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Dell's 22-inch UltraSharp 2209WA LCD monitor surfaces

Dell Canada is good for being the first to show off new LCDs, and yet again we're getting an early look at a forthcoming monitor courtesy of the Great White North. The 22-inch UltraSharp 2209WA will evidently arrive with a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, 300 nits of brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 178-degree viewing angles and a 5-millisecond response time. It also features VGA and DVI connectors, four USB 2.0 ports and an undisclosed price tag. It'll supposed ship in one to two weeks, but given that there's not even an image available yet, we're not so sure we'd bet the farm on that estimate being accurate.

[Via whirlpool, thanks Ed]

Liquavista launches ColorBright display technology sans coolness


When Liquavista announced its electrowetting segment-driven display technology way back when, we thought it sounded like just about the best thing ever. We definitely wanted PMP, cellphone, and watch displays with rapid response time, exceptional contrast, and a high volume of color. Fast forward two years: word is this stuff is finally ready to hit the market and designers can now order custom-made equipment for their devices. There's an animation on Liquavista's website that promises some radically hip stuff, and we're looking forward to that, but so far we feel a bit let down by these images of mostly-static watches whose main claim to fame is colors. Get crackin', designers: we want to see those sunlight-viewable video displays and hip-hoppin' PMP visualizers in the non-cartoon world ASAP.

[Via core77]

Read - Press release
Read - Official website with demo animation

Samsung no longer selling flat panels, other wares in Japan


Yeah, we're still scratchin' our noggins too, but even after we rubbed our eyes and adjusted the bifocals, it still looks as if the AP is reporting that Samsung will stop selling flat panel televisions and "other consumer products" in Japan. Hot on the heels of Hitachi pulling the plug on RPTVs on this side of the pond, Samsung is citing "poor profitability" as the reasoning behind its dramatic move, and it noted that LCD TVs, DVD players, DAPs and "other items" would no longer be sold to individuals in the Land of the Rising Sun. It was, however, stated that the outfit would continue selling flat screen computer monitors directly to businesses along with memory chips, LCDs and mobile phones to Softbank, but considering that last year less than one-percent of the firm's total sales in the country were made up of consumer electronics sales, we guess it's a little easier to wrap our head around the decision. Nevertheless, there's no reason for us to think that Sammy will be pulling back the reins in any other regions of the world, but it'll be quite strange in Tokyo with no signs of Sammy in the CE realm.

Dell brings the 24-inch E248WFP Stateside


Dell's latest 24-incher, the E248WFP, got a little overshadowed when it was released in Japan next to the webcam-sporting SP2208WFP, but now that it's coming Stateside we're ready to love it just as much. The lowest-priced Dell 24-inch display, the E248WFP features a 1920 x 1200 resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 5ms refresh rate for just $469. You're not getting a lot of frills for that number, of course, with inputs limited to just DVI-D with HDCP and VGA, no speakers, and no USB ports, but as a pure screen it's a pretty slammin' deal.

[Thanks, Victor]

Alphascan J2210W display embeds a Samsung panel


Korean display-maker Alphascan, a company of dubious and confusing origin, has apparently licensed Samsung's flat-panel technology and applied it to its new 22-inch slim monitor, the J2210W. The stylish, 16:10 display features a brightness of 300cd/m², a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 1680 x 1050 resolution, 5ms response speed, and D-SUB / DVI jacks. No word on price or availability Stateside, but we wouldn't recommend holding your breath. Feel free to peruse the monitor's "translated" info page on the read link.

Dell 1907FP gets flamboyant steampunk makeover


The antique-minded modder over at Steampunk Workshop had it right: what good is a brass-clad mouse and keyboard with a 21st century monitor destroying the mojo? Fret not, as a Dell 1907FP was torn apart, blasted with gold Krylon, and decorated to the hilt with flashy pieces that your great (great) grandmother would surely love. Best of all, this here creator went above the call of duty by dressing up the monitor with gilded triggers to depress the monitor adjustment buttons underneath the panel. Trust us, you need to see this one to appreciate the passion behind it, so feel free to visit the read link for a plethora of photographs and even a few vids.

