Author: Kyle VanHemert

We’ve liked Gunnar’s strain-reducing specs in the past, so we expect that these not-movie-theater-ugly new 3D glasses will be just the ticket for what is looking to be a 3D-heavy 2010.

Gunnar asks, and rightfully so, why the 3D glasses should be the weakest link in a new, multi-million dollar 3D industry. Their solution is this stylish pair of specs that will be available in several popular 3D formats, ostensibly including versions for polarized and shutter 3D.

Joe Croft, co-founder of Gunnar explains: “While typical 3D eyewear is stamped from a flat sheet of plastic, GUNNAR lenses are shaped, formed and cut to provide distortion free optics.” High quality, comfortable, and, in this case, cool* 3D glasses will be an essential component of a successful transition to viable, enjoyable 3D in the home.

The glasses will be available from $90 in Q2, with perscription lenses arriving in months thereafter. [Engadget]

*note: Addy Dugdale refuses to deem 3D glasses “cool” until they look like this:

Though nothing I do these days involves a helmet of any kind, if I was an extreme sports maven, I’d rock a Tunebug at all times. My skull wasn’t the best speaker, but Tunebug kept it a safe one.

Would you ever wear headphones while driving a car? Of course not, it’s dangerous—having your ears open seems like an essential part of staying safe while operating a vehicle. Now why would it be any safer to plug your ears with earbuds while riding a bike or a skateboard?

The Tunebug, by SVC, uses SurfaceSound vibrations to turn your helmet into a surround sound speaker, letting you keep your ears open to potential hazards around you. The unit straps to any helmet with three strong velcro buttons and can play music via Bluetooth or an aux-in plug. In the chaotic Pepcom convention hall the sound didn’t exact rock my world, but it seemed like the Tunebug’s vibrations would be powerful enough to give you a nice, audible soundtrack in calmer environs.

The Tunebug module detaches from its helmet cradle to turn any surface into a speaker. Look for the Tunebug Vibe for $70 in Q2 2010.

ViewSonic has released a bevy of new gear including monitors, media players, HDTVs and, of course, computers, including this adorable VOT125 Mini PC.

On the TV front, ViewSonic is debuting four ViewLED HDTVs from 42″ to 18.5″ with prices ranging from $1,199 to $299. The big boy will be launching in Q2 but the rest will be available in the coming weeks.

In computer monitors, an entire new line of EcoView screens will be available with energy efficient options at all the expected sizes. PMP offerings include the ViewSonic MovieBook line, the best of which offers touch-screen, 1080p HD with HDMI out, and 8GB of memory expandable via SD slot. That model, the VPD550T, has a 5″, though smaller, less beefy models are available with 4.3″ screens.

But the bulk of the action comes in the form of nine new laptops and desktops. There are laptops, like the 13.3″ VNB131—and all-in-one desktops, like the 18.5″ VPC190. The little guy hanging on for dear life above is the VOT125 Mini PC which packs a big punch for a small package: 160 GB HD, Windows 7, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and a 3-1 card reader. For the full specs on all the machines, check out the press release below.

ViewLED HDTVs:

ViewSonic® Leaps Into CES with New ViewLED™ TV Lineup

ViewSonic announces four new LED eco-friendly panel TVs for consumers to enjoy a brilliant full HD experience in any room in the home

LAS VEGAS – 2010 International CES, MGM Signature Suites, January 7, 2010 – ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display, computing and digital content solutions, today introduced its new ViewLED™ eco-friendly LED TV offerings. From 19″ to 42″, these latest solutions are ideal for connecting consumers to the Full HD, dynamic entertainment experience in any room of the home.

Industry leading LED panel technology
The market for packaged LEDs in LCD TV backlights will snowball at a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of 148% to reach $7.5B through 2013, according to a recent Strategy Analytics report. With energy savings of 30-50% over traditional LCD backlit panels, these mercury-free LED TVs feature industry leading picture quality for more natural skin tones, vibrant colors, more pure whites and excellent detail. The result is a high definition visual experience that is as true to life as it is eco-friendly.

“LED technology takes the television viewing experience to the next level,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. “Our new ViewLED™ TVs offer optimal picture and video quality, while saving customers money on their electricity bills. It’s a winning combination.”

Available in multiple sizes to provide consumers with a dynamic HD entertainment experience anywhere in the home, ViewSonic today launched four sleek and lightweight ViewLED TVs. For those in need of a large format Full HD home theater viewing solution, ViewSonic launched the 42″ VT4200LED TV. Featuring 120Hz, Full HD 1080p resolution, a fast 4ms response time and 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, this big screen provides the ultimate visual experience for Internet streamed entertainment, movies, TV shows, gaming or computer applications. Teamed with five HDMI inputs, a USB connection and RS232 for home automation, the VT4200LED offers versatile connectivity options for nearly any entertainment solution.

The 32″ VT3200LED is Energy Star® 5.0 compliant and offers up to 720p resolution, a 5ms response time and multiple HDMI connections for an interactive HDTV viewing experience. For the kitchen, desktop or anywhere that space is limited, ViewSonic offers the 23″ VT2300LED and 18.5″ VT1900LED. The VT2300LED features Full HD 1080p resolution and a fast 5ms response time, while the VT1900LED comes with 720p and multiple HDMI and RCA® audio in connections, both ideal for enjoying rich colors and the ultimate HD entertainment experience.

The VT4200LED will begin shipping in early Q2 2010 for an MSRP of $1,199. The VT3200LED, VT2300LED and VT1900LED will all begin shipping in Q1 2010 at respective MSRPs of $599, $399 and $299.

HD quality content from any source
For those that demand HD quality content from any viewing experience, ViewSonic has developed the VMA50 HDMax™ HDMI Video Converter. This device improves the vibrancy and video quality of any input video stream – making SD video cable and Internet content look like HD, and HD video look even better still – for the optimal entertainment experience. Simply connect the input to any cable-box, IP-set-top box, or DVD player and the output goes to the TV for automatic adjustments to color, brightness and noise for sharpened picture quality. The ViewSonic VMA50 HDMax™ HDMI Video Converter will ship in late Q1 2010 for an MSRP of $149.

To learn more about these products, and how ViewSonic is changing the way consumers think about the connected TV experience and its strategic partnerships with Yahoo!® Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) DivX®, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIVX), visit www.ViewSonic.com/CES, or follow ViewSonic on Facebook®, YouTube® and Twitter®.

