Jul 07

LG teases next-generation Chocolate for August unveiling

Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, korea, LG, official, smartphone, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

To say that the Chocolate was a hit for LG would be similar to saying the PlayStation 2 went over well for Sony. Indeed, the outfit’s best selling handset ever (21 million units worldwide) holds a special place in the hearts of suits and shareholders alike, so it’s hardly a shock to see the company issuing a next-generation version of the device. Slated to fall into LG’s Black Label series, the phone — which is simply dubbed the ‘second generation LG Chocolate’ for now — will be fully unveiled in August, with bits and pieces to be strategically dropped during the run-up. The only real hint at features that we’re given is the following: “The new LG Chocolate will be a disruptive force in conventional mobile screens in an effort to maximize usability while inheriting the original minimalist-inspired style and iconic design of its predecessor.” Haptics? OLED? A portal into the future? Only time will tell.

Update: The typically reliable Tweakers.net has come through with a few more details, namely that this here phone will become the first of its kind with a 21:9 aspect ratio display (much like Philips’ 56-inch Cinema HDTV). We’re also told that the model number will be BL-40, the screen resolution will be pegged at 800 x 345, the display itself will be over 3-inches diagonally, the inbuilt camera will be 5 megapixels and HSDPA will be included. Now, if only we knew how the UI would handle…

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Gallery: LG teases next-generation Chocolate for August unveiling

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LG teases next-generation Chocolate for August unveiling originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 25

LG slides out 55LH95 and 55LH93 wireless LCD HDTVs

Posted in: hdtv, korea, LED, LG, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili, Wireless

Maybe it’s just the disco-inspired wallpaper that has our motors all revved up, but whatever the case, we’re pretty jazzed about LG‘s newest 55-inch duo. The 55LH95 and 55LH93 are the company’s latest ultrathin LED-backlit sets, both of which slim down to 24.8 millimeters and pack a grand total of 3,360 LEDs — a number that LG claims is around seven times that used in most edge-lit LED TVs. There’s also a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 240Hz refresh rate and — potentially most intriguing — a mysterious wireless feature that enables DVD and game consoles to transmit information sans an HDMI cable. There’s no mention of what technology is baked in (AMIMON’s WHDI, perhaps?), but either way, we’re hoping the same stuff remains once these get announced for North America. Estimated pricing on the July-bound (in South Korea) sets is pegged for $5,500 and $5,900, respectively, and LG is apparently planning to issue 42- and 47-inchers with the same amenities here soon.

Update: SiBEAM pinged us to confirm that it’s WirelessHD included here.

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LG slides out 55LH95 and 55LH93 wireless LCD HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 01

Thinkware’s iNAVI ES300 navigator reeks of win

Posted in: gps, korea, nav, navigation, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

We can’t quite figure it out, but it seems the navigation makers in North America just can’t muster the courage to develop something such as this for our market. We could very well be wrong here, but seriously, is there no pent-up demand for a TV tuning GPS system with a spacious 7-inch display here in the US / Canada / Mexico? Anywho, the South Koreans are scoring once more with the downright beautiful Thinkware iNAVI ES300, which arrives with a sweet side-panel control system, integrated battery, 2GB / 4GB / 8GB of internal storage, 3D maps and a DMB tuner. Oh, and this is considered “low-end” by its standards. Those in the right places can snag one soon for ₩329,000 ($263), ₩379,000 ($303) or ₩429,000 ($343) from least capacious to most.

[Via NaviGadget]

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Thinkware’s iNAVI ES300 navigator reeks of win originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 27

LG demos ultra-bright Full HD 3D monitor

Posted in: LCD, LG, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili, video

LG’s certainly been known to dabble in the third-dimension, and while we’re still waiting for it to ship those “one or two” 3D TVs this year, at least we’re confident that it’s getting closer. Over in South Korea, the company has showcased a new Full HD (1080p) 3D monitor with what it says is the highest brightness level of any competing panel. Sadly, viewers are still required to don glasses when ingesting the action, but this take on the tech enables said eyewear to be somewhat thinner and less cumbersome. Have a peek at the vid down in the read link.

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LG demos ultra-bright Full HD 3D monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 23

iriver’s T-DMB-packin’ B30 portable media player emerges

Posted in: korea, PMP, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

Check it, North Americans — yet another PMP that’ll never arrive here in this form. The T-DMB-equipped B30 just popped up over on iriver‘s Korean website, complete with an FM tuner, 2.8-inch QVGA display, a microSD expansion slot, 4/8/16GB of inbuilt memory, white / black / silver color options, USB 2.0 connectivity, a user-selectable equalizer and a list of supported file formats too lengthy to cover in this space. Furthermore, we’re told that the battery is good for 40 hours on audio and 5.5 hours with video, and while a ship date has yet to be revealed, we’re expecting ’em to go for around $155, $183 and TBD from least capacious to most.

