The hydraulically operated jumbo TVs are expected to weigh an astonishing 66,000 pounds and deliver true 16:9 aspect ratio for direct usage of 720P HDTV signals. Other features include an LED element pitch of 15mm and a brightness range up to 10,000NITS—so the TVs are not only bigger, they should also be significantly brighter than anything else out there. How long it will take to get these screens built has not been determined, but one thing is for sure—when all is said and done they should be a big hit with an audience (and advertisers).

If only we could play games on it.

Here's some clarification from the manufacturer:

- It's Not A Projector. Some of the bloggers seem to think that this is a reflected-light solution (a "Just get a bigger projector" or "projectors will never work in bright sunlight") indicating that they didn't understand (despite the giant headline) that this is a non-projected LED screen - light-emitting diodes / LEDs are transmissive light and are easily capable, with a sufficiently large array at state-of-the-art output devices, of operating clearly in dazzlign sunlight. At night, you actually have to turn them down or they become absolutely blinding (but in that dance-party application...Hey...). Just For Fun - we first determined that Moore's Law also applied to displays when testing a small, prototypical ultra-bright screen during the XPRIZE flights of SpaceShip One out in the Mojave Desert - the SpaceShip had to be launched at dawn when the wind was calm, so that meant capturing the live camera downlink and putting it up on some kind of display. The one we were able to put together, using (what were then) the only super-bright LED modules available in a kludge on a trailer, gave us and thousands of people in attendance the opportunity to witness the first time that a privately built spacecraft left the Earth's atmosphere, live against the blazing early-morning desert sunlight. Since then we've evolved the MEGASCREENS concept that you see today.

- The Resolution Question. These screens take a bone-stock 720P signal in, the actual number of lines works out to around 660 due to the physical limitations of what you can fold up and take down an American road. With a dot-pitch of 15mm you can only pack so many lines into a semi-trailer. Going to the next smaller size (10mm is the current state-of-the-art for outdoors with an IP65 environment rating, the smaller sizes can't take heat or water) makes the thing almost look blurry at a distance (we've tried) and would generate a staggering amount of heat for little picture-gain. SO after a lot of calculating, trial-and-error plus input and advice from literally the world's leading experts on these LED products, we came to 15mm. The point is that we can feed a normal, HD-SDI (the pro HD line standard which has little in common, unfortunately, with the HDMI consumer standard) signal into the system, the video processor works out the scaling-down to 660 lines, with almost no downgrading that is visible to the naked eye, and we have a beautiful picture.

- The Other Resolution Question. It's funny that someone mentioned "1080p" - first of all, there is no true network standard for 1080p, we went around the entire broadcasters' convention last week (NAB) and found that only digital cinema people care about it - even Yoda (aka Gary Demos, the American father of HD...there is a Japanese counterpart to him...) believes that for "your (meaning, My) kind of content, 720p is the right format" which is good enough for me. Oddly, before reading that blogger's comment, the only person who had pushed me on the 1080p issue was Mark Cuban. Anyway, from a physical standpoint, taking 15mm pitch LEDs and building a 1080-sized screen would not fold up sufficiently to roll down a road in America. But if and when that becomes practical, we'll be there, Dude. For the next 3-5 years, though, and pending a big evolution of that technology, we'll be very happy to blow our minds with 720p at ridiculous brightness levels, playing Halo from 1,000 feet away.

Press Release:

BIG MOVING PICTURES & STRONGBASE USA SIGN PARTNERING AGREEMENT TO PRODUCE THE WORLD'S LARGEST MOBILE HDTV SCREENS

April 30, 2008

LAS VEGAS, NV (APRIL 30, 2008) - Big Moving Pictures Inc. (BMP), the creator of the 'rolling television network' concept, and Strongbase USA today announced the signing of a unique agreement to create the largest mobile LED screen displays ever produced to make BMP the undisputed leader in on-site audience engagement systems.

Raising the bar for "state of the art" at just under 40 feet wide by 22 feet high (more than 40 percent larger than current screens) MEGASCREENS will be the first LED displays to ever provide full HDTV resolution in daytime outdoor environments.

Big Moving Pictures will transport MEGASCREENS to the largest events in the United States and Canada where they will augment and enhance the audience experience at air shows featuring the US Navy Blue Angels, US Air Force Thunderbirds and open-wheel auto races such as the NHRA and Indy.

"We are building a 'rolling television network'," said BMP President & CEO David Knight, "with everything that a television network normally has - cameras, graphics, performers, and supported by national advertisers - but using giant screens to reach large audiences instead of their home TV sets."
Utilizing the worlds' largest mobile televisions, Big Moving Pictures will be able to capture and command the attention of millions of viewers nationwide at many of the most popular annual outdoor events.