EcoView Monitors:

ViewSonic’s® New Smarter, Greener Displays to Drive LED Monitor Discussion at CES

ViewSonic announces 10 Eco- ViewLED™ panel technology, Full HD and 3D-ready LCD monitor solutions

LAS VEGAS – 2010 International CES, MGM Signature Suites, January 7, 2010 – ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display, computing and digital content solutions, today introduced 10 new consumer monitors. With brand new product categories, a broader range of monitors sizes and industry-leading technologies such as ViewLED™ backlighting and Full HD realism, ViewSonic’s monitors are the ones to watch at this year’s show.

VX50 Series – Eco-friendly Full HD, ViewLED technology
The 24″ (23.6″ Vis) VX2450wm-LED and 22″ (21.5″ Vis) VX2250wm-LED are ideal monitors for the green conscious consumer not wanting to skimp on the bells and whistles. Both monitors feature a slim, sleek design and 1920×1080 Full HD 1080p resolution for crystal clear picture quality. They also have a mercury free WLED backlight that automatically detects image signal and intelligently controls backlight brightness for blacker blacks, pure whites and more clearly defined grays. Teamed with integrated stereo speakers, SRS Premium Sound™ technology and DVI and VGA inputs, these Energy Star® compliant monitors provide the ultimate eco-friendly multimedia experience. The VX2450wm-LED and VX2250wm-LED will be available in April for MSRPs of $299 and $219, respectively.

VX39 Series – Style and performance
For those consumers looking for the ideal combination of style and performance, ViewSonic today announced the VX39 Series. Available in 22″ (21.5″ Vis), 24″ (23.6″ Vis) and 27″ viewable screen sizes, the VX39 Series packs 1920×1080 Full HD 1080p resolution, a 2ms response time and HDMI, DVI and VGA inputs into a slim, sleek frame. Teamed with integrated speakers and SRS Premium Sound technology, this Series is the perfect solution for state of the art speed and connectivity. All VX39 Series monitors will be available in for purchase in April for MSRPs of $219-$399. For further information on the VX39 Series, click here.

VA31 and VA32 Series – Cost-conscious connectivity
Also announced today are the VA31 and VA32 Series. These affordable monitors are ideal for the cost-conscious consumer or commercial owner that still wants a sleek looking monitor. With up to 1920×1080 Full HD 1080p resolution, DVI and VGA inputs and integrated speakers, these monitors offer all the connectivity consumers need. The VA31 Series comes in a 16:9 aspect ratio in 19″ (18.5″ Vis), 22″ (21.5″ Vis) and 24″ (23.6″ Vis) viewable screen sizes. The VA32 Series comes in a 16:10 aspect ratio in 19″ or 22″ viewable screen options. All VA31 and VA32 Series monitors will be available for purchase in April for MSRPs of $149-$219.

“Continuing our commitment to the future of digital entertainment, we believe bringing the latest in ViewLED™ technology to our monitors is key for our continued industry leadership,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. “Our more than 20 year standard of innovation, quality and expertise can clearly be seen in our new visual display products. We are proud to continue to push the industry standard on new technologies that are as innovative as they are affordable for the everyday consumer.”

ViewSonic’s eco-friendly monitors can be easily partnered with the company’s PC mini devices to create custom, all-in-one computing solutions. To learn more about these products and ViewSonic’s news at the show, visit www.ViewSonic.com/CES, or follow ViewSonic on Facebook®, YouTube® and Twitter®.

MovieBook PMPs:

ViewSonic® Puts Consumers in Touch with New 1080p
Portable Media Players at CES

New MovieBooks™ offer touch-enabled enjoyment of Full HD 1080p digital content

LAS VEGAS – 2010 International CES, MGM Signature Suites, January 7, 2010 – ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display, computing and digital content solutions, today enhanced its MovieBook™ lineup with six new portable media players. ViewSonic has mobilized the connected entertainment experience by partnering touch capabilities and versatile video output performance of up to Full HD 1080p with extensive storage and complete digital content support.

“Consumers want limitless access to all their preferred media,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. “Our MovieBook products are the ideal portable entertainment solution. From Full HD 1080p performance to HDMI connectivity and touch technology in a variety of sizes, ViewSonic is offering our customers a fun, easy to use way to mobilize their digital content experience.”

Touch-enabled Full HD in the palm of your hand
The VPD550T features a 5″ 800×480 high-resolution LCD touchscreen with HDMI output, making for super easy content interaction. Full HD 1080p viewing enables consumers to enjoy a full range of video and audio formats, including HD movies, photo albums, digital books, music – even view a calendar / clock, use the handy stopwatch feature or record a voice memo while on the go.

With 8GB of internal memory, a Micro SD card slot and OTG support, this device provides a convenient way to consume programming while traveling or relaxing at home. For sharing a full-sized entertainment experience with friends and family at home, the VPD550T easily plugs into any PC or TV via its HDMI output.

Both the VPD550T and the touch-enabled 720p VPD513T will be shipping in Q1 2010 in silver and black color options for respective MSRPs of $199.99 and $189.99.

The 4.3″ VPD422T is ideal for consumers who want to enjoy touch-enabled content on a super high-resolution screen. Features a 15:9 format, 800×480 resolution screen and Full HD 1080p video output performance, audio and video media is crystal clear. With an extensive 8GB of internal memory, OTG USB support, Micro SD card slot for expanded storage and a palm-sized form factor, the VPD422T is the ideal portable entertainment device – just slip in a pocket or purse and go. With a screen resolution of 480×272, the touch-enabled 4.3″ VPD421T also extends the 1080p Full HD video output performance to consumers that prefer 4GB of internal memory.

The VPD422T and VPD421T will be available in Q2 2010 in black, pink and white for respective MSRPs of $189.99 and $179.99.

Making multimedia mobile
For a more compact screen, ViewSonic also launched the 3″ touch-enabled VPD313T. This player offers a 480×272 resolution, 480p screen, 4GB of internal memory and supports a full range of video and audio formats, with useful features including audio recording and a stopwatch function. The VPD313T will be available in Q1 2010 for an MSRP of $149.99.

ViewSonic also launched the VPD403 MovieBook today. With a 4.3″, 480×272 high-resolution screen, video output support of up to 720p, 4GB of internal memory and user intuitive buttons, this device is great for enjoying favorite videos, music, photos or eBooks. The VPD403 will be available in Q1 2010 for an estimated MSRP of $139.99.

For further information on ViewSonic news and product announcements from the show, visit www.ViewSonic.com/CES, or follow ViewSonic on Facebook®, YouTube® and Twitter®.

