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Sunday Morning Funnies: Change is good
It's super secret Santa time! The suggestion was put forth by Azarizotza last week in the comments section, and there seems to be some support for the plan. So, if you run a comic that gets featured here from time to time and you would like to participate, shoot me an email by 8:00 p.m. EST December 18. I'll shuffle the names and email them back out. Edit: If you don't have my email from our gallery correspondence, you can always use the WoW Insider tipline. Now, for the list: From the Thunder and the Storm's crossword is now playable online. Slash AFK: Not Prepared. Tales from the Crossroads: Out of the Frying Pan... Blood and Thunder: On New Class/Race Combinations. Safe Passage. Torment of the Week: Pray for Peace. Travels with Tenthunders: Stuff Green People Like. Teh Gladiators: That Tank Looks Familiar. Arena-Inside: Cry 'Havoc' and Let Slip the Dogs of War... craft. Also, ... undersized furbolgs? Lorgrokni's Travels: Girl Gamers and Little Flashing Buttons and On a Budget. Out of World: Beneath the Shadow part 3. DLC: Ashes to Ashes. The Daily Blink: Your Epic Fan Poster. Also: Take Two Potions Daily and The Maelstrom. NPC: Perfect. Also: Computed and A Whole Old World. Complex Actions: Offer May No Longer Be Valid. Also: The Morning After. Beyond the Tree: Excuse Me Mr. Equine Transport Officer, Would You Mind Stopping Pronto. Fourth Wall: Bad Idea and King of the Hill. Away From Reality: Midnight. The Warcraft Hero in: Super Guest Comic. Guilded Age. LFG #415 and #416. What's Shakin': Page 14. Coffin Minis: Fly Troll Air. Coffin Comics: Re-Zoned. Disciplinary Action: Episode 16. GU Comics has a slew of WoW-related comics this week: Real Quick. Release Day. Crevasse Hole. Rotating the Buffet. He's Back. This one may only make sense if you follow the comic, but reading the short blurb at the bottom should help.
Mitsubishi starts Facebook search for old girlfriends, HDTVs
Sure 3DTV is a big buzzword in 2010, but facts are facts, Samsung and Mitsubishi have been pushing 3D-capable HDTVs for several years. Now that 3D content has become more widely available Mitsubishi has decided to hit Facebook to reconnect with a few old flames -- in this case projection televisions that can are 3D Blu-ray ready when hooked up to the adapter it released this year. Just sign up on the page to spread the word and enter a contest to win a new HDTV or starter kit with adapter + glasses, and check if your current television is 3D-ready. Surely you can fit that in between a busy schedule of pokes, Farmville and reminding people to vote, right?
Mitsubishi America offers up two new 3D projectors
The first new projector for the US is the HC4000 (pictured) which is touted as a great price for the performance DIY HT projector and features the 1080p DarkChip 3 DLP light engine. It is capable of 1300 lumens and provides up to 750:1 ANSI contrast ratio. It has support for an optional anamorphic lens for those 2.35:1 movies and is rated at a very quiet 25dBA in low mode. The estimated price is $1495 and should be available immediately. The bigger brother is the Diamond 3D which evidently has no price, but does use the 120hz Sony SXRD light engine, has an auto-iris function for easy setup, only musters 19dBa of noise while it is running and features two HDMI 1.4 inputs and an RS232 port for control.
GE stuffs DLP projector into 14MP PJ1 point-and-shoot camera, we go hands-on
It ain't the first point-and-shoot to emerge with a beamer within, but it's the first from GE's General Imaging branch. Boasting a 14 megapixel sensor, a vanilla enclosure and a DLP projector, the PJ1 was seen making its debut here at Photokina in Germany. The highlight of the device is obviously the 854 x 480 resolution projector that's somehow stuffed within the casing, while the most impressive part to us was just how thin it remained with such a unit inside. In other words, the projector itself was certainly lacking, and with just 15 lumens, we felt that the darker-than-dark test room (shown in the video just past the break) still wasn't dark enough. On the capture side, there's a 7x optical zoom, SD / SDHC card slot and support for 720p movies; thankfully, GE's not planning to include too hefty a premium for the projector, as we were told to expect it for "around €250 ($334)" when it lands in Europe next February. %Gallery-103085%
Sharp prepares XV-Z17000 3D DLP projector for 2011 release
Sharp just announced its first 3D projector, the XV-Z17000, at CEDIA. Due early next year, the company is holding back pricing information until CES but wasn't shy about mentioning mentioning it works with active shutter glasses using either DLP Link or IR syncing technology by bouncing an IR signal off the screen the picture is projected onto. It packs two HDMI 1.4a inputs and specs include a measured 30,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,600 ANSI lumens brightness. Check the press release after the break for the rest of the details currently available, we'll be taking another careful look at this one in January.
