Sharp Japan have outed four new LX-series HDTVs, each boasting massive 2,000,000:1 contrast ratios. The range starts from the 40-inch LC-40LX1 and tops out at the 60-inch LC-60LX1, with 46- and 52-inch models in-between; each offers Full HD 1920p resolution, “industry’s lowest” power consumption, and a six-speaker integrated sound system with dual sub-woofers on all but the smallest.
Sharp’s NetWalker PC-Z1 may not be the device for everyone – after all, a 5-inch touchscreen clamshell MID with a tiny QWERTY keyboard and 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor makes it a pretty niche handheld – but most people can appreciate a mini-laptop so we’re pleased to see the first unboxing over at Pocketables. Jenn of course is no stranger to MIDs, in fact she has a UMID mbook M1 on hand to compare the PC-Z1 with.
Crystal ball, secret tunnel or loose-lipped mole; we don’t know how Gizmodo are doing it, but hot on the heels of the Microsoft Courier dual-touchscreen tablet leak comes shots of Microsoft’s two upcoming Pink cellphones. The Microsoft Turtle (the squarish model) and Microsoft Pure (the more traditional handset) are both manufactured by Sharp and will be co-branded, and like the Sidekick – which Sharp also manufactured for Danger – will be targeted at a messaging-friendly youth market.
MIDs are, despite the extra attention Viliv’s range has drawn to the segment, still very much a niche within a niche, but most of us can at least admire the hard work that goes into squeezing a full PC into a tiny little chassis. It’s with that in mind that we’ve been enjoying PC Watch’s comparison photoset of the Kohjinsha PM MID (aka the UMID mbook M1) versus Sharp’s PC-Z1 NetWalker.
This week saw new iPods unveiled from Apple and accordingly we are getting a slew of new iPod accessories from cases to new iPod docks. Sharp has announced two new iPod docks that are designed for music listening on the go without needing headphones.
Sharp have thrown a new model into their soundbar range, this time promising 3.1-channel sound versus the more typical 2.1-channel. The Sharp HT-SB500 squeezes 32W into its slender under-screen form, and uses Dolby Virtual Speaker technology to emulate a 5.1-channel surround-sound system.
Sharp have outed their latest Blu-ray player, the BD-HP52U AQUOS, which supports BD Live content, HDMI 1.3 connectivity and streaming media. The BD-HP52U has x.v. color and supports 1080p 24 playback, as well as Deep Color, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, and a quick-start mode that promises to have you watching films faster than on rival decks.
Sharp’s diminutive PC-Z1 NetWalker impressed us when we first spotted it, and Charbax’s video hands-on with the compact MID has done nothing to disappoint. The ARM-based device has a 5-inch touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard and optical mouse, and will land in Japan sometime this month; according to the Sharp representative interviewed, they’re hoping to bring it to Europe, too.
Video demo after the cut
Looking surprisingly like UMID’s mbook M1 MID, Sharp have unveiled their newest clamshell ultraportable and – thank goodness – it’s not just an e-dictionary. The Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1 has a 5-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard with optical mouse, and Ubuntu 9.04 as the OS; connectivity includes WiFi b/g, both a USB and mini-USB port, and a headphone jack, but there’s no integrated 3G.
More images – plus size comparisons – after the cut
You don’t see a huge amount of development in cordless landline phones, so we’re hoping Sharp Japan’s new JD-7C1CL/CW makes it over to the US and Europe. A combination of a base-station unit with a 7-inch touchscreen 800 x 480 LCD and a DECT handset, the JD-7C1CL/CW not only shows your digital photos but can also show received faxes rather than printing them out.
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