State-Of-The-Illumination-Art

MEGASCREENS will be built using the brightest Light-Emitting-Diode (LED) technology available. Essentially an evolution of the video display systems currently used in stadiums or rock concerts, MEGASCREENS are the biggest and most powerful LED-based display solution yet devised.

"There is simply nothing out there in the world of big screens even close to these - MEGASCREENS will be forty percent bigger and about 200 percent brighter than any current mobile outdoor screen," stated Knight, "plus they can withstand the rigors of the aviation and motorsports environments, including the ability to be situated next to runways, on oceanfront piers and even barges in the water, taking punishment from high winds and saltwater bombardment."

Knight explained "This is an extreme engineering challenge, which is why we elected to partner with the most successful maker of LED-based video systems in the world, Strongbase through their American arm, Strongbase USA."

Going To The Source

Big Moving Pictures spent nearly eighteen months doing prototyping and test performances using a wide variety of vendors' outdoor LED display units and found that none of the well-entrenched products could meet BMP's specific technological, environmental and scalability needs. At the end of this search, BMP elected to work directly with the company that has been providing LEDs and related componentry to most of the display industry: Hong Kong Strongbase Investment Group through Strongbase USA, which handles North American sales, service and marketing for its parent.

Through its tight engineering partnership with Strongbase BMP has been able to move its development plans forward more quickly to the mutual benefit of both companies. "Our work with and for BMP is taking us into new territory, with the production of the most powerful mobile screens in the world," said San Wang, Managing Director of Strongbase USA. "The challenges posed by this development and manufacturing effort are placing us at the forefront of the LED display systems world, leading to new and advanced products which all of our customers can take advantage of," Wang continued.

Why The Rolling Television Network & MEGASCREENS, Now

Advertisers have learned that they cannot rely entirely on in-home media to reach and motivate consumers. Recognizing a unique opportunity Big Moving Pictures developed its "Rolling Television Network" which offers advertisers the opportunity to connect effectively with consumers at many extraordinarily well-attended outdoor events.

Through its unique alliances with many of the most important air shows that feature the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds jet teams Big Moving Pictures will give millions of attendees unprecedented views inside cockpits and from the pilot's point of view as well as insights into who the pilots are through 90-second "Meet The Team" exclusives.

BMP's programming is supported by commercials for major brands that run during intervals in the action. The company will announce additional partnerships in the motorsports and music categories within the coming year.

Why Strongbase USA

It was the need for big, bright, super-clear images in outdoor venues combined with transportability for city-to-city movement that drove BMP to seek a partner in the MEGASCREEN development effort: Strongbase USA was the undisputed winner. "We are extremely confident in our ability to support this development partnership like no other manufacturer," stated Greg Hawkins, Director of Sales & Marketing for Strongbase USA. "Big Moving Pictures is a detail-oriented, business-focused group who treat this effort as core to their business. We are thrilled to partner with them on the MEGASCREEN project."

MEGASCREEN Truck Open

High Definition, High Visibility Outdoors

The Big Moving Pictures/Strongbase developed MEGASCREENS are the first mobile screens to provide a true HD display for crisp, ultra-bright viewing by hundreds of thousands of audience members at an outdoor event. Using the 720P standard for high definition supported by many broadcast networks such as ABC, Fox, and ESPN where the progressive-scan format offers better imaging for sports and with a projected 5-7 year life MEGASCREENS will be available to serve the needs of Big Moving Pictures and other users in the action sports, movie, music, product launch, and videogaming industries for a long time to come.

About Big Moving Pictures

Big Moving Pictures is the first company to monetize advertising on outdoor television screens at large events on a national scale. Although superficially similar to the systems of production trucks and outdoor LED screens seen for years at baseball games, NFL, NASCAR and others, BMP applies a new, Silicon Valley-style angle that makes it possible for advertisers to conclusively reach their target consumers, and introduces the ad-based revenue model to large spectator events — this works thanks to BMP's total integration with the event itself — there is no competing 'signal' coming over the sound system or screens that could confuse or distract the audience — in every sense of the word, Big Moving Pictures becomes one with the show.

