During the review he broke down some of the technology behind the eye popping specs, as well as taking note of a feature set that is high on performance and low on ordinary TV functions. Being a monitor, the 65VX100U does not feature a built-in HDTV or analog tuner and standard definition source imputs like composite and S-video. However, it does include 4 HDMI jacks, one component video, one PC input (VGA), and a RS-232 jack.

As far as performance is concerned, Gary compared it side by side with the 50-inch Kuro and found that Pioneer won on ultimate black level and in the effectiveness of its anti-reflective screen, but the latter results in an purple-reddish tint that can be clearly seen when compared side by side with the 65VX100U. The Kuro also requires a higher level signal to come out of black, which obscured details that the Panasonic did not. All in all, it seems that if you have $10,000 to plunk down on a 65-inch flat panel, the 65VX100U should be at the top of your list. [HD Guru]

Though the first buyers will likely be rich dudes, the movie business is also going to be interested in it as a monitor, since it can handle 120% of the HDTV color gamut, enough to maybe get a good looking movie on a TV for one damn time. And let's not forget that Pioneer has shut down its own panel production lines and plans to go with Panasonic's. I asked if Pioneer would get a shot at the sweet new one—though there wasn't a straight answer, the sense I got was "probably not, at least not at first." Go Panasonic, kicking some TV ass!

The D65U/D85U lineup:

And releases for all three:

DENVER, September 3, 2008 – Sharp Electronics unveils, for the first time in the U.S., a next-
generation LCD TV Series that combines unprecedented image quality, the ultimate in thin
design and advanced environmental performance. This Full-HD 1080p Limited Edition LCD TV
Series, available in 65- (LC-65XS1U-S) and 52-inch (LC-52XS1U-S) screen class sizes (64
33/64” and 52 1/32” diagonals respectively), utilizes a newly-developed 10-bit Advanced Super
View (ASV) LCD panel that enables an extremely slim profile of only one inch at its thinnest
part, to achieve unmatched design and picture quality.
The Limited Edition series also includes Sharp’s AQUOS Net capability, a service that is
able to give users instant access to customized Web-based content as well as real-time
customer support.
“Since the introduction of the first AQUOS LCD TV in 2001, Sharp has continuously
achieved the highest levels of image quality and screen size,” said Bob Scaglione, senior vice
president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp. “With the introduction of
the new flagship Limited Edition Series, we offer consumers a new audio-visual lifestyle, with a
superior picture in large screen sizes, as well as excellent sound quality, a striking design and
environmental performance befitting a truly ‘next generation’ LCD TV.”

Superior Picture and Sound Quality
Using the latest version of Sharp’s proprietary 10-bit Advanced Super View LCD panel,
this next-generation series incorporates a new RGB-LED backlight system for an
unprecedented 150 percent NTSC color gamut and extremely high Dynamic Contrast Ratio of
more than 1,000,000:1 for extremely deep blacks and crisp picture quality. The strong color
reproduction scale significantly improves color accuracy for dark scenes and delivers a brighter,
more vivid array of colors.
CEDIA EXPO 2008 • BOOTH #722 • COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER

SHARP® MAKES GROUNDBREAKING INTRODUCTION WITH
NEXT-GENERATION ULTRA-THIN AQUOS® LCD TV SERIES

Achieves amazing levels of image quality, environmental performance, and thinness

To deliver clear, natural sound to match the high quality of the picture, Sharp joined with
Pioneer Corporation to develop a thin-design speaker system that combines with Sharp’s
unique 1-bit digital amplifier.

Dramatic, Space-Saving Design
With a depth of only one inch at its thinnest part, the new Limited Edition Series TVs
provide an extremely small footprint, establishing a new design standard for LCD TV and
allowing for an even greater variety of installation styles, such as unobtrusive wall mounting.
These TVs offer a metallic edge around the frame for a stylish, sophisticated look, giving
consumers more freedom to incorporate the new models into the design of modern interiors.
Contributing to the slim frame of the screen, the Limited Edition Series has a separate
AVC system set-top box for all input terminals, which can be connected to the screen via the
included HDMI® cable or with an optional wireless connection to eliminate cable clutter.
Additionally, the units include five HDMI inputs as well as dual HD component terminals, all of
which are compatible with 1080p signals. For the ultimate in convenience, one HDMI and one
component terminal are located on the front of the AVC system, enabling easy connections. An
RS-232C port for custom installations and a dedicated PC input are also included.

Environmental Performance
Sharp has incorporated environmentally conscious, energy-saving technology into the
Limited Edition LCD TVs by equipping them with a new system designed to lower power
consumption during use by adjusting the screen brightness based on the level of brightness in
the area of installation.

For more information on Sharp’s full line of Liquid Crystal Televisions, contact Sharp
Electronics Corporation, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, N.J., 07495-1163, or call 800-BE-SHARP. For
online product information, visit Sharp’s Web site at sharpusa.com.

DENVER, September 3, 2008 – Strengthening its position as a worldwide leader in flat-panel
Liquid Crystal Display Televisions (LCD TV), Sharp today introduces the AQUOS D85U series,
bringing more consumers a paramount high-definition viewing experience with premium
features and high-style design. The D85U series, available in 52- (52-1/32” diagonal), 46- (45-
63/64” diagonal) and 42-inch (42-1/64” diagonal) screen class sizes, uses 120Hz Fine Motion
Enhanced technology for an exceptionally clear and crisp picture. Additionally, these Full HD
1080p sets feature a sophisticated new design with angled edges that reflect the surrounding
décor, allowing it to blend fluidly into the ambiance of any room.
In addition to stellar specs and a new design, the D85U series keeps consumers’
electricity bill top-of-mind by employing a new energy-saving function. The “Power Saving
Mode,” available through the unit’s on-screen display menu, enables active contrast and active
backlight to reduce the energy of the television while in use. These models are also compliant
with the most recent Energy Star® standards.
“The new AQUOS D85 series is our latest 120Hz series and offers a price-competitive
home theater option, giving consumers an excellent viewing experience at a more attainable
cost,” said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing
Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. “This series not only offers an elite high-definition
viewing experience, but also incorporates energy saving functions that allow users to lower their
TV’s power consumption.”
With Fine Motion Enhanced technology for 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a fast
pixel response time of 4ms, these new AQUOS models provide the ultimate medium for high-
definition viewing, ensuring viewers never miss a detail. Additionally, this series uses the next
generation of Sharp’s proprietary 10-bit Advanced Super View (ASV) / Black TFT Panel with
Spectral Contrast Engine UD (Ultra Dark), providing high Dynamic Contrast for deep blacks and
SHARP® DEBUTS NEW AQUOS® WIDESCREEN HIGH-DEFINITION LCD TV
SERIES WITH UNIQUE DESIGN AND CUTTING-EDGE FEATURES

Large-screen models feature advanced 120Hz panel with new energy-saving functions

crisp picture quality. Rounding out a top-of-the-line home theater experience, viewing angles on
this model are an impressive 176 degrees, enabling the color reproduction to appear bright and
vivid from virtually anywhere in a room.
These Full-HD 1080p models also boast an array of connection options, including an
unprecedented five HDMI™ (version 1.3 with Deep Color) and two component video inputs, all
of which are 1080p compatible, accepting signals from Blu-ray and advanced gaming devices.
A true high-definition TV, the model houses a built-in ATSC, QAM and NTSC tuner for access to
DTV and analog TV channels. The unit also features an RS-232C input for custom installations
and a PC input so the TV serves a dual purpose as a PC monitor. Additionally, Sharp’s AQUOS
LINK™ feature allows users to seamlessly control compatible, HDMI-connected products using
a single remote control.
Building on Sharp’s reputation for outstanding design, the D85U series features a sleek
piano black cabinet with a reflective, titanium outer frame. The recessed bottom-mounted
speakers are concealed within the cabinet, for a subtle, elegant look. The included table stand
removes easily for wall mounting applications.

