Gizmodo: Led

Who Cares What These Glasses Do, They Make for a Great Picture

Mark Wilson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:40:00 EDT

What a fantastic photograph. We could tell you the mundane truth behind what these glasses really are and what they really do, but let's not spoil it. Let's just enjoy a moment of unadulterated imagination by staring at these electronic clouds, molding them to any purpose we like. [ladyada's tea party via MAKE]

Apple Cinema Displays To Get LED Refresh?

John Mahoney — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:31:53 EDT

Macrumors is reporting that new Cinema Displays are coming from Apple that will bring LED backlights to the whole line, which is in sync with the company's plan to ditch fluorescent backlights entirely. The tipster is seeing Macworld in January as a likely time for them to pop up. They haven't been updated in any large fashion since 2004, so this doesn't seem that out of the question. HDMI please? [Mac Rumors]

LED Earth Globe Aquarium Addresses Poorly Represented Fish Bowl Rave Demographic

Jack Loftus — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT

As if fish had it bad enough. They're trapped in a tiny bowl, dependent on you to toss them a handful of dried shrimp from time to time, and now with this glass LED-illuminated globe bowl they're going to be forced into an underwater rave every time the lights go off. Still, this little $50 half gallon bowl is pretty cool looking, even if it does tease the fish with a map of their native habitat (oceans and lakes) whenever you hit the switch. Any aquarium pros out there know if LED's are the proper lighting for fish? [Wrapables via Nerd Approved]

ESL Bulbs Are Better Than CFLs and LEDs, Says Company

Elaine Chow — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Another contender has stepped into the ring of energy efficient lighting: called ESL (electron-stimulated luminescence), this new type of bulb works by using accelerated electrons to light up a phosphor coating on the inside of a glass bulb. ESLs can turn on instantly, can work with dimmers, and creates a light quality that's similar to incandescents and halogens.

Vu1, the company behind the technology, says ESL bulbs don't contain the trace amounts of mercury in CFLs and don't require the manufacturing energy behind LEDs, making it better than both. The first screw in models, which produce 40 lumens per watt with a 6,000 hour lifetime, are expected to be available by September 2008. At $12 a bulb, they cost about the same as dimmable CFLs already on the market. [Vu1 via Cleantechnica]

Giant LED Clock Stores CDs, Gets You Back to the '80s

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:11:20 EDT

Ooooh. Shelves. And red LEDs. They tell time. They store CDs. Who has CDs? Not me. But I don't care. It's a giant digital clock. Red over black, baby. 1980s, here I come again. Now I just need to rescue my white suit, tight pink T-shirt, and call Tubbs to pick me up in the Ferrari.

Unfortunately, they are not for sale in the US or anywhere else. [Technabob]

Upcoming Dell Projector is Very Small, See?

Mark Wilson — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:22:00 EDT

In a recent leaked Dell PowerPoint, the very last item on the very last slide reveals a pretty neat product in the works. It's a tiny LED projector. Just 1.1 pounds and smaller than Dell's resident coffee mugs, we can't wait until the "projector in the tea" pranks start. Oh, man, that's gonna be great. [Ed. note: What if that's just a gallon-sized coffee mug? [engadget]

Phoenix Lander Crew's Cubicles Designed to Fight Perpetual Martian Jet Lag

John Mahoney — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:20:00 EDT

I've always tried to look at jet lag from a more recreational perspective (when else will I rise from sleep wide awake at 3:45 AM?), but what the scientists of the Mars Phoenix Lander mission have to go through makes a 19-hour direct flight to Singapore look like cupcakes. Since Martian Sols are longer than Earth days by 40 minutes, the staff's work schedule effectively skips two time zones every three days to stay on the spacecraft's own schedule. Multiply that over the course of the planned 92-day mission, and you've got some mightily out-of-wack Circadian rhythms on your hands.

One way to preserve the Phoenix workers' sanity are the harsh blue LED-lit workstations you see here, which are on a wavelength that simulates daylight and fools the body into thinking everything's OK. Researchers from the Harvard Medical School who are using the Mars Phoenix staff as guinea pigs for a study on Circadian rhythms also have them doing pre- and post-shift cognition and "mood" testing.

