The new LG LU7000 LCD TV was launched at IFA back in September 2009 and we’ve had the 22” version on long term test for 6 weeks now, so how’s it performed? Read on and find out……

First Impressions

The LU7000 is finished in a very classy looking piano black, has a DVD player tucked away in its sloping stand and looks a million dollars. A thin transparent section below the frame finishes the TV off nicely.

The TV can be mounted on a standard bracket or you can use the inbuilt stand. A small base plate is slipped on to the slopping DVD to make the bottom flat when using the stand. This keeps the TV looking neat when it is hung from a wall.

The viewing angle from left and right is good however, as usual; it’s not so good from below. The LU7000 isn’t full 1080P HD and isn’t 720P either it’s the rather unusual, for TV at least, 1360×768. It does produce some damn good pictures though.

Setup and Menus

As with almost all modern TVs the first time you switch it on it automatically scans for both analogue and digital TV channels including digital radio. All very simple and clear so far but how about the menus that are used to tweak the TV after initial setup?

I’m pleased to report that LG have used a very simple and clear icon based menu system allowing you to easily make adjustments to settings on the TV without the need to move closer. As always inputs can be labelled to make selecting the correct input a simple operation.

One pointer to the intended audience are the clock settings that allow you to specify an on and off time along with a channel and volume level making it the perfect alarm clock for the bedroom.

Integrated Freeview

The integrated Freeview picture quality obviously relies on the quality the channel transmits at. Overall the LG handles Freeview well and the resulting picture quality is bright and sharp with only the occasional artefact.

The EPG is clear and simple and the only real negative is the slight pause when you switch between channels. The LU7000 is not Freeview HD compatible but then there aren’t any other TVs out there at the moment that are either.

Integrated DVD

The integrated DVD player is built into the TV stand and has a novel sliding door mechanism rather than the more usual side mounted slot loader. DVDs are upscaled to 720P and look sharp, bright and vivid. The DVD player isn’t region free and despite searching I couldn’t find a hack to unlock it. Obviously I’ll update this post if I find one.

MP3s and JPGs are handled well although unfortunately DIVX and XVID videos can’t be played. Response and loading times are pleasingly fast and the DVD mechanism is very quiet in operation, you can hardly hear it even when the TV is on mute.

The blue lights around the disc flash on loading and ejecting but fortunately are left off during playback.

HDMI picture quality

The picture quality when using an HDMI source is simply gorgeous whether playing videos or gaming. For reference my source was an Xbox 360 and I couldn’t detect any obvious motion blur during games or video playback. The Xbox correctly identified the 1360×768 resolution of the TV. 

Sound

In common with most with most flat panel TVs there are no obvious speakers on the front and LG use Invisible Speaker technology to achieve this. Sound through the invisible speaker system is good without being great although it is a small TV so this is understandable and there’s an Optical Digital audio output if you want to connect to a more serious sound system.

ECO function

The remote has a dedicated ECO button that allows you to set the level of power saving from minimum through to screen off if you’re listening to music. Also available from the same button are picture mode, sound mode, audio mode, aspect ratio, sleep timer and USB eject as appropriate to the input you’re viewing.

Connections

The LU7000 sports a plethora of connections which is especially impressive considering it’s a relatively small TV. 

Rear connections

• 1 x RGB in PC plug and play.
• 1 x Audio in (for RGB in).
• 2 x HDMI
• 2 x Scart (1 full)
• 1 x Component
• 1 x Composite
• 1 x Optical Digital Audio output.
• 1 x RF Antenna In.

Side connections

• 1 x USB 2.0.
• 1 x CI slot.
• 1 x 3.5mm Headphone socket.

The connections make this an ideal student TV as it can be used as a PC monitor, Freeview TV and games console screen with inputs to spare. When using the screen as a PC monitor the resolution is detected correctly and results in a very usable PC display.

Pros

• Integrated DVD.
• Stylish looks.
• Connectivity.
• USB input.
• Front loading DVD is neat and saves scrabbling around the side for the more usual slot loader.
• Nice remote.

