Google released a device just over a year ago by the name of Nexus Q. This device was the size of a bocce ball and was revealed at a conference for software developers: Google I/O. Because we (SlashGear) were at the event, we were given this device to work and play with, and even went so far as to give it a full standard review. It works in a manner very, very similar to this new PLAiR device.

Unlike the PLAiR, the Nexus Q required an Android device to play video wirelessly to your television. It also took up significantly more space on your television stand. Here with the release of the PLAiR, we’ve also entered an age with our mobile devices in which wirelessly flinging video from ones smartphone to the TV is all but expected – the GALAXY S 4 does it, the HTC One does it, and with the dawn of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, most future Android devices will do it too.

Unlike those devices, the PLAiR will not be using DLNA technology to connect your device to your television. Instead it uses a wi-fi signal emitted from the PLAiR hardware and picked up by your notebook, desktop, tablet, or smartphone – or basically anything that can connect to wi-fi and has a web browser.

Connecting to the PLAiR device (which will be connected to an HDMI port on one’s television) is done with a slight modification to the user’s Chrome web browser. So that is another must-have for this setup – if you can’t run Chrome, you can’t work with PLAiR. From there it’s a miniature button that floats above your YouTube videos and other app-bound videos galore – a single tap sends them playing on the television the PLAiR is connected to. Hulu doesn’t work here at the launch of this device, nor does Netflix – perhaps sooner than later though, we’ll see.

Now it’ll be a matter of marketing this device differently from Google’s Nexus Q. In that case, Google sent out the first wave of orders and gave everyone their money back because they estimated the costs to outweigh the benefits of continuing to work with the device. Perhaps we’ll see the return of that device in a new form next month. Make sure you join us at Google I/O 2013 through our Google I/O tag portal from the 15th to the 17th of May.

[via Dvice]

The kickstand case you’re seeing here takes on a form not unlike what we saw with the HTC One “EVO” device we experienced earlier last year – have a peek at our HTC EVO 4G LTE New Orleans ImageChip Tour post for more information on that HTC kickstand-lover. The fold-over case you see here employs red and black on its insides, leading us to believe that a Verizon version of the HTC One might be on the way – DROID perhaps.

The rather sunflower-like swivel stand you’re seeing here is made specifically for the HTC One and – for now – will only be available for this device. With the HTC DoubleCharge you’ll get such a massive amount of battery life (in a big rectangular box) that you’ll be able to charge your HTC One twice over. No more stranded in nowhereland with no uptime for you!

Some of the items we’ve seen before that were shown off again: the HTC Car StereoClip, Beats Earbuds, and the HTC Media Link HD for HDMI projection excellence. Then there’s the two-tone case you’ll see bringing on a rather bright strip of red to your HTC One experience. We’re expecting a whole lot more in the way of bright and odd color combinations here soon.

Finally, have a peek at the timeline below for more information on the HTC One through a fabulous list of hands-on experiences and announcements.

What we’re seeing here is an extension of NVIDIA’s plan to push down-clocked versions of their processors to machines that are then priced so low that the competition cannot possibly compete. And it’s not the first time this has happened. We saw this strategy working in the Google Nexus 7 tablet also manufactured by ASUS, and that tablet has been selling like hotcakes since birth.

This ASUS MeMO Pad 10 will be busting out with 16GB of internal storage, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box, and both front and back-facing cameras. The front facing camera will be 1.2 megapixels while the back will be 5 megapixels strong, and you’ll have a microSD card to store all the media you collect – at the moment we’re not sure what the max card size is that you’ll be able to plug in there, but we’re expecting 32GB.

BONUS: This tablet has been tipped more than once before with basically the same specifications – looks to be a lock!

This tablet will be working with a microUSB port instead of the larger port used on previous ASUS tablets and will have a microHDMI port as well for working with your HDTV. This tablet has been tipped to be appearing for between 329 to 389 Euro, this meaning a direct conversion to USD would still be above $500 – not exactly wallet friendly. We must expect that this price will be modified for the US market or that the device wont be appearing inside our borders – we shall see!

Also of interest is the fact that this machine has appeared in press photos in blue and white while the listings found thus far have also shown red and pink casings available at launch – wild stuff! Expect this tablet to appear at Mobile World Congress 2013 more than likely!

[via Android Community; via Tablets Magazine]

The world’s first custom-based reflex system lives inside this device, this understanding and knowing when you set the device down so it can stop rumbling around, and right on par with a dedicated Jambox – so sayeth Huang. This machine works with Android and is able to “drop back into Android” at a press of the SHIELD button right up front and center.

UPDATE: Have a peek at the construction video we’ve described right here front and center – and experience one of the more impressive looking reveal reels we’ve seen in recent history:

This amalgamation of gaming magic works with a 5-inch 1080p touchscreen display and has mini HDMI out, micro-USB, and a headphone jack for good measure – not to mention a microSD card slot. The whole system has one giant customizable tag on its back (or on top if you close the lid) – this being another “SHEILD” that, when this beast comes to fruition, you know good and well we’ll be blasting with SlashGear and Android Community marks galore.

Project SHIELD is set up to work with Android, so you’ll be working with Android games, of course, but it’s also connected to the cloud – so you’re able to play games with the same prowess we’ve seen made possible with NVIDIA GRID. Have a peek at more information on NVIDIA GRID from earlier today (if you’ve not already) in the timeline below and make sure you stick close to SlashGear for more on this device and the ecosystem that surrounds it all week long and into the future through our NVIDIA Tegra portal!