So if any of this crazy scheduling rings a bell with your terrestrial gig, do yourself right and get a nice big glaring blue LED panel for your cube. You'll feel a lot better. [Space.com]

LED Fashion: Perfect for Joggers, DJs, Gizmodo Enthusiasts

Mark Wilson — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:40:00 EDT

EroGear is an LED clothing startup that embeds bright, eye-burning lights in otherwise drab cotton. And while their current LED jackets look perfect for late night runners and bicyclists, EroGear is actually courting a different group given the high price tag—the DJ who's looking to distinguish himself in a dark nightclub. The only downside is that since EroGear's fashion is still "in the design phase," custom LED jackets as seen in this clip cost about $1,500 a pop. And for that much, we'd need nothing less than a full-out TRON 2 bodysuit. [EroGear]

Samsung Updates LED-Backlit LCD: Series 9 Expensive But Probably Worth It

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:48:01 EDT

Samsung's criticially acclaimed LED-backlit flagship LCD just got an overhaul: The all new Series 9 950 will come in 46-inch and 55-inch sizes, 120Hz motion-blur reduction and a whole bunch of eco-friendly attributes, like paint-free "Touch of Color" and absence of mercury and other toxic chemicals. They will range in price from $3,200 to $4,200, but if the reviews of their predecessor are any indicator, this will be one brag-worthy TV. More details and pics below.

Samsung Delivers 2nd Generation LED-Backlit LCD HDTV with New Series 9 LED LCD HDTV

Series 9 LED LCD HDTV Features Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ and Ultra Clear Panel

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Samsung Electronics America Inc., a worldwide leader in innovation and HDTV technology, unveils the successor to the company's award-winning 81 Series LED LCD HDTV, with the launch of the new Series 9 LED LCD HDTV. The 2008 flagship Series 9, Samsung's 2nd generation LCD HDTV to use LED SmartLighting™ technology, offers consumers the powerful combination of LED and 120Hz technologies, resulting in a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for a crisp, full HD 1080p picture. The Series 9 is also distinguished by Samsung's new addition to the art-inspired ToC™ (Touch of Color™) design – an elegantly patterned bezel with charcoal gray accent. Beyond delivering a superior picture performance with craftsman-like design, the Series 9 gives consumers the freedom to easily access and manage nearly all forms of digital content via the TV through innovative features such as InfoLink™ and WiseLink™ Pro.

"Combining Samsung's LED SmartLighting and Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technologies in one high-performance LCD HDTV, the Series 9 LCD represents Samsung's continued focus on advancing the very highest picture quality available to consumers in the current HDTV market," said Jonas Tanenbaum, Vice President of LCD Television Marketing at Samsung Electronics America.

Superior Picture Quality

As Samsung's second generation LCD HDTV to use advanced LED SmartLighting with local dimming technology, the Series 9 LCD HDTV is able to achieve dramatic contrast levels and express "actual black levels" by completely shutting off a pixel's light source, eliminating the grayish black picture plaguing many LCD HDTVs. Conversely, groups of pixels can be locally controlled to produce more light increasing the brightness of the Series 9's picture when necessary.

Furthering the Series 9's ability to show deeper black levels, Samsung's improved Ultra Clear Panel technology eliminates ambient light reflection that may affect picture quality, ensuring perfect picture clarity even in bright viewing surroundings. By enhancing color reproduction level, Samsung's Ultra Clear Panel technology also lets consumers enjoy the detail and vibrancy of colors.

Adding to the superior picture quality in the Series 9 is Samsung's Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ technology that reduces the motion blur caused by fast-paced content. It’s ideal for diehard sport fans, avid gamers, and movie mavens alike.

Connecting to Content

Always seeking ways to expand the possibilities of the HDTV, the Series 9 LED LCD also features Samsung's InfoLink™ RSS service, which gives touch-of-a-button access to news, weather, and stock quotes. The Series 9 also plays MP3 music, JPEG photos, and video files stored on memory drives, other digital devices, or PCs with Samsung's WiseLink™ Pro and DLNA technology.

In addition to WiseLink Pro where consumers can utilize the USB 2.0 access to display home movies and pictures, Samsung's Series 9 comes with internal flash memory pre-loaded with premium content giving consumers access to a vast library of digital content to enjoy, including high resolution artwork, cooking recipes, exercise routines, children's programming, and games.

Connecting to external components such as Blu-ray players and HD Camcorders is even easier as the Series 9 comes equipped with four (1 side, 3 rear) HDMI-CEC inputs to control the latest home theater products using a single remote.

ToC (Touch of Color) Design

Continuing Samsung's line of Touch of Color™ HDTV, the Series 9 strays from the traditional black, box-like bezel for an elegant charcoal gray bezel with a honey-comb pattern. To create this distinctive effect, Samsung uses dual-injection molding technology, a process commonly applied in the design of premium automobiles, to embed color within the material. This technology wraps the bezel with a translucent coating and controls the density of the transparent and opaque material used in the process, resulting in a subtle yet unique look with distinct gray and black gradation.

EnergyStar® Rated

Aligned with Samsung's efforts to combine technological advancement with environmental awareness, Samsung's Series 9 950 LCD features a unique “EnergySaving Mode” that ensures the HDTV is compliant with the EPA’s EnergyStar® rating system. By adjusting the HDTV’s backlight brightness with a low, medium, or high selection, power consumption is substantially decreased compared to similar 2007 models.

