[MobileRatty] tag: plasma

Holographic TV could be here by 2020

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:04:33 +0000

It's been a holy grail of display technology for a long time: true 3D holograms that you don't need special glasses to see. Think R2-D2's projection of Princess Leia in Star Wars, only not as fuzzy and in full color. The barriers keeping holograms from becoming reality are many, but researchers at the University of Arizona (go Wildcats!) in the Optical Sciences department have broken through one of them. They've created an image that's "updatable," so the hologram can be completely erased and rewritten in minutes. That's not quite fast enough for holographic TV — or even holographic YouTube — since for a hologram to depict motion, it would have to be rewritten several times a second. The researchers think that'll eventually happen, though.

This is a very promising development, but we'll need a lot more (and probably some corporate interest) for holographic TV to become something you can actually buy. It'll also need good execution: while 3D images would be great for many movies, I'm not really dying to see the back of Anderson Cooper's head. The idea of a coffee table that projects holograms upward (shown in the illustration above) has been floated, but I don't see that being much more than a toy for the rich ("Coming Soon: Microsoft Surface in 3D!), and other techs like the Heliodisplay already come pretty close to simulating it.

Still, it would be great to finally see that scene from the first Star Wars finally become reality. Japan's Communications Ministry has set a goal for creating holographic TV by 2020, and perhaps this development is just what they need to jump-start the program. In any case, that plasma screen you just bought probably won't be obsolete for a while yet.

Via CNN

Reset Cups, Green Teaware for Windows Geeks

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:46 +0000

The old control-alt-delete trick is something that has gotten many Windows users, including myself, out of a pickle many a time, so it only makes sense that it would be celebrated in cups that look like they are for green tea. The web shop of the design company behind them isn’t up yet, but if you fire off an email to them, you might be able to find a price and secure a purchase. [MOD Design via Like Cool, Si Lo Se]

A weekend with Amiga Forever 2008: retrogaming without the hassle

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:47:43 +0000

British gamers raised in the 1980s will doubtless have imagined playing old Amiga games on their 50" plasma TV sets. Such plans, however, rarely survive contact with the difficulties surrounding emulation of this powerful and weird old machine.

Though the technical side's taken care of by the Unversal Amiga Emulator, the myriad of different configurations, spread over the system's decade in the sun, makes it a giant pain in the ass to get games running.

Moreoever, the post-Commodore IP snarl makes getting hold the needed ROM files and system software a trip into murky legal waters.

What you need, then, is Amiga Forever 2008, Cloanto's compilation of emulators, games, demos, ROM files, and system disk images, all plugged into a simple, Media Player-like launcher. It plays Amiga games without fuss, and can even figure out just what sort of Amiga config any given title expects to see.

If you're an Amiga nut and want to do more than just play old games, this review won't be of much use to you. The online chatter suggests that its ease of use, expanded selection of ROM files (and the Linux-based "boot into an Amiga" CD-ROM option) represent the best experience yet for hardcore fans.

For the rest of us, though, it suffices to say that Amiga Forever 2008 hits the spot. The new "Player" is a friendly, simple, attractive way to explore your Amiga stuff. You choose what you want to do and it usually Just Works.

The included selection of games is interesting, but not exhaustive. Anco's Kick Off and Player Manager series are there, Exile, Hybris, Lure of the Temptress and a few others, but you'll not be safe from torrent temptation.

There's improved support for gamepads, and options such as keyboard mapping are easy to muck around with.

Especially useful is being able to double click Amiga disk images on the desktop: it'll launch itself and try to generate a working config based on a heuristic scan of the image's contents.

Another new feature is save states. This means you can save a game at any point whatsoever, and resume immediately from that point without booting the Amiga or waiting for the game to load. Remember the original Action Replay? Like that!

Also included is software for OSX and Linux, though Hi-Toro, the freeware GUI front-end for Macs, is not the equal of the Windows browser developed by Cloanto.

Amiga Forever Premium edition, with 100 games and 100 demos and a DVD full of features and documentaries about the Amiga and its history, is $50 from the online store. The same content, minus the DVD, is a $40 download. A $30 Value edition includes the essential Workbench editions needed for gaming, but doesn't include the Linux-based boot option and only comes with 50 titles.

