Sony unveils new In-Car Multimedia AV Centre with TomTom navigation in Europe
Sony has announced its new in-car multimedia AV units that sport TomTom navigation in Europe. These media units offer 7- and 6.1-inch WVGA touchscreen displays. The XNV-L77BT, XNV-770BT, XNV-L66BT, and XNV-660BT will be shipping in November with TeleAtlas maps of 45 nations. All models will offer Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB jacks, DivX playback, DVD drive, while the "L" models will offer traffic and weather alerts, along with a Google-powered local search function. A music recommendation engine is also included that is capable of changing tracks based on your mood. Are you planning to install a new GPS unit into your car?
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DIY Van de Graaff generator
Mark Rehorst has an excellent set of instructions on how to build your own Van de Graaff generator. What's that, you say? Well, a Van de Graaff generator is a device capable of producing high voltages by collecting electrostatic charges on a large metal sphere. Basically, its a fun and relatively safe way of creating high voltages, which can then be used to do things like make peoples hair stand up, or power particle accelerators.
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The Apple TV: Now Smaller and Cheaper (kind of)
Forget the iTV name, the refreshed Apple TV is still called the Apple TV. But that’s about where the similarities end. The entire system from the form factor to the UI is different; even the entire concept is different. I think we can officially say Apple is taking the Apple TV and the whole streaming market seriously now. It’s no longer just a hobby despite what Steve says.
The new model is dramatically smaller than the old one — 1/4 of the size actually. It features 802.11n built in with HDMI, Ethernet, and optical audio on the backside. The power supply is even built-in. No more power bricks, people!
Just like the rumors stated, the new Apple TV is significantly smaller than the previous generation. That’s partly because it no longer utilizes a spinning disk hard drive for local storage. Flash memory now handles that task, but it’s really only for buffering as it’s not that large. This device is after all a low-cost streamer designed not to hold your media, but to access it from other locations.
The real news is the added content. Apple feels that people do not want to manage local storage — hence the lack of hard drive — and so content will be delivered from the cloud. Keep in mind, there’s no purchasing content, just renting. First-run movies will be available the same day that they hit DVD for $4.99. TV shows now cost $.99 rather than the old price of $2.99 but only Fox and ABC are on board right now.
Then there’s Netflix. Yep, it’s in the box as well and so is YouTube. Both are available through beautiful custom-built UIs. No more red screens for Netflix. (yay!)
But while the retail tag is only $99, it isn’t exactly cheaper when you figure you have to rent all of the content. Apple didn’t announce anything about connecting to your computer or personal cloud. Correction, the Apple TV now features AirPlay, but that only allows users to stream from iPad and visa-versa. There doesn’t seem to be anyway to pull content from a network-attached storage. (I hope I’m wrong) Update: So as it turns out, there is network access, but only with very limited supported video formats. Don’t expect a lot of your downloaded content to play.
The new Apple TV will be available in 4 weeks, with pre-orders starting today.
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The Apple TV: Now Smaller and Cheaper (kind of)
Review: LG 42LD450 LCD TV
Televisions are overpriced. People spend thousands of dollars to buy the latest, fantastic TV with more features. For me it always comes down to picture quality and the price paid for it. This is where the LD450 beats all. Great picture, no features great features for a low price. I don’t particularly like LG as a brand since I’ve come across a dysfunctional DVD player some years ago. Because of the LD450 my opinion about LG has shifted.
You don’t get much in the box except a pretty good remote, a manual and of course the TV set with the stand. The design of the TV is pretty dull: a black slab of plastic around a big black LCD. There is however an indicator light in the lower right corner showing if the TV is on or off. This can be turned off, and that’s good. Buttons and connectors are all at the back and side; nothing can be seen from the front. There are two HDMI inputs in total and while that might not be enough for some, it’s enough for me. Sound is decent with the 2X10W of the hidden speakers. There is only one optical output for audio connectivity and that might be a problem for sound junkies.
Picture quality is superb even though this is a 50Hz set. Regular TV channels look good and HD is of course fantastic. The screen looks brighter than similar sized sets that cost $8-900. Setting up the picture is quite easy. I liked it as it was out of the box but if you want to set it for yourself there is a pretty straightforward wizard for that. There is an Eco mode to save the globe from certain doom which I instantly turned off because it dims the brightness of the screen. Input selection is done manually; unfortunately the set can’t see which input has a signal on it. The TV keeps waiting for the signal on the input that was used most recently. You can choose from several picture modes such as the 24p Real Cinema and you can set up your own picture settings and save them.