Additionally, because of the unique Touch of Color manufacturing process infuses color into the TV’s bezel without any painted on color, no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) are emitted for lower CO2 emissions during production. By using LED backlighting rather than a traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), the Series 9 950 is also mercury-free.

The Series 9 LED LCD HDTVs will be available in August in 46” class (45.9-inch measured diagonally) and the 55” class (54.9-inch measured diagonally) sizes. (Model numbers: LN46A950 and LN55A950).

Specifications
Series 9 950 LED LCD HDTV
Screen Sizes 46-inch (45.9-inch screen size) / 55-inch (54.6-inch screen size)
Resolution Full HD 1080p
Design

* Touch of Color™ bezel design with charcoal gray accent

Video

* 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
* 4ms response time
* LED SmartLighting™ technology with local dimming
* Auto Motion Plus 120Hz™ technology
* UltraClear Panel
* Wide Color Enhancer 2
* DNIe™ Pro (Digital Natural Imaging engine) technology

Audio

* Down-firing speakers with integrated rear woofer
* 46-inch: 10-watts per channel, 2 channels

55-inch: 15 watts per channel, 2 channels

* SRS TruSurround XT™

Features

* InfoLink™ RSS for one-touch, on-demand, onscreen access to news, weather, stock info
* Internal flash memory with pre-loaded Content Library
* WiseLink™ Pro (USB 2.0), with MPEG 4, XviD, MP3, JPEG decoders
* DLNA-CERTIFIED™
* Entertainment mode
* Built-in NTSC / ATSC / Clear QAM tuners
* Energy Star® compliant

A/V Connections

* 4 HDMI (HDMI-CEC) version 1.3 inputs (3 rear, 1 side)
* 1 side USB 2.0 port (WiseLink™ Pro)
* 2 component inputs
* 1 composite input
* 1 S-Video input
* 1 PC input
* 1 Headphone jack
* 1 Ethernet connection (for InfoLink™, and DLNA connectivity only)

Estimated Selling Price

* 45.9-inch: $3,199.99
* 54.6-inch: $4,199.99

Availability August 2008

*Subject to change without notice.

Osram Pushes White LEDS to World-Record Brightness, Super Efficiency

Kit Eaton — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:33:00 EDT

It's an interesting week in the world of LEDs: on the weekend we heard about ultra-cheap ones, and today Osram (yes, the lightbulb people) has news that they've pushed white LEDs to world-record brightness. By optimizing the diode, light converter and the package, their lab test squeezed 500 lumens out of a single LED at 1.4A. That's bright enough for projector tech, and certainly makes the single unit good for car lighting and even interior lights. At a lower, more optimal, current the 1mm-square white LED had an efficiency of 136 lumens/W which makes it about twice as efficient as standard fluorescent lamps and 10 times a normal bulb. Press release below.

OSRAM Achieves Quantum Leap in Brightness and Efficiency of White LEDs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jul. 21, 2008 By improving all the technologies involved in the manufacture of LEDs, OSRAM development engineers have achieved new records for the brightness and efficiency of white LEDs in the laboratory. Under standard conditions with an operating current of 350 mA, brightness peaked at a value of 155 lm, and efficiency at 136 lm/W. In generating these results, researchers used white prototype LEDs with 1 mm-square chips. The light produced had a color temperature of 5000K, with color coordinates at 0.349/0.393 (cx/cy).

The key to OSRAM's success was the efficient interplay among all the advances made in materials and technologies. A perfectly matched system of optimized chip technology, a highly advanced and extremely efficient light converter, and a special high-performance package all combined to produce the world record performance results.

Potential applications for this high-performance LED technology include general illumination, the automotive sector, and any application that calls for large, high-power LEDs. These semiconductor light sources are also suitable for high operating currents. At 1.4 A, they can produce up to 500 lm of white light. This means that in the future the LEDs can also be used for projection applications as blue and green chip versions.

Dr. Rudiger Muller, CEO at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, commented: "It was the successful convergence of OSRAM know-how in different fields that led to these new records in efficiency and brightness. Starting with the light converter, we will be gradually moving these new developments into production." OSRAM has already applied for patents for the technologies that lie behind these world record performance levels

Since Osram says plans are now to move this tech from the lab into production, we can certainly expect to see LEDs in even more places in the future. [Osram]

Brando's USB LED Message Board Displays Obscene Messages To Your Workmates

Jason Chen — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Are your coworkers always giving you a hard time about being away from your desk and not knowing where you are? Grab this $27 LED Message Board from Brando and always have a sign showing where you are. Sure, a Post-it or a mini-whiteboard would accomplish the same thing, but are they USB? Do they light up with red dotted letters? Are they that much more hilarious when the words "Fuck off Phil" scroll across their body? We think not. [Brando]

