It's been so long since Kodak's been relevant that it's easy to forget how much they've pioneered. Today, though, they've been reduced to a case study in what happens when companies built on increasingly obsolete technology are slow to evolve. Kodak's OLED business is good example of what's gone wrong: they've made some nice (though questionably necessary) advances with it, but don't have any TV or monitor presence with which to leverage it. So now they've handed it off to LG, who'll save fistloads of cash by having access to Kodak's "fundamental" OLED intellectual property portfolio, while Kodak will use whatever money they got out of the sale to buy down some debt and make some perfectly adequate printers.

To keep the metaphors coming: Kodak hasn't so much passed the torch as they have sold the farm. [BusinessWire via Endgadget]

Come on, admit it. You can't resist Lipton. [Beard Revue via NotCot]

Measuring 23-inches, the LCD monitor is ideal for PC gamers though will also be compatible with 3D broadcasts, which we'll see a lot more of in 2010. You won't need to keep the shutter glasses to hand 24/7 thankfully, as the ability to switch between 2D and 3D is of course included. This may be the first 3D product LG's put to market worldwide, but back in July their 47LH50 went on sale in Korea, despite Korea only recently announcing a terrestrial 3D broadcast trial. [Akihabara News]

The Arena Max has just passed through the Wi-Fi certification tract, and while LG still hasn't officially introduced the world to its latest flagship Arena model, it's likely to happen soon. In addition to the rumored 12-megapixel camera, the Arena Max LU9400, to give it its full name, also apparently contains a 5-inch screen and super-fast download speeds.

And if LG defaults on any of the above, then this handset just isn't worthy of the "Max" accolade. LG Arena Mediocre, maybe. [CellPassion via TechRadar via Top10]

The projector adds another 1.8 ounces, and as you can see, a bit of an ass to it. Besides the 1GHz goodness, the slider's running Windows Mobile 6.5, has a 3.2-inch touchscreen and a 5MP camera for $200 on contract. Specifically a "minimum $69.99 plan." The projector add-on's $180, though it'll follow the phone's Dec. 7 drop date by a few weeks.

AT&T AND LG MOBILE PHONES ANNOUNCE THE FIRST 1GHZ SMARTPHONE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE LG EXPO

7.2 HSPA-capable Smartphone from AT&T and LG Mobile Phones Packs a Powerful Punch, Features Optional Mobile Projector

DALLAS, November 30, 2009 - AT&T* and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc., today announced the LG eXpo will be available online beginning December 7. Featuring the first 1 GHz processor in the United States, the LG eXpo allows business professionals to meet their demanding data sharing needs while on the go. Available exclusively for AT&T customers, the handset will be compatible with AT&T's High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 Mbps technology, which provides a considerable speed boost to the nation's fastest 3G network.

The LG eXpo is the first device in North America to support an optional integrated pico projector. The LG Mobile Projector snaps onto the back of the device and allows users to share presentations, slideshows and even online videos straight from their mobile phone. Weighing only 1.8 ounces and small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, the LG mobile projector provides users with powerful new technology in a compact design, featuring a projection distance as far as eight feet

"LG eXpo adds to our growing portfolio of smartphones that operate on the latest upgrade to our 3G network and offer customers a great choice," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "As we move to HSPA 7.2 technology, it is crucial to provide our customers innovative and future-proof smartphones."

With the upgrade to HSPA 7.2 technology, AT&T continues its investments to deliver the nation's fastest 3G network. AT&T plans to deploy HSPA 7.2 initially in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami by the end of the year. The company plans to deploy HSPA 7.2 in 25 of the nation's 30 largest markets by the end of 2010, and to reach about 90 percent of its existing 3G network footprint with HSPA 7.2 by the end of 2011.

LG eXpo also eliminates the need for pin codes and passwords with the exclusive "Smart Sensor" fingerprint recognition from AuthenTec, which delivers a new level of added smart and personal security unlike any other mobile phone in the market. AT&T is the first to offer U.S. subscribers a smartphone that leverages the features and functions of a smart sensor. The Smart Sensor complements the touchscreen user interface of the eXpo by also providing precise cursor control for text editing, 4-way menu navigation, and AuthenTec's unique turbo-scroll feature for rapid browsing of long emails, contact lists or websites.

The LG eXpo is loaded with Windows Mobile® 6.5 Professional to help power users stay more connected with email, calendar and Microsoft® Office Mobile. The phone's projection feature allows users to display Web pages, documents, photos and videos on the go.

"LG eXpo is the perfect balance of mobile innovation and design" said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy and marketing for LG Mobile Phones. "Enabling users to meet their professional and personal computing needs from the palm of their hands, LG eXpo makes on-the-go communication an effortless luxury."

Boasting a 3.2-inch external touchscreen with 16M color, LG eXpo features a sophisticated slider design with a full size QWERTY keypad. For the dynamic multi-tasker, LG eXpo provides users with powerful functionality that supports an RSS Viewer, Podcast and aGPS. In addition to a crystal clear 5.0 megapixel camera with built-in auto flash, LG eXpo can support up to a 16GB removable microSD memory card for premium music and photo storage.

Beginning December 7, LG eXpo will be available to enterprise customers and for purchase online at www.att.com/lgexpo for $199.99 after mail-in rebate. Pay $299.99 and after mail-in rebate receive a $100 AT&T Promotion Card. Two year agreement on a minimum $69.99 plan required. The LG Mobile Projector will be available in the coming weeks for $179.99.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.

