Mighty Gadget Blog: The latest technology news & reviews in the UK

The D241H Display+ is a new monitor with what i can only describe as bizarre features for a monitor. I’m not saying their bad features by any means just strange. In a world where most people own mobile phones or PMPs which can do your social networking, emails and photos, why not have a monitor that can do it independently of your desktop PC.

This 1080P Full HD panel with a 2ms response time, HDMI and DVI port, it’s your standard fairly decent LCD monitor for your desktop, What makes it stand out though is its ability to connect via Wi-Fi(or ethernet) to the net when your desktop is powered off. Once connected it’s widgets can check your email(Gmail and Yahoo! mail) collect RSS feeds from your favourite MightyGadget blog, and other assorted web feeds.

You can also plug in an SD card or USB dongle and playback your pictures turning the monitor into an oversized picture frame. What’s cool is you can have three widgets working at once too. It also comes with a remote with a slide out QWERTY keyboard making it easy to write your emails or messages from a comfortable distance.

No pictures of the screen yet but it’s believed to be available in May and pricing is still TBC.

Taiwanese giants Asus have recently announced this monstrous new 27” monitor with 3D support. Asus seem to be embracing the new future of 3D tech already with a 3D supported laptop out on the market and it seems to continue here with this super monitor.

Design wise it’s not the best looking monitor in the world but Asus can please aesthetically if they want. Quality is the name of the game here though, 27” screen with NVIDIA 3D vision support, will also be available in a smaller 23”(MG236 and VG236H) and 23.6”(PG246)(but why would you want that when you can get 27?). It has dual link DVI allows for full 1080p HD quality images at a staggering 60fps so when you slap on your 3D specs, the image is smooth and jerk free.

Due out later in the year, we don’t have any price available as of yet so keep your eye out for that. It is believed however that the smaller model will be available before the gargantuan one.

Freeview HD is still in it’s first steps. Although the signal is being broadcast in some regions, the sheer lack of set top boxes available to catch the signal seems to be hindering it hitting the mainstream. Sony though have announced that new lines of TVs incorporating the subscription-free Freeview HD tuners will be launched this week.

The NX803 will be available in 40”- 52” screen sizes capable of LED backlit 200Hz images and future-proofed with 3D support. With built in Wi-Fi this model can stream media from your PC but also incorporates the Sony/LoveFilm widget, allowing subscribed users to stream movies from the DVD rental people(when it gets launched)and Skype and Bravia Internet Video(a TV catch-up service).

Also for the more budget/eco conscious, there’s the HX803 and Bravia Essential EX703. The HX803 same as the above but minus the networking options and the EX703 will have the networking options only a less responsive 100Hz screen and energy saving features. Both the latter models will be available in 40” and 46”

As you may have guessed (despite the recent flurry of mobiles on our blog) we love a good telly and this one looks like a great one coming from those super-relaxed Dutch folk at Philips. This is a contrast ratio beast.

The 2 models will both have Full HD capabilities, available in 32”, 40” and 46”(9000 series) and 37”, 40”, 46”and 52”(8000 series) both have a 0.5ms response time and a staggering 10million : 1 dynamic contrast ratio thanks to those lovely little LED's showering the screen in light.  The 9000 also dishes a super fast 400Hz refresh rate whilst the 8000 a lesser 200Hz(you say lesser but it’s still great) Both series also pack Wi-Fi which can stream video direct from a DLNA enabled PC.

What else makes these great is that both series of TV will be ready for the 3D revolution. However this function wont be given as standard with the initial release. If you want it, you’ll have to upgrade with a a pack containing a wireless transmitter and “Active Shutter” glasses.

The launch has happened today in Spain so details of a UK release and price are still unavailable at the moment but should be around soon.

Toshiba have announced two new model additions to its REGZA line of TVs and also we have a bit more info on the anticipated “Cell” TV we spoke about a few months back.

Firstly Toshiba are unleashing 2 new Freeview HD/LED Backlit series to its REGZA TV lines, the WL and SL series. The lower end SL will feature LED backlit screens for that increased contrast ratio/picture quality, built in Freeview HD receiver, built in DLNA(stream video from a DLNA enabled PC) and a 100Hz refresh rate. It will come in 32”, 40” and 46” and should be available around April. The WL is the more classy affair. Again LED backlit screens, built in Freeview HD(also upscales standard definition pictures using Toshiba’s Resolution+). The DLNA feature with this one isn’t built in but comes with a DLNA wireless dongle. What else makes this better, well it comes in the bigger 40”, 46” and 55” but also has a better 200Hz refresh rate.

Now for the Cell TV. Toshiba Europe has said that we should be seeing the multichannel masterpiece later this year in the Autumn. It will also include Net Resolution+ to improve internet video quality, will also include video calling capabilities. The main new addition which will make this TV truly spectacular is that it will have 3D support.

The two Korean Electronic giants are both looking at launching their 3DTV screens as soon as next month. Samsung’s LED9000 Series 3D TV will be its first release where LG will be shipping its 32-52” Infinia LE9500 range of screens.

With so much in the 3D world appearing within the next year (Sky 3D, 3D gaming and more 3D Movies) now is a good time for the release. With the obvious popularity rise in 3D now at its highest since the 80s 3D revolution the question asked we need to ask is “will people spend the money on what could be the next fad”. Samsung seem to think so but maybe not as highly as first anticipated. Samsung Visual Display Division chief Yoon Boo-Keun said that Samsung had dropped their target of 2.6million 3DTV sales to 2 million(still a lot of sales)

Only problem is they’re keeping shtumm about prices but i wouldn’t expect it to be anything but ludicrous!

Unveiled at CES last week Sharp are coming out with a new line of 1.6”deep AQUOS LED TVs and boy do they look good. As you all know we all love a good TV at Mighty Gadget and these do indeed look the bee’s knees as most LED’s do. What makes them different you might ask? Standard screens work as we all know with a red green and blue pixel. These add a fourth pixel, a yellow one, which improves the colours one can see on a screen.

The LC-LE810E will come in 3 sizes, 32”, 40” and 46” and will support 1080p output. The next model up is the LC-LE820 which is pretty much the same only coming in the larger 40”, 46” and 60”. The daddy of the series is the LC-LE920E. Again this comes in 40”,46” and 60” but has extras!! It has Aquos Motion 240Hz to reduce on motion blur and has the latest version of AQUOS Net(that means if you live in the US you get Netflix and and Twitter working on your box)

The TV’s should be out in March over here but we don’t have any prices as yet

LG’s first told us about its new SL9000 a few months back now we have it here in Blighty the information is here for you. As were still waiting for OLED to break the 15” barrier LED is the next best thing inn television.

The super-slim edge to edge screen uses LED’s to backlight the screen. As LED’s are small this allows the screen to be super thin. Also they use a lot less power than a standard LCD TV, but the most important point is the clarity and depth it adds to the screen in comparison to an LCD or Plasma.

At a mere 3cm thin, it sports 4HDMI ports aswell as all the standard component and PC slots. However due to how thin the screen actually is and the fact the ports are on the back and not on the side of the panel, wall mounting this baby will require a dab DIY hand!

Prices start at £1000 for a 42” and £1500 for a “47, LG have however said this is the start of the series and it will soon come in smaller flavours which if you don’t have the space or the money for a mammoth screen, you can pick a smaller one up soon.