Purdue University Breakthrough Could Lead to Low-Cost, Mass-Produced LEDs

Jack Loftus — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The researchers at Purdue University are just full of bright ideas these days, and this weekend was no exception. Thanks to a major breakthrough, they may have overcome a major obstacle for "solid state lighting," which laymen like to call LED (light emitting diode). That obstacle? Cost. LEDs are expensive, mostly because their innards are created on a substrate of sapphire. That means only a few gadgets and luxury cars headlights have benefited from the tech so far. Purdue researchers solved the conundrum with a technique that creates the LEDs on low-cost, metal-coated silicon wafers. This is great news for energy conservation, because while LEDs are much more efficient than their incandescent brethren, they are also 20 times more expensive to produce. [Purdue University]

DIY Blow-Outable LED Birthday Candles Perfect for Uber-Geeky Kids

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:24:28 EDT

Kids nowadays are so showered with electronic goodies that I suspect a traditionally-lit birthday cake just wouldn't cut the mustard for some of them. Luckily, over at Instructables they've got a recipe for DIY electronic "candles" that actually lets you blow them out. Its flickering LEDs are accompanied by a thermistor warmed above room-temp by a nearby resistor, and accompanied by a microcontroller. When you puff hard on the thermistor, the circuit senses the temperature drop and switches off some LEDs. Brilliant, but sadly it seems you can't get extra wishes by blowing them all out at once. The demo video is undeniably funny though: a fake birthday part thrown by the builders.

All you need now to please an uber-geeky kid is to follow the instructions, box the device up somehow, and embed it in a cake. It's even a lower fire-risk than real candles... assuming your wiring doesn't go horrifically wrong. [Instructables via Hacknmod]

LED Anti-Glare Light is for Safer Night Driving, Not Doing Your Makeup

Kit Eaton — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:30:00 EDT

LEDs sure get put to some creative uses: here they're built into the "world's first anti-glare LED panel for night-drivers." The idea is that at night your pupils naturally dilate to let more light in, but while driving this can result in dazzle and glare from other cars' head- and tail-lights. So you just strap this gizmo to your sun visor, and it shines gentle (adjustable) light onto your face, making your pupils shrink enough to reduce glare, but still letting you see. Sounds sensible, but this safety and comfort comes at a cost: around $363. [Red Ferret]

AquaRain Bath Fountain Puts on a Show Using Your Bathwater

Elaine Chow — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

I've never found bath time boring enough to need a water fountain and a light show, but in case you hate not being reminded of the Bellagio every time you step into the tub, the AquaRain is here to allay your washroom ADD. The AquaRain floats in your bathtub and pumps bathwater through its jets to create a fountain effect. Four LED lights—red, purple, blue and white—can be remixed to turn your shower into a rave. On sale at Japan Trend Shop for $49, hilarious Engrish included. [Japan Trend Shop via Gizmo Diva]

Giant, Functioning LED Wristwatch is Actually a Table

Sean Fallon — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:50:00 EDT

The aptly titled 'Big Time' table from artist Lee J Rowland is, in fact, a giant wristwatch with a programmable LED clock. It has a touch button feature like a normal watch that allows the user to switch between time, seconds and date functions. You can even program it to display an 8 letter message of your choosing. As far as the table side of things is concerned, there are also slim utility drawers hidden somewhere in there so you can store coasters, silverware and the like. The price is available upon request, so you know it won't be cheap. However, if money is no object, chrome and gold finishes are also available. [Lee J. Rowland via BookofJoe]

Artist Treats Gdansk to "Real" Fake Flashing UFO Encounter

Kit Eaton — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:45:00 EDT

Dominic Harris of Cinimod Studio, who recently brought you the hypnotizing Illuminating Table, has just produced a new artwork that's even more startling. Particularly startling if you were walking the streets of Gdansk last Friday with a bit too much goldwasser swirling inside you: it's a huge, flashing, LED-lit UFO. And it flies. Ok... it's slung 160 feet beneath a Mil Mi2 helicopter, but that doesn't detract from a clever piece of flying art. Check out the video below the gallery to see it in action. Updated.

Created in collaboration with New York artist Peter Coffin, the 23-feet aluminum UFO is covered with 3,000 individually controlled Color Kinetics LED nodes, and gets its power from an on-board 6kw generator. And get this: you really can "phone home" with this UFO, as its displays are remote-controllable via SMS messaging.

It was flown in by mountain-rescue pilots, sweeping in from the Polish coast and circling over central Gdansk just after sunset. The whole performance was part of Gdansk Festival of Stars, and was the first showing of the artwork. And I really, really wish I could've seen it. [Cinimod Studio]
(Photo credits: Peter Turo, Dominic Harris, Michal Szlaga.)

