NCSU researchers advance microneedle technology
Editor’s note: Local Tech Wire publishes selected stories from the news services of various universities as part of its UniversityTech coverage.
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Screen technology taste of the future
Imagine ultra-high definition TVs not much thicker than a millimetre, electronic books made with plastic screens that flex like a magazine and displays that let you touch a virtual version of yourself on the other side of the glass. read more
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Henderson’s Lee Says He’s Interested in Goldwind IPO Investment
June 1 (Bloomberg) — Hong Kong billionaire Lee Shau-kee said he’s interested in investing in the initial public offering of Xinjiang Goldwind Science and Technology Co., which he called a “quality stock.” Lee made his comments to reporters in Hong Kong today.
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A View Of The Panasonic Viera TX-P46G20B

Taking the measure of the Panasonic TX-P46G20B plasma display television reveals a very nice 46-inch model in the Viera line of high-definition TVs that have stood the test of time well for this innovative Japanese maker of consumer electronics. It offers an array of features and conveniences that are sure to please most any UK consumer, as well.

Like many of Panasonic’s better LCD and plasma TVs, this particular model comes with a special tuning filter known as Freeview-HD. This feature allows the television to access 100 specific-to-the-United Kingdom channels that are broadcast free of charge. With the filter, there’s no need for a satellite dish or any other special equipment. Just turn it on and begin enjoying the programming.

There’s also a second filter, which is the  Freesat feature, though this time it’s offered with HD capability. Once connected to a satellite dish, this filter allows the viewer to access even more free satellite channels than can be found with just the Freeview-HD filter alone. It’s obvious that Panasonic has taken the time to build this TV with a high level of quality and features.

All of the images displayed on the television’s screen come at a viewer in true high definition, meaning that this particular Panasonic does it all in 1080P (pixels). There are a few new-to-Panasonic technologies for enhancing the picture that build on top of the company’s NeoPDP technology suite. Additionally, the TV puts forth a super-fine contrast ratio of 2,000,000 to 1 for very deep blacks and very bright whites.

Panasonic has also included a 600 Hz motion control engine/processor that does a very good job of keeping track of all the action occurring on the screen. In other words, there’ll be little or no evidence of any blurring or smearing or any artifacts left behind, especially during quick action depictions. Panasonic uses what it calls “Intelligent Frame Creation Pro” to handle all this movement.

The TXP46G20B is also WiFI and Skype-ready, needing only an optional dongle and a USB adapter to bring these two features to the television. As well, Panasonic rates the plasma screen’s lifespan at over 100,000 hours, meaning that the TV will probably last longer than many of its consumers will! It also has a number of useful connectivity capabilities, meaning that many other devices can be hooked to the TV.

Reviews and Cheapest Price in the UK for the Panasonic Viera TX-P46G20B at Panasonic Viera TX-P46G20B and Panasonic Viera TX-P46G20B Review

As evidence of its ease-of-connectivity, Panasonic has included four HDMI input ports, Ethernet and audio outs and two different USB 2.0 ports. If desired, a user can connect a laptop or PC to the TV in no time at all and the TV also has an SD memory card slot to bolster its functions. As far as sound goes, it’s first-rate and includes Dolby THX surround sound functionality.

In all, the Panasonic TX-P46G20B represents a definite improvement over the older lineup of televisions that the company intends for it to replace. It brings a lot of class and style to the game, sitting as it does within its slim, handsome black casing. As well, UK consumers can purchase the TV– which is new to the market as of March, 2010 — for around 1300 British pounds, including VAT and minus a discount voucher.

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the 55-inch VIZIO VF552XVT renders over-the-top picture quality and goes on you entertained and newest on all the last news from your favorite Internet sites with the included VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA). hear to music and get the last news, sports and weather.{ The worldwide Bluetooth remote includes a slide-out QWERTY keypad that makes it easy to type Internet searches as well as send a Tweet or update your Facebook status}.

This HDTV features VIZIO’s industry-leading TruLED backlighting with Smart blinding technology for unbelievable brilliance, color and contrast. This up-to-date technology stops light leak enabling you to achieve REAL 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for rich, benighted aspects delivering an feel that will blastay. It also offers up full 1080p high up definition resolution, 240Hz motion smoothing, and SRS TruSurround HD for an excellent home theater experience.

and it comes pre-loaded with Amazon Video on Demand, Flickr, Netflix, Rhapsody, Twitter, VUDU and Yahoo TV Widgets. A high-speed Internet connection is required to access content and receive product updates.

