Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch BeoVision 4-103 plasma is gorgeous, pricey

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/bang-and-olufsens-103-inch-beovision-4-103-plasma-is-gorgeous-pr/

Plasma's dying, huh? Go and tell that to Bang & Olufsen. Just in case the 50- and 65-inch versions of the BeoVision 4 HDTV weren't expansive enough, the high-end home cinema outfitter has just pushed out news of an all new addition: the 103-inch BeoVision 4-103. If that number immediately rings a bell, here's a cookie. The 103-inch Panasonic TH-103PF9 panel is indeed the exact one used here, but B&O has obviously spruced up the design, added an automatic rising stand and incorporated the BeoSystem 3 and the VisionClear technology that automatically adjusts colors and brightness. Oh, and it tossed in a B&O logo, which is darn near priceless. Speaking of stickers, the set should be available this July for around €100,000 ($136,220) pre-VAT. Check the demonstration vid after the break.

[Thanks, John]

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch BeoVision 4-103 plasma is gorgeous, pricey

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch BeoVision 4-103 plasma is gorgeous, pricey originally appeared on! Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why iPhone In-App Transactions Could Be a Disaster [Bad News]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Q1Pn8YoRPKA/why-iphone-in+app-transactions-could-be-a-disaster

Apple made a big deal about allowing in-app transactions with the new iPhone 3.0 API. It's great news if you're a developer looking to make more scratch, but it's potentially terrible news for users.

Basically, this is opening the flood gates for nickel-and-diming microtransactions from the App Store. Before, when you spent $5 on a game, you knew you were getting the whole game—with free upgrades. Now, you'll spend $5 on a game and you'll need to spend another $5 to unlock all the levels and weapons. And that's on legit apps. Just wait for the novelty fart apps with one fart sound that want you to pay for extras, or a flashlight app that wants you to pay for different colors.

This could easily turn tons and tons of apps into crippled trialware without consumers knowing, and it's going to make developers hungry for the extra cash they can make by charging you for extra feature they would have included in the full version anyways. Like a game charging you $3 for fancy horse armor on the Xbox 360, but without the filter than comes from the huge budgetary requirements of Xbox 360 games, this is going to open the floodgates for the sleaziest app behaviors possible. The worst part of it is, there will be enough people willing to pay a little here and a little there to support this kind of behavior. But I for one, am out. Do not want. [Gizmodo's iPhone 3.0 Coverage]

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Smith Optics I/OS Interchangeable Snow Goggles: Lightning Review [Snowmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/L0DCenPMWvo/smith-optics-ios-interchangeable-snow-goggles-lightning-review

The Gadget: Rimless goggles with a locking lens plate for switching up the glass for sunny or cloudy days. A follow up to their I/O googles, but with improved foam sealing and shape.

The Price: $180

The Rundown: Smith Optics is my favorite goggle company. I usually use their sensor phenom lens on cloudy/storm days, and their full on mirror for sunny days. This goggle ships with both, in a clever zip up nylon box, so you're covered in all conditions. The original I/O had some seal issues around the nose (it, uh, didn't seal well on most people's faces, narrow or broad) but the IO/S (and the improved I/O) fixes that with a piece of foam slit above the nose, with more material for closure. (The S shape is for smaller faces, but is the same concept as the I/O) The shape of the original was also really round, so if you tried to put it on your face, the seal on the lens twisted off the frame. Less so with these, but try them on before you buy. Unlike old swappable lenses on cheap goggs, these lock into place by way of the strap holders and two switches on top. Very sturdy. And, Smith Optics almost never fog, unless you're a sweatball or in a swampy storm. I still prefer to run separate goggles for sunny and cloudy days, because I don't like handling my lenses any more than I have to, but if you can only have one set and these fit, I recommend them for their amazing versatility. [Smith Optics, Snowmodo]

Snowmodo is our snow sport winter meet up at Lake Tahoe, with prizes, discounts, tons of fun snow activities, a party and GADGETS. If you can make it (and people are! coming from TEXAS) please RSVP and find out more info by clicking on the banner below. I'll let you wear my hat (below).

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Super Thin, Flexible OLED Lights to be Available in 2011 [Oled]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/A83NYAx2_Ng/super-thin-flexible-oled-lights-to-be-available-in-2011

We've seen ultra-skinny flexible OLED sheets before, but it looks like we now have a date for when they're coming out. Korean company Modistech says it'll debut its thin-and-flexy OLED lights in 2011.

According to Aving.net, the company will begin mass production of the sheets later next year. Each sheet is expected to retail for $212. It's kind of expensive, especially if that price is just for the sheet in the picture, but that's par for the course with new tech – I'm just excited OLED sheets are finally stepping out of the research lab. [OLED Display]

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Google Chrome Passes into 2.0 Beta, Chromium For Linux Gets a Simple Install [Browsers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/uYc5INIfuSw/google-chrome-passes-into-20-beta-chromium-for-linux-gets-a-simple-install

Removing Chrome's 'beta' label couldn't have been easy for Google, but it looks like they're bringing it right back. Chrome 2.0 beta is now available for Windows, along with a little treat for Linux users.

Chrome 2.0 isn't a total overhaul, and to end users very little will seem different—until they start browsing. Chrome's rendering is said to be between 25% and 35% faster than the last version, with most of the speed gains picked up by streamlined javascript engine. The rest of the enhancements—form autofill, new tab options and custom user script support, a la Greasemonkey—are welcome, but as it stands, this looks a little more like Chrome 1.5 than 2.0. Justifying an entirely new version number would require something interesting like, oh, I don't know, that rumored extension support.

For Ubuntu Linux users, the much rawer Chromium browser has always been a pain in the ass to install. Now the installation process has been dramatically simplified. Instead of all the previously-required downloading, compiling and terminal-delving, Ubuntu users can simply apt-get the 'chromium-browser' package and give it a whirl to confirm that, yes, it still sucks. Get well soon, Chromium. [Slashdot]

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