Runco reveals LS-10d and LS-10i projectors to bring home theaters out of the basement
Unlike most high-end projectors designed strictly to live in nice dark dungeons, Runco's new three chip DLP, 1080p LS-10d and LS-10i projectors are built to perform in a wider range of rooms -- which is good news for penthouse dwellers lacking a basement. Both are packed with the usual proprietary picture-enhancing accoutrements and also support the firm's nifty CineGlide motorized 2.35:1 anamorphic lens solution for users who can't bear to view black bars around their image. The LS-10i sports an internal image processor, while the LS-10d ups the ante with Runco's DHD rack-mounted external video processor. That upgrade enables IR and RS-232 control as well as the ability to install the processor next to your existing HT setup -- a real boon for those not building a fresh home theater out of their old squash court. Either can also be custom painted and printed to match any decor, so there's no need to fear the gear clashing with the drapes. Release-wise, the LS-10i is coming in October for just under $22,000, while the LS-10d ships later in December for a hair below $27,000. That's way more than the sub-$10k range of other LightStyle models, but it's nothing compared to Runco's $90k+ 3D cinema projectors, so we'll quit our plebeian whining. For full details see the PR after the break.
LG's 3D office projectors are ready to entertain the staff
If we can distract your sympathies from that rather unfortunately bespectacled product waif for a second, we'd like to tell you about LG's latest 3D projectors for the office. The LG BX327 pumps 3,200 lumens for 1,300,000KRW (about $1,090) while the BX327 scales things back to 2,700 lumens for 1,000,000KRW (about $837). Otherwise, both feature a 2,300:1 contrast, stereo speakers, and a USB jack for sourcing documents, videos, and photos directly off of a USB stick. Unfortunately, LG's not offering much detail here. But you can still imagine the fun you'll have dressing up your luddite executive team in those massive 3D glasses. Oh yes sir, you look magnificent.
Christie creates baffling 3D HD CAVE 'visual environment,' or your average Halo display in 2020
Whenever the word "Christie" is involved, you can generally count on two things: 1) you can't afford it and 2) you'll want to afford it. The high-end projection company is at it once again, this time installing a truly insane visual environment at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. The 3D HD CAVE is intended to help researchers find breakthroughs in biomedical studies, and while CAVE itself has been around for years, this particular version easily trumps prior iterations. For starters, it relies on eight Christie Mirage 3-chip DLP projectors, all of which have active stereo capabilities and can deliver a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,920. Yeah, that's 3.68 megapixels per wall. The idea here is to provide mad scientists with a ridiculous amount of pixel density in an immersive world, but all we can think about is hooking Kinect and the next installment of Bungie's famed franchise up to this thing. Can we get an "amen?"
Mitsubishi's LaserVue HDTV makes triumphant 75-inch return, becomes 3D-ready
Ah, the LaserVue. Launched way back in the heyday that was 2008, Mitsubishi's 65-inch monster didn't exactly fly off shelves being priced at seven large, but we still maintain that it's the best looking consumer-level set we've ever laid eyes on. 'Course, the fat-backed design didn't exactly do it any favors in a world dominated by flatscreens, but we've always been willing to bend a little on the design for beautiful execution in the image quality department. To that end, we're downright elated to hear that the forgotten line has been revived for 2010, with an all new 75-inch model (L75-A91) being introduced for those who just can't find a television big enough to fill their 8,000 square foot den. The behemoth measures in at 41.7- x 66.4- x 15-inches (so yeah, it's still got some junk in the trunk), and as you'd expect, it's fully 3D ready. Mistu's 3D Starter Pack is being sold alongside of it, containing a 3D emitter, 3D Adapter with remote, an HDMI cable and a Blu-ray Disc with a collection of clips to really show off your new purchase. Other specs include web connectivity (StreamTV can hit up VUDU, Pandora, Flickr, Picasa and more), four HDMI-CEC inputs, a wired IR output, 1080p native resolution and a price tag of "only" $5,999, not including the $399 3D Starter Pack and $99 3D Adapter. Oh, and be sure to call a buddy or four when it arrives -- you know, considering that you can't lift a 154 pound television on your own. %Gallery-96114%
Samsung Galaxy Beam: world's first Android projector phone on sale in July
Ah, here we go, Samsung's other cellphone with an integrated projector just got an official launch date. The Galaxy Beam (codename: Halo) with its 3.7-inch Super AMOLED display is now slated to hit Singapore in July. That means that the European and broader launch across Asia should be just around the corner if Samsung's claims from Feburary hold true. At launch, the world's first Android phone with a built-in DLP pico projector will be served version 2.1 of Google's confectionary delight. Specwise, we're talking 7.2Mbps HSPA data on 900/1900/2100MHz and quad-band GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with flash (front-facing VGA) and HD video recording, A-GPS, FM Radio, and an 1,800mAH battery. Memory is confusingly listed as "4Gb + 2Gb + 1Gb + 16Gb MoviNAND" made worse by no mention of microSD though it was definitely there when we went hands-on with Beam at Mobile World Congress. Specs after the break.
