hanwha’s latest dongle might do the job. As you can see above, in place of the original adapter’s dock connector port is a USB 2.0 socket — compatible with cameras supporting mass storage connection — alongside the 720p-friendly HDMI port, but you’ll have to use the switch to toggle between the two modes. And that little mini-USB port on the far right? Well, it’s there to provide some juice to “reduce battery drain,” but probably not enough to charge up your iDevice. If you’re still interested and have a friend in Japan, Hanwha’s charging ¥5,980 (around $73), which is almost double that of Apple’s $39 connector. Is USB support worth such a price jump? Your call.

Hanwha unleashes HDMI / USB adapter for iPad, iPhone 4, and fourth-gen iPod touch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceUMA Zone  | Email this | Comments

Scientists improve blue OLED efficiency, don’t promise everlasting light

Although this is not the first time we’ve seen an efficiency increase in blue OLEDs, it’s worth noting that their proposed cap of productivity up to this point was a lowly five percent. It’s exciting to learn, therefore, about a breakthrough by professor John Kieffer and graduate student Changgua Zhen from the University of Michigan, which has resulted in them successfully increasing azure diode power efficiency by 100 percent. The duo, accompanied by some bright minds in Singapore, manipulated performance controllers by rearranging OLED molecules in a computer model, improving material characteristics. In simple terms though, we’re still looking at a measly ten percent efficiency, so we’ll see where they take it from here.

Scientists improve blue OLED efficiency, don’t promise everlasting light originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Physorg  |  sourceUniversity of Michigan  | Email this | Comments