Computers:

ViewSonic® Promotes Eco-friendly, Smarter, Greener Computing Initiative at CES with the Launch of Nine New PCs

Announces range of new mobile and desktop PC solutions to meet every computing need

LAS VEGAS – 2010 International CES, MGM Signature Suites, January 7, 2010 – ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display, computing and digital content solutions, today enhanced its PC offerings with the announcement of nine new mobile and desktop PC products in a range of sizes and functionalities to meet every individual’s computing needs.

“We are taking our smarter, greener computing initiative to a new level with today’s announcement,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic Americas. “With our three-pronged approach, we enable our customers to truly pick the products appropriate to their lifestyle – from all-in-one PCs for keeping a clean desktop workspace, to PC minis for compact home computing and entertainment, to ultra-portable ViewBook™ netbooks and full-featured ViewBook™ Pro ULV notebooks for mobile computing needs.”

ViewSonic ViewBook and ViewBook Pro family – All the power you need, to go
The 13.3″ VNB131 ViewBook Pro notebook offers fast and powerful computing with the latest ULV SU7300 Intel® Core 2 Duo processor and Windows® 7 Home Premium operating system. At only an inch thick, this thin, lightweight ViewBook Pro packs a 320GB hard drive, 2GB internal memory and a removable DVD RW Super Multi ODD into a sleek, aluminum alloy casing. Perfect for professional mobile warriors needing performance in a light format, this notebook features integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless, two USB 2.0 ports, a 7-in-1 card reader, HDMI and VGA connections and a 6 cell battery for up to eight hours of computing at a time. It even comes with an extra 3 cell battery for an additional four hours of battery life.

Additional ULV notebooks announced today include the 13.3″ VNB132 and 14″ VNB141 ViewBooks. Both feature the latest Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, 2GB RAM and integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity and VGA and HDMI outputs. The VNB132 features the latest Intel ULV SU2300 Celeron processor and a 320GB hard drive, while the VNB141 features the latest ULV SU7300 Core 2 Duo processor and 320GB hard drive. For enhanced multimedia capabilities, the VNB141 also includes a 1.3MB built-in webcam, integrated DVD RW Super Multi ODD and a long-lasting 6 cell battery.

The VNB105 ViewBook netbook is the latest generation portable computing solution for the mobile warrior or student. This 10″ netbook comes standard with the latest N450 Intel Atom® processor, Windows 7 Starter operating system, 1GB of internal memory and a 160GB hard drive. A floating keyboard provides for a smooth ergonomic feel, while preventing dust and dirt from falling into the keyboard base. Perfect for those always on the move, this device features integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless, three USB 2.0 ports and a 6 cell battery that goes up to eight hours off a single charge.

The ViewSonic VNB131 ViewBook Pro will be available in February for an MSRP of $949. The VNB132 and VNB141 notebooks and VNB105 netbook will be available in March for respective MSRPs of $649, $829 and $399. For more information about ViewSonic’s ViewBook and ViewBook Pro mobile computing solutions, click here.

ViewSonic VPC190 All-in-One – The smarter desktop PC
With a clean, space-saving design that compliments any work environment, the eco-friendly 18.5″ VPC190 All-in-One PC is the perfect second home computer and is also ideal for corporate knowledge workers or students. The VPC190 features the latest Intel Atom D510 Dual Core processor with Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and 2GB of internal memory provide a complete desktop computing solution, while the bright, 1366×768 screen and built-in 1.3MB webcam provide an enjoyable viewing experience. The VPC190 also features integrated 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless, six USB 2.0 ports, a 4-in-1 card reader and built-in DVD RW Super Multi drive for full multimedia capability.

The ViewSonic VPC190 All-in-One PC will be available in March for an MSRP of $599. For more information about ViewSonic’s All-in-One PC solutions, click here.

ViewSonic VOT125 PC Mini – So mini, so powerful
The ViewSonic VOT125 PC mini ULV Series are a powerful yet extremely compact and energy efficient set of devices with four different levels of processor options so users can pick the processing power they need. Depending on the processor combination, the VOT125 is ideal for SMBs, corporate, education and government environments or consumers wanting to build their own custom AIO PC using the included VESA® mount. Standard features on the VOT125 include the latest Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, up to 2GB internal memory and a 160GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, DVI-I and HDMI outputs and a 3-in-1 card reader for multiple connectivity options.

Users can choose from a Single Core SU743 Celeron ($499 MSRP), Dual Core SU2300 Celeron ($529 MSRP), Pentium SU4100 Dual Core ($629 MSRP) or Core 2 Duo SU7300 Dual Core ($679 MSRP) processor. The ViewSonic VOT125 PC mini will be available in March. For more information about ViewSonic’s PC mini offerings, click here.

For further information on ViewSonic news and product announcements from the show, visit www.ViewSonic.com/CES, or follow ViewSonic on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About ViewSonic
ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of visual display and computing products. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including computers, LCD monitors, projectors, LCD TVs, digital signage solutions, digital photo frames and other consumer electronics products. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at 800.888.8583 or 909.444.8888; or visit http://www.ViewSonic.com/.

Sony is beefing up their VAIO line with three new notebooks, the F-, Y- and W-Series, and is refreshing their VAIO Z-Series. The four new models are available with Blu-ray drives as well as Sony’s Transfer Jet technology.

The Sony VAIO Z-Series, with a 13.1″ LED backlit screen, weighs only three pounds, thanks to a lightweight carbon fiber body. This road warrior can still kick back and entertain, with a Blu-ray optical drive and HDMI out for movie time. The Z-Series will use solid state drives of up to 512 GB and come with optional 3G connectivity from Verizon. Pre-orders are available now with configurations starting at $1000.

The F-Series is a multi-media affair, with a 16.4″ 16:9 screen, and an optional Blu-ray drive to take advantage of that wide aspect ratio. Of course, it pumps out video in full 1080p and boasts an Intel Core i7 processor. It will be available sometime in the spring for around $1900.

The VAIO Y-Series is a 13.3″ LED, 3.9lb notebook based on affordability and portability. It’s stuck with a Intel Core 2 Duo, but at only $800 makes for a good value. Pre-sales start today.

Sony VAIO Z-Series

Ultra-Mobility Meets Ultra-Performance

At just over three pounds, the Z notebook is housed in a durable carbon-fiber aluminum chassis and delivers all the features found in a full-sized PC including the latest powerful Intel® processor technology.

It incorporates a 13.1-inch (diagonal) high-resolution LED backlight screen, delivering a bright picture with 100 percent color saturation (select models) while conserving power and providing a wide spectrum of true-to-life colors.

The Z model has an optional Blu-ray Disc (BD) optical drive for enjoying, creating and storing high-definition content. Watch BD movies in stunning clarity while on the road or utilize the HDMI output during meetings and make presentations come to life in full 1080 HD resolution. Compatible HDTV and HDMI cable required, sold separately.