New Mitsubishi 3D DLPs arrive for 2010, is this the mysterious StreamTV?
Sure most other manufacturers are new to this 3DTV thing but Mitsubishi is already on its fourth generation, announcing the new 638, 738 and 838 series DLP TVs. New for the 2010 lineup, and possibly giving some insight to those weird HDTVs that appeared on Amazon yesterday is "StreamTV" interactive media which appears to be a new (post Wal-mart acquisition?) branding for the VUDU Apps service we spotted during CES with Pandora, Flickr, Picasa and others built in. If that sounds like a little too much then don't worry, it's not in the base 638 series televisions while the 738 models add StreamTV, an optional WiFi N adapter and video calibration options, and the top of the line 838 models offer Mitsubishi's 16 speaker built-in iSP surround sound tech along with a few other minor adjustments as upgrades. We're still waiting to find out when these ship (probably in the next month or so), but one thing that never changes is projection's ability to go big for less money than its flat-panel competitors, ranging from $1,199 for the 60-inch WD-60638 to $4,499 for the 82-inch WD-8238 (don't forget to add in the price of a special checkerboard compatible 3D Blu-ray player or an adapter to make everything work.) Check after the break for a full breakdown, we'll let you know once more info is available -- or if some $6k autostereoscopic options pop up on the horizon. %Gallery-90047%
Optoma adds HW536 and EX762 DLP projectors to the 3D party
If 3D monitors aren't doing it for you, here are a couple of larger display options -- our lucky pals over at Engadget Chinese witnessed the birth of Optoma's two new 3D projectors in Taiwan yesterday. Pictured on the left is the HW536 cinema DLP projector (NT$36,900 or about US$1,150), which has HDMI input and projects a 1,280 x 800 image at 2,800 lumens with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Next up is the EX762 business DLP projector (NT$79,900 or US$2,490) that also sports HDMI input and a network jack, while delivering a 1,024 x 768 resolution at 4,000 lumens and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. Just to add a tad more burden to your overdraft, each pair of ZD101 shutter glasses -- not bundled with either projectors -- will cost you a further NT$4,000 (US$125), in return offering a wireless range of up to eight meters courtesy of Texas Instruments' non-directional DLP Link technology (so no need to position any external emitters). A couple of close-up photos after the break.
Acer rights its wrongs with K11 pico projector
Why hello there, Acer. Not only does this K11 DLP pico projector look sexier than its predecessor, but it's also been given some nice internal enhancements. Starting with display performance: the K11's resolution remains about the same at 858 x 600, but it's twice as bright at 200 lumens (while maintaining the same 20,000-hour lamp life) and has twice as much contrast ratio at 2,000:1. As for connectivity this machine now packs an HDMI socket (along with the usual VGA and composite AV ports) as well as an SDHC card reader and a USB port for opening music, video and picture files. Even with all these extra goodies, the K11's only managed to gain 0.13 pounds (reaching 1.34 pounds) while sporting a smaller body. All we need now is a price, launch date, a few friends and a destination for our road trip. Oh, and some content. Update: apparently an Acer representative hinted that the K11 will be available for about €500 ($685; translated page shows "$" instead of "€"). Yikes. Anyway, vielen Dank, Felix Fdot!
Acer's H5360 and X1261 projectors take it to the third dimension
You know who else is firmly situated on the 3D bandwagon? Acer. This fine morning the outfit has busted out two new beamers, both of which are eager and willing to be paired with NVIDIA's 3D Vision setup for viewing in the third dimension. Outside of that, neither one is particularly awe-inspiring, but if you've got a 3D Blu-ray player on the brain, you might need one of these to fully complete the nerded-out basement experiment. Up first is the H5360, offering a native 1,280 x 720 resolution, a 3,200:1 contrast ratio, 2,500 ANSI lumens and an HDMI socket. The lower-end X1261 gets a lowly XGA resolution, a similar amount of brightness and a component video port. Check 'em real, real soon for $699 and $579 in order of mention, and hop on past the break for the rest of the details. %Gallery-86782%
Texas Instruments unleashes new nHD DLP chipset, now with more pico
We didn't think it could be done, but the fine folks at Texas Instruments have just unleashed a tiny, tiny beast in their all new DLP pico chipset. The nHD DLP chipset, as it's known, boasts 640x360 resolution, a contrast ratio of "better than" 1,000:1, RGB LED wide color gamut (which should more faithfully reproduce colors), a new, and a lower powered processor. Overall, the package is 20 percent thinner and 50 percent lighter than the current generation DLP chipset. We hear the chipset should be available in the second quarter of 2010. The full press release is after the break.