Update: According to Dominic himself, the UFO was greeted with everything from cheers to laughs to screams. And here's an interesting bit of news: discussions are underway to bring the flying saucer to the US. Once they've worked out all the pesky FAA details of course. —Thanks, Dominic

LED Bath Tiles: Either a Very Good Or Very Bad Idea

Matt Hickey — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:03:43 EDT

The idea of LED illuminated tiles is a good one in theory, but I'm afraid it'll end up like fiber optic lighting and Bluetooth headsets in that people with no taste will take it over, ruining it for the rest of us. The waterproof tiles snap together Lego style and have a repeating connectivity scheme, much like model train tracks, except these light up and illuminate your kitchen or bathroom. And the layouts aren't static, they can be changed at a whim. I'm hoping that some people exercise restraint if these ever come to market. [Dvice]

USB LED Light Tube Speaker is Like Bad Sci-Fi Prop For Your Desk

Kit Eaton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:51:00 EDT

This transparent, glowing USB speaker is either missing one glowing arm to make it look like a flux capacitor, or has one arm too many to be the light on top of the TARDIS. It's weird. But if you're into EL-wire PC case modding, then I suppose this blue LED-lit USB speaker from Brando might be up your street. Measuring 5.9-inches long, it takes power from USB, has an audio-in socket and costs $22. [Brando]

This is What Living in a Sci-fi Movie Feels Like

Mark Wilson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:15:00 EDT

By Brilldea, this "living room" has been loaded with LED-backlit paneling to add "ambiance." In reality, they've constructed a sci-fi nightmare suitable for some sort of legitimate sequel to Kubrick's 2001. It's a bit freaky, but what's even more freaky is that we can actually do this stuff. Here's the video:

The money shot is 18 seconds in. Watch a bit longer if you want to see the mechanics behind the panels.
On this second clip, just FF to the very end. [Brilldea via Hacked Gadgets]

CCTV-busting, DIY LED Glasses Makes Robbing a Store/Bank/Warehouse 4x Easier!

Adrian Covert — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Don't you hate it when your perfect heist is foiled by some hidden camera that serves your head to the police on a platter? Well some deviant genius posted a video on Metacafe showing you how to create a pair of LED shades that hides your face on CCTV. All you need are a couple of LEDs, some wire, tiny batteries and a bit of skill. But if committing felonies aren't quite your thing, maybe you'll appreciate the fact these also make you look like some possessed spawn of Satan on camera. [Metacafe via Red Ferret]

USB Hub/Paperclip holder/Fish Tank, May be Worst USB Gizmo Ever

Kit Eaton — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:51:00 EDT

A four-way, USB 2.0 hub. A magnetic paperclip holder. A fake fish tank. A seven-color LED illuminator. Mix them all together, and what have you got? Yes: possibly the worst USB gizmo ever. I mean, what's next? A USB hub with built-in electric dog-polisher? I don't know though: if you're a collector of USB naffness then maybe you'd prize this thing... available now for $20. [Gadget4All]

Avi's Yarmulke Version 2.0: Now With Scrolling LEDs

Benny Goldman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:20:00 EDT

The last time we caught up with tech analyst Avi Greengart, he sported a yarmulke emblazoned with crocheted gadgets. Now he's put his money where his ~~mouth~~ keppe is and made his newest yarmulke a gadget itself. It is loaded with LEDs that scroll his name—and presumably messages to the man upstairs, or anything else he can dream up. I have one pressing question: Does he turn it off on Friday night? [Avi Greengart]

Signal Jacket for Cyclists Gets Instructable: Your Arms Will be Happy

Kit Eaton — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:15:00 EDT

Back in March we showed Leah Buechley's neat signaling jacket for cyclists, the one that has LED turn-indicators on the back. Not much info was available on it at the time, save for the fact it used an Arduino Lilypad controller. But now Leah's posted a detailed Instructable for the jacket, including handy things like a shopping list for materials and tools, so you could easily make your own. One thing we didn't know: there's a single LED on each cuff, confirming your turn signs are showing on the back. Good idea that—saving you from veering into the path of a juggernaut that didn't know what you were up to. [Instructables via Talk2myshirt]

DIY Sleeping Mask Puts You In Control of Your Dreams

Benny Goldman — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:50:00 EDT

There's a Lucid Dream Machine sleeping mask on Instructables that pulses LEDs in your eyelids four hours after you fall asleep, waking you up just enough to notice your dreams and control their outcomes. The mask requires a fair bit of soldering and programming experience, so it isn't for DIY luddites like me. Which is good, because my sleep is too precious and my dreams are too weird to want one of these anyway. [Instructables via Make]

TI Intros Industry First Lamp-Free DLP Projector

Kit Eaton — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:00 EDT

Hot on the heels of the Optoma pico-projector that uses a TI chipset, TI itself has announced the "industry's first home-theater lamp-free projector." It uses a PhlatLight LED illumination source instead, and a Brilliantcolor chipset to give a 1080p display. This makes it capable of a 50% bigger color gamut than traditional projector tech (that's over 200 trillion colors!) and a contrast ratio that can go up to 500,000:1. The lamp-free bit is the part that will interest consumers: as well as not requiring expensive new bulbs, the LEDs consume far less power so you'll pay for less electricity if you're a heavy projector user. Apparently "multiple DLP customers" are expecting to launch projector products with the tech late this year. [Digitimes]

