A 102-inch HDTV for the backyard

Outdoor TV screens are hard enough to see as it is, and the last thing you need is to be squinting at a 32-inch LCD. Suntronic understands that problem, which is why it offers all-weather HDTVs in sizes up to 102 inches.

Not only are they large, but these tough-guy TVs can function in temperatures ranging from -40 to more than 120 degrees, have built-in heaters and air conditioners, and of course are waterproof. They also have ultra-bright LCDs that improve "sunlight readability," I4U News says.

Sure, these are generally designed for commercial uses, but there's no reason they can't be used for a private party either. Then again, you could probably go even bigger for less money with a backyard drive-in theater.

Via CNET Crave

A tiny mic for your secret singing career

At first glance the Snowflake looked more like something you'd find on a kitchen counter than the desktop, maybe a small strainer or cheese grater. But it's actually a plug-and-play USB microphone that's touted as having professional quality.

Its most noticeable feature, however, is a tiny size that makes it extremely portable. The mic can be unfolded and clipped onto a laptop like a portable Webcam, according to Coolest-Gadgets, then retract back into its compact case when not in use.

We're exactly not sure who would need something like this unless it's used something like play-by-play sports commentary for a podcast from the stands. Or maybe you'd get one for those times when you feel like serenading a buddy on IM.

Via CNET Crave

Yamaha's glow-in-the-dark speakers

What do the Yamaha YST001 speakers and Philips Ambilight TVs have in common? Give up? Both are capable of putting on a light show or mood lighting, which is said to reduce eye strain as well as enhance the overall entertainment experience. The main difference that sets the Japanese and Dutch contraption apart is the choice of illumination. While the latter has become environmentally conscious with low-power LEDs, its Asian counterpart has gone the opposite route using three 25W halogen lamps.

Nevertheless, Yamaha's Koizumi-designed lighting system can be remote controlled to reduce the light output. A pair of these 1,204mm towers will cost around US$1,240 and can be driven via a 40 to 120W amplifier.

Via Born rich | Photo credit: Yamaha

Video glasses put high end in focus

With so many video glasses coming on the market, it's getting increasingly difficult for manufacturers to distinguish their wares. One of them is even offering a fashion line, which seems a bit of a stretch, to say the least.

eMagin, for its part, is taking what sometimes seems to be a novel approach these days: It's focusing on the technology. The company showed its latest offering at a conference in Los Angeles, a pair of 3D glasses that create the equivalent of a 105-inch screen viewed 12 feet away. Other models have made similar claims, but its Z800 3Dvisor uses OLED screens--which many believe will eventually replace LCDs as the display of choice for TVs because they are paper-thin and consume far less energy.

The glasses still don't deliver high-definition resolution, but they're getting closer at 800 x 600 pixels and a 60Hz refresh speed, as well as 16.7 million colors, according to Coolest-Gadgets. This pair also includes a noice-canceling microphone and 360-degree virtual viewing allowed by a high-speed headtracker.

As with products using OLED technology, however, the biggest obstacle appears to be price: These glasses go for a cool US$1,500, so we won't be doing our Geordi La Forge impersonation with them anytime soon.

Via CNET Crave

Sneak peek of 9G Kuro coming our way

We've received a heads up from our Pioneer insider on a recent Japanese launch of its videophile-grade 9G Kuro. This delivers five times better dynamic contrast than the US-centric PDP-6010FD, promising even richer blacks than any existing Kuro plasma TVs in the market. Furthermore, the KRP-600M's 100,000:1 rating puts it neck-to-neck against the recently announced Panasonic Viera TH-65PY850M. That said, the former is strictly a full-HD monitor, shipped without an onboard TV tuner and loudspeakers.

It also features multiple remote LEDs for enhanced infrared control in dark home theaters, as well as a sleek 41mm to 64mm side profile for a 60-incher. According to our contact, the 9G Kuros should be reaching our shores throughout Asia earliest by October. This sounds like eternity by today's standard, but possibly a worthy one considering the fact that these are the last bunch of Made-by-Pioneer plasma panels. Officially, that is. Shhh.

Via Techon | Photo credit: Pioneer

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