Sony working to wedge laser-based pico projectors into its compact cameras?
Nikon's Coolpix S1000pj camera/pico projector combo hasn't exactly taken the world by storm, but we're guessing it took a little while before Reese's Peanut Butter Cups became a global phenomenon, too. If reports from DigiTimes prove to be true, Sony wants to be front and center to meet the eventual demand for such cameras, working with Opus Microsystems to license its laser-based scanning mirror chips, projector tech that sounds similar to Microvision's Show WX. Word is that other camera manufacturers are working with Texas Instruments for the development of their own pico-packing cams, relying on TI's DLP-based tech found in the S1000pj and a variety of other devices. Which will rule the roost? We'll take lasers over LEDs any day of the week.
Pico projectors caught in the wild, one on a camcorder, one in Samsung's W9600 cellphone (video)
Yeah, we know: you haven't bought a pico projector and you really have no plan to do so. Still, it's kind of fun to see them doing their thing, beaming little, dim images onto walls from improbably small boxes. The folks at PicoProjector-info are happy to oblige, posting two videos of DLP picos in action at CES. The first is a Texas Instruments model that's been stuck atop a camcorder (presumably with bubblegum), pointing backward to splay the image of whatever it's filming into the wall -- and to temporarily blind whoever dares pick up said camcorder. Next up is a demonstration of the Samsung W9600, which we spent a bit of time with ourselves at CES. Now you can see how it looks in motion, as both videos are embedded after the break.
Samsung's pico projecting W9600 gets a brief hands-on
Samsung made a fairly tame showing at CES but we did bump into a rather sweet bit of integrated projection fun. The W9600 replaces last year's W7900, and, like its predecessor, the specs are pretty thin. We do know, however, that it uses Texas Instruments' WVGA chip for the projection, has a 5 megapixel cam, a completely beautiful touchscreen AMOLED display, and can project vids, pics, and even the phone's interface. We've always felt that projection phones are pretty toys but ultimately, we didn't see a really solid reason they existed when we first saw them, and we still don't with the W9600. That being said, this phone doesn't feel so much like a work in progress, the focus wheel, finish, branding and the rest make this feel a bit more like a real phone and less like a dummy phone. Of course, the whole point is moot as the Anycall-branded W9600 will likely never make its way to our pockets, let alone our carriers. But do feel free to wander the gallery and take in the sights. %Gallery-81854%
LG eXpo projector hands-on
You'll be familiar with the LG eXpo and its specs already -- which include a slideout QWERTY keyboard and 1GHz Snapdragon under the hood -- but we thought we'd go try the handset out for ourselves and tell you what we thought. Construction on this little machine was plenty sturdy to withstand the bumps associated with its unusual shape, while the keyboard slider mechanism had a reassuring feel to it. On the whole our impression was that you've got a middle of the road modern phone with a sales hook that depends on just how into projecting your images you are. Trust us, the sharp and large picture you may hope for from this device is possible only in very limited circumstances -- even a moonlit night seems likely to mess with your enjoyment of the attached pico projector's output. For the most part, you'll have to be content with either watching 14-inch movies with the curtains drawn, or projecting ill-defined naughty pictures on the whiteboard while the teacher isn't looking. Even if neither of those sounds like your kind of thing, feel welcome to peruse the hands-on gallery below. %Gallery-81863%
WowWee Cinemin Swivel iPod and iPhone pico projector review
The first time we saw a pico projector some of us thought: "Err... What's the point?" Slide show presentations from your phone? Doubt it -- not powerful enough for practical use. Cinematic experience in the toilet? Maybe, but you'd want a built-in projector on your PMP instead of a separate brick. Funky dance? Only in Japan. Finally, WowWee took a break from robotics to give us the answer with its foldable Cinemin Swivel pico projector: for watching videos on the ceiling while lying in bed, obviously. Still, we have our doubts about image quality, portability and practicality -- especially for $299. Read on to find out if this little guy is worth it.
