The dividing line between computer monitor and HDTV grows ever thinner. Samsung is announcing two new series of multi-function monitors, displays that handle the computing you need with sizes ranging from 21.5- to 24-inches, 1920 x 1080 worth of pixels, and a response time of 5ms. But, they also handle the entertainment you want, with HDTV tuners, built-in speakers, and even remote controls. The $420, 24-inch 90 Series offers LED-backlighting and a retina-punishing 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, while the 21.5-, 23-, and 24-inch 30 Series makes do with a paltry 70,000:1 dynamic ratio at prices ranging from $270 to $330. All these genre-benders are shipping now, perfect for your dorm room escapades.

Continue reading Samsung 90 and 30 series LCDs work hard as computer monitors, play hard as 1080p HDTVs

Samsung 90 and 30 series LCDs work hard as computer monitors, play hard as 1080p HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manufacturing upstart PocketBook is clearly still gung ho about e-readers, judging by the five new models it has announced will be released at IFA in September, which include a pair of entry-level ProBook 602 and 902 units, as well as the ProBook 603 and 903 premium units. The 60x designated models sport 6-inch screens, while the 90x models have a bigger 9.7-inch. All models will feature 2GB of internal storage, a Linux-based OS, and include WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the higher-end versions also gain 3G connectivity and a Wacom touchscreen. More interesting and genre-bending though is the so-called "entertainment model" PocketBook IQ that will be available in three case color options, feature a 7-inch TFT color touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth, and will run Android 2.0. Access to PocketBook's own Bookland.net e-book store unfortunately rounds out all the details we know so far, but we'll be sure to find out more once IFA gets going. Check out shots of the individual readers and get the full translated PR below.

Continue reading Pocketbook announces color touch screen Android powered e-reader and more

Pocketbook announces color touch screen Android powered e-reader and more originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Decent iPad RTS games were somewhere between numbers one and four for on the Giz staff's various wishlists, and Command & Conquer: Red Alert is one of the all time greats of the genre. More »

Cross-platform phone synchronization tool doubleTwist is adding some welcomed functionality to its flagship program by including support for Android’s Market. The new feature will allow users of doubleTwist to browse the latest Android Market offerings from within dT right on their desktop. It does, however, come with a “twist.” See what we did just there? The ability to download an Android app to your desktop and sync to your phone via USB — a la iTunes — is not an option. Instead, doubleTwist will display app QR codes which, when scanned by Android, will link your device directly to the Android Market’s page for the application in question. From there you know what to do: download, rinse, and repeat. doubleTwist is promising to implement over-the-air downloads sometime this summer in order to provide a more seamless experience. The new feature does come with a fairly annoying, albeit minor, limitation: you can’t sort applications by category or genre. The Market browsing feature is set to hit the Mac version of doubleTwist today and its Windows counterpart “soon.” A web directory of the Market has also been launched and can be found here: http://apps.doubletwist.com/. What are your thoughts?

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…and we use the word refine very loosely. In the last 30 days, Apple has dropped the App Store ban-hammer on applications that display images of scantily clad women and Wi-Fi scanning/stumbling applications. The bare-naked ladies were removed because, as Apple VP Phil Schiller put it, “the needs of the kids and parents” had to come first. Wi-Fi scanning applications got the boot for making calls to a private API, which raises the obvious question… why were these applications approved in the first place? So, what is latest app genre to feel the sting of Apple’s proverbial backhand? So called “cookie-cutter” applications. Apple is beginning to reject apps that were created using application building services and do not add any specific functionality to the iPhone or iPod Touch. Or, as TechCrunch’s Jason Kincaid succinctly put it, “Apple doesn’t want people using native applications for things that a basic web app could accomplish.” Whatever the reasoning, Apple is sending a scary message to potential application developers… we can change our mind.

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Not that we haven't seen multifaceted mousepads before, but there's something quite delectable about Razer's latest. The craftily-named Vespula is the company's first dual-sided gaming surface, complete with "speed" and "control" sides that supposedly give you the best of both worlds when switching from one genre to the next. Essentially, the speed side is as smooth as a baby's bottom, while the control side adds a textured layer to pick up on the finest wrist twists. There's also a bundled gel-filled wrist rest to keep the ergonomists happy, and if you're interested, you can get yours right now for $34.99 (or €34.99 elsewhere).

Razer's dual-sided Vespula mousepad: for smooth, seductive mood-swingers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steampunk-inspired PC master modder Datamancer (aka Rich Nagy) is no stranger to Gizmodo, and his latest work, a keyboard called Sojourner, is yet another example of his mastery within the genre.

If you really like steampunk-inspired gear, this can be yours for about $1,200 to $1,500.

The keys have all been artificially distressed to give the impression that this keyboard has "traveled the world in the backpack of an intrepid explorer."

Side view. Note the holes and, yes, more distressing and tarnish.

More keys! Also distressed! Just like your wallet should you try and buy this thing. [Datamancer via Born Rich]

The console guitars are nothing new to the internet, but an NES guitar of this caliber—one in which even the headstock has been replaced with a cartridge&mdah;is a rarity indeed. Hit 2:20 for the demo. [TechEBlog via GadgetReview]

The first paid apps are finally starting to filter into Palm's App Catalog, giving us all another great reason (after our daily caffeine fix has been properly handled, of course) to blow a buck or two every day of our lives. First up is none other than Air Hockey, an app genre that seems to be taking every platform by storm -- we never really thought that the true Dynamo experience could translate well to a couple of fingers on a phone's display, but we're just $1.99 away from finding out for sure.

[Thanks, Joe]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Paid apps now live in webOS App Catalog, Air Hockey comes first originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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