NEC BIGLOBE – a cloud content and ISP in Japan – says it expects the system to be useful in sports and hobbies, for instance “helping the user identify fish and fishing techniques right on the river.” Alternatively it could be linked with GPS and knowledge of other users’ locations, so that a skier could have their friends flagged up “by looking at icons that are geospatially correct inside the users view through the glasses.”

Technical details on the platform are scant – we’re still digging – though the STAR 1200 glasses Vuzix was showing off at IFA 2011 uses a pair of transparent 852 x 480 displays that together mimic a 16:9 aspect 60-inch display viewed from 10 feet away. They’re paired with a front-facing 1080p Full HD camera and 6-axis motion tracking.

Vuzix STAR 1200 hands-on:

As for the user-recognition, that’s presumably a cloud-based process rather than being handled by a smartphone or other mobile device carried by the user. While the STAR 1200 glasses are decidedly clunky, Vuzix has more recently shown off a new set of Smart Glasses that manage to squeeze transparent displays into a more aesthetically-pleasing design.

Though these projectors are set to be released and promoted to “houses of worship, higher education, corporate and retail environments” as NEC says, there’s no doubt in my mind that should you carve out the larger piece of your home’s lower level and set one of these beasts up, you’ll never need to go to a movie theater again. Both models include HDMI, DisplayPort, USB Viewer and three analog computer inputs, and both contain Windows networking features that’ll allow you the ability to connect to your shared network and do no less than control your networked computer directly through your projector’s USB input to display all your lovely multimedia files.

Then here’s the kicker – the PX series (that these projectors are in) allow for stacking correction which allows up to four projectors to be stacked vertically or horizontally to boost your brightness up to 32,000 lumens! That’s one magnificently undeniable look at Tron or your humble narrator’s test video of choice: Speed Racer! Rich McPherson, Sr. Product Manager of projectors for NEC Display Solutions, speaks thusly on these models:

“Our PX Series is ideal for customers requiring advanced connectivity, high brightness and networking capabilities. The integrated option slot allows users to implement the projector in digital signage applications, which allows greater flexibility when planning an installation. The potential for the PX700W and PX800X to be valuable in lecture halls, training rooms and auditoriums is reliant on its professional-grade quality and multitude of included features.” – McPherson

The power can be yours starting this month on the PX700W and PX800X for an estimated street price of $8799 and $8689, respectively (without lens). You get a 3-year limited parts and labor warranty on either model. Education customers get an additional year on their warranty right out of the box, and Star Student customers receive an additional 2 years. Sound like a deal to you?

In fact, the target is AR that can remind you of the identity of acquaintances when you bump into them at parties, pull up information on products you’ve bought but haven’t kept the user guide to hand, and other more personal applications. NEC is also working on the potential input and control methods, such as sensors which would allow you to tap your arm in different ways to trigger functionality.

The computer is a 140 x 90 x 55 mm box weighing 360g including a battery that, NEC says, is good for over 4hrs of continuous use. Inside there’s 256MB of RAM and 2GB of storage (1.7GB of which is left after the low-footprint Windows CE 6.0 R3 Professional OS is installed), while connectivity includes support for an earpiece and microphone, as well as a camera input. With the latter, it’s possible for remote workers to beam back footage of what they’re seeing to a centralized control room, where experts can guide them through complex repairs and the like.

As for the wearable display, the AirScouter creates a virtual 800 x 600 image for one eye, and weighs 64g. It’s capable of playing back several types of video, as well as more industrial data. Unfortunately it’s likely that only businesses will consider the NEC TeleScouter at the moment: it’ll start shipping on December 26, priced at 400,000 yen ($5,207) for the headset/computer combo itself, and 1,990,000 yen ($25,903) for the accompanying software and control system.

[via AV Watch]

The contrast ratio is 2500:1 and inside the slim projector is a 0.45″ DLP providing 1140 x 912 resolution. The LED light source is good for up to 20,000 hours. That is a huge increase in life span compared to the traditional projector bulb. The projector is small, but has nice connectivity options with HDMI, VGA, and composite connections.

The projector has 1GB of internal storage for your presentations. That storage can be expanded via a SD card slot supporting up to 32GB. The projector supports playback from storage or internal memory of some select photos, video, audio, Office, and Adobe files. The internal speaker is 2W and the projector has integrated wall color correction pre-sets and integrated closed captioning. The projector will ship in October for $799.

