Syabas, makers of the Popcorn Hour A110 and C200 network media tanks, have announced yet another streaming device called the Popbox. Unlike previous offerings the Popbox has no internal hard disk and relies on streaming video from external sources such as; USB devices, a local network and the Internet.

The Popbox supports a number of content providers (see screenshot above) however due to copyright some services, such as Netflix, are unlikely to be available to UK users.

According to Syabas the Popbox uses much of the C200’s hardware and is just as proficient with audio and video formats. One notable difference though is the interface which looks a lot more professional than the C200.

On that note Syabas are also promising a much improved and Flash based UI for the C200 early in 2010.

The Popbox will feature an App store allowing the user to download and install applications to the device. The Popbox is due in March 2010 priced at a very reasonable $129 although there is no word as yet on the UK price or delivery date. If Syabas run true to form expect bulk deliveries to be patchy for the first month or so.

Audio/Video outputs:

• HDMI v1.3a (up to 1080p)
• Component video (up to 1080p)
• Stereo analogue audio
• S/PDIF audio

  Interfaces:

• 10/100 Ethernet interface
• 2x USB 2.0 ports (1 front and 1 rear mounted)

via Digitalera

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.

Dutch company Lemnis Lighting have launched a light bulb based on LED technology. Available in screw or bayonet mounts, the E300 uses just 6 watts of power but has a comparable output to a conventional 60 watt bulb. It’s also dimmable, making it a perfect drop-in replacement for many lights around the home.

The good part is that Lemnis estimate a lifespan of around 25 years. The not so good part is the price, you’re looking at around £30 each (although hopefully that will come down in time)

You can get them now at Ryness.co.uk

[via Which news]

The LG 22” LU7000 released back in September has just arrived for review. We’ll take a good look at it and report back fully in a few weeks but in the meantime here are our first impressions of the TV.

The LG is quite a looker with a DVD player built into its sloping stand and a nifty pair of sliding doors for the DVD.  This makes a nice change from the more conventional slot loading mechanism and gives the LG a very sleek and stylish look.  Unfortunately it doesn’t share the gorgeous Borderless design of it’s larger siblings.

The LU7000 has a full set of inputs including a USB 2.0 port that can be used to display your digital camera pictures as well as play your MP3s.

Expect to pay around £300 for the 22” and a little less for the 19” version.

LU 7000:

• Built-in DVD player
• Invisible speakers, 10W
• 1386×768
• HD ready
• 2 x HDMI
• 2 x Scart (1 x Full)
• 1 x RF
• 1 x Composite
• 1 x component
• 1 x PC input Plug and Play
• Digital Audio Out
• SRS TruSurround XT
• Freeview
• USB 2.0 (JPEG/MP3 Playback)
• Energy Saving Recommended

If you’re concerned about water use in the home, power showers are a good place to start looking for savings. The EcoCamel shower head restricts the flow of water from the shower to 7 litres/minute – around half the flow of a decent power shower – which should result in significant saving if you use the shower a lot.

The EcoCamel aerates the water coming through it to compensate for the lost flow. You do notice the difference at first, but it doesn’t feel like your shower suddenly lost half its water.

In a completely unscientific test I ran a normal shower into a washing up bowl for 30 seconds, which filled it about half way. Running the EcoCamel for the same length of time filled it about 1/3 so on that basis yes, it does use less water!

How much less depends on your shower and your showering habits – finding out for yourself will cost you £24.95 at the EcoCamel online shop.

We first saw a practical demonstration of wireless gadget charging at CES 2008 but it was still a concept product back then. WildCharge have since put the idea into production and Firebox are now selling the WildCharge pad for £49.99.

If you’re new to the concept it’s a simple idea: Put an adapter onto your gadget that can receive power from the charging pad, plug the pad into the wall then just drop the gadget on the pad to recharge – no fumbling around with chargers and you can recharge as many toys as you can physically fit on the pad.

It’s cool, but it’s not the only game in town. Powermat are apparently coming to the UK before the end of the year, so things look set to get interesting!

These designer bathroom scales from WiThings have a nice tech angle – not only do they measure your weight, fat mass and lean mass but they also upload the data to a private (password protected) website automatically so you can track your weight loss (or gain).

The uploading happens through your home internet connection via WiFi and is automatic which is a nice touch – just step on the scales and the uploading/calculation is done automatically.

WiThings also have an iPhone app available for download which replicates the history available on the website. I’m not entirely sure I see the point in that but it all adds to the “cool” factor. You can see the scales, iPhone app and website in action here.

The price is 129 Euros from the Withings online store.

Here’s a new twist on an old theme. The kitchen knife has remained essentially unchanged since it was invented – after all, there’s only so much you can do when you want a sharp, pointy bit of metal.

But do you really need a kitchen knife to be pointy? That’s the question industrial designer John Cornock asked after a news report on knife crime pointed out that the most common weapon used in impulsive stabbings was the kitchen knife.

Three years and several prototypes later he came up with this – the “new point” knife. The idea is to retain the sharp edge but blunt the business end sufficiently that it won’t do damage in a moment of anger. The tip is also designed to snag on clothing, further reducing the chances of fatal injury.

Of course it doesn’t prevent a slashing attack – but perhaps “normal” people don’t think like that and I’ve just spent too many hours playing FPS games…

More information on www.newpointknives.co.uk

JOBO have just announced a new range of ultra-slim digital photo frames. Named the “Nano” series, these 7” frames are 0.35” thick (0.9cm for anybody born after 1970).

The buttons you see on the picture are normally invisible and only show when you touch the screen – a nice touch. Basic screen resolution is 480×234 but the top end “media” version gives you an 800×480 screen and displays photos or slideshows (with audio) from SD/MMC cards.

Right now we only have US pricing ($119 for the media version) but since Jobo are a German company I would expect them to hit our shores soon…

Summer is here again and what better way to celebrate than launching a new lawnmower? Swedish garden tools manufacturer Husqvarna have just announced the Automower 260ACX. It’s a robotic lawnmower that returns automatically to it’s charging / base station when it runs low on juice so you can get on with more useful pursuits than mowing the garden.

That’s not new though, those things have been around for a while. The twist here is that Husqvarna have designed this mower for the larger lawn – up to 6000m squared (sounds more like an estate than a lawn to me) – and given it a SIM card so it can text you if it “needs assistance”.

No, I don’t know what assistance a robotic, self-recharging lawnmower would need either and at 4000 euros a pop I don’t think I’ll be finding out any time soon…