Note: Due to the unprecedented price fluctuations seen on TV pricing this week from online retailers, don't be startled if the prices we brazenly quoted here are off—by pennies or by hundreds. The model numbers are there for a reason, so you can check prices yourself when you're ready to cash out.

Panasonic X1 Plasma Series

Plasma HDTVs provide the best picture performance and these 720p Panasonics—shown up top—are the value champs. Plasma screens have a wider viewing angle than any LCD panel, excellent contrast and color fidelity. The X1s include 600Hz refresh for full motion resolution, an SD card reader for digital photos and an anti-reflective screen coating (the shiny one). Available in 42-inch and 50-inch screen sizes. If you're going to set it up at a distance of 9 feet or more, it's almost silly to spend extra for more resolution.

The best deal is the TC-P50X1, a 50 incher selling for $689.98 at Electronics Expo (via Amazon).

Panasonic S1 Plasma Series

The S1s are Panasonic's least expensive 1080p line to feature its energy saving, high contrast, deep black level Neo PDP plasma technology. In addition to the full 1080 line motion resolution and an anti-reflective screen coating (the shiny one), there's an SD card reader. If you're looking for a Full HD 1080p TV with the excellent performance and don't care about features like internet connectivity or THX-certified picture and sound modes (which the step-up G10 line has), these are the HDTVs for you. Available from 42-inch to 65-inch screen sizes.

Under $1,000, your best shot is the TC-P42S1, a 42-inch set now selling for $797.95 at Amazon.

LG LH30 Series

LG's LH30 is the first step-up from the baseline, maintaining a nice low price but delivering surprisingly good picture quality. This model has a wide-viewing-angle IPS LCD panel, dull-finish anti-glare screen coating (better than the shiny anti-reflective coating at cutting down natural-light reflections, but at a slight cost of contrast), pro color-calibration mode and "Picture Wizard." They add 1080p resolution and Smart Energy Savings for low power consumption. Offered in a range from 32 inches to 47 inches.

We were impressed to find the 47-inch 47LH30 locally for $900, and on Amazon for $938.15.

LG LH40 Series

The LH40 line adds 120Hz to plenty of models below $1000. If that's something you value, this is your best bet. Everything else here comes in the LH30 line, too. It's available in screen sizes ranging from 32 inches to 55 inches.

Locally, we spotted a 47-inch 47LH40 for $980, though it was over $1000 on Amazon. The 42-inch 42LH40 may be the best pick: It's currently $823 on Amazon.

Samsung B550 Series

This series represents Samsung's top 60Hz 1080p HDTVs. They provide excellent overall performance without any of the fancy features found on its higher-end models. They incorporate Samsung's Touch of Color bezel and its 6ms response time LCD panel, and are available in 32-inch to 52-inch sizes. Currently, the 46-inch LN46B550 is priced at $999 on Amazon.

For this story, Gary picked out 10 total deals. He is running the other five on HD Guru, so go have a look. If you came across any other good deals lately, let us know in comments, but be ready to defend the quality, not just the super sick price.

Gary Merson is the HD Guru, the industry's leading HDTV journalist. He's been reviewing TVs for well over a decade, and recently wrote a guide to choosing an HDTV.

Canada Has Its Very Own Version of the AT&T vs. Verizon Ad Lawsuit

Telus and Rogers are sworn enemies in the Canadian wireless carrier arena, sort of like AT&T and Verizon but on a much more quaint, socialist and cold scale. And like our own two big dogs, Telus and Rogers have been at each others' throats recently about advertisements—Rogers has ads claiming it's "Canada's most reliable network" and that its speeds are twice as fast as any other network. Telus hit back, claiming it's not true (Telus did after all just launch a 21Mbps HSPA network) and Canadian courts actually forced Rogers to pull the offending ads, an interesting twist on the lawsuit pattern we Americans pioneered. Anyway, I know we're going to be crushed in the comments with high-larious anti-Canadian jabs, so let me pre-empt:

Igloo, cold, eh, hockey, The Arcade Fire, Bob and Dave MacKenzie, Pamela Anderson, who cares. [Boy Genius Report]

CollegeHumor Tackles Modern Warfare 2 (With Bonus Giz Appearance)

CollegeHumor just posted a video in which comedy nerds play (and are subsequently killed during) Modern Warfare 2, with a bonus appearance by our own Adam Frucci. I can exclusively report that Adam Frucci is a very old man who is several years removed from college, but the video's pretty funny despite this factual error. Discussed within: MW2's similarity to Crash Bandicoot, Dick Cheney quotes, a tax-funded sequel to Psychonauts, and why the glamorization of war is awesome. [CollegeHumor]

LG BL4 Gets Christmas Edition

You know, in America, Christmas editions are usually red and green, but in South Korea, it looks like they hang black tinsel on gold trees, because the LG BL40 Christmas edition is decked out in those colors. It's a small upgrade from the original BL40, with an 8MP camera (up from 5MP, though who knows if it's any better), a fancy case and entry into a contest with lots of prizes. It's in Remainders because only those black-and-gold-loving South Koreans can get their hands on it so far. [Engadget]

VUDU Adds Wikipedia, Possibly the World's Most Boring Update

VUDU is a pretty nice media service, built into set-top boxes and TVs and offering nice 1080p streaming, and adds to its repertoire Wikipedia integration. It's previously added Rotten Tomatoes, which is a little more obvious (and dare we say useful), and I personally might prefer IMDB rather than scrolling through prose paragraphs on my TV in Wikipedia, but it's good that Vudu is constantly updating its product. If you have to ask why it's in remainders, you probably haven't read this far: Vudu, Wikipedia, snore. [Engadget]

