The button layout changes. Dynamically! Some are saying Samsung is using E Ink technology since the layout does not require power. Or it could nothing special at all. We’ll have to see once more information gets out.

1. Just so the numbers mean something:
2. Internal LCD
3. Speaker
4. Left Soft Key
5. Camera/Camcorder Key
6. Voice Commands Key
7. Speakerphone Key
8. Text Message Key
9. Send Key
10. Back/Clear Key
11. End Key
12. Voicemail/Visual Voice Mail Key

The Alias2, just like the original Alias, can be opened either vertically or horizontally. The keyboard changes what it displays based on how it is opened. Very cool.

Source: Phone Arena, Engadget

Apple pushed out the “MacBook Pro Graphics Firmware Update 1.0″ and it seems it has fixed the vertical line issue that was irritating customers that plunked down a considerable sum for the sexy machine.

“This firmware update is recommended for all 17-inch MacBook Pro (Early 2009) users and addresses the appearance of vertical lines or distorted graphics on the notebook display.”

It is not known exactly what the firmware update does: whether it fixes something with the GeForce 9600M or an overheating problem with the graphics subsystem. It’s good news for those who have had to endure some nasty artifacts in an otherwise near-perfect notebook PC.

Source: Apple, MacRumors, Engadget

The new stadium for the New York Yankees cost US$1.3 billion. Pretty expensive. Part that enormous expensive is a display that’s just as big: a 103 by 58 foot (5,925 square feet) 1080p Diamond Vision LED display from Mitsubishi. The new LED scoreboard dwarfs the old one: it’s six times larger! The massive display makes use of more than 8.6 million (8,601,600 to be exact) LED lamps. The LED display can be split into four video streams. The giant screen is just one of 1400 other video screens. Sony won big with 550 of them being BRAVIA flat panel TVs.

Cisco is in on it too. The company will manage all those displays via an IP-based network with each of the 1400 displays having an unique IP address. Videos will be encoded in MPEG4.

Source: Wired

HP w2338h Specifications

Display: 23″ (58.42cm) TFT LCD with BriteView
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Format: 1920 x 1080
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (static), 3000:1 (dynamic)
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Response Time: 5ms (on-off)
Connectivity: VGA, HDMI (v1.3) with HDCP
Adjustability: Tilt
Mount: VESA 100 x 100mm
Dimensions: 22.2 x 16.3 x 7.6″ (41.5 x 56.3 x 19.4 cm)
Weight: 13.23lbs (6kg)
What’s in the box: Monitor, Power Cable, VGA Cable, Audio Cable, CD with Instructions, Warranty Card
Price: US$299.99

HP just unveiled its w2338h 23″ LCD monitor. The w2338h sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and a pixel format of 1920 x 1080. It has VGA and HDMI connections. The 1000:1 contrast ratio is quite good but bear in mind that the 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio is only when the w2338h is displaying video.

And you’d want to do that while connected to the HDMI port, which supports HDCP. As you can see HP is not including an HDMI cable so you’ll need to get one. Also, most graphics cards have DVI out rather than HDMI. If so, then you’ll need to find a DVI-to-HDMI cord. Check out eBay before you head out to the store since you’ll get much better prices. Oh, and this is something I learned from a friend who is in the A/V business: You don’t need to spend money on good digital cables because they are all the same. On the other hand, you should spend a bit of money on good analog cables. (more…)

Monec Holding Ltd., a Switzerland-based communications company, filed a lawsuit against Apple. The lawsuit alleges that Apple is infringing on its patents, conducting unfair trade practices, monopolizing and interfering by promoting the iPhone as a touchscreen ebook reader.

Monec develops and markets data transmission tools for mobile electronics. The company filed a patent seven years ago titled “Electronic device, preferably an electronic book.” The details of the patent describe a light electronic device sporting a touchscreen LCD display for reading e-books–sounds like the iPhone. Apple is violating Monec’s patent by marketing the iPhone as an e-book reader by distributing applications that allow the iPhone to read e-books via the App Store.

