Notion Ink Adam on track, non-Tegra models on the table

Notion Ink is cooking up one of the more promising tablets we've seen thus far, and although the so-called Adam has been subject of delay rumors lately, the company says its highly-anticipated slate is right on track for a Q3 2010 launch. Furthermore, according to Notion Ink founder Rohan Shravan, Notion Ink has just secured its final round of funding. The investors remained unnamed, but their cash could supposedly fuel the production of around 100,000 Adams per month.

Shravan also dropped word of the potential launch of cheaper slate models. Until now, we've known about two versions of the Adam: one with an outdoor-readable Pixel Qi display, and another with a regular LCD screen – both iterations are based on Nvidia's Tegra 2 SoC. Apparently, Notion Ink is considering the use of a second, cheaper platform, but there's no information about what chips are on the table.

Pricing is still a bit ambiguous, but earlier reports said the Adam would start at around $330 and soar up to $800 for a completely maxed out model. However, Shravan recently stated that Notion Ink has worked to get the products out at a more aggressive price than originally intended. Precisely how much more aggressive remains to be seen.

MS to sell 30 million Windows Phone 7 handsets by 2011?

Say what you will about Microsoft's previous mobile efforts, but there's no denying the company is firing on all thrusters with Windows Phone 7. During a presentation at ReMIX in France, Redmond cited IDC data suggesting it will ship 30 million WP7 handsets by the end of 2011. For comparison, the company only shipped 3.7 million Windows Mobile phones last winter, according to Gartner.

Microsoft plans to meet that ambitious goal by riding the mounting wave of people adopting smartphones. It's expected that 40% of the handsets sold next year will be smartphones, which compares to an estimated 14% this year. Of course, Microsoft's competitors undoubtedly have the same intentions.

Android phones are gaining serious traction and Apple has managed to carve out a healthy chunk of the mobile arena since the launch of its iPhone in 2007, shipping upwards of 50 million units. With a new model due next month and the potential arrival of CDMA iterations, the iPhone isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Lenovo ships 'world's thinnest all-in-one PC' in US

Lenovo has begun shipping its ultra-slim IdeaCentre A300 all-in-one desktop computer to the US. Claiming to be the world's thinnest AIO, the A300's 21.5-inch 1080p LED display measures only 18.5mm thick, and the complete dimensions are 524 x 396 x 207mm (20.6 x 15.5 x 8.14 inches). As you can probably tell by the picture, the panel's trim profile is accomplished by using machine's inner-workings as a base instead of stashing them behind the screen.

The IdeaCentre A300 is available a few configurations, all of which are Intel-based. A $799 setup gets you a 2.20GHz Pentium Dual Core T4400, GMA X4500 graphics, 2GB of DDR3 1066MHz RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. The remaining models cost $949 to $999 and have a 2.20GHz Core 2 Duo T6600, 4GB of RAM, 500GB of storage, and a TV tuner. Along with a built-in webcam, the system ships with a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, HDMI-output, an 8-in-1 card reader, and Windows 7 Home Premium x64.

Google unveils Android-powered TV platform

Confirming earlier reports, Google has officially announced its Android-powered TV platform today at the I/O conference in San Francisco. The new product will combine traditional television programming with Internet video, allowing users to easily search for programs without scrolling through cumbersome onscreen TV directories.

Users can use their remote to drop down a "quick search box" to search TV and the web. For instance, typing "House" will give you the listings for the show on both USA and Fox -- which can be set for recording if there is a DVR -- as well as links to watch episodes online via Hulu or purchase them on Amazon.com. Besides supporting a number of online video sources, including Netflix and YouTube, Google TV will also have the capability to run apps from the Android Market and should integrate a range of online services like Twitter for a more social television experience.

To reach the long-elusive goal of bringing television and the web together, Google has partnered with Sony, Intel and Logitech to produce the actual devices that will run its platform. Sony is expected to introduce both a standalone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive later this year, while Logitech will launch a high definition camera for video chat and a companion box that brings Google TV to existing HDTV home entertainment systems. The Intel Atom CE4100 processor will power both the Logitech and Sony devices

Dell intros low-cost 21.5, 23-inch IPS screens

If you're shopping for a color-accurate display on a budget, Dell might have just what you're looking for. The company has introduced its 21.5 U2211H and 23-inch U2311H monitors with IPS panels, which are priced at $279 and $299 on Dell's US site.

Both monitors have a resolution of 1920x1080, can display 16.7 million colors, have 178-degree viewing angles, an 8ms GTG response time, VGA, DisplayPort, and DVI-D connectors, as well as four USB 2.0 ports. The screens also have height, pivot, tilt, and swivel adjustability.

The U2211H and U2311H are currently available and ship with Dell's three-year premium panel warranty.

Apple to fix iPad Wi-Fi issues with future software update

Apple has updated a support document to say that it will address iPad Wi-Fi issues in an upcoming software update. A handful of iPad owners have experienced issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, and in the meantime, the company has provided a few potential workarounds.

Apple says users who "consistently encounter issues connecting to a specific Wi-Fi network" should update their router's firmware. If you happen to be using an AirPort Base Station, check out this article for details on performing the update, otherwise the information should be readily available at your device manufacturer's website.

After updating your router, you should make sure you're using WPA or WPA2 wireless security, and not WEP. Next, you should renew your IP address by going to Settings > Wi-Fi > select your network > tap Renew Lease. Other suggestions include toggling Wi-Fi on and off, as well as ensuring that your screen brightness isn't at its lowest level (Settings > Brightness & Wallpaper).

Microsoft axes the dual-screen Courier tablet

Microsoft has announced that it's axed the much-anticipated Courier tablet. The innovative dual-display slate emerged last September, but apparently never made it past incubation. The news comes as a bit of a shock, because the project seemed promising -- especially after a few video demonstrations of the interface turned up online in March.

Redmond's Frank Shaw today confirmed to Gizmodo that the Courier project is no more. Shaw said that Microsoft is constantly looking at new ideas, investigating, testing, and incubating them, and the Courier project is an example of that effort. He noted that while the Courier itself will never come to fruition, its technology might be used in future offerings.


Many saw the Courier as a perfect fit for Microsoft's "three screens and a cloud" vision. It was supposedly powered by an Nvidia Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip, and rumors pegged it for a late 2010 or early 2011 debut. The device was touted as a "digital journal" largely focused on pen-based user input, such as drawing and writing, which was backed by handwriting recognition software

Toshiba Mobile Display touts 21-inch glasses-free 3D HDTV

Toshiba Mobile Display (and others) have been working on bringing the 3D to TV-sized panels. Employing a "multi-parallax" technique, the latest from the Toshiba spinoff firm promises "significant reduction in eye fatigue" as well as approximately a 30 degree horizontal viewing angle. The latter might be peanuts compared to a quality 2D display, but let's not begrudge being offered at least some positional flexibility. Other specs include a 1280 x 800 effective resolution and 480 nits of brightness, which are notable achievements when you consider that the 9-parallax implementation requires the generation of 9 separate images and therefore could be achieved with only an "ultra-high definition LCD module." We've sadly no info about this panel's potential for retail availability, but judging by the bezel-free picture we've been given, that might be a good way off from now.

Microsoft makes Windows 7 Touch Pack a free download

Microsoft has finally followed through on its plans to make the Windows 7 Touch Pack publicly, and freely available. First introduced last May, the Touch Pack was only available to OEMs for use on new Windows 7 computers with touch-capable displays. The bundle contains six touch-friendly programs: three games, and three Microsoft Surface applications.

The games, while very simple, are probably worth the price of admission if you have kids around. Microsoft Blackboard is described as a "puzzle game of physics," in which you use gestures to manipulate gears, fans, seesaws and more to direct balloons and balls toward a target.


Microsoft Rebound requires you to "propel a ball and annihilate your opponent" -- be it the AI or a friend -- and Microsoft Garden Pond tasks you with maneuvering origami creations on a pond by making ripples in the water. Non-game applications include Microsoft Surface Globe, a multi-touch 3D globe with information about regions, 3D cities and more, Microsoft Surface Collage, and Microsoft Surface Lagoon.

LG to triple OLED production by next year

LG plans to invest millions in OLED displays as it prepares to triple its production capacity of screens that use the technology. The company intends to spend 250 billion won ($225.7 million) on a new manufacturing facility that should be complete by the third quarter of this year and will gradually ramp up production levels from 4,000 glass sheets per month to 12,000 by the latter half of next year.

In addition to e-paper and solar cells, the Korean electronic-maker describes OLED displays as one of its "new growth engines." The company recently introduced a 15-inch OLED TV, which should hit shelves in the US this summer for around $2,725 -- but that's just the start. LG intends to ship a 30-inch television with the technology as early as mid-2011. Previous reports suggested 40-inch OLED panels should arrive in 2012.


LG's OLED screens may also be coming to future-generation Apple iPod, iPhone or iPad products, as Cupertino has reportedly increased its contract from $500 million to $800 million.

Panasonic prices, dates full 3D plasma lineup -- 65-inches for $4,299

Panasonic kicked off its 2010 3DTV run with an extremely limited, Best Buy only launch of the 50-inch VT20 package, but for those looking to upgrade -- especially in size -- with a new TV this year finally have some info to work off of. This year's sets have more than just the extra dimension to offer, with improved black levels (especially over time), plus upgraded VIERA Cast networked features with Skype. The general launch kicks off the week of May 3 with the 50-inch TC-P50VT25 for $2,599, and closes with the largest TC-P65VT25 model in June for $4,299. Those MSRPs place them a couple of hundred bucks north of last year's models, but a rep for great 3D and 2D performance should help anyone struggling over the upgrade -- check for the rest of the prices in the press release after the break.

Samsung clinches $240 million order for iPad displays

Samsung has scored a contract for a large order of Apple iPad displays, according to an unnamed industry source. The deal, reportedly worth $240 million, calls for Samsung to produce some three million LCD panels for Apple's new tablet, a "high-ranking industry representative" told The Korea Times.

The source also said that the most expensive component in the iPad is its 9.7-inch display and touchscreen interface, which costs $80 on all models. It was noted that the iPad screen is two times larger than the iPhone 3GS', but five times more expensive. The source wouldn't elaborate further, but iSuppli released an estimated bill of materials if you're interested.


Samsung may have clinched orders for future Apple hardware as well. The companies are "in deep talks" over Cupertino's upcoming 4G iPhones and iPads. "As far as I know, Apple will use [our] LCD panels for its next iPhone models, said an anonymous Samsung executive. It's worth mentioning that Samsung is developing its own tablet, and recently criticized the iPad.