Phil Schiller Talks App Approval, Avoids Saying Much of Anything

There are lots of legitimate concerns about Apple's app approval (app!) policy, and in a recent profile in Business Week, Senior VP Phil Schiller goes out of his way to not respond to any of them. Yes, we understand that there are legitimate reasons for having an extensive approval process, and we even appreciate the complication-free results. But Schiller neglected to respond to any of the real problems with the process, like, say, the Google Voice ban. We're always interested to hear an Apple higher-up discuss the App Store, but we prefer it when something's actually said. [Business Week]

Microsoft Reiterates Smackdown on Pirate Xbox Users

In response to Microsoft's mass banning of Xbox Live users with pirate leanings, said pirates are contemplating hitting them with a class-action lawsuit—but Microsoft doesn't seem even a little bit scared. MS's response:

Piracy is illegal and modifying an Xbox 360 is a violation of the Xbox Live Terms of Use. Microsoft is well within its legal rights to ban these users from Xbox Live.

Translation: Hey, you guys down there, you piratey types? Cute lawsuit and all, but you ain't got a chance in hell of winning this.

This winds up in Remainders because the lawsuit is still, as of now, speculative—no such suit has actually been filed. Still, that's about as big an ice burn as you're likely to see from the big MS. [Kotaku]

iPhone Magnification Camera Mod Came From the Recycle Bin

Bummed about the iPhone's lack of zoom? Bummed enough to attach the lid from a pickle jar to the back of your iPhone? Here's a tutorial for how to create a multi-zoom add-on with items found in your recycle bin and a few lenses pried off deceased cameras. It's ungainly as hell, and I'm not totally sure the iPhone's camera is good enough to be worth such effort ugliness, but it does seem like it would work and it even has an external flash. And, of course, we've seen much dumber mods before. [Instructables via Engadget]

Another Anonymous Netbook/Sleeping Aid Hits Wireless Carrier

Another day, another netbook. AT&T brings the LG X120 10.1-incher Stateside to be sold, subsidized of course, through Radioshack.com and the obviously so much more hip brick and mortar version, The Shack. It'll be sold for $180 with a 2-year contract, which requires a $60 per month data charge. As far as specs, it's got a 160GB hard drive, 1GB memory, a 1.6GHz Atom and Windows XP, and in case of emergency will function as a sleeping aid so potent you might never wake up. What I'm saying is, it's in Remainders because seriously you guys, snore. [Engadget]

Panasonic Z1

Panasonic's flagship HDTV is its thinnest 54-inch plasma HDTV ever, with only 1-inch depth. They did it by eliminating a third sheet of glass found in all other plasmas except Pioneer's Kuro, and bonding the anti-reflective coating directly top glass. The Z1 employs SiBEAM's 60GHz 1080p for wireless glitch-free images sent via the included transmitter/media box from up to 30 feet away. The Z1 has THX picture mode and a custom calibration mode, plus nice bonus features including VieraCast Internet connectivity for YouTube and Amazon VOD and an SD card reader for photos. The Z1 delivers amazing performance with full 1080 line motion resolution, accurate HD color, deep black levels and 96Hz for judder free movie viewing.

The sexiest HDTV of 2009, the TC-P54Z1 will set you back $4000.

Update: Many of you have commented that you prefer Panasonic's excellent Viera V10 series, and to Gary's credit, he gave the TV his highest rating, and is including it in his top 10 list, which he'll publish next week. There's nothing wrong with that TV, and if we indicated six here, it would certainly be shown. It has the same NeoPDP panel as the Z1, but it's not the same picture, because it has the third separate piece of glass with anti-reflective coating.

Pioneer Kuro Signature

You know it's been a weird year for TVs when not one but two of our top picks are no longer being manufactured, but are still being sold. Pioneer's sweetest (and last) Kuro line is technically a monitor: There's no tuner or audio. But the Signature models offer the deepest black of any high definition display on the market—without any white-letter-on-black-background halos occasionally seen on LED-based LCD TVs. The Signature models features hand selected parts, 2.5-in. depth, Custom Calibration, 72Hz refresh and control over the internet via its Ethernet connection. The Pioneer uses a single top sheet of glass to minimize internal reflections, with the anti-reflection coating bonded directly to the surface.

The Signature models are available at scattered retailers around the country in the 50-inch size (PRO-101FD) for about $3000 to $3500, and 60-inch size (PRO-141FD) for $4000 to $4800.

Samsung LNB8500

The 8500 series is Samsung flagship LED LCD TV. It feature packed with thin 1.6-inch depth, white LED local dimming backlights for improved uniformity, dual-chip 240 Hz plus a scanning backlight for excellent motion resolution and the best black level of any LED LCD observed to date. The 8500 features four HDMI inputs plus internet connectivity with Flickr, YouTube, weather, news and other widgets. It also has a PV+C input for connection to your computer or HTPC. This is a benchmark LED LCD to judge against every other make and model.

All this performance comes at a price. The LNB8500 series comes in 46-inch (UN46B8500) and 55-inch (UN55B8500) screen sizes, currently on Amazon for $2620 and $4020, respectively.

LG LH90

This LG has all the hot LCD performance features video freaks crave, including white LED dimming backlights for excellent black levels, wide viewing angle LCD IPS panel, accurate color, and 240Hz (120 refresh + scanning backlight) for excellent motion resolution. This LG also has all the tweaks anyone could ask for including ISF CCC mode for calibration, THX certification and LG's "picture wizard" for user set-up without calibration discs or external test signals. The LH90 isn't the thinnest LED LCD, but it more than makes up for it with its price.