Of course, with that low price tag, you aren’t going to be getting a lot of top-of-the-line features. The P300 has a native resolution of 1280×800, though it can upscale to 1080p resolution. The whole unit comes it at 5.9” x 3.9” x 1.6” and weighs just 1.3 pounds, so it’s quite portable, and it also features HMDI and USB ports, a microSD slot, composite video input, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

AAXA says that the P300 is capable of 300 peak lumens when its plugged in, but that goes down to 160 lumens when you’re running it off the battery. Speaking of the battery, AAXA says that we can expect 75 minutes of use from a single charge, and the triple RGB LED bulbs (which use Vibrant Color Technology) will last more than 15,000 hours. As you can see from the images in this post, the P300 comes with a color scheme of white and black.

So there you have it. The P300 certainly isn’t the best projector around, but it should get the job done for someone who is looking to pick up a projector on the cheap. You can order one now from AAXA’s website, but they won’t be shipping out to customers until October 26 – one week from today. Has the P300 caught your eye, or will you belooking elsewhere when it comes to purchasing a projector?

In our hands-on demo here you’ll find that we’ve got an Apple Digital AV Adapter working with the HDMI input on the device – this adapter is sold separately, and you should note that you’ll need it to work with the iPhone and the iPad. This is a similar situation to most other smart devices as it’s rare that you’ll find one that outputs directly to full-sized HDMI. Of course there’s always the Motorola lineup of Android smartphones, for the most part – ease in conversions via built-in HDMI right out of the box! You get a 3 foot HDMI cable, a micro-HDMI adapter, and a mini-HDMI adapter included in the package.

The Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector contains a 3800mAh battery that’s both rechargeable and is able to act as an output battery for your mobile devices through the projector’s full-sized USB port. This means that if you’ve got a smartphone that you’re using to output to HDMI and you’re in need of some extra power for the phone itself, you’ve only to plug into the projector with your standard USB cord to the phone. Of course that means a much quicker drain on the battery that’s already working quite hard if you’re projecting at the same time, but there’s always the chance of emergency – and you won’t find this feature on one whole heck of a lot of similar devices either, I can tell you that.

You’ve got dual built-in speakers that are quite generous, made for a small space and loud enough for a crowd of just a few people. You’ve got an audio out port though for extra speaker action if the standard inbuilt speakers are not enough for you. The focus of your picture is done with a simple adjuster up near the front lens, the projection shining bright and up to 1080p resolution in a 60-inch image on your wall.

And it is indeed quite bright and sharp – amongst the best we’ve seen. The mega-bright LED lamp projects at what Brookstone notes is 85 lumens “for up to 2 hours on a single charge.” We’ve also found this claim to be quite accurate – with a full charge, we’ve been able to watch full-length movies unplugged without a problem.

The whole device measures in at 3.9 w x 3.8 d x 0.89 inch h, and weighs in at half a pound – it’s small enough to fit in your pocket and light enough to forget about. The cords will be the only hassle you’ll have to consider when thinking on your next anywhere-use projector experience. And even those aren’t going to be a big deal if you’ve got a simple converter for HDMI – minimalize!

This device will cost you $299.99 USD straight from Brookstone right this minute, and they’ve got their free shipping online deal going now for all devices over $99 – or you can grab it from your local Brookstone store too, right in hand. With enhanced DLP technology from Texas Instruments bringing the brightness and sharpness to this beast up front, you’ll have the whole big-time light-blasting world at your fingertips right out of the box.

You can connect the A-400 to your network through its Gigabit Ethernet port, but a Wi-Fi dongle is also available separately if you want to go wireless. The A-400 comes equipped with an SD card slot, an HMDI 1.4 connector, and an eSATA port to make local media playback easier, and you can upgrade the player with a 2.5 or 3.5-inch HDD or SSD to turn the A-400 into something of an external storage device for your content. Not too bad, but the media player seems to be lacking a Blu-Ray drive, a feature that will be sorely missed by some.

Once you’ve got your A-400 connected to the Internet, you can access the Syabas Apps Market, which contains “over 90 free and premium TV apps,” just in case you find your streaming options to be lacking. The whole thing is run by Sigma Design’s Dual Core 800Mhz SMP 8911 chipset, which should give you the power you need when you take advantage of the A-400′s 3D playback capabilities. As if that wasn’t enough, it seems that Syabas is considering tossing a USB 3.0 port into the mix before the player launches.

As for when that will be, we don’t have a specific answer yet. The Popcorn Hour A-400 is slated to launch in Europe sometime next month, and will come sporting a price tag of €289. For the moment, it seems that this is only scheduled for a European launch, but it probably won’t be long before the A-400 makes its way to the US. Stay tuned for more information.

Both monitors have lovely edge-to-edge bezel-free screens so you can appreciate the entirety of your picture with no distracting borders. With the sundial-inspired design of both monitors, you’ll have the least amount of space taken up with the most dedicated to the display itself. The picture you’ll be working with is backed up by full HD visuals with no less than dual-HDMI inputs on both models.

Both models also have ASUS SonicMaster technology for great audio quality as well. Co-developed with none other than Bang & Olufsen ICEpower audio, you’ll be rolling out with undeniably fabulous audio popping out straight from the monitor itself. You’ll find that both monitors have lovely simple black backs with a Y-shape down toward the imputs they both share, and both units also have a simple set of controls on a silver base sitting under the display.

These units do not yet have release dates or prices at the moment – they along with a whole lot more have been revealed at IFA 2012, and we’re live in effect all week long in Berlin to bring you the action: stay tuned!

This package will be set up for the gift-giver who knows their friend or associate well enough to see that they don’t have any of the accessories beforehand. If you’re a keen-eyed gamer, you’ll likely have several or all of these bits before you see the package in the first place – and you likely got them cheaper as well. The HDMI cable alone should cost you no more than a few bucks if you know where to shop, for example.

For a family member though, or a youngster with no cash of their own, this package will be fabulous for a holiday gift. Releasing this package in October give you plenty of time to pick it up for the late-year gift giving of your choice, and the price should put it right up there in the top-tier Santa collection, too. Don’t forget to grab the actual Xbox 360, too.

Note that you’ll be working with Xbox Live for 3 months with this amount of gold, and after that you’ll need to pay your way forward. The remote control will help you play media of all kinds and work with your web-connected system with television software galore. The controller is, of course, a wireless controller, and needs batteries one way or another. Check the whole pack out soon!

Though it’s been a wild ride already, so to speak, feedback to Google on the abilities of the Nexus Q do not appear to have been favorable enough to continue with the device as it stands today. And Google, being the undeniably rich and transformable company that it is today, has decided to take a rather unique set of moves in response. Have a peek at the message being sent out to those who pre-ordered the device prior to its release:

“We have an important update about your Nexus Q pre-order.

When we announced Nexus Q at Google I/O, we gave away devices to attendees for an early preview. The industrial design and hardware were met with great enthusiasm. We also heard initial feedback from users that they want Nexus Q to do even more than it does today. In response, we have decided to postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q while we work on making it even better.

To thank you for your early interest, we’d like to extend the Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers and send you a free device. If you had other items in your order, your credit card will be charged for those items only.

Your Nexus Q will be on its way soon and you will receive a notification and tracking number from Google Play when it ships.

The Nexus Q Team”

We’re expecting that this means that not only will the Nexus Q be coming back in the future as a cheaper device, it’ll be back with more abilities as well. Have a peek at our Nexus Q full review to see what this device, now called a “preview device”, can do. Also note that the Nexus Q and all related accessories have been removed from the Google Play store today.

Check out the column called Nexus Q: Google’s big I/O Mistake as well while you’re at it.

The PC comes with a Core i5 processor by default, but there’s options for Core i3 and Core i7 chips as well. 4GB of RAM comes as standard, as does a 500GB HDD. The integrated HD 4000 GPU will handle high-definition video with ease via the HDMI output, and there’s a VGA output as well. The company has thrown in a remote control for good measure, and you can boot the PC using the remote too.

Ports for the PC include 4x USB 2.0, and a single USB 3.0 jack. In addition, there’s gigabit Ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and a multi format card reader. Still, you’ll be paying a little more for the extra horsepower, with the default build costing around $520. Giada hasn’t said exactly when the i53 will be shipping, but you should be able to pick it up from Amazon or Newegg in the not too distant future.

What’s happening here is that the Motorola Lapdock acts as a shell for whatever system you want to run through it. It connects to you a device with a microUSB and microHDMI cord, displays a mirror of whatever the system has to offer up on its own display, and gives you full access to it with its own keyboard and trackpad. Of course this system doesn’t automatically work for whatever 3rd party computer you’ve got on hand, it having been made for the Motorola Atrix in the first place, then pushed for the Motorola Droid RAZR as well in stores now.

But what we’re seeing this week is each of several different miniPCs, made with only the most basic of elements to keep cost down, being hooked up to this machine. Motorola certainly didn’t intend for this “Lapdock” as they call it to be used in this way, but increasing sales this way is better than nothing – Lapdocks back on top!

Check out the timeline below to see all the times we encountered the Lapdock in all of its iterations, and head to the Raspberry Pi portal to keep up with news on the most lovely miniature computer on the market today.

This device is able to handle Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right this minute and will come with the ability to connect to IR Remote or Air Remote (included with the package) for some ultra-easy controlling of the content on your screen. Kind of like a remote control! Actually implementing such abilities as you’re seeing here is a whole heck of a lot more difficult than it seems, but lucky for you, the purchase and ownership of this device is a lot easier than creating it was.

Infinitec has presented a new hands-on video of the device connected to a USB hub as well as the Air Remote and a webcam – the ability to do this is built in to the software you’ve got on the device, while the webcam and the USB hub you’ll have to buy yourself. Have a peek above at what you’ll be getting soon, and stay tuned for more information on the final release. Check the timeline below to see what other Kickstarter-started devices have been popping up as of late.

Rather than a whole new MHL-HDMI connector, which is currently retailing in the UK for around £29.99 ($47), the Samsung Galaxy S3 HDTV Adapter Tip converts an existing adapter. It’s priced at £9.99 ($16), and while we’d still rather the Galaxy S III were backward compatible, we won’t argue too much with saving £20.

It’s not entirely clear whether the adapter tip will limit any functionality brought by the different pin layout on the Galaxy S III nor, indeed, what changes have been introduced by Samsung altering the layout in the first place. Samsung’s product page for the official MHL-HDMI adapter makes no mention of how it is unique.

The new Samsung Galaxy S3 HDTV Adapter Tip is up for preorder now, though there’s no indication of when, exactly, it will begin shipping. For more on the Galaxy S III itself, check out our full review.

“The Galaxy S3 has a different pin connection so you need a different adapter” Clove writes. “It works in exactly the same way but has the correct pin connections so your S3 display will be shown on a HD monitor or TV.”

That new adapter is priced at £24.98 including tax ($39) and, like previous such dongles, has both a microUSB plug to hook up to the phone, an HDMI output for your TV, and a microUSB input for powering both phone and adapter. It’s not clear whether it will work on non-GSIII devices.

Samsung’s decision to require a specific, new adapter is likely to come as a frustration to owners, especially given MHL is billed as a cross-device standard. We’ve checked the Galaxy S III with a non-Samsung MHL adapter, and found that the two do not indeed work together.

We’ve got a request in for more information from Samsung, and will update when we hear more.

The Yzi features a single-core 1Ghz Cortex-A8 processor, Mali-400 GPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage (with a microSD card slot for further expansion), 1024×600 screen, and 0.3 megapixel front facing camera. The tablet also has 3G support on certain models, a full size USB and HDMI port, and battery life is rated up to 15 hours of surfing, or 6 hours of video.

Video playback and output up to 1080p is supported, but the price is what will probably attract most people: €159, or around $170 for US and UK residents excluding French VAT and including international shipping. The Yzi comes with a one-year warranty as well, although you’ll probably have to ship it back to France if any problems arise.

[via Yzi]

While there have been a couple of TVs and monitors with MHL functionality in the past from the likes of Toshiba, Samsung is introducing a pair of LED monitors with two MHL/HDMI ports. Coming in at 23- and 27-inches, the S23B550VS and S27B550VS both feature TN panels with 1080p resolutions, plus VGA ports and internal speakers.

Current MHL adapters need a separate microUSB power source to keep the phone running, while the standard should allow a single cable to do the job. You should be able to ditch the additional microUSB charging cable in the future now that more MHL enabled TVs and monitors are hitting the market. A plethora of phones include MHL functionality right now, including the Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Nexus, and Galaxy S III. Just about every phone released by HTC and LG over the past year also includes the tech.

[via Clove]

This device has a 3200 mAh battery inside which the company quotes as working between 5 and 6 hours. When I hear a number like that for a battery that size, I know something is wrong. High-end tablets coming out over the past year have had comparable batteries with many more hours quoted in the first hand and a whole lot more work time showing up in real life. The Xtex My Tablet 7′s extremely small processor (1GHz single-core) will likely be to blame for your battery running out very quickly when you ask it to do anything above and beyond web browsing.

In addition, the amount of power inside this tablet will indeed allow you to play 1080p videos through that HDMI port you’ve got on the device, but not extremely well. Expect at least a few skips as well as loading screens when you’re watching your new favorite video file at full size on your HDTV. This unit has a mini-USB port, which is suspicious on a modern-day mobile device when micro-USB is the common port for essentially any other device you’ve got on hand – but it does have a regular-sized USB, so it could be ok, right?

This device runs the newest version of Google’s mobile operating system, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. For the Android lover, this will seem excellent. For the children, movie watchers, and web browsers out there looking to get an extremely easy and intuitive experience for their everyday lives, it’s not going to be as nice as some of the competing tablets solutions at this price.

We’ll see how well this device performs once it gets shipped around the globe in 7 to 10 days from now, now that the world has discovered it via major news sources galore. You can order one online at Xtex – but buyer beware: you get what you pay for.

We’ve seen the Cotton Candy before but the new design is simple, elegant and is a hardened drop resistant plastic that should also help with heat dissipation. Inside this tiny PC we have a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, ARM Mali-400MP GPU, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and a micro-SD slot. On each side are the ports consisting of USB and HDMI-out for all types of use. Streaming movies, Android, Games and more to a display and hooking up wireless mice and more. If you’ve seen the Cotton Candy before you probably already know the specs.

FXI has added a micro-USB port to the side as you can see from the images below and the design is a simple white color — although the end caps still come in black. Another important note here is although the FXI currently runs with Ubuntu or Android 2.3 Gingerbread FXI was nice enough to share details regarding Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. They expect to have full driver support by mid-March and will launch with Android 4.0 ICS options available late March. I want one already!

The FXI Cotton Candy is available for pre-order now for just $199 and as promised should be shipping in March.

This device has 4GB of DDR3 memory to keep you running smooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front for video chat, and a one-piece touchpad front and center for all your tapping purposes. There’s a couple of USB 2.0 ports, classic IdeaPad styling throughout , and a cool gray metal cover coloring for a modern low-profile look.

This ultrabook is priced and shaped to sit between the IdeaPad U260 and the IdeaPad U300S, the former being less expensive and the latter being the highest spec model of the bunch. The U300S is different in its Core i7 processor on the inside beside its 256GB SSD. This SSD is in place instead of the hard drive/SSD combo that the U300e has, and its combination of specs places it at $1499 instead. Choose your destiny!

[via Lenovo]

The next version of Android is almost certainly going to be called Jelly Bean simply because of the naming conventions that Google has adopted for Android. Treats at every level, starting with Donut, going to Eclair, FroYo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, and now Ice Cream Sandwich – so named because it combines the smartphone and tablet versions together in one. Now the next treat will be Jellybean – because what else could it be? And the next generation will be version 5.0. If it’ll be coming out soon, that’s a different question altogether.

Though what we’ve seen from Motorola thus far with their webtop interface has worked out much better on paper than it has in a real working environment, it may very well have seemed enticing enough to bring it to the next level with Google’s next version of Android. I can’t in good faith say it makes any sense to release it here so very soon after they’ve brought Ice Cream Sandwich to the forefront – but perhaps by the end of the year. You never know!

Have a peek at this demo of webtop as it existed in late 2011 and see if you think it’s viable for the future of all Android devices. Will Google be able to spruce it up enough to make it a wide release? We hope so!

[via Unwired View]

Style-wise, the HMP2000 is a simple black wedge with a high-gloss top – that instantly collected our fingerprints – and matte sides. A red/green status LED is hidden behind the front edge. Philips includes a small credit-card style remote with a dedicated Netflix shortcut key among others, along with a wall-wart power adapter, but there’s no HDMI cable. That’s a bit frustrating, given HDMI is the only way you can hook the HMP2000 up, so Philips can’t play the “we didn’t know which you’d want to use” card.

Power on, and you can start playing local media from the USB port instantly, even without setting up a WiFi connection. Try to select any of the internet-based services – Netflix, YouTube, etc – from the simple, surprisingly uncolorful UI however, and you’ll be prompted to scan and join a network. There’s no wired ethernet option.

In short, we were up and running within minutes – the longest part was using the arrow keys to enter our WiFi password and Netflix credentials – and were watching streaming content shortly after. You’ll obviously need a Netflix account for that service, but YouTube is free to access. For £49.99 it’s a cheap alternative to Roku, though we’ll have to see how Philips are with updates for future services. We’ll have a full review soon.

