Logitech's mini keyboard for media PCs heading this way

It's taken a while for Logitech to bring its palm-sized diNovo Mini keyboard to Southeast Asia since first debuting at the Las Vegas-based CES tradeshow in January this year. But for many users here who have their PCs connected to their TVs, it may just be worth the wait.

Possibly one of the coolest-looking keyboards we've come across thus far, the diNovo Mini was designed to replace the clunky keyboard and mouse in a PC/TV living room setup. It's about the size of the Nintendo DS handheld gaming console, which makes it really easy to use (especially seated on the couch). Nor will it clutter your coffee table. Because it uses Bluetooth 2.0 for connectivity, the keyboard is wireless within a 30ft radius without the hassle of messy cables. An internal rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, which can last for about a month between charges, also takes away the inconvenience of frequent battery replacements.
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Go round with Sony's terabyte-sized NAS

Which company produces uniquely round network-attached storage (NAS)? Sony, of course! If you're a fan of its similarly shaped VGX-TP2G Media Center PC, the 1TB VGF-HS1 and 1.5TB HS1S will right feel at home, too. Design and generous capacity aside, these networked storage boxes also come with an integrated multiformat memory reader and a USB port.

Since they're DLNA-compatible, both will readily stream with a PlayStation 3 and PCs running Windows Media Player 11 software. Format-wise, there are MP3, WAV, ATRAC, AAC, WMA, JPEG, BMP, PNG, AVCHD, MPEG-2 and HDV support. To value add, there is the VAIO Picture Lab software to enable photo playback through PCs

As with most Japan-centric releases, these will be mainly for the Japanese market priced at US$570 and US$760 for the 1TB and 1.5TB model, respectively.

Via Akihabara News | Photo credit: Sony

Logitech Harmony One launch detailed

The Editors' Choice Logitech Harmony One is finally heading our way. The sleek learning universal remote controller will be launched in Singapore from mid-June for S$499 (US$328.29). One of the best infrared wands we've tested so far, it has both the advantage of flexible soft keys via a color touchscreen plus the tactile feedback of hard buttons. That's putting aside an inbuilt rechargeable battery and a companion cradle for easy overnight charging. For a more indepth review of the Harmony One, click here.

We're still awaiting information on the availability for the rest of Asia.

Multi-Layer Display LCD TV to ship soon

Minority Report's holographic images made 3D cool again. Even more impressive was 6th Day's highly interactive virtual girlfriend who could unzip your pants. But until that day arrives, PureDepth's upcoming MLD a.k.a Multi-Layer Display technology collaboration with Samsung looks like a start. Rumored to launch soon, this joint effort will roll out a 46-inch MLD LCD display that consists of two or more layers of LCD panels sandwiched within a frame and sharing a common backlight. The result is an onscreen image that appears to have 3D-ish depth. Better yet, there's no need to don any annoying 3D goggles to view this.

We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this showcase at CES 2008, at January's Showstopper preview in Las Vegas, though the crowd milling around the booth was forming its own 3D mass that we had to hoe our way through.

At 46 inches, this claims to be the "world's largest" MLD LCD TV, which is enough to make us wonder what the sticker shock would be like. Still, anything that moves us out of the static 2D zone is much welcomed, and if successfully mainstream, may see more collaborations that will put MLD into mobile phones, GPS units and gaming solutions. Now all that's needed is for Microsoft to hop in with its interactive Surface, and we're halfway home to that hubba-hubba interactive 3D babe/hunk.

Via New Launches | Photo credit: PureDepth

LG offers full Scarlet sight and sound experience

If you've already set your sights on an LG Scarlet HDTV, do consider going all out by pairing it with the companion HT953TV home theater system. Tuned by audio expert Mark Levinson, the 1,000W 5.1-channel kit not only bears the series' signature lighted cutout, it's also sports Touch Lighting. This technology is said to boost backlit touch-sensitive controls that "literally follow the users' fingers" (according to LG, of course).
We knew it's all about high-fashion design when it comes to lifestyle products. However, there's more than meets the eye beneath that curvy and glossy shell. As with all new 2008 home theater entries, it will upscale DVD to 1080p video quality. In addition, the HT953TV has USB, iPod and analog mini-jack (think earphone plug) inputs which enable music playback from just about any multimedia player under the sun.

Priced at S$1,599 (US$1,051.97), the HT953TV will be available in Asia end this month.

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