The LG LH90 series is available in 42-, 47- and 55-inch screen sizes at street prices that are considerably lower than many competitors' edge lit 120 Hz LED edge lit models. The 42LH90 is online for $1200 to $1500; the 47LH90 sells in the $1700 range; and the 55LH90 goes for $2200 to $2800. In case you couldn't tell, the LH90 series is the value/performance leader of the pack.

Sony XBR8

A comparable model never replaced Sony's 2008 flagship model in 2009. It is the only HDTV available with separate red, green and blue LED backlights (rather than all white), with local dimming for deep black levels. Though slightly thicker than other TVs in its class, the XBR8 has accurate HDTV color, enough brightness for a beach house, a non-glossy anti-glare screen coating (rare for 2009), 120Hz refresh rate and Sony's Bravia Engine 2 signal processing.

You can still find the XBR8s—we spotted the 46-inch KDL-46XBR8 for under $2200 and the 55-inch KDL-55XBR8 for under $4000.

Gary Merson is the HD Guru, the industry's leading HDTV journalist. He's been reviewing TVs for well over a decade, and recently wrote a guide to choosing an HDTV.

We've heard rumors like this before, but this time there are a few distinct elements that seem credible, maybe even enough to make us rethink our previous position. We're basing this all on Michael Arrington's sources—his article is a bit vague, but points to an outsider-made but Google-dictated device, sort of like how Microsoft's first Zune was actually made by Toshiba—and in the case of the Google Phone, there are a couple options for the possible manufacturer. The obvious choice is HTC, who's been the major hardware manufacturer of Android devices, but TechCrunch hears that the source of the hardware will be Korean, not Taiwanese, which likely points to either Samsung or LG.

Samsung has a long-standing relationship with Apple, supplying tons of parts for the iPhone, so maybe LG would step up to the plate and develop this phantom device. LG's no stranger to Android, but has been a minor player up to this point—maybe they've been working on this mysterious Google Phone in the meantime, which is supposedly aiming for an early 2010 release.

Right now, we don't know much of anything, so we're reaching out to you guys—if you've heard anything about a possible Google Phone, please shoot us an email. [TechCrunch]

The LG Chocolate Touch is the latest iteration of the Chocolate line, and brings with it some new music features: FM radio, dedicated key for favorites, Dolby Mobile sound enhancements, and an unexpected and downright weird "Join the Band" feature. Join the Band features a virtual drum kit and scrolling 88-key keyboard so you can tap along with your music. Of course, it also offers Twitter, Facebook and MySpace integration, a 3.2MP camera and one-touch uploading. It's not a super exciting phone like the BL40, but at least it's odd enough to be sort of interesting. It's available today and costs $80 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

On the BlackBerry side of things, we have yet another 'Berry with the Curve moniker (if you're confused about the multitude of identically-named but different-numbered Curves, check out this handy chart). The Curve 8530 is the followup to Verizon's Curve 8330, and has features more in line with the GSM Curve 8520 than the Curve 8900. If you're still following me, great, because this is one of the best Curves out there: It's got Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. It's the only Curve with 3G, and improves on its GSM brother by offering GPS. Other than that, it's the same 85xx Curve that Matt already reviewed. It'll cost $100 after a $100 mail-in rebate when it's released on November 20th.

And bringing up the rear, we've got the Samsung Convoy, a burly push-to-talk flip-phone that meets military specification, unlike me. It's got a 1300 mAh battery, which is bigger than some smartphones, and is built to withstand shock, dust, vibration, salt fog, humidity, and solar radiation. It'll probably survive until the end of the Iraq War. The Samsung Convoy will be available November 15th for $50 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

[Verizon]

It looks like the Universal Charging Solution (UCS) has some pretty broad support, from handset manufacturers like LG, Motorola and Samsung to carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile. No word on whether the standard will match the one the GSM Association has been working on, but they're both rallying around MicroUSB, so we'll call it likely for now.

What's sad to me is that, according to the source, this standard could save 51,000 tons of waste if it were in place today. Considering all phone chargers do exactly the same thing, it's pretty ridiculous there wasn't a standard in place before.

Participating carriers and handset makers should fully adopt the UCS by 2012. Hopefully America hops on board before then. [Reuters via Electronista]

Between a general leeriness towards AT&T and spectacularly huge numbers involved, the whole thing sounds a little conspiratorial. Thing is, the price-fixing definitely happened:

South Korea's LG Display Co., Sharp Corp. and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. agreed last November to pay $585 million in criminal fines in a U.S. Justice Department probe of illegally price fixing on LCDs used in flat-screen televisions, cellphones and other devices.

This lawsuit is less about AT&T proving that some of the biggest LCD manufacturers in the world have been gouging them (and in turn, their customers) than it is about getting some kind of compensation for said gouging, which has been driving up prices of phones for quite a while now.

I mean, probably not by more than a few cents apiece, but still! Outrage! As a bonus, this is a rare chance to earnestly root for the Death Star. [WSJ]

The first offers 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB of data for $30. That seems alright, but for $45, you get unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data.

The catch? You probably won't be using much data on their disappointing line of phones that all sell for $100 without a contract—though a "Samsung 451" (a model number that brings up a Samsung set top box) promises full QWERTY and certainly implies a bit more functionality. The LG Slider 290, which doesn't handle much beyond email, is your other higherish-end option.

So would you buy a wireless plan from Walmart? I certainly would, were I able to cheat the system with a more attractive phone of my own.

