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HP unveils 2311x IPS LED-backlit monitor and two new LCD displays: prices start at $140
Though we've already seen HP's 23-inch 2311xi IPS LED backlit monitor -- the first of its consumer monitors to feature in-plane switching technology -- it's getting a second turn in the spotlight today as the company fleshes out its new line-up of displays. Accompanying the 2311x is the 20-inch 2011xi IPS LED backlit monitor, which for $170 offers 178-degree viewing angles and a 1600 x 900 resolution. Both versions will start shipping in the US on June 24th. HP is also updating its selection of LED-backlit LCD monitors. The 20-inch W2071d and 23-inch W2371d sport resolutions of 1600 x 900 and 1920 x 1080, respectively, and both include VGA and DVI-D inputs. The 20-incher will go for $140, while the 23-incher costs $200 -- no word on availability yet. %Gallery-158766% %Gallery-158827% %Gallery-158826%
iFixit tears down the new MacBook Pro's Retina display, finds a minor marvel of engineering
We've already seen them go to town on the body of the MacBook Pro with Retina display, but the staffers at iFixit have seen fit to disassemble the 2880 x 1800 panel at the heart of the new beast. As they've since found out, it takes no less than a rethink of LCD construction to make that kind of resolution work in a laptop screen that's thinner than its ancestor. The unibody aluminum casing acts as the frame for the display, and the LCD becomes its own front glass; even the wireless antennas are threaded through the hinges to eke out that last drop of space. Combined, Apple's part layouts do make repair near-impossible -- the teardown gurus at iFixit ended up cracking the glass despite their knowledge. The team is nonetheless a little more forgiving on the lack of repairability here than with the computer underneath, noting that something had to give for Apple to have its high-resolution cake and eat it too. That just won't be much of a consolation if your MacBook Pro faceplants and requires a whole LCD swap.
ASUS shows off its first Thunderbolt monitor, along with 3D, WiDi and multitouch displays (video)
Take a stroll around ASUS' Computex booth, and you'll see a wall full of new displays -- and we're only half counting the one made for the PadFone. By our count, the company is getting ready to release four new monitors: one with multitouch, one with Wireless Display, one that does passive 3D and one with Thunderbolt (the company's first). Starting with the multitouch model, it has a folding hinge that allows the 23-inch screen to lie completely flat. As you'll see in the video below, it makes for a more ergonomic angle if you're playing simple games like Fruit Ninja, though we can also see it coming in handy for more social activities such as Scrabble or finger painting with kids. And as bizarre as the form factor might look, we also found the hinge mechanism easy to operate: it's reassuringly sturdy, without feeling too loose or rigid. On its own, the IPS, 1920 x 1080 display offers rich colors and wide viewing angles. As far as connectivity is concerned, there's a USB 3.0 socket, along with HDMI, VGA and a DisplayPort. Moving on, that 27-inch, 1080p 3D monitor has an MHL port, allowing it to work with select tablets and phones. There's 2D-to-3D conversion built in, but we have to warn you the three-dimensional experience is fairly lackluster. To use this you'll need passive, not active 3D glasses, and like other monitors that rely on this technology, you'll have to work hard at finding just the right position where the 3D really pops. Even after you settle into that spot, the three-dimensional rendering isn't nearly as convincing as on some other displays we've seen. If you the 3D starts to make you nauseous, you might enjoy it as a standalone display, thanks to its low-glare IPS panel. Want to connect it to a PC? There are also built-in DVI and HDMI / HDMI.4 sockets. Next up, ASUS is getting ready to ship its first Thunderbolt monitor, which has a 27-inch, 1080p screen, along with a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Lastly, there's a 27-inch Wireless Display-compatible model with 1080p resolution, a DisplayPort and a pair of HDMI sockets. As far as all of these displays are concerned, we don't know pricing or availability, though ASUS was at least able to confirm that the Thunderbolt model is headed to the US. For now, check out our photos below and head past the break for a short video tour.
