Home » Subject
Displays

D-Link releases WiDi adapter

Subject: General Tech, Displays | June 20, 2011 - 04:03 AM |
Tagged: widi, D-Link

There are a lot of benefits of having a home theatre PC but still one major drawback: having the PC by the TV. Intel has worked hard to find a solution and released the specification under the name “WiDi”, a wireless display specification that lets you share your monitor with an HDTV attached to a wireless receiver box. D-Link has just recently launched their WiDi receiver in the US with Canada coming next month; will WiDi start picking up market share with more capable devices?

DHD-131_front.png

Why do network appliances these days look like pillows?

(Image from D-Link)

The D-Link MainStage (known as DHD-131 to its friends) has only a power cable to its name apart from your choice of video and audio connection to your TV or sound system. For choice of connection you have two video options and three audio options: on the video side you have HDMI for your high-resolution viewing and standard RCA for your standard definition devices; on the audio side you have optical audio or HDMI for surround and white and red RCA for stereo. Apart from a power button and a reset button that is the whole of this unit.

DHD-131_back.jpg

Plastic case with on/off butty. Baby got back shots.

(Image from D-Link)

One thing that typically holds back other implementations of WiDi that I have seen, and I assume this is no exception, is latency. The slight lag when controlling a media program or browsing a website is acceptable however it would really hold back the use of a PC as a console replacement unless the video card is directly connected to the TV which is a definite shame but to be expected given the bandwidths over WiFi that we are talking about. If you happen to be interested in this solution, however, it retails for just under 130$.

Source: HotHardware

The Next Generation is 3D HD SMARTBoards

Subject: General Tech, Displays | June 12, 2011 - 05:56 PM |
Tagged: SMART, 3d

SMART has been making interactive whiteboards for quite some time now. An interactive whiteboard is essentially a giant writing tablet similar to a Wacom. This tablet is also a projector screen which is often wall mounted but could be mounted on a cart. SMART Boards attach to PCs by USB and could attach to video and audio out if you purchase one with an attached projector and speakers rather than use your own. Recently SMART announced and released their fifth generation product line complete with a projector supporting HDMI input and active 3D technology.

35-planetsLesson.jpg

IT’S LIKE I CAN TOUCH YOU!

(Image by SMART Technologies)

While I can see this useful for companies that are doing 3D technology during their company, investor, and vendor meetings it seems a little bit unlikely that active 3D will appear in the classroom. It seems quite difficult for me to imagine twenty to forty students each with their own active shutter 3D glasses atop the investment of the 3D interactive whiteboard itself. Also while it might be to support the 3D functionality of the projector it seems quite odd to include HDMI functionality and barely exceed 720p resolution (1280x800) in your highest-end projector.

If an interactive whiteboard is in your interest but were holding out until you can pop things out at your audience the new SMART boards were available since May 25th in North America and May 30th internationally. Prices range between $3000 and $4000 US, computer not included. If you already have a digital whiteboard but want a 3D projector upgrade that will cost just north of 2000$.
Source: SMART

Is the InFocus 55" a wall tablet? Do you want it anyway?

Subject: General Tech, Displays, Systems | June 11, 2011 - 03:31 AM |
Tagged: wall tablet, InFocus

InFocus is branding their 55-inch touch-screen TV with Windows 7 embedded as a “Wall Tablet”. The writers down at HotHardware seem to take offense to a 55-inch device being called a tablet and I must agree. My duration working in high schools and acquiring an education degree grew me well acquainted with SMART boards and this product definitely recalls those memories much more vividly than my experience playing around with tablet devices.

The problem with touch screens in schools is that every screen is treated like one thereafter.

(Video from BusinessWire)

It is quite obvious that InFocus spent quite a large amount of time developing their user interface to dress up Windows 7 as a more whiteboard friendly operating system. Their interface has a custom file browser with annotation capabilities, a custom web browser, a digital whiteboard application, and a video conferencing solution that can interface with open protocols such as Google Talk and more proprietary ones such as Cisco. The unit itself has a 720p video camera and a screen resolution of 1920x1080 with multiple touch recognition, something that most (but not all) SMART boards are incapable of.