Walmart To Launch Straight Talk Exclusively, Nationwide

No-Contract Wireless Plans Starting at $30 a Month

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 14, 2009) – Dedicated to providing families affordable wireless solutions, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) announces today it will launch Straight Talk, a new solution in no-contract cellular, exclusively at more than 3,200 Walmart stores nationwide starting October 18, 2009. Straight Talk will bring to the market a new low price for no-contract wireless service with two prepaid plans now available to customers nationwide at $30 and $45 a month. Straight Talk will only be available in Walmart stores and online at www.Walmart.com and www.StraightTalk.com.

The average U.S. adult spends $78 on his or her cell phone bill to receive 1000 minutes a month.* By switching to the $30 Straight Talk plan, for example, the average 1,000 minutes-per-month consumer could save more than $500 per year and still be on a reliable nationwide network.

To help drive down no-contract wireless pricing for customers, Walmart will launch Straight Talk providing customers the following two options:

* Straight Talk "All You Need" 30-day Plan that includes the following for only $30 a month:
o 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB of mobile web access
o Nationwide coverage
o 411 Information calls at no extra charge

* Straight Talk's Unlimited 30-day Plan that includes the following for $45 a month:
o Unlimited minutes, unlimited text and unlimited mobile web access
o Nationwide coverage
o Unlimited 411 Information calls at no extra charge

"It has been very encouraging to see the excitement and response to the Straight Talk pilot in 234 stores that began last summer at Walmart," said Greg Hall, vice president of Media Services, Walmart U.S. "In light of the savings customers continue to need, we have worked very quickly to extend this offering to all of our Walmart customers nationwide, and just before the holidays."

Consumers may refill their monthly balances by buying refill cards at Walmart, or by registering online at www.Walmart.com or www.StraightTalk.com. Also available at Walmart are a range of Straight Talk phone products to suit different needs, from the entry-level LG 220 flip phone at $39.98, to the LG Slider 290 at $79.98 to the Samsung 451 QWERTY keyboard phone at $99.88.

More information about Straight Talk no-contract wireless services is available at www.Walmart.com or www.StraightTalk.com.

Straight Talk is an exclusive Walmart service developed with TracFone Wireless, Inc. TracFone Wireless currently sells TracFone and NET10 prepaid wireless phones and airtime at Walmart stores and online at www.walmart.com.

* Source: Nielsen Mobile Bill Panel Data

About Walmart

Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com.

About TracFone Wireless

TracFone Wireless, Inc. is a subsidiary of America Movil (NYSE: AMX, Nasdaq: AMOV) and has more no-contract cell phone customers than any other carrier in the U.S.

This is because the new offering boasts both an eBook and a thin-film, 10cm solar cell. Surprise!

Four to five hours of sun exposure yields an additional day's worth of reading time. You can read inside too, of course, thanks to the battery, but if you do that how will you show off the fact that you're on the cutting edge and hip with your eBook? [OLED Display]

What's not surprising is that Motorola is dead last. Up until their Android Cliq they really didn't have much going for them—and neither did Palm, until their Pre. So our guess is that these ratings will look a little different next year with Palm moving up a slot or two, and Motorola pulling out of the shame spot.

Motorola doesn't do too bad on the dumbphone ratings, on the other hand.

Also, LG? [JD Power]

• RIM BlackBerry Curve 2, before Black Friday
• RIM BlackBerry Storm 2, before Black Friday
• HTC Imagio, on October 20
• Samsung Saga 2, early November
• Samsung Omnia 2, early November
• Pantech TXT8030 Razzle, early October
• Casio C731 Rock, mid-November
• Casio C741 Brigade, late October
• Motorola V860 Barrage, "soon" (it's already available online in Verizon)
• LG VX8575 Chocolate Touch, first or second week of November

On the Android front:
• HTC Desire, which will be available before Black Friday. Note: This may be the Verizon Android phone sighted today, though Boy Genius says that might be called the Hero.

• Motorola Tao or Droid (possibly the phone currently codenamed Sholes?) will also be available before Black Friday.

Essentially, electrons pass through the pickle (or any other active organic matter) and charge the substance. When positive and negative charges collide, they release a photon (light). This pickle represents just one of millions of OLEDs in a potential display. It also means that Vlassic stock will skyrocket if they can only cut those Bread and Butter chips a little bit smaller. [MIT TechTV via PopSci]

If you're listed, well I guess you have the golden ticket (Willy Wonka, chocolate, see what I did there?) Anyway, you have until tomorrow to let LG know. It all seems quite cryptic and strange. What does LG want with my 5-megapixel DIY porn, anyway? We could find out about a week after the hunt closes. But what do you think? [LG via Klik.tv]

According to Phone Arena the LG VX8575 will have a 3.2MP camera and 3.5mm headset jack. I am still drooling over the longer BL40, the Chocolate Touch, eh not so much. [Phone Arena]

These two phones will arrive in November and December, respectively, and should look something like this:

HP Obsidian:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz)
Bluetooth 2.0
Wi-Fi b,g
QWERTY keyboard
microSD slot
GPS
3.5mm headset jack
Windows Mobile 6.5

LG Monaco:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Wi-Fi b,g
Slide-out full QWERTY keyboard
GPS
5 megapixel autofocus camera

In October, a run of Windows Mobile handsets get version 6.5 updates, including the Samsung Jack and upcoming Samsung Epix (which arrives at AT&T in October). [BGR]

