Philips Cinema 21:9 Ultra Widescreen perfect for Movie Snobs

So now that you’ve got your brand new super-deluxe widescreen flat screen television, isn’t it time for an upgrade? If you’re like me, you know the minute you buy anything that runs on electricity, you’re cursed with its immediate obsolescence. So it is with great pleasure that I present the latest in drool-worthy future tech, the ULTRA-widescreen television.

Conventional 16:9 HDTV sets are for wussies. At least that’s what Philips is saying with their upcoming Cinema LCD televisions, which support a truly cinematic 21:9 viewing aspect ratio.

You see, big blockbuster movies are often shot in 70-millimeter or Cinemascope formats are actually 2.20:1 or 2:35:1 ratios, so end up showing with black bars on top and bottom on even the best 16:9 displays. With a 21:9 ratio, you’re at 2.33:1, which means you’ll have virtually no black bars when watching films shot in these formats.

Now keep in mind that the 56″ Philips Cinema LCD screen will have to stretch your precious HD and Blu-Ray signals to fill the screen so the former black bars will result in some wasted resolution. But what good were all of those pixels doing as black dots anyhow?

Of course, watching 4:3 programs on this bad boy will give you the fattest black bars you’ve ever seen, but 4:3 is so last decade anyhow. The Cinema display can also stretch 16:9 content to fill the 21:9 screen, but if you’re like me, you hate stretchy heads, and would rather put up with the black bars on the sides while viewing regular HD content.

Philips also says the Cinema series will include their colorful RGB LED Ambilight backlight technology, which should make watching movies on this beast a truly immersive experience. Expect the Cinema 21:9 to hit stores this spring.

iPod Hoodies: Cute or Stupid?

Some people find clothes for things that aren’t meant to wear clothes (i.e. everything non-human) cute, perhaps even cool. I’m not as enthusiastic about the idea, but to each his own right? If we already have chihuahua wigs or cat dresses, then I guess gadget clothing isn’t so bad. Presenting: iPod Hoodies.

So..yeah. Uhm. It comes in two sizes, Large - for iPod Classic, iPod Touch and iPhone - and Small - for everything smaller than the ones I mentioned. Of course you can also have your other gadgets wear it, as long as it fits. Of course you can have them wear it even if it doesn’t fit; to each his own. No other colors or prints are available. Yet. Order your iPod’s very own hoodie at Lazybone UK for £8 ($10.90 USD).

Elecom’s USB Switch with USB Hub

Here are two new USB switches from Elecom Japan that will come with a 2- and 7-port USB hub, respectively. The hubs allow you to share anywhere from two to seven USB-connected devices over two computers without installing a private network. These new hubs from Elecom are perfect for SOHO setups or room mates.

Sharp Announces Two New Aquos TV Racks

Sharp has rolled out two new home theater racks namely the AN-AR410 and the AN-AR510 which support 37″ - 42″ and 42″ - 52″ LCD TV’s respectively. Both racks are equipped with a 3.1 channel surround sound, 3 x HDMI ports, 2 x Digital inputs and a digital amplifier which delivers an output of 485W. The AN-AR410 is priced at 90,000 Yen ($900), meanwhile the AN-AR510 sells for 100,000 Yen ($1000). Both units will be available in Japan starting June 10.

Samsung PC LCDs Get Touch Of Color

Samsung has added three new desktop LCD monitors to their range in the form of the P2070, P2370 and P2370HD. All three LCDs feature Samsung’s Touch of Color design, 50,000:1 contrast ratio and a clear acrylic neck. The main differences are: the P2070 only offers 1600 x 900 screen resolution, meanwhile the P2370 and P2370HD boast 1920 x 1080 screen resolution for viewing HD content. Not to mention, the P2370HD is also equipped with an integrated HDTV tuner. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing and release dates yet.

Dell 4310WX DLP Projector

You can now purchase the Dell 4310WX DLP projector that provides 1,280 x 800 resolution in a 16:10 aspect ratio, 3,500 lumens brightness and 2,000:1 contrast ratio. You can use this projector for business presentations, classrooms, or your home theater. Each purchase of the Dell 4310WX comes with a remote control with an integrated laser pointer. Other features include a VGA input, two component/analog D-sub inputs, an HDMI 1.3, DisplayPort input, and Ethernet. The Dell 4310WX DLP projector is priced at $1,099.