Pricing and availability
• LC-52D85U will be available in October for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
(MSRP) of $2,599.99
• LC-46D85U will be available in October for an MSRP of $2,199.99
• LC-42D85U will be available in November for an MSRP of $1,899.99

1
DENVER, September 3, 2008 – Sharp, a worldwide leader in flat-panel Liquid Crystal Display
Televisions (LCD TV), expands its widescreen, Full HD 1080p line of AQUOS® LCD TVs with the
stylish D65U series. Featuring a slim design and breathtaking picture quality that is second to
none, this line of AQUOS LCD TVs provides the ultimate home entertainment experience with the
perfect balance of style and function. The series, including the LC-52D65U 52-inch class (52
1/32” diagonal), LC-46D65U 46-inch class (45 63/64” diagonal) and LC-42D65U 42-inch class (42
1/64” diagonal) reinforces Sharp’s LCD leadership and innovation.
The D65U models also reflect Sharp’s efforts to be an environmentally advanced
company. The series is Energy Star®-compliant, with very low power consumption and offers a
new “Power Saving Mode” available through the unit’s on-screen display menu, which enables
active contrast and active backlight to reduce the energy consumption of the television while in
use.
“The AQUOS LCD TV line continues to set new standards in technology, offering
improved picture quality coupled with new ways to reduce power consumption,” said Bob
Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp
Electronics Corporation. “With an outstanding balance between price and performance, Sharp’s
AQUOS D65U series raises the bar for home entertainment, offering a well-rounded,
environmentally-advanced home theater solution.”
The D65U AQUOS series provides a superior Full HD 1080p picture with outstanding
performance, utilizing Sharp’s proprietary Advanced Super View (ASV) / Black TFT Panel* with
multi-pixel technology. The ASV/Black TFT Panel with Spectral Contrast Engine UD (Ultra Dark)
provides high Dynamic Contrast Ratio and a pixel response time of 6 ms, providing stunning
picture quality even on fast-moving action scenes. Black levels have also been enhanced on
these models for the deepest, most accurate levels of any LCD TV. Viewing angles are an
SHARP® BROADENS AQUOS® HIGH-DEFINITION LCD TV SERIES
WITH SUPERIOR PICTURE PERFORMANCE AND MODERN DESIGN

D65U line combines advanced feature set with increased connectivity and energy-saving mode

impressive 176 degrees, enabling the color reproduction to appear vivid from virtually anywhere
in a room, for a top-of-the-line total home theater package.
The D65U line comes equipped with a host of connectivity options for the utmost
convenience. The series includes an impressive five HDMI® inputs for current and future
connection with 1080p signals from Blu-ray and advanced gaming devices, as well as two HD
component video inputs. The D65U series also includes two composite video inputs, one S-
video, a dedicated PC input and RS-232C for system control. The HDMI inputs feature version
1.3 with deep color**, which adds compatibility with many high-end features such as enhanced
colors and audio, and they are compatible with AQUOS Link, which enables convenient control of
compatible devices.
The D65U series features an elegant and sophisticated new design, with a stunning piano
black inner bezel and a matching black outer frame, along with subtle recessed, bottom-mounted
speakers that don’t take away from the stylish frame. The included table stand removes easily for
wall mounting applications.

Pricing and availability
• LC-52D65U will be available in October for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
(MSRP) of $2,399.99
• LC-46D65U will be available in October for an MSRP of $1,899.99
• LC-42D65U is available now for an MSRP of $1,599.99

SONY EXPANDS U.S. NAV-U™ PERSONAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM PRODUCT LINE

SAN DIEGO, August. 27, 2008 – Sony today announced four new feature-packed nav-u™ personal navigation devices (models NV-U94T, NV-U84, NV-U74T and NV-U44) which add more brand icons, search functionality and photo viewing features.

“Sony is bringing entertainment to navigation,” said Mike Kahn, director of marketing for mobile electronics products in the Sony Electronics’ Digital Imaging and Audio Division. “We’ve added features that make it fun to spend time with the nav-u.”

The top-of-the-line NV-U94T adds new features such as a photo viewer, audio/video player and stereo Bluetooth® technology for streaming audio and making hands-free phone calls using compatible devices.

The new photo viewer feature turns the screen into a picture frame. Camera owners can view their digital images by inserting a Memory Stick® into the Memory Stick Pro Duo slot. The new nav-u devices are the only personal navigation devices on the market that provide users with the ability to easily view images shot on Cyber-shot® cameras.

This feature also supports the JPEG format and plays back still images individually, in slideshow mode or via thumbnails.

The NV-U94T model also can play MP3 and non-DRM AAC music files and MPEG-4 video files from Memory Stick PRO Duo media. Sony has incorporated stereo Bluetooth® technology (A2DP profile) into the device. Audio can be streamed wirelessly from the nav-u device to a compatible Bluetooth-enabled car stereo system, including Sony’s Xplod® MEX-BT2600 and MEX-BT5100 head units. Stereo Bluetooth maintains high-quality sound while streaming music.

Hands-free calling is also supported. With a built-in microphone, drivers can use voice commands to initiate calls via compatible Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. Drivers can transfer their phone’s address book over to the NV-U94T, which makes dialing a contact easier and safer. The phone dialing function is also linked to the points of interest (POI) database, enabling the user to search for a POI, such as a restaurant, and then call ahead for information.

For drivers who want a larger screen and all the top-end features, the NV-U94T model has a 4.8 inch (measured diagonally) 16:9 aspect ratio display. In addition to the entertainment features, it also includes the super suction cup mounting system, dual view 3D junction guide and POSITION plus™.

Stay on Course, Even Underground

The GPS satellites broadcast signals can easily be distorted by tall buildings, very dense foliage, or blocked altogether when underground. When this happens, GPS devices can easily give a false location. Sony developed POSITION plus to address the issue.

POSITION plus is a unique, hardware-based solution that consists of an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor and a gyro sensor that together can calculate the vehicle’s current position based on the last known GPS location. The result is a more consistent and accurate position that helps provide interruption-free guidance under the most difficult of GPS reception conditions.

