The station will function as an over-the-air broadcaster so it will not suffer from bandwidth slowdowns like some digital content delivery stations. The demo of the app for Nottv was shown off at Ceatec and it has the ability for live commenting using Twitter and Facebook. It can also perform time shifting duties like DVRs and supports on demand viewing.

The content made for the smartphone network will be much shorter than a typical show. Most programs will be about ten minutes in length so they can be watched completely during a smartphone user’s idle time. The investors in the new network include all of the major Japanese broadcasters, ad agency Dentsu, and NTT DoCoMo. The service needs final governmental approvals and expects to launch next April.

[via PC World]

The 6.6-inch IPS display from Hitachi features a resolution of 1600×1200, and 302ppi. Compare that to the iPhone 4′s Retina Display, which offers 326ppi, it’s obvious that Hitachi got pretty close to what Apple offers on the smaller screen. However, comparing the display to the IPS-based iPad, Apple’s tablet device, then things get a bit more interesting. The Hitachi display offers up more resolution, as well as more ppi. Although, it is more than three inches smaller. The iPad offers 132ppi, and a resolution of 1024×768.

The contrast ratio of the new Hitachi tablet display is 800:1, and it offers up 400 nits of brightness. And, grabbing a similarity to the iPad, has an aspect ratio of 4:3. Unfortunately, while we know there’s already people out there wanting to get their hands on this, Hitachi didn’t offer a timeframe as to when these displays would hit the scene.

[via UberGizmo]

The high resolution of Sharp’s brand new LCD prototype is about four times higher than the current high-definition displays out there, available for purchase. And while there are projectors available that can reach the same resolution as Sharp’s new display, this is the world’s first LCD that has the chops of this level of resolution. The previous record was held by Chi Mei Optoelectronics, based out of Taiwan, which showcased a display last year in Yokohama, Japan, which measured 54-inches, and had a resolution of 3840 x 2160.

According to Sharp’s spokesperson Toshiyuki Matsumara, the company is developing the prototype to keep up with the motion picture industry. As they move from film to digital media, the resolution needed to enjoy this type of entertainment is only going to rise. This is the company’s answer to that.

[via PCWorld]

The UPIC 56-M is covered in almost invisible microdots that are recognized by a special Bluetooth stylus; the pen can also track eight levels of pressure.  All of that data is passed to the controlling PC, which also handles the projector.

While in principle this is nothing new – there are plenty of “intelligent” whiteboards being used in schools and colleges – what makes the Hitachi system stand out is the fact that it’s incredibly compact and portable.  The projector only needs to be sat on the table with the UPIC display, and the display itself is rollable, wireless and has a magnetic backing for wall-mounting.  Ideal for whipping out when the kids aren’t doing their chores and you want to show them in great detail when they’re meant to take the trash out on your huge family planner.

Video demo after the cut

That means that viewers should see a clear picture whether watching in 2D or 3D, rather than a bizarre color-offset effect for those without the special glasses.  The super-speedy frame rate, meanwhile, means that fast moving sports events can be captured without blurring or smudging.

Obviously it’s tricky to show 3D footage in a 2D video, so you’ll have to take SlashGear Japan’s word that it worked in-person.  Basically, the apples were perceived as closer than the spinning globe in the video – as long as you’re wearing the glasses – while passers-by without specs saw a normal, 2D image with no ghosting or flickering.

Sony initially claimed that the VAIO X would manage a full day’s use from a single battery, and while that’s true it’s not quite as clear cut as we’d hoped.  In the box, the company provides two battery packs: a small 3hr battery, which gives the VAIO X its slender profile, and a larger 14hr battery which raises the whole thing up off whatever desk you’re using it on.

Still, there’s a reasonable array of ports – including two USB 2.0, gigabit ethernet, VGA and audio out, together with a couple of memory card slots – as well as WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth, and the whole thing measures 10.95 x 0.55 x 7.29 inches and weighs 1.5-1.6lbs (with the standard battery).  The Sony VAIO X is available to preorder in the US now, priced from $1,299.99.

Press Release:

X MARKS THE SPOT: SONY DELIVERS WORLD’S LIGHTEST NOTEBOOK

New VAIO X Series Merges 3G Mobile Broadband and Long Battery Life for
Anywhere Computing

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2009 – Redefining the notebook category once again, Sony today took the wraps off the world’s lightest notebook— the VAIO® X Series.

Housed in a lightweight carbon-fiber chassis, the X Series weighs just1.6 pounds (with standard battery) and is just over a half-inch thin— roughly the width of a cell phone.

It features a 16:9 aspect ratio which means you get a wider workspace—all packed into a compact 11.1-inch (diagonal) footprint. And not only is the scratch-resistant LCD display durable, it also provides brilliant picture quality with 100 percent color saturation and improved brightness, thanks to its LED backlight technology.

The X Series is also supplied with both a standard and super-extended capacity battery, delivering extra-long battery life for day-long productivity—up to 3.5 hours for the standard battery and up to 14 hours for the super-extended capacity battery.

“It’s one thing to make a notebook thin but when you consider the fact that the X Series also boasts industry-leading battery life and wireless WAN— you now have a game changer— altering the way people use and think about their PC,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of the VAIO business group at Sony.

The unit’s extremely thin profile alone is enough to turn heads but its real elegance is found in its subtle details. Grooved edging traces its perimeter while a seamless sheet of lightly brushed aluminum frames the keyboard and covers the palmrest.
Its uniquely configured keyboard is designed with spacing between the keys for a comfortable typing experience. And the keystroke is firm and solid creating a user-friendly touch and feel that makes finding the keys more intuitive.

The unit’s touchpad features a multi-touch functionality commonly associated with touch-enabled smartphones. This means that you can zoom in and out, flip through pictures, rotate items clockwise and counterclockwise, and scroll vertically and horizontally without ever touching your mouse.

The X Series integrates wireless 3G Mobile Broadband technology provided by Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In, 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.

The model also incorporates real-time GPS functionality, making it easy to find restaurants, hotels or special sites of interest. Destinations can be found by simply typing in an address or keyword and then following the turn-by-turn directions. It even includes estimated drive times to let you know how far you are from a destination (United States or Canada only). No Internet connection is required in the United States or Canada.

The X Series incorporates a solid state drive (SSD) used in place of the spinning hard disk drive found in most computers. This provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications, while reducing the risk of hard drive damage—an ideal feature for those on-the-go who are in situations where sudden movements are common. It will come with Windows® 7 Home Premium operating system.

The VAIO X Series notebook will come in two colors, black and gold, and start at about $1,300. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/x. It will also be sold at Sony Style® stores and select retailers around the country starting next month.

The whole idea behind this octagonal device is to act as the center for your family’s media. It is a media server that utilizes NFC signals to find media files in the air. So, anything that you enable to have access to the device will be picked up by it.

According to Gadget Lab, “The server automatically downloads media files from a cell phone as soon as the user drops it nearby and fires them up to the wireless HD 1080p TV on site, without touching anything or wasting time looking for a Bluetooth signal.” Now that is impressive! The whole idea here is to make transferring media files a snap and so fast you don’t even have to do anything about it. Unfortunately, this is just a concept for now, but Toshiba is probably really onto something here. The automatic nature of this one is something I would keep an eye on.

[via Gadget Lab at Wired]

The use of backlit component helps boasting a wider color gamut of 150% than HD Rec.709 color space. The prototype weights in 22lb and has a refresh rate of 6ms. Pricing information is not available but the company aims to push the new TV to the market next year.

[via impress]