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"Self-cleaning" Sanyo projectors
Philip Wong | May 14, 2008
Pricing-wise, the LP-XC55 and LP-XC50 will be launched in Japan from July for USS$3,522 and US$3,016, respectively. As for whether these make it out to the rest of Asia remains to be seen.
Via Fareastgizmos | Photo credit: Sanyo
JVC, Kenwood officially hook up
Erica Ogg | May 14, 2008
Victor and Kenwood said Monday that they plan to become one company by
October 1 this year.
The two Japanese audio equipment makers will combine to form JVC Kenwood Holdings, which will be based in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Victor, a subsidiary of electronics giant Matsushita, is best known for its JVC brand. Under the agreement, Kenwood Chairman Haruho Kawahara will become the holding company's chairman, while Victor President Kunihiko Sato will become the new company's president.
It came in fits and starts, but the two have finally settled on a merger agreement. It was first discussed last year, and since then the two have agreed to develop future car and home audio systems together.
The new business will focus on car electronics, home electronics, and professional wireless systems, and will also explore new product segments. The two companies are combining in hopes of reducing costs and scaling their distribution in the already-crowded Japanese consumer electronics market. For the same reason, Victor said last month it would no longer make flat-panel TVs for the Japanese market.
Via Crave CNET
44.7mm and 600,000:1 contrast LG Scarlet
Philip Wong | May 13, 2008
There're definitely more--or in this case, less--to LG's Scarlet TV than meets the eye. Just when we were lamenting on the watered-down Asian models launched in Singapore, the Korean chaebol has rolled out an even slimmer Scarlet Super Slim with a 42-inch screen and 44.7mm-thick bezel. According to AVING, this LCD TV sports an amazingly high 600,000:1 dynamic contrast and the original CES 2008 specifications. Notably, a 120Hz frame rate-doubling technology and four HDMI inputs.
This will retail for 2.5 million won or around US$2,400--sweet Korean model not included.
Via Aving.net | Photo credit: Aving.net
World's prettiest universal remote! Period
Philip Wong | May 13, 2008
You could have the traditional magic wane or a tablet universal remote, but nothing comes close to the sleek and sexy Thync. Easily the prettiest controller we have come across, this has a huge curvy touchscreen powered by underlying drag-and-drop flash menus. Other juicy bits include voice command capability and an inbuilt speakerphone feature which syncs with any Bluetooth-enabled mobile.
There's one problem, though. Until one of the big remote control manufacturers such as Logitech or Philips adopts this industrial design, we seriously doubt you could lay your hands on a Thync anytime soon.
Via Ubergizmo | Photo credit: David Chacon
Apple working on its own Wiimote?
Mike Yamamoto | May 12, 2008
Microsoft may not be the only one looking to develop its own Wiimote-like game controller. Apple is researching a 3D remote of its own, according to AppleInsider.
The research, reportedly outlined in a November 2006 patent filing disclosed this week, describes a device that would work similarly to the Nintendo Wii controller "in video games to position a user's character or to otherwise track the movement of the remote control in a user's environment". The remote would apparently be designed to work with Apple TV as its console.
The device would also use some of the multitouch features seen on other Apple products, including the iPhone and MacBooks. According to the filing, it would "zoom into and out of an image or a portion thereof based on the absolute position of the remote control".
Patent filings are never any guarantee of actual products, of course. But there will be particular interest in this one because a move by Apple into the game industry has been rumored--and hoped for, by loyalists--for years. So if nothing else, it will keep that flame alive at least a little while longer.
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