Clickfree Traveler External SSD

Clickfree just rolled out its new external SSD which comes in the size of a credit card. You can buy the Clickfree Traveler SSD in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, which will retail for $80, $150 and $250, respectively. Clickfree has also released the DVD Transformer, which plugs in like a standard USB drive, but automatically scans your computer for personal files and other important data then backs it up on CD or DVD. The DVD Transformer is priced at only $40 each.

Harman Kardon BDP 10 Blu-ray Player

The Harman Kardon BDP 10 is a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player that comes with the standard Blu-ray capabilities such as BD Live, 1080p at 24fps, advanced audio codecs support, and front-mounted USB port. The back panel is equipped with HDMI, Ethernet, optical, and coaxial audio outputs. Priced at €700($938), the Harman Kardon BDP 10 will be available later this month in Europe.

Samsung Virus Killer

The SE1H is the latest air conditioning system from Samsung that not only cools your house during summer, but also eliminates all those virii that can harm you. And yes it comes in the form of a perfect Asian speciment in an elegant blue dress. Or is it that big chunk of gadgetry she’s leaning on?

Logitec’s Pocket Wireless Router

Here is the LAN-WG/RA pocket wireless router from Logitec. Measuring 62mm x 82mm x 19mm and weighing 55grams, the device can be transformed as AP (Access Point) if needed. The gadget is also a compliant with the basic encryption standards including WPA2(AES), WPA(TKIP) and WEP128/64 bit.

LaCie’s High Capacity Network Storage Devices

LaCie has recently released two new high capacity NAS in the form of the Big Disk Network and d2 Network. The d2 Network supports up to 1.5TB capacity, meanwhile the Big Disk Network combines two drives in a RAID 0 setting, for up to 4TBs of storage. The LaCie NAS solutions are available now, with prices starting at $189.99 for the d2 Network and $379.99 for the Big Disk Network.

Sprint’s Samsung Exclaim M550 Phone

The Samsung Exclaim M550 messaging handset for Sprint is claimed to be the successor to the Samsung Rant. It comes with an alphanumeric and a QWERTY keypad, a 2.6-inch QVGA display, EV-DO Rev. 0 connectivity, social networking applications, GPS navigation, a 2MP shooter, and a microSDHC memory card slot. Sprint will release the Samsung Exclaim M550 on June 7, 2009 in either blue or purple. No info on pricing at this time.

20-inch LCD Monitor From Iiyama Japan

The ProLite E2008HDS-B from Iiyama Japan is available in two versions. The 20-inch model features a 1000:1 contrast ratio, a 250cd/m2 brightness level and a maximum of 1600×900 pixels resolution. Meanwhile, the 21-inch model provides Full HD resolution, a 300cd/m2 brightness level and 1000:1 contrast ratio. The 20-inch and 21-inch models are priced at 17,800 Yen () and 15,800 Yen (), respectively.

SAFA A33 - Slim Voice Recorder

If you’re looking for a slim voice recorder, then check out the A33 from SAFA. This compact device offers 2GB of storage, A-B repeat function and up to 264 hours of recording time. It comes in two different color options white silver and dark silver. Sadly, the A33 is only available in Korea at the moment for unannounced price yet.

Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headset

The Halo Bluetooth headset from Jabra comes with 8-hours of talktime and a 13-days of standby time. Weighing at 80-grams, the headset has touch sensitive controls that makes it easier to adjust the volume with only a single touch. This £99.99($150) Bluetooth headset also features Noise Blackout dual-mic technology to provides crystal clear communications.

Heart Handbag Necklace USB Flash Drive Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Looking for a perfect Mother’s Day gift? Then check out this fashionable Heart Handbag Necklace USB Flash Drive from Gadget4all. This elegant flash drive not only comes with 2GB of storage but it also serves as a kind of fashion decoration that you can wear wherever you go. The necklace is available in pink and white for a retail price of $23.

Four New GPS Navigation Gadgets From Pioneer

Pioneer just launched not one but four new in-car navigation gadgets this week. Known as the AVIC-VH9900, AVIC-ZH9900, AVIC-H9900 and the AVIC-T20, these in-car GPS gadgets will be available in Japan early next month. The first three models are in-dash style GPS with the 7-inch WVGA touchscreen display, digital TV tuner, and 1Seg TV tuner. Meanwhile, the Pioneer AVIC-T20 is a Portable Navigation System (PNS) that has a 5.8-inch touchscreen display (800 x 480 pixels) and supports 3G/HSDPA connectivity. Pricing info is still unavailable so far.