It is highly unlikely that you will have one of these $6000 devices in your house unless you happen to require it for professional reasons. For those in the education, training, research, or corporate management fields: a device like this could make your life much easier particularly if you were already considering installing a mass of SMART boards for this purpose. They are expected to ship to interested customers in July.

Source: HotHardware

Swap your displays CCFL with LEDs

Subject: Displays | May 31, 2011 - 12:09 PM |
Tagged: hack, mod, ccfl, led, repair

Over at Hack a Day is a video and project log of an industrious fellow whose digital picture frame backlight bit the biscuit.  Instead of buying a new one he removed the dead CCFL and replaced it with a six dollar LED strip instead of an expensive inverter or lamp for the CCFL.  The project is not easy, especially if you wish to attempt this on a full sized monitor but there are tips and tricks that should help you on your way in the full post.

CCFL_repair.png

"[Fileark] had the backlight on his digital picture frame go out one day. These are generally Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps which require an inverter to source the voltage necessary for proper operation. When they stop working, the inverter is usually to blame. Since that circuit is made up of pretty small surface mount circuitry, he decided to replace the backlight with LEDs rather than repair the inverter."

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

Displays

Source: Hack a Day

The Mobile Monitor Field Monitor Pro is a reverse tablet

Subject: Displays | May 19, 2011 - 02:40 PM |
Tagged: mobile monitor, field monitor

The Mobile Monitor Field Monitor Pro is a 15.4", 1280x800 monitor with a stand that sports a numpad.  Intended for use with a laptop via USB and DisplayPort it gives you extra viewing area when you are on the go, as well as the numpad that most laptops lack.  Tweaktown tried it out in a variety of ways, discovering that it is not really for gaming or movie watching but more for those working with their laptop who need more space for spreadsheets and other productivity software.  If a couple of extra pounds sounds like a cheap price to pay for more screen area

check out the full review.

TT_field_monitor_pro.jpg

"With the introduction of the laptop, the mobile office was created. You could take your show on the road and get some serious work done. Of course, you still had some limitations. Even today you have limitations; unless you want to carry around a laptop that weighs 10-15 pounds you are stuck with a small screen size.

Fortunately, you do not have to buy a gigantic laptop or one with an extended screen that will cost you an arm and a leg. Mobile Monitor Technologies has something that can help to overcome this limitation; the Field Monitor Pro."

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

Source: Tweaktown

Can you really stream uncompressed 1080p wirelessly with the brite-View Air SyncHD

Subject: Displays | May 2, 2011 - 06:46 PM |
Tagged: widi, wireless, hd, 1080p, stream

Wireless video streaming is nothing new to PC Perspective, in 2010 we saw Intel's WiDi technology and Ryan was streaming 1080p Iron Man using the Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 WHDI card (aka Little Cthulhu).  A new way to achieve the same results is with the brite-View Air SyncHD which Missing Remote just reviewed.  Read on to see if this is worth ~$230 of your hard earned money.

MR_airsynch.png

"If wirelessly transmitting a Blu-ray stream (which tops out around 50mbps) is questionable, transmitting uncompressed 1080p/60 video seems downright impossible. Yet, that is exactly what brite-View claims to do with their Air SyncHD transmission kit. In a nutshell, the brite-View Air SyncHD transmission kit promises to wirelessly bridge an HDMI source device and HDMI receiving device, freeing you to place the devices anywhere within the system’s wireless range. Further, the system manages to send 1080p/60 video, audio and infrared (IR) with less than one millisecond latency up to 66 feet. It sounds great on paper, but can it deliver?"

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

Displays

Source: Missing Remote

CAT6 could beat DisplayPort at its own game

Subject: General Tech, Displays | May 2, 2011 - 11:43 AM |
Tagged: hdcp, cat6, gefen

Gefen is not a famous company but they are one with an interesting idea that they've just made real.  They will sell you a box that can extend a HDCP compliant signal along CAT6 cable of up to 1920x 1200  resolution as far as 200'.  It can send a 2560 x 1600 using a pair of CAT 6 cables, though that signal does not seem to be HDCP compliant.  The only down side is the price, at $1300 this is not something you buy because it is neat, but because you really need it.