ViewSonic VP3280-LED 31.5-inch 4K monitor prototype hands-on (video)
Would you rather own a mid-range car, or a 31.5-inch 4K monitor? That might not seem like a terribly difficult call, but after seeing ViewSonic's 150 ppi prototype at Computex, we're not so sure we'd go with the car. Hidden beneath a nondescript engineering case a few feet away from the company's 22-inch ICS "tablet" was one of the most impressive 4K displays we've seen. The ViewSonic VP3280-LED features a 31.5-inch LCD panel, packing 8.8 million pixels for a total density of 150 pixels-per-inch. That means incredibly sharp images and vibrant frames -- the display is capable of 10-bit 1.07 billion-color presentation. A relatively small footprint means you could realistically pack 3840 x 2160 pixels on your desk, with a bit of room to spare. The display we saw was hooked up to an Intel Core i5-powered PC, which ViewSonic reps say is only capable of pumping out still photos (you'll need a Core i7 for video or regular computer use), but we very much liked what we saw. The current iteration requires 2x dual-link DVI, but would be compatible with 2x DisplayPort in the future. ViewSonic reps say the VP3280, which will be marketed towards film studios, broadcasters, photographers and any other professionals in need of a compact 4K display, could ship by the end of the year, costing "about the price of a car." There's sadly no way to do this thing justice in still photos or video, but you can get a vague idea of how it performs in our walkthrough after the break.
Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors offer custom tuning, look great with your smoking jacket
Logitech's got just the thing for that $2,000 burning a hole in your pocket. The new Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors are "engineered to your exact needs for fit, look and sound." The wood-paneled in-ear monitors utilize UE's Personal Reference Tuning Box to adjust the output mix of lows, highs and mids. Your two grand also gets you 26 dB of passive noise isolation and a cable that promises to reduce tangling. The new RewardTag offer, meanwhile, offers up rewards for kind souls who happen to find and return your pricey pair. The Personal Reference Monitors will be available in select retail locations at the beginning of next month. PR after the break.
Microsoft reveals more multi-monitor improvements in Windows 8 Release Preview (video)
If you're a multitasking extraordinaire who depends on Windows as your primary computing platform of choice, there's a good chance you utilize more than one monitor to get your work done -- unfortunately, the seventh iteration of Microsoft's OS didn't offer as much support in this arena as most display warriors would prefer. The Consumer Preview of Windows 8 offered a few functionality improvements, and with its upcoming Release Preview, Microsoft is focusing on further enhancing the experience. Mark Yalovsky, a lead program manager on the User Experience team, put together a lengthy piece on what kind of goodies we can expect. Among the highlighted changes is the ability to access the Start, app switching and charms menus from the corners on any monitor, rather than just having these options locked to only the primary display. The Release Preview also improves shared edges and corners so that the flow of cross-display navigation won't get interrupted by obnoxious corners popping up when you don't intend them to. Finally, the option of dragging and dropping Metro-style apps (as well as snapped apps) between monitors has also been included in the new build. These enhancements may seem small, but will go a long way toward appeasing those of us who can't live without more than one screen. For the full listing of feature changes, view Microsoft's video below and check out Mark's post at the source.
HP outs new 23-inch 2311xi IPS LED backlit monitor
Along with tons of new notebooks, HP is unveiling a 23-inch display, the 2311xi. The screen has a 1920 x 1080 resolution with a brightness of 250 nits, and makes use of an IPS panel to promise wide viewing angles (178 degrees both horizontally and vertically, says HP). Also on board are VGA, HDMI and DVI-D input. The display will go for $240 starting June 24th. In the meantime, you can check out the gallery of press photos below and, if you're really curious, feast your eyes on HP's demo video below the break.