Gesture command comes with all new nav-u devices and lets users jump to commands with one touch on the display. The new gesture command feature for forwarding photos lets users advance to the next picture, music track or video clip with a swipe of the finger from left to right across the screen. Other gesture commands include take me home, zoom in or out and call home.

Quickly Search Favorite Locations

One of the top benefits of owning a GPS system is the ability to find points of interest in unfamiliar areas. The new nav-u models feature a revised search algorithm for quicker POI searches. They also come with Quick Link, a new search feature with that enables a true “one touch” search for your favorite POI with the touch of a button.

Drivers can save any search string they like to one of their Quick Link buttons for one-touch searching. For example, if the drivers’ favorite stores are Sony Style retail locations, they can save the term “Sony Style” to a Quick Link button and perform that search any number of times without having to retype the search string.

Brand icons help users quickly and easily identify their favorite restaurants, hotels, gas stations, stores and other locations while traveling through unfamiliar cities. Sony’s new nav-u devices now have 30 percent more brand icons than last season’s models (more than 150 brands), Users will automatically see brand icons appear on a map.

During address searches, the new nav-u systems can automatically complete partial entries of states, cities and street names. They come with nearly 5 million POIs and U.S. and Canadian maps, including Alaska, Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, pre-installed on their flash memory.

Affordable Large Screen

The new NV-U84 model offers the best value in the large-screen segment. For about $350, drivers get a large 4.8 inch (measured diagonally) 16:9 aspect ratio display plus super suction cup, dual view text to speech, photo viewer and gesture command.

The NV-U74T has a 4.3 inch (measured diagonally) 16:9 aspect ratio display. It comes with a super suction cup, dual view, text to speech, Bluetooth hands free, real-time traffic, photo viewer, and gesture command.

The NV-U94T device’s cradle has a built-in RDS-TMC real-time traffic receiver, while the NV-U74T model has its RDS-TMC function built into the main unit. With RDS-TMC real-time traffic functionality, the NV-U74T and NV-U94T devices can notify drivers in available coverage areas of up-to-date traffic conditions. The devices can automatically display the estimated number of minutes delay and if desired, can automatically reroute the driver around the incident. nav-u device owners will receive the first 90 days of real-time traffic free of charge. For continued traffic service, a subscription can cost as little as a few dollars per month after the initial trial period.

Most Economical

The new NV-U44 model has a 3.5 inch (measured diagonally) 4:3 aspect ratio display and a sleek, compact stylish design. It is feature rich with dual view, text to speech, photo viewer and gesture command, yet affordable at about $250.

Smaller, Greener Packaging

In line with Sony’s environmental efforts, the NV-U74T, NV-U84 and NV-U94T models’ outer shells are made with 50 percent post-consumer recycled materials. Certain other components, such as Sony’s unique super suction cup and the flip-out GPS antenna, are made using at least 45 percent post-consumer recycled material.

Availability

Pre-orders for the nav-u personal navigation devices are now being accepted at www.sonystyle.com/navu. The NV-U94T, NV-U84, NV-U74T and NV-U44 nav-u personal navigation devices will be available in September for about $400, $350, $300 and $250 respectively. They will be available at www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores nationwide, at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers around the country. For more information about the products, please visit www.sonystyle.com/navu.

Naturally, the fan sped home and put them on YouTube, meaning by now you can find them at all of the usual online venues. The leaked songs include the album's title track, apparently called "No Line On The Horizon" (puke) and the first single, "Sexy Boots." Of course, the bootlegs probably sound like they were recorded inside Bono's ass, but let this be a lesson to Bono about forcing your music upon the world. Someone will steal it and give it away, even if it's not very good. [The Sun via Torrent Freak]

Where did you see a fairly thin PMP with a 7-inch screen and all that functionality for that small an amount of cash? I know there's exchange-rate shenanigans happening, but it sure makes most GPS systems over here seem like a rip-off.

Let us know your take on this guys: Are the Koreans just lucky buggers, or are the GPS makers over here ripping us off?

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

FiOS, as you might know, is Verizon's fiber optic television service (which is now officially invading all of NYC). It's not full-fledged IPTV yet (since it's not delivered entirely as data packets, as I learned a few weeks ago), but Verizon is implementing a lot of the same feature set that IPTV makes available.

Version 1.5 was mostly about meeting regulatory specifications, so they're just now popping in the big features. The onscreen interactivity feature set is a lot like what cable and IPTV are doing—a pop-up will offer bonus or expanded content like clips or info—and it'll debut with a bunch of NBC Olympics interactive content, which will be the Verizon framework's first major test. Essentially any network can dump content into Verizon's framework, and voila, interactive content ahoy.

FiOS TV 1.6 also adds in RSS feeds from content partners, providing live info like traffic, weather and horoscopes (apparently their test groups really wanted them). Unfortunately, right now, you can't add in your own feeds (like Giz) but the framework is there to do it in the future. Currently, weather and traffic are the ones you'll actually check out. One weird quirk is that you have to pause whatever you're watching before you start reading feeds—you can't pause TV while you're reading.

Starting with 1.6, you'll be able to stream two HD streams to multiple rooms in the house, even with the current boxes—Verizon's goal is to have feature parity across all hardware. But one of the more awesome, though subtle, features is the ability to pause a channel, swap to another one, pause it, then go back—so you could juggle two football games or Heroes and football, whatever. They've also added in filters, so you can have the menu show you just your HD channels, just family channels or just movies, to cut down on the amount of crap you have to scroll through. A fully personalized setup like AT&T showed off is probably a version or two away, though. Scheduling recording by web and phone is in the works too, though it'll start out as a premium feature set and trickle down.

What Verizon is doing that's somewhat unique is a hidden form of social networking. There's a new section called "What's Hot on FiOS." It tells you the top five most popular shows in your area at that second, live. So if you don't know what to watch, you can just check out what everyone else is. This works for On Demand stuff too.

And now for the future stuff (which is actually built into the 1.6 update, but it's hidden, so if you hacked your box....): Integrated web video, of course. YouTube, Veoh, Break and Blip.TV for now. It's sectioned off in the menu, so people don't expect to be blown by awesome vid quality, I'm told. The setup actually uses your PC as a proxy, so you actually have to have it turned on to watch web video. But you can also stream pretty much any video, any codec flavor on the fly, from your PC to your TV. The search engine isn't that great yet, and typing is annoying, but it's nice to see this stuff integrated and easily pushed to your TV. If trials all go well, you'll see this stuff on boxes as early as spring 2009. If not, well, things get murkier.

The fact that most of this stuff will be in people's houses by the end of this year does seem to put FiOS ahead in the feature war, even though Time Warner actually has a bunch of its suped-up tru2way boxes in the wild. Either way, it proves that TV as we know it is going to change, at least a little bit, by letting in stuff from outside the garden, no matter who your provider is.

The U330, which is the cousin to the U110, also has an integrated webcam with facial recognition software, touch sensitive media controls, HDMI out, and an LED-backlit display. Lenovo is also dropping a couple other consumer notebooks: Y730 and Y530 update the Y710 and Y510, while Y430 throws in a 14-inch version. Lenovo expects to release the U330 in the fall.