The accessories include a Multistaiton, a wireless mouse, and a wireless keyboard. The Multistation is an interesting little device that has a slot in it to hold the tablet in landscape mode. The main use for the device isn’t that slot though, it’s that it has an optical drive inside. The thing that isn’t clear is how exactly the optical drive connects to the tablet. The wireless mouse and keyboard are your typical peripherals.

The hardware inside the tablet includes a 10.1-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1280 x 800. The processor is the Atom Z670 at 1.5GHz and the tablet has the Intel SM35 Express chipset. The tablet also has 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 1.3MP camera, a pair of USB ports, HDMI out, and a SDHC card slot. The battery inside the tablet promises 10.6 hours of runtime and the tablet measures 263x183x15.8mm and weighs 729g. The biggest downside to this tablet is the price; with the accessories included, the tablet has a price in Japan equivalent to $1,230. You can’t get the tablet without those accessories.

[via TechCrunch]

NEC and Lenovo have announced a joint venture in Japan that will make the NEC Lenovo Japan Group the largest PC provider in Japan. The figures show that the new venture will have 25% of the Japanese computer market. The venture will also have a very strong corporate and business sales volume. The transaction landed NEC $175 million through an issue of shares in Lenovo.

The joint venture is owned 51% by Lenovo and 49% by NEC. Lenovo’s Roderick Lappin is Executive Chairman with Lenovo’s Hideyo Takasu is the president and CEO. The companies both promise improved support for users in Japan and lots more thanks to the new venture.

The screen has a quick release stand that make it easy to set up and it has an optional photo frame stand. This might be the perfect screen for mobile pros that have to set up displays or booths with digital signs. The contrast ratio of the screen is 3000:1 typically and 25000:1 dynamic. The native contrast ratio is 1920 x 1080 making for full HD compatibility.

Brightness is 250 cd/m2 and the display has DisplayPort and DVI-I inputs. The screen also has a USB port and the standard stand is adjustable with 110mm height adjust range, tilt, swivel, and pivot. Other features include an ambient light sensor, ECO mode for greater power savings, and a dynamic video mode. The screen will land in July for $319.

The lamps used are good for 5000 hours and both units have HDMI, dual computer inputs, and USB ports. The USB viewer feature allows the showing of images from optional USB memory without a computer. Both units also have a virtual remote that allows the complete control of the projectors from the computer.

Each of the units also has a 10W speaker for presentations with audio. The only difference between the two is the resolution with the XS getting XGA and the WS getting WXGA resolution. Quick Startup allows the projectors to be ready to use in 3 to four seconds and they need no cool down at shut off. Both will ship this month with the M300WX selling for $999 and the M300WS selling for $1099.

The LCDs have the same features, support a resolution up to 2560 x 1600, and use a 10-bit active matrix p-IPS panel. The screen can cover 98.2% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. The screen also has a brightness of 350cd/m2 in landscape and 250cd/m2 in portrait mode. The contrast ratio for the screen is 1000:1 and it has 14-bit programmable 3D lookup table. Connectivity includes dual DisplayPort and dual DVI-D input connections.

The screen has an integrated USB port with two upstream ports and three downstream. That allows the screen to be connected to two computers and used with one mouse and keyboard. The display has PiP capability allowing the user to see content form two separate computers at once. The stand is 4-way adjustable with 150mm height adjustment and a swiveling and pivoting base. The viewing angles for the screen are up to 178-degrees. The PA301W-BK also has an AmbiBright ambient light sensor to adjust the display brightness based on light conditions. The PA301W-BK will sell for $2299 and ht ePA301W-BK-SV will sell for $2539 with both shipping right now.

The scanner is a hybrid because it able to scan fingerprints and finger vein characteristics at the same time without contact with the sensor. The first shipments of the new scanner are set to start in May. By grabbing fingerprint and finger vein information at one time, the sensor is very difficult to fool.

The fact that the sensor doesn’t have to contact the finger means that it will be accurate even if the user’s hands are very wet or dry. NEC says that the sensor works with major software on the market like IBM Tivoli Access manager and Novel SecureLogin.

A slice of Gorilla Glass up-front keeps things from flexing, and should hopefully prevent accidental snapping when Japanese buyers inevitably sit down with the E-04C in their back pocket. Inside there’s Froyo, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and, somehow, NFC as well.

NTT DoCoMo will be offering the NEC MEDIAS E-04C from March 4, with deliveries expected from March 15. The battery is apparently good for up to 360hrs standby. No word on international availability.