It comes down to this: if you had an Amiga but could never get your head around emulating it, you should get a copy of Amiga Forever. And even if you could, it'll make life easier.

Is It Time for 3D TV?

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:19:50 +0000

With such television makers as Samsung and Panasonic unveiling flat-screen sets that are capable of displaying 3-D content, the format is widely considered the next leap forward in TV technology.

So far, 3-D programming has been about stunts and gimmicks rather than an earnest play to engage viewers on a deeper level. With growing competition from other media, however, it may be time for the television industry to push forward with 3-D.

The technological advances are the necessary foundation that network programmers need before they invest more in 3-D.

As consumers invest in televisions that can handle 3-D content -- either over-the-air or through Blu-ray players -- networks in turn will have an incentive to invest in both producing and broadcasting content in 3-D.

More at TVWeek.com.

Tags: 3-d tv, blu-ray, escher, panasonic, samsung

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Fallout 3 Not Long To Go

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:34:57 +0000

Fallout 3 - PC DVD

I’ve written before about how big a fan I am of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion – so when I first got wind of the fact that Bethesda were working on Fallout 3 I almost fell out of my seat. My mind started going into overdrive with the thoughts of much better graphics, but with PipBoy and the other associated coolness of the brilliant sci-fi series.

Frankly, I can’t wait to get my hands on the game, so roll on October 31st (or 28th for you lucky Americans) for this brilliant game. If you remember the SPECIAL setup from the previous games, then you’re going to be in for a treat here. Not only that, but it looks as though they have the ‘world-balance’ just right, by making some areas deliberately tough until you have the required kit/level.

If you haven’t heard about the VATS targeting system, then let me fill you in. Essentially, you can trigger the VATS to move from real time combat to the targeting system, that assigns actions (such as aiming and shooting a head shot) points – of which you only have a limited number. Don’t run out, whatever you do! There’s also going to be radiation damage (a la S.T.A.L.K.E.R.) in the game, and bottlecaps make a welcome return as cash.

In case you need even more information to believe that Fallout 3 (PC, Xbox 360 and PS3) is going to be THE purchase for this year’s gaming, then check out the information below:

DESCRIPTION:
Vault-Tec engineers have worked around the clock on an interactive reproduction of Wasteland life for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own vault. Included is an expansive world, unique combat, shockingly realistic visuals, tons of player choice, and an incredible cast of dynamic characters. Every minute is a fight for survival against the terrors of the outside world – radiation, Super Mutants, and hostile mutated creatures. From Vault-Tec, America’s First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation.

STORY:
Vault 101 – Jewel of the Wastes. For 200 years, Vault 101 has faithfully served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from the constant stress of the outside world. Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants are all no match for superior Vault-Tec engineering. Yet one fateful morning, you awake to find that your father has defied the Overseer and left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you’ve ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father, and the truth.

KEY FEATURES:
* Limitless Freedom! – Take in the sights and sounds of the vast Capital Wasteland! See the great monuments of the United States lying in post-apocalyptic ruin! You make the choices that define you and change the world. Just keep an eye on your Rad Meter!
* Experience S.P.E.C.I.A.L.! – Vault-Tec engineers bring you the latest in human ability simulation – the SPECIAL Character System! Utilizing new breakthroughs in points-based ability representation, SPECIAL affords unlimited customization of your character. Also included are dozens of unique skills and perks to choose from, each with a dazzling variety of effects!
* Fantastic New Views! – The wizards at Vault-Tec have done it again! No longer constrained to just one view, experience the world from 1st or 3rd person perspective. Customize your view with the touch of a button!
* The Power of Choice! – Feeling like a dastardly villain today, or a Good Samaritan? Pick a side or walk the line, as every situation can be dealt with in many different ways. Talk out your problems in a civilized fashion, or just flash your Plasma Rifle.
* Blast ‘Em Away With V.A.T.S.! –Even the odds in combat with the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System for your Pip-Boy Model 3000! V.A.T.S. allows you to pause time in combat, target specific body parts on your target, queue up attacks, and let Vault-Tec take out your aggression for you. Rain death and destruction in an all-new cinematic presentation featuring gory dismemberments and spectacular explosions.
* Mind-Blowing Artificial Intelligence! – At Vault-Tec, we realize that the key to reviving civilization after a global nuclear war is people. Our best minds pooled their efforts to produce an advanced version of Radiant AI, America’s First Choice in Human Interaction Simulation. Facial expressions, gestures, unique dialog, and lifelike behavior are brought together with stunning results by the latest in Vault-Tec technology.
* Eye-Popping Prettiness! – Witness the harsh realities of nuclear fallout rendered like never before in modern super-deluxe HD graphics. From the barren Wasteland, to the danger-filled offices and metro tunnels of DC, to the hideous rotten flesh of a mutant’s face. Protective Eyewear Encouraged.