-more-

A dynamic hybrid graphics system lets you easily set your graphics performance to provide power when you need it and energy savings to extend battery life when you do not. Select “speed” for maximum power when multi-tasking, “stamina” to conserve energy or “auto” to have the unit select the appropriate computing usage for you.

The PC integrates wireless 3G Mobile Broadband technology provided by Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In (optional), Wi-Fi® (802.11n), and Bluetooth® wireless technologies-so you will always be connected. For 3G Mobile Broadband technology, a separate Verizon service subscription is required (fees apply).

The Z Series comes exclusively in solid state drive (SSD) models-up to 512GB. Faster and more durable, the SSD unit provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications than is typical of standard hard drives.

Sony VAIO F-Series

Multi-media Powerhouse

Featuring a 16.4-inch (diagonal) screen, the VAIO F Series is the ultimate multi-media, entertainment notebook. It incorporates an optional Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive so it can play high-definition content like movies in Full 1080 HD resolution as well as record, store and playback personal content on high-capacity BD media (select models).

Its display is ideal for watching Blu-ray Disc movies. Since many HD films are shot with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the unit’s extra-wide LCD is constructed with the same dimensions. This minimizes the black bars that typically appear, letting you view movies in their intended format.

For those who prefer to watch content on a big screen television, it also has an HDMI™ output connector so you can connect to a high-definition TV set for a larger viewing experience.

An NVIDIA® GeForce® dedicated graphics card provides high-definition graphics processing for intense gaming action without placing huge demands on the unit’s CPU.

Launch directly into Sony’s own Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button on the keyboard and create high-quality home movies. Import your photos and video, choose a theme and soundtrack, click finish and the software does the rest, generating a professional-looking movie complete with special effects.

The PC incorporates Sony’s own Transfer Jet™ technology (select models) enabling you to wirelessly transfer digital photos from select digital cameras-quickly and easily. Simply place your camera on the palm rest and your digital images transfer automatically. A Transfer Jet enabled digital camera and Memory Stick® are required.

It packs an Intel® CoreTM i7 Processor with 4 cores and supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies delivering the performance needed for multitasking.

Both notebooks come equipped with an assist button that links directly to VAIO Care™ software to help maintain and troubleshoot any issues. They also incorporate backlit keyboards for typing in dark situations.

The Z Series comes with Windows® 7 Professional operating system. The F Series is loaded with Windows Home Premium 64-Bit operating system.

The VAIO Z Series will retail for about $1,900 and be available in late spring. For more information on the Z Series log on to www.sony.com/pr/zseries.

The F Series will start at around $1,000 and is available online today for pre-orders at www.sony.com/pr/fseries. They will also be sold at Sony Style® stores and at other major retailers around the country.

Sony VAIO Y-Series

MEDIA ALERT: NEW Sony notebook DELIVERS PORTABILITY AND PERFORMACE AT AFFORDABLE PRICE

Subject: Media Alert: VAIO® Y Series Notebook Ideal for Those On-the-Go

WHO: Great for students and anyone who is constantly on the move, the VAIO Y® Series notebook offers premium portability and serious power at an affordable price. A breeze to carry at just 3.9 lbs, this PC features a durable magnesium casing and delivers up to seven hours of battery life for true mobile freedom.

WHAT: With a thin 1.2-inch profile, the Y Series notebook delivers both portability and performance. An optional Intel® Core™ 2 Duo ultra-low voltage processor and up to 8GBs of RAM help ensure that this PC delivers the power to meet your computing demands, whether running multiple programs or streaming movies over a wireless connection.

The 13.3-inch LED backlit widescreen display on the Y Series offers lower power consumption for improved battery life while providing incredibly high brightness levels that amplify colors and deliver clear, crisp picture quality.

Whether a TV show or sharing photos and home videos, the Y Series notebook lets you view content on your compatible big-screen at an incredibly high level of resolution. An HDMI™ output delivers both your video and audio to compatible televisions and displays via a single cable (sold separately), providing the optimal digital connection.

It is also equipped with Stereo Bluetooth® technology for streaming CD-quality music and audio from your notebook to other compatible devices, such as wireless Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

A precisely engineered keyboard creates a more intuitive typing experience on the Y Series while helping to reduce mistakes and a built-in camera and microphone provides easy video messaging with friends and family.

WHERE: The VAIO Y Series starts at $800 and is available starting today for pre-sales, at Sony Style stores around the country. To find the closest Sony Style store, please visit: www.sony.com/pr/yseries.

Casio’s new projectors are the first to get rid of environmentally un-friendly mercury without losing brightness. Beaming images at up to 3,000 lumens with a hybrid LED and laser system, the Green Slim projectors are lean, green projecting machines.

Current data projectors use mercury-based lamps to beam images at intensities of 2000 or more lumens. Mother Nature does not like this. Casio’s new line of XJ projectors manage to hit the 2000 lumen mark without any harmful mercury, instead using a new hybrid system combining lasers and LED lights.

The Green Slim line includes nine projectors, half supporting WXGA resolution at 1,280×800 and the rest projecting at 1,024×768 XGA, and one projector that can project independently of a computer.

There’s no word on availability or pricing yet, but if you want a high-brightness projector that you can feel good about using, check for Casio’s Green Slim line in the near future.

CASIO RELEASES WORLD’S FIRST* MERCURY-FREE HIGH-BRIGHTNESS PROJECTORS
New SuperSlim Projectors Feature Newly Developed Laser & LED Hybrid Light Source

LAS VEGAS, NV, January 6, 2010 – Casio America, Inc., and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today announced that it has created a mercury-free laser & LED hybrid light source, capable of high-brightness projection for use in the next-generation projectors the company has developed under its “clean & green” concept. Casio is releasing a line of GREEN SLIM projectors with the new light source, introducing the world’s first* mercury-free high-brightness data projectors.

Currently, high-pressure mercury lamps are used as the light source for data projectors capable of producing 2,000 or more lumens. Semiconductor light sources that do not contain environmentally harmful mercury such as Laser and LED offer promising light sources for next-generation DLP® projectors. Until now, however, they were only usable as light sources for small, low-lumen projectors because high-output sources capable of producing green light have not been possible for mass production.

Casio has changed all this by creating an original mercury-free hybrid light source capable of generating high brightness by combining a laser, a fluorescent element and an LED. Casio has achieved high output of green light, which has been considered difficult with conventional semiconductor light sources, by very efficiently converting blue laser light into green light, using the fluorescent element. The high-brightness light of 2,000 or more lumens was then attained by projecting blue laser light, green light converted from blue laser light with the fluorescent element, and light emitted by a red LED through a DLP® chip onto the screen.