Samsung's P400 DLP Projector is Tiny for Portability, Sleek too

Kit Eaton — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:52:00 EDT

Samsung's new P400 Pocket Imager projector is designed mainly for businesspeople on the go, so it's pretty tiny. Inside, its DLP unit is a native 800 x 600 resolution and its LED lighting pushes out 150 lumens, resulting in a 30- to 40-inch display capability with 1000:1 contrast ratio. It takes the standard RGB, composite, S-video and audio inputs, and has two 1-watt speakers. Plus, though it's no pico-projector, it's just 5 x 3.7 x 2 inches in size and weighs 1.9 pounds, so it'll carry nicely in your laptop bag. And you know what? Just coz it's businessy doesn't mean it has to look ugly or utilitarian: so Samsung has actually made this thing look pretty good. Available now for $749, full press release below.

Jun 18, 2008 18:00

Samsung Launches Sleek, Sophisticated Palm-Sized DLP Projector for Professional Mobility

Bright LED Lightweight Projector, the P400 Pocket Imager Defines Style, Performance and Functionality for Today's Busy Professional

LAS VEGAS —(Business Wire)— Jun. 18, 2008 Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, a world-leading supplier of professional LCD and PDP display products, today announced the P400 pocket imager that defines style, performance and functionality for today's busy professional. The P400 and the full line of Samsung's projectors will be on display during InfoComm at the Samsung booth, C2417, in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 18 - 20.
The P400 Pocket Imager allows professionals the ability to easily transport and display information without compromising picture quality. Ideal for road warriors, field sales representatives, business executives and traveling entrepreneurs, the new Pocket Imager provides a creative and dynamic solution that is now both easier and less expensive to utilize. The lightweight, palm-sized DLP projector fits conveniently into a road warrior's computer bag or luggage and sets up in seconds. The P400 also features Samsung's sleek, sophisticated industrial design with a glossy black finish.

The Samsung Pocket Imager is small enough to take anywhere and can project images from a variety of sources, including computers, DVD players, video game stations and digital cameras. Utilizing DLP technology, the P400 has a native resolution of 800 x 600 SVGA. In addition to the 1,000:1 contrast ratio, the pocket imager has 150 ANSI lumens for a crisp, clear 30"-40" diagonal image even in a well-lit office setting, and RGB, Composite-In, S-Video, audio-in (RCA L/R) rear inputs for optimal functionality.

The P400 features 1-watt (x2) built-in speakers for convenience. Measuring in at 5 inches wide by 3.7 inches deep and 2 inches high, the 1.9-pound pocket imager is both light and portable. Plus, by utilizing LED with a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours, there is no projector lamp to replace. Other offerings included with the P400 Pocket Imager include a remote control, power cables and a sliding lens cap that protects the projector lens without worrying about it falling off or losing it during transit.

"We continue to push the boundaries in digital signage and projection and are thrilled to launch the P400 as it expands Samsung's growth into projection mobility for the various environmental application demands," said Christopher Franey, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Samsung Electronics America Information Technology Division. "The pocket imager's versatility proves to be an ideal digital signage solution for early technology adapters, mobile professionals and style-conscious enthusiasts."

Like all Samsung displays and projectors, the P400 pocket imager is backed by a one-year limited warranty on labor and parts, as well as toll-free technical support for the life of the projector.

The P400 Pocket Projector is currently available for $749 ESP through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting http://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: http://www.samsungpartner.com.

[Samsung and Electronista]

BluePointer Bluetooth Headset-Laser Pointer Mashup Won't Make You a Borg

Kit Eaton — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:15:00 EDT

I mean "Locutus of Borg" rather than the "Bjorn" variety of course... but admittedly, having a Bluetooth headset that you can whip off and use to fire red laser beams around is pretty sci-fi. It's the BluePointer from Brando, and I suppose it's a multipurpose gadget for professionals with little room in their briefcases: it's also got an ultra-bright LED torch and it can be used to flick through the slides in your presentations. You simply pair it with a notebook supporting HID profile and away you go. It's got a talk time of six hours, standby of 120, and does Bluetooth v2.0+EDR class 2. Available now for $90, assimilation into the collective not included. [Brando]

