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Sling Monitor 150 hits the FCC
We caught our first glimpses of the Sling Monitor 150 placeshifting display at CES 2009, but it only got an official launch at this year's show, and now it looks like it's getting even closer to store shelves with an appearance at the FCC for some RF testing action. We've always been intrigued by the 15-inch 720p display that can stream HD over WiFi, but until a cable or satellite operator actually deploys some of those hot SlingLoaded set-top boxes this thing isn't going to do anyone too much good.
Vodafone 150 lays claim to 'world's cheapest phone' title, ST-Ericsson works on thrifty 3G
There are only two possible reasons for why a gadget freak like you would want a cheap phone: you're either a very sensible person (who probably got mugged once), or you're saving up for the phone of your life. Oh, who are we kidding? We all want a nice phone for next to nothing, right? The legendary Motorola MOTOFONE came close, but check out these new bad boys -- the sub-$15 Vodafone 150 and the sub-$20 250, produced by TCL. Fine, they may look more like toys than your everyday eye candy, but you do get five hours of battery, SMS, two games on that mini monochrome screen, and even an LED torch on the back -- and what's more, the lowly 150 is claiming the holy grail "world's cheapest phone" title that every manufacturer with an interest in emerging markets would kill to own. For an extra $5 there's even a larger screen in color (!), not to mention FM radio. If you want one, you better start flying walking to either India, Turkey or Africa where the phones will be launched over the next few weeks, or you can just gaze at Fonehome's hands-on video of the 150 after the break. On a similar topic, ST-Ericsson has launched the U6715 mobile platform with 7.2Mbps HSPA modem for Linux-based OSes (Android and MeeGo, to name a couple), and expects participating manufacturers to deliver sub-€100 (about $137) smartphones in the first half of 2010. Apparently, the trick is to use "structurally-less expensive silicon, without compromising the end user experience." With a 1000mAh battery, the platform will deliver up to 40 hours to musical entertainment -- twice that of the Nexus One with 1400mAh -- and up to seven hours of 3G talk time on one charge. Pretty sweet at first blush, except there's no mention of what the CPU would be clocked at. Regardless, all we want is some smooth video playback from the "elegant and powerful multimedia engine" -- is that too much to ask?
DISH Network pulls up 30 stations short of 150 HD channels goal
It was a valiant effort, it really was, but unless DISH Network pulls 30 channels out of its back pocket this afternoon, it will fall short of its 150 HD channel goal. If you'll recall, the satcaster proudly proclaimed that it would be offering 150 high-def channels before the year's end, and with just hours to go (in this part of the world, anyway) before 2009 begins, it looks like failure is in sight. Now, there's nothing at all wrong with 120 high-definition stations -- we mean, hordes of cable subscribers would do unfathomable things for that many options -- but it's certainly good to call DISH on the rug in order to get those extra 30 out on the double. Let's make a deal, DISH -- you provide the remainder to the people within 30 days or so, and we'll pretend you meant before Chinese New Year.
Panasonic IFA 2008 plasma prototypes: super thin, super green, super big
Panasonic's welcoming you to the future of plasma HDTV, starting along with the stunning 150-inch 4K plasma, that is, surprisingly enough bigger than its old 103-inch model (shocking, we know) leading to the debut of three "super thin" plasma prototypes measuring 24.7mm deep in 50-inch and, for what it claims is the first time, 58- and 65-inch sizes that also include Wireless HD. One-fourth the thickness of current Panasonic models and one-half the weight combined with no wires leads Panasonic to believe we'll be able to reorganize the living room shortly, without silly mounting issues and need to run cables. If that fails to inspire, how about a 42-inch prototype that claims twice the luminance efficiency and the same brightness as its current 42-inch 1080p model while only sipping half the power -- if that's a concern. Check out more pics after the break.
Panasonic showing a 150-inch plasma at CES?
The CES game of HDTV one-upsmanship is officially on, as Matsushita (Panasonic) is apparently planning to bring a 150-inch plasma to that epic Las Vegas tradeshow in January. According to The Yomiuri Shimbun's sources, the prototype PDP is expected to launch in 2009 with a price that "greatly exceeds" the largest model currently available, measuring a mere 103-inches. Anyone want to guess when we'll hear about a 151-inch screen from Sharp or Samsung?
Medison Celebrity, $150 of Linux laptop for the people
Apparently you don't need to be a non-profit crazy, or nab few million pre-orders, to sell a laptop for $150 (or maybe you do, see update below). Medison, a Swedish consulting company, has just unveiled its Medison Celebrity laptop, which sports standard hardware, a 14-inch WXGA screen, an optimized Fedora Linux install, and a downright criminal $150 pricetag. Sure, you're not going to be launching Crysis on this thing anytime soon, with a 1.5GHz Celeron processor, 256MB of RAM, and VIA PN800 integrated graphics, but the casual user should find plenty to keep them occupied, and there's room for Windows XP if you want to pony up for a license -- which at retail costs more than the laptop itself. There's 40GB of storage, a CD / DVD combo drive, 802.11g WiFi, and even what looks to be a built-in webcam in the pictures. These'll be shipping in the US and Europe in 4-6 weeks. Oh, and in case it hasn't sunk in yet: $150.Update: The more we look into this one, the more it looks like a scam, with an oh-so-tiny air of believability -- perhaps just wishful thinking. Check out comments for the ongoing investigation, but at the moment we're thinking guilty until proven innocent.[Thanks, Jakob]
A Wii $150?
In this week's edition of Way Too Good To Be True, we bring you ... the $150 Wii! Vibe magazine (a bastion of gaming information) listed the Wii's price in their latest issue and it's got the fanboys all abuzz. Who knows? It may not be too far off. There is a long and glorious tradition of magazines "slipping" and letting information loose before they were supposed to do so. You'd think that by now, publishers might have mastered that whole street date and timing issue. $150 does seem a little low, but it's long been the bottom of the theoretical price range. Nintendo is working overtime to snag as big a market share as possible this year, so we're not ruling anything out , not even a possibility as delicious as this one. Expect more rumors, the crazier the better, over the next few days. After all, after September 14, there shouldn't be many more, right? Because we'll know. If we don't, we fully expect riots in the streets.