GefenDVIDLCAT6.jpg

"CHATSWORTH, CA – The leader in digital connectivity announced the release of its new extender for professional computer systems using dual link DVI graphics. The DVI DL CAT-6 Extender offers a plug and play method of signal extension that guarantees a lossless video transmission with zero signal dropouts.

The next generation DVI DL CAT-6 Extender delivers uncompressed high resolution video to any remote display up to 200 feet (60m) in distance over two industry-standard CAT-6 cables. This is a substantial advantage over previous solutions, which required an add-on booster using more expensive cabling to handle distances beyond five meters. "

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

Source: Gefen

That's not a monitor, this is a monitor! Meet the Dell UltraSharp U3011 Review

Author:
Date: April 29, 2011
Subject: Displays
Manufacturer: Dell
Tagged: ultrasharp, u3011, dell, 30 inch

Introduction to the Dell U3011

The days of “Dude, you're getting a Dell” might be long gone but when you are talking about monitors it suddenly becomes apropos again. Dell has been making good quality, large size monitors for long enough to be recognized as a major player in the field and the 30” Dell U3011 is a perfect example of why. Anyone who has seen a true 16:10, 2560x1600 display has probably had the temptation to tell a smug owner of a 50”+ 1080p LCD TV that their computer monitor goes up to 1600p. That jump in resolution has far more effect on your enjoyment than slapping on 3D glasses to watch golf with golfball sized pixels.

Dell_Front_Right_Up.JPG

This particular display is a CCFL backlit H-IPS TFT, using an LG LM300WQ5 panel and does indeed have a full 30” viewing area, the actual monitor is over 32” horizontally with the bezel included, something to keep in mind if you plan on using multiple displays. With that great size comes some difficulties, while nowhere near the weigh of a large sized CRT the over 20lbs of the U3011 can make removing it from the box and positioning it interesting to say the least. Also something to keep in mind is that according to Dell, in regular use this monitor draws 110W and can pull up to 250W when USB drives are in use and you’ve bought and installed a Dell Soundbar.

The ASUS PA246Q, professional quality without the price

Subject: Displays | April 11, 2011 - 06:22 PM |
Tagged:

If you decide on a IPS LCD as opposed to the more common TN variety, you obviously care more about proper colour replication that you do your bank account.  ASUS seems to have aimed for a middle ground with their 24" 1920x1200 PA246Q ProArt IPS LCD which you can get for under $500.  Could ASUS pull off the low price without sacrificing quality? 

Find out at Hardware Canucks.

 

 

"For many discerning users, the current crop of inexpensive 24" monitors sporting TN technology don't even come close to offering the quality they are looking for. Unfortunately, stepping up to an IPS-totting panel meant shelling out well over $600 but ASUS is now offering another route. Their ProArt 24" monitor seems to offer the impossible: an IPS panel, factory calibrated settings and good response times for under $500. Is this too good to be true?"

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

  Displays

Source: Hardware Canucks

A reasonably priced 27" gaming panel; the HP 2711x

Subject: Displays | March 31, 2011 - 01:54 PM |
Tagged:

At $350 the 27" 1920 x 1080 Hewlett Packard Pavilion 2711Xwill get you gaming on a big screen without the bill that a 30" monster will cost you.  Like most TN+ panels this HP display looks gorgeous, as long as you are head on to the monitor, TN+ panels sacrifice viewing angle for price.  TechReviewSource were quite impressed overall, however they warn those who are only interested in grayscale performance and multimedia features might want to look elsewhere.

"Whether you're working with multi-page documents and spreadsheets or fragging your way to glory in the latest first person shooter, it's almost always better on a big screen. Enter the HP 2711x, a slender, 27-inch monitor that delivers good color and motion performance and is eco- friendly as well. However, you don't get many extras with this model, and it has grayscale and viewing angle issues."

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

  Displays

Source: TechReviewSource

PC Perspective
Upcoming Events
  • 5/22 @ 7:00pm PDT / 10:00pm EDT
    PC Perspective Podcast
  • 5/23 @ 6:00pm PDT / 9:00pm EDT
    This Week in Computer Hardware