The stupid-simple contraption fastens to your Mac's stem with a couple of non-scratch clips, and is kept in place by nothing more than gravity and friction. You can connect more than one, turning your computer into a brushed aluminum shelving unit, just like you never knew you always wanted, but trust me, you did.

The shelves are primarily intended for accessories like external hard drives, USB hubs, and docked iPhones, though they could just as easily be used to store non-digital items, like dead tree office supplies, or an emergency sandwich. The possibilities, they are endless. Apparently Apple sees the cleverness in the concept too, since they're planning to carry the BackPack in their stores, for $30 a shelf, or $150 for a pack of six. [BackPack]

I'll CC You in the FL
With LCDs, it's all about the backlighting. This defines contrast, brightness and other performance metrics. When you watch plasma TVs, OLED TVs or even old tube TVs, there's light emanating from each pixel like it was a teeny tiny bulb. Not so with LCD—when you watch traditional LCD TV, you're basically staring at one big lightbulb with a gel screen in front of it.

The typical old-school LCD backlighting tech is CCFL—a cold cathode fluorescent lamp—which is an array of the same kind of lights that make people's lives miserable in offices around the world. The reason they aren't the greatest as backlights for TV watching is that they light up the whole damn display. Because LCD is just a massive screen of tiny doors that open and close, light inevitably leaks through the closed doors, when they're trying to show black, resulting in more of a glowy charcoal. Check out this shot from Home Theater mag to see what I mean:

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LEDs (light emitting diodes) are different from say, an old school incandescent bulb, which heats up a filament to generate light, in that they're electroluminescent—electricity passes through a semiconductor and the movement of the electrons just lights it up. Instead of having one lightbulb in the bottom of the screen, shining up through all of the LCD pixels, you can have arrays of LEDs that shine through smaller portions of the LCD screen, leaving other portions in the dark, so to speak.

OLED—"organic light emitting diode"—is slightly different. Since the electroluminescent component is organic and not a chip, each point of light can be much tinier. That's why an LED TV still needs the LCD screen in front: there's no way to have a single LED per pixel unless the screen is huge, and mounted to the side of a building in Times Square. OLEDs don't: HD OLED displays are made up of red, green and blue dots, no LCD panel required.

LED Is As LED Does
So, Samsung's term "LED TV" is more accurately—and more commonly—described as an LED-backlit LCD. But not all LED displays are created equal.

There are two major kinds of LED backlighting: Edge-lit and local dimming. Edge-lit displays are what they sound like—the LEDs are arranged in strips running along all four edges of the TV, like you can see in this gut shot from Cnet. A light guide directs the glowyness toward the center of the screen. The advantage of edge-lit displays is that they can get incredibly thin, are 40 percent more power-efficient than regular LCDs and are a bit cheaper than local-dimming TVs. But because they're still shooting light indiscriminately across the LCD panel, they can't pull off the black levels that a local dimming backlight setup can.

LED backlighting of the local dimming variety is how you build the best LCD TV in the world. It's called local dimming, as you probably guessed, because there are a bunch of LED bulbs—hundreds in the Sony XBR8—arranged in a grid behind the screen. They can all be dark or brightly lit, or they can turn off individually or in clusters, making for the actual Dark Knight, rather than the Grayish Knight you'd see on many cheaper CCFL LCDs. Sets with local dimming are pricier than edge-lit—the Samsung's local-dimming 46-incher started at $3,500, versus $2800 for one of their edge-lit models. They are thicker too.

What Color Is Your LED?
The color of the LEDs matters too, separating the best LED-backlit LCDs from the the merely great. Most LED sets just use white bulbs. The reason Sony's XBR8 started out at $5,000—as much as Pioneer's king-of-TVs Kuro—is because it uses tri-color LEDs in an RGB array. In each cluster, there are two green bulbs next to one red and one blue (greens aren't as bright). The result is high contrast plus super clean, incredibly accurate color.

LED displays are getting cheaper, more quickly than originally expected, so we could see them go mainstream sooner. You already see the lower-end edge-lit LED tech used in mainstream stuff—MacBook Pro and Dell's Mini 9 to name a couple. Which is a good thing, since the prophesied ascendancy of OLED in 2009 completely failed to happen. So we'll have to make do with LED in the meantime. Just be sure to find out what kind when you're buying.

The CinemaView is the first (third party) monitor to support Apple's mini DisplayPort standard, which means that unibody MacBook users won't need to mess with adapters to plug in. Plus, they look super Appley.

Coming in sizes up to 24-inches and resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 (slightly lower than Apple's 1920 x 1200), these aluminum and glass displays each feature 1000:1 contrast, 350 cd/m2 brightness, 5ms response and a 3-port USB hub.

