LG builds low-cost screens for UMPCs

For the uninitiated among you, the LCD panel is one of the major cost factors in building a laptop. So although Electronista's report that LG is making low-cost displays may seem unexciting at first, the reality of it is that once these panels hit the market we may see new lows in UMPC prices.

The Korean maker has plans to create cheap 10.1-inch widescreens with a resolution of 1,024 x 576 pixels. Though it is shorter than the standard 600-pixel height for most displays, this allows the laptop to shorten its breath for a more compact design. An LED-backlit 8.9-inch screen is also in the works with a higher 1,024 x 600 resolution.

To round off the equation, LG commented that it intends to create a new 9.4-inch LCD in 2009. The 10.1-inch and 8.9-inch panels are slated to appear in the upcoming Acer UMPC as well as future HP laptops.

Sony demos 4K technology, Kabuki-style!

Late last Friday, we were invited to a 4K screening of Togitatsu no Utare, a traditional Japanese theater-styled performance, except it was videoed and presented on the big screen. While I would have favored flying bullets, blood and gore anytime, the pristine images and clarity were a sight to behold. Gone were the nostalgic graininess and smooth albeit soft pictures, a definite sign of the times challenging the conventional interpretation of "film-like" among reviewers and enthusiasts alike.

Powering this visual feast is Sony's CineAlta 4K digital cinema system. From a common layman's perspective, it's almost equivalent to four full-HD panels stacked 2 x 2 together. Though in reality, this commercial-oriented technology is far more advanced, involving a suite of end-to-end ultra-high-resolution equipment. Techspeak aside, it was pretty obvious the poor actors were perspiring profusely throughout the performance--we could pick up lots of intricate facial details--and being cocooned in layers of thick fabric simply added to their misery.

NTT DoCoMo unveils new corporate logo

Last week, NTT DoCoMo unveiled its new corporate logo in bold red letters which, according to the company, symbolizes its "energy and dynamism". I'm all for its renewed commitment to its customers, although I can't say the same about the chosen font and color.

We've seen some corporate rebranding in recent years. Some went through major revamps, others were just evolutionary changes. An example of the latter is Palm's logo from a wordprint and name change to an orange ball emblem.

Neatorama has an interesting compilation of how some logos have evolved over the years. The article missed out Samsung, though. By the way, who still remembers the Korean chaebol's earliest logo? And does DoCoMo's new insignia remind you of someone else's? Sound off in Talkback.

Fatman iTube 452: It's a series of tubes!

When you hear the word "iTube," you're probably more likely to assume it's the name of a grossly self-obsessed version of YouTube. But you'd be wrong, as fans of Fatman--the company, not the game--would tell you. The iTube 452 is in fact Fatman's uber-stylish new valve amplifier and it comes with the ValveDock for seamless integration with iPods.

Valve amps claim to offer a warmer, more natural musical sound than that from today's common transistor-based amplifiers, and they're often favored by audiophiles. With the iPod's arguably good sound quality and support for lossless audio formats, combining them with a valve amp makes a lot of sense.
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What Ripley would look like as an iPod

This is the ideal iPod dock for those who carry gear such as the Hummer phone to reinforce their fragile masculine egos. Kind of an MP3 version of the Makita MR100, the 10-pound "Construction Radio" is equally comfortable in the workshop or a demolition site for a 40-story high-rise. Indeed, it looks something like a "HyperBike" for the media player, or maybe a scaled-down version of Ripley's power loader from Aliens.

It comes with a built-in spotlight, SD card slot, dual power outlets, and an AM-FM radio in addition to a fortified iPod dock, according to T3, so you can enjoy your favorite Broadway show tunes while wielding a power saw. And if you're adding the latest songs from High School Musical 3 through its USB port, we have the perfect flash drive for it.

Via CNET Crave

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