Source: Wired, cnet, Apple Insider, Engadget

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Corning’s credit outlook from stable to negative on Tuesday, March 24, 2009. The reason? Moody’s cited a declining demand for LCD goods that began in late 2008. Corning announced that it will reduce 3,500 jobs after posting a 65% decline in profits in Q4’08. Moody’s is remaining cautious stating that Corning’s “debt holders could face slightly elevated risks until… operations and returns from joint-venture investments produce more robust levels of profitability and free cash flow generation.”

Source: Forbes

Canon EOS 500D / Rebel T1i Specifications

Sensor: 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS
Image Pixel Format: 4752 x 3168 (max)
Video: 1920 x 1080 at 20fps, 1280 x 720 at 30fps in Quicktime MOV (H.264/PCM)
ISO: ISO 100-3200 (expandable to 12800)
Burst: 3.4fps (max. 170 large JPEG images in a single burst)
LCD: 3.0” ClearView LCD with Live View mode
Autofocus: 9-point wide area AF with cross type centre point
Image Processing: DIGIC 4
Mounts: Canon EF and EF-S lenses, EX-series Speedlites, including new Speedlite 270EX, TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

Canon announced on March 25, 2009 its new EOS 500D also known as the Rebel T1i DSLR (digital SLR). The 500D sports a 15.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor that can also capture HD movies. ISO can be shifted all the way up to 12800 for when you want to photograph in the dark and don’t mind most of it ending up grainy. Images are processed by Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor. (more…)

Samsung NC310 / N310 Specifications

Display: 10.1″ Wide TFT LCD with LED Backlight
Pixel Format: 1024 x 600
Webcam: 1.3MP
GPU: Intel GMA 950
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
RAM: 1GB
HDD: 160GB
Connectivity: WiFi BGN, Bluetooth, HSDPA, WiMAX/WiBRO, USB (3), Ethernet, VGA
Storage: 3-in-1 Memory Card Reader
Battery: 4-cell (up to 5 hours), 6-cell (up to 11.5 hours)
Dimensions: 272 x 184.5 x 28.0mm
Weight: 1.23kg
Availability: Now in South Korea, May in UK
Pricing: £399

Samsung launched the N310 netbook (or in some circles the NC310) in South Korea on March 23, 2009. I had to look hard at the N310 to form an opinion. On the one hand it has a lot of high-end netbook specs: ultra-glossy edge-to-edge front glass, chiclet-style keyboard, a lot of connectivity options and a 6-cell battery that can keep it running up to 10.5 hours. But then you look at the design and it looks as if Samsung went for the K-12 crowd. The price is a bit on the high side too. Hmm…

Source: SamsungHub, Electricpig, Engadget

Pioneer announced that it will exit the TV market. That’s no news. The new news is that Pioneer will continue to manufacture just four models until April 11, 2009. That’s not a lot of time. And those lucky models? KRP-500A, KRP-500M, KRP-600A (pictured above), KRP-600M. Pioneer will make 2500 units of the 50″ models (KRP-500A and KRP-500M) and just 500 of the 60″ models (KRP-600A, KRP-600M) and then will completely exit the TV businesses. The company will honor warranty claims until 2017: clearly in Japan but elsewhere… not so clear.

Source: Pioneer (translated), CrunchGear, Slashgear, Engadget

The joint venture between Sharp and Sony will be called Sharp Display Products and will be launched on April 1, 2009. Sharp will own 66% and Sony will own the remainder at 34%. LCD production is expected to start in March 2010. The LCD fabrication plant will be located in Sakai, Japan where Sharp is already running the world’s largest LCD fab.

Sony is also in bed with Samsung with the S-LCD joint venture, which provides 50% of its output to each company and is focused on 40″ and 50″-class LCD TV panel production. Sharp’s G10 LCD fab is designed to be most efficient cutting 60″ LCD TV panels and that’s what Sharp Display Products will likely focus on. With the equity split 66/34, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sony’s allocation was just 34% of the total production at this new joint venture.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Engadget

DisplayBlog is written and produced by Jin Kim. Subscribe via RSS.