But the most attractive feature is definitely the price, with the displays promised to cost somewhere between $300 and $500 when they're released sometime before September 1. [CinemaView via Macworld]

MacRumors points out the most obvious possibility: that Apple is letting current stock dry up to facilitate a transition to new, refreshed 20" displays, with LED backlighting and Mini DisplayPort compatability a la the 24" model. This sounds reasonable, but another possibility—less agreeable—is that Apple's range of displays will contract, leaving the low and high ends at 24" and 30", respectively. If the refresh theory is true, we should know soon enough—a cessation of deliveries, assuming it's to make way for new product, is generally a late indicator. And as far as speculating about a possible round of product updates goes, you really can't ignore yesterday's leaked pictures of the highly perforated probably-Mac-Mini. Interesting timing, at least. [MacRumors]

The only thing missing is HDMI, but in this package, that's everything you can get in Apple's notoriously overpriced displays and more for less than half the 24-inch LED Cinema's $900 price tag, albeit without the built-in webcam or speakers. Release has no size, but we are assuming 23-inches here from the model designation.

Samsung Launches Super-Thin LED Monitor as Part of Its “Touch of Color” Family for Optimal Viewing

The P2370L is a High-End Display Delivering More Vibrant Color and Eco-Friendly Features in an Ultra-Thin, 16.5mm Footprint
2009 International CES

LAS VEGAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, the number one monitor brand in the world, announced today the addition of a super-thin LED monitor to its “Touch of Color” (ToC™) family – the P2370L. This new high-end, model has a Light Emitting Diode Back Light Unit (LED BLU), instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) found in standard LCD displays, and reproduces more vibrant color and higher contrast ratios than other monitors. With its sophistication-meets-high technology form factor, the P2370L display will ship in late first quarter with an MSRP of $399.

The monitor’s ToC design technology has an ultra-thin wrapper of just 16.5mm (0.65-inches) and is a great fit for any home or office environment, helping to maximize desktop real estate and minimize its physical and carbon footprint reduced. Key eco-friendly benefits of the P2370L model include LED fluorescent lamps that do not contain harmful elements such as mercury or lead, consumption of 30% less energy and a longer life than a standard CCFL backlit unit. In addition, the ToC manufacturing process eliminates harmful paints and sprays to enhance the recyclability of the entire monitor.

“As one would expect from Samsung, the P2370L represents the pinnacle of premium display craftsmanship as a high-end monitor that is sophisticated in not only appearance, but in the quality and performance it offers and in how it impacts the environment,” said R.A Atanus, Vice President of Product Marketing at Samsung Electronics’ Information Technology Division. “This monitor is truly a leadership product that will further solidify Samsung’s position as the foremost authority in the design, engineering and performance of displays worldwide.”

The P2370L uses white LEDs and has a ultra-high contrast ratio of 2M:1. The monitor also has an ultra fast 2ms (GTG) video response time and offers a 1080p full-HD experience.

The P2370L display’s transparent, crystal-like, bezel frame has blue gradation that gives it a glass-like appearance, and helps to reduce the reflection of light to decrease glare. The model also has a unique glass stand neck that gives the illusion that the monitor is floating. It is also equipped with Samsung’s dual-injection technology that lends it a smooth, finished appearance without any screws or joints.

The P2370L is designed so that there are no obtrusive buttons on the front or sides on the panel. Instead, each display features Samsung’s unique Startlight Touch Controls which integrate the On Screen Display (OSD) buttons into the bezel for a seamless look and feel.

P2370L LED BLU Monitor

* White LEDs
* Ultra-thin, 16.5mm design
* Ultra-high contrast ratio of 2M:1
* Ultra fast 2ms (GTG) video response time
* DVI-I Input
* Offers a 1080p full-HD experience
* Touch of Color” (ToC™) technology
* Crystal-like bezel frame to help reduce glare
* Swivel stand for optimal screen positioning
* Starlight Touch Controls

All monitors are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting www.samsung.com. Samsung Power Partners receive special promotions, lead referrals, training and technical support, as well as collateral and marketing materials. To find out more about becoming a Samsung Power Partner, visit www.samsungpartner.com.

I'm a sucker for any Apple keynote, whether I'm in the stands with the press or F5'ing away at my browser like most of you. There's a certain hypnotic timing to them, a clean presentation and a controlled, meticulous unveiling process that makes even the less exciting products seem monumental in scope.

During today's last Apple Macworld keynote, not having been there, I actually forgot at times that Steve Jobs wasn't presenting with Phil Schiller taking his place instead. Indeed, from the text/content alone, I wouldn't have even noticed. The presentation style was intact—from the clean slides to the dramatic structure, it was an Apple keynote, even if it wasn't Steve's Apple keynote. But I want to know, do you feel the same way?

