Canada Has Its Very Own Version of the AT&T vs. Verizon Ad Lawsuit Telus and Rogers are sworn enemies in the Canadian wireless carrier arena, sort of like AT&T and Verizon but on a much more quaint, socialist and cold scale. And like our own two big dogs, Telus and Rogers have been at each others’ throats recently about advertisements—Rogers has ads claiming it’s “Canada’s most reliable network” and that its speeds are twice as fast as any other network. Telus hit back, claiming it’s not true (Telus did after all just launch a 21Mbps HSPA network) and Canadian courts actually forced Rogers to pull the offending ads, an interesting twist on the lawsuit pattern we Americans pioneered. Anyway, I know we’re going to be crushed in the comments with high-larious anti-Canadian jabs, so let me pre-empt:

Igloo, cold, eh, hockey, The Arcade Fire, Bob and Dave MacKenzie, Pamela Anderson, who cares. [Boy Genius Report]

CollegeHumor Tackles Modern Warfare 2 (With Bonus Giz Appearance) CollegeHumor just posted a video in which comedy nerds play (and are subsequently killed during) Modern Warfare 2, with a bonus appearance by our own Adam Frucci. I can exclusively report that Adam Frucci is a very old man who is several years removed from college, but the video’s pretty funny despite this factual error. Discussed within: MW2’s similarity to Crash Bandicoot, Dick Cheney quotes, a tax-funded sequel to Psychonauts, and why the glamorization of war is awesome. [CollegeHumor]

LG BL4 Gets Christmas Edition You know, in America, Christmas editions are usually red and green, but in South Korea, it looks like they hang black tinsel on gold trees, because the LG BL40 Christmas edition is decked out in those colours. It’s a small upgrade from the original BL40, with an 8MP camera (up from 5MP, though who knows if it’s any better), a fancy case and entry into a contest with lots of prizes. It’s in Remainders because only those black-and-gold-loving South Koreans can get their hands on it so far. [Engadget]

VUDU Adds Wikipedia, Possibly the World’s Most Boring Update VUDU is a pretty nice media service, built into set-top boxes and TVs and offering nice 1080p streaming, and adds to its repertoire Wikipedia integration. It’s previously added Rotten Tomatoes, which is a little more obvious (and dare we say useful), and I personally might prefer IMDB rather than scrolling through prose paragraphs on my TV in Wikipedia, but it’s good that Vudu is constantly updating its product. If you have to ask why it’s in remainders, you probably haven’t read this far: Vudu, Wikipedia, snore. [Engadget]

Panasonic Z1

Panasonic’s flagship HDTV is its thinnest 54-inch (137cm) plasma HDTV ever, with only 2.5cm depth. They did it by eliminating a third sheet of glass found in all other plasmas except Pioneer’s Kuro and bonding the anti-reflective coating directly top glass. The Z1 employs SiBEAM’s 60GHz 1080p for wireless glitch-free images sent via the included transmitter/media box from up to 10m away. The Z1 has THX picture mode and a custom calibration mode, plus nice bonus features including Viera Cast internet connectivity and an SD card reader for photos. The Z1 delivers amazing performance with full 1080-line motion resolution, accurate HD colour, deep black levels and 96Hz for judder free movie viewing.

The sexiest HDTV of 2009, the TH-P54Z1A has an RRP of $7000 in Australia.

Pioneer Kuro Plasma Screens

The Kuro models offer the deepest black of any high-definition display on the market — without any white-letter-on-black-background halos occasionally seen on plasma TVs. The Kuro models feature hand-selected parts, 6cm depth, custom calibration, 72Hz refresh and control over the internet via its Ethernet connection. The Pioneer uses a single top sheet of glass to minimise internal reflections, with the anti-reflection coating bonded directly to the surface.

In Australia, the 50-inch (127cm) PDPLX509A retails for $6499, while a 60-inch (152cm) size PDPLX609A has an RRP of $12,499.

Samsung Series 8

Samsung has the slimmest LED television in the world (3cm deep). It’s feature packed with wireless connectivity, four HDMI inputs, no edge blur thanks to 200Hz refresh, a PV+C input for connection to your computer or HTPC, and it uses 40 per cent less energy than previous similar-sized LCD TVs. This is a benchmark LED LCD to judge against every other make and model.

