monitors
Latest
Dell trots out some new touchscreen monitors, prices start at $250
We hardly expect you to know Dell's monitor lineup inside-out, so here's a quick primer: Dell already sells this thing called the S2240T, a 21.5-inch display with full HD resolution and support for 10-point multi-touch. Well, today Dell's expanding the family by adding a 23-inch version (the P2314T) and a 27-inch one (the P2714T). Like that current monitor we told you about, they both have 1,920 x 1,080 touchscreens and a stand that allows the panel to lie at a near-flat 60-degree angle. The only hitch is that a bigger screen also equates to a bigger price: whereas the existing 21-inch model costs $350, the 23- and 27-inch versions are going for $450 and $700, respectively. If all of the above are too pricey, Dell also introduced a lower-end 20-inch monitor called the E2014T. That also has a touchscreen, but it only tilts 5 degrees forward and backward , and the resolution tops out at 1,600 x 900. You can find that now for $250 in North and Latin America, with Europe and Asia to follow on September 26th. Interested? You'll find some hands-on shots below, along with a few extra technical details in the press release after the break.
ASUS' 31.5-inch 4K monitor is up for pre-order for an introductory $3,500
A mere month after ASUS unveiled its 31.5-inch 4K monitor to the world, and the humbly-named PQ321 is already available for pre-order on Amazon, Newegg and TigerDirect. As a reminder, the Ultra HD display boasts a jaw-dropping 3840 x 2160-pixel 10-bit RGB (a billion colors) IGZO panel with LED backlight, 176-degree viewing angles, a maximum of 350 cd/m2 in brightness and 8ms GTG response time. Built-in stereo speakers sweeten the package, as does a 3.5mm audio jack, DisplayPort connectivity and dual HDMI inputs. Oh, and did we mention it's also apparently the thinnest 4K monitor on the market at only 35mm thick? However, you'll have to pay a pretty penny for all that awesomeness: it has an introductory price of $3,499.99. That's about $300 less than what was announced a month ago, but it's still not exactly cheap. The PQ321 is set for a July 16th release date, so you still have a couple weeks to bribe relatives, rob a bank or sell off any unwanted organs.
ASUS shows off new touchscreen, USB and gaming monitors at Computex (eyes-on)
We came to ASUS' Computex booth to see the new 4K monitors, but it turns out the company had a lot of other (albeit slightly less exciting) models on display too. First up (starting with the stuff you can actually buy), the company is showing off a 15-inch USB-powered monitor -- a first for ASUS. In fact, the company has teased this guy before, but with a lower-res 1,366 x 768 display. Now, we're told a 1080p version is also on the way, with the 1,366 x 768 one coming in July for $159, and the full HD model shipping in August for around $209. Either way, you get a matte, anti-glare panel, and the whole thing weighs in at less than 800g (1.8 pounds). And, as is customary for monitors like this, it comes with a carrying case that doubles as a stand. Moving on, we saw two touchscreen monitors (one 19.5 inches, the other 23.6), both of which have 1080p screens -- and some fairly thick bezels. The big differences, so far as we can tell, are that the bigger version has an HDMI panel and IPS, whereas the smaller guy makes do with a lowlier TN panel. No word on price, or even whether this will go on sale in the US, though an ASUS rep did confirm it'll reach select markets sometime in Q4. Wrapping up, ASUS also outed a tri-panel gaming setup, with three 27-inch, 1080p IPS displays. In particular, the company is touting the skinny bezels. Are they skinny enough not to distract gamers, though? Check out our hands-on photos and judge for yourself.
ASUS' 31.5-inch 4K monitor priced at $3,799, 39-inch version coming in Q3 (eyes-on)
Yeah, we want one too. Here at Computex, ASUS is showing off its new 31.5-inch 4K monitor, which we just learned will cost $3,799. (Oh come now, don't get all sticker-shocked on us.) The photos below speak for themselves, really, but suffice to say, the combination of that 3,840 x 2,160, 140-ppi panel and that matte, anti-glare finish make for some stunning images. And because the bezels are so thin, photos more or less extend from one end of the screen, uninterrupted. Still think you'll have room to spare after taking into account this monitor's big footprint? ASUS is also prepping a 39-inch version with mostly the same specs (except for pixel density, obviously). We've got pictures of that guy too, though we still don't know how much it'll cost. Look for the 31.5-inch model to ship in June, with its big brother following sometime in Q3. And if a $3,800 monitor isn't in the cards, well, that's what hands-on galleries are for.%Gallery-190223% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Ultimate Ears intros Vocal Reference Monitors to save singers from strain
Believe it or not, few musicians' in-ear reference monitors are tuned to emphasize voice; singers might have to compete for attention with wailing guitars and drums inside their own heads. Rather than risk artists shouting themselves hoarse, Ultimate Ears has launched its Vocal Reference Monitors. Separate versions for men and women focus on their typical vocal ranges and narrow the frequency range to between 90Hz and 8kHz, cutting out the more extreme sounds of instruments in the mix. The $999 price rules out the Vocal line for most garage bands -- it might, however, be perfect for pros whose screaming isn't part of the act.
NEC revamps its MultiSync lineup with new 24-inch IPS monitor
NEC's MultiSync monitor lineup is well-known for offering a slew of versatile choices -- as such, this year's CES isn't too bad a time for the Lavie creator to introduce a new member of the family. The newly announced 24-inch LED EA244WMi looks pretty good on paper, boasting a 1920 x 1200 resolution with IPS technology and a 16:10 aspect ratio, plus there's also built-in speakers four USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, DVI-D, VGA and, similar to that EA231WMi, a DisplayPort. Naturally, NEC has added plenty of its own customization options to the rather adjustable monitor, including ControlSync to help with multi-screen setups, ECO Mode and a "smart" sensing feature which adjusts depending on "ambient light and human sensors." The EA244WMi will go on sale later this month for $379; in the meantime, we have a press shot gallery after the break to hold you over until the monitor eventually hits shelves.
Switched On: The fork, the ficus and the flandoodle
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. As sensors and crowdsourcing give us ever more granular data into the norms and deviations of the world around us, enterprising developers and hardware companies have trotted out various combinations of atoms and bits to package that awareness, sometimes paired with recommendations, into products. Back in March, Switched On discussed a number of Kickstarter projects (all of which have now shipped) that extended sensor-based monitoring and notification to remote locations (provided there was WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity). Where does it end? Three recent product announcements enable us to know more about things that we might not ever have thought to track in the past.
Kyle Kinkade speaks at MacTech on the power of AirPlay
Kyle Kinkade, you may remember, is one of the original early developers of Tap Tap Revenge (one of the biggest hits of the App Store's first generation of games). He was last seen working on Bartleby's Book of Buttons, a beautiful and interactive book for the iPad. This week at the MacTech IT and developers' conference here in Los Angeles, Kinkade took the stage to talk about AirPlay, a technology that he says has some major ramifications and consequences for both Apple and the entire interactive entertainment industry going forward. "By 2014," Kinkade said of AirPlay integration, and multiscreen interaction, "this will be a very common thing." Kinkade began by showing off some examples of AirPlay integration, and how developers had learned to use the service so far. The core function of AirPlay is simply to send a video signal from your Apple device up to a larger screen, either out to a television or to your computer. Apps like Netflix and the TED talks app, for example, are simply kicking out video to the larger screen. But Kinkade also pointed out that AirPlay is being used more and more in other ways as well: Some games are using AirPlay to send a larger signal to then be controlled by the handheld device, and other apps (including Kinkade's own Bartleby book) are actually creating two different experiences, whether you're playing on just the smaller screen, or with the large screen also showing other context and information. In fact, said Kinkade, lots of AirPlay functionality is actually not just being shown on a bigger TV or a computer screen, but on a full 5.1 home theater system. Developers, he said, shouldn't just think of AirPlay as a fun gimmick to see iPhone graphics on the big screen, but they should start thinking about it as a larger experience, as an entire second app or maybe even as the primary function of all kinds of apps, from games to productivity apps to anything else. Devs should not only think about sound as they design, and "do more than mirror" information on both screens, but they should "consider multiple dual screen paradigms" as they code, realizing that users are going to be appreciating and even expecting functionality like this going forward. For his own app, Kinkade says he's not yet seeing anywhere near a majority of users investing in AirPlay, but the numbers are growing, from about 5% of users a year ago, to more than 11% at the current time. Kinkade also said that as other "second screen" technologies get more and more popular (like Microsoft's Project Glass functionality, and Nintendo's Wii U game console), AirPlay will have a chance to really lead the industry. "When it's no longer nerdy to have a screen in your hands as you play a game," said Kinkade, then AirPlay will become hugely important. And finally, Kinkade suggested that Apple was thinking along these lines already. "Apple's taking AirPlay pretty seriously," said Kinkade. "You just don't know it yet." The company has been adding more and more functionality to AirPlay already (including the mirroring function), and Kinkade says that when Apple does reveal its final plans for AirPlay, developers already familiar with how it works and how it can be used will have a distinct advantage. His talk was definitely convincing: AirPlay is already a very fascinating technology, and it's easy to see how Apple, developers, and eventually users will have lots of fun and useful ways to take advantage of it in the future.
Acer outs T232HL and T272HL touchscreen displays, on sale this month for $500-plus
It must be Big Touchscreen Day over at Acer headquarters. In addition to announcing a pair of all-in-one desktops, the company is trotting out two touch-enabled monitors, available in 23- and 27-inch sizes. Though both have 1080p resolution, the 23-inch T232HL uses IPS technology to achieve wide viewing angles, while the larger T272HL has a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel. Otherwise, the specs are near-identical: a 100 million to 1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time and a trio of inputs that includes VGA, DVI and HDMI. As for design, you'll notice they have a similar industrial design as the new all-in-ones, with thin frames, edge-to-edge displays and a see-through stand. Both will be available this month, with the 23-incher going for $500 and the 27-inch model selling for $700.
AOC outs 'borderless' 27-inch IPS monitor, available now for $349
Not to be outdone by ViewSonic's recent introduction of the 27-inch VX2770Smh-LED display, AOC's coming out with a large IPS monitor of its own. The i2757fh is being touted as a "borderless" panel, and the reason behind that claim is its slim 2mm bezel. Aside from those narrow characteristics, AOC's new 27-inch monitor also boasts a decent 1920 x 1080 resolution with 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 5ms response time, two HDMI ports and, naturally, the great viewing angles you get with an IPS unit. As far as pricing goes, AOC's slapping a not-too-shabby $349 tag on the i2757fh, but there is a Best Buy-only deal which knocks 50 bucks off of the original MSRP. Hit the break for an additional angled shot as well as official PR.
NEC announces business-minded edge-lit LED displays with inbuilt tuners
Lest we forget NEC doesn't just make Ultrabooks, the company recently announced its new E series of commercial-grade displays. They include a 32-inch E323, 42-inch E423, 46-inch E463, and a 55-inch E553, all of which are edge-lit LED models that are designed for educational, enterprise and retail use. All models offer full HD resolution, three HDMI inputs, built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM analog / digital tuners, integrated speakers, and more. They'll be available in November for $419, $649, $829, and $1,279 respectively, and those already tempted can learn more in the PR just after the break.
Slickdeals' best in tech for October 1st: Sony NEX-5N kit, SanDisk memory cards and Ivy Bridge processors
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Well friends, with a new month comes a new batch of links that are ready to accept your gadget dollars. A Sony NEX-5N kit tops the list sporting a nice discount and memory cards, Ivy Bridge processors, a 14-inch ThinkPad and a 23-inch Acer display round out the group. There's a lot to digest this time around, so we'll let you get right to it. The best part? No coupon codes or rebate forms to fuss with today.
Slickdeals' best in tech for September 24th: Dell UltraSharp display, 50-inch LG HDTV and a Canon Rebel T3 bundle
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Sometimes your gadget needs are a bit more diverse. For those who are in need of devices that do more than enhance your current computer, this round of links may be just what you're looking for. From living room speakers to a 50-inch plasma HDTV, there's a duo that could make football season more enjoyable. If you're home entertainment setup is already covered, perhaps a new 24-inch display or a digital SLR kit could get some use in your arsenal. Enough with the chatter, though, head on past the break to take a look -- but keep a careful eye on those discount codes and rebates.
Dell releases new S Series monitors with edge-to-edge glass, IPS panels
Dell's built quite a reputation for delivering solid monitors at reasonable prices, and it's now expanded its offerings in a fairly big way with no less than five new S Series models, some of which boast edge-to-edge glass and/or IPS panels. On the top end is the 27-inch S2740L, which has the most connectivity options of the lot (DVI, VGA, HDMI and a pair of USB ports) and, of course, the highest price tag at $400. From there, things drop to $300 with the 24-inch S2440L (the only non-IPS model of the lot), and go all the way down to $200 for the 21.5-inch S2240M -- the three lower-end models ditch the edge-to-edge glass but still retain minimal bezels. Unlike some of the company's higher-end UltraSharp models, though, all five monitors have a 16:9 aspect ratio instead of 16:10, and you'll get a standard 1920 x 1080 resolution regardless of the size you choose. Complete specs for each can be found at the links below.
HP's 24-inch x2401 monitor is just 11mm thick, arrives in November for $249
It wouldn't be a seasonal HP product launch without dozens of PCs and at least one monitor, right? This go-round, the company is launching the x2401, a 24-inch, 1080p display with a slim, 11mm-thick frame. Though the last two monitors we saw from HP were IPS, this one makes use of MVA technology to help ensure wide viewing angles. If you're looking to add a display to your setup, this one has a DisplayPort socket and HDMI-in. (You can also mount it to the wall, if that's your bag.) Expect it to arrive on November 7th for $249. Additionally, HP will sell a business-oriented version, the L2401x, the main difference being that the commercial version has a three-year warranty, instead of one. Not bad, considering the business version costs only ten bucks more.