Asus To Release 10.1-inch Eee PC 1002 HAE in Japan

Asus will release its Eee PC 1002 HAE netbook in the Japanese market on May 16, 2009. What makes this netbook special is that it comes with a sleek aluminum body. The netbook adopts a 10.1-inch WSVGA (1,024×600) LCD screen with a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU, a 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD and Microsoft Windows XP OS. Available in gray, blue and red, the Eee PC 1002 HAE also supports three USB2.0 ports, IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth v2.1+EDR, and a 1.3MP webcam. The new Eee PC retails for 49,800 Yen ($500).

Garmin Oregon 550 & 550t GPS With 3.2MP Camera

Garmin has introduced two new personal navigators in the form of the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t. Both devices are equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera for taking geotagged photos, a 3-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen display, a 3-axis compass, a 850MB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, a USB port, a waterproof casing and powered by a pair of rechargeable AA NiMH batteries which are good for about 16 hours. The main difference between both devices is that the Oregon 550 ($499.99) only has the standard shaded-relief worldwide basemap, meanwhile the Oregon 550t ($599.99) comes preloaded with 100K topological maps for the US, with 3D elevation perspectives.

Exemode MS-400 Hi-Fi

Exemode is known for their camcorders and cameras. But, did you know that they also sell audio products? The company has announced the MS-400, a mini CD/SD and USB mini Hi-Fi with FM and AM radio. Measuring 150mm x 220mm x 148mm, the music player provides two 2-watts speakers which are enough to listen to your favorite music in the office. The Exemode MS-400 Hi-Fi is priced at 7980 Yen($80).

Loewe Art SL HDTV

Loewe’s Art SL is a Full HD LCD display that comes with an Eco Mode to control how energy efficient your TV is. When “automatic light dimming” is activated, the LCD display uses 20% less electricity than the premium mode. The HDTV also uses 0.7 watts of power in standby mode. Available in chrome silver or high gloss black in 42- and 47-inch screen sizes, the Loewe Art SL is priced at a hefty £2345 ($3,524).

Pentax K20D Titanium Limited Edition

Pentax has released the Pentax K20D Titanium Limited Edition that features a 2.8-inch LCD screen, image stabilization and dust proofing. The original version of the Pentax K20D is available for $700, meanwhile the limited edition Titanium version costs a whopping $1199. The 14.6MP DSLR will be available in Japan at the end of April 2009. Only 1000 units will be available for purchase.

Palm Pre Officially Announced for Bell Canada

Canadian mobile users now can purchase the long-awaited Palm Pre via Bell Mobility sometime in the second half of 2009. FYI, the Canadian Palm Pre features EV-DO connectivity, a 320 x 480 pixels multi-touch display, GPS, Wi-Fi, a full QWERTY keyboard and the WebOS platform.

Puppy Speakers from Japan Trust Technology

Japan Trust Technology has rolled out the Puppy speakers (codenamed WONSPUSB) that connect to the PC via USB port. The speaker is located in the abdomen of “the dog”, that boasts an output of 2watts x 2ch. Priced at $40 each in Japan, these Puppy speakers also come with a wired remote control in the shape of a guitar.

SmartDevices SmartQ 7 MID

SmartDevices is back with another one of its mobile internet device known as the SmartQ 7. This new MID boasts a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution, WiFi connectivity, two USB ports, a TV output, an integrated stereo speakers and Linux OS with preloaded IM clients, internet access and PMP features. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing and availability yet.

MAINGEAR Relaunches F131 Gaming PC

MAINGEAR has decided to re-launch their high performance gaming PC ‘F131′ that boasts cutting edge graphics technology. This ultimate gaming PC is packed with 3 ATI 4890 graphics cards in CrossFirex, up to 8TB of hard drive storage, hot swappable SATA connectors and the new Domino ALC liquid cooling system from CoolIT Systems. MAINGEAR also allows you to customize the system with your own logo or image, by uploading it to their website and MAINGEAR will have it customized. Price
starts at $1,299.

Sinoda Plasma Japan’s 145-inch Film Display

Sinoda Plasma Japan has unveiled its 145-inch film display which consists of six 1m x 1m displays to create one giant 145-inch display screen. It has a resolution of 960 x 720 pixels and weighs only 7.2Kgs. Unfortunately, the display is still in development stage. Stay tuned for more updates.