HP intros three Compaq desktops, two displays for the business set
In addition to all the laptops and printers HP announced today, it also has a few goodies for the cube monkeys out there. The company just outed a trio of business-grade desktops, along with two monitors. First up, there's the Compaq Elite 8300, which is aimed squarely at large businesses with IT-friendly tools like TPM, Intel's vPro technology and remote management via LANdesk. The Compaq Pro 4300, meanwhile, targets small businesses with its compact form factor and features like HP's Chassis Security Kit. The mid-size Compaq Pro 6300 aims to please both groups, with TPM protection, HP's BIOS solutions and the same 15-month life cycle program offered on the higher-end Elite 8300. Regardless of the model, you're looking at Ivy Bridge CPUs coupled with Intel's most up-to-date integrated graphics. Expect the 6300 and 8300 to land on June 4th, priced starting at $579 and $679, respectively. You'll have to wait a bit longer for the 4300, though: it'll arrive in Asia on the 22nd, and make its way to the US sometime this fall. As for those monitors, HP's introducing one with a touchscreen, and another more nondescript model. Starting with the former, the Compaq L2206tm has a 21.5-inch (1920 x 1080) multitouch display with a VGA port, two USB 2.0 sockets and DVI output with HDCP support. Meanwhile, the Compaq LA2405x has a 24-inch, 1080p screen, along with VGA, DVI and DisplayPort output -- not to mention, a pair of USB 2.0 ports. Either way, they both have a 72 percent color gamut, 250-nit brightness level and viewing angles rated for 170 degrees across and 160 degrees vertical. The LA2405x is available today for $269, while the finger-friendly L2206tm is coming June 4th for $279. All those details and more in the press release after the break.
Perifoveal Display tracks head positioning, highlights changing data on secondary LCDs (hands-on)
If there's a large display as part of your workstation, you know how difficult it can be to keep track of all of your windows simultaneously, without missing a single update. Now imagine surrounding yourself with three, or four, or five jumbo LCDs, each littered with dozens of windows tracking realtime data -- be it RSS feeds, an inbox or chat. Financial analysts, security guards and transit dispatchers are but a few of the professionals tasked with monitoring such arrays, constantly scanning each monitor to keep abreast of updates. One project from the MIT Media Lab offers a solution, pairing Microsoft Kinect cameras with detection software, then highlighting changes with a new graphical user interface. Perifoveal Display presents data at normal brightness on the monitor that you're facing directly. Then, as you move your head to a different LCD, that panel becomes brighter, while changes on any of the displays that you're not facing directly (but still remain within your peripheral vision) -- a rising stock price, or motion on a security camera -- are highlighted with a white square, which slowly fades once you turn to face the new information. During our hands-on demo, everything worked as described, albeit without the instant response times you may expect from such a platform. As with most Media Lab projects, there's no release date in sight, but you can gawk at the prototype in our video just after the break.
High-res Mountain Lion art could point to Retina Macs in 2012
Apple developers test-driving the latest Mountain Lion (10.8) release may have noticed some higher-res graphics erroneously popping up in "unexpected places," such as the double-size phone icon that appears alongside an audio chat invitation in Messages. One such dev reported his findings to Ars Technica, as you can see evidenced in the graphic above. This mild slip-up could imply that Apple plans to release Macs with high-density displays later this year, or, at the very least, that Mountain Lion will be Retina-ready. High-res support dates back to OS X Lion, which is reportedly equipped to play nice with HiDPI displays, should they eventually become available. Compatible icons are but a second piece of the puzzle, which could be completed to the tune of deliciously dense 2880 x 1800 (or higher) resolution 15-inch LCDs. Wouldn't you love to see that.
Acer brings five monitors to the US, prices range from $139 to $329
If that display up there looks familiar, it's because it's already won itself a fancy schmancy iF product design award. But as Prospero would say, 'tis new to thee -- at least if you live on this side of the Atlantic. Acer just announced it's bringing that very S23HL monitor to the US, along with four other models whose screens range in size from 20 to 27 inches. The S235HL is clearly the star of the show here, with a half-inch-thick frame and asymmetrical stand. (It has 1080p resolution and VGA / HDMI ports too, if you're interested in more than just the design.) Intrigued? You can expect to fork over $219 for it when it lands stateside next month. Moving on, Acer also has two other 23-inch, 1080p monitors -- the S230HL Abd and Abii -- with the former packing VGA and DVI ports, and the latter trading DVI for two HDMI sockets. Look for those in April for $169 and $189, respectively. Of the lot, the most expensive is the 27-inch S271HL, a 27-inch, 1080p monitor with DVI, HDMI and a VESA mount. You can snag one now for a cool $329. Last but not least, if you're on a tighter budget there's the 20-inch S200HL, which has a more modest 1600 x 900 resolution, along with VGA and DVI ports. That's on sale now for $139. More info on all of these in the PR after the break, though we're pretty sure we passed on all the pertinent details already.