Given the wildly varying conditions of the show floor—and the frankly crappy source video, lighting and background LG picked for its demo TV—we can't really judge which TV actually has the best picture quality right now, but the facts do tell us something:
• Samsung and LG both use local dimming on their 55 inchers, while Sony's 52-inch TV is edge-lit
• Sony and LG have expensive built-in wireless HDMI for 1080p streaming from a paired media box
• Sony and Samung have the best "other" features, like great streaming video services
• Samsung's the cheapest, at $4500 for its 55-inch set, probably because it lacks wireless
• Sony's is the most expensive, even though it's the smallest, and lacks full-array LED backlighting, like its champion precursor, the XBR8

In person, the XBR10 is gorgeous, really pulling off the floating TV look, and the Samsung 8500 sets are slick and slim. LG's 55LHX is comparatively drab and physically more clunky, as you can see in our Sizemodo:

Red = 55" LG; Purple = 52" Sony; Yellow = 55" Samsung

All in all, there's no clear winner, and there are lots and lots of trade-offs. If you really want to blow five grand on a TV, you're going to have a tough decision for now, at least until we get 'em side by side. [More CEDIA '09 coverage]

LG's N2R1, available this fall in 1TB ($299) and 2TB ($399) configurations, is an interesting alternative to Apple's infamous Time Capsule. Starting at the same price for the same amount of storage, the N2R1 doesn't claim to be Time Machine compliant, but it does offer Windows, Linux and Mac compatibility, an easy drive swapping option and what looks to be a DLNA-compliant, network-sharable DVD player/RW.
Our only point of contention is that the N2R1 supports only 802.11g, eschewing faster 802.11n—that's valuable bandwidth lost for media streaming and quicker backups. Other than that quibble, the N2R1 looks like a reasonably priced, easily integrated, expandable NAS that could make a fine addition to a wireless home network.

LG ELECTRONICS HELPS PROTECT CONSUMERS' DIGITAL MEMORIES WITH NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE

Provides Easy-to-use, Secure Storage of Personal Multimedia Entertainment Files

ATLANTA, Sept. 10, 2009 – LG Electronics introduced a new Network Attached Storage option for consumers looking to protect their multimedia entertainment files, this week at Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623).

To help safeguard treasured family memories, photos and music, LG's Network Attached Storage (NAS) model N2R1 uses a proven system of multiple hard drives used for sharing and replicating data to prevent possible damage or loss. Called RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Discs), this system automatically backs up and restores files for added security in the event of a hardware failure.

With up to two Tera-bytes (TB) of storage, the N2R1 provides a wealth of storage capabilities, allowing consumers to continue building their digital libraries of music, movies and other multimedia files. For an enhanced level of convenience, the N2R1 includes a DVD Re-Writer and Playback feature for additional back up or file sharing options.

"Consumers continue to create digital memories, from photos to family videos and it's important that these irreplaceable moments are saved in a secure place," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. "With LG's Network Attached Storage, consumers now have a virtual ‘Library on Command' that allows them unlimited access to their favorite memories, whether at home or on the road."

Connectivity and Compatibility

For consumers who cannot be tied down by wires, the N2R1 has integrated WiFi connectivity for easy connection to any 802.11g wireless home network. The MyMedia feature allows consumers access to videos, photos and music through a DLNA-certified media player, placing digital entertainment libraries within easy reach of the big-screen. For music aficionados, the N2R1 also has iTunes™ connectivity for a networked music option.

The Network Attached Storage is compatible with a variety of operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems, allowing for installation in any home entertainment environment. It also provides remote support with easy access to files from anywhere an Internet connection is available, allowing consumers to show off their favorite pictures or movies even when they are away from home.

The N2R1 will be available online and at national retailers early this Fall for the manufacturers suggested retail price of $299 for 1TB of storage and $399 for 2TB of storage.

LG ELECTRONICS BREAKS BARRIERS IN HOME ENTERTAINMENT

WITH SEAMLESS PANEL LCD HDTVs, LED BY STUNNING NEW LED MODELS

Sleek SL Series Models Couple Advanced Display Technology, Single-Panel Design

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2009 – Breaking barriers in home entertainment, LG Electronics today introduced a "Full HD" LED LCD HDTV – that looks almost as thin as the single sheet of glass it resembles.

Introduced for the U.S. market here this week at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623), the new 47- and 42-inch class* SL90 series HDTVs feature LED lighting and other display technologies developed by LG Electronics.

"LG continues to break barriers in design and technology with its stylish high-definition televisions, like our SL80 and 90 series," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. "These new ultra-slim series of LCD HDTVs position LG at the forefront of providing a new entertainment experience to consumers – one that focuses as much on design as it does on creating a more immersive home entertainment experience."

Unlike conventional LCD TVs, where the panel is recessed slightly within a thick plastic frame, LG's new series of LCD HDTVs use a single-layer design and narrow bezel to create these stunning sets, designed to maximize the viewing experience as well as enhancing the home interior.

LG uses a special film lamination technology for better color tuning, gradation and reduction of glare – all in a sleek, minimalist package. The lamination process completes the flat surface, virtually eliminating the visible line between the screen and the bezel when the set is turned off.

LG's latest masterpiece, the SL90 series, sports a depth of just 1.15 inches, making it a beautiful window into a new world of home entertainment, according to Reiner. "Inside its glossy enclosure, LG's SL90 hides technology that produces a great picture and makes every program and movie even more entertaining," he said.

For example, the LED LCD screen helps produce an extremely high dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 for truer blacks and finer gradations between grays. An additional benefit of the film lamination process is to provide anti-glare properties to the screen, reducing distracting reflections and to help ensure that everyone in the room has a cinema-quality experience.

