Virtual home calls for equally intangible Ikea furnishings

I don't know how many of you still play the Sims 2, but if you are, here's something to add to the clutter in your virtual home--Ikea furniture. The expansion pack for the PC simulation game will debut on June 20 in Asia Pacific with a recommended retail price of S$25.90. Folks in the US and Europe will get theirs on June 23 and June 27, respectively. The collaboration is not the first of its kind as gamers already have access to Ford's Mustang GT and H&M apparels. What next? Ben & Jerry's?

NEC takes heart in LCD prototype

It's kind of curious that a company would send out a press release just to announce the new shape of an LCD, but that's exactly what NEC has done. And not just any shape, mind you, but a heart--and Valentine's Day is nine months away.

It's actually being touted as another way that LCDs can be configured and used, as Engadget observes, not unlike the circular version we saw last fall. These prototypes are being showcased to exemplify the versatility of the technology, as flexible TFT displays find uses beyond traditional rectangular screens.

One reason for trumpeting such accomplishments is the future of LCD technology in general, as competing paper-thin OLED screens threaten to eventually replace the flat panels used today for TVs and computer monitors. Assuming, of course, that they don't fade to black before then.

Via Crave CNET

Sony plans to boost production of ultra-thin TVs

That recent report questioning the longevity of Sony's OLED television displays apparently has done little to deter the company's headlong rush into the new technology.

The company is reportedly spending US$210 million to manufacture medium to large versions of the paper-thin displays in fiscal 2009, according to Engadget. That's a big step up for the screens, which use less power and are far more flexible than plasmas or LCDs. To date the only OLED TV actually available for purchase has a display that measure just 11 inches--the XEL-1--hardly a size that can compete in a market where 42- and 50-plus inch models seem the norm.

The move comes none too soon, because Sony will need to step up production if it hopes to make a dent with OLED TVs in the near future. At the current price of US$2,500 for an 11-inch screen, there's a dire need to create demand in a hypercompetitive business.

Via Crave CNET

Moist towelettes for your phone, body

La Fresh, a company that specializes in those handy, self-contained disposable cleaning wipes, has a new product launching next week called the Tech Pack. We got our (literally) grubby hands on the towelettes this morning and now have clean(er) glasses, hands, and electronics.

The kit comes with the standard hand and lens cleaners to clean your hands and glasses. It also throws in some dry, microfiber screen-cleaning wipes. The entire thing is bundled in a TSA-safe package you can throw in your bag or toiletry kit when you're traveling. I gave the wipes a spin on my digital camera and laptop and it made a noticeable difference, although if you've got actual solids on your screen (like latte remnants), you're better off with a wet solution.

The kit runs at about US$10 and is biodegradeable.

Via Crave CNET | Photo credit: Josh Lowensohn, CNET Networks

iriver releases a literate media player

With so many e-book readers coming on the market, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to build the technology into another type of media device. And what better way to complement a good book than music?

iriver's new P10 portable media player does just that, though it's headed only for the Korean market so far. It has 33GB of built-in memory, handwriting recognition, and a 4.3-inch LCD with a 800 x 480 resolution.

If that's a tad small for reading the classics, you can still use it to watch the Simpsons because it supports video playback. But you'll want to figure out how to switch back quickly to Dickens when someone you're trying to impress walks by.

Via Crave CNET

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