Ubuntu TV making its debut at CES

Canonical’s Mark Shuttleworth promised that Ubuntu would come to TVs eventually, but we never expected it would arrive so quickly. A concept preview is here at CES for convention goers to get their eyeballs on and we’ll be swinging through the company’s booth to get some hands-on. For now it’s largely a technical demo and concept, but there are already some neat features on display like a 3D dash, searchable guide and streaming video apps. The goal, the company says, is to “uncomplicate television” by removing as much of the paraphernalia that accompanies it — primarily the boxes and cables.

LG Cinema Screen

CES 2012 will be the place where LG Electronics introduces their latest LG Cinema Screen Design that will see action in a range of new Cinema 3D Smart TVs that are headed your way this year. The bezel of this Cinema Screen has been reduced to a mere 1mm, resulting in a more optimal and comfortable environment especially for immersive 3D viewing. According to Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company, “The 3D experience is still evolving and we at LG intend to push the limits of what 3D can deliver. With our 2012 CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, we have been able to take a significant step forward, thanks to a series of new and upgraded 3D features led by the CINEMA SCREEN Design.”

A bezel of just 1mm is certainly something interesting to look at – if you can see it, that is, considering how slim it is. The removal of such physical obstructions will pave the way for a greater immersion of 3D effects, making you think back of how watching a 3D movie in the cinema felt like for the first time. LG will make sure their new Cinema Screen Design is accompanied by the new Cinema 3D glasses that are being slated for a 2012 release as well, where the latter will feature a trio of elegant-looking models that are 20% lighter compared to its predecessors, increasing the comfort level so that you can enjoy 3D movies longer than ever before.

This kind of optimal setting is perfect for immersive 3D viewing, and when one applies the theory of 3D TV technology, Dual Play has been slated to be the suitable solution for an ultimate gaming experience. The introduction of LG’s Dual Play function and the special Dual Play glasses will enable players to view two entirely different full images, compared to the traditional split screen display where you only have halve the screen to focus on. In addition to that, 3D Sound Zooming will generate audio output so that it will be synchronized with the location and movement of the various on-screen objects, enabling immersive sound to complement immersive visuals.

Needless to say, the new Cinema 3D Smart TVs will be equipped with LG’s Smart TV function that sports over 1,200 apps, while you are also able to enjoy premium content services like 3D World, immersing yourself in an abundance of 3D content – as long as you are willing to fork out the dough, that is.

Jabra STONE2 Bluetooth Headset Save: $40.15

Innovative Bluetooth headset allows you to use just your voice to answer or reject a call;voice Guidance feature tells you name of incoming caller, Bluetooth connection status, and battery level.

The next generation of the hugely successful Jabra STONE, the Jabra STONE2 allows for truly hands-free communication while building on the success of its predecessor and featuring the same revolutionary design. The Jabra STONE2 is the first Bluetooth headset that allows users to take calls further and easier. Innovative new features allow for easy, hands-free communication. Jabra STONE2 also puts extra power in the palm of your hand with a portable charger that enables you to charge 4 times on the go, providing up to 2 hours in the headset and an additional 8 hours of wireless talk time in the charging stone. For clear conversations, an advanced sound system with Noise Blackout Extreme and dual microphone system eliminates background noise and maintains the natural sound of your voice. The lightness of the headset, its curved shape and 4 personalized ergo-eargels, makes every conversation a pleasure.

List Price: $129.99
Price: $89.84
You Save: $40.15 (31%)

 
Jabra STONE2 Bluetooth Headset

Pioneer SE-NC31C-K noise cancelling earbud headphones

Earphones used to be just that – a device, or rather, peripheral that transferred audio tracks from a music device to your ears. It didn’t matter if you could still hear the roar of the engine on the outside, or your wife’s incessant nagging – the point is, you never had been able to experience something like this before, where whatever music you’re listening to never sounded so close to you before!

Boy, how far has technology come that these days, having noise cancellation technology in your pair of stereo headphones should be the norm rather than the exception, and Pioneer has delved into this particular category with their latest release known as the Pioneer SE-NC31C-K noise cancelling earbud stereo headphones.

As its name suggests, this model was specially designed for noise cancellation of up to 90% (measured at 300hz), allowing you to hear more of what you’re supposed to listen to. The SE-NC31C-K is capable of actively monitoring the nearby sound environment and electronically canceling low frequency ambient noise that can interfere with normal audio listening.

Apart from that, the earbuds will also boast large 14.2 mm drivers and various connection adapters in order to make this more or less the perfect accessory for music enjoyment on the go. With portable music players being a staple device for most people these days, it goes without saying that owning a good pair of headphones is more of an investment than frivolous spending.

Also, this pair of headphones from Pioneer make music listening more enjoyable as there is no need to raise the volume level from the audio source. The earbuds themselves will make use of the microphones which are located in each ear piece in order to measure unwanted low-frequency noise. These components will then follow that up by inserting an equal amplitude, which is the opposite phase signal of the unwanted noise, in order to cancel it before it your ears can catch hold of it.

The SE-NC31C-K can be yours for $99 a pop.

