Hasta La Gadget!

Compared to technologies such as Wireless USB, DisplayLink has actually done fairly well for itself. Nah, it’s no worldwide phenomenon, but it definitely has enough traction to really shine once USB 3.0‘s bandwidth arrives. That said, the tech is making the most of its current situation with the introduction of the DL-1×5 Series processors, two of which actually support Full HD. The DL-125, DL-165 and DL-195 will all slide into USB-enabled LCD monitors here shortly, with the middle guy supporting resolutions as high as 1,920 x 1,080 and the DL-195 cranking things to 2,048 x 1,152 before crying “Uncle!” In theory, at least, this enables laptop users to connect high-res screens when their desktop replacement needs a helping hand, and it can be enjoyed now by consumers in Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Europe who can snag themselves a new SyncMaster LapFit LD190G or LD220G monitor.

[Via EverythingUSB, thanks Ian]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Peripherals

DisplayLink boldly enters HD realm on new Samsung LapFit displays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We just caught sight of one low-cost Dell monitor headed for Hong Kong a few days ago, and it looks like the company has now rolled out another three for folks over here, including the widescreen P2210 model, and the old school E190S and E170S 4:3 models. Each of those meet the usual EPEAT Gold and Energy Star requirements, and Dell also goes one step further by using halogen-free laminates and a chassis composed of 25% post-consumer recycled plastics. Of course, they’ll also get the job done spec-wise, with the 22-inch widescreen model boasting a 1,680 by 1,050 resolution along with VGA, DVI and DisplayPort connections, while the 17 and 19-inch 4:3 models dial things back to 1,280 x 1,024 and VGA only. Good enough? Then you can grab any one right now for $110, $130 or $240.

Filed under: Displays

Dell rolls out budget, eco-minded P2210, E190S, E170S monitors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regardless of its efforts, when discussing desktops, laptops, and even rumored smartphones, there are few brands in the business capable of inspiring a deep, consumer yawn as quickly as Dell. That can’t be said about Dell’s display business however, which has consistently provided sleek monitors offering some of the best bang for the buck in the business. Dell’s newest 20-incher is already out in Hong Kong where we expect it will soon begin its journey west. This entry-level monitor speaks the new design language of Dell’s XPS and Studio rigs and comes packing HDMI and VGA inputs with specs that include a 1600 x 900 (that’s a 16:9 aspect) pixel resolution, 5 millisecond response, 1000:1 contrast and 250 nits of brightness with a 160-degree viewing angle. Not great, but decent specs for the HK$1,098 (tax inclusive) price which we expect to be about $120 – 130 by the time model ST2010 lands Stateside.

[Thanks, John]

Filed under: Displays

Dell’s ST2010 20-inch monitor to bring HDMI for about $120 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 01:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I woke up at 3AM last night with my mind racing. The extremely important question that jolted me awake: How big is the Enterprise’s viewscreen? So I did the math.

First off, it depends on which Enterprise you’re talking about. The original Enterprise of the ’60s, which I’ve been watching Season 1 of on Blu-ray (quite a good restoration, btw), had what seemed like a tiny ass screen when compared to the IMAX-like experience of the new movie Enterprise. But it’s not actually that small.

Using the combined knowledge of the Star Fleet Technical Manual and some screenshots of the episodes, I was able to determine that the screen is a 136-inch display with a 1.73:1 aspect ratio. That’s actually smaller than the retina-searing 150-inch Panasonic plasma that we played with before. Yes, Adam Frucci and various captains of industry that have way too much money have viewed things in their own home on a larger display than a captain of a STARSHIP.

But Picard isn’t going to be showed up by 21st century technology. His glorious Enterprise D has a 212-inch screen with a 1.92:1 aspect ratio, which is big enough for Riker to jam chairs through while Picard’s off in a fantasy land with Whoopi Goldberg. Nice job, Riker.

Not only is this screen gigantic, it supposedly displays stuff in three-dimensions, shifting views or something so Jean-Luc can put a face to Troi’s feelings of “he’s hiding something”. The Star Trek Wiki explains thusly:

While it is a subtle effect, the viewscreen seen throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation clearly displayed 3-D images. This effect was created in some scenes by providing multiple angles on the viewer, with the image on screen displayed at a corresponding angle, rather than a flat, single angle shot.

But what about the newest technology? What have we learned from years of actual consumer electronics development that the tech-consultants on the movie set could incorporate into the latest iteration of the Enterprise? “Bigger is better.”

The display on new-Kirk’s ship looks massive, but only because it’s so wide. If you’re measuring the screen diagonally in display-talk, it’s around 326-inches, which is larger in absolute terms than even Picard’s screen. It also has a 3.25:1 display ratio, making it wider than most film ratios. But if you’re talking pure width, it measures about 26 feet across. Quite impressive.

If they ever do remake TNG, I suspect that the viewscreen will wrap entirely around the side of the bridge all the way to the back where neo-Worf and neo-Geordi will be able to see what’s going on behind the Enterprise. It’s easier to turn your head to see a display than to tell someone to press a button to change the view.

So yes, this is our dream for when we go into space. Not only will we be able to be in space, we’ll have really, really big screens to watch stuff on.

With today’s inexpensive monitors (like the one highlighted in today’s Cheap Geek post), multiple monitor configurations are within everyone’s grasp. If you’d like more viewing room but your computer lacks the ports, check out the USB 2.0 Display Adapter just released by Other World Computing.

This $99 adapter turns any USB 2.0 port into a DVI port. It works like an external video card, so you don’t need to install an upgraded video card into your computer. The adapter works with HDMI, DVI, and VGA displays in full 32-bit color at resolutions up to 1600 by1200.

You can even use more than one of these: Intel Macs can support up to four adapters, while Windows XP SP2, 2000 SP4, and Vista with Aero computers can support up to six.