Panasonic Home Theatre System

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:28:56 +0000

Panasonic has just released it's premium DVD Home Theater System 1250W system, and here's why you want it:

- Kelton Subwoofer delivers powerful base
- Wireless rear speakers
-"Whisper Mode" means great sound even at soft volume
- Integrated Universal Dock for iPod
- 2 tower speakers
- VIERA Link (Assuming one has the Panasonic new line of flat panel and plasma TV's , it displays a menu on the TV screen, making it easier to operate your connected home theater system. )

At $499 it's a great value for the money. At Panasonic and also available at Amazon.

Posted by Evan Category: devices | entertainment | home
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Sony Unveils Sub-1mm Thin OLED TV at CEATEC

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:10:15 +0000

Sony have a new prototype OLED screen that they are showing off. At a thickness of 0.9mm (the TV not the screen), Sony’s prototype is mind bendingly thin, the product of carefully grinding down the glass substrate of the screen. Unfortunately this process also makes the screen extremely brittle, which means this is something that you wouldn’t want to have if you are clumsy or have kids of any age.

The screen itself appears to be the same 0.3mm screen that has been around for some time now. The prototype’s showing at CEATEC also fuels speculation that we may soon see an updated and even thinner XEL-1. [PC World Image]

Gadgets: Ten things that changed if you spent the last five years in hypersleep

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:00:01 +0000

1. Sony finally got it, but still doesn't get it.
Sony finally ditched proprietary music files, but still hasn't updated its copy 'n' control development model. And get this: the latest Playstation is getting its rear end kicked by both Microsoft and Nintendo. Nintendo! Sir Howard's obviously tired of wrapping duct tape around the beast and the stock's in the toilet. But then again, whose isn't?

2. No-one admits it, but piracy is mainstream.
The music industry has realized that DRM, and suing its own customers, is self-destructive. But instead of adapting, the labels stand proudly at the bow of their sinking ship, saluting the sunset.

3. Apple has 20% consumer market share.
If you've got a decent laptop and you're not getting it on the company dime, it's probably got a picture of an Apple on it.

4. iPhone is no longer a dusty Linksys trademark.
Speaking of Apple, it's now selling an iPod phone that's quite the talking point. Palm is on an inexplicable death march up a magical fantasy rainbow made of Linux. All the more depressing for it is Google, which did the exact same thing but managed to get it finished before the second coming of Christ.

5. Firefox sucks You know that efficient fast Mozilla spinoff browser, "Phoenix," that everyone's talking about? It changed its name twice, stole 20 percent market share from IE, then became the bloated, floating corpse of its own promise.

6. Netbooks
Those cheap, nasty subnotebooks that HP and NEC occasionally try and flog to vertical markets are now the hottest thing on Earth. They call them "Netbooks" now. Just about everyone makes one except Apple and Sony. For while, they tried to rebadge Handheld PCs as "Ultramobile PCs," ruining their battery life by having them run full-scale operating systems, but no-one fell for it.

7. A new optical disk format war brewed, exploded and was won...
... But people can get high-definition movies streamed over cable TV, and things ain't looking too hot for the winner. Yes, we all threw away cathode ray tubes and rear-projection sets and bought plasma TVs. No, DLP did not really take off.

7b. So how did watching mini-DVDs on the handheld PlayStation work out?
Don't ask.