Another (the only) important feature is the USB input. You can plug in USB HDD or thumb drive and access pictures and music via the TV menu. Now if you are smart and get a simple universal remote you can enable video playback. Various formats are supported, including mkv. This means that all you need is an external HDD to watch HD movies on this set.
The LG42LD450 is a great LCD TV for an unbeatable price. It may lack some features but if you don’t like spending a lot of money and want to buy a new TV, this might be an option. With the added functionality to watch HD movies via USB this set becomes a fantastic deal that I can recommend to anyone.
SUMMARY
- Display Type LCD
- Screen Size 42″
- Screen Size Diagonal 42.0″
- Full HD 1080 Yes
- Native Display Resolution 1920 x 1080
- ED-Resolution 1080p
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio 100,000:1
- Response Time 4 ms
- No. of HDMI Ports 2
- Pictures and Music via USB 2.0 Yes
- Life Span (Typical) 60,000 hours
- Warranty 1 Year Parts & Labor
VIDEO
- XD® Engine Yes
- Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Aspect Ratio Correction 6 Modes
- Viewing Angle 178º / 178º
- Just Scan (1:1 Pixel Matching) HDMI™: 1080p/1080i/720p, Component: 1080p/1080i/720p, RF: 1080i/720p
- Color Temperature Control 3 Modes
- 1080p Source Input HDMI™: 60p/30p/24p, Component: 60p/30p/24p, RGB: 60p (WXGA)
- Picture Mode 7 Modes
- ISFccc® Ready Yes
- Picture Wizard II Yes
- AV Mode 3 Modes (Cinema, Sports, Game)
- 24p Real Cinema Yes (5:5/2:2 Pulldown)
- 3:2 Pulldown Yes
- Picture Reset Yes
- x.v. Color Yes
- DTV Signal Strength Indicator Yes
AUDIO
- Mono/Stereo/Dual (MTS/SAP) Yes
- Audio Output Power (Watts – THD 10%) 20W (10W x 2)
- Speaker System Details 2 Way 4 Speakers
- Dolby® Digital Decoder Yes
- Surround System Infinite Sound
- Bass/Treble/Balance Controls Yes
- Clear Voice II Yes
- Auto Volume Leveler II Yes
- EZ Sound Mode 5 Modes
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Smart Energy Saving Yes
- Backlight Control Yes
- A/V Input Navigation Yes
- Input Labeling Yes
- Quick View (Flashback) Yes
- Parental Control w/V-Chip Yes
- Key Lock Yes
- Closed Caption (CC) Yes
- SimpLink (HDMI CEC) Yes
CONVENIENCE FEATURES
- Language English/Spanish/French/Korean
- Auto Tuning/Programming Yes
- Channel Add/Delete Yes
- Favorite Channel Programming Yes
- Auto/Manual Clock Yes
- On/Off Timer Yes
- Sleep Timer Yes
- Auto Off/Auto Sleep (When no video is present) Yes
SIDE INPUTS & OUTPUTS
- AV In 1
- HDMI™/HDCP Input (1.3 w/Deep Color) 1
- USB 2.0 (Music/Photo) 1
- Headphone Out 1
REAR INPUTS & OUTPUTS
- RF In (Antenna/Cable) 1
- AV In 1
- Component Video In (Y, Pb, Pr) + Audio 1
- Digital Audio Out (Optical) 1
- HDMI™/HDCP Input (1.3 w/Deep Color) 1
- RGB In (D-Sub 15pin) – PC 1
- PC Audio Input 1
- RS-232c In (Control/Service) 1
CABINET/ACCESSORIES
- Cabinet Color Glossy Black
- Swivel Stand (degrees) +20º / -20º
- Remote Control Type 1 (Unified)
- VESA® Compliant (WxH) 200mm x 200mm
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
- Slim Wall Mount Not Included
BROADCASTING SYSTEM
- Built-In Tuner ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM
POWER
- Voltage, Hz 100V ~ 240V, 50/60 Hz
- On Mode (Average) 180W
- Stand-by Mode <0.1W
SIZE & WEIGHT
- TV without stand (WxHxD) 40.2” x 25.0” x 3.0”
- TV with stand (WxHxD) 40.2” x 27.0” x 10.3”
- TV without stand weight 29.8 lbs
- TV with stand weight 33.3 lbs
- Shipping weight 41.7 lbs
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Review: LG 42LD450 LCD TV
Disney And Fox To Offer 99-cent TV Shows On iTunes
We already suspected that Apple would be introducing a 99-cent TV rental service on iTunes in its upcoming announcement, and now word is going around that two major Hollywood studios have signed up for the deal, namely Fox and Disney. That being said, apparently the deal might be for a short period of time only, and Fox has only agreed to the lower price only for broadcast shows that it both produces and airs. Some executives are apparently worried that 99-cent episode rentals will cut into the lucrative DVD sales and pull viewers away from watching network TV, eroding a $20 billion advertising market. Whatever rumors are going around at the moment, we'll be able to give you the full details really soon, so stay tuned!