Cons

• No DIVX/XVID from the USB or DVD.
• Slight pause before a Freeview channel is displayed when stepping through channels.

Conclusion

The LG LU7000 LCD TV is a very competent all rounder with excellent connectivity for digital and legacy equipment making it the ideal student TV. It’s also well suited to smaller rooms such as kitchens and bedrooms.

On the negative side it’s a shame that it doesn’t handle DIVX or XVID files like the LG TVs launched at the same time as the LU7000. It is rather a lot to expect from a TV of this size and price though.

All in all if you’re after a TV in the 19 to 22” size range then you should take a serious look at the LU7000. Expect to pay around £300 for the 22” and a little less for the 19” version. 

SPEC

• Size 19 and 22” widescreen (16:9).
• Built-in DVD player.
• Invisible speakers, 10W.
• 1360×768.
• HD ready.
• Digital Audio Out.
• SRS TruSurround XT.
• Freeview.
• USB 2.0 (JPEG/MP3 Playback).
• Energy Saving Recommended.

OK, I’ll admit to being a sucker for the whole “Guitar Hero” genre so this appeals to me probably more than it should.

The YouRock controller from Inspired Instruments looks to be the latest in a variety of “real instrument” controllers that can be used to rock out to a video game with more authenticity. Its a MIDI compatible electric guitar (yes, real frets and strings) which can act as a guitar controller for your favourite music game.

The console compatibility is handled via an optional converter so you buy the guitar + whatever interface you need for your console (Wii, PS3 and XBox supported).

$179 (USD) isn’t cheap for a game controller, but for a real musical instrument that can be used as a game controller it doesn’t seem too bad to me.

If all goes well Inspired Instruments should be demoing the YouRock at CES and shipping next year.

Logitech have recently released a couple of new high-end gaming controllers that should give them a following in the small-but-dedicated market for simulation games.

Starting with driving, the G27 racing wheel is a force-feedback steering wheel. Actually “steering wheel” doesn’t do it justice, since as well as featuring the obligatory flappy paddles it also comes with:

• A 6 speed gearstick control including a push-down-to-engage reverse gear
• A set of 3 pedals (yes, you get a clutch) in an offset pattern so you can practice your “heel and toe” race driving.

At an RRP of £329 you’ll have to be dedicated to your game though.

Flight simulation is the other genre which benefits from a decent controller. I’ve already talked about the cheap option but if you’re in the market for something a little more realistic the new Flight System G940 should fit the bill.

Comprising the full set of Joystick, twin throttle and rudder pedals this programmable force feedback controller should satisfy the most hardcore jet-jockey.  Logitech have even taken the needs of cockpit builders into account with this one by providing mounting points on the stick and throttle so they can be bolted into a suitable frame.

With an RRP of £259 it’s (slightly) cheaper then the wheel but again, you’ll need to be really into your game to justify the cost.

I’ve been waiting for the best part of a year to post this, but at last it’s official – Kiloo and Manomio have launched a Commodore 64 emulator for the iPhone!

Including 5 free games (Dragons Den, Le Mans, Jupiter Lander, Arctic Shipwreck and Jack Attack), the emulator faithfully reproduces the graphics and sound of the iconic home computer.

For more information go to c64iphone.com, or just head over to the app store to pick up your own copy for $4.99:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=305504539&mt=8

Officially launching in the UK this weekend just gone, Wii Sports resort is the latest must-have addition to the popular Nintendo console. The buzz is not around the extra games – what’s got people more interested is the “Motion Plus” controller – an addition to the existing wiimote which increases tracking accuracy allowing for more natural control.

The high street seems to have plenty of stock, or you can pick it up from Amazon for a shade under £40.

I picked mine up today, look out for a writeup soon!

I’ve been thinking about the gaming news announced at E3 this year, with both Microsoft and Sony getting into the motion control arena. There’s no doubt that all the technology on display is impressive but here’s the thing – they’ll never sell any, or not in the current market anyway.