[Via Digg]

Panasonic's new 1080p plasmas priced & dated - now in 42-inch size

Panasonic has finally announced pricing and availability for its 2007 plasma HDTV lineup, including new 1080p models in 50- and 58-inch sizes. Bulking up the current PZ700U line is the PZ750U series, which adds a new "Studio Reference Mode" (to provide consumers with the exact same color reproduction used on reference monitors in film editing studios), a pro setting mode (to even further calibrate the set), 3 HDMI jacks, and a 'special' black chrome look. All that 1080p beauty will cost however, with the top of the line TH-58PZ750U carrying an MSRP of $5,499.95 when it hits with limited availability in June. If missing out on the reference quality color is acceptable to you, the TH-58PZ700U (pictured above) is due next month for a mere $4,799.95. Check after the break for a more complete list of models and prices -- but if you're Mark Cuban then don't bother, because the 103-inch TH-103PZ600U has not been updated for 2007, so no need to upgrade yet.

Update: Looking for Panasonic's missing 42-inch 1080p plasma? Apparently so were they, the company has issued an updated press release, noting that the TH-42PZ700U will bring 2-million+ pixels this June for $2,499.95.

Hannspree unveils new TVs with faux-wood curvature

Most of those new HDTVs that we've seen more or less look the same -- from the side and the back, that is. Each one comes with basically the same generic plastic case wrapped around ports that we generally don't mess around with more than we need to. But these new Hannspree sets are something else indeed. Each Hanspree Lounge model is wrapped in faux wood paneling, and its curves give you something to admire whilst you're grabbing that next beverage from the fridge during commercials. These new HDTVs will display at 1,366 x 768 and come in three sizes -- 26-inch, 32-inch, and 37-inch -- whose prices range from $1,200 to $1,900, respectively. The New York Times reports that the smaller model will be available this week, with the 32-incher rolling in by the middle of the month and the 37-incher dropping "in early November." Um, isn't that around now? Oh, and each comes with a memory card reader (no word on what type) too.

[Via The New York Times]

Update: Jared C. pointed out that the Hannspree website actually does list what memory cards this TV accepts, something we missed on our first pass. They include CompactFlash MicroDrive, Smart Media, SD, MMC, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro.

Sony's "hide-and-seek" Bravia TAV-L1 gets pricing and release details

It's coming out a little later than we expected, but Sony has finally announced a solid release window for the Bravia TAV-L1 complete home theater system that we first spotted all the way back in February. As you may recall, this model consists of a 32-inch LCD monitor covered by a motorized panel containing speakers and a slot-loading DVD/SACD player, along with a single HDMI input and two vibration-canceling subwoofers in the base. Knowing full well that consumers love to personalize their gear, Sony will be offering the L1 with optional green, gray, burgundy, orange, or silver speaker grills for $100 apiece starting in September, about a month after the product itself is released. Also on the horizon is a $1,300 system called the RHT-G1000, which features speakers and a receiver built right into a TV stand, allowing users to hook up their own flat panel sets and rear satellites for the full home theater experience. Expect the G1000 to be available sometime in October, while the $4,000 TAV-L1 is scheduled for release next month -- well past the May launch we'd first heard, but also a lot cheaper than the $7,000 we originally reported.

Mitsubishi's new 21-inch RDT212H monitor for Japan

Mitsubishi has just announced a new 21.3-inch flat panel monitor for the Japanese market, and even though it offers two DVI ports and a UXGA resolution of 1,600 x 1,200, we're not sure how many folks will be willing to part with close to ¥200,000 (about $1,775 US) to have this model on their desks. The RDT212H, in silver or black, does offer a pretty nice 1000:1 contrast ratio, but the 16-millisecond response time won't impress any gamers, and the 300cd/m2 brightness is nothing special, so we're struggling to discover what those hundreds of thousands of yen are really buying you. We'll have to wait a few weeks to find out, though, as that's when this LCD is scheduled to hit stores -- stay tuned to Engadget Japan for the latest.

[Via Impress]

Philips spins off Liquavista to develop thin Electrowetting displays


A bunch of venture capitalists have been poking around Philips' R&D labs lately, and it seems that they like what they see. New Venture Partners has joined with the Dutch electronics giant to spin off several companies based on technology first developed by Philips Research, with the first collaboration, Liquavista, being announced today. Based on a thin-display technology called Electrowetting, Liquavista will attempt to integrate its products into DAPs, cellphones, watches, and other portable devices where high brightness and rapid refresh rates are valued (which is like, all of them). Electrowetting supposedly provides better brightness and response time than competing reflective display technologies while using essentially the same manufacturing techniques, and according to a handy comparison chart on MobileRead, is just about the best thing ever. Skeptics will be able to peep the displays for themselves in early June, however, when Liquavista will present some prototypes at the Society for Information Display's 2006 exhibition in San Francisco. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via MobileRead]
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