All this performance comes at a price. The 46-inch (117cm) UA46B8000 and the 55-inch (140cm) UA55B8000 retails for $4699 and $6499, respectively.

LG LH90QD

This LG has all the hot LCD performance features video freaks crave, including LED backlights for excellent black levels, invisible speakers, and TruMotion 200Hz for increased sharpness and reduced motion blur. This LG also has all the tweaks anyone could ask for including ISF calibration and LG’s “picture wizard” for user set-up without calibration discs or external test signals. The LH90 isn’t the thinnest LED LCD, but it more than makes up for it with its price.

The LG LH90 series is available in 42-inch (107cm) and 47-inch (119cm) screen sizes in Australia. The 42LH90QD has an RRP of $4024 and the 47LH90QD goes for $4944. In case you couldn’t tell, the LH90 series is the value/performance leader of the pack.

Sony XBR

The XBR series is the only HDTV available with separate red, green and blue LED backlights (rather than all white). It’s got accurate HDTV colour, local dimming for deep black levels, enough brightness for a beach house, a 178-degree viewing angle, 100Hz Motionflow technology and Sony’s Bravia Engine 2 signal processing.

There are three screen sizes available in Australia. The KDL40XBR45 40-inch (102cm) version retails for $2999, the 46-inch (117cm) KDL46XBR45 retails for $4999, and the 55-inch (140cm) KDL55XBR45 goes for $8499.

Gary Merson is the HD Guru, the industry’s leading HDTV journalist. He’s been reviewing TVs for well over a decade, and recently wrote a guide to choosing an HDTV.

DigiTimes says that the 9.7-inch OLED panels are priced at about $US500 today, and the screen would account for about 30 per cent of the device’s $US1500 to $US1700 cost when it arrives in the second quarter of next year. OLED prices are expected to fall over the next couple of years, though. As for the 10.6-incher, that’s still said to be in the $US800 to $US1000 ballpark.

No word yet from them on the rumoured matter synthesiser and teleporter module, but give it a couple more months, and they will spill it all out. [DigiTimes]

We’ve heard rumours like this before, but this time there are a few distinct elements that seem credible, maybe even enough to make us rethink our previous position. The rumblings are a bit vague, but point to an outsider-made but Google-dictated device, sort of like how Microsoft’s first Zune was actually made by Toshiba — and in the case of the Google Phone, there are a couple options for the possible manufacturer. The obvious choice is HTC, who’s been the major hardware manufacturer of Android devices, but TechCrunch hears that the source of the hardware will be Korean, not Taiwanese, which likely points to either Samsung or LG.

Samsung has a long-standing relationship with Apple, supplying tons of parts for the iPhone, so maybe LG would step up to the plate and develop this phantom device. LG’s no stranger to Android, but has been a minor player up to this point — maybe they’ve been working on this mysterious Google Phone in the meantime, which is supposedly aiming for an early 2010 release.

[TechCrunch]

Appropriating channels aside, I actually really like the look of this HL-B54S soundbar from LG. On top of its 4.1 surround sound, it incorporates a slot-loading Blu-ray player, Wi-Fi for BD-Live access and streaming clips from YouTube, and an iPod dock built-in. It plays back all the lossless audio codecs, connects to your TV via HDMI 1.3, supports DLNA for accessing your content on your network, and has USB slots that support playback of DiVX and MKV files.

The unit does look to be quite deep though, which might mean it’ll stick out a bit far under your TV, but if you need the convenience of an all-in-one unit, don’t have a Blu-ray player and can’t wire up your house with proper 5.1 audio, I reckon this could be worth checking out. $1499 is even a pretty good price…

[LG]

Gaze Through LG’s Window into a Beauty

BORDERLESS™ Design Creates a Streamlined TV with Astonishing Picture Quality

Sydney, Australia, 9 November 2009 – LG Electronics (LG), a major player in the global flat panel display and audio-video devices market, today announced the Australian launch of its BORDERLESSTM range of premium televisions. The new LG SL90 Full HD LED LCD TV and SL80 Full HD LCD TV boast a unique single layer screen that represents the future of television design and offers consumers a more sophisticated choice in televisions.

LG’s BORDERLESSTM vision is to create the limitless freedom to see things in a whole new way. LG took a single sheet of glass and crafted it into something more – a television that represents the new standard in its class, one certain to become a design icon. With borderless freedom also comes endless connectivity. LG’s new BORDERLESSTM range offers consumers a greater range of entertainment choices in one product, with integrated Bluetooth, DivX and USB port. LG’s BORDERLESSTM television range has been designed to stand out among its kind and become the defining centrepiece of your living room.

LG’s latest masterpiece, the SL90 Full HD LED LCD TV, delivers picture quality as flawless as its smooth surface by using an LED backlight and LG’s advanced technology. The TV uses the unique Injection Compression Molding (ICM) technology and film lamination to eliminate the gap between the screen and the bezel. A special sheet of laminate film completes the SL90’s perfectly flat surface, causing the boundary between screen and the bezel to vanish while also significantly reducing glare. The result is a uniform, uninterrupted surface from edge-to-edge, with no visible borders. The screen and bezel are the same deep shade of black all the way across and LG even carried this down to the glasslike stand. With a depth of just 2.9cm, the SL90 is a beautiful window into a new world of home entertainment.

“LG’s SL90 BORDERLESS™ TV is captivating whether on or off, acting as an artistic centrepiece for any living room and drawing viewers in with its high-quality LED-backlit picture,” said Warren Kim, TV Category Manager, LG Electronics Australia. “Our SL90 and SL80 BORDERLESS™ TVs are a perfect example of why LG is leading in innovative design and working to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of consumers.”

Inside its glossy enclosure, LG’s SL90 hides technology that produces a great picture and makes the TV even more entertaining. An LED backlight helps produce an extremely high dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 for truer blacks and finer gradations between greys. An anti-glare Full HD 1080p screen reduces distracting reflections and ensures that everyone in the room has a cinema-quality experience. For fast-moving action, LG’s TruMotion 100Hz technology improves sharpness and fine detail while reducing motion trails for exceptional clarity.

With LG’s recently refined Invisible Speakers, the SL90 sounds exceptional without the need for unsightly speaker grilles that would ruin the TV’s aesthetic. LG’s new Invisible Speaker, easily hidden on the bottom of the set, delivers superior sound quality and makes the TV appear even slimmer.

The SL90’s ability to connect wirelessly to an entire library of digital content is as attractive as the TV itself. Bluetooth brings music and photos from compatible mobile phones directly to the big screen without any cables. This same technology can be used to connect wireless headphones for private listening. A USB 2.0 port hidden on the SL90’s back opens digital media options even wider, playing JPEG, MP3, MPEG4 and DivX files from external hard drives, memory cards (through a memory card reader) or thumb drives.

“When we were creating the SL90, we had to break down numerous barriers in our minds,” said Simon Kang, CEO and President of LG Home Entertainment Company. “This was the first time we used our Injection Compression Molding technology for a TV and we had to free ourselves to think of a new BORDERLESS™ design. The TV is free from physical borders and its ability to easily connect to digital media means that its entertainment possibilities are just as BORDERLESS™ as its design. This is the beginning of a journey for LG TV.”

The second model in LG’s BORDERLESS™ range is the SL80 Full HD LCD TV. Unlike conventional LCD TVs, where the panel is recessed slightly within a thick plastic frame, LG’s new SL80 has a single-layer design that sets the panel flush with the narrow bezel surrounding it. LG even went so far as to ensure that the all of the TV’s exterior components perfectly match the colour of the LCD panel when the TV is turned off.

“The SL80 is unlike any Full HD LCD TV you’ve ever seen before. It’s a true work of art,” said Warren Kim, TV Category Manager, LG Electronics Australia. “With its BORDERLESS™ design, the TV appears to be a window into a new world of Full HD entertainment. This TV perfectly combines artistic design with the ultimate in picture quality and easy-to-use features, making it unlike anything else in the market.”

Also featuring ICM Technology to create a more unified and sleeker look for the TV, the SL80 utilises LG’s laminating technology, preserving the SL80’s looks by making the TV scratch resistant.

The Full HD SL80 boasts incredible picture quality thanks to LG’s TruMotion 200Hz technology, which significantly reduces motion blur and streaking for fast moving images, using scanning backlight technology. This also brings the TV’s response time down to a blistering 2 ms. In addition, a 150,000:1 dynamic fine contrast ratio brings far greater depth to every scene, with blacks that are dark as night and vivid colours.

LG’s exclusive Smart Energy Saving Plus technology helps make both the SL90 (Five and half Star Energy Star Rating) & SL80 friendlier to the environment, reducing power consumption while also ensuring optimum picture quality and reducing eyestrain for viewers. It uses LG’s Intelligent Sensor, which analyses the ambient light in the room and automatically adjusts picture settings and backlight intensity accordingly.

“People are very selective about the furniture and artwork for their homes,” continues Kim. “They want something beautiful, something that reflects their personalities. Until now, they have not had this choice when it comes to flat panel TVs. With LG’s new SL80 and SL90’s slim, BORDERLESS™ design, people can now choose a TV that reflects their high level of sophistication and taste while also delivering incredible picture and sound.”

LG’s Full HD LED LCD TV (SL90) is available now in 47” and 42” sizes (47SL90QD – SRP $3,799, 42SL90QD – SRP $3,099).

LG’s Full HD LCD TV (SL80) is available now in four screen sizes (55SL80YD –SRP$4,499, 47SL80YD –SRP$2,799, 42SL80YD – SRP$2,299, 37SL80YD – SRP$1,799).

LG SL90 Full HD LED LCD TV

l BORDERLESS™ Design
l Perfect Slim 2.9cm
l 3,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
l TruMotion 100Hz
l Full HD 1080p
l Picture Wizard
l AV Mode
l 24p Real Cinema
l Expert Mode (ISF Ready)
l Bluetooth
l HD DivX
l USB 2.0
l Intelligent Sensor II
l Smart Energy Saving Plus
l Clear Voice II
l Invisible Speaker

LG SL80 Full HD LCD TV

l BORDERLESS™ Design
l TruMotion 200Hz
l Full HD 1080p
l Picture Wizard
l AV Mode
l 24p Real Cinema
l Expert Mode (ISF Ready)
l Bluetooth
l HD DivX
l USB 2.0
l Intelligent Sensor II
l Smart Energy Saving Plus
l Clear Voice II
l Invisible Speaker

For more information please visit www.lge.com.au/borderless or call 1300 LG CARE (1300 542 273) for stockists.

The LG Chocolate Touch is the latest iteration of the Chocolate line, and brings with it some new music features: FM radio, dedicated key for favourites, Dolby Mobile sound enhancements, and an unexpected and downright weird “Join the Band” feature. Join the Band features a virtual drum kit and scrolling 88-key keyboard so you can tap along with your music. Of course, it also offers Twitter, Facebook and MySpace integration, a 3.2-megapixel camera and one-touch uploading. It’s not a super exciting phone like the BL40, but at least it’s odd enough to be sort of interesting. It’s available today and costs $US80 after a $US50 mail-in rebate.

On the BlackBerry side of things, we have yet another ‘Berry with the Curve moniker (if you’re confused about the multitude of identically-named but different-numbered Curves, check out this handy chart). The Curve 8530 is the follow-up to Verizon’s Curve 8330 and has features more in line with the GSM Curve 8520 than the Curve 8900. If you’re still following me, great, because this is one of the best Curves out there: It’s got Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS. It’s the only Curve with 3G and improves on its GSM brother by offering GPS. Other than that, it’s the same 85xx Curve that Matt already reviewed. It’ll cost $US100 after a $US100 mail-in rebate when it’s released on November 20.

And bringing up the rear, we’ve got the Samsung Convoy, a burly push-to-talk flip phone that meets military specification, unlike me. It’s got a 1300mAh battery, which is bigger than some smartphones, and is built to withstand shock, dust, vibration, salt fog, humidity and solar radiation. It’ll probably survive until the end of the Iraq War. The Samsung Convoy will be available November 15 for $US50 after a $US50 mail-in rebate. [Verizon]

Those 40-inch panels will still be “fairly expensive”, but LG says new manufacturing processes will drive down costs by 2016.

LG Display aims to achieve a 50% higher material cost and a 30% lower yield than those of LCD panels in 2012 and a 20-30% lower material cost and an equivalent yield in 2016.

That’s a pretty big call, but I like where their head’s at. [Nikkei via OLED-Display.net]

There are 20,000 bonus TVs available with TV purchases and 7000 for fridge purchases. The promo is running from today to December 31st. If this sounds like your cup of tea, check out LG’s promo page for more info.

[LG TV bundle & LG Fridge bundle]