While you press the VIA button on your remote, the Apps Dock appears along the bottom of your screen with a selection of different Apps that let you watch movies, TV shows, listen to music, or get weather condition and news info all on demand. In addition to the providers heeled above, new partners for 2010 let in

With standard-definition TVs. the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs.

Extreme VIZIO Technology! The VF551XVT 55 inch TruLED delivers the best depict quality available on an LCD HDTV. This direct type, backlit LED HDTV is consisted of 960 LEDs divided into 80 control blocks and public utility* Smart Dimming to showing intelligence control these blockages turning them on and completely off based on the content you’re watching. This cutting edge technology stops light leakage enabling you to achieve REAL 2,000,000:1 demarcation ratio for rich, dark scenes delivering an experience that will blow you away. Rounding this out are features such as full 1080p high definition resolution for crystal clear images, 240Hz Smooth gesture for fluid conversions and SRS audio applied science* for amazing sound! The Extreme VIZIO Technology series typifies what HDTV had better be!

Octopuses like HDTV as much as we do. Who knew?

Apparently a group researchers with too much grant money available tested a bunch of cephalopods a while back and found that while they appear intelligent, they didn’t responded to images on standard definition TVs. So they redid the test with HDTVs recently.

The octopuses bought it and responded “more vigorously” to the HDTV images of animals and inanimate objects. The hope is that now researchers can now use HDTVs as a tool to study behavioral traits, such as personality. Just wait until they get their first glimpse of HDTV golf. The octopuses will likely find a comfy sponge and waste away the rest of the day just like humans.

The title says it all, ladies and gentlemen. Walmart plans to buy VUDU. The deal is expected to close in a few weeks.

Here’s the full press release.

Walmart Announces Acquisition of Digital Entertainment Provider, VUDU

Company takes next step to enhance home entertainment and information delivery options for consumers

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 22, 2010 — Walmart announced today a definitive agreement to acquire VUDU, Inc., a leading provider of digital technologies and services that enable the delivery of entertainment content directly to broadband high-definition TVs and Blu-ray players. The deal is expected to close within the next few weeks.

VUDU is a revolutionary service, built into a growing number of broadband-ready TVs and Blu-ray players, that delivers instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows directly through the television. Customers with broadband Internet access and an Internet-ready TV or Blu-ray player can rent or purchase movies, typically in high-definition, without needing a connected computer or cable/satellite service. New movies and features will be added continually, enabling customers to enjoy a product that continues to become more robust long after they have left the store.

“The real winner here is the customer,” said Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman for Walmart. “Combining VUDU’s unique digital technology and service with Walmart’s retail expertise and scale will provide customers with unprecedented access to home entertainment options as they migrate to a digital environment.”

VUDU has licensing agreements with almost every major movie studio and dozens of independent and international distributors to offer approximately 16,000 movies, including the largest 1080p library of video on-demand movies available anywhere. Via their broadband Internet connection, users have the ability to rent or buy titles and begin viewing them instantly.

VUDU will continue developing entertainment and information delivery solutions such as VUDU Apps, a platform that delivers hundreds of streaming Internet applications and services to TVs and Blu-ray players with built-in Internet connectivity. VUDU has partnered with some of the leading names in Internet and media entertainment to offer applications on its platform including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, The New York Times and The Associated Press.

“We are excited about the opportunity to take our company’s vision to the next level,” said Edward Lichty, VUDU executive vice president. “VUDU’s services and Apps platform will give Walmart a powerful new vehicle to offer customers the content they want in a way that expands the frontier of quality, value and convenience.”

VUDU, based in Santa Clara, Calif., will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walmart. The company is not disclosing financial terms of the agreement as the acquisition is not material to its first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2011.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

By Chris Scott Barr

It’s getting hard to remember life before YouTube. Before our favorite video streaming site existed, we had to scrape by with America’s Funniest Home Videos and the occasional gem on Newgrounds. These days not only do we get to watch millions of stupid (and once in a while educational) videos, but they’re also available in 720p. Of course in this age of high-definition TVs, YouTube knows it could do better. And starting this week, they will.

That’s right, this week the site will allow users to upload videos in 1080p, and play them back in the same resolution. It seems that some videos that were previously uploaded in 1080p have already been converted. The above video has been confirmed to be streaming at full 1080p. It looks great (in comparison to SD), loads fast and has no stutters when streaming for me. What do you guys think?

[ YouTube ] VIA [ Dvice ]