DisplayLink and Acer today announced the availability of a new Windows Vista Aero-compatible USB computer monitor, with integrated DisplayLink technology. The 22-inch B223 screen, part of Acer's ergonomic B series family of monitors, is now shipping in Europe. With 1680x1050 widescreen resolution, Acer's new display has integrated USB ports to facilitate multiple displays easily. Using DisplayLink's DL-160 network display chip, up to six Acer B223 monitors can be connected to a single PC or laptop, via a standard USB 2.0 connection.

Samsung has come up with a new 23.6-inch, slick and stylish widescreen LCD monitor, the SyncMaster 2494HS. This one takes a step forward in overall look and feel, going away from the rather plain Samsung glassy design. The SyncMaster 2494HS features a modern 1920x1080 16:9 wide resolution, appropriate for movie lovers, an exceptionally high 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 300cd/m2 brightness and a 5ms response time. Vertical viewing angles for this screen reach 160-degrees and horizontal angles 170-degrees. There are also two 3W stereo speakers built-in. Inputs include HDCP-compatible HDMI, DVI-D, and single analog RGB. The Samsung SyncMaster will go on sale in mid-December in Japan for around 40,000 yen ($423).

Freescale Semiconductor and Samsung Electronics, a world leader in display technology, have announced their collaboration to address the burgeoning market for energy-saving and environmentally friendly light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
"Freescale's LED backlight driver technology is the industry's most compact and integrated solution," said Arman Naghavi, vice president and general manager of Freescale's Analog, Mixed-Signal and Power Division. "Our collaboration with Samsung on LED backlighting - clearly a disruptive technology - will help spur further innovation and growth in the LCD market."

Dell refreshed today its monitor line-up by introducing the two brand new S2209W and S2309W LCD displays. First leaked some time ago, the two monitors are finally going into the market so you can enjoy them. The sleek, glossy frame S2209W is a 22-inch LCD widescreen that boasts full HD 1920x1080 resolution, fast 5 ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness, and 160° / 170° viewing angles typical for most TN panels. In terms of connectivity the S2209W features both analog and DVI-D (HDCP) inputs, but it lacks of HDMI. The S2309W has exactly the same specs as the 22-inch S2209W with the one difference that it boasts a bigger 23-inch matrix. Dell is now selling both displays for $239 and $299 respectively.

NEC Display Solutions of America introduced today its new MultiSync P Series with the 22-inch P221W LCD monitor, the first display in this new family of desktop monitors. The P221W offers professionals working in color-critical environments the opportunity to take advantage of a professional grade desktop display without breaking their budgets. The P221W display can be seen at the Photo Plus Expo (Booth No. 263) today through October 24 in New York.
"Built upon the success of the 90 Series displays, the new MultiSync P Series has features specifically designed for the professional graphics user," said Stan Swiderski, Product Manager for NEC Display Solutions.

After a long period of stagnation, Apple today unveiled a brand new 24-inch LCD monitor for all Apple lovers. The new LED Cinema Display features a stunning 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with built-in iSight video camera, mic, and speakers in an elegant, thin aluminum and glass enclosure. Other specs include a native resolution of 1920x1200, a 3-port USB hub and a new Mini DisplayPort. Expect the 24-inch LED Cinema Display to become available in November for $899. We'll also have more technical information (panel type, response time, contrast, brightness etc.) as the release date approaches.

Dell plans to transition all of its new laptop displays to light-emitting diode (LED) in the next 12 months, a major achievement in its commitment to become the 'greenest' technology company on the planet. "Our customers have made it clear that they want the greenest technology possible," Jeff Clarke, senior vice president, Dell Product Group said during the company's mobility summit in Monte Carlo today. "As an industry, we can shape the future of green innovation and significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with mobile computing. Dell is committed to leading the transition to energy-efficient LED technology."

NEC Display Solutions of America launched today the new 22-inch MultiSync EA221WM widescreen display aimed towards high-end users and professionals. The MultiSync EA221WM comes with top-performing panel that boasts a 5ms response time, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, a brightness of 250 cd/m², wide-viewing angles of 176 degrees and the tipical 22-inch 1680x1050 WSXGA resolution. The new LCD is also enhanced with a 4-way adjustable stand (height, tilt, swivel, pivot), 4-port USB hub, and NEC's robust NoTouch Auto Adjust. On top of that the EA221WM comes with down-firing speakers with headphone jack, a DVI with HDCP and one analog inputs. NEC ships the MultiSync EA221WM display with a three-year parts, labor and backlight warranty, an extended warranty is available too. The display will be available for September 2008 shipment at an estimated street price of $399.99.