[Via PMP Today]

Gallery: iriver’s T-DMB-packin’ B30 portable media player emerges

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iriver’s T-DMB-packin’ B30 portable media player emerges originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 May 2009 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 21

LG’s 50PS70 and 60PS70 plasmas get 160GB Time Machine functionality

Posted in: dvr, korea, LG, plasma, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

The jury’s still out on whether inbuilt DVRs are good for HDTVs, but LG’s obviously hot to trot on the whole idea. Nearly a year after first introducing sets with an integrated Time Machine, the outfit is hitting back with two new big-screen plasmas that each posses a 160GB internal hard drive. The X Canvas 50PS70 (50-inch) and 60PS70 (60-inch) panels also boast 600Hz dejudder technology and can record overflow onto external drives connected via USB 2.0. Additional details (price, screen resolution, availability, etc.) are scant, but we’ll be sure to keep an ear to the ground.

[Via Akihabara News]

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LG’s 50PS70 and 60PS70 plasmas get 160GB Time Machine functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 15

iriver P7 ships in South Korea, Americans look longingly across the sea

Posted in: korea, now shipping, NowShipping, on sale, OnSale, PMP, price, pricing, shipping, ships, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

Sadly, we’re still no closer to understanding when iriver will allow its striking P7 to escape the chains of “pre-order status” here in North America, but geeks in South Korea can now feel free to indulge. 4.3-inches of luscious screen real estate slapped onto an 8GB PMP will set you back just under ₩200,000 ($160), and we’re guessing the more capacious 16GB variant will cost just a wee bit more. So yeah, we’re going out on a limb here and assuming that a homeland launch foreshadows a splashdown on US soil — don’t let us down, iriver.

[Via PMP Today]

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iriver P7 ships in South Korea, Americans look longingly across the sea originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 13

Samsung’s SCH-W760 features night vision cam for Blair Witch-style video calls

Posted in: korea, samsung, slider, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

On the surface, the new SCH-W760 looks like a totally typical midrange Korean domestic market slider: 3 megapixel camera, DMB reception, Bluetooth, and a semi-notable 2.8-inch AMOLED display. You know, the usual. A closer look reveals one very interesting feature, though — it features a front cam sensitive to infrared spectrum so that you can hold grayscale video calls in complete darkness. Beyond scaring the poo out of friends with your spooky, grainy, low-res visage and holding the occasional video conference from the confines of an unlit closet, we have absolutely no idea what practical value this offers — but look, ridiculous features are what exotic new handsets are all about. Well played, Samsung. The W760 hasn’t yet been officially announced, though it’ll apparently be coming to SKT, so keep an eye peeled (and bring a flashlight).

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Samsung’s SCH-W760 features night vision cam for Blair Witch-style video calls originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 04

Samsung’s 850 PAVV plasma teases the 1-inch thick mark

Posted in: hdtv, korea, plasma, samsung, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili

The plasma industry may be teetering on the edge of certain doom (okay, so maybe that’s exaggerating it… a little), but Samsung‘s still pushing the envelope. Over in South Korea, the company just outed its latest PDPs, the 850 PAVV lineup. Aside from being 40 percent more power efficient, 20 percent lighter and 120 percent more seductive than the prior generation, the new 50- and 58-inch sets also boast DLNA support, a USB 2.0 socket, DivX compatibility and a rather striking stand. The real kicker? The 29 millimeter depth, which equates to just over one inch thick for those who abhor the metric system. There’s no word on when these beauties will hit the streets, but we’re guessing Panasonic will be keenly interested in knowing.

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Samsung’s 850 PAVV plasma teases the 1-inch thick mark originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 27

KT’s Egg gives your WiFi device access to the wonderful world of WiBro

Posted in: ipod touch, IpodTouch, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili, wifi, WiMAX

Korea Telecom really wants to get you on the WiBro tip. The aptly-named (if a wee bit uninspired) Egg is essentially a router for connecting WiFi devices (such as the Nintendo DS or iPod Touch) to the company’s wireless broadband network. According to the Korea Times, both KT and SK Telecom (the country’s two main WiBro operators) have mere 170,000 WiBro customers total, “making a mockery” of its “most wired nation” aspirations — so they can certainly stand to expand their customer base a little bit. Subscribers to the company’s flat-rate data plan will get the device for free (trust us, they’ve paid enough). Or you can pick one up for yourself at the Apple store in Samseong-dong or Myeong-dong, the next time you’re in Seoul. This guy should be hitting the shelves sometime in May for ₩220,000 (that’s about $163).

[Thanks, Stafford]

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KT’s Egg gives your WiFi device access to the wonderful world of WiBro originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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