IdeaPad U330
Lenovo designed its "U" series to be all about expressing ideas with style. The IdeaPad U330 notebook is a super-slim ultra-light addition to the widely-acclaimed IdeaPad U110 notebook, introduced in the spring. Available in a glossy Indigo blue and Bold black, the notebook starts at 0.9 inches thin and weighs just over four pounds. Equipped with the latest version of VeriFace™ facial recognition technology, consumers can now access encrypted files and record a 30-second video message for other users. Designed with Dolby® Home Theatre and touch-sensitive multimedia controls, the notebook comes equipped with HDMI and an optional built-in DVD burner.

The IdeaPad U330 notebook also includes switchable graphics. This enables the user to run energy efficient integrated graphics while on battery power and then switch to discrete graphics for more powerful performance when "plugged in." The notebook also includes an LED backlit display, five hours of battery life and Lenovo's Active Protection System (APS), a feature pioneered on ThinkPad notebooks. Lenovo's APS technology helps protect the data on the hard drive if the notebook should fall. And if the operating system should crash, users can recover their data at the touch of a button with the One-Key Rescue System1.

IdeaPad U330

Black/Blue

Display – 13.3 WXGA LED AG panel

Graphics – ATI M82SCE-256M

Processor – Penryn P7350, GM45 chipset

H2G (1066) DR3

320G (SATA-9MM/5400)

Wireless card – Intel 5100 a/g/n

Optical – Rambo tray in (9.5mm)

Vista Home Premium 32

Lenovo Active Protection System

Fixed camera

Array mic

HDMI

Bluetooth, 10/100M Ethernet

IdeaPad Y430

Black/Red

Display – 14.1 WXGA

Graphics – Intel integrated

Processor – Intel GM45

250 or 320 GB hard drive

Wireless card – Intel 802.11n

Optical – DVD + RW

Fixed camera

6-in-1 card reader

HDMI

IdeaPad Y530

Black

Display – 15.4 WXGA (anti-glare)

Graphics – NB9M-GS-256M

Processor – Penryn P7350

Memory – 1G + 2G (667) DDR2

Hard Drive – 250G (SATA-9MM/54)

Wireless card – Intel 5100 a/g/n

Optical – Rambo tray in (12.7 mm)

Vista Home Premium 32 – SP 1

Fixed camera

Array microphone

Bluetooth, 10/100 Ethernet, modem

6-cell battery – 2.6 A

90 watt adapter

IdeaPad Y730

Blue, Game Zone models come in Valencia orange

Display – 17.1 in WUXGA glossy

Graphics – ATI M86-ME-512M

Processor – Penryn P8400

Memory – 2*2G or 1 + 2G (1066)

Hard Drive – 320G (SATA-9MM/5400)

Wireless card – Intel 5100 a/g/n

Optical – Rambo tray in (12.7mm)

Vista Home Premium 32-SP 1

Fixed camera

Bluetooth, 10/100M Ethernet, modem

Fixed camera

Array microphone

GameZone has secondary display

6 cell battery – 2.6A

135 watt adapter

[Lenovo]

There's a chance you won't, actually, see this TV in a few years, at least served up from AT&T. Only 379,000 subscribers are currently hooked up to U-Verse TV, and it's not available to a whole lot more than that. Rollout is slow. But listening to Peter Hill, VP of voice and converged services, talk about what the company is working on for U-verse, you'd never know that everything he was showing me was just for a tiny, privileged sliver of TV viewers. (BTW, for a great hands-on cable vs. U-verse review to see what they're getting, check out this piece.)

The first thing I spot—and ask about—when I walk in is the Xbox 360 on the shelf, a ghostly reminder of the promise of a ubiquitous IPTV box. The status? Microsoft and AT&T have to "come to terms" on it. Whatever that means, but the shaky laughter dotting our exchange implies you'll probably never see it in the States. On to the real show.

Integration is the key to AT&T's IPTV vision—integration with the internet, with your home network and media, integration with AT&T's services. But that doesn't mean TV itself is taking a backseat. Whole home DVR is arriving soon, so that one DVR box will stream content to any and every TV on the network (currently, only the TV directly jacked into the DVR can play back DVR content). You'll totally be able to pause something in one room, and pick it back up in another. With whole-home DVR, the box will be able to simultaneously stream eight feeds to every TV in your house: Three hi-def plus one standard-def stream from the DVR, plus 2 HD and 2 SD streams of live programming. All those TVs are getting all that content from one box. (For the nerds, each HD stream is encoded in MPEG-4, running at a variable bit rate that hovers around 6.5Mbps. The U-verse pipe is built on a 25Mbps profile, which is divvied up by high-end QoS for TV and your internet.)

Next, we go into some of the media sharing stuff, which probably looks familiar to anyone with an Xbox 360 or media extender since U-Verse uses Microsoft's IPTV platform. Music, movies, pictures, streamed to your TV from a standard Windows Vista or Media Center PC on the network—basic, but nice, since this is all just pumping into your set-top box. They've also got TVersity running off their network, which basically will stream anything to any device with a web browser, be it PSP or iPhone. It's running over Wi-Fi and it's actually damn snappy. I'm not really sure how this fits into the IPTV platform, other than their vision of a totally networked home.

All of this is "six to nine months" ahead of the field now. So, you could expect this stuff in the next year, though it's not officially announced yet. It's all about mainstreaming media streaming and sharing—a baby step, but probably necessarily to get, say, your parents ready for what's coming after it. This is when Peter pops on the "ultra-bleeding edge box" though he warns me none of this is actually guaranteed to become a TV reality.

Fire up the box. Welcome to Peter's favorites. Yep, like Sezmi, everyone gets their own personalized TV setup, with recommendations, favorites, etc. You can also log in and control the set-top box from the iPhone, like a sweet multi-touch remote. It's running over Wi-Fi and it's as responsive as any other remote control. But you know, sexier. An app for streaming to the iPhone? Not yet, I'm told, since there are "certain areas of the iPhone" where "Apple is keeping the experience..." "Controlled?" I volunteered.

It's a good transition to the more internet-y stuff they've got going on. Integrated RSS feeds—you can read Giz on your TV and have it not look like crap! Video RSS feeds are where it's at though, like a feed of CNN clips that constantly refreshes. It's like Headline News, without the waiting. Course, it can also pull in YouTube, though I'm more interested in Hulu.

Here's where AT&T benefits from being AT&T here, with your phone jacked into your set-top box. Maybe more "cool" than critical. A message asking for a video share call from a local Atlanta 404 number appears on the screen. Caller ID on the TV. We smack yes, and we're looking through the eyes of an LG Glimmer on our TV. Yeah, it looks like shit on the 60-inch DLP set, but it really works. Next, I call Peter's cell and leave a voice mail. A few seconds later, we're informed by the TV we've got a new voicemail waiting, so we flip over to a list of incoming calls. We can remotely check out the voicemail or add the contact to our address book.