Samsung Series 9 monitor and all-in-one eyes-on
After spotting a powered-off Series 9 display at a CES press event earlier this week, we told you we'd revisit it if we could actually show you that 27-inch, 2560 x 1440 panel in all its billion-color glory. Well, folks, here she is. Samsung's first PLS display for the consumer market is arriving in March or April for $1,199, and is arriving with a refreshed design that trades last year's slick surfaces for an aluminum base. We'll let those hands-on photos speak for themselves, but hopefully from where you're sitting you can still appreciate those wide viewing angles, deep blacks and rich colors.And what of last year's Series 9 monitor? Samsung recycled the glossy, asymmetrical design, added a slot-loading Blu-ray drive and turned it into a high-end all-in-one. The 27-inch display has 1080p resolution, and the same kind of Ultra Clear panel Samsung uses in its televisions to make sure that glossy finish isn't too reflective. And though Samsung doesn't have too many specs to share, we know it has a quad-core Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a TV tuner and an unspecified AMD graphics card with 1GB of video memory. As you'd expect, it also comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard, the latter of which has some surprisingly cushy keys, given the island layout and all. No word on pricing or availability, though a Samsung rep told us the company has no plans to bring this stateside.Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
HP outs Compaq L2311c docking monitor, LV1911 and LV2011 budget displays
The last time HP unveiled a monitor it was chasing gamers looking for a little 3D on a budget, but this time around, it's got business users on the brain. Specifically, the kind of workers who spend a lot of time away from the office, or perhaps share a workspace with others. That's the idea behind the 23-inch Compaq L2311c Notebook Docking Monitor, which connects to laptops via USB. That same cable will also transmit video, though even HP will admit you'll get far better results if you use USB 3.0 instead of 2.0. Taking a tour of the monitor itself, you'll find a four-port USB hub and VGA socket, along with a 720p webcam, which should pair nicely with HP's bundled MyRoom software. The 1080p display is also adjustable, with 130mm of space to slide it up and down. At the lower end of the spectrum, HP also announced the LV1911 and LV2011, a pair of 18.5- and 20-inch monitors, both of which forgo niceties like a webcam or USB hub. Either way, the resolution is low, given the spacious screen sizes: 1366 x 768 for the 18.5-incher, and 1600 x 900 for the 20-inch number. The smaller LV1911 will arrive stateside in March for $125, while the LV2011 will go on sale next month for $135. As for the L2311c docking monitor, it'll cost $319, and be available in the US, Japan and other Asian markets later this month.
LG gets ready for CES with a new gang of IPS monitors
It looks like LG couldn't wait until next month's CES to share its very latest selection of monitors. They're all IPS screens, and include the D43 3D monitor, which offers a conversion mode from 2D images and a 3D hotkey. It's joined by the 27-inch, slim-bezeled DM92 and the DM82; a 23-incher with built-in seven-watt speakers. The DM52 straddles both sizes and will be up for grabs alongside the rest of LG's new display family starting February. Monitor mavens can consult the press release below.
LG updates eye-tracking, glasses-free 3D displays, learns to love the hyphen
We hope you're not too attached to that 20-inch DX2000 you got from LG back in July. (You did rush out and buy one, right?) 'Cause the Korean manufacturer has just updated its line of eye-tracking, glasses-free 3D displays with the 25-inch DX2500! Just like its smaller sibling, the DX2500 has a parallax barrier over the screen and an embedded camera for tracking head and eye movement. As a person shifts around the monitor it dynamically adjusts the image to (at least theoretically) maintain the best possible 3D effect. The screen also does on-the-fly 2D to 3D conversion. The DX2500 is shipping now in Korea for 1.3 million won (about $1,556) and should be available globally some time early in 2012. Check out the full PR after the break.
