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Garmin EcoRoutes ESP module turns your GPS into car sentinel

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 5th 2009 at 6:15AM

Get ready to tech up your driving experience, as Garmin has unveiled a new accessory for its nuvi line of GPS devices that lets you add a number of customizable gauges and monitoring utilities. The new ESP module tucks into the OBD-II diagnostics port on your car and communicates (via Bluetooth) all-important data like intake air temperatures and the fuel efficiency of your driving to the nuvi up top. Yea, it's been done before, but Garmin is (for the time being) a major force in navigation devices and could truly popularize this should there be enough interest. For our money, it's both a neat and geeky way to expand the functionality of the now threatened satnav species. The full dish on price and availability can be expected at CES 2010 this coming January.

Acer debuts 23-inch T230H multitouch monitor

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 29th 2009 at 4:32PM

Acer hasn't exactly been slacking when it comes to Windows 7-related hardware, but it looks like its still putting the final touches on its launch line-up, with it now rolling out a new multitouch monitor to complement its range of laptops and desktops. What's more, at a full 23-inches, the company's new T230H monitor best similar offerings from Dell and HP in terms of sheer size, and it packs some respectable specs across the board, including a full 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 2ms response time, a promised 80,000:1 contrast ratio (take that with the usual grain of salt), and an HDMI port in addition to DVI and VGA. Still no official word on US pricing, it seems, but this one will apparently run €349 in Europe (or just over $500).

[Via Engadget Korea]

Albatron's 42 inches of optical touch monitor get examined on video

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 28th 2009 at 12:23PM

While Dell and HP were busy holding a competition to see who could do a worse job of announcing their new optical multitouch displays, Albatron was crafting away a 42-inch monstrosity to completely steal their thunder. The optical part refers to a pair of CMOS sensors embedded in the bezel which are responsible for touch detection, a cheaper alternative to your typical capacitive and resistive tech, which requires an extra USB connection between the monitor and computer. Although some issues were found with Windows 7's multitouch implementation, the promise of recognizing more than two fingers with the proper software support and the general responsiveness of the unit whet our appetite for more. Alas, nobody dares speak of a price, but a 1080p 22-inch model is already available for $450, in case you wanted to add to your touchy-feely shortlist. The video after the break contains the hands-on and a little mystery -- why is there Bulgarian handwriting on the whiteboard in the background?

Continue reading Albatron's 42 inches of optical touch monitor get examined on video

Polk Audio's HitMaster: your own personal Rock Band stage monitor

by Darren Murph posted Oct 24th 2009 at 3:37PM

Sheesh. Just days after Altec Lansing shocked the gaming world with a dedicated stage monitor for Guitar Hero, Rock Band or any other gaming title you'd care to pump through a mini-wedge, Polk Audio has stepped in to do the same. As we witness the beginning of a curious, um, beginning, the HitMaster has stepped things up for anyone else thinking of joining the fray by packing 60 watts of RMS power, a pair of 2.2- x 5.5-inch horns, twin 1-inch tweeters and a booming 6.5-inch subwoofer. The whole cabinet weighs some 13 pounds, and aside from line level inputs and outputs, you'll also find a 1/8-inch jack for connecting iPods and the like. Oh, and did we mention that you can daisy chain these things? Because you can. Look for this one to rock your face off (or something to that effect) in early 2010 for $99.99.

[Via Hot Hardware]

HP unleashes Compaq L2105tm touchscreen, multitouch monitor

by Laura June posted Oct 21st 2009 at 5:39PM

HP's just rather quietly announced a new display hot on the heels of tomorrow's Windows 7 launch. This 21.5-inch, 1080p bad boy boasts an optical multitouch panel with one finger scrolling and two finger mousing capabilities. Stylus fans will also be overjoyed to hear that the Compaq L2105tm has a stylus of its own that tucks into the side of the monitor when not in use. HP is calling this one the first "Windows 7 certified" monitor, meaning you should be able to pull it right out of the box, plug it in and get moving. The Compaq L2105tm will be available tomorrow for $299. Full press release is after the break.