Use of the laser & LED hybrid light source makes Casio’s GREEN SLIM projectors the world’s first data projectors bright enough (2,000-3,000 lumens) for projection in a well lit room without using a high-pressure mercury lamp. Usability features have also been greatly improved: the

* As of January 7, 2010, for high-brightness data projectors with at least 2,000 lumens. According to a Casio survey.

body, no bigger than the size of a standard 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper, is slim (1.7 inches) and lightweight (5 lbs). Additional qualities include: the projector produces bright colors through upgraded color purity, the light source has a life of approximately 20,000 hours, projection at maximum brightness is possible in a minimum of eight seconds and no cool down is needed when turning the projectors off.

“Casio is thrilled to introduce this entirely new lineup of eco-friendly Super Slim projectors,” said Toshiharu Okimuro, Chairman of Casio America, Inc. “The advances we have made to provide superior brightness and energy-saving features make it the perfect tool for the road warrior, instructor, gamer and general consumer for home entertainment.”

GREEN SLIM Projectors will be available in a diverse lineup, including a model that can accommodate WXGA Real display at 1280 × 800 dots (16:10) and a model that can project without a PC and can communicate wirelessly with PCs. These projectors will greatly broaden the possibilities for visual communication thanks to Casio’s advanced laser & LED hybrid light source, which will fundamentally change the status quo in projectors and provide enhanced features that make the projectors usable in diverse situations.

■ Laser & LED hybrid light source that enables mercury-free high-brightness projectors with high picture quality, long light source life, and quick powering on and off
■ Slim (1.7 inches) and light (5 lbs) highly portable 8 ½ x 11 inch body
■ Wide-angle 2X optical zoom for use in diverse settings, ranging from small meeting spaces to large conference rooms
■ USB host function for projection without a PC and capability for wireless communication with PCs (XJ-A255/A245/155/145)

Casio will continue expanding its lineup by aggressively developing more products with the new laser & LED hybrid light source, including smaller projectors for individual use.

Main Features of Casio’s GREEN SLIM Projectors

■ Laser & LED hybrid light source that enables mercury-free, high-brightness projection
High-brightness projection is achieved without using a high-pressure mercury lamp by using blue light emitted by a blue laser, green light converted from blue laser light with a fluorescent element, and light emitted by a high-lumen red LED through a DLP® chip onto the screen.

■ Standard paper-size, high-brightness projectors
High-brightness projection is achieved at a maximum of 3,000 ANSI lumens (XJ-A255/A250/A155/A150) with a laser & LED hybrid light source in a slim (43 mm) and lightweight (2.3 kg) standard paper-size body. These projectors can be carried together with documents without being bulky and can project clear images even in brightly lit rooms.

■ Superior color reproducibility increases presentation impact
The laser & LED hybrid light source greatly improves color purity compared to high-pressure mercury lamps. It enables the production of beautifully vivid colors and projects clear, powerful images with visual effects of high color purity.

■ Longer light source life
Use of the laser & LED hybrid light source increases the light source life to approximately 20,000 hours-nearly 10 times that of Casio’s conventional products (XJ-S58, etc.) with a high-pressure mercury lamp-which means less maintenance and lower operating costs. Moreover, brightness deteriorates more slowly than with mercury lamps, so clear image quality can be maintained for a long time.

■ Quick powering on and off, an advantage for smooth presentations
Projection at maximum brightness is possible in a minimum of eight seconds, and no cool down is needed when turning the projectors off. Thus, limited presentation time can be utilized effectively by enabling a smooth presentation flow from set-up to clean-up.

■ Wide-angle 2X optical zoom gives users freedom of projector setup
These models come with a wide-angle 2X zoom lens (lens with a two times shorter focal distance) that provides the greatest magnification* of any data projector. They are also equipped with a feature that automatically corrects vertical distortion of the display due to projector position, enabling effective use in diverse settings ranging from small meeting spaces to large conference rooms and classrooms.

■ HDMI terminal
These models are equipped with an HDMI terminal that can transmit digital audio/video with only one cable. It enables AV devices and PCs also equipped with an HDMI terminal to be easily connected to the projectors, which can then project the contents with no loss of quality.

■ Wide picture in real display (XJ-A255/250/A245/A240)
Able to accommodate WXGA Real display at 1280 × 800 dots (16:10), these models can display wide presentation materials and images in real size.

■ Wireless communication with PCs (XJ-A255/A245/A155/A145)
These models can communicate wirelessly (IEEE 802.11b/g) with up to four Windows® PCs, enabling meetings in which multiple PCs are brought together and presentations that can be conducted easily and remotely from a location away from the projector.

* As of January 7, 2010. According to a Casio survey.

■ USB 2.0 host function enables presentations without a PC (XJ-A255/A245/A155/A145)
These models can project presentations, spreadsheets, word-processor documents, PDF files and other data* prepared on a PC, still images (JPEG/BMP), and moving images (AVI format: Motion JPEG) all without a PC just by using commercially available USB memory. They can also be connected directly to the Multiprojection Camera YC-430, which can project non-digitized information and even three-dimensional objects onto the screen.

■ The projectors can also be fixed to the ceiling with separately sold metal ceiling-mount fittings.

Whoa. This summer we were pretty excited about Vudu bringing Rotten Tomatoes to connected LG hardware. Take that excitement, add hardware from Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, and Vizio, and multiply it by hundreds of services and you’ve got Vudu Apps.

For months, Vudu has been steadily strengthening its stable of services, rolling out Wikipedia, Pandora, and Flickr applications to connected LG TVs (in addition to streaming 1080p movies). Vudu Apps expands their reach in terms of services offered as well as hardware supported by offering hundreds of apps to connected TVs and Blu-ray players from a variety of new partners: the service will show up in HDTVs from Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba and Vizio, as well as Blu-ray players from those last two companies.

We’ve stated that connected devices, when fully realized, could put an end to the separate streaming-based boxes that clutter our AV stacks. This is a strong step in that direction. Though it’s unclear exactly how Vudu will manage all the new content, the screenshots suggest some sort of browser-based system. By officially partnering with Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, and Vizio, and bringing content from Twitter to New York Times to Entourage, Vudu Apps shows a lot of promise for multi-service, connected TVs and Blu-ray players in 2010.