When you look at why the Wii was so successful the answer is obvious – the motion controller. What’s less obvious (until you think about it) is that this is the primary way of interacting with the console. Sure, the mars bar has a D-pad on it but that’s really only there because you need some buttons to press. The main control mechanism for the console is via motion.

Because you get that capability in the box, developers are forced to write games that use it and that’s the problem for MS and Sony. They ship standard controllers and nobody will write a game that relies on an optional accessory because it just won’t sell (unless it’s so mind-bogglingly innovative that you’ll buy the accessory just to play the game). The eye-toy has been around for years and I can count the number of games that use it without running out of fingers.

So here’s the point – If Sony and MS are really serious about motion control they need to make new consoles and their new stuff needs to have motion control as the only way of interacting with it. Sell the standard controllers as optional accessories if you must have them. By doing that you make a statement to developers that there’ll be a product out there and they’d better support it.

Until that happens, the motion control arena will remain firmly in the grip of Mario and his cohorts.

[Photograph from Ludovic Maillard]

Not to be outdone by Microsoft’s Project Natal, Sony were also demoing motion control at E3 this year. The Sony offering doesn’t have a name yet but to me “wand” seems like the most appropriate description.

Sony have taken a different tack to MS – rather than have the camera interpret a whole body movement, Sony’s technology uses a physical controller (the aforementioned wand) and a camera to track it. The wand has motion sensors and buttons on it – so far, so Nintendo although it’s tracked with far more accuracy than the Wii manages.

The “gasp” moment in the demo (really, listen out for it) came when they showed the wand magically transforming into a variety of bats and weapons in the players hand.

This is a mashup of virtual and physical worlds better than anything you’ve seen outside of Hollywood and gives a glimpse of what we should be looking forward to in a couple of years.

Also demonstrated was the ability to use two of the wands together to form a bow and arrow – cool stuff indeed. The tracking accuracy looks excellent and the fact that this is a live tech demo rather than a scripted video shows how much faith Sony have in the technology.

With this and Natal around the corner, gaming is about to enter a whole new era – we can’t wait!

The annual games development conference E3 is over for another year and it looks like “motion control” is going to be the next battleground in the console arena. Microsoft and Sony have both announced new control peripherals that take the idea popularised by the Wii to the next level.

Microsoft’s offering is called Project Natal – an odd codename for what looks like a stunning piece of technology. It’s based around a camera that tracks the players motion but the real power is in the processing behind it that allows game characters to mimic the player’s movements in real time – think running, dodging and moving on screen objects around with your own motions.

The interesting thing about Natal is that it’s appears to be full body motion tracking combined with face and voice recognition, which allows for a huge range of possible applications. If it lives up to the demo, the  proverbial “Minority Report” interface may indeed be just around the corner – but you’ll need a large clear space around you when you fire up Tekken!

This video shows the shape of things to come

OCZ’s Z-drive range of PCI based solid state drives are on pre-order at overclockers.co.uk. The 1TB version will set you back a cool £2600 which makes it not that practical for most of us.

If you need the fastest storage you can buy though, the 500MB/Sec read speed will take some beating!

Naturalpoint’s TrackIR is probably the second most essential flight sim accessory after a good joystick. It’s essentially a camera sensitive to IR light, but it’s not used to take pictures. When you wear a baseball cap with special reflective spots the camera can work out where your head is (in relation to your monitor). Armed with this information the included software can “track” the motion of your head as you look around.

The end result is that when you’re sat in the cockpit of your virtual plane, you can look around by physically moving your head. Sounds odd but it actually works really well.

(And yes, you look like a dork if you answer the door wearing the hat. So remember to take it off first!)

The new version 5 product quietly slipped onto the website last week with very little announcement – the main enhancement seems to be increased resolution, which translates into smoother tracking.

RCSimulations is the UK supplier and they’re currently selling off the v4 product at under £100, so expect to see the v5 in stock shortly.