The SL90 series also incorporates advanced display and calibration options, providing home theater enthusiasts and custom installers a sleek new approach to home entertainment. With TruMotion 120Hz technology, the SL90 reduces motion blur and creates more natural looking images for a better viewing experience. By responding quickly to color changes, LG's 120Hz technology provides superior picture quality at different viewing angles.

The SL90 series will be available later this Fall in 47- and 42-inch class* screen sizes at manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $2,599 and $2,099 respectively.

Expansive Entertainment Options

Also on display at CEDIA Expo this week is LG's SL80 series of LCD HDTVs, which shares a similar stunning single-layer design with the SL90, using a sleek edge-to-edge panel of glass over a slim bezel. This design makes the screen and bezel appear to blend seamlessly together.

"The SL80, with its slim style boasts a depth of just a mere 1.8 inches. The combination of this unique design with slim depth makes the screen appear larger and helps draw viewers in, for a more engaging viewing experience," Reiner explained.

The SL80 boasts TruMotion 240Hz technology to improve motion picture response time so consumers experience a smoother, more natural picture during fast-action scenes. Additionally, LG's anti-glare filter on both the SL80 and SL90 reduces glare to provide a more pleasant viewing experience even in brightly-lit rooms.

For a complete cinematic home experience, the SL80 has a dynamic contrast ratio of 150,000:1 for amazing clarity and color detail. The SL80 series utilizes slim CCFL technology to achieve its dramatically thin profile. Delivering a compelling visual experience, the SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick at its slimmest point.

The SL80 series is available now in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs of $1,599, $1,899 and $2,799 respectively.

Advanced Calibration Options

For easy, self-calibration, the SL80 and SL90 both include LG's Picture Wizard technology. Picture Wizard provides consumers with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements, such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels. Now, consumers have the ability to calibrate their LG HDTV with an easy-to-use calibration process that takes the guesswork out of picture adjustments and eliminates the need to purchase separate calibration tools.

For consumers looking for advanced calibration, the SL series offers ISFccc calibration options to deliver superior picture quality to more closely represent what filmmakers intended viewers to see. Using the LG Expert Mode, an ISF-certified technician professionally calibrates the HDTV using ISF parameters based upon individual home theater environments and ambient lighting.

Once calibrated to the optimal setting, the calibrations are saved as ISF "Day" and ISF "Night" modes. With ISFccc, LG offers a superior 10-point white balance calibration capability, providing an extra level of precision for gray scale calibration for a more uniform picture.

Smart Energy Savings

As with all of LG's 2009 HDTVs, the SL90 and SL80 models feature Smart Energy Savings technology. These new sets meet the newest Energy Star® 3.0 ratings and come equipped with Intelligent Sensor, which senses the ambient light in the room and adjusts color and brightness accordingly and can also save energy. Additionally, a mechanical on/off switch eliminates standby power consumption completely, if desired.

[LG]

It's missing some of the more advanced features the BL40 boasts, notably an accelerometer, but should be a cheaper and smaller alternative to the BL40 if and when it's eventually released. We've got no info on price or release date, but we'll update when we do. [Engadget]

According to an LG press release, the lucky folks in Europe will see the BL40 mid-September while other markets will be covered in the month after.

This means that I'll definitely be looking forward to October for reasons other than Halloween this year, but until then I'll be content drooling over the BL40's tasty official shots. [LGE via Boy Genius Report]

The design is both clever and functional, with the display's ports tucked behind the monitor in some sort of cross between a folded piece of paper and a photo frame. In turn, the necessarily hardware becomes its own stand, and the display can tilt, too (not that the viewing angle on most OLEDs is necessarily lacking).

LG's premium OLED will be released in Korea this November. And don't be surprised if/when you see a $2000+ pricetag on the thing. [Flickr via OLED Info and Engadget]

The 15-incher will officially debut at the IFA 2009 show in Berlin, LG execs told Reuters, after which it will sell first in Korea before making its way overseas sometime after November.

And better still, at least for OLED fans, is word that LG is also preparing a 40-inch OLED product in the "not so distant future." We probably don't have to tell you that this "product" will undoubtedly be "expensive." [Reuters]

The $10 Octopus USB Cable has 10 different tentacles (ignore the fact that octopi usually have 8) to charge pretty much any mobile device you could own—most probably at a rate of 1 at a time. Specifically, that mix includes:

• Nokia 2.06mm (or 2mm)
• Nokia 3.5mm
• Sony PSP
• Motorola (V3 series) & HTC and other phones using USB Mini 5 pin as a charging port
• Micro USB (for Motorola V8…)
• LG
• Samsung (20P (s))
• Samsung (20P (M))
• Sony Ericsson Fast Port
• iPhone / iPod (for charging and data)

Now why you'd ever be carrying around all of these devices at once, we cannot explain. And on a side note, wasn't it a bitch that the iPhone/iPod plug was last on the list? I was like, "BUT WILL IT WORK WITH MY FREAKIN' I-ok, nevermind." [USB Fever via GearDiary]

Shouldn't this be called a dectopus? – JC

Also topping the list was a swiveling, twisting Nokia 7705 for $230, set for a late September release.

The aforementioned BlackBerry handsets, Curve and Storm 2, will drop sometime in late November and October, respectively. Cost was not listed for either phone, but past pricing conventions might mean a $50 to $100 subsidized price is a safe guess.

The LG entry is the Chocolate Touch, which is scheduled to arrive in October for $230. An HTC offering, called the "Razzle/Blitz 2," will share that same release window.