HP embraces this 3D thing, outs 2311gt monitor and second-gen Wireless TV Connect
In case you haven't noticed, HP's really pushing this newfangled 3D thing right now. In addition to the TouchSmart 620, its first 3D desktop, the outfit just announced the 2311gt monitor, along with its second-generation Wireless TV Connect box, which now streams 3D content. Starting with the display, you've got a a 23-inch, 1080p panel that uses Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology to create 3D visuals by aligning every other row of pixels with the left or right eye. It's a passive technology and indeed, we came away from our brief eyes-on with the impression that the 3D rendering isn't as convincing as what you'll get on the TouchSmart 620 and its active shutter glasses. Still, HP says when it comes to viewing there's a sweet spot of 20 to 30 inches from the screen, and we have to admit we got the sharpest view from that vantage point. Also, HP threw in Cyberlink's PowerDVD software for 2D-to-3D conversion, which makes this a potentially tempting deal. Moving on, the Wireless TV Connect box now streams 1080p movies in 3D, and HP claims to have lowered its latency, especially compared to Intel Wireless Display. Look for it in December with a $180 price tag. As for you, gamers, that 2311gt monitor will ring in at a reasonable $299 and go up for grabs mañana. %Gallery-137814%
Intel: Ivy Bridge GPU to support 4K resolutions
Color us unsurprised that Ivy Bridge is destined to be faster and smaller than its predecessor, but unbeknownst to us is an interesting tidbit concerning the upcoming architecture's GPU. The revamp will support resolutions in excess of 4K (topping out at a maximum of 4,096 x 4,096) -- a sizable jump from the WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) limitation of its Sandy Bridge's forebearer -- opening the door to all sorts of resolution independent goodness. Guess that means you won't need a discrete GPU in the future to power that bodacious (but pricey) pro-level display. Have a peek in the links below if you're hungry for more.
HP goes display crazy, unveils eight new models, four IPS panels (hands-on)
HP may not have much going on when it comes to cellphones and tablets at the moment, but the company is hardly resting on its laurels. As if to prove it's still got a bit of fire in its corporate belly, it unleashed a total of eight new displays today (nine, if you count the updated HP rp5800 Retail System). The trio of digital signage models, including the 47-inch multitouch LD4720tm, probably aren't of much interest to you, but the four new ZR series Performance Displays and the more budget friendly LE2202x Essential display are worth at least a quick glance. The LE model is an LED backlit, 1,920 x 1,080 monitor with 21.5-inches of real estate and a 5ms response time. The ZR line are all IPS displays, ranging in size from 20 to 27-inches, with a resolution of 1,600 x 900 at the low end and up to 2,560 x 1,440 for the ZR2740w. The 2740 also sports the ability to display over one billion colors, while the three other models make do with just 16.7 million. The ZR2040w, ZR2240w and ZR2440w ZR2740w are available now for $189, $289 and $425 $729 respectively, while the ZR2740w ZR2440w is expected to follow in October for $729 $425. Those with less demanding eyes and occupations will be able to grab the LE2202x on September 19th for $179. Check out the galleries below, as well as the PR after the break. Update: Our apologies, it's the ZR2440w that won't be shipping till october. Dante Cesa contributed to this report. %Gallery-133662% %Gallery-133706%
Iiyama introduces XB2472HD-B and X2775HDS-B VA-based desktop displays
Japanese monitor maker Iiyama just blessed the market with a new pair of panels sporting a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 8ms response and a special ECO mode that reduces power consumption by up to 60-percent. The 24-inch XB2472HD-B and 27-inch X2775HDS-B both rely on an LED-backlit VA display (better than your bargain LCD, but not quite as nice as an IPS display) and have your standard trio of HDMI, DVI and VGA inputs. The primary difference between the two screens is the 24-incher's slightly higher brightness (300cd/m2 versus 250cd/m2) and the 27-inch model's 4-port USB hub and integrated speakers. The XB2472HD-B should start shipping by the end of the month for ¥24,800 ($323) with the X2775HDS-B to follow in September for around ¥34,800 ($453).
Kanex ships dual-link DVI-to-Mini Displayport Adapter
Already living the high life with a swank Mini Displayport monitor as your daily? That's all fine and dandy, but what happens when your desolate friends come over with machines that only tote DVI? That's where an adapter like Kanex's C247DL comes in. But unlike other adapters we've spied before, the company's latest is dual-link, allowing you get your groove on with displays that boast resolutions greater than 1920 x 1200. It also sports a USB port, giving you full control of say, we dunno, the speakers and iSight camera of Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display? At $149 it isn't cheap, but can you really put a price on friendship?