The finale: It's basically Twitter TV. You jump into a chat room with your friends (or invite them) and you can bleat out IMs that are collected on a timeline as you watch Leonidas atomically kick effeminate Persians into bottomless pits. And lest you were worried about text-typing via a crappy remote control, I actually used an iPhone to input the text. Later you can go back and scour the conversation timeline like regular IM, looking for a nugget of insight that might've accidentally slipped out during the orgy of violence (or whatever else you and your friends are simultaneously watching). BTW, the cheesy avatars will be updated to look less like late-'90s Messenger, I'm told.

While these are all, by themselves, just little bits of coolness, taken together, it is a shift from the mostly passive way we watch TV. We actively time and place-shift now, but once we're plopped in front of the screen, input from us stops, despite decades of prediction that TV would become more and more interactive. U-Verse is not wholly revolutionary, but it's a stride toward true TV 2.0, with content from multiple sources, fueled by the internet. TV's got to do something, after all—there's less and less reason to be drawn to that particular idiot box, when there are so many boxes out there for so many different kinds of idiots. Of course, cable's got its own ideas about the future of TV, and soon we'll be looking into that too.

There're more videos of the scultptures in action at Impress if you're as fascinated as I was. [Robot Watch]

But first, the basics. The difference between the TV you're used to and this fancy IPFreelyTV stuff is that IPTV is delivered to you like any other data sent over the internet—in data packets. You even plug an Ethernet cable into your receiver box/DVR. Of course, the internet's a messy place with lots of muck bouncing around the pipes and you'd be really pissed if the Yankees game stuttered or crapped out, so this is all running on the telco's "walled garden" network with a fat, dedicated lane for video. (Your internet service, which is bundled since it's running on the same network, runs on a different lane, delineated by quality-of-service, or QoS, protocols.)

Now that that's out of the way, back to why its good for HD. With a standard cable setup, the channels are basically always being piped into your home, whether you're watching or not. To add more channels, they've gotta compress 'em down farther or open the pipe up, especially since HD eats up a lot of bandwidth. Since IPTV is sent in regular ol' data packets and the system is two-way (the nature of internet protocol), they're basically only sending what you ask for, when you ask for it. So theoretically, they could offer way more HD channels than cable, since they're not as limited here. Also, like that mythical Xbox 360 IPTV box, the number of streams you can watch/record simultaneously is basically only limited by your bandwidth.

The two-wayness of the infrastructure is another point of awesomeness. It can be used for actually useful interactivity—one of AT&T's apps for the Olympics can bring in a stats feed you can check out while watching the game. Or regular internet video, like YouTube, can be piped in and integrated with the other video on your box. It's all just regular data over standard internet protocols, so there's a lot of flexibility to do stuff you simply can't with a traditional setup.

The problem is that building the infrastructure necessary for IPTV service is slow and expensive, largely cause it requires a heavy fiber optic component. Verizon runs fiber all the way to your door (which is why it can offer those crazy FiOS internet speeds), while AT&T runs it to the node, which you're then connected to with copper and (which is why U-Verse internet is slower). So right now, both have puny subscriber numbers—1.2 million FiOS TV customers, and a scant 379,000 on U-Verse TV.

Still, there's a lot of potential in IPTV, even if it's taking forever to get to your doorstep. AT&T actually showed me some of the stuff that could be at your door in the 6-9 months—and beyond—and it's definitely worth getting excited about. We'll be telling you all about it later.

Something we missed, or you still wanna know? Send any questions about IPs, TVs, chewing gum or anything else to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line.

five million songs in your pocket – every one is yours to DISCOVER, play and enjoy

Verizon Wireless Teams Up with Rhapsody to Enhance the Leading Mobile Music Service with Unlimited Subscription Music for $15 a Month and the Simplicity of Digital Rights Management-Free Songs

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SEATTLE – Mobile music enters a new era today as Verizon Wireless and Rhapsody®, the digital music service from RealNetworks® (Nasdaq:RNWK) and MTV Networks, launch V CAST Music with Rhapsody. Combining Verizon Wireless’ world-class, over-the-air mobile music service with Rhapsody’s leading desktop solution, V CAST Music with Rhapsody delivers unlimited monthly access to music on up to three Rhapsody-compatible mobile phones and players and online on multiple PCs and web browsers, for less than the cost of a single CD. In addition, customers who purchase music over-the-air are able to download the master copy of the songs or albums to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software that restricts how and where music can be played.

With V CAST Music with Rhapsody, Verizon Wireless customers are still able to purchase songs over-the-air for $1.99 and get two copies of the song: the first for their phones, the second for their PCs in the DRM-free MP3 format. When customers download the V CAST Music with Rhapsody Software to their PCs and sign up for the monthly subscription, they have the ultimate music management service, including:

o Unlimited subscription syncing with access to more than five million songs







o Creating and accessing playlists, viewing playlists of other users, including celebrities







o Burning, importing and converting CDs to play anywhere







o Managing an existing digital music collection for free and syncing it to their mobile phones







o Buying non-protected MP3s of songs on the PC for 99 cents per song







o Buying songs on the phone, over-the-air – get two copies of the song for just $1.99 (one is over-the-air, the second master copy is the MP3 file customers download onto their PCs)

By subscribing to V CAST Music with Rhapsody, customers can discover new music from millions of songs, without breaking the bank. Whether a hard core music fan or a casual listener, customers of all music appetites will love the flexibility that 5 million songs give them to discover new music, listen to old favorites and find just the right song to suit their mood.

While Verizon Wireless customers continue to have the ability to get their favorite music while on-the-go via full song over-the-air downloads, ringtones and ringback tones, V CAST Music with Rhapsody also provides them with an award-winning desktop music application, allowing them to sync their favorite music quickly and easily, directly to their mobile phones. Now music lovers will be able to manage their collections with the most comprehensive music management tool and take their music with them anywhere.

John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing for Verizon, said, “V CAST Music with Rhapsody fulfills Verizon’s promise to deliver the best mobile experience to our customers. Now, music fans can not only get the benefit of immediate access to music over-the-air, but also – in partnership with Rhapsody – customers can seamlessly integrate the leading mobile music service, available on a choice of devices they carry with them everyday, with the ultimate desktop experience.”

Rob Williams, senior vice president of music products for RealNetworks, noted, “Working with Verizon Wireless, we are able to extend the reach of the award-winning Rhapsody service to millions of mobile phones. V CAST Music with Rhapsody gives mobile phone users the best experience of any music service on the market while also giving them access to unlimited music, whether at home or on-the-go.”

Verizon Wireless customers who simply want to manage or buy music can download the V CAST Music with Rhapsody software for free at www.verizonwireless.com/music. Customers interested in a subscription may sign up for $14.99 monthly subscription online or by visiting a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, including those in Circuit City, or by calling Customer Service at 1-800-2-JOIN-IN.