• VUDU Streaming Movie Service
• Pandora
• Flickr
• Picasa
• Facebook
• Twitter
• AP
• New York Times
• Dailymotion
• Stock Quotes
• Weather
• NBC Nightly News
• Meet the Press
• Today
• Countdown
• Rachel Maddow
• Morning Joe
• Zeitgeist
• Good Morning America
• Face the Nation
• White House Weekly Address
• Fast Draw
• Katie Couric’s Notebook
• Anderson Cooper 360 Daily
• CNN Daily
• Bill Moyers Journal
• In Case You Missed It
• Now in the News
• CNN Student News
• Journal Editorial Report
• FOX News Flash
• Washington Post | Photo Stories
• Washington Post | HD Podcast
• Slate V
• Around the Horn
• Mike & Mike Moment
• The Basketball Jones
• MLS
• The Dish
• Racing One
• TGRtv Extreme HD
• Discovery Channel
• NOVA
• Nature
• NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
• Hidden Universe HD
• Ted Talks
• Walt Mossberg
• Andy Jordan’s Tech Diary
• USA Today – Talking Tech
• Hak5
• Pixel Perfect
• Systm
• Fresh Trax
• Philharmonia Orchestra
• XLR8R
• Best of VH1
• The Frustrated Rockstars
• UVTV
• Popcorn
• The Digg Reel
• The Screening Room
• Scene Stealers
• Indie Film Nation
• National Lampoon
• New Yorker Animated Cartoons
• iFanboy
• Scam School
• Sesame Street
• Stump the Chef (HD)
• Good Housekeeping: Whats for Dinner
• Delicious TV Veg
• City by City (HD)
• DiveFilm HD
• The Parent Code (HD)
• Rocketboom
• Diggnation HD
• Totally Rad Show
• Tekzilla
• Best of Revision3
• Sessler’s Soapbox Video Podcast
• Attack of the Show
• X-Play’s Daily Video Podcast
• X-Play Game Previews
• G4 Videogame Trailers
• Fresh Ink
• The Feed Daily Video Podcast
• Gadget Pr0n
• Around the Net
• Cheat! Video Podcast
• The MMO Report
• Teton Gravity Research
• Golf Tips
• From the Top at Carnegie Hall
• Stand Up
• IRrelevant Astronomy
• London Landscape TV
• Backpack Picnic
• Big Love
• Bored To Death
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• Flight of the Conchords
• Hung
• True Blood
• New York on the Clock
• ABC News with Diane Sawyer
• Amanpour
• Cnet News
• Monocle
• Princeton University
• Californication
• Dexter
• Beautiful places in HD
• City Concealed

I’ve been let down by my fair share of remote control flying toys in the past, but this four-propellered, iPhone-controlled, Linux-based, Avatar-chic, WiFi-ready, augmented reality-enhanced, dual video camera-wielding Parrot…well, you get the picture.

Parrot, who usually trade in Bluetooth headsets, has developed the AR Drone, just about the coolest remote control gadget I’ve ever seen. Tilting your iPhone ever so slightly, you control the mechanical bird in an augmented reality based game of airborne warfare. The drone has an on-board Linux computer that manages delicate accelerometers to keep your game flying. Two video cameras—one on the nose and one on the bottom—transmit video back to your iPhone controller which is then overlaid with the targets you’re meant to destroy.

The drone is WiFi ready, so you can play in a networked game with friends, and a removable bumper makes sure your drone stays safe if the game gets a little too real.

No cost or availability just yet, but keep your eyes peeled for this seriously souped up toy in 2010. And, um, how did a bluetooth headset company make something as cool as this?

Liquid Image, known for attaching obtrusive cameras to adventure sport eyewear, has unveiled its surprisingly streamlined 335 Snow Camera Goggles. Using the goggles’ built-in camera, you can now have certifiable video proof that you are a lousy skier.

The 335 Snow Camera Goggles, to be officially announced this week at CES, pack a 5 megapixel camera, capable of shooting 720 x 480 video. They only come with 16 MB of memory on board, but you can expand that with a Micro SD card to capture your entire snow plow down the mountain. The camera is activated by built-in controls on the side of the goggles, designed with big buttons for your chunky, gloved fingers.

More important than filming your skiing or snowboarding, however, might be the ability to film what you come across while you’re skiing or snowboarding. A preliminary test of the goggles on the Ski Free mountain captured this rare shot of the Abominable Snowman:

You’ll be able to record your turn on the slopes (and confirm the existence of cryptozoological creatures) by picking up the 335 Snow Camera Goggles for $149 sometime in July. [CNET]

Earlier today I lamented the relative lack of sleep-enhancing gadgets. The Internet answered with these sheets that transform your bed into a giant iPod Touch. I don’t think it functions, but it is certainly compatible with puns. [Ellos via Techeblog]

Twenty years ago, Capsule Hotel Shinjuku 510 was a place where Tokyo’s businessmen could get a quick night’s sleep after a long day at the office. Today it’s an apartment building for those left unemployed by the devastating recession.

As Japan’s jobless rate creeps higher—it is currently 5.2%, the highest it has ever been—some Tokyo residents are saving money by moving into hotels. Caspule hotels.

We’ve looked at capsule hotels before and thought it might be fun to spend a night of deep sleep in a futuristic, high-tech pod. But this report from yesterday’s New York Times presents the sobering reality of life in a capsule.

At about $620 a month, rent’s not that cheap, though that does afford you a small in-capsule TV and fresh linens, as well as access to communal areas. The capsules have screens instead of doors, and their thin walls provide little privacy. There is, of course, little space for personal possessions, so most residents keep their things stowed in even smaller lockers on the premises.

The hotel’s proprietor estimates about a third of the establishment’s 300 capsules are rented long term, on a month by month basis. It is heartening, though, to read that the capsule-dwelling individuals interviewed in this article remain optimistic about what the future holds. You can read their stories and find more photographs at the link. [New York Times via Lisa Katayama’s Twitter]

The Kirlian Photography Device uses high voltage discharges to capture beautiful, luminescent images directly from ordinary film. It is not a machine I’d recommend using in the darkroom.

Kirlian photography, also known as electrography, isn’t anything new—we’ve looked at the technique before—but the Kirlian Photography Device wraps up all the necessary components into one machine. You just put your film on the discharge plate and the device zaps vibrant new life into your photographs.

If you’ve made the jump to digital, an optional transparent discharge plate lets you use the technique with any regular, printed photograph. The Kirlian Photography Device is available now, for $299, for those interested in experimenting with the high voltage technique. [Scientifics Online via Oh Gizmo]

A lot went down this past week, the last of the year and the decade. People always start looking back this time of year, and we were no exception. But there was plenty of crazy in the here and now.