[Via Display Blog]

Continue reading HP unleashes Compaq L2105tm touchscreen, multitouch monitor

ASUS Designo MS gets handled, gushed over

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 21st 2009 at 12:31AM

ASUS' stylish Designo MS monitors might not be quite on the same diet as the world's thinnest LCDs, but they're plenty svelte enough to collect glances of envious admiration. Suffering from a rather severe case of techno-lust, the Electric Pig crew got to handle a 23.6-inch sample and couldn't stop talking about the sex appeal of the exterior -- they were even big fans of the circular stand on the back of the display, which we suspect will have as many supporters as detractors. In spite of packing a full 1920 x 1080 resolution, the MS246 failed to impress with the quality of its output, but then if it was as gorgeous on the inside it'd have an Apple sticker on the front. Right? We kid, honestly. Calm down with a gallery of images at the read link.

Dell SX2210T adds touchscreen functionality to 1080p panel (Update: multitouch!)

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 20th 2009 at 3:17PM

You asked, questioned and implored -- why, with all these underpowered touchscreen all-in-ones prowling our lands, can we not get a decent standalone touchscreen monitor? Well, somebody somewhere listened, and somebody else, presumably elsewhere, leaked. Presenting the entirely unofficial, but all the same real, Dell SX2210T: a 1920 x 1080 21.5-inch panel that has HDMI and DVI inputs alongside an integrated 2 megapixel webcam and microphone for your Skyping convenience. If its 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 2ms grey-to-grey response time sound familiar, it's because the non-touch sensitive SX2210 has been available for a while already. From the support documentation we're looking at, you'll need to hook up an extra USB connection for the touch interface, which doesnt appear to be multitouch, but we can always hope for a miraculous firmware update down the line, right?

Update: More info has surfaced on this monitor, which can now be purchased for $469 from Dell's online store, and will come with multtitouch panning and zooming when attached to a Windows 7 machine.

[Thanks, Bruce and dennispg]

Lenovo's new slate of ThinkVision LCDs really, really love the environment

by Darren Murph posted Oct 20th 2009 at 9:22AM

It's not like we haven't seen a ThinkVision monitor trying its best to be good to Ma Earth before, but Lenovo's ThinkVision L2251x Wide has just become the first in the industry to notch a TCO Certified Edge -- which, we'll be honest, sounds like a pretty bodacious award to have. Dubbed the company's "greenest monitors yet," the ThinkVision L1711p, L1951p Wide, L2250p Wide, L2251p Wide and L2251x Wide are all at least TCO Certified, EPEAT Gold rated and are 50 percent more energy-efficient than previous models. Outside of all that, you'll find 1,680 x 1,050 resolution panels, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a five millisecond response time on the whole lot, while select models boast DisplayPort compatibility and a built-in webcam. The ThinkVision L1951p Wide, L2250p Wide and L2251p Wide monitors will be available starting this Friday for $239.99, $249.99 and $259.99, respectively, while the L1711p will land on November 6th for $229.99 and the L2251x Wide sometime next month for $299.99.

Gallery: Lenovo's new slate of ThinkVision LCDs really, really love the environment

Continue reading Lenovo's new slate of ThinkVision LCDs really, really love the environment

Mitsubishi debuts power-saving RDT231WLM-S 23-inch monitor

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 7th 2009 at 2:41PM

We know it's been tough finding a 23-inch, full HD monitor that's just nondescript enough to cause not so much as a passing glance, but it looks like Mitsubishi finally has the monitor for you. In addition to that 1,920 x 1080 resolution, its new RDT231WLM-S model packs a decent 5 ms response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, a full range of ports including HDMI and DVI, and an "ECO Professional" mode to cut down on power consumption whenever possible. Unfortunately, it also makes use of a TN panel, and it eschews any modern conveniences like a built-in webcam or USB hub -- but, hey, at least it's one monitor that won't collect fingerprints left and right. No price or release just yet, but we'd expect those details to be fairly inexpensive and fairly soon.

[Via Akihabara News]

DoubleSight debuts trio of new Smart USB monitors

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 30th 2009 at 5:07AM

Tiny USB monitors may not exactly be a must-have desk accessory for everyone just yet, but those in the market for a bit more screen real estate are fast getting more options to consider, like this new trio of Smart USB monitors from DoubleSight Displays. Available in your choice 7- or 9-inch models, the displays are mostly identical in outward appearance with the notable exception of a detachable webcam on the top-end DS-90UC model, and a higher 1,024 x 600 resolution on the two 9-inch displays, as opposed to a mere 800 x 480 on the lone 7-inch display -- making it a far less attractive choice for all but the most desk space challenged. That choice is made even easier by the fact that the 9-incher costs just $20 more than its smaller counterpart ($140 vs. $120), while the webcam-equipped version will set you back a somewhat heftier $160.