V CAST Music with Rhapsody will be available on the marquee V CAST Music with Rhapsody device, the Chocolate 3 by LG, when the phone becomes available in July; the service is also available today on select phones, including the LG Decoy™ and LG Dare; MOTO™ W755; Samsung SCH-u550, Samsung Glyde™ and Samsung Juke. Customers using the MOTORIZR Z6tv, MOTORAZR² V9m or LG VX8700 may bring their phones into a Verizon Wireless Communications Store to receive a free software upgrade on their phones to access the service.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Panasonic Unveils the HANDHELD Toughbook CF-U1, a Rugged Ultra mobile PC for FIELD WORKERS IN EXTREME Environments

Manufacturer of award-winning Toughbook® notebook computers introduces the first rugged UMPC equipped with the Intel® Atom™ processor; Reinvention of handheld computing pushes the benefits of enterprise mobile and wireless technology to new frontiers

Secaucus, NJ, June 25, 2008 – In response to the increasing demand for full-function handheld PCs for the mobile field worker, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers, today announced the availability of the Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1, the first ultra mobile PC (UMPC) to integrate the new low power Intel® Atom™ processor in a rugged handheld computer for use in the field. With the introduction of the extremely portable Toughbook CF-U1, remote workers are able to connect to critical information and applications in real time, thus improving organizational efficiency, increasing information accuracy, and enabling field-based decision-making. The CF-U1 reinvents handheld computing by integrating robust features previously only available on a full size Toughbook PC in a rugged UMPC form factor that can be used anywhere.

“Panasonic has always been at the forefront of making mobile computing technologies work for users in all conditions,” said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. “We were the first to deliver rugged notebooks in a standard form factor, the first to create a rugged convertible tablet and we have made incredible leaps in mission-critical business computing with our innovations in semi-rugged desktop replacement and sub-notebook technologies. The ultra mobile rugged U1 is another example of how we take advances in mobile technology and make them reliable advances—with new product categories designed for users on the frontiers of mobility where value is truly driven for organizations.”

Customer Input Critical to Product Development
“Panasonic builds the new Toughbook CF-U1, but our customers designed it,” said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. “The form and functionality is a direct result of more than two years of feedback we solicited from an array of government and commercial organizations seeking to address the needs of a broad range of mobile users. We’ve responded with a highly portable and durable device that offers integrated features such as an LCD touchscreen, solid state drive as well as an optional fingerprint scanner for user authentication. Data capture is enabled using 1D and 2D barcode and RFID readers and a 2-megapixel digital camera. The Toughbook CF-U1 offers full-shift battery life, a sunlight viewable screen and seamless connectivity with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G-mobile-broadband internet connectivity, all within an extremely rugged package for maximum reliability.”

Intel® Atom™ Enables Feature-Rich Computing in Small Form Factors
Intel Atom processors pack an astounding 47 million transistors on a single chip smaller than a U.S. dime (measuring less than 25mm), making the Atom Intel's smallest and lowest power consuming processor. The Atom is designed specifically for small devices and features support for multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness all while delivering longer battery life.

“The Intel Atom processor delivers high performance at dramatically low power while maintaining PC compatibility and enabling the best internet experience in small devices,” said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Ultra Mobility Group. “Intel’s low power technologies, combined with Panasonic’s longstanding leadership in rugged PCs, are making it possible for mobile field workers to be more productive while reducing TCO for the IT manager.”

Engineered for the Walking Worker
Rugged UMPCs must be purpose-built and engineered for the environments in which they will likely be used. The Toughbook® CF-U1 will thrive in environments as diverse as construction sites, mining operations, oil and gas refineries, manufacturing facilities, railroad yards, city streets and storage warehouses. Further, the Toughbook CF-U1 is ideally suited for use by insurance adjusters, building inspectors, police officers, firefighters and other first responders. The Toughbook CF-U1 has several docking options that expand functionality whether in a vehicle, at a desk, or on the move.

“The entrance of the largest rugged notebook manufacturer onto the UMPC market is a key validation of the UMPC for enterprise applications,” said Venture Development Corporation analyst David Krebs. “VDC’s research validates that UMPCs will receive strong consideration for enterprise applications that require a balance of device portability and application richness and functionality that an x86 device with a full OS provides.”

Unlike most handhelds, the Toughbook CF-U1 operates on the full-function Windows® XP and Windows Vista® operating systems, giving users unprecedented remote access to feature-rich software applications in the field. The CF-U1 features a thumb-friendly and always-accessible backlit QWERTY keyboard that makes data input fast and easy. State-of-the-art Panasonic LCD technology enables sunlight viewability with low-power, white LED backlighting. Its fanless all-weather design also reduces noise, weight and eliminates points of failure; its twin, long-lasting, hot-swappable batteries enable battery replacement without disrupting operation; and its magnesium alloy chassis delivers protection from bumps and drops of up to 4 feet. The solid state drive contributes to reliability, while also expanding the CF-U1’s operating temperature range.

Wireless Options Offer Connectivity Virtually Anywhere
Throughout its history, Panasonic has been a leader in wireless technologies, recognizing the need for workers to be connected while on the move. Panasonic has more experience with embedded wireless solutions than any other manufacturer, providing customers with superior reliability, signal strength and throughput. The Toughbook CF-U1 offers seamless connectivity with:

* Optional integrated 3G mobile broadband for access anywhere with data coverage
* Draft-n compliant Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/draft-n) for faster speeds and greater range
* Integrated Bluetooth radios for simple connection to wireless peripherals
* Optional, next generation (SiRFstarIII based) GPS technology for improved accuracy, faster satellite acquisition time and lower power consumption.

Panasonic Toughbook® CF-U1: Select Features and Specifications

* Genuine Windows Vista® Business with Service Pack 1 (with XP downgrade option)
* Intel® Atom™ processor Z520 1.33GHz with 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 cache
* 16GB solid state removable drive (32GB optional)
* 1GB memory
* 5.6” WSVGA sunlight viewable touchscreen (1024 x 600 resolution)
* Anti-reflective screen treatment
* LED backlighting
* Extremely rugged
o MIL-STD-810F and IP54 compliant
o 4 foot drop approved
o Magnesium alloy chassis encased with ABS and elastomer
o Removable solid state drive
o Sealed all-weather design
o Rain-, spill-, dust- and vibration-resistant
o Rotating hand strap
* Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 5100 Series (802.11a/g/draft-n)
* Bluetooth® v2.0 + EDR
* Interfaces:
o USB 2.0 x 1
o SD Card x 1
o Microphone x 1
o Headphone x 1
o Expansion Bus x 1
* Integrated options include 3G mobile broadband, integrated camera, fingerprint scanner, GPS, barcode or RFID readers
* Optional expansion modules for magnetic stripe reader & serial/ethernet/smartcard are expected in late 2008
* Approximately 9 hours of battery life
* 2.3 lbs (with strap and both batteries)
* 2.2” (H) x 7.2” (W) x 5.9” (D)

Panasonic Factory and Independent Quality Testing
Panasonic’s commitment to quality—at both the component and finished goods level—results in a total of more than 500 checks and tests before, during and after production, on every Toughbook® unit built. The Rugged Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1 is MIL-STD-810F tested and is capable of withstanding shocks, vibration, humidity, altitude, temperature extremes and thermal shock, and is IP54 compliant for water-, rain- and dust-resistance.

