Todays & Tomorrows Technology

LG have unveiled two new ”full LED” HDTVs, each with 55-inch LCD panels and 240Hz refresh rates. The LG 55LH95 and LG 55LH93 both use 3,360 individual LEDs and boast a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1; the company’s backlighting technology can individually control 240 sections of the display, dimming or brightening as suits the image on-screen.
Despite sliding in all those LEDs, the new HDTVs are still slimline. Depth is just 24.8mm, despite the company also fitting in wireless connectivity; it’s unclear from the press release exactly which format LG have selected, but considering they’re boasting zero degradation we’re assuming it’s some type of ultrawideband HDMI.

The two new sets will be released in July, priced at around $5,500 for the 55LH93 and around $5,900 for the 55LH95. Smaller 42-inch and 47-inch “full LED” sets will follow by the end of 2009, though they won’t be as slimline as these 24.8mm flagship models.

Since many states are passing laws that prevent people from talking on their cell phones while driving, more and more hands-free devices are hitting the market. The latest, however, is officially from RIM and called the BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone.

This gadget lets you play music from your phone over your car speakers wirelessly. It also lets you receive and make calls via your car’s stereo, so there’s no more taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel.

Featuring Bluetooth, this speaker phone simply attaches to the visor in your car and you’re good to go. You can get the BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone now for $99.99, which I guess isn’t too bad you simply must receive your calls in stereo.

The Cideko Wireless Media Keyboard got its big reveal at Computex and while it might not be groundbreaking, it does add an additional option to the world of wireless keyboard accessories.

So, what makes this keyboard interesting? It features a mouse function that operates in mid-air. The top of the keyboard has two buttons for mouse clicking functions and of course, there’s the full QWERTY keyboard beneath that.

This keyboard looks to be pretty small, so we don’t know how great it is to type on, but it might be worth a shot. We don’t know a release date or pricing information just yet, so hopefully when that comes out we can give you a better assessment of whether this one’s worth the investment.

Logitech have announced their latest Guitar Hero peripheral, a wireless controller for the Xbox 360. Like the company’s existing guitar controller for PS2 and PS3, the new Xbox 360 version has a wood neck, rosewood fingerboard and metal frets.

The wireless technology is promised to be plug-and-play with the Xbox 360, while its range is quoted at up to 30 feet. The strum-bar and fret buttons are “virtually silent”, using the same technology as on Logitech’s keyboard range, and there’s a touch-sensitive slider on the neck.

Logitech’s Wireless Guitar Controller for Xbox 360 will launch in August in both the US and Europe, with an MRSP of $199.99. It’s licensed for use with all the Guitar Hero titles, including the World Tour version.

You might not realize it, but you’re probably sleeping wrong. Thankfully Zeo are around to tell you the error of your ways, and since we won’t take anybody seriously unless we’re paying them a subscription and they’re offering us a wireless-enabled alarm with LCD display, that’s part of the deal too. Measurements are taken via a headband you wear during the night, which sends data to the alarm and rates your quality of sleep as a “ZQ” number.

ZQ is affected by how long you stay in REM phase sleep, deep sleep or light sleep. Those ZQ readings are stored on an SD card, which you can upload to Zeo’s website. The team there will then give you daily email guidance – or “personal sleep coaching” – suggesting ways in which you can improve your bedtime performance. Since the measurements are tracked and displayed every day, Zeo suggest you can use them to try out different relaxation techniques and instantly see what impact they have.

The Wall Street Journal’s Melinda Beck tried it out, and seemed impressed; however, she points out that Zeo have only apparently trialled the system on around 140 people so far. That means you’re basically paying to be a beta tester, and it doesn’t come cheap: the $399 sticker of the Zeo system includes six months of “coaching”; another six months is a further $99.

If it feels like a long time since you first saw the Hillcrest Labs Loop Pointer, that’s because it has been. We first spotted the motion-sensitive ring controller back in November 2006, but the company has only now released it for direct consumer purchase. Your money gets you a wireless controller with four buttons and a scroll-wheel, that you tilt and gesture with to control your HTPC or presentation.


Initially intended as a concept device to showcase the company’s motion-sensing technology, the production Loop will support adaptive tremor removal which apparently monitors each user’s specific tremors and learns to ignore them. The controller is roughly the size of a DVD and weighs 4.9oz; it’s powered by two AA batteries, and has a range of up to 30 feet.

No specific drivers are required for PC or Mac, with the controller recognized as a standard mouse; all you need do is plug in the USB receiver. It’ll also work to navigate the PS3’s menus and control the Kodak Theatre HD Player. The Hillcrest Labs Loop Pointer is available now, with an MRSP of $99.

You will need to know your IMEI number (found in Options->Status). Most carriers should give you your unlock code, but you may have to purchase a code from a vendor.

BlackBerry 8300 / 8800 Curve
1. Go to Settings Menu -> Options
2. Select Advanced Options -> SIM Card
3. Type MEPD on the keyboard (you won’t see the text)
4. Type MEP then [ALT button] then 2 (again you won’t see the text)
5. A prompt should come up “Enter Network MEP Code” Type in your unlock code then press the track wheel to confirm.
6. The phone is now unlocked.
BlackBerry 8100
1. Insert SIM card and power phone on.
2. Make sure the radio and wireless are turned off.
3. Go to Options -> Advanced Options -> SIM Card
4. Type MEPD on the keyboard (you won’t see the text)
5. Type MEPP then [ALT button] then 2 (again you won’t see the text)
6. Enter the unlock code and press enter
7. Reboot. Device is now unlocked.
BlackBerry 8700
1. Follow steps 1-4 from above.
2. While holding the ALT key type MEPE
3. A prompt will appear. Enter your unlock code and press in the jog dial to confirm.
4. Device is now unlocked.
BlackBerry 6xxx, 7xxx
1. Go to Options -> SIM Card
2. Type MEPD for all models except 7100 in which case type MEPPD (you won’t see the text)
3. Usually you will see “active” NET lock. Disable by typing MEP2 or MEPP2 for the 7100.
4. You should be prompted to enter your unlock code. Enter it.
5. Device should be unlocked