DigiTimes is reporting that AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), the two largest LCD manufacturers in Taiwan, are expecting small/medium LCD shipments to increase in the second quarter of 2009 (Q2’09). AUO is forecasting that its small/medium LCD panel shipments will increase 30% quarter over quarter (Q/Q) while CMO is expecting a more modest increase of 5-10% Q/Q. CMO’s expectations are less aggressive partly due to having already experienced a strong Q1’09. (more…)
According to AppleInsider Apple is preparing a netbook. Supposedly Quanta is building a 10″ netbook for Apple. But Apple’s Tim Cook has said repeatedly that the company is not interested in developing a netbook with features like a cramped keyboard, terrible software, junky hardware and tiny screens. I have some insane ideas about what Apple might be working on.
You can solve the problem of tiny screens and cramped keyboards. If you use a display with a 16:9 or 16:10 ratio the smallest screen you can get down to without having to significantly reduce the size of the keys to make it a cramped keyboard is about 12″. But, if you widen the screen a bit, say to 2.3:1, you could make the screen smaller and maintain the size of a keyboard. With a 2.3:1 aspect ratio you could bring the display down to about 10″ and keep the keyboard from getting into cramped territory. The Apple iBook, which is what I will call it from now on, will look similar to Sony’s VAIO P but will be slightly longer, deeper but much thinner and sexier. The battery will most likely be integrated into the aluminum uni-body like the uni-body 17″ MacBook Pro. So going ultrawide will solve the cramped keyboard and tiny screen issues.
The terrible software problem can be easily solved by Apple by putting OS X in it. Simple enough. Will Apple use Intel’s Atom? Or an ARM-based CPU? Or a full-blown Intel Core 2 Duo? I’m not sure. I do think there is a chance that Apple might use a processor that is built in-house, something never seen before. The purchase of P.A. Semi (Palo Alto Semiconductor) back in 2008 should bear some fruit by now. The processor will probably be dual-core and should be more powerful than an Atom but consume less energy. One core would be the CPU and the other core could possibly be a graphics processor. This makes sense since Snow Leopard will make good use of both CPU and GPU.
So this is my insane idea about Apple’s netbook, the iBook that will be ultrawide and use an in-house processor that will blow the doors off of any netbook out there. Sound crazy? Let me know your thoughts.
Luxeed’s U5 is a LED keyboard that’s programmable with multi-colored LED-lit keys. OS support is quite broad: Windows, Linux and OS X. The nifty lighting can be used for instance to learn and practice how to type. The typing program can light up certain keys used as visual cues. (more…)
Deanne Cheuk, an artist and designer, has been commissioned by American Express, Nike, Swatch, Target, MTV and The New York Times Magazines for her illustrations and art direction. Deanne is known for neomu: “neomu is the graphical progression of mu magazine. The smallest magazine in the world. No words, no advertising, just inspirational images, photographs and graphics.”
Now, Dell has commissioned her. In Dell’s new Design Studio you can apply some of Deanne’s amazing artwork on the back of the Studio 15 and Studio 17 notebooks. My favorite designs are “Lovers in Noon”, “Lovers in Night”, and “Lovers in Morning”. I have an appreciation for black and white art, designs and photographs. Very classy move from Dell.
Mistake The post about Samsung’s 23″ OLED monitor prototype that featured on megawhat.tv seems to be the result of a mistaken identity. Unfortunate: I was getting quite excited there for a second. There are many reasons for why the 23″ OLED monitor is most likely a 23″ LCD monitor with a LED backlight. The reasons are:
Ron at OLED-Info picked up on these clues. The 23″ OLED monitor is probably Samsung’s P2370L. The P2370L also has a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, sports a LED backlight and is 1.65cm thick.
Dell‘s S2209W is a nice-looking 22″ LCD monitor. The TFT LCD panel is actually 21.5″ and sports a 1920 x 1080 pixel format. The S2209W had an initial MSRP of US$239 that subsequently dropped to $199. But Dell is taking an additional $60 off, so you can get a 22″ LCD monitor that is 1080p-capable for just US$139. Shipped! (Of course, if you live in California like I do you’ll need to pay an environmental tax.) Act fast as this is quite a price!
Source: Dell
Samsung LN22B650 Specifications
Display: 21.5″ TFT LCD
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Format: 1366 x 768
Contrast Ratio: 15000:1 (dynamic)
Response Time: 5ms
Frequency: 60Hz
Sound: 3W x2
Connectivity: HDMI, Composite, Component, VGA
Tuner: ATSC
Dimensions:
21.3 x 14.3 x 15.9″ (w/stand)
21.3 x 13.8 x 2.5″ (w/o stand)
Weight: 11.2lbs (w/stand), 10.6lbs (w/o stand)
Price: MSRP US$469.99
Nice Design Samsung‘s LN22B650 is a 22″ LCD TV. The actual size of the TFT LCD is 21.5″ and it sports a 1366 x 768 pixel format good for 720p HD content–not 1080p. The response time is an average at 5ms. The high 15000:1 dynamic contrast ratio does not mean much since it doesn’t have a LED backlight with local dimming. Static contrast ratio is what you should look for but it isn’t stated on Samsung’s site. In terms of external styling, the LN22B650 looks quite nice with its Touch of Color design theme. In this case the color is black. (more…)
PeeWee PC Pivot Tablet Laptop Specifications
Display: 8.9″ Touch TFT LCD
Pixel Format: 1024 x 600
CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
RAM: 1GB (max 2GB)
HDD: 60GB Hard Disk
Storage: 2-in-1 Memory Card Reader (SD/MMC)
Webcam: 1.3 Megapixel (rotates 180 degrees)
Connectivity: 10/100 Ethernet, WiFi BGN, USB (2), VGA
Operating System: Windows XP Home
Battery: 6-cell Lithium Ion battery
Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 1.5″
Weight: 3lbs
Price: US$599.99
PeeWee PC’s Pivot Tablet Laptop weighs 3 pounds, is water resistant, drop resistant, has a carry handle and a 8.9″ touch LCD. The Pivot Tablet Laptop is powered by Intel’s Atom N270 running at 1.6GHz (so it’s a netbook). (more…)
OLED MONITOR! A video of Samsung’s 23″ OLED monitor prototype! It will be commercially available in 2010 and features a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and is just 1.6cm (that’s just 0.6-inch) thick. The 23″ OLED monitor sports DVI and HDMI connections and consumes 40% less power than a comparable 23″ LCD monitor. Now that will save you some money in your monthly electricity bill. It’s also very light. No word on what pixel format it is but I would guess that it would be 1920 x 1080. The price wasn’t mentioned either but I’m guessing it will be quite expensive.
Source: megawhat.tv
Really Anywhere Sensitive Object is a start-up company based in France that specializes in man-machine interfaces. By using piezoelectric sensors, Sensitive Object’s Anywhere MultiTouch can bring touch sensitivity to materials such as glass, aluminum and plastic. It also features handwriting recognition and palm rejection. Sensitive Object states that its Anywhere MultiTouch technology sports a competitive price and Windows 7 compliant.
How does it work? The core technology is based on the company’s ReverSys where precise location of touch is recognized through interrupted soundwaves. Unlike other touch-sensing technologies the Anywhere MultiTouch technology, true to its name, provides touch sensitivity on the whole surface of the product. Sounds like a good platform to develop a touch keyboard made of plastic. Some cool videos after the jump. (more…)
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