8. No, you can't have fast fiber-optic internet. Not yours.
The U.S. isn't in the top 5 on the broadband penetration charts anymore. It's barely in the top 20. Sen. John McCain may have email, but he wouldn't know it.

9. Bloggers, not AOL, took over the internet.
There are now about 40,000 gadget blogs, not just Gadgeteer, Gizmodo and Engadget. Hi, mom!

10. It's a WWANtopia out here!
Cellphones are now offered with reasonable agreements and a diverse set of contractual options. SMS messaging is no longer more expensive than using a satellite phone, and carriers no longer act like a cartel, rationing new cellular technologies to maximize quarterly profits over the long-term competitive well-being of their own industry. Haha, got you. Yeah, they're still a bunch of arseholes.

Guinness-Record Movie Marathon Starts Now, Ends When Everyone's Asleep [Guinness World Records]

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Today in a glass-walled room in New York's Time Square, Netflix gathered six of the world's brightest talents in the field of sitting on ass and watching movies. The goal was to break the current Guinness continuous-movie-watching world record of 120 hours 23 minutes. They can eat, drink and stretch as long as they don't take their eyes off the screen, and there's a 10-min potty break between features, but other than that, it's about staying alert. Make no mistake. In spite of their matching Netflix bowling jackets, this ain't no relay race. These people are out to crush each other—CRUSH!—by staring at a large plasma screen the longest. Here's how it looks on Day One:

Reigning movie marathoner Ashish Sharma claims he will retain the title for India, but he's a little cocky since he only stole that title in June from Germany's Claudia Wavra, a three-time champ in her own right.

Suresh Joachim has a Heroes-sounding name and with good reason: He's got 32 damn Guinness World Records, including TV watching, dancing, DJing and ironing clothes.

Other contenders (with maybe less of a shot) include 2003 continuous-movie-watching contender Cheryl Jones, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire champ (but non-millionaire) Jeff Jones and film lover and competitive eating champion Crazy Legs Conti.

While I am genuinely excited for these couch-bound sojourners, I am a little leery of the film choices. First they saw Iron Man, then Best in Show and then Ghostbusters, great. But by now they're probably midway through The English Patient. WHAT? Is there a rule that says some movies have to deliberately try to put them to sleep? Going to romantic tragic period piece this early is a bad sign, especially if that's it for the superhero, mockumentary and supernatural action-comedy genres. I will pray for you people—pray for some Batman. [Gothamist; Netflix]

Incredible Secrets of the World's Largest Plasma TV [150 Inches Of FAQ]

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 +0000

Meet Dorothy. At 150 inches diagonal, she’s the world’s largest plasma screen and the biggest direct-view TV ever made, built (and named) by Panasonic. We got to play with her recently and as you've seen, it was mind-meltingly awesome. Even though first hand experiences with Dorothy are akin to filling a leaf blower with nitrous oxide to jet-huff directly into your brain, Dorothy's backstory is almost as incredible, especially when it comes to manufacturing, shipping and yes, managing all the electricity needed to fire her up. So even though you will absolutely never own one—except for you Giz-reading NBA stars and platinum-selling rappers—the story of the world's most advanced television is a thrill, and serves as a crystal ball to the future of all TV. Come, talk to her. She's intimidating, but it'll be good for you.

Why "Dorothy"?
There are currently five 150-inch Panasonic plasmas in existence—and a sixth for CES 2009 is currently being assembled. They’ve been named, appropriately enough, like hurricanes—starting with A and working down. Dorothy’s number 4, hence the D.

Why 150 inches?
It’s all about the upper limits of the manufacturing process. Panel factories crank out the largest single piece of “mother glass” they possibly can, so that they can cut more large TVs per pane of manufactured glass. The ultimate size of a piece of mother glass is limited by the glass’s strength and uniformity—how large the thing can get without cracking. Panel makers will always be pushing this boundary, because the more 50-inch TVs you can get out of each single assembly-line run, the more money you can make on them even if they're selling at lower prices in stores.
Panasonic’s previous biggest piece of mother glass was 103 inches (remember?), from which four 50-inch plasmas could be cut. Their new manufacturing plant, Amagasaki 5 in Japan, has pushed the max to 150 inches—enough glass to birth nine 50-inch plasmas. Dorothy’s as big as she is because she literally swallowed nine TVs. When manufacturing evolves further, creating even larger panes of mother glass, you could see larger trade-show sets, provided they fit through the convention-center doors. 103 inches, how quaint. And look at that lil' 42-incher, looking fit for bathroom viewing only by comparison.