[via Android Community]

Despite all that, the MEDIAS E-04C still manages to squeeze in NFC and a 1-Seg digital TV tuner, along with a 4-inch display. Considering Sony Ericsson told us they’d bypassed NFC in the Arc because it added too much bulk, that’s impressive engineering from the NEC team.

Japanese heft-haters will be able to pick up the NEC MEDIAS E-04C from February 24, pricing and full specs yet to be confirmed. International availability is unknown at this stage.

[via Android Community]

PaPeRo was set up to find out each person’s hobbies and interests, and then match that up with information on local activities sourced via a wireless network connection. The NEC ‘bot would then tell its companion about the potential jaunts, and then question them on how the activity went when they returned. NEC expects the research to be particularly useful in Japan, where a growing population of elderly people and a shortage on human companions has left many feeling isolated and afraid to go out.

The P350X and P350W both have 3,500 lumens of light output and the P420x has 4,200 lumens. All three have enough light output to work in bright rooms. The 350X has XGA resolution, the 350W has WXGA, and the 420X is an XGA resolution projector as well.

The lamp and filters on the projector are good for up to 5,000 hours. The projectors all have HDMI inputs and USB inputs as well. The USB viewer lets you show images from a USB drive and they have 10W speakers. The projectors will all ship this month with the 350X selling for $1649, the 350W for $1799, and the 420X for $1999.

According to a statement from the company’s PR company, HP “are postponing the business notebooks briefing on Feb. 10 as the availability of HP products will be impacted.” Intel has increased its estimate on how much the Cougar Point problem might cost to remedy, with the figure now hitting $1bn in missed sales and fixing costs.

Samsung and NEC have also been affected, with Samsung saying it will offer refunds on certain machines and NEC delaying releases of four new models. The full list of Toshiba models affected can be found below:

Satellite A660 See note below
Satellite A665 S5176, S5177, S5182, S5183, S5184, S5185, S5187, S5189, S6100
Satellite A665 3D Edition 3DV10, 3DV11, 3DV12
Satellite E305 S1990
Satellite L655 S5161, S5161BN, S5161RD, S5161WH, S5162, S5166, S5166BN, S5166RD, S5166WH, S5167
Satellite M645 S4116, S4118
Portege R835 P50, P55, P56
Qosmio X500 Q930
Qosmio X505 Q8100, Q8102, Q8104
Note: If you purchased a Satellite A660 from Toshiba Direct, with a Core i7 2630QM quad-core processor, you will be contacted directly by Toshiba.

[via Laptoping]

The joint venture will be in the form of a new company called NEC Lenovo Japan Group, with Lenovo owning 51 percent of the company and NEC the rest. The deal is considered a win-win. Lenovo is the world’s no. 4 computer maker and NEC is Japan’s most popular PC brand. Together, they can outpace global market growth, breakthrough the Japanese market that is usually resistant to foreign brands, keep pace with Taiwanese rival Acer, and also scale up or diversify into other services.

Beyond PCs, it is likely that the new team effort will venture into developing, producing, and selling other devices especially in the mobile arena such as tablets and smartphones. Lenovo CEO was quoted by Reuters to suggest that smartphone development was definitely in their near future.

[Via ZDNet]

The SX-01 doesn’t rely on new technology – NEC Avio have been offering infrared thermography devices for a long time now, supplying kit for airports and seaports during SARS and flu epidemics – but it does promise to make it more affordable. A regular NEC Avio contact-free thermometer costs upward of $6,000; however the Thermo Mirror is expected to come in at around ($1,186) for the entry-level SX-01A.

To achieve that it only measures temperature at a single point – usually the forehead – and uses basic lights to show health: green for the all-clear, red (and an alarm) if you’re burning up. A more advanced version, the SX-01B, will be able to trigger external devices and combine its own measurements with those of external sensors.

Connectivity includes WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, USB 2.0, SDHC and optional 3G. There’s also a speaker, GPS, an accelerometer and a 3-megapixel camera. NEC reckons the LT-W’s battery is good for up to five hours of runtime.

No pricing or availability information at this stage.

This new tablet is called the NEC Dual-Screen Cloud Communicator Tablet. It will feature the standard things, like WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity. But NEC has also confirmed that the device will be able to connect to 3G networks, too. NEC is also touting an “industry-first,” with the Communicator’s ability to run different programs on each LCD, giving the tablet a new way of multitasking. There’s also going to be support for a stylus pen, which will be good news to some out there who believe a tablet isn’t a tablet without stylus support.

As for that new Android application market, NEC is calling it the BIGLOBE “andronavi.” There isn’t a lot of information on this new marketplace, but apparently it will have a big focus on Japanese content, such as manga, and photography relating to Japan. Check out the full press release, which includes details on a single-screen Android tablet as well.

Press Release

NEC to Exhibit a New Line of Android(TM) Products and Service Offerings at Pepcom’s Digital Experience and CES 2011

The First Dual-LCD-Screen Android Tablet, LifeTouch and a New Android Application Marketplace Available to Demo in the South Hall 4, Booth 36268

Tokyo, December 21, 2010 – NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) announced today that it will participate at Pepcom Digital Experience and CES 2011 on Jan. 5-9, 2011 in Las Vegas. NEC will be debuting a new line of products and service offerings based on the Android platform, including the first showing of its dual-screen Android tablet, the introduction of its Home Gateway Solution designed for cloud access from home and its Android application marketplace, andronavi. NEC will also exhibit its single-screen tablet, initially announced in November 2010, for the first time in the U.S.

NEC products featured at Pepcom Digital Experience and CES 2011 South Hall 4, Booth 36268 include:

NEC Dual Screen Cloud Communicator Tablet
Android powered tablet with two 7-inch touch screens
Wifi/3G/Bluetooth enabled
Multi-tasking, with the ability to run different programs on each LCD screen – an industry first
Stylus pen for easy input

NEC Single Screen Cloud Communicator Tablet
Android powered, single touch screen
Wifi/3G/Bluetooth enabled
Camera and SD-card equipped
Slim, lightweight design
Stylus pen for easy input

NEC Personal Products’ Mobile Notebook
Android powered
　
NEC Home Gateway Solution
ADSL2+/802.11n/USB2.0/DECT enabled
IGMPv2 Proxy & Snooping/VoIP
Media Control & Serving/Printer & File Sharing
TR069 and OSGi enable services & configurations to be carried out remotely

NEC BIGLOBE’s “andronavi”
Android application marketplace
Japanese content including Manga, Japan related photography, etc.
For more information, visit http://us.andronavi.com

All of the products named in this release will be exhibited at both Pepcom Digital Experience on Jan. 5 and CES 2011 from Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas.

***

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.

*The image you see above is from this post: Dungeon Defenders Coming to Android

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The new LifeTouch will be able to show different information on each display simultaneously, though beyond that details are slim. Still up in the air is whether NEC will be using resistive or capacitive touchscreens, which version of Android the company has selected, and whether the tablet will have a consumer or vertical-market focus.

In Japan, the single-screen LifeTouch is offered via service providers – whether healthcare, business, or publishers looking for ereader devices – rather than as a direct-to-consumer tablet. NEC is apparently also planning to bring a keyboard-equipped Android netbook to CES, along with the original LifeTouch.

[via PC World]

On sale now through NEC’s oddly named ISP, BIGLOBE, the Smartia is priced at 42,800 yen ($510). Somehow the WiFi b/g, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor don’t exactly inspire at that sort of price.

NEC apparently have 1GHz tablets in the works, together with Android 2.2 and 3.0 updates planned, though there’s no timescale for their release. Similarly unknown are any release plans for the Smartia outside of Japan, though we’ve a feeling that, unless they’re willing to significantly drop the price, they won’t find many takers.

[via NetbookNews and via Android Community]

Other features of the tablet include 384MB of RAM, 1GB of ROM, WiFi, and Bluetooth along with a bunch of sensors and a 3MP camera. It helps to understand how cool the device may or may not be in the real world when we can see someone using it on video. The geeks over at Netbook news have done just that.

They have a hands-on video of the LifeTouch in action you can check out below. The gang also tells us that future tablets will have a 1GHz processor and will run Android 2.2 and 3.0. Main storage for the device is still to SD cards and the tablet has GPS to boot. The LifeBook sounds like it has some nice features.

Via Android Community

Inside there’s an ARM Cortex A8 processor, 384MB of RAM and a 1GB ROM, along with WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS and various sensors. You also get a 3-megapixel camera and a full-sized SDHC card slot, together with a microphone and stereo speakers. USB Host and USB Device ports, a voice-controlled browser and various hardware buttons round out the key specs.

The LifeTouch measures in at around 220 x 120 x 13.9 mm and weighs 370g; NEC expect around 8hrs of runtime from its battery, which isn’t bad given the heavy emphasis on wireless data. No word on pricing, but the NEC LifeTouch should drop in Japan later on this month.

[via Android Community]

The machine also has a sensor that will detect when a different person sits at the computer and set the AIO’s settings accordingly without having to log in and out manually. The machine is 76.4mm thick and has a keyboard that doesn’t have to be plugged into the computer for connectivity.

The VersaPro UltraLite notebook has a 12.1-inch screen and has an Intel processor inside. The machine uses vPro technology with hardware level security to disable the machine if stolen. Other features include an ECO mode setting to save power. The machine is rugged enough to withstand 150kg of pressure without breaking and the keyboard is splash resistant. Pricing and availability are unknown.

In a demonstration at NEC headquarters, the PanelDirector system spotted a young woman and decided she’d be interested in seeing an advert for pasta.  It uses a database of around 10,000 patterns against which it compares viewers to figure out the demographic, with the system gradually improving its accuracy over time but, for privacy reasons, not actually saving the images it takes.

NEC expect the new system to be of interest to advertisers looking to target their content to specific groups, though it’s unclear what happens in crowded environments where multiple viewers are looking at the same display.  Perhaps they could factor in the likelihood of each demographic actually opening their wallet or purse, and prioritise accordingly.

[via Fareastgizmos]

The machine has a Core i7-870 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, Blu-ray drive, and uses a GT330 video card. The Valuestar W is the first of the machines to use passive 3D glasses and is an AIO PC with a 23-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD. The PC supports all manner of 3D content and has a CS digital TV tuner. The machine has a Core i5-460M CPU, 4GB of RAM, 1.5TB HDD, Blu-ray, and GT 330M graphics.

The final machine is the Valuestar N with a smaller 20-inch LCD with a resolution of 1600 x 900. The machine includes passive 3D glasses and supports 3D films and games. The machine uses a Core i5-460M CPU, 4GB of RAM, 1.5TB of storage, and a Blu-ray drive. All of the machines will land in Japan on September 16.

Existing chargers for the Leaf were capable of running from either a 110V AC connection – and taking around 20hrs for a full charge – or a 220V connection, which roughly halved the time.  The new systems apparently aren’t proprietary to the Leaf, either; instead they adhere to industry standards which should hopefully see rival EVs using the same charging technology, and getting the same recharge speed advantages.

The typical brightness of the screen is 500cd/m2 and the power consumption is 105W typically with under 1W in standby. The screen can be used in video walls of up to 10 x 10 in size.

Connectivity includes DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI-D inputs. The screen also sports expansion slots for both NEC and third party components. The X431BT screen has a street price of $3799.

Hardware specifications of the batteries themselves are in short supply, but Nissan has said that the Leaf will be capable of a roughly 100 mile range with top speeds of around 94mph (obviously range will decrease sharply if you travel at that speed).  Recharging is either via a regular North American 110V power point or an optional 220V outlet, the former taking up to 20 hours to fill the Leaf from empty to 100-percent, while the latter takes less than half that time.

The NEC NP216J-3D is a brand new 3D-ready DLP projector from the company based in Japan. It has some pretty good features, including a 1,024×768 resolution, a contrast ratio of 2,000:1, and it produces upwards of 2,500 lumens of brightness. It’s also got a 180W lamp and a 7W mono speaker on the inside, so we imagine you’d want to plug this bad-boy into your home’s sound system before you start enjoying those 3D movies. However, NEC wants to point out that the DLP projector does support NVIDIA’s 3D Vision, but it won’t be playing your 3D Blu-ray titles.

The NP216J-3D will makes its way to retail shelves in Japan beginning some time around July 20th, and you’ll be able to buy the projector bundled with their non-stylish 3D glasses for about $1,100, or 100,239.48 JPY. Unfortunately, there’s no current plans for an international release, but there’s a chance that could change after the projector hits Japan’s retail sites. But, probably more likely that it won’t.

[via CrunchGear]

DigInfo.tv managed to grab some face time with the gesture-based User Interface (UI), which Toshiba is calling AirSwing, and while there’s obviously some kinks they have to iron out, the meat of the story is pretty good. Especially the details. According to NEC, the UI only runs on 4 percent of the processing power on a 400MHz ARM 11 CPU. The cheap part comes in the fact that Toshiba claims you will only need a standard webcam, to get things rolling.