Fitbit tracker starts shipping, ready to monitor your fitness, sleep, piety

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 29th 2009 at 10:01AM

Better (a year) late than never, eh Fitbit? This time last year, there was quite a bit of buzz stirred up by a little gadget promising to monitor exercise intensity, distances traveled, sleep patterns, and calorie consumption. This pedometer with a degree and a 3D motion sensor has been incubating a lot longer than initially projected, but the first few units have finally trickled out to their eager users today. The entire device is essentially one big clip, attaching to any bit of clothing you have on you, while its base station can wirelessly collect data and upload it, via a pc, to a free online tracking dashboard. Add in the OLED display and a quoted battery autonomy of 10+ days, and the $99 price starts to appear pretty reasonable.

[Via medGadget]

Dell curiously announces ST2210 and ST2310 LCD monitors

by Darren Murph posted Sep 17th 2009 at 4:16PM

Oh, Dell. Oftentimes we wonder if you guys even want consumers to know that you've got new kit for them to ogle. Shortly after we discovered that the ST2410 LCD monitor was both a) real and b) on sale, we're now having to turn to YouTube in order to catch wind that two smaller models have also been announced to accompany it. The ST2210 is a 21.5-inch panel with a 1080p resolution, 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (we know, we know...), 250 nits of brightness, a five millisecond response time and HDMI / VGA / DVI inputs. The 23-inch ST2310 is essentially a larger version of the 2210, with screen size being the only real differentiating factor. We should note, however, that unlike many Dell LCDs of the past, these two go Apple-style and ditch the ability to adjust height up or down; you can angle the LCD forward and back, but that's it. Both are available now for $259 and $229 in order of mention, and yes, that does mean that you can get more for less.

[Thanks, John]

Read - ST2210
Read - ST2310

Continue reading Dell curiously announces ST2210 and ST2310 LCD monitors

ViewSonic doles out a half dozen LCDs, forgets to make 'em interesting

by Darren Murph posted Sep 15th 2009 at 7:01AM

It's been a hot minute since ViewSonic cranked out any new LCDs, but the drought is officially ending today. The firm has just blessed the universe with a fresh half-dozen, a few of which pack 1080p panels and respectable price points. Both the VT3245 ($649) and VT3745 ($799) feature a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 4,000:1 contrast ratio and a five millisecond response time, while the latter is somehow tailored for streaming media. Then there's the N4285, which also sports a 1080p LCD and a dynamic 10,000:1 contrast ratio; for whatever reason, this one's priced at $999, so we're guessing it's... um, larger? The VT2042 ($299), VT2342 ($349) and VT2645 ($449) are all scaled back versions with lower resolutions (save for the 2342, which does Full HD), though none of 'em are particularly noteworthy. Peep the read link for ship dates and the like, but good look finding out non-critical information like "panel size" and "available inputs."

Gallery: ViewSonic doles out a half dozen LCDs, forgets to make 'em interesting

EVGA's dual-LCD InterView display starts shipping

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 14th 2009 at 7:29PM

EVGA's unusual dual-LCD InterView display certainly isn't for everybody, but if you've got a desk-mate that you're constantly sharing a monitor with you'll no doubt be pleased to know that it's now finally available to order. Now selling for as low as $624.99 (or $640 list price), the monitor packs dual 17-inch LCDs that can either be used in a screen-spanning mode for an extra-wide 34-inch display, or be rotated and automatically reoriented for folks sitting across form each other. Unfortunately, each display packs a somewhat lackluster 1,440 x 990 resolution, and you'll of course have to make sure you have dual VGA or DVI inputs if you want to run it from a single computer. That'll no doubt be a small trade-off to some folks, however, especially considering there aren't exactly a ton of competitors to the InterView at the moment.

[Via ComputerMonger]

Packard Bell's Viseo 200T display gets multi-touchy-feely next month

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 11th 2009 at 5:01PM

We don't see too many multitouch displays for desktop systems in these parts, but if Packard Bell has its way that's likely to change tout de suite. Not only has the company just announced its oneTwo line of all-in-one PCs with touchscreen displays at CEDIA, but now its back with the Viseo 200T Touch Edition -- a 20-inch multitouch monitor featuring built-in stereo speakers, a 16:9 aspect ratio, 50,000:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, and VGA and DVI input. When this thing hits Merry Olde England in mid-October, you can expect to pay roughly £200 (about $330) to take advantage of all that Windows 7 multitouch magic. And, believe us, it is truly magical.