As you might have guessed, the ViewPad E70 is most definitely a case of price leading functionality, with ViewSonic shaving away at the spec sheet in order to hit the expected $169.99 price tag. The single-core processor is the start of that, but we’ll also be looking closely at whether important things like the display are usable, or if the E70 is just another crap tablet.

The ViewPad E70 will arrive sometime in late Q1 2012. We’re hunting hands-on with the slate now, and will update later when we know more.

The dock has various ports that allow simultaneous connection to multiple devices. It has has three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one HDMI port, one 3.5mm audio port, one gigabit Ethernet port, and two Thunderbolt ports that support daisy-chaining. Users can connect multiple USB devices, watch movies in Full HD 1080p, and transfer copious data in seconds.

And given the use of Thunderbolt technology, the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock offers data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps bi-directionally. It is expected to ship in September at select retailers worldwide as well as on Belkin.com. The device is priced at $299.

Since you can’t exactly jab your fingers at your TV, a nine-button remote does duty for controlling the interface. There’s also Android’s voice-to-text for dictating emails, URLs and more. Squeezed into the remote is an accelerometer, for motion-controlled gaming, and you can reach around the back of your TV and tap your phone against the HDMI Dongle as it has an NFC chip too.

Streaming Netflix, Hulu and other video-on-demand services is the obvious use, but big-screen browsing and other multimedia playback are also on the cards. Android’s selection of gaming apps is increasing all the time, and the HDMI Dongle should have the grunt to keep up with most current titles.

Unfortunately, Always Innovating seems to have learnt from its struggles with the Touch Book hybrid tablet and has decided not to offer the HDMI Dongle directly. Instead, it will be licensing the design to others, with the first such example expected to go on sale this coming summer. Whether it will look exactly like this remains to be seen, though; Always Innovating is positioning the guts of the dongle as ideal for powering a tablet, too. The promise is that it will all be open-source, too.

Pricing is expected to be in the region of $79 upwards.

[via Engadget]

They are aiming to have a successful year in 2012 and with this announcement they are about to get off to a great start. The technology behind MHL isn’t extremely new and has been added to many smartphones and tablets throughout 2011. MHL is a rapidly growing mobile HD audio/video connectivity standard similar to HDMI that allows up to 8 channels of audio and full uncompressed 1080p video to be streamed over a 5-pin micro-USB/MHL port. What’s even better is Onkyo has added power output to the MHL standard on their AVR’s to allow devices to charge at the same time for uncompromised audio/video quality, and battery life.

Silicon Image’s InstaPrevue is a unique, value-adding feature that will make using Onkyo products even better. With InstaPrevue users will no longer have to channel through the various input and outputs on the AVR and instead will have a live preview to switch to the correct HDMI or other inputs visually. No more toggling down the list to get that Xbox fired up. While this is a great feature I sure hope most are able to do a simple task such as changing the input — otherwise you might need to hand that remote off to someone more qualified.

InstaPrevue also allows for a much quicker speed while switching inputs, something I’m sure many are familiar with. Onkyo has always pushed the envelope and been recognized for special features and top quality sound. They look to be right on track for 2012 and we’ll be live at CES to get a good look and what is next in Home Theater. For more on this announcement, read Onkyo’s Press Release.

So here’s what you do – you open the box, you take the base station and you plug the upright USB stick into it. You plug that base station in with the cord that powers it up, connect it to a power socket that is, then you connect it to your TV with the HDMI cord that’s included with the package. Next you pop the CD from the box in your Windows PC, and click through the installation process which takes less than 5 minutes, and you plug in the other USB stick and hit “OK” for all the drivers which instantly get installed without trouble. From here you click which mode you’d like to be in (I like extended display mode), and BAM. You’re in business.

Now all you’ve got to do is pull that window with Thor playing in it to the extra large and awesome display you’ve got in your HDTV, and you can have a great time continuing to browse your Thor-loving forums in the meantime from your couch. I’ve really truly been looking for such a simple solution to this first world problem of having to get up click a mouse each time I want a new file to play ever since I first got into the wild world of media centers. This means having a computer of some sort control what’s displayed on your television rather than using the cable and a remote control. Take command of your programming!

What you’ve got now is full access to anything you can pick up from the internet, displayed instead on your gigantic television, all controlled from your laptop. Or if you prefer, your PC sitting across the room. Think about this situation: you’ve got a couple of kids that want to watch a new YouTube video every time the last one has ended, but you want your PC to yourself. All you’ve got to do here is move your mouse out to the second display (your TV) and hit the play button instead of having to turn your display around and around per Johnny and Sally’s request. Freedom at last!

Have a peek at all the components above and below and pick the device up right this second (or grab it for your fun-loving PC owner friend or relative for the holidays, they’ll love you for it.) You can purchase the StreamHD at Warpia online for just $159.99 right now!

As with other thin-client style devices we’ve seen before, Cotton Candy is intended to work around the limitation of small screens on small gadgets. You might be able to remotely access your work PC from your phone, for instance, but you may not be able to see much of it on a phone-scale display.

Bluetooth is used for peripheral support while the dongle is plugged into a TV, and your smartphone can hook up wirelessly to act as a mouse or keyboard. When hooked up to a Windows, Mac or Linux computer, meanwhile, Cotton Candy can borrow their peripherals and present its own UI either full-screen or windowed. MPEG4 and H.264 video decoding is supported, at HD resolution, and there’s a special cloud interface to get you logged into your services.

FXI Tech reckon the Cotton Candy should be on sale by the 2012 holidays, with pricing expected to settle at around the $200 point.

The two models that exist on this Folio machine are in the cores: first there’s a 1.4GHz Core i3 for you low-enders, then there’s the 1.6GHz Core i5 that maxes out at 2.3GHz with Turbo Boost enabled. Pop this notebook open and you’ll find a backlit keyboard above a standard three-button touchpad while the left side has power, Ethernet, HDMI, memory card slot, and a USB 2.0 port, these alongside two tiny LED lights showing hard drive use and power on. Inside you’ll find 128GB of SSD storage and a cool 4GB of RAM, and this device features Dolby Advanced Audio (no Beats!) and the whole device is set to take some everyday wear and tear for sure.

Richie notes that “this is the most ruggedised Ultrabook I’ve come across so far” and we’re leaning towards trust in that statement. Having quite recently caught glimpses and hands-on with several HP Elite-level laptops this summer I can tell you right here: HP doesn’t mess around when it comes to reliable products that can take a lot of damage. In this Folio Ultrabook you’ll find a rubberized base and sides, a relatively stiff lid, and an overall opposite of delicate feel. Should be a solid package!

UPDATE: official word from HP has come down and a few more specifications can now be guaranteed. What you’ve got here is a 3.3-pound 0.7-inch tall ultrabook with a 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 pixel display, and will be released on December 7th, 2011. This ultrabook will run you a cool $900 USD.

[via Ultrabook News]

You can currently use this product with most Apple products, that being the iPod Touch generation 3 or 4, the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4G, and the iPad or the iPad 2. This means that, for example, if I were to have one sitting here in the living room, it would erase the need for me to transfer videos to the iPad where I’d normally be playing them from via HDMI to the HD television. Now all I’d have to do is zap the videos from my computer right over to the Wi-Drive, my iPad then instantly having the ability to see them then too. Simple! Have a look at the device here courtesy of Kingston:

This little beast is right around the size of your average smartphone at 121.5mm x 61.8mm x 9.8mm, and the folks at Kingston have let us know that compatibility with Android is right around the corner. You’ll be able to work currently with the iOS devices listed above as well as Windows 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Max OS X 10.5 and up, and Linux 2.6 and up. You get a one year warranty right out of the box, there’s an official iOS app in Apple’s App Store, and its rechargeable battery lasts up to four hours of continuous use.

Look like the drive for you? Find out about more ultra fabulous Kingston products by hitting our big [Kingston Portal], and you can see the rest of our hands-on videos from the event by heading to the portal for the [Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011]!

Silicon Image argues that seeing what’s coming through each connection makes far more sense than either “HDMI 1″, “HDMI 2″ and “HDMI 3″ or even customized labels for “CONSOLE” and “CABLE”. Manufacturers that pick up InstaPrevue, meanwhile, will be able to customize the appearance of each preview window, as well as change its size and the position it appears on-screen.

It will also be possible to integrate the windows with a custom UI, presumably opening the door to smart TV that shows local sources alongside internet streams and on-demand content in the same interface. No word on when we might expect it to show up on commercial sets, however.

For those looking to get into Android via a unique look at the Android operating system as it’s topped by one of the coolest 3rd-party user interfaces on the market, this is your device. The user interface you’re seeing here is not your average Android 3.2.x Honeycomb experience, instead being called Viewscene 3D, an interface designed by the same folks who developed SPB Shell 3D, a homescreen replacement app quick we’ve reviewed over on our sister site Android Community. ViewSonic worked with that development team to create a great looking out of the box experience with, again, what they’re calling Viewscene 3D. You’ll see the coolness of the look and controls in the hands-on video below.

This device is introduced to us amongst about a billion other rabid technology fans, so you’ll have to bear with the noise, but it’ll be worth it once you realize what you’re seeing here. ViewSonic presents a tablet with a 7-inch display at 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and a 1GHz single-core processor with 512MB of RAM. Along the side you’ll find all the ports you love so very well, that being a miniUSB, microUSB, power port, headphone jack, and microSD slot for expansion of memory by up to 32GB should you want to hold every single app you’ve ever downloaded at once.

You’ll be getting a 3 megapixel camera on the back, a VGA camera on the front for video chat, and the whole device is made of mainly plastic. This device will be available for the bargain price of 149 Euros or around $199 USD and will be released inside September of 2011.

Sound like the deal you’ve been waiting for?

Kim lets us know that the Galaxy S II series in the USA will indeed be running the newest version of Samsung TouchWiz UI, this, for those of you that don’t know, is a set of enhancements Samsung has added on top of Android so that their devices work in the way they see as most positive for the end user. What you’ll find is the Kim tells us about, first of all, the new cleanliness of TouchWiz, a brand new set of abilities you’ve got as far as resizing widgets, moving app icons to the pages you want, and even re-organizing your apps drawer to the order you like best.

One of the greatest things you’re going to find going on in this newest version of TouchWiz is a set of customizability options that up until now you’d have had to go to a 3rd party developer to get through a homescreen replacement app. If you have no idea what a homescreen replacement app is, you’re going to be EXTRA pleased by your ability to arrange your homescreens and app drawer the way you want it.

Kim also goes into Samsung’s Social Hub app briefly, showing us that we’re able to aggregate all of our social networks into a single feed list, each item able to be accessed at will. One single inbox for all of your social interaction. You can also view messages from social contacts in Conversation View allowing you to differentiate your exchanges from other friends and foes of yours, and Kim reminds us that Social Hub is included on every one of the different versions of the Galaxy S II as well.

Have a peek at the video and stay tuned to our [Galaxy S II] and [Samsung] hubs for more news galore this whole week – that’s right, we’re in Berlin as well for Samsung’s Unpacked event at IFA 2011 aus Deutschland – join us live as we broadcast on site!

Basically, the IR receiver dongle plugs into an adapter at the end of your HDMI cable, and shuttles the signal down to the IR blaster at the other end. Your stack of A/V equipment – whether cable or satellite TV boxes, TiVo or other DVRs, HTPC or Blu-ray players – can remain hidden in a cupboard or a “node zero” style central termination point, far away from line-of-sight with your remotes, and you don’t need to rewire to carry the IR signal separately.

CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is used by certain A/V companies to allow for remote control signals to be passed between the TV and other components, and generally gets branded by OEMs: Sony calls it BRAVIA Sync, Panasonic calls it VIERA Link and Toshiba calls it Regza Link, for instance. Otherwise the channel goes unused, so InjectIR can take advantage of that spare wiring for its own purposes.

The benefit is that, unlike the manufacturer-specific solutions, you can use your existing remote and pair equipment from different brands. The CEC should be preserved over CAT5 extensions and switchers, and the IR repeater can be moved further away from the emitter adapter with a regular 3.5mm cable. The Sewell InjectIR is available now, priced at $44.95.

[via TechCrunch]

Measuring in at 60 x 118 x 14 mm, the SHOWWX+ HDMI uses a laser projection system which means no focusing is necessary: simply point it at a wall and get up to a 2.5m display. Resolution is 848 x 480, which isn’t going to do much justice to your Full HD movies but is at least enough for some YouTube style entertainment. Brightness is 15 lumens and contrast is around 5,000:1, and the HDMI input is HDCP compliant for protected sources.

In addition to the HDMI, there’s the usual component input for use with a regular TV output from a laptop, DVD player or iPod. With the right adapter, meanwhile, you can also hook up a VGA connection, though with many notebooks having HDMI these days we doubt many will need that. The user-replaceable battery is good for up to 2hrs runtime.

The MicroVision SHOWWX+ HDMI is currently available to pre-order, priced at $369. It’s expected to begin shipping imminently.

[via PicoProjector-Info]

Speaking with TechRadar on the situation, HDMI Org explained that there were several reasons why they’ve come to this conclusion for the cable. Each of these reasons is quite clear and at the moment it’s unclear as to why the cord was manufactured without first going through the necessary tests:

“The HDMI specification defines an HDMI cable as having only HDMI connectors on the ends. Anything else is not a licensed use of the specification and therefore, not allowed. All HDMI products undergo compliance testing as defined by the Compliance Testing Specification. The CTS clearly defines necessary tests for all products defined in the HDMI Specification. Since this new cable product is undefined in the Specification, there are no tests associated with this product. It cannot be tested against the Specification.” – HDMI Org

This move will reduce the cords currently in production to non-moveable units, while it does still appear that dongles with DisplayPort socket on one side and HDMI female receiver socket on the other side will remain in production for the time being. HDMI Org notes that this is because a licensed HDMI cord can be slotted into them. From what we understand, it is the absence altogether of an officially licensed HDMI cord that makes the HDMI to Mini DisplayPort Cables illegal.

HDMI Org does go on to note that it may be possible to license the now-illegal cords in the future:

“We do recognise that there may be a market need for a cable solution rather than a dongle solution. However, at this time, there is no way to produce these cable products in a licensed manner.” – HDMI Org

Harsh? Now when you consider the circumstances and the rules set clearly in stone, says HDMI Org. Rules is rules we suppose!

[via TechRadar]

Still, we’d expect that chip to be in place to drive that 1080p video recording. Other expected specifications include a 4-inch, qHD 960 x 540 resolution display, the same Android Gingerbread build – with MOTOBLUR – as recently pushed to the DROID X, and a reskinned launcher.

There’s also an HDMI port by the USB port, which does open to door to potential Webtop use as on the ATRIX; still, with the physical keyboard on the phone itself, perhaps that’s not such a pressing need. Still, being able to dock the DROID 3 into a multimedia docking station would be a neat touch. Still no word on launch date.

[via Android Community]

There’s LED backlighting, a 2ms response rate and 120Hz refresh rate – though obviously that’ll be halved during 3D playback – together with the usual, overblown dynamic contrast figure: 100,000,000:1 in this case. Acer also throws in a number of digital picture tweaking modes, though we’ve a feeling most image-sensitive users will leave them turned off.

The Acer HD274H will go on sale in the UK in May, priced at £499 ($826). No word on US availability or pricing at this stage.

Press Release:

Acer unveils the world’s first 27-inch FHD 3D monitor – HN274H with NVIDIA 3D Glasses

London, 27 April 2011 – TV broadcasts, movies, gaming, photography and even new learning applications: 3D technology unlocks an entire world of experiences. Experiences that can be best appreciated on a bigger screen. Acer, always at the forefront in offering technologically advanced solutions, now presents the HN274H, the first 27-inch 3D monitor in the world to support the HDMI®(dual link) 3D solution, enabling users to fully appreciate the array of possibilities brought by the stereoscopic technology.

Offering powerful and exciting graphics as well as top-notch technology, the HN274H 3D monitor is particularly well suited for thrilling gaming and action movies: the perfect solution for tech-savvy users and gaming enthusiasts.

Together with 3D technology, the HN274H display is rich of high-end monitor’s features, to ensure the best viewing experience. First of all, a large 68.6 cm (27”) LED backlit panel, ideal not only for gamers or video enthusiasts, but also for users who want to enjoy a great entertainment.

Stunning picture quality is given by an exceptional 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio, while the Full HD resolution (1920×1080) is perfect for 1080p Full HD applications and the 16:9 aspect ratio, is ideal to watch a movie with the same splendour of a theatre screen. The 120Hz refresh rate, essential for creating the 3D effect and a response time of just 2ms, the utmost in reactivity for real-time gaming complete the picture of really outstanding features.

The Acer 3D monitors come with built-in IR emitter to offer greater convenience. An integrated IR emitter means you can connect the monitor to a set-top box or Blu-ray Disc™ via HDMI and enjoy 3D broadcasting or the latest 3D movies.

The Acer HN274H is ideal for enhanced home entertainment. With the included NVIDIA® 3D glasses, featuring advanced active shutter 3D technology, combined with the monitor’s built-in IR emitter, you can enjoy your favourite movies or games with your friends, as multiple pair of glasses can be used simultaneously.

