Hasta La Gadget!

Cowon’s D2 portable media player never was much of a looker, and needless to say, neither is the replacement D2+. This somewhat bulky PMP sports a bezel that’s remarkably thick, though it does boast a built-in DMB TV tuner, SD / SDHC / MMC expansion slot, FM radio, USB 2.0 connectivity and BBE+ sound enhancement. There’s no apparent word on pricing, but we suspect Cowon will clear that up whenever this thing pops official in the North American market. A few more pics are waiting in the read link if you’re still undecided on the design.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cowon gets official with D2+ PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Or, at least we hope it is. If you’ll recall, we heard way back in August of 2007 that South Korea was set to begin construction on a robot-themed park. Here we are in 2009, and we’re basically getting the same story all over again. Reportedly, the nation’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy is expecting to get going on Robot Land this year, as the government has set aside $559 million for construction in Incheon. We’re also told that actual plans for that second park have yet to materialize, making us wonder even more if this whole thing isn’t slipping to vaporware status. At any rate, the parks would sure be good for the local economy (assuming anyone has the money to go), but we’re at the point of recommending that you not hold your breath on seeing this up by the promised open date of year-end 2013.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Robot Land theme park finally breaking ground in South Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not even a month after LG outed its 50PQ60D and 42PQ60D Xcanvas plasmas over in South Korea, the company has introduced a trio of LCD HDTVs in the nation as well. The LH30FD models, all part of the burgeoning Scarlet series, are all presumably equipped with 1080p panels, inbuilt speakers and other modern amenities. While LG leaves out most of the details, we are told that all three sets boast a variety of picture modes, a trio of HDMI sockets and a four-step power saving mode that can purportedly “reduce power consumption by up to 70 percent.” We’ve no way to prove or disprove that claim, but hopefully the stipulations will be spelled out more clearly when, er, if these migrate to America. As for those in Seoul, they can grab one later this month for ₩2,400,000 ($1,725; 47-inch), ₩1,650,000 ($1,186; 42-inch) or ₩1,200,000 ($862; 32-inch).

[Via Slashgear]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

LG intros power-sipping LH30FD LCD HDTVs in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The world at large still has aways to go before it catches up with Sweden’s Sigbritt Löthberg, but South Korea’s hoping to take a baby step in that direction by 2012. According to a new proposal by the Korea Communications Commission, it’s aiming to make broadband ten times faster in its nation in under three years, and according to the plan, it’ll take some $24.6 billion in order to make it happen. The central government is looking to cough up around a third of that, with the rest having to come from private telecommunications companies. We’re told that the initiative could create upwards of 120,000 jobs, and citizens will be able to kiss their 100Mbps connections goodbye as they replace ’em with 1Gbps alternatives. The KCC hopes the move will enable more interactive TV services to be delivered along with additional e-commerce and home schooling; South Korean residents, however, are probably just stoked about lowering their ping times.

[Via GigaOM]

Filed under: Networking

South Koreans could see 1Gbps web connections by 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Don’t bet the farm on it just yet, but given the FCC filing that outed these sets at the tail end of December, we’d say it’s safe to assume that the panel you see above (and after the break) will be headed to America in short order. Made official today in South Korea, LG’s Xcanvas 50PQ60D and 42PQ60D plasmas sport a sleeker, more fully integrated design that conceals the speakers within the border. The TV itself also detects ambient light and automatically adjusts brightness in order to conserve energy, and the built-in USB port enables portable media to be loaded on for all to see. Few other details about the pair are being released, but you can expect ’em on sale halfway across the world in around three weeks for $1,460 / $1,022, respectively.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading LG gets official with 50PQ60D and 42PQ60D Xcanvas plasmas in Korea

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

LG gets official with 50PQ60D and 42PQ60D Xcanvas plasmas in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments