To be candid, the TV remote hasn’t changed all that much in the last 20 years.  At the end of the day all you really need to be able to do is dial in a channel, increase the volume and occasionally mess with the set’s settings.  But as the TV becomes increasingly more complicated, such as being able to surf the Net and access a variety of content online, using a standard remote would be an infuriating experience.  LG attempted to address this quandry with their Magic Motion remote and Vizio is hip to the game by including a Bluetooth QWERTY remote.  Samsung ain’t feeling either of these designs and instead has opted for a new remote that blends the traditional remote control with a mouse pad.

The remote’s name is unknown, but it will be included with TVs released later this year.  The top portion incorporates a touchpad for navigating the TV’s menu system, while a set of dedicated buttons that sit adjacent to the touchpad allow users to change the volume and flip through channels.  For those seeking a less traditional approach, Samsung has added a microphone to their remote, letting viewers speak commands to their TV.  Samsung has used a combination of Bluetooth and IR, which means it will work with TVs and hopefully Blu-ray players such as the PS3.

Right now there is no word on a price or availability.

A laptop screams convenience as an on-the-go device that  fits as comfortably under your arm as it does inside a backpack or carrying case. However, a laptop falls short in the viewing area department –the “real estate” provided by the screen. This creates the dilemma of having to pick and choose which applications to leave on the screen and when, so as to avoid overlapping windows. Those with desktop PCs can obviate this problem by adding a second monitor. But having to lug a monitor around with the laptop, not to mention needing an AC outlet, sort of ruins the whole “portability” idea.

That’s no longer the case if you’ve got one of the new breed of USB-powered LCD monitors. AOC presents its 16-inch, LED backlit monitor as a lightweight addition to a laptop’s screen at a mere 2.5 pounds. But the best part is the loss of the power adaptor — the AOC monitor gets both its data connection and its power directly from the laptop’s USB socket.

While resembling a tablet from the front, don’t be shocked to find that there’s a great deal more depth to this monitor compared to that of an iPad or Android tablet. Part of that depth consists of an embedded tab that pulls out for standing the monitor upright: the tab rotates for use either horizontally or vertically. And sensibly there are rubber tabs attached which both indicate which way is up as well as provide protection from scratching the surface underneath it. But since there’s no protective case included, even though the screen is glass, it could get scratched if mistreated. I would recommend getting a tablet carrying case for it as a safety precaution (you have one for your laptop anyway, right?).

The finish is a flat black, although looking at the screen while holding the monitor might cause some to think there is a very glossy finish. This is misleading, since a glare-resistant coating is touted as one of the features. In general use, complaints about glare will be minimal, if at all.

The rest of the contents consist of a moderate length USB cable (one end being the mini-USB plug that fits into the very unobtrusive socket on the monitor’s back, behind the pull out tab), and a CD that installs the device driver into a PC. Note: it’s always a good idea to check out the manufacturer’s website’s “Support” to see if there might be an updated driver to use rather than the one that has been burned on disc. Since the Mac driver is only on the website, if you don’t go there, you might not think it works with an Apple computer (it does).

So after you installed the driver and rebooted, it’s just a matter of placing the monitor next to the laptop and connecting the two ends of the USB cable to their respective USB sockets when you want to use it (note: you’ll be connecting the monitor to the PC during the installation process as part of the procedure so it might already be connected). Should you be using a device, which has a low-powered USB output (unlikely these days), the second USB plug at one end of the cable will have to be inserted into a second USB socket. [AOC recommends attaching the monitor prior to turning the computer on, by the way]

With the laptop now active, the monitor now comes to life. At this point you’ll want to decide whether to “mirror” what is being seen on the main screen, or use it as an extended monitor. Setting this and other aspects of the monitor is done through the display options inside the PC laptop’s “Screen Resolution” (the monitor tops off at 1366 x 768 pixels). You can orient the monitor for “portrait” or “horizontal” viewing. Later you can access the settings through an icon in the System tray, using XP or Vista, or through a key press combination using Windows 7 (with Macs, a simple but dissimilar procedure applies to activate the monitor).

The monitor’s performance is somewhat dependent on the graphic card and processing power of the attached computer — no surprise there — but while you can use it in a similar manner to that of the main screen, it’s comparatively lower resolution could be disappointing to some. Certainly if you use it for static imaging and other applications where motion and detail is less prevalent, it’ll work fine (say thanks to the internal processing chip inside aiding in the processing of what is being displayed). As an example, I’d keep word processing on the main screen to avoid eye-strain and let videos play on the AOC. I didn’t encounter any screen refreshing issues that were visible to the eye, or any “flicker” or image smearing over a period of extended use. The high dynamic contrast ratio (50,000:1) is a far cry from the puny, early days of LCD and is extremely helpful when using a small monitor such as this one.

A final issue is that of the power drain derived from an extra monitor. Obviously the monitor will decrease the usable battery powering a laptop — unless it’s plugged in for power — but just how much depends on factors ranging from the charge of the battery, the kind of applications being run, etc. In general, it’s fair to say that the battery drain should be considered and noted over time as the monitor is used so as to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Editor’s Rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Great

Bottom Line: Having a second monitor provides more “real estate” when using a laptop, as well as allowing for a better segregation of applications in use. The lightweight nature and lack of power brick that is the standard of the AOC USB monitor, and this new breed of portable monitors in general, makes it well suited for traveling with you whether across the globe or in a coffee shop or bedroom.

Pros

• No need for a power plug
• Lightweight for portability
• Clear and bright display

Cons

• Somewhat “flimsy” construction compared to that of a tablet
• No protective case included
• Mac instructions a bit vague

3D displays have been pretty good over the past few years, though they are still rare. The first sets only released three years ago, and every year since has only seen two or three new models. In late 2011 ASUS released the first 27″ 3D monitor, the VG278H, which is the best thing for 3D. The only way to really improve the quality of your 3D gaming at home is to increase the size of your screen.

As far as monitors go, aside from built-in 3D Vision support, the VG278H is pretty bland. It has high-end specs like 400cd/m2 brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, internal speakers and a 2ms grey-to-grey response time, but that’s all powering a 1920×1080 resolution. For a 27″ panel, that’s pretty low, and it’s noticeable, especially if like me you have at least one other monitor. But let’s take an organized look at the display.

Hardware

As mentioned, this ASUS is a high-end gaming display. Response times are fast, the screen gets deathly bright, and the speakers are pretty good to boot. Not as good as the Playstation 3D Display‘s, mostly from muffled bass and some tinny highs, but otherwise good.

Let’s talk about screen resolution. Today, widescreen (16:9) is the standard for most PC displays, though few still sell as 16:10. My opinion on the matter is that 16:10 is better, and that if you’re going to have multiple displays, the best way to do it is to have them side by side vertically, so you get a 3600×1920 display, instead of 5760×1200. That’s just more sensical to me, and if that’s the case, why is it any different with two monitors? Especially for gaming.

That said, at 27″ most displays in the past have bumped up the resolution to 2560×1600 or 2560×1440, depending on the aspect ratio. The VG278H does neither, and likely for two reasons: reduced cost and less stressful for gaming. Because of how hard processing 3D is (or rather, how it basically requires twice the graphics computing power because it’s doubling the image), running a game in 3D is already twice as hard. Upping the display from 1080p, or even 1200p, to (in this widescreen case) 2560×1440 is a big step, one most gamers don’t go to.

There is an unwritten expectation from screen sizes, one that ASUS is disrupting under the guise of 3D. Acer will release their own 27″ 3D display as well, also 1080p. I don’t like this decrease in pixel density. It only works if players sit farther away from the display, and in this case, that doesn’t happen. I’ve tested a number of games in 3D (with more write-ups, like Skyrim, to come), and yes, sometimes pixels are visible. They’re more visible when not in-game, and impossible when playing in 3D, but dropping to 1080p isn’t progress. Keep the stupid widescreen, but leave the resolution where it belongs.

The VG278H has an HDMI 1.4, Dual-DVI and VGA port, as well as audio in and audio out. Menu navigation is conducted through four buttons, plus a preset button and power button. The buttons are all easy to press, but not nearly as simple as the touch-sensitive buttons on BenQ’s XL2420TX or Dell’s Alienware OptX from two years ago. There’s also a dedicated display switch between HDMI, DVI and VGA.

Finally there’s the Vision 2 built-in IR transceiver, which sits at the very top of the relatively small bezel. It’s adjustable about 40 degrees, which is very convenient for gamers who like to kick back and stay below the monitor.

Color Reproduction and 3D

I’ve tested the VG278H in a number of ways, including picture editing, vision-based benchmarks, everyday use, and gaming. Out of the box the VG278H is pretty accurate, and required minimal adjustment and calibration. As mentioned, the display gets uncomfortably bright, which is especially good for games. I tested all of Skyrim on the VG278H and even with Lightboost (built into the monitor) not active, at max brightness the active shutter glasses couldn’t drown out that much light. After 30 minutes my eyes were watering.

Video and game quality is great, but would be better if the display were glossy. Glossy screens are troublesome for a few reasons, mostly that they are highly reflective. I thought it might be a problem, especially while wearing reflective glasses, but as I found with both the Playstation 3D Display and the VG278H, that’s not the case. 3D gaming on the VG278H during daytime, however, was infinitely easier than on Sony’s display.

The built-in presets are also very well calibrated for their intended uses. Theater Mode is bright but manages colors very well except for a slight green hue (especially in darks), while game mode has slightly higher color saturation and vibrancy. With Skyrim, though there isn’t such incredible color in the game, the VG278H did help bring the world to life with color oversaturation and incredible brightness. And, of course, 3D and the larger 27″ size.

Image from PC World

Though in my rant above about regressing in screen density, with the VG278H I was able to really sit back and chill out while 3D gaming. The 22″ displays are too small and 24″ screens are big, but not enough to kick back with a gamepad. The 27″ is big enough to pull that office chair lever and lean back after a hard day’s work. That extra distance, of course, makes it more difficult to notice the lower screen density.

3D quality is also very solid, though that’s more of a software issue versus hardware. I noticed no screen slowdown when playing in 3D (except for occasional graphical hiccups, from the GPU strain). Built-in Lightboost is convenient, though I only found it helpful when playing in a room with plenty of sunlight.

The real benefit of the VG278H over other 3D displays specifically for 3D is the adjustable 3D Emitter. The 20 degrees of rotation is a huge improvement over the standalone emitter, which has to be set for however you’re sitting. For players like me who change how they sit based on the game, mood, or time of day, that’s a lot of hassle gone out the window.

Conclusion

For the retail price of $680 (available for as low as $620), including one set of 3D Vision 2 glasses (retail $150, available for around $70), the VG278H is an expensive panel, even at the lower prices. Then again, I haven’t found a single 3D display that can provide the same high-quality 3D gaming. There simply isn’t one. BenQ’s offering is still a 24″ panel, and we’ll have to wait and see how Acer’s upcoming 27″ competitor stacks up. But considering their last penny-pinching display, it may save on price but skimp out on quality. We’ll have to wait and see.

Right now, there is no better 3D display than the ASUS VG278H. It provides excellent picture quality straight out of the box, is easy to use, and provides almost all of the amenities one can hope for in a monitor. For the price, I’d have expected touch-sensitive buttons and a better swivel stand, which while adjustable tends to turn the whole stand instead of just the screen.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom Line: Excellent picture quality right out of the box. Very bright, very big, and with a built-in 3D emitter, very convenient.

Pros:

• Great picture quality
• Very bright, even in sunlight
• Larger size makes 3D gaming way more fun
• Swivel 3D emitter is a gift from the heavens

Remember that massively wide Vizio TVs we told you about that debuted at this year’s CES?  To be more specific we’re referring to Vizio’s 58-inch 3-D LED CinemaWide display.  It boasts a 21:9 aspect ratio, which mimics a movie theater’s aspect ratio.  That’s right, 16:9, which is the HDTV standard, is anything but cinema worthy.

Nevertheless, at the time that we told you about this set Vizio hadn’t announced a released date.  Now, there is no specific word on the larger of the three, the 71″, but we do know that the 58″ version will hit store shelves sometime in March for, wait for it…$3,499.99 and will include 4 pairs of 3D glasses.

Vizio says that the 50″ and 71″ versions of this set will arrive sometime in the latter half of this year, which will obviously cost less and more, respectively.   However, all sets will include Google TV, allowing consumers to surf the web, access Netflix, Pandora and a variety of other online services via the Net.

I’ve seen many TVs, but few have the simplicity, style, and dazzling high-quality picture as…a Playstation branded TV? Yes, you read that right. Not only is Sony’s first “for-gaming” TV crazy good, it’s an HD 3DTV for $500. I can’t remember the last time I played console games on a display that looked this good. The clarity, the accuracy in colors, the excellent backlight that only brightens the picture and not the screen…color me impressed.

It’s sad then that the only reason I can’t recommend it to everyone today is the tiny size and first-gen design quirks. Almost nothing else limits this brilliant TV.

Inside the Box

The Sony Playstation 3D Display a TV that doesn’t follow typical television nomenclature (Vizio VX32L, Sony Bravia XBR HX929, other terrible names that mean nothing to users.). Whoever started naming TV sets must have hated marketers, and this TV bucks that trend. Instead, the full name is too long. “Sony Playstation 3D Display” is too long. PSTV, or Playstation 3DTV would be far simpler and better. For the purposes of this review I’ll keep the name PSTV.

Out of the box, two realities immediately hit home: it’s a small TV and the TV is all you get. The PSTV is a 24” TV, as small as home TVs get. For comparison, most 24″ HDTVs are 720p and under $300. The PSTV is strange for it’s screen size; it’s a small TV but a large computer monitor. The integrated speakers are like elephant ears, and take up a lot of horizontal space. More importantly, the display itself is awfully small for a TV set, whether it’s for games or TV viewing. But more on screen size later.

When opening the box, users will find only three things: the PSTV, a set of 3D glasses, and the power cable. It really is as bare-bones as TVs go, which is good because Sony keeps things simple, but how about a remote? No remote is included and Sony currently doesn’t have one available (media controls are available through the Playstation 3 using a Bluetooth remote or controller). The PSTV does have an IR sensor, so universal remotes do work with the set.

Build and Design

The PSTV is slim, and surprisingly so. For a 1080p display, it crams all of the essentials while maintaining excellent picture quality. With a completely black coat remeniscient of the Playstation 2 design (the older finish, not the newer PS3 original glossy decal or updated gunmetal matte), and it looks great. Product shots provided by companies of their own products generally make those products look better than they actually do. In this case, Sony is dead on. The PSTV looks great, and on the whole it is really well designed.

But piece-by-piece, there are three major snags. The first is the lack of ports, or rather, the lack of a coaxial port. The PSTV includes two HDMI ports and Component ports, and that’s it. For a TV, this is a surprise. The only way to watch cable through the PSTV is to have an HD-ready cable box (which most of us still don’t have), or through your game console. My office cable box is SD-only, but I was able to watch streaming TV through my Xbox 360 (thanks to the Verizon IPTV app). Unfortunately TV streaming for the PS3 is still in its fledgling stages in the US.

The controls are also very oddly placed on the back right of the PSTV, and they are hell to reach. With no included remote this is especially tiresome. The menu system is designed with those poorly placed buttons in mind. It points to which button to press for what action, and the menu navigation is very fluid and easy to use, the best I’ve ever seen on a TV.

Picture and Audio Quality

As I said above, the picture quality is excellent. When I met with Sony representatives a few months back, they said the PSTV was completely a Playstation-branded initiative. Sony Electronics, which builds Bravia TVs (among many other things) didn’t make it. The focus was clearly on perfect picture quality, and they did a damn fine job. The only thing that really matters with any display is great visuals, and the PSTV nailed it. I’ve never seen a TV that looked this good for under $1,500.

The only problem I’ve found is the very glossy display, which because of the screen’s small size and how close I regularly sat in front of the TV to see it, compounded glare and reflections. The closer you are to a reflective surface the more reflections and glare you’ll see, and the PSTV is oh so guilty of the crime of reflection.

I am also very impressed with the backlight, which produces no lightbleed or oversaturation at any brightness. This is uncanny among both TVs and monitors, and damn amazing for an LCD panel. Colors are very accurate, and the framerate is consistently excellent. This is because of the 240Hz refresh rate, which seems incredible but is designed for two people simultaneously playing in 3D (more on that in ‘3D Quality’).

The built-in speakers produce adequate sound for a display of this size. I wouldn’t recommend them for serious gaming though. I regularly had trouble placing directional audio, and the sound in general was light and at higher pitches tinny. At higher volumes the sound cracks. For regular TV viewing or light gaming the built-in speakers are good, but more serious gaming or for watching movies I recommend using a dedicated 2.1 speaker set.

3D Quality

3D is unique on the PSTV because it uses Sony’s own developed technology called SimulView. SimulView displays two different images on the same screen for two different people to watch simultaneously, and each will only see the picture intended for them. It works by using the included (1) shutter glasses to only show half of the picture. That’s why the PSTV has a 240Hz refresh rate: 60Hz for each eye, for two players.

Today there are only games that support SimulView, including Motorstorm Apocolypse, Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3, and Super Stardust HD. I tested all of the games, and SimulView works great. It greatly improves playing coop on a single display. I never found a lack of clarity, and there shouldn’t be. The human eye sees at 24/25Hz, so 60Hz per eye is more than enough.

General 3D image quality is also excellent, though it really depends more on the game than the display. The screen produces crisp 3D picture, and there is very little movement from bobbing heads (moving your head side to side produces a slight movement of the image on the screen). It isn’t the best 3D I’ve tested, but the combination of excellent picture quality and very good 3D quality makes it the best 3D display to date.

My only concern regarding 3D is the small display size. Over the years my biggest complaint for 3D gaming is that the screen needs to be large for the 3D effect to be meaningful. Computer monitors max out at 27″ for 3D, and 3DTVs can get very large but often come with their own 3D glasses and technology. Even with larger screens 3DTVs are relatively smaller because of the greater distance from the TV than a computer monitor. PC gaming has so far provided the best home 3D setup, though that will likely change with better 3D projectors.

At 24”, the PSTV is small for both a TV and a 3D display. This minimizes the 3D effect unless you’re sitting very close to the screen. Because 3D today goes into the TV (deep) instead of outside the TV (in your face), closeness to the screen is only a problem your grandmother will complain about (“if you sit that close to the TV you are going to go blind!). The overall 3D experience, unless you’re very close to the TV, is lacking. For two players this poses a unique problem of being very physically close to one another while playing, though relatively speaking a single 24″ display provides more picture than a 50″ TV going split-screen.

Conclusion

The Playstation 3D Display has the best video quality of any TV three times its price. It may be one of the best gaming products ever built, and I hope to see more in the future. As the first Playstation TV it has a few design mistakes (no remote, poorly placed buttons), but the exceptional build of this TV is undeniable.

The biggest problem, both for everyday users and 3D gamers, is the size. 24” is small for a TV. It fits on a computer desk, though it doesn’t make the best monitor. Text isn’t very clear, and it doesn’t make for the best computer monitor. But for anyone with one display interested in getting a second, the PSTV is a great option for viewing media, playing games, and even for applications such as picture and video editing.

As a standalone TV, the PSTV lacks a coaxial input but works well with today’s game consoles. If you’ve forsaken cable TV for internet TV and videos or have an HD cable box, the PSTV will fit right in. College students and anyone on a budget can’t find a better deal than this. Assuming it meets your needs, I highly recommend the Playstation 3D Display. If it doesn’t, wait until Sony puts out a model twice the size. With this kind of quality, the company would be crazy not to.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom Line: The best TV you can buy for $500. Excellent video, perfect for gaming, but it needs to match your conditions. A perfect display as a secondary PC monitor/game console TV at a workstation. There’s a reason why it fit in multiple gift guides.

Pros:

• Excellent video quality
• Solid 3D reproduction
• Minimalist hardware and software design

Paintings by their very nature are fixed.  And by fixed we mean they’ll never change in terms of composition.  Some just can’t live with that idea and that’s perhaps what motivated Scott Garner to build this moving painting.

He started by dressing a standard LCD TV with a custom wooden frame to give it the appearance of a normal painting.  Next, he used a a rotating mount from Ergomart, which allowed the set to be rotated by hand without falling off the wall.  He then added a a spatial sensor from Phidget and coded what he calls a “simple C’ application that works in tandem with the sensor, which feeds the data to the screen.

The result? Turn the TV on its axis and the fruit, plate and vase will fall in the corresponding direction.  To sell it a step further, he also used a “camera tied to the sensor data with all lights and objects parented to it so they rotate in unison.”

It’s a pretty compelling piece of art work that any tech hound would probably be willing to invest in.

Finding a TV with many of the features we want, or may want for years to come, is hard. They’re available, but expensive. The LG 47LW5600 comes with all of the latest bells and whistles, including 3D, built-in apps and wireless connectivity, all for a decent price of $1,100. But at this price point, for a 47″ TV, does the quality suffer? Read on to find out.

Picture and Sound Quality

The 47LW5600 provides a sharp, clear image, and has good contrast, even at extreme angles. There is minimal blur that is sometimes found on lower quality televisions. Overall, the contrast was better than expected but blacks were not as deep as I’d have liked. See the image below.

The 47LW5600 features local dimming, which enables and disables the backlight for certain segments of the display to provide a darker black. A common issue with local dimming is the potential for light bleed between different segments of the screen, and the 47LW5600 has that exact problem. It isn’t obvious in most cases, but it is very noticeable when the image is very dark, such as the above image.

I tested a variety of different movies and television shows, including Blu-ray discs, DVDs, digital content streamed from my computer to my Apple TV and over-the-air television shows. When I watched Jurassic Park on Blu-ray, it looked excellent. The color was accurate and the sound was rich and full. The speakers produced loud, clear audio with little distortion.

Settings

One of my biggest complaints about modern televisions is that they come with all sorts of bells and whistles turned on. Usually they make a product stand out, but in the case of most televisions, it’s marketing and, unfortunately, doesn’t actually improve video quality whatsoever.

The LG 47LW5600 has a default set for TruMotion, which is LG’s proprietary image smoothing technology, which was very popular at last year’s CES and, I believe, makes the picture too fluid. There is no reason for this feature to be enabled by default, and I don’t doubt for a second that potential customers will find the picture quality weird and uncomfortable. Adjusting the setting itself was a chore because the menu system is very poor and cumbersome. It took me, a fairly technical person, a few minutes of patient searching to find and disable TruMotion.

Connectivity & LG Apps

As expected at this price range, the 47LW5600 has a ton of inputs. It has 4 HDMI inputs, a VGA input, a pair of USB ports, a coaxial input, a component input and a composite input. It also has an ethernet port if you don’t have a wireless network to connect to (although a wireless adapter is included with the television). However, wireless will prove much better for most people who don’t need cables stretching across their media centers.

The television also offers a decent selection of apps, including some rudimentary games and a quite a few video and music streaming apps, including Netflix and Hulu Plus. Once up and running, both were easy to use and responded quickly to commands issued via the remote control. The picture quality of Hulu Plus content is as good as broadcast television, but the content on Netflix is hit and miss. Video through Netflix was always good enough, but their video compression has seen better days, especially on this set.

3D

I invited a friend over and we tested out the 3D by watching a Blu-ray copy of Piranha 3D (side note: There are two versions of the Blu-ray, a 2D and 3D version. We watched the 3D version). 3D quality was good, with a good amount of depth and minimal pop-out. It was almost on par with seeing the movie in the theater. My friend concurred with my assessment, saying that it was much better than she was expecting and that she would definitely watch more movies in 3D on the television.

This is partially because LG uses passive 3D glasses, which are similar to the glasses worn in movie theaters, as opposed to active shutter glasses which are bulkier and must be charged. The only real problem with watching 3D is that the picture quality changes drastically if you move. The picture isn’t static based on your location, so if you move right or left the image will do the same. This also means that everyone watching sees a slightly different image, which is not good for picture accuracy.

Conclusion

While the black levels aren’t as good as I’d like, watching picture quality was very good for such an inexpensive display. The few available apps are good enough to start, and 3D is very watchable. However, TV prices have been dropping in the last few months and while the 47LW5600 is at a great price point for its size, the overall quality of the TV is just good. It doesn’t have any stand-out features, but you will certainly get a decent TV experience out of this LG. After, of course, adjusting the settings to your liking.

Editors’s Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Good

The Bottom Line: A solid TV with good color quality but less than average black and white contrast. 3D picture quality is good but the 3D itself is wobbly. Settings are a mess. Enough ports for a full media center and a number of worthwhile apps freely available.

The Good:

• Good color reproduction
• Large assortment of input options
• Decent selection of apps

The Bad:

• Black levels could be better
• Comes with too many features turned on

Edited by James Pikover

AOC’s Aire Pro LED monitor provides a good entry point to screens that are nice to look at whether they are powered on or off. The extremely thin screen (less than ten millimeters thick) is quickly noticed for taking up only a small amount of depth while still offering a picture that is clear and comfortable. The 23” display keeps pace with larger, more expensive monitors, outputting a bright, clear, high-resolution picture that won’t set you back more than a couple hundred dollars.

With 2 HDMI ports, a VGA out, a 3.5 mm jack for audio, and just five buttons located on the monitor’s base, the Aire Pro’s angle is clearly minimalism, and it pulls that off very well. The lighting is subtle, the monitor is light-weight, easily transportable and a snap to reposition to fit your needs on your own desk surface. One aspect where I think this design betrays the overall aim of the monitor is that because all of the power, volume, and menu buttons are located on the monitor’s base, which is a silvery near-circle about six inches in diameter and an inch thick, the monitor can’t detach from the base. You have to have enough room for the base and mounting the screen is not an option whatsoever.

Other than that, the AOC Aire Pro LED performs as sharply as it looks. With a 50,000,000:1 contrast ratio, native 1920×1080 widescreen resolution, and backlit screen, one of the biggest perks about this monitor is how sharp it looks from all but the most extreme viewing angles. I was able to move all about my room and the picture quality stayed consistent no matter where I went, making this an ideal display for presentations or family or party viewing. Even when dealing with careful timing during precise gaming, the 5 ms refresh rate didn’t leave me disappointed – a sticking point I have whenever I’m looking into displays.

I was disappointed but not surprised by the quality of the monitor’s on-board speakers, in that they leave a great deal to be desired. Without hooking up any additional equipment, the sound is fuzzy, with highs too high and almost no bass to speak of. The second HDMI port can be put to use with high-end sound systems, but anything else is going to have to sacrifice at least a little audio quality using the 3.5 mm jack instead.

One of the features advertised on the box that may give some consumers, particularly gamers, cause for alarm is that the Aire Pro LED uses in-plane switching. However, the Aire Pro has no ghosting issues, almost no motion blur whatsoever, and really I can’t say anything bad about its use for any application you might put it to. Purists may protest, and sure there is room for improvement in the overall display, but for the price and the size, it’s pretty hard to argue against this display.

Editor’s Rating

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom Line: The AOC Aire Pro LED is competitively priced for somebody looking for a quality display that’s not too big or too flashy. As such, it’s not really going to compare to larger, high-end monitors, and it’s easy to see where the extra cost goes sometimes. Still, this is a great monitor for your average desktop user, and I found it very handy to carry around and set up at parties or gatherings for gaming thanks to its slim build and low weight. The Aire Pro isn’t perfect, but finds a comfortable balance between affordability, portability, and usability.

Pros:

• Backlit LED makes the picture pop out and look sharp regardless of most viewing angles
• Ultra slim design fits nicely onto desks or dressers without taking up a good deal of space
• 2 HDMI ports make this unit good as a multimedia center for both computers and personal media devices

Cons:

• Since controls are attached to base, mounting the screen is not an option
• Onboard speakers are tinny and aren’t really worth the addition
• HDMI ports and 3.5 mm jacks only exclude any optical-based audio solutions

The AOC Aire Pro 23” LED Monitor is available from Amazon for $197.57.

When shopping for a new HDTV, you may wonder which should you get, LCD or Plasma? It’s really a good question and is often subject to almost a religious debate amoungst videophiles. But the reality of it is, that it largely depends on where the TV is going to go. Here’s breakdown of the differences between LCD and Plasma and what you should get for your home.

Resolution:

When it comes to how sharp either HDTV is, it’s pretty much a wash. Both come in 1080p models so the resolution is about the same, depending on what model you get. Additionally, both come in 120hz versions (meaning 120 frames go by per second) and LCDs actually go up to 240 and even 480 in some high end models. The down side here is that you end up with the “soap opera” effect of a plastic like look with a higher resolution TV – especially when most broadcast programs are sent at 60hz.

Color and Contrast:

Here’s where plasma can really shine. Plasmas offer richer, bolder colors – especially with blacks, which look really dark and make scenes that are in shadow highly detailed. LCDs that have back lit LEDs and local dimming are closing the gap here, but plasma still has the edge, especially with conventional LCDs that use edge-lit LEDs or florescent light, which can make for a pretty contrasty display.

Off angle viewing

Plasma offers a nice bright and vibrant picture from any angle that is off axis, while some viewing LCDs off axis (especially 3D) may find a slightly dimmer picture.

Reflectivity

This where room location is key. Plasmas have highly reflective surfaces and as such, are generally better in home theater rooms that have either no windows or where the room can be completely darkened. If you have a living room or den with bright, ambient light, then and LCD is your best bet since most models opt for a matte finish display.

Power consumption

LCDs have the lead here, especially LEDs which are very stingy when it comes to power. Plasma, by contrast, are power hogs and will definitely put a dent in your monthly electric bill. As time goes on, though, plasma manufacturers are working to improve power consumption levels – they have to since states like California have mandated it by law. But in the short run, LCDs use far less electricty than their plasma cousins.

Life Span

Both LCDs and Plasma are generally rated at 60,000 hours, or about 20 years if used 8 hours per day. But some plasmas, have been experiencing a phenomenon where after only a few thousand hours the screen amps up the brightness of black levels which could cut the lifespan short. Panasonic has acknowledged the issue and is working to solve the problem with a potential firmware fix. Plasmas also need a break in time of about 100 hours where only full screen viewing should be done, and in movie or cinema modes. This prevents the plasmas phosphors from being overly stimulated by the dynamic brightness settings which could impact it’s lifespan. And widescreen or letterboxed programming need to be avoided in those first 100 hours to avoid prematurely affecting the phosphors with black stripes as well. Digital Video Essentials (not the Blu-ray) has a great pattern that’s a solid, full white field of noise which will exercise all the pixel phosphors the same. Also, there’s a Plasma TV Logo Removing DVD, available in NTSC or PAL format. You can get it at beginwithsoftware.com. It puts colored noise on screen.

What about burn-in complaints on plasma? That was a problem with early models which would have those station logos (called bugs) burned into the corners since they are always on. But plasma makers have virtually eliminated that issue although it could manifest itself if the TV is on 24/7.

3D

You can find 3D capable HDTVs in both Plasma and LCD. In fact, many experts – including Walt Mossberg and Scott Wilkinson, are of the mind that 3D TVs are the best 2D TVs on the market. And as time goes on, 3D is going to become just another available feature. The real question is, active or passive. And generally, passive is far cheaper than active. And if you like to entertain, using passive 3D glasses will impact your wallet far easier than active – where you must have the same glasses for each person viewing.

Price

Because LCDs are more popular and available, they tend to be less expensive than plasma TVs. Additionally, only two or three manufacturers (namely Panasonic and Samsung) actually still make Plasma.

Conclusion

So whether you are looking to get an LCD or Plasma TV, the important thing is to start with where you’re going to put it. If it’s near a bright light source like a window or sliding back door, then LCDs are probably your best bet. If in a darkened room like a den or basement, then plasmas definitely provide a leg up.

3D monitors are still a rarity in the world of PC gaming, even though as of October 2011 over 500,000 pairs of Nvidia’s 3D Vision glasses have been sold, and with each at least one 3D display. Though the likes of Viewsonic, Acer, ASUS and Dell have all taken their go at it – some more successfully than others – this third wave of high-end 3D gaming monitors is looking very well. We’ll have a full review of ASUS’ latest display soon after CES, but at the show BenQ revealed not one, but two 3D-ready displays.

To say that they are two different monitors is almost a lie. The two are identical in all ways but one: the XL2420TX and XL2420T share all of the same specs but one: the TX model has 3D Vision built directly into the display. Both have the same 2ms grey-to-grey response time, the same 120Hz refresh rate, the same 24″ displays, the same specs entirely except for built-in Vision. If you’re confused, I was too, until I looked at the price: the TX model, with Vision, will retail for $500, while the non-Vision model currently retails for $400.

Now that may seem like a big difference for a display, but having tested and used Nvidia’s 3D Vision glasses for possibly longer than anyone outside of the company, I can state as a fact that using 3D Vision with an external IR reader to work with the glasses is a hassle. It’s far more convenient to have it built directly into the monitor for two reasons: first, the IR transmitter is near eye-level (and can be adjusted to point higher or lower), and second, because it doesn’t take up an extra USB port and contribute to your current table clutter.

Of course, anyone who already owns a 3D Vision set with the external IR transmitter can save some money for themselves and buy the display without the built in emitter. The only loss is convenience, though the BenQ representative told me that their current customers in Europe, who have had both displays available, requested a display without 3D Vision built in. And that both models have sold well.

Convenience is a surprisingly important factor, one I always say is perhaps the most important piece to the product puzzle, because it gets right into the users feelings on said product. They create an emotional attachment because hey, it feels like the phone or computer monitor was made with them in mind. The same holds true with the XL2420T models, both of which come with two (yes, everything comes in pairs) unique features available solely for the purpose of convenience. First is a glasses holder attached to the back of the display, as you can see in the image above.

Second is a mouse-like controller that magnetically attaches to the base of the display, on either side, and can be pre-programmed with three different display settings. Three numbered buttons can automatically change the display settings. It may seem silly, especially since the buttons on both XL2420T models are all touch sensitive, similar to the Dell Alienware OptX display, but even with very fluid controls and an intuitive and simply menu system having the ability to automatically change the display settings is huge. Most gaming displays today have a dedicated button to scroll through presets, which are generally defaults made by the manufacturer (and usually prior to someone actively calibrating the display altogether), but even that’s not as convenient as you can get. The button to do so is still attached to the display wherever the buttons are located. With the XL2420T, those preset buttons can be literally wherever you want. They can be magnetically attached to the base on the left or right side, or above your keyboard, by the mouse, or wherever the hell the cable will reach.

Simply put, it’s ingenious. I know for myself that I always change the presets on my display. I have a preset for standard computing (ie typing up articles like this), watching video, playing games, and for editing pictures. Being able to swap between even three of these presets at anytime with a simple extendable control that can at anytime be docked is…it solves a longtime problem that most people didn’t even know existed.

I’ll need some more face time with the XL2420T and XL2420TX to know how good they actually are and the video quality reproduction, but there was one impressive note I made during my hands-on. For 3D gameplay, the image doesn’t move. That means that if you weave and bob your head, in any way, the image won’t move with you. This typically happens on 3D displays (and most people see something similar occur when watching 3D movies), and it’s annoying. I walked around with my 3D glasses on and didn’t see any change, even at weird and extreme angles. I’ll need to test it more in the field, but thus far I haven’t found anywhere that the image moves with the glasses.

The XL2420T is currently available now in the US, for purchase directly from BenQ and some retailers, for $399. The XL2420TX will be available shortly in the US for $499, and is available for pre-order now from BenQ directly.

OLED displays have long been associated with the likes of myth and illusion.  Okay, we’re exaggerating, but hopefully you’re picking up what we’re laying down.  Said another way, OLED tech has long been relegated to the small screen, such as smartphones and monitors, which are anything but practical for home theater viewing. However, that is about to change thanks to LG.

Today, the company announced the world’s largest OLED TV.  The 55EM9600 measures 55-inches from corner to corner and boasts a 100,000,000:1, contrast ratio.  That’s 50 times greater than the next best LED TV on the market today.  It’s actually a pretty silly number in real world terms, but it does provide some perspective to just how powerful this set is.  Images are said to be beyond life like and it doesn’t hurt that it’s 3D capable as well, though you’ll still need to sport a pair of glasses to take advantage of the extra dimension.

LG has opted for White OLED (WOLED) as a light source and Oxide TFT is the panel text, which replaces Amorphous Silicon with Oxide, which is cheaper.  This is all packed into a 4mm, yes 4 millimeter thick body.

LG hasn’t announced a price or launch date, but hopefully we’ll see a production model emerge by the end of 2012.  It’s complete conjecture, but we expect the price to be well north of $10,000.

AOC’s new Aire Monitor with Docking Station is the ultimate multimedia monitor for iPod and iPhone owners thanks to its built-in universal docking station for iPhone and iPod that allows immediate video, audio and photo playback from the mobile device through AOC’s patented plug-and-play technology. The 23-inch Full High Definition monitor also features built-in speakers with high quality SRS Premium Sound that are located at the base of the monitor. iPhone and iPod users can easily watch movies or browse photos on a 23-inch high definition flat screen directly from their mobile device. The 23-inch AOC Aire Monitor with Docking Station (e2343Fi) will be available for $279.99 at national retailers in March 2012.

Other features include: impressive image quality with Full HD 1080p resolution; a 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and 5 ms response time; user-friendly graphical OSD menu that can be accessed directly through the mouse; and bonus features like embedded Screen+ software that allows the user to divide the screen into four self-contained work areas. With a sleek design that sports a black bezel and white back that complements Apple’s stylish products, the Aire Monitor with Docking Station will look provide some style to your desk!

Warning: Spoiler alert.  We suggest you watch the above video then read this post since the below gives away the kicker.

How slim (or safe) is LG’s thinnest LCD TV?  Seriuosly thin, as this commericial proves.  It’s difficult to say if the perpertrator really has the TV under his arm during the entire commercial, but if LG has any moral integretity it’s there the entire time.  We aint gonna lie though, the commerical is a little long and slow, but well worth the one minute wait.  But if you want, you can skip to the last :40 seconds if you want to get the abbreviated version.

Samsung has released information on three new displays that continue to place elegant deign as the focus. New to the Series 9 and Series 7 name and aesthetic are a 27-inch monitor, and two new HDTVs that double as large screen monitors for your PC. All feature a sleek appearance and provide an elegant touch to computing.

The Series 9 S27B970 is Samsung’s new 27-inch premium monitor that features Samsung’s professional-grade Plane Line Switching and Natural Color Expert technology, now in a large-screen package. Spec include: 2560-by-1440 resolution, edge-to-edge anti-glare glass, a height adjustable aluminum stand, connections for DisplayPort, Dual Link-DVI, and HDMI video, a USB hub, two built-in 7W stereo speakers, Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) for seamless use with MHL-enabled smartphones. The model will begin at $1,199.99 in March.

The new new Series 7 HDTV monitors, T24B750 and T27B750 models, are just as stunning as the Series 9 S27B970, too. It comes in two sizes, 24- and 27-inches, and features specs like: connections for HDMI Audio-out and TV-tuner as well as USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, LAN, WiFi and integrated WiDi 2.0 connectivity, 1920-by-1080 resolution, and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. Both come with Samsung’s SmartHub functionality and features apps for Hulu Plus, Netflix, and more. Also available in March, the 27-inch Series 7 T27B750HDTV monitor will run for $599.

Those in need of a new TV or are looking to upgrade an old one to a 3D version will totally score with today’s Deal of the Day, which is a 46” 3D LED HDTV from Samsung that’s going for only $899.99 after using the COUPON CODE: OEH51583 at TigerDirect! Listed for $1599.99, you’ll save a whopping $700 on a new 3D TV.

The 46-inch Samsung UN46D6400 46″ Class 3D LED HDTV provides full entertainment for any space in your home (or even office) with cool features like Smart TV featuring Web-Connected Samsung Apps and 3D technology. Samsung’s Smart TV allows you to customize your viewing experience and provides the ability to search content both online and on your TV. The 3D technology allows for a completely new viewing experience when watching all your favorite 3D movies and even TV shows (given you have 3D channels, of course).

Not only will it change the way you watch movies and TV, but it’s also stylish with its ultra slim bezel that lets your eyes disappear into the spectacular LED images onscreen that with its captivating 2D & 3D in full HD 1080p. It also comes with Auto Motion Plus 120Hz, which reduces blur so that any action movies, sports and video games have enhanced clarity. Then with Samsung’s AllShare, you can easily sync up many of your DLNA-enabled devices so that you can access music, movies and photos right from your TV screen!

Other cool features include: ConnectShare Movie that lets you watch videos, play music or view photos form a USB drive; Eco Sensor that measures the intensity of the room’s light and automatically calibrates the brightness of the image on the screen; and a built-in swivel stand so that you can easily turn the TV 10 degrees to the left or right to ensure the best view!

It will be sometime until we start to see 4k movies and tv shows appear.  After all, didn’t 1080p just hit the mainstream?  However, it won’t be long before we can watch 3D sans glasses.  If French isn’t in your lexicon, sans means without, so without glasses.  And Toshiba says they’ve already developed a 55-inch TV that just does that and is set to go on sale at the beginning of next year.

The Toshiba’s REGZA 553X uses a wide array of technology to make this feat possible.  First off, and we’re sure you’re wondering this (we were) this 3D can display a three dimensional image for up to nine people simultaneously, or at least we can only infer so – the linked article says “nine different viewing positions,” so take it as you will.

All this wonderment of TV viewing bliss is possible thanks to a number crunching machines found on the back of the TV.  Toshiba also incorporated a range of lenticular lenslets that guide each respective image to each eye – to achieve 3D they must be slightly offset.  And to ensure the images are delivered to the right spot, they’ve also stuffed in face tracking tech, which supposedly can follow and detect a variety of viewers so the correct left/right image is sent to the correct person.

What makes this particular TV so astounding is not only the resolution and the ability to achieve 3D without glasses, but its sheer size.  Most sets of this ilk, at least up until this point have been less than 32-inches, which is far from practical for a 3D viewing experience.  We have yet to get a hands on with the Toshiba 553X, but we can all but guarantee that we’ll get a preview at CES 2012.

By the way, price is a purported $11,500.  Not too shabby for a glasses free 3D TV.

HDTVs have long passed the acid test of being what the consumer desires: if you are getting a new TV, it will be high-definition. The trick is to balance your needs against the TV’s features so that you’re not disappointed at a later time. It all comes down to the hardware inside the set, since there’s only so much that can be upgrades. It’s fair to say that your HDTV’s screen size should be big enough for more than 1 person to view comfortably; anything under 42-inches just doesn’t cut it. And if you’re planning on accessing online content, whether “apps” or movies (e.g., Netflix), or music (e.g., Pandora), etc., Internet capabilities must be built in from the get-go.

Insignia’s 42-inch flat-panel provides all of this in a slim design that will not offend anyone’s sense of style or decor. But even better, it provides a view that lets you get sucked into the image being presented onscreen.

The Insignia is lightweight enough should it need to be moved from one location to another on a regular basis. The base attaches to the display using a few provided screws and, as is the case today with most Internet-capable sets, you’ll plug an Ethernet cord into the corresponding socket on its back, with the other end going into your router. The Insignia will take care of all the ‘handshaking” necessary to work with your home network automatically (a bit more effort is needed if using the built-in wireless to connect to your home network, but mostly that’s about telling it the name/password).

The other connections on the Insignia consist of 4 HDMI sockets, along with others such as for a Component cable; along with those for inserting a USB thumb drive or connecting a computer (VGA). Audio provides for external inputs as well as outputs in both digital and analog.

The Insignia goes into standby mode once it’s plugged in. The remote can be used as a “universal” model to control other components and functions using radio-frequency (RF) for the set: this avoids the need for direct line-of-sight control. Backlighting provides a momentary view of the buttons and is a welcome addition.

Turning the Insignia on for the first time, a series of questions are posed (reminiscent of the debut of a new computer operating system on your PC).

Once this is done, you access the main menu using the TIVO button on the remote, which provides a menu choice for searching online for TV shows, actors, etc. There’s even the “Thumbs up/Thumbs down” buttons on the remote that TIVO owners know so well. Of course you can’t actually record anything unless you have a DVR attached, but it’s a nice way to tie in the program guide with online information.

My initial setup consists of a Dish Network DVR satellite receiver in HDMI #1 and a PlayStation 3 (for games and Blu-ray disc playing) in #2. Accessing the menus and scanning the available choices for modifying the image in each input brings up the expected kind of manipulations involving brightness, contrast, color tint and color temperature. I place everything at the mid-way setting except color temperature where I prefer “Cool” because I don’t care for the ruddy flesh tones that appear otherwise (though you may prefer it or something else). There’s also some “advanced features” affecting motion and image enhancement: I found these to be somewhat unnecessary with HD, although noise reduction does have its place with standard-def content. Your opinion as to their usefulness may differ when you try them out, but I suggest you start without them first.

I also went in and upped the volume of the built-in subwoofer while leaving off the volume limiter (good for preventing commercials from blasting your ears off) and the surround sound simulator on (these two have to trade off as they can’t both be used at the same time). Making all of this a bit easier than would otherwise be the case is that there’ll be a PIP (picture-in-picture) window in the corner of the screen to let you continue to watch what is being broadcasted while you do all this; should you access online music instead, it continues to play as well.

Returning to the main screen, I select the satellite receiver on the remote, turn it on, let the Insignia switch to its input and adjust the volume of the internal stereo speakers down while some ad is hyping mops. The built-in sound system is more than adequate for viewing TV, but those watching movies or playing games might find the speaker’s 5 watts and the subwoofer’s 10 watts a bit thin for their tastes. If that’s the case, just output the audio from the analog or digital audio output to a home theater system. I wasn’t bothered at all, but then I wasn’t watching it with a group of people. I can say that the SRS surround audio technology does beef up the audio overall and for the majority of people will create the effect of an enhanced surround sound-field.

The Internet capability is designed around a series of choices built into the set (although additional, approved applications can be added later on). These consist of CinemaNow for renting movies, Netflix for streaming movies, FaceBook, Twitter and Photobucket, YouTube, as well as Pandora and Napster for listening to audio (some of these services require subscriptions/payments in order to use). Each can be quickly accessed after pressing the TIVO button and have the same kind of functionality as found in their computer or mobile device counterparts.

All this is good stuff, but the real value of the Insignia comes through the viewing. Since it’s not 3D-capable, the 120Hz speed of the set should be more than up to the task of stabilizing the video and keeping artifact and other problems that LCDs are prone to (the use of LED backlighting helps with deepening the blacks).

Staying with the satellite receiver, I pull up Edward Scissorhands on VOD because 1) it has lots of bright, primary colors, and 2) the snowflake scenes can make or break the ability of the Insignia to convey fine detail. I find the color intensity to be quite good and the overall detail more than just acceptable — keep in mind that transmitted HD is compressed compared to what comes off a Blu-ray disc. A close inspection of the snowflakes swirling about doesn’t betray any smearing either.

Changing channels to a kick-boxing tournament shot on video continues to provide a clearly defined image; in fact the contrast might be a bit too high so it gets toned down a bit. Blacks, which can be problematic, seem fine — but switching to the Blu-ray disc of Sleepy Hollow (staying with Johnny Depp) will give me a chance to see how night scenes are handled. Surprisingly well as it turns out — due to the Insignia’s backlighting which provides for strong blacks without losing detail as a result of proper contrast levels (the trained eye will find that the Blu-ray disc has the edge on the best image when compared to broadcasted content).

The same can be said for Internet content, such as cartoons played on Netflix. The color intensity here, even in obvious standard-definition, is smear-free and eminently watchable. A wide viewing angle that doesn’t cause significant light loss or a drop in color intensity is a good thing too.

Overall, the Insignia is a well-designed HDTV with a level of brightness and contrast that is well above “acceptable.” It might not have the name panache of one of the “Big Boys,” but where it counts — the image — there’s nothing to complain about. There’s even the ability to link selected sound-bars through RS-232 and a card slot for adding an optional “Rocketboost” audio card for sharing audio wirelessly with other like-designed products.

Now those who want 3D-capabilities will have to look elsewhere. But if a more than reasonably priced Internet-capable 42-inch HDTV with a quality Full HD signal is desired, the Insignia will deliver.

Editor’s Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Great

Bottom line: The Insignia 42-inch LCD flat panel provides a surprising number of features at a very low price. But even more important, the quality of the viewing image is compatible with displays costing far more.

PROS

CONS

Ask Mimo and they’ll tell you that this is far from their first rodeo when it comes to USB LCD screens.  In fact, we can’t remember another company that has been so pervasive in the space.  And to add to their continuing dominance in the USB monitor space, the company just announced the Mimo Magic Touch.

At a glance, we’re looking at 10-inch touchscreen monitor that is connected and powered by USB.  Pretty standard when you consider their previous offerings.  But what makes this version different from the rest of the pact, is that it is capacitive.  If you recall Mimo’s other iterations were touch resistive, which made then almost anything but touch friendly.  In this version you should expect far greater accuracy and more importantly sensitivity; no more punching a whole in your monitor with your finger trying to navigate the web.

They say that the Mimo Magic Touch is four-point multi-touch, though you’ll need to be running Windows 7 or later – sorry Mac users.  If the dock/stand isn’t your thing you can mount it on the wall using a VESA compatible mount or just hold it in your hands, provided you’re willing to deal with a USB cord draped across the room.

In the specs department we’re looking at a 1024 x 600 resolution with 200 nits of brightness and a 300:1 contrast ratio.  Size wise, it’s less than 1-inch thick and weighs under 1lb.  You know, just in case you plan on taking this thing on the road.

Price? For an additional $30, $330 to be exact, you can score the higher end model (yes, the lowered end version costs $300), which includes 2 additional USB ports for connecting other gadgets, though you’ll need to plug in the AC plug if you have plans to charge anything.  The Mimo Magic Touch is available now.

How would you like to surf the web on a 320-inch screen?

Yesterday, Epson announced the Moverio, a pair of glasses which are equipped with two 0.52-inch displays, both running a 960×540 resolution.  They say it can simulate up to a 26.5-foot screen viewed from a distance of 20 meters.

Included in the package is a touchpad remote that will allow users to navigate the web, watch videos and perform other activities using the Android based device.  Unfortunately, it’s still not clear if the Android OS will be a full blown version as found on many of today’s smartphones, but they’ve managed to toss in WiFi, an SD card slot, a button to toggle between 2D and 3D images, a volume control and headphone jack.

Even though the Moverio glasses are designed to display video and so forth, they’re in fact transparent, enabling anyone wearing them to keep an eye on their surroundings.

The design is some what reminscent of geratics sunglasses.  And for good reason, since you can wear your everyday perscription glasses with the Moverio.

No word on a launch date or a price, but we expect to see them at CES in January of next year.

Virtual reality is still a ways off, and you can forget about a Holodeck – you know, from the TV show “Star Trek the Next Generation” – coming to frution any time soon.  But wedged somewhere in between both of those pieces of tech, a sort of mash up, is Microsoft’s HoloDesk.

As the name suggests it projects images onto a piece of glass and allows users hands to interact with the objects as if they were real.  The feat is accomplished using a webcam, which tracks the user’s face and the direction they’re looking (this changes the perspective of the objects accordingly), a Kinect to detect movements and an overhead screen which projects an image down through a “half silvered beam splitter”.

While the images are anything but real, the ability to manipulate them is damn compelling. Objects can be rolled, stacked, thrown back and forth between two hands and even manipulated using other objects such as a cup or piece of paper.

Unfortunately, this is a Microsoft Research project, so the chances of it ending up in your home or pretty slim.  But if we learned anything from Microsoft’s Surface, you can probably expect a commercially available version in about 10 years where upon it will cost $10,000.