The HN274H combines high-end specs with a highly sophisticated design that easily blends into any environment. The graceful base has a rim in a contrasting color for a richer visual impact, while the teardrop-shaped power-key adds a cool touch of class. Convenient to use touch-sensitive controls and an intricate vent design give the monitor an all-round sleek look and feel.

The HN274H monitor falls under Acer’s range of EcoDisplay. These displays are specifically designed with an energy saving design, are mercury free and are made of easily recyclable materials. To ensure lower power consumption white LED backlighting technology was adopted, replacing the four lamp design with two lamps, for up to 68% power saving. In addition, LED lamps are mercury-free and safer for the environment whilst delivering better performance. Acer 3D monitors meet stringent industry standards and are compliant with RoHS (the EU directive restricting the usage of hazardous substances) and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
Lower energy consumption not only helps reducing costs but also preserves resources and the environment for future generations.

To ensure the best viewing experience, no matter what are your doing, the Acer HN274H monitor features cutting-edge display technologies.

Acer eColor Management optimizes image performance in common usage scenarios, delivering an improved, more enjoyable viewing experience. This feature allows you to quickly tailor the performance characteristics (brightness, saturation, contrast, etc.) of your monitor to best suit the visual content. Acer eColor Management, which includes a set of convenient scenario modes, is the result of comprehensive research to reveal the high-end features sought most by users. Psychological and technological studies were also carried out to determine the best method of implementing those features.

Acer Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM) dynamically adjusts the contrast ratio to achieve ultra-sharp images. Each scene is analysed to fine-tune images frame by frame and enhance colour quality, obtaining a dramatic improvement of gradation and detail, especially in dimmer and brighter scenes.

The Acer HN274H display series comes with a 2-year collect & return warranty and will be available in May for a SRRP of £499 Inc VAT.

The adapter supports up to 1080p and will work with the iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2, and 4G iPod touch. With the thing plugged in you can use it to see anything on the big screen that is on the screen of your iPad. This sounds like a good way to watch Hulu Plus on your big screen.

The adapter supports up to 1080p content when used with the iPad 2. If you plug it into any of the other devices, it only supports up to 720p resolution. The adapter sells for $39 and you have to provide your own HDMI cable.

[via MacDailyNews]

There’s also four USB ports – three 2.0, and one 3.0 – along with up to 320GB of HDD storage and up to 4GB of DDR3 memory. As well as the AMD GPU there’s integrated Intel HD graphics with automatic switch-over, and a DVD burner.

WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and an HD webcam round out the main specs, and the C Series gets the same keyboard backlighting and instant-boot WEB mode as the S Series. No word on pricing at this stage, but the Sony VAIO C Series should make its retail debut from March 2011.

Press Release:

Light up your life with new 14” VAIO C Series

Colourful notebook PC with 3D output and stand-out looks to match your lifestyle

Stunning notebook PC with ground-breaking ‘light emitting’ translucent style option
High-contrast 14” (35.5cm) widescreen VAIO Display
HD web camera powered by “Exmor” for clearer, sharper video web chat
HDMI out (3D supported) for watching videos and games on 3D TV
Surf the Internet in seconds with one-touch WEB access

Seeing really is believing. With eye-grabbing looks that demand attention, the colourful new 14” VAIO C Series from Sony makes a dramatic lifestyle statement. It’s also a fully-featured notebook PC, with ample power to handle your day-to-day computing needs.

The latest VAIO C Series showcases a radical style direction by Sony that stands out from run-of-the-mill notebook PCs. A choice of fashion colours include two special orange and green ‘light emitting’ options. This audacious design scatters light along edges of the translucent PC lid and other key surfaces to create a dramatic glow effect.

Aside from ground-breaking looks, new VAIO C Series balances portability and performance to make light of everyday tasks – from emailing to editing presentations.

The high contrast 14” (35.5cm) real-wide VAIO Display with LED backlighting provides plenty of screen space for web browsing, photo viewing and document editing.

Night or day, new VAIO C Series is beautifully easy to use. Backlighting on the full-pitch isolation keyboard illuminates automatically for precise, accurate typing when the lights are low. There’s also a multi-touch trackpad, and an ambient light sensor that optimises screen brightness for a clear, comfortable picture in daylight or at dusk.

The integrated HD web camera powered by “Exmor” delivers a crisp, clear HD image for more realistic web chats and video calls.

With a touch of the handily-placed WEB button you’re powered up and online in seconds. Launching Internet access without a full boot-up, it’s a valuable time-saver for checking emails in a café or airport lounge. There’s also an ASSIST button that launches VAIO Care software, troubleshooting problems and keeping your VAIO in top condition.

14” VAIO C Series isn’t short on computing power and storage capacity to accommodate everyday multimedia and general computing needs. The latest Intel® Core™ i5 processor is matched by up to 320GB HDD space and 4GB RAM for comfortable multitasking with Genuine Windows 7® Home Premium installed.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth®, four USB ports (one USB 3.0 and three USB 2.0) and a new HDMI out (3D supported). Just connect your 3D TV to enjoy favourite 3D movies and games on the television screen.

Available as an option when you order VAIO C Series online, hybrid graphics switch automatically between performance and battery-saving modes to suit the task in hand. Other choices when you order online from Sony include CPU and storage enhancements to power up your VAIO.

There’s a colourful family of official accessories by Sony to complement the stand-out looks of the latest 14” VAIO Series. A curvaceously sculpted Bluetooth wireless mouse and funky keyboard skins are joined by a sleek carry pouch with a colour-coordinated lining to match your notebook.

The brilliantly styled new 14” VAIO C Series of notebook PCs by Sony is available from March/ April 2011 depending on country.