World’s Smallest Wireless N USB Adapter From Mvixs world

Mvix USA will release the Nubbin USB network adapter that is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux and is backward compatible with IEEE 802.11n draft 3.0 and IEEE 802.11b/g. This world’s smallest Wireless N adapter also supports up to 150Mbps speed. You can purchase the Nubbin when it is released on May 7th, 2009 for just $39.

Amazon Kindle DX Announced: $489, Ships This Summer

Amazon has finally announced the price tag for its latest wireless reading device ‘Kindle DX’, which is priced at $489. Amazon is now taking pre-orders of the Kindle DX, but an estimated ship date remains unknown other than this summer. When compared to Kindle 2, the DX has a larger 9.7-inch screen that rotates to landscape display, a PDF reader, and more storage space at 3.3GB. For more details please check out the Press Release.

Skullcandy Decibel Collection Headphones

Skullcandy is famous for its high-quality headphones. The company has recently released the Decibel (dB) headphones, which are available in limited quantities. The Decibel (dB) range will consist of half a dozen Collections, each delivering a distinctive design. These headphones also feature high-quality materials, in-line volume and microphone controls and long-lasting water transfer prints which pop with color. The dB collections will be freshened up seasonally in order to bring the most modern and fashionable styles.

Hannspree 10-inch HANNSnote netbook for Spain

Hannspree, best known for some pretty ridiculous products, has just announced its vanilla-as-it-gets HANNSnote netbook. The whole affair looks pretty middle of the road, with a 10-inch 1024 x 600 resolution LCD, Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, Intel GMA950 graphics card, and a 160GB hard drive. It boasts WiFi, Ethernet and Bluetooth, has three USB 2.0 ports, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. It will come in white and black when it is released in late May, in Spain, for a price somewhere between €299 and €399 ($400-$530). No word on availability outside of Spain as of yet -- there's one more shot below.

Pentax Optio P70 - 12MP Compact Digicam

Pentax will introduce their latest digital cameras at CES 2009. One of them is the Optio P70 12MP digicam with a 4x optical zoom (equivalent 28-112 mm), ISO sensitivity up to 6400, 2.7 inch TFT LCD screen and has a 720P video mode at 15 fps. The cool factor for the Optio P70 is the Face Recognition that can track up to 32 faces in 0.03 second. The Pentax Optio P70 will be available in February 2009 for $199.95. Measuring 3.8 inch x 2.1 inch x 0.8 inch and weighing 4.4 oz, the camera supports SD, SDHC with 33.7MB internal memory and uses Li-ion battery D-LI88.

Samsung HMX-H106 Camcorder in Korea

If you are living in Korea, then you are able to buy the new Samsung HMX-H106 camcorder for $900 each. This camcorder features an internal 64GB SSD with full 1080p recording capability and an integrated SDHC memory card slot. Other features include 10x optical zoom through a Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan lens, hardware image stabilization, 4.7-megapixel still shooting and a built-in flash.

Asus U Series Notebook PCs

Asus comes back with three new members of its designer U series laptop that looks like the Apple MacBook Air. The 12-inch U20A, 13.3-inch UX30 and 15.6-inch UX50V are all based on Intel’s Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV), ranging from the entry 1.2GHz Celeron M in the U20A to the 1.3GHz Pentium, 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo and 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo in the UX30 and UX50V. The thinnest model is the UX30 that measures 0.9-inch thick and weights at only 3.5 pounds (without a DVD burner). All models feature 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LED-backlit screen, up to 500GB HDD, and up to 4GB of RAM. The U20A and UX30 use Intel’s GMA 4500 graphics, meanwhile the UX50V has a dedicated GeForce G 105M with 512MB of video memory.

TEC’s Lingo Mouse - World’s Smallest Wireless Mouse

Measuring just 27.5 x 60 x 19 mm and weighing only 0.8 ounces, the TEC’s Lingo mouse is billed as the world’s smallest wireless mouse. This 2.4GHz mouse features 800dpi resolution, an integrated rechargeable battery and comes with a working range of up to 32.8 feet. Sadly, there’s no word on when this will arrive Stateside.

Samsung U5 MP3 Player With a Fitness Program

Samsung will launch the U5 MP3 player that comes with a special fitness program in the Korean market. This program will allow you to know calorie consumption you can expect from your exercises. The player also supports Samsung’s DNSe 3.0 (Digital Natural Sound Engine) sound enhancement technology, a 1-inch OLED display, an FM radio, a 2GB of internal storage, and up to 20 hours of playback time. Unfortunately, there is no word yet on pricing or availability.