Diesel LED Watches Have Hidden Mirror Displays for Sci-Fi Chic

Kit Eaton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:15:00 EDT

Ah, a digital watch with an LED display that's not impossible to read... fantastic! Even better, the LEDs on these new watches from Diesel are a dot-matrix screen, and are hidden behind a mirror surface that makes the whole package look suitably sci-fi. Like something Luke would've worn on his cybernetic wrist. You can even program the display to scroll messages up to 20 characters long. Having "Use the Force..." scrolling past is too much, you think? Available with a mirrored patent strap (DZ7091) or a black leather one (DZ7092) for $170. [Diesel via Technabob]

Torn Disguised Lighting Looks Like Slits into Parallel LED Universe

Kit Eaton — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:18:00 EDT

Designer Billy May has come up with his Torn Lighting concept as a discreet way of adding some light to your apartment. The installations conceal LED lights, and look like you've got some kind of weird space-time holes torn into your walls and leaking light into your room. Pretty neat, and a nice way of getting mood light from LEDs without the risk of you being dazzled by their exposed faces. Now if only there was a way to animate the walls to get a proper rippling effect... [Yanko Designs]

Santa Monica's 160,000 LED Ferris Wheel Powered By The Sun

Elaine Chow — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EDT

Santa Monica has delivered a bright and shiny upgrade to its Pacific Ferris Wheel, dismantling the old one to make way for a new behemoth that boasts 160,000 LED lights. The 90-foot ride, manufactured by Chance Morgan Rides, delivers visual performances every night and cost the city $1.5 million. Thanks to solar panels that soak up energy during the day to power the wheel, those extravagant light shows have a minuscule carbon footprint.

When it was built in 1996, the Pacific Wheel was the only solar powered ferris wheel in the world. The old wheel was auctioned off on eBay for over $130,000 to an Oklahoma City real-estate developer. Grant Humphreys, the developer, plans on incorporating the wheel into a mixed use residential community.

It has appeared in several Hollywood films, including A Night at the Roxbury and Thank You for Smoking. There's no doubt that its younger and more attractive replacement will probably get some screen time as well. [Crunch Gear]

Sony Hosts XBR8 LED LCD vs. Plasma Shootout (You'll Never Guess Who Wins)

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:53:06 EDT

Sony celebrated the launch of its XBR8 tricolor-LED-backlit LCD TV lineup with a Pioneer-style darkened-room shoot-out. The 55" XBR8 was pitted against an unnamed popular plasma set. What you see above is the LCD on the left, and the plasma on the right. But wait, we thought plasmas always had the upper hand when it comes to non-crushed black levels!

It's only been a few weeks since Pioneer hosted a similar demo, with a Sony CCFL-backlit LCD and a Samsung LED-backlit LCD playing stooge to Pioneer's first- and second-generation Kuro panels. In that demo, it was embarrassing how bad the LCD looked against the plasma.In this demo, Sony's got a better TV, a brand new LED-backlit system with a new flavor of dynamic contrast management called Advanced Contrast Enhancer PRO. Sony pits that new secret sauce against a hallowed plasma competitor—one might say a competitor known for breaking new ground—and the LCD looks, well, sh'loads better.There are two takeaways here:
1. Apparently, these things can be juked. I mean, we're not naive enough to think that they couldn't be, but at this point, our heads are spinning. The first takeaway is that unless it's a case of Pioneer vs. Pioneer, or Sony vs. Sony, there's no way to trust your own eyes.

2. TV tech is getting remarkably better all the time. If we liked the Pioneer in the other demo, and we loved the Sony in this demo, guess what... the Pioneer and the Sony are damn fine TVs. Even if we can't tell who's the best, showing them in high-performance settings against competition proves that they're at least decent. You don't see Tier 2 companies hosting these sorts of demos, cuz only the best can even compete. [New June 2008 Sony Bravia Announcement]

Color-Changing LED Shower Head Actually Purchasable

Jason Chen — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:50:00 EDT

The last color-changing, heat-detecting showerhead was some kind of nebulous OEM product from China, but this LED Shower Light is actually purchasable from Thinkgeek. Unlike that one, this only has blue and red, but it works exactly the same: red == hot, blue == cold. Unfortunately, the red in this activates at 89 degrees, which is actually still colder than your body, so unless you like lukewarm showers, this maybe ain't so great after all. [Think Geek]

Westinghouse: Struggling to Keep Up With LCD Tech

Benny Goldman — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:20:00 EDT

I was really excited to check out the 2008 line from Westinghouse today, but I left the showroom very disappointed. After last year's sweet n' cheap 52”, I expected bigger and better tech with the same nice let's-make-a-deal pricing, but lo, I got nothing. No 120Hz, no LED backlighting, and no new TV larger than 52”. While cheapo LCD brands Olevia and Vizio have at least announced their intentions to play ball with the big brands by adopting performance-LCD technologies, Westinghouse seems content to stay at the bottom rung. That said, if you don't mind shopping on the bottom rung, there are some deals to be had.

My guess is that the cost of 120Hz—not to mention thinner panels and LED backlighting—is still too high to incorporate into a cheap LCD. Late last year, a Westinghouse rep said that the company was exploring 120Hz, and that we'd see it at CES. They didn't come through.