From our original Macworld 2009 rumor roundup, here's the rundown on how all the rumors panned out.

Came True:
iLife and iWork '09 (with iWork in the cloud)
DRM-Free iTunes
17-inch Macbook Pro

Didn't Come True:
New Mac Mini
Updated 30-inch Cinema Displays

Didn't Come True Stretches:
iPod Touch Jumbo/XL/Pro/Netbook/Thing
iPhone nano
Home Server
Snow Leopard Availability
New iMacs

Seeing as many of the rumors were an admitted wild shot at best, we'd put the real rumor batting average around .400, even if it's closer to .266 on paper.

I tried downloading Radiohead's Bodysnatchers in an area providing 3 bars of 3G reception. With no fanfare, I was able to enter the iTunes store without a Wi-Fi hotspot and purchase the song.

So far, so good. No firmware updates needed or anything!

Then the download stalled for a moment. Then the iPhone pulled that classic "you're on 3G, oops, you're really on EDGE" maneuver. I wondered what would happen. Would the download stall and wait for 3G? Or would it slowly trudge on?

It trudged on. I guess that's both a good an a bad thing. While I was able to download the song, it took me nearly 10 minutes to grab the 3.7MB file. Wilson Rothman ran the same test from nearby and was also booted to EDGE, though the download only took him about 5 minutes.

Overall, I'm glad that truly wireless iTunes downloads are here. Hopefully more and better 3G coverage will make them live up to the generally pleasant iTunes experience. [Gizmodo Macworld 2009 Coverage]

While EMI is already offering DRM-free music on iTunes, they represent only 10% of the music market. With "the big three" on board, a majority of iTunes' music could be DRM-free. But the new pricing options may be the real cost of it all to consumers. While catalog titles will now start at 79 cents, the studios will be able to price music above 99 cents (to undisclosed amounts)—though CNET's source says that all music will eventually return to 79 cents.

So while it sounds like Apple finally caved to the music industry, at least consumers may get something decent out of it. Hopefully we'll hear about it all today at the keynote. [CNET]

The Review
• MacBook and MacBook Pro DUAL Review (yes, two at one time)

The News
• MacBook Pro announcement and first hands on
• Aluminum MacBook announcement and first hands on
• 24-Inch Cinema Display announcement and first hands on
• MacBook Air update

Additional Coverage
• MacBook Pro video tour
• MacBook Sizemodo, new and old
• Why the new MacBook Pro has two graphics cards
• All about MacBooks' new glass trackpad and multitouch
• Apple's Blu-ray woes
• The "Brick" aluminum carving process
• MacBook rumor roundup
• Comment: MacBook pricing is still too high
• Our liveblog of the Apple keynote
• Giz Explains: Why Does the New MacBook Pro Have Two Graphics Cards?
• Rumor: New 17-Inch MacBook Pro Delayed Until Early Next Year
[Apple on Giz]

Again. They are way overdue for an overhaul and update—iSight, HDMI, fresh aluminum coat, the works basically—but this is the umpteeth time we've heard about the imminent arrival glitzy new displays. Of course, the rumor's got the usual "we'll see on the 15th" caveat tacked on. What do you guys wanna see in the inevitable refresh, whenever it happens? [ZDNet via Electronista]

During a dinner with a very old friend, who happens to be an anonymous designer at Apple...when my dad mentioned his plans to get two large flat screen monitors side by side for his macpro, the designer said wait just 2 years, then...proceeded to demonstrate the multi-touch screen of the iPhone.

a) the inverse relationship of proper ergonomics and proper viewing distance on such a setup b) unnecessary exercise c) being punished in grade school for flying paper airplanes by having to clean the chalkboards after school. It sucked.

I like my trackpad. I never have to take my hands off the keyboard to move my pointer. It is the virtual fulcrum of the stone-heaving work that is bloggistry. Don't make me compute the way they're done in meatspace, please. Well, beyond the iPhone's finger flick, and Wiimote that is.

I don't know if Steve would launch something like this without doing a gut check on how useful the tech would be, first. Maybe, it will be left as another secret in the catacombs of the Apple Design Labs.–Brian Lam

My unicorn fantasy is for a surprise release of OS X 10.5 Leopard to bitch slap Vista's 0-birthday tomorrow. We give this rumor a 30% chance of likelyhood, pegged mostly around Think Secret's accuracy rating.– Brian Lam

Apple product announcement Tuesday? [Think Secret]
Apple Cinema Display Rumors: Loaded with HDCP-safe HDMI, Bigger LCDs, and iSight [Gizmodo]
Apple Planning a Special Leopard Announcement? [Gizmodo]