Pricing and Availability
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1 UMPC will be available worldwide in August, 2008. In the United States, the base CF-U1 model is expected to be available at an estimated street price of $2,499 from authorized Panasonic resellers and distributors.

About Panasonic Computer Solutions Company
Panasonic Computer Solutions Company empowers the mobile workforce. The company is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC). Panasonic has delivered reliable, durable mobile solutions through its Toughbook® line of notebook computers for fifteen years and has expanded the boundaries of wireless communications technology through a broad portfolio of products, ranging from fully rugged, industrial strength notebook computers and tablet PCs to business-rugged thin-and-light and ultraportable notebooks. A core manufacturer, Matsushita and its subsidiaries control the entire process of design, manufacture, quality assurance, service and support. As a result, Panasonic Toughbooks are known for having the lowest failure rates in the industry. Government, industrial, and commercial users—from Fortune 1,000 companies to small businesses—rely on solutions from Panasonic, wherever their work takes them.

The new pod, an evolution from the Orange portable wind charger that debuted at Glastonbury 2007, will act as a trial in using renewable energy sources on a larger scale. If everything goes well, the technology will become a staple at “Chill n' Charge tents” in future festivals. The pod can be found within the Pennard Hill camping grounds at Worthy Farm in Somerset. [Slashphone]

Subnotebook: Judging by Google results (1,660,000) and the presence of a Wikipedia entry, "subnotebook" appears to be one of the most popular and closest-to-legit terms, with a history going back to at least Toshiba's Libretto, according to our friend Mark Spoonauer, editor-in-chief at Laptop. The real sticky point appears to be on the edges—when does a UMPC become a subnotebook, and when does a subnotebook become a real notebook? At 11 inches, Lenovo's IdeaPad U110 is probably the breaking point for subnotebook. In fact, that's our new rule: to classify as a subnotebook or ultraportable (see below), you've gotta be 11 inches or under, and less than 3 pounds. (Sorry Walt, the MacBook Air might be light, but its ginormous, full-notebook footprint means it ain't really a subnotebook in most people's eyes.) Judgment: Like a pair of loafers, "subnotebook" is unsexy, but it gets the job done.

Ultraportable: That's a really tricky term, probably the most amorphous. Spoonauer classifies small notebooks with fuller keyboards and displays like the IdeaPad U110 or HP's Mini-note 2133 as "ultraportables," leaving the "subnotebook" moniker to devices in the UMPC class, like the HTC Shift. However, added confusion comes from the fact that ultraportable sounds like ultramobile, as in UMPC (see below). Still, it's the most compelling alternative to subnotebook, because it sounds sexier, and has over 3 million Google hits alone and 1.27 million tagged to notebook or laptop. The big knock against "ultraportable" is that it redirects to "subnotebook" on Wikipedia. Judgment: I don't mind it, but without a firm identity it'll never be useful. Plus I feel like it's trying too hard.

Mini-Notebook: While "mini notebook" seems like a less popular and unwieldy derivative of "subnotebook," with fewer Google results (1,110,000) and no Wikipedia page (it doesn't even direct back to subnotebook), Spoonauer says that it's distinguished from subnotebook as being the class of small form-factor notebooks that are under $600, like the Eee PC. Judgment: I think this one should be junked, though determining a class on price is probably a good idea.

ULPC: This most generally stands for ultra low-cost PC, though I've seen ultra-light PC, too. (How about that for a red flag?) It isn't overly popular, but it obviously refers to small, cheap notebooks like the Eee or XO OLPC Laptop. While it might be useful in distinguishing the Eee from, say, the pricier U110, overall the term seems pointless, especially when there's already a better alternative. Judgment: Garbage heap.

Netbook: This is actually the brainchild of Intel's marketing department to describe sub-$500 notebooks centered around internet-connectivity, such as its Classmate PC. The original Eee PC, XO OLPC Laptop and Cloudbook would fall into this category. While it is technically flackspeak, I actually like it because it's short and fairly specific. Besides being endorsed by Intel (obvs), Ubuntu has officially picked up the term. Judgment: A keeper, even if it was coined by the Man.

UMPC: The term stands for ultra-mobile PC, and actually has fairly concrete origins in the Project Origami catastrophe headed up by Microsoft. Under Intel and Microsoft's guidelines, technically the form factor is defined as touchscreen mini-tablet smaller than eight inches with a resolution of at least 800 pixels wide. However, we (and most others) include the OQO in this category. Even though it doesn't have a touchscreen, it otherwise fits the slabby form factor to a T. Update: To be clear, the OQO has an active digitizer, not a touchscreen. It won't recognize your finger, you need a special stylus. Judgment: Works, we just have to disabuse people of using it in reference to stuff like the Eee.

Conclusion
Hopefully focusing on three terms that bear the least ambiguity will help with this confusion. Here's where you guys come in, since believe it or not, we do like standards. So while UMPC has dried to a firm, tasty shell, Netbook and subnotebook are still pretty jelly-like. Or maybe you'd prefer ultraportable to subnotebook? Should low-cost dwarfish notebooks be called netbooks, or is there a better term? Help us clean up this semantic cesspool.

First, let's go over the features that Mediaroom offers now. With a simple set-top-box, you can grab high quality HDTV that's better quality (seeing as Comcast has been compressing their HDTV shows like mad) than what you'd otherwise get on cable. If you've got two set-top-boxes, you can stream shows off of each other so you don't have to record a program twice to be able to watch it in your living room and bedroom. This feature is called DVR Anywhere, and will be available whenever operators roll it out.

You can even watch the same TV broadcast or recorded shows on your Windows PC or Xbox 360, a feature that's been announced since CES by Microsoft, but is up to the actual service provider (AT&T, BT) to roll out. In AT&T's case, it won't be available until the second-half of 2008. Update: Microsoft tells me that the details here were a bit off. The Xbox 360 support was announced at CES and will be rolled out on BT's Vision service in the future. AT&T hasn't announced Xbox 360 support. Viewing shows on a PC is something I saw demonstrated in Microsoft's labs, but I'm clarifying with Microsoft as to what it was.

This leads us to the new feature Microsoft showed off: Applications. Since IPTV is a two-way street, your Mediaroom set-top-boxes are able to pull down information from the net, leading to very interesting interactive programs that people can code up for shows. For example:

• During a boxing match, you can pull up different mics, view fighter stats, and even view/vote in polls.

• Nascar races will let you bring up the cockpit cams of your favorite driver (as long as the driver is being tracked by TNT), or listen to the pit crew shout directions.

• During a primary event, CNN allows you to bring up voting results, bios, and other information about each candidate.

And so on. These apps are coded by the shows' producers, then sold to the provider in order to enhance your viewing experience. You could even code up your own app, tack it onto Lost, and try and sell it.