Press Release

Epson PowerLite X9 projector

Another day, another projector, and this time around we have the Epson PowerLite X9 that will target the education market without breaking the bank. Yes sir, this new projector is capable of delivering up to 2,500 lumens of color and white light output alongside XGA resolution for just $599 – making it a suitable addition as well to any small or medium sized conference rooms.

It is no surprise that many states in the US are already experiencing budget cuts, and one of the sectors to be hit pretty badly is the education segment, so it makes perfect sense for companies who deal with educational equipment to do their bit to help America out of the pit they’re in by lowering their profit margin and charging schools less for equipment – and we believe the Epson PowerLite X9 projector is one of such an instance.

Among the convenient features of the PowerLite X9 that will light up (no pun intended) the classroom and boardroom are :-

• USB Plug ‘n Play Instant Setup: Instantly projects images and controls the presentation from either a Windows PC or Mac via a standard USB cable; allows for easier set up and eliminates the hassle of dealing with bulky VGA cables and toggling between computer keys
• Versatile Connectivity: Audio out port helps classrooms connect to external speakers to enhance the sound of presentations; monitor out port helps classrooms connect to external monitors to help the teacher stay focused during a lesson or presentation
• Closed Captioning: Built-in closed captioning decoder makes presentations accessible to viewers with hearing impairments with no added cost, and helps meet ADA section 508 compliance
• Setup Flexibility: 1.2x optical zoom and +/-30 degree automatic vertical keystone correction provide easy and convenient setup in multiple classroom settings
• Convenient Control: Direct Power On and Off allows for an installed projector to be powered with a flip of a wall switch; Instant On/Off enables teachers to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in seconds; A/V Mute Slide stops the sound and picture to allow for a quick pause in the presentation
• Extended Lamp Life: Using Epson’s exclusive E-TORL lamp technology, the lamp life can last up to 5,000 hours in economy mode helping to maximize presentation time
• Compact: Lightweight design and compact form factor make it easily portable from classroom to classroom
• 3LCD Technology: Features the latest, 3LCD, 3-chip technology to deliver amazing, true-to-life color and detail for powerful presentations; 3LCD technology provides an energy efficient light engine which efficiently uses available lamp light to create stunning images; in contrast to 1-chip DLP technology, 3LCD requires, on average, 25 percent less electricity per lumen of brightness

Expect to see the Epson PowerLite X9 arrive in April this year via a variety of channels including national resellers, pro audio/visual dealers, mail order, and distribution. Each purchase comes with a two-year limited warranty for that added peace of mind.

Palm webOS Tablet Photos

Panasonic 1080-30p High Definition Mobile Camcorder $99

Get a Panasonic 1080-30p High Definition Mobile Camcorder (Gray), 2-Day Delivery for $99.99 at Buy.com, a $90 Savings! Valid through 12-26-2010

Upload your favorite movies. It’s a snap!Easy Web Uploading. (HD Write PE 1.0 Embedded Software*)Upload your movies onto YouTube, Facebook or anywhere you want. As soon as you plug the TA1′s built-in USB terminal into a PC, the embedded HD Writer PE 1.0 application launches automatically. With operation this easy, you can instantly share your movies with the world.* For Windows OSIntuitive operation makes it easy. No confusion here!Simple OperationJust press the Rec button to record. Then press the Play button to see what you’ve got. Operation is easy because each button has a single function. So you can enjoy shooting as soon as you pick up your new camera.Ideal for Mac and PC Users.iFrame ModeThe TA1 lets you record movies with iFrame. When using iMovie, the iFrame video data in your camera is the same format as the one you’ll be using to edit, so importing is fast and file sizes are small. You’ll be able to edit and upload movies to the internet and portable devices right away.

	35mm Film Camera Equivalent – Motion Image – 49mm (16 – 9), 59mm (4 – 3); Still Image – 49mm (16 – 9), 39mm (4 – 3)
	Compression – MP4, iFrame – MPEG-4 AVC/H.264; (MPEG-4 AVC file format compliant (.MP4))
	Digital Zoom – 4x
	Even with its compact size and super mobility, the TA1 lets you shoot full-HD movies
	F2.8 Lens
	Features -
	Focal Length – 4.1mm
	Focus – Automatic
	Give the image some warmth with Sepia mode, make it extra cool with Monochrome mode, or capture beautiful skin tones with Soft Skin mode
	Interfaces – AV, USB (2.0 Hi-Speed)
	LCD – 2.0 LCD (153,600 dots)
	Media – SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card
	Rechargeable Battery Pack – min. 940 mAh
	Record high-quality full-HD (1920 x 1080/30p) movies / 8 MP Stills
	Save memories as high-quality images with 8-megapixel resolution
	Shutter Speed – Motion Image – Auto (1/30-1/4000); Still Image – Auto (1/20-1/4000)
	Specifications -
	The built-in LED lets you capture bright, crisp images even in dark situations, like indoors or during nighttime events
	The E.I.S. (Electrical Image Stabilization) system helps to correct handshake blurring
	Unit Dimensions – 2.09 W x 4.09 H x 0.70 D, Weight – 0.21lbs.
	White Balance – Auto
	You can cut out and save a still image by simply pressing the Still Picture button right when the desired image appears on the TA1′s LCD monitor