Slickdeals' best in tech for September 17th: 30-inch HP monitor, motherboard combo and SSDs
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Still need to make some improvements to a machine you've got lying around after last week's group of component offerings? If so, here's another handful of discounted tech ready to meet your eager mouse clicks. For those not looking to alter their current setup, a 30-inch HP display gets quite the handsome price reduction as well. Don't get too comfortable, because these bad boys will be gone before you know it. Head on past the break to get started but just remember to include the requisite rebate forms should you need 'em.
LG's EA93 29-inch display features 21:9 aspect ratio, we take a look at IFA (video)
It's alive! We spotted a powered-off version of LG's latest monitor earlier in the week, but now it's loaded up with content and ready to make its formal debut. LG's gone big -- very big -- with some of the showings at its IFA booth. But in addition to the massive 84-inch UD 3D TV and the 55-inch OLED HD TV, it's also showcasing some more modest displays. The company announced its 21:9 aspect ratio monitor, the 29-inch EA93, just prior to IFA. The IPS monitor boasts a WQHD resolution (2,560 x 1,080 pixels) and supports four-way split-screen view. The wide-screen aspect ratio is the same you'll find at a movie theater, making it an ideal choice for viewing Blu-ray flicks, and LG's framing the EA93 as a choice setup for photographers and other multimedia pros, too. LG had a half dozen of the displays on hand at its IFA 2012 booth playing content in a loop. One station demonstrated cinema playback with a trio of recent film trailers, while other demos included a stock-tracking layout, side-by-side browser windows and the Windows 8 screen you see above. Speaking of that latest Microsoft OS, the EA93 is perfectly suited for viewing extended layouts, giving you direct access to even more tiles simultaneously. We couldn't accurately judge sharpness, as the pre-recorded screens didn't appear at full resolution, though colors did appear bright and accurate. The chrome stand complemented the black finish nicely, while a multitude of ports on the back enabled USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI connectivity. You can grab an up-close look at both sides of the 21:9 monitor in our gallery below.%Gallery-163865%
ViewSonic announces a duo of budget-friendly LED monitors
As gorgeous as huge, expensive monitors are, most situations just don't call for the inches or wallet-dents associated with today's luxury screens. With this in mind, and barely a breath after outing its $299, 27-inch LED offering, ViewSonic is back with two budget displays from the VA12 series. First up is the VA2212m-LED, which rocks a 1080p widescreen, 21.5-inch panel, 10,000,000:1 contrast Ratio, DVI and VGA inputs, as well as a pair of 2W integrated speakers. Its little brother the VA1912m-LED shares most of the same genes, but with an 18.5-inch, 1,366 x 768 resolution screen. Running with ViewSonic's eco-friendly theme, both mercury-free LED monitors also boast the eco-mode feature for low power consumption and a longer life. If either of the new displays are grabbing your attention, you'll be able to pick up the $149 VA2212m-LED imminently, with the $125 VA1912m-LED hitting North American retailers in mid-August.
LG outs IPS7 Series monitors: 23 or 27-inch IPS, minimal bezel, MHL mobile link, 8-bit 1080P
LG has announced a new series of IPS monitors, the 23- and 27-inch IPS7 series, with a mishmash of specs aimed at mobile, HD and professional users. Foregoing WQHD resolution in favor of plain jane 1920 x 1080, the panels feature a so-called Cinema Screen design with a 1.2mm (.025-inch) bezel, half-inch depth, a mobile high-definition (MHL) link, fast response times and color calibration software for professionals. If it's trying to tap the pro market, the monitors lack some features like dual-link 2560 x 1440 resolution and 10-bit, 1.07 billion color graphics like the Dell U2711 or HP ZR2740w, for instance -- but then they could turn out to be considerably cheaper than those rivals. We'll just have to wait to find out the pricing.
ViewSonic outs 27-inch VX2703mh-LED monitor with 1080p, SRS Premium Sound
Some would say monitors aren't anywhere nearly as exciting as something like, say, a shiny new Galaxy S III or Google's novel slate, the popularly priced Nexus 7 -- but, you know, sometimes you just need to get some actual work done. And for those of you who are crazy about relatively large monitors, ViewSonic's unveiled its 27-inch VX2703mh-LED offering. Priced at $299, the ClearMotiv II display boasts a decent 1920 x 1080 resolution with a 10,000,000:1 MEGA Dynamic Contrast Ratio, built-in SRS Premium Sound speakers, as well as DVI, VGA and HDMI ports. Equally important, the outfit's touting the screen's eco-friendly features, with a mercury-free LED backlighting, an ECO-Mode setting and, naturally, a power-saving feature to help keep that monthly electricity bill to a minimum. The VX2703mh-LED is expected to hit North American shelves later this month; in the meantime, you can check the gallery after the break to gaze at it from mostly every angle. %Gallery-160445%