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Weekend Project: CD/DVD Parts Container
A cheap and easy way to organize parts of all sizes.
Thanks go to Steve Sofiel for the original article in MAKE, Volume 23.
To download The CD/DVD Parts Container video click here and subscribe in iTunes. Check out the complete CD/DVD Parts Container article in MAKE Volume 23
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.
Triple boot your Mac machine
Own a Mac machine but do not want to limit it to just Mac OS X? Well, here's a tutorial on letting your Mac run on more than one operating system - we're talking about a triple boot process, where an Intel-based Mac will be configured to runn Mac OS X, Windows 7 (64-bit), and Ubuntu 10.04. Of course, before you get started, you will require a Windows 7 DVD, a Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard DVD, and a blank CD or DVD for the Ubuntu install. Once you're done by following the steps religiously, you will soon be able to handle Apple's iLife suite, play Mass Effect 2 under Windows 7, and have fun with some of the best open-source programs available on a single machine - talk about significant cost savings in these cash-strapped times.
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Commodore PC64, jugando con el pasado
Commodore lleva unos meses enseñando la cabeza en los medios, y estoy seguro que a muchos de vosotros os causará un especial interés con sólo leer el mítico nombre de la empresa. La firma tiene en su haber alguno de los mejores y más exitosos ordenadores de la historia, como el Commodore 64, con más de 30 millones de unidades vendidas, o el Amiga, todo un adelantado a su época.
Su vuelta al mercado con ordenadores “todo en uno” ya estaba anunciada bajo la denominación AIO (All in One), con algunos diseños expuestos, e incluso un rival para el Asus EEE Keyboard. En la misma línea de desarrollo la compañía ha lanzado un comunicado de prensa para anunciar un nostálgico Commodore PC64.
Apricorn EZ Writer II for fast DVD burning wherever you are
While Blu-ray technology has started to catch on, many people still use DVDs as the medium of choice to store data. Well, burning DVDs shouldn't be too much of a problem considering most computers and notebooks these days offer DVD burning capability right out of the box, but what happens when you are rocking to a netbook? Enter the Apricorn EZ Writer II which is an ultra-portable Dual Layer DVD burner with integrated USB cable. It tips the scales at a mere 11.7 oz, coming in a black gloss finish that ought to keep all those business suits happy, alongside a sleek, slim-line design that is easy to bring around. It will retail for $54 (after a $25 mail-in rebate) if you're interested, perfect for your kid who's going back to college with a brand new netbook in tow. [Press Release]
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Apricorn EZ Writer II for fast DVD burning wherever you are
Commodore announces Commodore PC64
Commodore USA will be rolling out its latest device known as the Commodore PC64, which will be powered by an Intel Atom processor while boasting up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a SATA 1TB hard drive, with an HDMI output to cater to those who want to hook it up to a HDTV, an optical drive with the choice of DVD/CD or Blu-ray among others. To make things all the more nostalgic, it will come in an exact replica of the original beige C64 chassis - now that ought to have you shed a tear or two. You should be able to see it hit the market before the year is over and in time for the frenzied holiday shopping season, so start saving your pennies now.
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Commodore announces Commodore PC64