Vizio claims their first 120Hz offerings announced back in January, will be out in July, a full six months later. The 42” and 47” LCDs are said to list for $1500 and $1900 respectively, but so far they only exist in pictures and press releases. We'll believe in them when we see them.

Similarly, the Olevia 120Hz is nothing more than a concept shown on the CES floor, with no schedule for release. While we have no reason to doubt they are working on the tech, we don't expect to see it any time soon, at which point something better may have already passed it by.

All that said, if price is your main concern when it comes to TV shopping, Westinghouse still has some good options. The 40” VK-40F580D has solid picture quality and an embedded DVD player, and it goes for $1100. 42-, 47-, and 52-inchers from the TX series all claim 1080p resolution out of all HD connectors, component and VGA included. Those sets retail for a reasonable $1200 to $2000. Bargains aside, if Westinghouse wants to be more than the Apex Digital of LCD TVs, it had better step up its motion-blur reduction, contrast and back lighting tech . [Westinghouse]

Scramble and Progression Tokyo Flash Watches Aren't Totally Confusing

Kit Eaton — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:28:00 EDT

Just a few weeks ago I showed you the Infection watch, which was very much in the vein of befuddling time display that importer Tokyo Flash has become famous for. But now there're the new Scramble and Progression watches from Nekura, and it looks like their LED-backlit LCD displays are slightly more straightforward, if still funky. You can even chose the illumination color from a choice of six, or go for multicolor changing. Those straps are in engraved stainless steel too, and are "self-adjusting" somehow. Available now for about $124. [Geek Alerts]

Walgreens Building Time Square's Largest Billboard

Mark Wilson — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:20:00 EDT

We don't normally think of glitz when we think of Walgreens, but maybe that's entirely the point. The company is building the world's "most complex, powerful and digitally advanced" sign to hover over their new flagship store. And 17,000 feet of it is covered with 12 million LEDs capable of producing a trillion colors. But that's only part of the sign.

250,000 pounds in weight, the entire sign spans 43,720 square feet when including vinyl components. That easily trumps the old Times Square champion from NASDAQ, which covered a suddenly modest 11,000 square feet.

Cumulatively, all of this sign will cover three sides of 1 Times Square with a solitary animation. Never has a sale on pantyhose been so grossly over-promoted. [NYTimes via BBGadgets]

Drivemocion LED Sign for Cars Now Does Animated Emoticons

Kit Eaton — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:10:00 EDT

Chinese company Au-my has updated its Drivemocion LED car sign with a new animated version. Now you can display your anger yet more graphically, or even give flirtatious winks at other drivers. But is it a recipe for increased road friendliness, or worse road rage? Just don't distract the following car so much they crash into your trunk: there's no emoticon in the five available strong enough to answer that. Available for $60. [Drivemocion]

Mobile LED Billboard Should Finally Get Your Message Across

Mark Wilson — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT

For those times when it feels like no one listens to you (because, incidentally, no one ever does listen to you), you need to enlist help. Pick up one of these large-sized movable LED displays by OMDM and transmit your message to the world via burning retinas and horrifying parallel parking. We humbly suggest something like "See Dad?? I always told you I'd buy that sign!" Yeah, that'll show 'em. [aving]

100% of MacBooks Getting LEDs in 2009

Mark Wilson — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:00 EDT

According to the Taiwan-based Economic Daily News (who has spoken with Apple's chief LED supplier), every MacBook shipped in 2009 will have an LED-backlit display. Consider the news unconfirmed, but the transition would certainly make sense, as Apple already uses LEDs in its MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines. Aside from LEDs being an eco-friendly solution for display production, they're also excellent for brightness, color and battery life. We'll be pleased to see this happen. Literally. [Digitimes via Electronista]

TV Simulating Lamp Foils Burglars: Because Couch Potatoes Are Not Easy Targets

Sean Fallon — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:20:00 EDT

A device called FakeTV is intended to deter would-be burglars by making it seem like you are up watching the television when in reality you could be sleeping or out of the house. After all, burglars would rather move on to an easier target than tangle with a dangerous couch potato watching infomercials at 4 in the morning. The unit consists of a small LED lamp that gives off a light output similar to a 27-inch television. It even adds effects like scene changes, fades, swells, flicks, on-screen motion and color changes to enhance the illusion.

Obviously, if you were to leave on your actual television during the night, your electricity bill would suffer the consequences. As an alternative, the FakeTV consumes about the same amount of power as a night light and it can be set to automatically turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn. I don't know how much truth there is to the notion that burglars are less likely to attack a home with a television on, but if you can't afford an actual alarm system, spending $50 on a FakeTV unit could be an attractive option. [FakeTV via Electronic House via Gearfuse]