Yes, there were recaps.

Brian recounted his love of gadgets in the aughts and explained how that love changed throughout the decade.

We waxed nostalgic on gadgets in the year 2000. Jason wrote about MP3 players. Mark wrote about laptops. John wrote about Windows CE and the digital cameras.

We looked at the year’s essential iPhone apps.

Sean warned us of 7 gadgets to beware in 2010.

In case you were trying to remember what you liked, we counted down the 10 most popular posts of 2009.

We took the FBI Cybersquad, and their Matrix screensaver, very seriously.

Don showed off some head-scratchers with a What Is It? recap, and we thought that our Image Cache shots deserved the same treatment.

The history of the New Year’s Eve ball extends back 102 years. We made a timeline.

We couldn’t resist posting these bird-watching apps, and, in turn, John evaluated the state of porn apps in the App Store.

Guest blogger Anna Jane Grossman remembered the Internet delivery service Kozmo as part of our Y2K+10 series.

Adam, working with illustrator Dan Meth, presented the socially acceptable geek subgenre scale. Everyone laughed and waited until they got home to see where they ended up.

Jesus made an incredible infographic on the true odds of airborne terror. It should make you feel a little bit better about flying.

He also posted the TSA’s leaked security rules, though as far as I know he wasn’t visited by any government agents.

Theirs wasn’t the only leaky faucet this week; we also looked at the Chrome OS netbook’s leaked specifications.

Speaking of leaks, this video of The Making of the Bootleg of Avatar was the most visible look at the craft since Jerry’s masterful recordings of Death Blow and Cry Cry Again.

We leaked documents with the Nexus One price tag that bummed everyone out a bit, because we had sort of hoped it was just going to be free for the taking. This ten minute video of the phone still made our mouths water.

Friend of Giz, Kate Greene, hunted for the perfect screen.

Some buildings were demolished. It didn’t go quite as planned.

Another friend, Will Smith, showed us how cheap is too cheap when you’re building your own PC.

Google China’s ex-president spilled some beans on the Apple tablet.

We had some laughs at this cartoon about what it would be like if the “I’m a Mac” ads were more accurate.

For everyone who has ever watched Steve Jobs announce the iPodWhatever, featuring x-ray vision, bulletproof plating, and a bigger hard drive the week after buying the old one, our guide of When to Buy Apple Products was mighty helpful.

This incredible photo of Saturn got Jesus all hot and bothered.

We watched this video of Half-Life 2 being played on Project Natal.

Mark’s second 27″ iMac was busted, just like his first one. He’s not going down quietly.

He also kicked off our Lifechanger section—posts on common objects that make life better—with as poignant a blog post as ever has been written about vintage pyrex pots.

To put our iSlate speculation in perspective, Matt wrote up a recap of wacky iPhone rumors from the years before that gadget’s arrival. One was oddly prescient.

If your resolution was to prank more often, this Skype trick is a good place to start.

David Quinlan told the awesome story of how he created Stuck, his decision-enabling iPhone app.

Joel told President Obama that it is time to fire the Transportation Security Administration. Some people agreed with him, others did not.

John posted an old home video of himself water-skiing.

First Time Warner said, “no more Fox channels.” Then, they said, “just use the Internet.” In the end, everyone got along.

Just when you thought taser stories couldn’t get more outrageous, a cop tasered an unconscious diabetic 11 times.

Also outrageous: the girl who couldn’t get her stolen iPhone back from Apple.

Matt wondered what’s going to be inside the next generation of MacBooks.

A guy constructed a really nice handmade telescope for his wife, and suddenly all the presents we gave this year seemed pretty trite.

Another guy constructed a really useless machine, but at least took the time to share with us how he did it.

We showed the view from the top of the Moscow Bridge, and somewhere, somebody puked on their keyboard.

We learned that Google is just an elaborate front for a club of intense ping-pong players.

Some nerds picked up microphones (that is, rapped awkwardly into the keyboards of their MacBooks) and recorded I’m On A Phone, a parody of a parody (of a parody, if you count DJ Khaled himself as a joke). One set of them was declared the winner.

Some weird shit went down at a Walmart.

A man stayed true to his copy of shareware WinZip for five years; we admired his perseverance.

Now that Avatar has made a bajillion dollars, 3D is here to stay (even though Wilson’s screening sort of sucked.) We took a look at the Battle of the 3D Glasses.

Speaking of Avatar, remember how your friend was like, “why don’t they put those tendrils together when they’re having sex?!” Well, they do. And we might get to see it.

We previewed Blio, the tablet-friendly ebook format Ray Kurzweil rescued from the future to bring back to 2009.

Rosa showed off one expensive ass robot hummingbird.

But all bots aren’t good ones—we also found this fist-pumping story of how three dudes disabled one of the world’s most powerful botnets.

That Apophis asteroid that has a 1 in 250,000 chance of hitting Earth? Yeah, Russia’s gonna deflect that just to be safe.

Kim Peek, the original Rain Main, passed away and we remembered him as well as his amazing abilities.

It’s probably not a good idea to pull up Star Trek stuff when you’re surfing the web at work, but it’s definitely not a good idea to pull up this Star Trek-related shot at work. Hint: it’s also wiener-related.

Speaking of things you shouldn’t look at at work, Chauvon, an actress from MTV’s Real World, showed us how to expose fake boobs using only a flashlight. Parenthetically, one of hers popped during the last Real World / Road Rules challenge.

We put out the call for your Genius Bar horror stories. There’s still time to submit yours and win some pizza.

We learned that the Coast Guard got mean with pirates and cuddly with kittens in 2009.

Lastly, It turns out that there’s a ton of Weekly World News issues scanned into Google Books, which someday will help someone get out of a sticky fact checking situation.

The WakeMate, a sensor-laden wristband packaged with sleep analysis software, determines the optimal wake-up point in your REM cycle and adjusts your alarm for that moment. It also lets you say you really use your iPhone 24/7.

One of the fundamental reasons we love gadgets is because they help us do things better and smarter while we go about our days. But there are considerably fewer gadgets that help us go about our nights. Sure, there are some, but by and large the activity of sleeping is one that is untouched by technology and thus unoptimized. Enter WakeMate.

The WakeMate wristband uses Actigraphy to monitor your sleep cycles and pinpoints the precise moment when you should wake up, in a twenty minute window set to your specifications. (Otherwise, my “optimal wake up time” would be sometime around noon, seven days a week.)

But that’s only half of it. The WakeMate collects your nightly sleep data and over time develops a detailed analysis of your sleep schedule.