LG Display announced today that it has established a joint venture with AmTRAN Technology, a fast growing OEM/ODM LCD TV company in Taiwan, to better position itself in the LCD TV market. LG Display and AmTRAN Technology signed an agreement to set up a joint venture that will produce LCD modules and EMS(electronic manufacturing system) based LCD TVs. The joint venture company, to be named Suzhou Raken Technology Ltd., will be set up in Suzhou, China, and funded with an investment of USD 20 million. LG Display and AmTRAN will each hold a 51% and 49% equity position in the new company. And the joint venture will be run on the spirit of full collaboration between both LG Display and AmTRAN.

That's right, a new 22" widescreen monitor by AOC, the 2230Fm is a PC monitor. It supports DVI-D and D-Sub VGA and HDMI inputs and sports a native resolution of 1680 x 1050 px. Stylish looks aside it adds a nifty feature that makes it a media-center in itself, the feature is called HD3.

Says AOC: "HD3 defines a new category in high definition displays with its built-in media player, allowing consumers, for the first time, to view movies without the use of an external DVD player or PC. With the 2230Fm, simply load a film onto a memory device, plug it into the display and use AOC's proprietary, user-friendly menu and remote control to enjoy a movie PC-free. AOC's first HD3 Display is the 2230Fm, a combination of multi-functional high-definition video capabilities and stylish, 360° design that provides a stunning array of features all developed to cater to the digital needs of today's consumers."

Simply put, the monitor has a 4-in-1 digital media reader and has three USB 2.0 ports. You can connect a USB flash-drive. You do have flash-drives with really high capacities these days capable of carrying Hi-resolution videos, also that in some European countries a new video-download facility has come up where you download movies onto a flash drive in public shacks a-la ATMs. Apart from videos, this device can view images up to 8000 x 8000 px, and play audio files from its integrated stereo speakers. It remains to be seen if the USB 2.0 hub could connect to external hard drives or external optical drives. That would make it a full-on media center. It lacks a TV-tuner though. The embedded media software looks pretty intutive, The 2230Fm supports MPEG-1, 2, and 4 video formats. the supported audio format are too numerous to list, but they include MP3, WMA, WAVE, OGG-Vorbis, FLAC, and M4A. Supported photo formats include JPG, TIFF, PNG, BMP, and GIF images with resolutions up to 8000x8000 pixels.

The monitor has a 2ms response time making it ideal for gaming consoles and gaming PCs, it has a respectable 20,000:1 contrast ratio. It is priced at a US $399 and will be available next month onwards. Talk about convenience.

Panasonic has been demonstrating its new 150" Plasma screen to the public at CES this year. The resolution is 4096x2160, and pictures are shown below. As you might have guessed, this is the world's largest plasma display.

Sony looks set to win the race to become the first company to release an OLED television with its SonyDrive XEL-1 display. OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, and such displays do not require a backlight to function, unlike standard LCD displays - as well as boasting superior contrast ratios such as the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio of the XEL-1. Sony's 11-inch TV will offer a 960 x 540 pixel resolution, a digital tuner, 2 x 1W speakers and HDMI, USB and Ethernet ports. It's dimensions come to 287 x 140 x 253mm, weighing in at 2kg. The XEL-1 will hit be available from 1st December this year with a price tag of about $1,740 - which works at at $160 per inch of OLED. Perhaps a little expensive for the Christmas wish list?

Today at CES 2007, Philips Electronics has been demonstrating its new 3D technology, along with its 2D to 3D conversion software. Using some two-dimensional high-definition commercials that are set to be released soon as an example, Philips' latest 3D software will examine a 2D image and convert it into a 3D image according to the depth that it will be assigned, with lighter colours being further forward. The company's 3D displays work using WOWvx technology will allow them to deliver three-dimensional images without the need for special glasses to filter the light. Philips has even developed a software suit aimed at commercial users which will allow them to easily create their own 3D custom content, with the intention for these displays to be used in shopping malls and restaurants.