Family Learning Center

Posts Tagged ‘Displays’

AIST shows off see-through display prototype on video

Face it, folks — the days of windows being just windows are behind us. Before long, our panes will double as widget displays or makeshift televisions, and AIST has the prototype to prove it. The demonstration seems to utilize technology that’s far different than that seen in Samsung’s iceTouch PMP, but it’s certainly no less exciting. According to DigInfo, AIST is developing florescent glass suitable for excitation by near-UV LEDs, and by combining this [borosilicate] glass with LEDs, it’s possible to obtain transparent, flat light sources.” Better still, we’re told that the prevailing thought is that this here technology could be used to develop see-through displays as well as “light sources and displays that use solar cells without modification.” Anxious to see what a transparent LCD could do for you? Hop on past the break, mash play and let your imagination run absolutely wild.

Continue reading AIST shows off see-through display prototype on video

AIST shows off see-through display prototype on video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  DigInfo  | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

Ask Engadget: Best USB / secondary monitor?

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Corey, who needs a secondary display to run widgets, IM boxes and squashed YouTube clips while the real work goes down on the main screen. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“My laptop’s screen is feeling cramped these days, but since I mostly use it at a desk, I’m thinking of getting a USB monitor instead of a whole new rig. I know Mimo has a bunch of options, but has anyone used them? Are there any other companies out there making these USB-connected secondary displays? I know it’s a new industry, but hopefully someone has a first-hand perspective to share. Thanks!”

No worries Corey — we’ll point you to our own Mimo impressions, and then we’ll ask the readers to contribute from there. Any tips on which USB monitor is best? Any horror stories that we should all be aware of? Chime in below!

Ask Engadget: Best USB / secondary monitor? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

Hands-on with TAT’s dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app

What, you thought Home was the only project in the pipeline for these guys? The mobile UI experts at Sweden’s TAT are in the house at MWC this week showing off a couple other nifty developments that are keeping them busy these days: a dual-screen UI concept utilizing TI’s next-gen hardware, and an app that makes good on a concept it had demoed before. First up, they’ve been using a TI Blaze to demonstrate their vision of a phone with two displays, likely in a slider configuration (in fact, they showed a Droid to represent how they think the form factor could work) with a screen where you’d normally expect they physical QWERTY keyboard to be. It’s slick and wicked smooth on the brutally powerful OMAP4 core, but realistically, this is something unusual enough so that we’d need to play with a unit for a good, long while before drawing any usability conclusions. TAT believes we could see devices with this kind of setup by years’ end, but we don’t know what carriers, manufacturer, or time frames would be involved at this point.

Next up, Recognizr is the realization of the Augmented ID concept it showed off last year that lets you tag your face (it sounds weird, but it’s quite literally true) with icons representing services that you use, each of which exposes information about you that you want others to know; then, other users with the system can put you in their viewfinder and see the same icons. It’s not flawless — in fact, TAT readily admits that they probably need better camera tech before it can be commercialized, and they had quite a few issues during our demo time — but it’s a clever concept that’s better watched on video than explained, which is convenient considering that we’ve got videos of both of these goodies in action after the break. Check ‘em out, won’t you?

Continue reading Hands-on with TAT’s dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app

Hands-on with TAT’s dual-screen phone concept and augmented reality app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

CBS brings 3D advertising to Grand Central Station, glasses makers drink to that
We know good and well what kind of extravagant displays are available to gawk at in New York City, but now it looks like the locals will have yet another one to check out when they’re taking a breather from the rat race. CBS Outdoor has unveiled plans to deliver two solid hours (from 11:30AM to 1:30PM throughout February) of 3D advertising on an expansive, high-definition video screen installed within Grand Central Station. Unlike the glasses-free solution that we spotted at Intel’s CES booth this year, this one will still require onlookers to rock those heinous and soul-crushing glasses in order to “see” the “effect,” and with around 70,000 commuters passing by each day, we’d guess that the spectacle manufacturer who nabbed this contract is feeling pretty good right about now.