About Strongbase USA

Strongbase USA is a full color display manufacturer and content provider, specializing in custom design applications using light emitting diode (LED) technology, including but not limited to: indoor and outdoor display solutions, engineering design services, portable video walls, mobile video display solutions, stadium and arena scoreboards, and custom content software development. Strongbase USA is the North American Division of Hong Kong Strongbase Investment Group, the largest full color display manufacturer in China with over 3,000 display installations worldwide, is currently listed on the London, Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

About MEGASCREENS

Weighing 66,000 pounds and hydraulically operated, the MEGASCREENS are trailer-mounted for maximum portability and rapid deployment into a given situation. Typical time from arriving onsite to displaying video will be under one hour, done by a single technician or truck driver. Image area sizing will be 39.4'W x 22'H in a true 16:9 aspect ratio for direct usage of 720P HDTV signals. LED element pitch is 15mm, brightness range up to 10,000NITS. HD video transmission to the screens will be accomplished by laser-based, digital microwave or fiber optic cabling systems.

The first waterproof camera I used was a Pentax W10 in 2006, one of the first simple cams that didn't need a case. It was only guaranteed to a depth of 5 feet, but it shot video, and that's all I needed for some snorkeling on a Kauai's north shore. I still have shorts of fish and turtles I took then. A year later, I used the same camera and lost it off some reef near a friend's house in Oahu. The current was strong and I was not, and when I swam to a safe spot the camera's lanyard had slipped off my wrist. The shiny little Pentax wasn't so shiny below the waves.

The second rugged, water resistant camera I used was a pistol gripped Sanyo E1. It was a lot more powerful of a camera, shooting DVD quality vids and 6 megapixel shots, but a lot bulkier than the Pentax. I called it in to use for the winter, during the snowboarding season. I couldn't use it but on the first day I used it, I noticed I couldn't toggle the buttons without removing my gloves, and mounting it on my strap as I rode wouldn't be a great idea anyhow. I lost it after not zipping a pocket after taking some shots and making a blistering run.

I'd chalk up these loses to my own user error to some extent, but if these cameras are waterproof and rugged enough to withstand the elements, shouldn't they also be fitted with accessories that assume the worst? Straps that can be fitted to gloves, neck lanyards, neoprene arm bands, or even orange buoys that can keep the cams from sinking during water adventures. I don't know. I just think that there has to be a better solution to keeping these cameras secured in the outdoors than the simple lanyards you find on your average point and shoot.

You can tell Belzberg interned with Frank Gehry, can't you? For more window-licking images of Belzberg's interiors and exteriors of this eye-opening LA pad, follow the link. [Coolhunter]

The 400t has 3D elevation, 400i has shoreline details and boat ramps, 400c has maps of the coastal US and the Bahamas, and the 300 has a worldwide basemap for Richard Branson and his ilk. They get 15 hours of life on two AA batteries, and will be available for $499 (300), and $599 (all the other ones).
The Catch: These only work if you make sure to take enough spare AA batteries with you when you go out. Plan on getting lost for a couple days and pack accordingly.

It's lacking GPS, but maybe that's too newfangled for you—in that case, there's an old-timey magnetic compass included in the dial collection, as well as a tachymeter that gives you info about time and distance traveled. It even has a barometer and thermometer to let you know when it might be time to start heading down that big mountain. Available now to various degrees of fanciness, with the leather-banded watch at $295, up to the silicone-banded, corrosion-free watch for $345. [Timberland, via Technabob]

Apparently not, since the system also has a 50m range. Mind you, that is hard to believe, even with the 2.4GHz transmitting goodness. Getting your music into the great urban jungle, for all to hear, shall set you back $199.95. [Coolest Gadgets]

You can change the color of the light by using different-colored glass tubes. [Yanko]

What a basic concept! You can clearly see how much propane you have left in the tank. At $53.98, it's significantly more expensive than normal tanks, but the company's offering a summer special with free shipping. Sounds great, but we're just thinking that all propane tanks should be this way. That's the reason why we had a natural gas line installed, and now we never worry about running out of propane, but are always concerned about leaving the gas running for a week at a time. [The Tank]

The combustion chamber and chimney are hidden beneath the circular plate (apparently it's easy to clean if you're a slob like me) inside a cone-shaped structure, and there is a drain tray to collect the cooking liquids. The petals come in six colors—lilac, hot, white, mandarin, pearl gray and sun—which I guess are for resting the plates on when you're serving up. Oh, and did you know that nfalos means "belly button" in Greek? No, me neither.

Onfalos Grills - mobile outdoor teppan-style grilling [Appliancist via Born Rich]

Press Release

It's safe, too, turning off and floating back to the surface if you let go of it. If you're not wearing scuba tanks, you can set it to automatically turn off when it gets to a depth of around 8 feet, but then you can set it for a maximum depth of over 120 feet if you're a brave soul with air tanks on your back.

How does it work?

It works with an impeller, sucking in water and moving you along quickly and safely. It has an LED display that shows you how much power you have left, and then when it's time to charge the battery after zipping around for about an hour, it takes 6 to 12 hours to fully charge.

