BMW’s ConnectedDrive allows access to text messages, emails, etc. from RIM’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iOS devices. There’s also iPod Out that integrates the iPod and all the goodies stored inside.
As you can see from the photo above there is also an iPad dock for back seat passengers. And last but not least there’s a mobile hotspot feature on the ConnectedDrive system. BMW: The Ultimate Connected Machine. via Engadget
Fujifilm FinePix X100 Microsite, DPReview: The FinePix X100 from Fujifilm packs a 12-megapixel APS-C image sensor into a rangefinder-looking compact body. The 23mm Fujinon aspherical lens is fast at f/2 and the 2.8-inch LCD sports a remarkably dense 800×600 pixels. That’s 357 PPI, besting even the iPhone 4′s Retina Display (only 326 PPI). Burst mode gets you 5fps.
Fujifilm states that the image sensor is 10x that of conventional compact digital cameras with an ISO range of 200 to 6400. I’m guessing low-light photographs will turn out quite well, but we’ll have to see for actual results.
I do have one concern and that’s video. The X100 will do 720p video. The Olympus E-P1, E-P2, and E-PL1 all do 720/30p, but these guys have been around a bit already. Panasonic’s GF1 does 720/30p too. All the Micro Four Thirds rangefinder-like cameras are limited to 720/30p. The NEX-5 and NEX-3 from Sony are probably the closest to the FinePix X100 as both pack an APS-C-sized image sensor. The NEX-3 is limited to 720/30p, but I would have thought 1080/60i would have been a must-have feature considering the 1080/60i video capture capability of the NEX-5.
The hybrid viewfinder is unique. It combines an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder. A prism is integrated for the image on the LCD and allows for both the shooting frame and data to be displayed. Shoot old-school or shoot with the LCD: you can instantly switch between the two viewfinders.
The best part about the FinePix X100 is that all this technology is crafted into a beautiful magnesium alloy rangefinder-like body. Even the dials are made of metal. Just lovely.
An affordable IPS LCD monitor? The HP ZR24w might just be one. The 24-inch LCD monitor sports a S-IPS TFT LCD panel, the H2-IPS more specifically for improved energy efficiency, a 1920×1200 pixel format, the usual 178-degree viewing angles, 400 cd/m2 of brightness, a contrast ratio of 1000:1 and response times of 7ms (GTG) and 12ms (on/off). The color gamut on the ZR24w is 83% CIE 1976 NTSC and 97% CIE 1931 sRGB. Connectivity options include: HDCP supported DisplayPort and DVI-D, VGA. For US$425. Thanks Jon! Source: HP
The IPS LCD Monitor Database has been updated with the HP ZR24w.
The Panasonic GH2, the successor to the GH1, is rumored to have:
Expect an official GH2 announced at Photokina. Source: 4/3 Rumors
Julie Jacobson at CEPro:
Multitasking and hard buttons. When it comes to using the iPad as a home controller, those are the two big missing pieces.
Now Crestron is tackling the issue of hard buttons with the new iPanel, which snaps over the face of an iPad like a clam shell.
Can’t disagree enough. Recommendation to Creston: Just focus on the iPanel app for the iPad. The iPad will probably become the biggest threat to your hardware controller businesses. Think AirPlay on the iPad with iOS 4.2. And then think about what might happen next year and the year after that.
Dell’s UltraSharp U3011 is a massive 30-inch LCD monitor sporting a 10-bit 2560×1600 IPS panel. That 10-bit means you’ve got a billion colors to play with. And that’s a good thing because the U3011 will do a very good job displaying color with a 117% CIE 1976 color gamut. Viewing angles are terrific at 178 degrees while response times at 7ms can be a bit faster. Brightness is 370 cd/m2 and static contrast is 1000:1 with connectivity options that include two DVI-D ports, DisplayPort and two HDMIs. Price is a hefty US$1499. Source: Dell
Now there is one thing: the backlight, as far as I can tell, is of the CCFL variety. I don’t know about you but I’d prefer saving myself $500 and getting the slightly smaller 27-inch LED Cinema Display from Apple even if it has 160 less vertical pixels.
The general functional principle is based on rapidly rotating, vertical aluminium sections which are fitted with rows of red, green and blue LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Intelligent control electronics accelerate these so-called LED arms to a precisely calculated number of revolutions that is faster than the human eye, so people cannot perceive the LED arms anymore.
The LEDs are controlled with such precision that they light up in exactly the same pixel position with each rotation. This produces an individual color blend for each individual point of light, with a variety of over 16 million different colors.
As the movement of the LED arms is invisible, people can only perceive the points of light (pixels) created by the LEDs. Taken together they generate a high-resolution digital image.
I’ve seen similar (or maybe Litefast?) 360 displays in some subway stations in Seoul. They are very eye-catching.
We are developing a 7” screen for tablets and ereaders that is planned for mass production in H1 2011. Samples will be available earlier, perhaps by late Q4 2010. Contact us to be an early access partner: send email to admin@pixelqi.com
The next Samsung Tab with a 7-inch Pixel Qi display is a very interesting possibility.
September 17, 2010 at the Apple Store. That’s where you’ll be able to order the company’s 27-inch LED Cinema Display that sports a wonderful 2560×1440 pixel format IPS TFT LCD panel for US$999. Ships in 1-2 weeks.
NPD reported US retail notebook unit sales declined 4% Y/Y in August, a first decline. The first week of September shows a similar 4% Y/Y drop. Best Buy’s CEO Brian Dunn remarked the iPad cannibalized notebook PC sales by as much as 50%.
What’s going on? Tablet cannibalization. But in a particular way. Here’s John Gruber on Daring Fireball:
There’s been no sign that Mac laptop sales have slowed. We only have one quarter of results for the iPad era, but Mac sales were up 33 percent year-over-year. If it’s true that “laptop” sales overall are slowing, it’s coming entirely at the expense of Apple’s competitors. My theory is that it’s simply about price points. Apple’s MacBooks start at $999. The iPad isn’t competing against MacBooks — it’s competing against $500-900 computers.
I remember the slide Steve Jobs put up when he unveiled the iPad. Right between the smartphone and the notebook PC was where he pegged the iPad, as a netbook competitor. And it seems that’s exactly what’s happening.
DisplayBlog is written and produced by Jin Kim. Subscribe via RSS.