CBS brings 3D advertising to Grand Central Station, glasses makers drink to that originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hot Hardware, 3D Display Info  |  PR Newswire  | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

Canon prepping 60D and 550D / 600D with articulating displays?
Camera aficionados, looks like it’s time for the pre-PMA rumor mill to start churning. Our inaugural whisper this season comes care of a forum poster at d-spot.co.il, who according to Canon Rumors‘ tipster has been accurate in the past (at this point we’ve been unable to corroborate). Here’s the deal: a Canon 60D and Canon 550D / 600D (i.e. Rebel series). Both apparently feature a 15.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, articulating screens, and 720p video at 30 frames per second. The 60D, however, can also claim 1080p footage — odd that the Rebel doesn’t, since the current T1i has 1080p — an electronic level, and a new battery and grip compared to its 50D successor. That one’s apparently priced at around $1,190 and due out in May, while the other is $799 with no connection to a release date given. Make no mistake, between this and those waterproof Sony point-and-shoots, this is only the beginning.

Canon prepping 60D and 550D / 600D with articulating displays? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Canon Rumors  |  d-spot.co.il  | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

Samsung, JVC pick RealD tech for their new 3D LCD televisions
A part of 3D’s assault on the home theater this year is a battle over which glasses technology each manufacturer will choose, and after locking up Sony RealD has announced its tech is coming alongside new displays from JVC and Samsung. While JVC’s 3D LCDs will use circular polarized passive glasses (like the ones you’ve probably worn at the movies) Samsung is promising to work on both active shutter LCD and passive eyewear models — no word yet on any Gucci tie-ins, but it’s still early.

Samsung, JVC pick RealD tech for their new 3D LCD televisions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  PRNewswire, PRNewswire  | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

Kodak selling OLED display business to LG, cross-licensing like there’s no tomorrow
It was always hard to comprehend Kodak as a display technology company while maintaining a zero presence in the TV or monitor industry, and now, after developing the first OLED material way back in the 70s and plenty of beautiful displays since, Kodak is getting out of the OLED game. They’re selling to LG, who first inked a deal with Kodak back in March for using Kodak technology, just started selling a 15-inch OLED in November, and hopes to have a 30-inch display out by 2012. Kodak calls its IP portfolio for OLED “fundamental,” so even if this doesn’t speed up LG’s time to market, it might give it some significant cost advantages in the long run. Speaking of patents, Kodak and LG have also entered into a “broad” cross-license agreement to dip into each other’s patent portfolios, and the two companies could last be seen skipping merrily, hand-in-hand into the sunset.

Kodak selling OLED display business to LG, cross-licensing like there’s no tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Business Wire (sale), Business Wire (patents)  | Email this | Comments
Read the whole story…

Twitter Takes Features (and the Fail Whale) Mobile

Twitter is testing out a new mobile interface at http://mobile.twitter.com the company announced just minutes ago and it really is a must-see. Beautiful design and some unique functionality are built on top of the company’s own API.

It’s a relatively simple way to interact with Twitter but below are three key features that weren’t available on Twitter’s mobile interface before. Two features, lists and saved searches, are missing so far – and that’s enough to be a deal-breaker for this reviewer.

Sponsor

1. View what you’re replying to when you reply.

   The new reply view displays the tweet that’s the subject of your reply below the message composition box. All Twitter apps should do this!

2. Threaded DMs

   You can see the history of Direct Messages between you and any user whose profile page you’re on. It’s similar to how Tweetie 2 does it and it’s pretty nice. Oddly, there’s no way to view all your most recent DMs though. That’s something that will probably be fixed soon.



3. Mobile Fail Whale

   That’s right – now you can get the beloved Fail Whale, Twitter’s error message, on your phone. It’s fun the first time. We’ll see how it feels after repeated appearances.

Two Missing Features and One Dream Unfulfilled

There are no support for Twitter Lists in this interface. Twitter without groups of some kind is a cluttered mess if you have a lot of people you’re following. This new interface is going to be best suited to people who make casual use of Twitter.

There’s no access to your saved searches, on of the nicest things about the web interface. There is access to trending topics, though. That’s further evidence that this is intended to be a “fun” mobile interface. As such, it’s great.

Finally, there’s no utilization of the new Geolocation API. It’s been a week already and no one has changed our lives with this API yet!

All in all, it’s a great improvement to the mobile site – but it isn’t going to replace the Tweetdeck or Tweetie iPhone apps on my phone.

Discuss







Read the whole story…