No service provider currently has applications in place now, but they're lightweight and should be able to be run on set top boxes out there today. It's just a matter of your local provider getting these features from Microsoft and integrating it into their service plans. [MeidaRoom]

Why would we need this? Because we go through multiple batteries in a day of liveblogging, and this is the perfect thing to charge up more than one battery at night without having to wake up multiple times in the middle of the night to swap them out from your laptop. At $69, it's fantastic, and even better than the NewerTech chargers since it charges pretty much every recent Apple laptop. [Fastmac]

Glyde™
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
FEATURES
• Touch Screen
• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• Full HTML Browser
• V CAST Music and Video*
• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology**
- headset (mono and stereo),
handsfree, serial port, dial-up
networking, object push (vCard only),
basic imaging, basic print and phone
book access.
- A2DP/AVRCP
- AVDTP/AVCTP
• 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
- Flash, up to 9 Step Digital Zoom,
and Auto Focus
• Camcorder
- MMS Length (30-second clips)
- Normal Length (10-minute clips)
• 72-Note Polyphonic Ringtones
• T9™ Text Input for Easy Text Entry
• Bilingual User Interface (English &
Spanish)
• Personal Organizer: Calculator,
Calendar, Alarm Clock, World Clock,
Stop Watch and Notepad
• Directional Microphone
• Get It Now® Enabled (BREW 3.1.4)*
• Standalone Mode (Airplane Mode)
• Dialing Fonts
• Dual NAM
• Voice Memo
• Advanced Speech Recognition
including Text-to-Speech for Digit Dial
Readout and SMS Readout
• Downloadable Content (Ringers, Wallpapers, Games & Business Applications)
• VZ Navigator® LBS / E911 Enabled*
• Messaging Services - text messaging (SMS), enhanced messaging (EMS), multimedia messaging (MMS), Mobile
Email, Mobile IM
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
• CDMA 1x 800/1900mHz Digital Only EVDO
• Dimensions: 4.09" x 1.97" x .7" (standard battery)
• Weight: 4.13 ounces (standard battery)
• Display: 240 x 440 Pixel, 262K TFT Color
• Standard Battery: 3.7 Volt Lithium Ion, 1000 mAh
• Extended Battery: 3.7 Volt Lithium Ion,1300 mAh
• Usage Time: Up to 210 mins (3.5 hrs) (standard battery); Up to 270 mins (4.5 hrs) (extended battery)
• Standby Time: Up to 250 hrs (standard battery); Up to 325 hrs (extended battery)
• Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4
MEMORY
• Internal Phone Book
- Up to 500 entries with multiple contacts
- Can store one picture with each entry
- One-, Two- and Three-Touch dialing
• Last 90 Incoming, Outgoing and
Missed Call Logs
• microSD™ Memory Card Slot
(Up to 8 GB)
CALL MANAGEMENT
AND SERVICES
• Picture Caller ID*
• Voice Mail*
• Caller ID*
• Call Forwarding*
• Call Waiting*
• Three-Way Calling*
ACCESSORIES
• Standard Battery
• Extended Battery
• Vehicle Power Charger
• Battery Travel Charger
• Travel Adapter
• Data Cable
• Universal Carry Case and Holster
• 2.5 mm 4pole mic/Stereo earbuds
• Bluetooth® Mono Headset
• Stereo Bluetooth® Headset
• Bluetooth® Stereo Speakers
STANDARD PACKAGE
CONTENTS
• Handset
• Standard Lithium Ion Battery
• User Manual
• Quick Reference Guide
• Quick Start Guide
• USB Cable & CD
• Travel Charger

The Decor
The top is a sharp red with tendril textures—actually quite classy in person. Flip it upside-down and you'll see that even the air vents feature a touch of style.

The Weight
Lenovo's U110 weighs just 2.42 pounds (and 2.92 with the larger battery). That's only .4 pounds more than the Eee and, trust me, it's freakin' light. So you know though, 2.92 pounds feels way, way heavier than 2.42. The "ohhh" factor is lost with the bigger battery.

The Screen
In the past, I've found that the Eee screen was too small for enjoyable use. The HP Mini Note was borderline. Now I've found the perfect size. 11.1" WXGA (1366x768) is just right for comfortable multitasking. And it's LED. Ooooh!

The Keyboard
I'm digging the keyboard. The Backspace button has been chopped a bit beyond my penchant for typos, but the keyboard is generally spacious enough for sure. And the subtly concave "piano painting" buttons feel excellent to the touch.

Glowy Button Things
Touch the panel above the keyboard for a tattoo-like glow of buttons. They offer some hot key support and extra sound control. Looks kinda neat, works kinda crappy.

The Footprint
The 10.8" by 7.7" by .72"-.88" dimensions can be tough to picture. That's quite small. Just know that it's officially beyond impulse purse stuffing size.

The Hookups
Tons of good stuff here: 3 USB ports, FireWire, multi-card reader, Mini-PCIe, Express Card, mic, headphones, Ethernet, and VGA out.

Little Extras
Lenovo packed in the little details. You get two batteries (4-cell and 7-cell) depending on your desired weight load. You get an external USB DVD drive since it lacks one of its own. Oh, and you get a cloth for the unbelievable smudgetastic glossy finish.

The Speed
The Lenovo U110 is not a speed machine. You can look at Vista's performance rating of 3.5 to draw your own conclusions (3.0 is Aero graphics minimum), or you can know that, more often than not, it can become a bit irritating waiting for programs to launch. It's not a "OMG THIS IS SOOOO SLOOOW" slow, but it is "Boy, I wish Office would load a bit faster" slow.

The Battery
The 4-cell 1750mAH battery is rated at two hours. In the default "balanced" processing mode, I received less than an hour of runtime from normal use. Since the 7-cell battery is rated at six hours of use, expect only three.

VeriFace 2.5
VeriFace scans your face and loads your computer without the need for typing. And it works great...when it works. Booting Vista, a Veriface animation pops up for about three seconds and loads with no problem. But for some reason—and correlation is by no means causation—I found that when waking the computer, VeriFace had recognition problems quite often. You are left sitting there like an idiot, double checking your lighting, positioning and hairdo...realizing that maybe you aren't pretty enough to touch this beautiful computer.

The Price
It's $1899. That's $100 more than the MacBook Air. For that, many Windows lovers may consider Lenovo's X300. And they'd be right to. EVDO and a solid state drive would be great additions to the U110. And for not much more money, size or weight, you can get that with the X300.

Should You Buy It?
Let's put it this way—it's buyable. It's not the fastest Vista laptop, and if you want any decent battery life you'll lose a chunk of the ultra-sexy form factor. But if you want a fully-capable laptop that's extremely mobile—one that I'd say can conceivably function as your main computer—then sure. Because while the smaller battery's life may be less than optimal, the real purchase-preventer here seems to be the price. And if you don't care, neither do we.

MvixUSA Launches Ultra Portable HDD-based Hi-Def Media Player

Mvix (USA), Inc., a leader in HDD-based, portable media playback solutions, announces the launch of yet another hi-def media decoder now in ultra small size. The new Mvix MV-2500U supports the small 2.5-inchhard drive, but boasts of most of the key features of its predecessors like MX-780HD or MX-760. It can support HDDs as large as250GB hard disk, enough to carry 100 DVD quality movie ti