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3D video and gaming hazardous to your health
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, HDTV, Movies,
When Nintendo announced the 3DS, they made sure to make the press aware that children should have the 3D effect disabled if they were going to use the handheld console. Manufacturers of 3D HDTV sets have also included warnings that stated that there is a possible health risk to certain viewers, and have provided guidance that children should be limited in their 3D exposure. Year ago, Sega was going to release a 3D virtual reality headset that was quickly and quietly shelved, despite being seen as the future of gaming 15 years ago. Now news has come out that all of these warnings are based on years of research cover ups, and the details are finally being brought out now that 3D entertainment is much more readily available than it was in years past.
In a nutshell, the problem is that children under 7 are still developing their vision, and the 3D effect actually forces you into strabismus, essentially giving yourself temporary lazy eye. Since children are still developing, you run a severe risk of having them end up with permanent strabismus (or, lazy eye.) This is the reason that so many manufacturers want to be overly cautious with the use of 3D as it pertains to children, and it’s also a good reason for parents to sit up and take notice as well. Now that 3D HDTVs are on the market, we’ve gone from having super rare opportunity to view 3D content, to a bunch of animated movies incorporating it (so, 2-6 hours per month, depending on how often you go to those,) to potentially having 3D on in your home on a constant basis.
A lot of higher-ups within the consumer electronics industry point to the fact that the data is 15 years old, and that they may be new factors since the technology has advanced. However, the fact remains that all content that shows a different image to each eye (which is all 3D) forces you into strabismus. More research is needed to find out if 3D HDTV is safe for children, as well as adults, especially for prolonged lengths of time.
Read More 
| Audioholics
Gallery: 3D video and gaming hazardous to your health
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Microsoft, Intel Announce Intelligent Ads; Say You Look Good in Levi’s
Posted by Dan Hughes Categories: Corporate News, Displays, Microsoft,
This week, Intel announced the availability of technology made especially for digital signage. The new platform, based on Windows Embedded Standard 7 and running on Intel Core i5/i7 processors, along with technology such as touch screens to allow interactivity from a passerby.
The “Intelligent Digital Sign” also could use a camera to use what they call “anonymous video analytics” to show items of interest to the user at an appropriate height for the user, along with gender recognition software. The sign is large enough that if another person comes up to the ad and interacts, they would be presented with their own advertisement while the first person continued their own experience.
I’m a bit wary of anything using a camera or having access to my cellular phone, but take a look at the release and decide for yourself. The release also has a video from back in January when they demonstrated the system.
Read More | Microsoft: Next Generation of Digital Signage Applications Is Possible Today
Gallery: Microsoft, Intel Announce Intelligent Ads; Say You Look Good in Levi’s
Newegg Mother’s Day Deal: Digital Photo Frame Sale
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, Hot Deals, Smart Home,
Newegg has a set of deep discounts on digital photo frames to go along with Mother’s Day, and we figured we’d give you the heads up. They’ve got a total of ten frames on sale from manufacturers like HP, Viewsonic, Hannspree, and others, some for as much as 30% off. There are some good deals, and some nice frames available—in fact, who says you need to buy one to give to mom, right? You can get a look at all the discounted digital photo frames at Newegg, which all ship for free as well.
As always, you can find all sorts of Newegg promo codes and deals on our forums.
Read More | Digital Photo Frame discount - Newegg promo code
Gallery: Newegg Mother’s Day Deal: Digital Photo Frame Sale
Apple set to finally refresh 30-inch Cinema Display?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Displays, Rumors,
If you’ve been waiting to pick up a new 30-inch Apple Cinema Display, but were waiting until Apple released an LED-backlit version, there may be hope for you yet. Now, we don’t want to get your hopes up too much, but from the looks of things, the 30-inch Cinema Display have been pushed back. Typically, they would ship within 24 hours, but as of today, it is showing a 5-7 business day wait. Historically, when there is a large and sudden shipping delay like that, we’ve seen a product refresh follow soon thereafter. Now that Apple has worked out the 27-inch iMac LED display issues, maybe it’s finally time that the 30-inch display gets update (or replaced with a standalone LED-backlit 27-inch Cinema Display.)
Read More | Apple 30-inch Cinema Display
Gallery: Apple set to finally refresh 30-inch Cinema Display?