Lastly, the docs have the Samsung Intensity nestled into a September launch window for $130. [BGR]

Here's the thing: It's been clear since the earliest teases that the BL40 is a streeeeeetched phone, to the point that LG had to design a few special interface elements to take advantage of—or to work around—the screen's odd proportions. But in promo videos, the BL40 just looked a little, I don't know, bigger. Here, cradled in a young Englishman's hands, this 21:9 chunk of hardware looks more like a compact remote than a cellphone.

That said, the software still looks impressive and runs very smoothly, aside from a little choppiness during multitouch zooming. It's hard to judge such an unexpectedly different device without laying hands on one—it may look a mite silly, but usability is still a total wildcard. [Mobiles.co.uk—Thanks, Daniel!]

Mostly new Verizon and AT&T featurephone offerings, Best Buy will also have a new shipment of BlackBerry Tours and the Samsung Reclaim, both for Sprint. Check out the list below.

* Samsung Gravity 2 (berry) - T-Mobile
* Samsung Solstice - AT&T
* LG Xenon (red) - AT&T
* Global AirCard (G2) - Verizon
* Samsung Rogue - Verizon
* LG Chocolate Touch - Verizon
* Samsung u450 Intensity - Verizon
* Samsung Omnia 2 - Verizon
* BlackBerry Tour - (new shipment, Sprint)

Don't get too excited, the Chocolate Touch isn't the weirdo LG BL40 we saw earlier, but some other touchscreen Chocolate entry. But this is a nice development, since we were lacking release dates on several of these phones (including the AMOLED-packing Samsung Omnia 2) and this leak answers those questions. [Boy Genius Report]

Take it with a grain of salt, but a SmartHouse Australia report from April claims to answer both those questions. It says a senior LG staffer reckons the OLED panels will initially "cost double, if not triple, the price of an LCD panel" (sounds about right), and that the 15-inch OLED screen will make its way into the next generation of MacBooks (wait, what?).

Here's what's more believable. According to OLED-Display.Net, the LG 15-inch OLED screens are already being made, and the company plans a global roll out soon after the display hits Korea in December.

As for the Apple speculation? Let us know your thoughts below. [via OLED-Display.Net and SmartHouse]

Some of these features and interface ideas will be familiar from the earlier ad, but they're explained in more depth here. I particularly like the adjustable panes, which turn a single widescreen into two virtual screens, creating something akin to multiple workspaces. It's clever, but without laying hands on the phone it's hard to tell if the various other wide-optimized UI elements are features or compromises. [LG—Thanks, Tim!]

Taking up only 1.15-inches in the thickness department, the SL90 also has a 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio and an ambient light sensor for dynamic brightness adjustment. The SL80 nixes the LED-backlighting, cuts contrast ratio to 150,000:1 and fattens up to 1.8-inches of thickness—all in an effort to cut costs. But seeing as LG hasn't released pricing or availability for the SL90, it's unclear exactly how much money is saved.

In any case, the SL80 will be available in August in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch variants for $1600, $1900, and $2800 respectively. [Electronista]

Shock and mystery, I suppose, are at the core of the BL40's appeal, at least until someone actually gets to try one. For everything we do know, and can see reconfirmed here—the featurephone OS, the 5-megapixel camera, the 21:9 screen, the forward-facing videocalling sensor—there's a less observable thing that we don't: How does it feel in your pocket? Your hand? How well does browsing work? How does this phone deal with video that's not encoded for silly-wide displays? And until we find out that LG hasn't discovered clever and/or magical solutions to these potential issues, ogling is the order of the day. [LG]

It's got nothing to do with Vudu's service, which is largely unchanged from the days of the Vudu set-top box. (I mean, we're still in those days, technically, but hey, narrative! ) The interface is the same easily navigable set of panels and menus, which seem to work fine with LG's standard remotes—no standalone clickwheel controller here. The movie selection is still decent, with concurrent releases for SD, 720p and 1080p HDX films on a near-DVD timescale, which has been one of Vudu's selling points since it first hit A/V stacks last year. And it's certainly not the 1080p HDX video quality, which was excellent on the 47-inch LH50 and started streaming in just a few seconds, even on the demo room's ~4.5mbps connection. Nope, it's not that.

The strange feeling I got from the movie samples, whether in SD, 720p or 1080p modes, was down to LG: The NetCast sets that'll carry the Vudu option have LG's 120Hz Trumotion interpolation technology, meaning that they essentially insert frames between what's already on the source material, with the stated purpose of "smoothing" the video output. As we—and others—have complained about before, though, the effect can be strange, making motions seem unnatural, and giving a multi-hundred-million-dollar films an odd, camcorder-like aesthetic.

That issue is really offputting here, and not optional. It made The Knowing look like a daytime soap opera, and made the bus chase scene in The Prisoner of Azkaban look like an extended Benny Hill sketch. Sure, I'm being a little hyperbolic, and for a lot of people—the people who actually like the idea of these high refresh rate sets, I guess—this won't matter. But for anyone who's sensitive to this kind of thing, it could be a dealbreaker. Vudu says they're in talks with LG to include an option to disable this feature with future Vudu-enabled sets, but for now, well, sorry,

But despite this admittedly obnoxious issue, the previous conclusion still stands: set-top boxes are on their way out, and multi-service web-connected TV's are The Thing Right Now. Netflix is showing its bright red face basically everywhere right now, and apparently, Vudu's in talks to try to get that same kind of presence. Which, 120Hz or not, is a step in the right direction. [Vudu on Giz]