Though I’m not sure I need quantify things with a “sleep score”—Sleep? That’s where I’m a viking—it’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of sleeping smarter with the help of gadgets like WakeMate. The WakeMate is set to ship by the end of the month and is available for preorder now. [WakeMate Thanks Mikey!]

Radio Active, a project by industrial design student Erez Bar Am, is a wall-mounted analog radio. That’s all good and well. The frustration begins when you realize you have to rearrange it every time you want to change the station.

Radio Active consists of a main module—the blue one—and several satellite modules, three of which are attached to the central one by string. Those strings are the key to the radio’s uniquely annoying conceit: you control the Radio Active’s volume and tuning by pulling those connected pieces to different places on your wall.

Bar Am claims that the design allows the radio to double as decorative art, and I’d agree that having the Radio Active archipelago on your wall is a lot more interesting than sticking up some Salvador Dali poster. But its important to remember that it’s a radio first and art second, lest you find out your masterpiece arrangement of the modules comes with an accompanying soundtrack of 92.4 WZYX, All Death Metal All The Time at full volume.

You can watch the Radio Active being pulled ever-so-slightly into action in this clip:

It’s good to get people interacting with their gadgets in new ways, but I think I’ll stick to knobs for this one, thanks. [The Design Blog]

Why bore your fish with a humdrum aquarium when you can house them in the Spillarium, a spherical 5 gallon tank that features color-changing LED lights and a spilling waterfall that plunges into a bigger fish’s ceramic maw.

Though the MythBusters proved that goldfish don’t really have a 3 second memory—they trained fish to swim through mazes and found that their times improved as they became familiar with the course—the Spillarium fish tank will constantly make your fish swim like its life depends on it. Lest that little fishy fall into a bigger fishy’s mouth, carried to his cannibalistic fate by a stream of water that continually spills out of a hole in the tank.

The waterfall effect is designed to circulate water in the aquarium; the water is purified in the base and recycled back up into the sphere. But I like to think it’s for keeping your fish on their best behavior. [Oh Gizmo]

Everyone is clamoring about tablets these days—ourselves included—so it’s not too surprising that Google and HTC are set to join the fray. They are reportedly working together on a Chrome OS Google Tablet.

Smarthouse, an Australian publication, reports that HTC and Google have been collaborating “for the past 18 months” and have produced “several working models of a touch tablet,” including one outfitted with Google’s Chrome OS. We wrote why a Google Tablet would be a good idea last month, and with the Apple Tablet discussion reaching a fever pitch, it’s harder and harder to get excited about a Chrome OS netbook from Google.

Having collaborated on the Nexus One, a smart phone that impressed us with its design as well as its hardware, HTC and Google partnering on a tablet seems like a promising prospect. But will it “compete head on” with Apple’s tablet as Smarthouse claims? Probably not.

From what we know, it seems like Apple is putting as much effort into their tablet’s content as they are into the gadget itself. We’ve written extensively on how an Apple tablet could redefine newspapers, textbooks, and magazines. In the last case, we’ve already salivated, more than once, over concepts for how magazines might evolve in a multi-touch future. Add that to Apple’s recent acquisition of Lala, a move that likely points to a cloud-based future for iTunes, and the reports that Apple is trying to secure TV show subscription packages for the iTunes store. Admittedly, not a whole lot is certain about Apple’s tablet. But you start looking at all of those pieces and how they might fit together around one device, you can easily envision a gadget that is focused on streaming the stuff you read, the stuff you listen to, and the stuff you watch.

It’s hard to foresee a future in which a Google Tablet tries to go head to head with Apple on the content level. That’s not to say, however, that there aren’t some compelling things that could be offered by a Google tablet. As the launch of Google’s Chrome OS made clear, they’re looking toward a future with a multitude of devices that can access the Internet quickly, cleanly, and cheaply. A Google Tablet could be just the thing to realize all of those goals. When we tried out the JooJoo tablet, we saw how a well-designed tablet for consuming web content could provide an engaging experience. A Chrome OS tablet by Google would likely work the same way, keeping typing to a minimum and offering a literal hands-on web surfing experience. [Smarthouse via Business Insider]

With an unexpected snowfall blanketing much of the East Coast for New Years, someone—either a traffic worker with a sense of humor or an average Joe with a sense of civic duty—reprogrammed this New England traffic sign.

This time last year we posted a quick bit on how weirdly easy it was to hack road signs. Before that post led to the rash of hacks, usually featuring some permutation of zombies, Nazis, and the Apocalypse, Mark mused:

You should never hack a road sign as part of a prank. But what if you know that there really are Zombies ahead? What then??

Well, it seems like some New Englander found that the roads were, in fact, wicked slippery and thought it prudent to warn his fellow drivers such. A further message to my driving bros: winter driving is hella dangerous as it is, save the texting for when you reach your destination. [Reddit]

With CES only a week away, photos and incomplete specs for 8 new machines from HP have leaked, including an upgraded Mini 210 HD netbook now touting a N450 Pine Trail processor.

The HP Mini 210 HD, to be officially announced next week, boasts a 1.66GHz N450 Atom CPU and GMA 3150 graphics. The N450 is half as small as and nearly 20% more efficient than its predecessor. The HD designation will likely come courtesy of Broadcom’s Crystal HD video chip.

The netbook will be available in Sonoma Red, Solid Black, Silver Crystal or Pacific Blue and is expected to ship for $330 next week after its official announcement at CES. [Logic Buy via Engadget]

While it was initially suggested that Google Latitude was rejected from the app store to keep iPhone users from confusing it with Maps, this new patent shows that Apple might be working on their own friend- and ex-girlfriend-tracking app.

9to5 Mac points out that the iPhone diagram seems to show a front-facing camera, a feature that we’ve seen before in such patents and could well make it into the next iPhone.

An additional patent, filed here, suggests that location-based information could be sent via text message:

Location Sharing: Abstract – Geographic location data is sent from a first device to a second device with a modified message to signal the presence of geographic location data associated with the message. The message can include (or attach) the geographic location data or file, or the message can include a link to a network-based resource which the second device can use to obtain the geographic location data. In some implementations, when a user of the first device views a location on a map display of the first device, a graphical user interface is presented to allow the user to select an option to share the geographic location with the second device. The second device receives geographic location data or a link from the first device which can trigger a map display on the second device showing the location of the first device and, optionally, the location of the second device.

A built-in, location-based social app for the iPhone makes perfect sense. Apple said they didn’t want iPhone users to get Google Latitude confused with Maps, but it seems like they might not have wanted them to get it confused with their own location based app somewhere down the road. [9to5 Mac]