These are sophisticated devices, highly maneuverable and designed to take a beating. You'll pay for that quality, though, with the lowest-priced 3.3hp model costing $10,450, while the fully tricked-out 5hp model will run you $15,360. – Charlie White

SeaBob, the rechargeable hand-held underwater propulsion device [Gizmag, via Sci Fi Tech]

At this rate, it won't be long until LEDs are more practical than the free energy from the sun. (And we can finally blow it up, avenging that vicious burn we received as a kid...and every year since.)

On a side note, is it even possible to blow up the sun? I mean...more than it's already blowing up? Physicists? People pretending to be physicists? – Mark Wilson

LED Light for Outdoors Developed [japantoday]

The tent can fit four, and be configured as a roof-top or trailer-top tent with a ladder. No word on pricing, but this thing looks like a lot of fun. –Noah Robischon

Campa USA [Product Page]

I've spent so much on my home theatre and video games that I actually feel guilty going outside on a nice day. Still, the 12-Foot Inflatable Home Theatre might not be the solution.

The kit includes an inflatable 12-foot (144 inch) screen, repair kit (bad omen), some ground stakes, PVC, plastic ground sheeting and we're bored. In the end, you're getting a functional screen and 30 feet of RCA cable. The fact that it's unnecessarily inflatable will only lead to its eventual demise by stick. But for some, $1299 is a small price to watch sweet, sweet giant gorilla video by the pool. -Mark Wilson

Product Page [via bornrich]

Each Sun Brick is equipped with two amber LEDs, and are sized the same as standard bricks, so you can swap out a few of your old bricks for some of these. They're $59.95 a pair. – Charlie White

Product Page [Herrington Catalog, via popgadget]

The included waterproof universal remote controls the computerized goodness inside, and it can also control any other devices you have around the pool and spa. Watching TV and media on your PC while you're lounging around the pool or patio better be pretty important to you, though, because you'll have to shell out $6,800 for the privilege. Even at this high price you'll still need a Windows Media Center PC to feed this contraption from inside the house. It's your money. – Charlie White

Product Page [Lux Entertainment, via BornRich]

The previous holder of the world's largest HDTV record is an LED screen which is only 137 feet across, located at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. Want a screen like this current world's-largest? Start saving up, because it's $28 million. – Charlie White

Giant video screen constructed at Tokyo-area horse track [Pink Tentacle]

Its other features are: Windows Mobile 2003, 64MB RAM/64MB ROM, 802.11b WiFi, 520MHz Intel XScale processor, 240x320 TFT-LCD, and optional 1.1 megapixel camera. There's even a strap on the back to make sure you've got a good grip so you don't drop it, in case Warwick Davis is actually standing right under you. – Jason Chen

Symbol MC50 [AVING via Mobile Mag]

If you're a denizen of late-night deck dining, here's a creative lighting idea to enhance the ambience of your after-hours activities. This rechargeable 24 LED Umbrella Light can be clipped around most any umbrella pole, and you can point it down at the table or up into the umbrella for soft indirect lighting.

The $79.95 fixture is said to take six hours to charge, and for that it gives you five hours of illumination. If candlelight is too romantic for you, this might be worth a try. – Charlie White

Rechargeable 24-LED Umbrella Light [Hammacher Schlemmer, via Shiny Shiny]

Enjoy The Home Theater Experience Outdoors [About.com]

4d6d04

"Amanda's eloped with that trucker boyfriend of hers ... pass the margaritas, would you Frank?" – Jason Chen

Outdoor Misting System [Smarthome via Uber-Review]

Built for the great outdoors using "marine technology," it looks like the thing can even withstand a snowstorm, where you just hose it down to clean it up. Save up your money, though, it's nearly $17K.

Outdoor Entertainment Island [Frontgate, via The Uber Review]

But if you need lots more power, choose the SolarRoll 14 ($399) which is a 12"x57" solar panel when unrolled, and outputs—you guessed it—14 watts and 15.4 volts/900 mA. That's enough to charge up your laptop or DV camcorder. If that's not enough power, you can daisy chain these together for even more output. Included is a storage case so you can carry your power with you on the road or trail.

Product Page
[Brunton via ber gizmo]

Can't live without your fave programs for more than 10 seconds? Loser—I mean, here's a great new product for you from Lux Outdoor. The 26" Lux LCD ARIIS Display is a monitor that can be bundled with an outdoor radio and DVD player, Microsoft outdoor media center extender system, or as a stand-alone media component. And it's built from marine grade materials, which means it's water resistant, dummy.