Hasta La Gadget!

Interactivity isn’t just for hands anymore. Now your shoes can get in on the fun! Portuguese multi-media interface firm Displax has created a system that allows users to interact with an image projected from above, which they call Moovit.

The company seems to be marketing Moovit as a branding tech for the much-coveted mall-pedestrian demographic. And it is cool. (Check out the video after the jump–you have to fast forward to about 40 seconds in to see it in action.) Moovit is a big step beyond projected ads that are ubiquitous to sidewalk gazers throughout the world’s urban environs. If you’re a company looking to capture consumers’ attention, this is some amazing eyeball bait.

But can it do more?

Perhaps this tech could be used more as an interface than as a mere (though admittedly, very cool) horizontal billboard. Picture a real-life version of those Fidelity Investments commercials with the animated green lines leading middle aged investors into retirement. Maybe it could lead not only the middle-aged, but everyone, through various labyrinths of modern day life: a museum, mass transit, in line at the deli. Our phones could identify us and let the eye in the sky know what kind of information (or location) we are seeking. The possibilities seem endless. Anybody doing anything with that yet? Displax? Hackers? Apple? Anyone?

As one company moves out of the 30-inch display race, another looks set to step back into it. Dell’s unannounced, but seemingly all too real UltraSharp U3011 has been snapped over in China, and we’re being told it’ll offer a formidable 2,560 x 1,600 resolution while maintaining the styling of the smaller U2711. TFT Central reports it’ll be a 10-bit H-IPS panel from LG Display, bearing a 7ms response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 370 nits of brightness (ahem, overkill), and 178-degree viewing angles on both the horizontal and vertical axis. HDMI and DVI connections come in packs of two, accompanied by a lone DisplayPort. Sounds like it’s shaping up to be a fine competitor to HP’s ZR30w.

Continue reading Dell UltraSharp U3011 about to join 30-inch IPS monitor crew

Dell UltraSharp U3011 about to join 30-inch IPS monitor crew originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Chinese, Flatpanels HD  |  PC Pop  | Email this | Comments

The Pantech Vega that just hit Korea may boast a sizable 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, but don’t expect future phones from the Helio manufacturer to follow suit — after suffering the same shortages that drove HTC to Sony’s SLCD-illuminated doorstep, Pantech’s also temporarily giving active-matrix organic technology the boot. Now, you may not give two nickels about the technologies in Pantech’s next handset, but the firm’s got a finger on the industry’s pulse. So when an unnamed executive says “phones to be rolled out in the first half of next year” won’t use AMOLED, that hints at when the shortage for US-bound devices might also let up. In case you’re curious, 2H 2011 is when Samsung’s next AMOLED facility is slated to open, though by that point AU Optronics and TPO Display should be shipping the screens as well.

Pantech drops AMOLED completely due to shortage, may resume use in 2H 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink OLED-Display.net  |  Korea Herald  | Email this | Comments

If you go to Corning Inc’s website, you’ll see the company advertises its seemingly indestructible Gorilla Glass as being available for LCD TV sets, but to this point, no major manufacturer has taken up this tempting offer. That’s all about to change, apparently, as Corning has recently announced plans to massively expand its production capacity (see press release after the break) and is now predicting it’ll secure its first deal this fall. The benefits of going Gorilla are increased durability, strength and scratch resistance, which some are arguing could be a big selling point to display makers keen on doing away with plastic bezels and exposing edge-to-edge glass surfaces. Of course, the disadvantage is that we’d have to pay up to $60 more for a panel with the extra-tough stuff inside, but then having the option is better than not, right?

Continue reading Stab-proof Gorilla Glass coming to TVs near you in 2011

Stab-proof Gorilla Glass coming to TVs near you in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Yahoo! News  | Email this | Comments

The market for 30-inch monitors is growing, but that’s not the same as saying that your options are plentiful. You’ll have a far easier time finding high-res 24- and 27-inch screens to toss together, but if you’ve got your mind set on a single LCD workspace, HP’s ZR30w has to be on the short list. Coming in at an altogether respectable $1,299, this panel offers oodles of pixels (2,560 x 1,600) and top-shelf image quality. Critics over at Hot Hardware were thoroughly pleased with the results, keeping in mind that this was designed for the creative professional. They did knock the lack of ports (only a DisplayPort and DVI connector are included), but the lack of inputs was just about all they could kvetch about. Performance was deemed “exceptional,” color reproduction was said to be “superb” and it even managed to hold its own while gaming. You may not be a big fan of the plain styling, but those source links are definitely worth a look if you’ve been teetering on this here fence.

HP’s 30-inch ZR30w IPS LCD monitor reviewed: exceptional performance, reasonable price originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Hot Hardware, AnandTech  | Email this | Comments