So how does it work? Basically, the UI puts a transparent image of yourself onto your screen, and from there it will display a menu and some content that you can manipulate. From there, you’ll be able to move your transparent self around the screen, where you’ll be able to interact with what’s there just by simple gestures, like flicking through pictures in a photo gallery. The bad news, though, is that Toshiba plans to market AirSwing not to the rest of the world, but to digital signage folks, so that they can get a far more interactive “commercial” experience. Pretty cool if we can see it on our advertisements in bus stops, so we can have something to do while we wait.

[via DigInfo.tv]

As for the 3D effects, you’ll need a special pair of glasses (one set is included; others are $67 a pop) and the new Valuestar supports Blu-ray 3D content as well as other sources.  Technical specs include 4GB of RAM (8GB max), 1TB of HDD space and a pair of 3W speakers; there’s also an integrated TV tuner and remote control.

NEC expect the Valuestar N VN790/BS 3D all-in-one to begin shipping in Japan in June 2010, where it will cost around $2,450.  No word on an international release, but we would be surprised if it wasn’t timetabled.

Meanwhile, not to be left out, ASUS are apparently planning a 3D all-in-one of their own, using NVIDIA’s 3D Vision technology and a 24-inch display.  The so-far unnamed desktop will use an optical touchscreen and is expected to arrive in August 2010, priced at around $2,100.

[via CrunchGear]

The tech takes a fingerprint from the original movie and promises a high degree of accuracy. The system claims to be more efficient than the current method of using watermarks. New key features of the system include video identification using a modified signature.

This feature apparently has something to do with the brightness of the video in a region that can be compared between the uploaded video and the original source. By comparing these brightness values, the system ensures a high rate of identification and a low false positive rate. The NEC tech requires little processing power and the company claims that a home PC can be used to identify 1000 hours of possible matches in a second.

The screen measures 27-inches and has a resolution of 2560 x 1440. It uses a 10-bit p-IPS panel and has 14-bit programmable look up tabled allowing the reproduction of 1.07 billion colors from a pallet of 4.3 trillion. To get the high color support the user has to connect with 10-bit DisplayPort input.

The screen offers a contrast ratio of 1000:1, has up to 360 cd/m2 of brightness, and covers 92% of the NTSC color gamut. The standard version of the PA271W will ship this month for $1399 and a version offering SpectraViewII will be priced at $1649.

We’re guessing that NEC will use NVIDIA’s 3D Vision technology, which requires a special set of shutter glasses – similar to those the excited model in the photo above is wearing – and an IR transmitter.  Usually the latter comes as a USB-attached dongle, but hopefully NEC would integrate it into the bezel of the PC itself.

The new V321 is a 32-inch LCD with a native resolution of 1366 x 768 and a contrast ratio of 3000:1. The LCD is rated for a brightness of 450 cd/m2 and has features to prevent the panel from getting images burnt into the screen. Other features include video wall capability for up to 25 displays.

A special cooling system keeps the display running and a scheduler turns the screen off automatically when not needed. The V321 has a wealth of connectivity options including HDMI, DVI-D, 5 BNC (RGB/HV, DVD/HD or composite video), 15-pin D-sub, S-Video and composite video in/out. The V321 will ship this month for $649.

The screen is 23-inches and has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080. It uses a 16:9 aspect ratio and has a contrast ratio of 1000:1 with a brightness rating of 250 cd/m2. When in power saving mode and power off mode the screen only needs 0.4W of power.

Connectivity includes VGA and DVI-D with HDCP. The screen has a tilting stand and touch-integration capabilities. NEC also equips the screen with downward firing multimedia speakers and a headphone jack. The AS231WM will ship in May for $269.

NEC has been producing about a million host controllers and starting in April the firm will ramp that number up to two million units. The USB 3.0 host controller in question is the µPD720200 and it is used in computers and other consumer devices. The controller is based on the xHCI specifications from Intel.

NEC began mass production of the controller in 2009 and has so far shipped three million units over the last year and a half. NEC must expect a much great demand for the host controller to increase monthly production to number 2/3 of the amount it has shipped over the last year and a half.

To be fair, the desktop-bound device is pretty cool in its own way.  Intended to sit on the desks of financial wizards, the tablet uses a wireless connection to receive updates such as adverts and currency news.  It’s also removable, so you can pick it up for easier reading.

So far there are only six prototypes in the world, but we’re guessing NEC won’t be satisfied with that.  The e-paper has a 3 second refresh rate, and will hopefully be winging its way to ereaders soon; IREX already have a 10.2-inch (diagonal) ereader, the DR1000S, but that only runs at 1024 x 1280 resolution.