Touch International introduces the multitouch resistive touchscreen module
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Displays, PC / Laptop, Science,
Today, Touch International is releasing its Windows 7-compatible Multi-Touch Analog Resistive (MARS) Touch Screen Module. The MARS module supports 10-finger touch and is easily modifiable, featuring superior drift-free performance, outstanding optical clarity and a fast and accurate response time, it also allows for True Touch Gesture and palm rejection while working with bare/gloved/bear-gloved fingers or a pointing device. The MARS module can also transform to a virtual keyboard or even a touch-screen piano as well. Don’t worry, I’m sure that you can figure out a way to play Scrabble on Facebook with it as well. Just remember to wipe your hands before use, Cochise; can you imagine if you had to actually view a computer screen through the grime you’ve accumulated on your mouse pad? It would be like trying to look through frosted-glass, or the windshield on your moldy ‘82 Buick Regal. Don’t lie, we’ve seen you driving it.
Gallery: Touch International introduces the multitouch resistive touchscreen module
Newegg Sale: 46-inch HDTV, Asus 27-inch widescreen LCD Monitor
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals,
Newegg has got a couple of great deals that we thought we’d share with you guys right quick - first, they’ve got a 27-inch Asus widescreen LCD monitor, which dual HDMI, selling for $369.99. It’s a 1080p screen, it’s huge, and it’s fairly inexpensive, so we like it. Secondly, if you want a larger screen for your living room or bedroom, they’ve got the 46-inch SCEPTRE 1080p LCD HDTV for $699.99. It has 4 HDMI inputs, a built in ATSC tuner, VGA port, and even includes an HDMI cable. So there you have it, two nice displays from Newegg at a discounted cost.
As always, you can find all sorts of Newegg promo codes and deals on our forums.
Read More | SCEPTRE 46-inch HDTV
Gallery: Newegg Sale: 46-inch HDTV, Asus 27-inch widescreen LCD Monitor
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: LG 47LH50
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Family, Techies,
We wanted to find a nice mid-range HDTV we could recommend this year, and we think the LG 47LH50 is it.This is LG’s 47-inch, widget-powered television, and it brings the heat with a 1080p display, and 5.1 surround sound output. Why would you want to output sound from the display? Well, thanks to the Yahoo! widget support, you get things like Netflix, YouTube, and a bunch of other embedded media playback services, including the Vudu streaming movie service. Just connect the LG 47LH50 to your home network, and the content is right at your fingertips. The part, though, is the price. These typically sell for about $1500, but Amazon is selling it for $1,139.
Read More | LG 47LH50 HDV
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: LG 47LH50
Anytime over the past year-and-a-half or so, whenever someone asked me what I thought about the CrunchPad, my answer was pretty much always the same: you’ll never get your hands on one. Call me a cynic, but I just found it difficult to believe that Mike Arrington would be able to pull off what no other major consumer electronics manufacturer has been unable to do as of yet. Today, Mike announced that the CrunchPad is dead. No more. Kaput. I’m not surprised.
Let me make myself clear, though. My thoughts had nothing to do with the capabilities of Arrington, FusionGarage, or anyone else involved in the project. I simply felt that there would be an outside influence that would knock the project off-track. Conspiracy theory or not, if a major manufacturer that had a lot of pull in the area where these devices are manufactured (like China) truly wanted to play hardball to make sure a small start-up couldn’t release a device like the CrunchPad because they were going to be releasing something similar, at a much higher price, I bet they could pull that off.
Not to say that this is what happened, I’m just thinking aloud. However, when you read Mike’s post on the matter, you quickly realize that something went on, and it was something strange and sudden. Either way, the CrunchPad is dead. No worries, though, 2010 will be the year that the tablet hits the mainstream.
Read More | TechCrunch
Gallery: The CrunchPad is no more
Black Friday 2009: Walmart ad leaked: $78 Blu-ray player!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Displays, GPS, HDTV, Hot Deals, Movies, Video Games, Wireless / WiFi,
We knew that Walmart would be bringing the heat for Black Friday 2009, but we didn’t know they’d be going all-out with the Blu-ray goodness. Seriously, if you are looking for the most inexpensive Blu-ray player on Black Friday 2009, it looks like the Magnavox NB500 will be your best bet, because it’ll cost just $78 at Walmart. Oh, and if you need an HDTV to go with that deal, they’ve got you covered there as well. Check out the entire contents of the Walmart Black Friday 2009 sale after the break.
Click to continue reading Black Friday 2009: Walmart ad leaked: $78 Blu-ray player!
Gallery: Black Friday 2009: Walmart ad leaked: $78 Blu-ray player!
Black Friday 2009: Dell ad
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Displays, HDTV, Hot Deals, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video,
If you’re one who wants to get some good Black Friday 2009 deals, but would rather do your shopping at home, from the comforts of your PJs and the Internet, you’ll want to check out the Dell Black Friday 2009 sale. We’ve listed everything that Dell has on sale come the day after Thanksgiving from their Black Friday 2009 ad, so give it a look, and see if there’s anything work your time.
Click to continue reading Black Friday 2009: Dell ad