	Records onto: SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory cards
	Recording format: JPEG
	Image sensor (total): 1/4.1” MOS
	Total pixels: 5.33 megapixels
	F Value: F2.8
	Digital zoom: 4x
	Focal length: 4.1mm
	35mm film camera equivalent: 49mm (16:9), 59mm (4:3) [Motion Picture]; 49mm (16:9), 39mm (4:3) [Still Image]
	Image stabilizer: Electronic Image Stabilizer (EIS)
	Still picture recording (4:3): 0.3 megapixels Still picture recording (16:9): 8.0 megapixels (3264×2448), 1.9 megapixels (1600×1200)
	Shutter speed (motion image): Auto (1/30-1/4000)
	Shutter speed (still image): Auto (1/20-1/4000)
	Minimum illumination: 12 lx
	Standard illumination: 1400 lx
	Focus: Auto
	White balance: Auto
	LCD monitor: 2.0” LCD (153,600 dots)
	Microphone: 1ch, Monaural
	Speaker: Dynamic type
	On-screen display language: English/French/Spanish
	LED video light: Yes
	Media remaining indication: Yes
	Signal system: 1080/30p, 720/30p, 540/30p, 480/30p
	Recording mode (MP4): 1920 x 1080 30p (12Mbps / VBR); 1280 x 720 30p (9Mbps / VBR); 640 x 480 30p (3Mbps / VBR); iFrame 960 x 540 30p (24Mbps)
	Playback mode (MP4): 1920 x 1080 30p (12Mbps / VBR); 1280 x 720 30p (9Mbps / VBR); 640 x 480 30p (3Mbps / VBR); iFrame 960 x 540 30p (24Mbps / VBR)
	Image sensor (effective)-motion image: 2.93 megapixels [16:9]; 2.19 megapixels [4:3]
	Image sensor (effective)-still image: 2.93 megapixels [16:9]; 5.08 megapixels [4:3]
	Audio compression: AAC (monaural)
	USB: 2.0 Hi-Speed
	AV: Yes (cable included)
	USB: Yes (40” USB cable extender included)
	Included software: HD Writer PE 1.0 (built-in type)
	Rechargeable battery pack: min. 940 mAh/Normal
	Power supply: Power supply (battery/USB) DC3.6V / 5.0V
	Power consumption: Max. 2.5W (recording/charging)
	Weight (without battery): approx. .21lbs.
	Dimensions (W x H x D): 2.09” x 4.09” x 0.70”
	Compress (Recording format): MP4, iFrame MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC file format compliant (.MP4))
	Continuous recording time: MP4: 29 minutes 59 seconds; iFrame: approx. 20 minutes
	In the box:
	(1) Panasonic HM-TA1 1080/30p High Definition Mobile Camcorder
	(1) Rechargeable Battery
	(1) USB Cable Extender
	(1) AV Cable

SlingPlayer For iPad

If you’ve been rocking out to SlingPlayer on your laptop, this is pretty good news. SlingPlayer for iPad is now available for $29.99 from the app store. Yeah, you read that right. $29.99. But hopefully if you love Sling the way most people love Sling, this will be a small price to pay.

Not much else to say. If you’ve used SlingPlayer, or any other media player/DVR for that matter, you’re looking at the same features. Sling, obviously, allows you to transfer video from your own set-top-box to any other device, including browsers. It works with the Slingbox SOLO or PRO-HD.

Sling Media, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS), today announced the availability of the SlingPlayer Mobile™ player for the Apple iPad. Available for purchase on the iTunes App Store, SlingPlayer Mobile software for iPad lets Slingbox® owners extend their living room TV experience to their iPad and takes advantage of the iPad’s high-resolution, 9.7-inch LED-backlit display for great video quality. The revamped program guide uses the iPad’s intuitive native interface, and a recent channels feature puts a viewer’s recent channels at his fingertips.

Product Page

Evernote for iPhone and iPad Update

Evernote for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been updated to include support in preparation for iOS 4.2 when it arrives sometime this month.

As well as supporting the new iOS, particularly multi tasking on the iPad, Evernote has also had a few new features added to it to make more useful than before.

New features in the Evernote iOS 4.2 update include the ability to add multiple photos, up to 5, to notes created. Audio notes have also been increased allowing up to 90 minute recordings to be captured if needed.

As well as the audio and photo sections getting an update, there’s also support within other apps such as Safari to open up PDF documents (and other types) in Evernote.

Evernote is a free app available from iTunes with a paid subscription model should you choose to want more transfer allowances each month.

iPod Nano watch

We’ve seen the iPod Nano turn into a wristwatch and that looked quite simple and basic. Now we are introduced to the new silicone bands from Hex which uses Nano’s potential like never before. You can now sit your iPods securely into the face without any hassle or worry. It features integrated control buttons and it comes in 9 different colors. The colors vary from subtle to funky, so there is something for everyone. If you want to be bold, go for the yellow or orange and for something more mellow, try the white or grey. These bands look like a lot of fun.

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