What’s the resolution?
Typically called 4K, it's resolution is 3996x2160. Even though you could technically call this 2160p, it's important to recognize that it's four times as tight as 1080p. Think four 1920x1080 panels Voltroning together to make something that's 8 megapixels, as opposed to the best current TVs' 2 megapixels. The annoying thing is that the industry went from measuring vertical resolution—720p and 1080p—to horizontal resolution—2K and 4K. (More on that here.)

As a result, watching a 1080p Blu-ray disc upscaled on Dorothy is akin to watching a standard-def DVD upscaled on your HDTV. As you can see in the shot below, the upscaler uses two pixels to render a one-pixel wide line from a test disc. But at Dorothy’s scale, it’s less about spotting compression artifacts, which are most visible when you’re close enough to induce nausea anyway. It’s about getting your face blown off.

How’s it stack up to Pioneer’s Kuro, one of the top plasmas in the game?
As far as motion-resolution goes—the all-important ability to maintain crisp images while they’re in motion on the screen—it's actually better. According to HD Guru Gary Merson (who was more interested in running his calibration discs on the 150 than sticking with us for some Counter Strike, God bless ’im), the 150-incher, even as a prototype, scored a resolution of 920 lines on a 1080i signal. Pioneer’s ’08 Kuros, the next best, scored 900. Our bet is that Dorothy can't best the Kuro in the contrast department, but as you can see from all of our shots, it's no slouch. Check out more performance specs in Gary’s 125-TV mega-guide. Below: Gary testing motion resolution.

How much power does she suck down, and at what cost?
Dorothy is addicted to raw electricity—we’re talking two dedicated 15-amp, single-phase, 208-volt lines which produce around 3,000 watts on average. Dorothy peaks at around 7,000 watts of direct consumption. Not exactly EnergyStar.

If I plugged Dorothy in at my apartment (that is, after removing my second-floor balcony door and window and much of the exterior wall while at it, and hiring a crane to bring the TV in), Dorothy’s juice habit would run me around $1.50 per hour of use, at ConEd’s current price of 22 cents per kilowatt-hour. So, after renting the Godfather Blu-ray set, factor in about $15 more in electricity charges for watching the whole thing.

How much heat does the thing put off?
We were expecting getting close to Dorothy was going to feel like putting our faces in a toaster oven. Even standard-size Kuros can feel a little warm. But surprisingly, up front, the heat was far from extreme. It very well could be channeled out the back, but we didn’t see any industrial-grade heat sinks behind her, either, or hear any fans blowing away. (Note: We're not allowed to show photographs of Dorothy's rear, though we did have a peek.)

How much does she weigh?
Around 1,700 pounds not including the stand. For comparison, an actual Mini Cooper with Adam in the driver’s seat weighs about 2,800 pounds.

How does Dorothy get around?
With great care and difficulty. After her inception at Amagasaki 5, Dorothy and her sisters were tested then sent on the trade-show circuit. Unlike the 103, they’re too big even for wooden crates. All that protects Dorothy and her sisters from the elements are the thin membranes of bubble wrap and Styrofoam wrapped around them, and the tarp draped over the open shipping cage. That’s all. Here's a fun fact: Only two 150-inchers can fit in a single 747 cargo hold at a time.

Although we saw a 150-incher at CES last January, Dorothy’s first trip was to IFA in Berlin this September. Afterward, she headed for Panasonic’s North American HQ in Secaucus, NJ where we got the chance to meet. She’s due to appear on Wall Street today (unfortunate timing for the poor girl) for the official US debut, then on to trade shows in Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong before returning home again to Japan.

Thanks for the facts, but what was that about a "mind-meltingly awesome" experience again? Any way to demonstrate that, say with a video of Gran Turismo 5's in-car view?
Why yes we can, and we'll throw in the 42-inch steering wheel for free:

There's more where that came from: check out more hands-on 150-inch action here and here.