If you’re a fan of LCD TVs, then you owe a gentleman by the name of George H. Heilmeier your eternal thanks. Back in 1964 when he was working in the laboratories at RCA, Heilmeier discovered the ability to switch colours in liquid crystals through the application of electrical current. This discovery allowed a clear liquid crystal substance to turn milky, and was the first Liquid Crystal Display.

But a milky colour is a long way from the Full HD LCD TVs we see today. Heilmeier’s LCD technology used something known as “Dynamic Scattering Mode” to align the liquid crystals, yet this technique required lots of energy and was limited in its scope. In 1970, Hoffman-LaRoche in Switzerland filed for a patent for the “Twisted Nematic Field Effect”, which didn’t require a flowing current to work, making it much more attractive a display technology. It was this development that saw LCD make its way into the first digital watches in the ’70s.

In the 1980s, LCD made its way into computer monitors. The fact that it was a “thin” technology made it especially suited for this purpose, although the technology’s slow refresh rate meant that it struggled with moving images, like scrolling text. In 1988, Sharp took LCD to the next level by launching a 14-inch LCD TV, although it still battled with refresh rate issues and the subsequent difficulties with movement on screen.

When it came time to expand into the larger screen sizes, in the late 1990s and early this decade, LCD struggled to compete with plasma. It had the benefit of brighter backlighting and lower power consumption, but the bigger screens made the refresh rate issue even more noticeable. However, as this decade proceeded, developments such as improved refresh rates and the introduction of 100Hz saw the technology not only catch up to plasma, but overtake it.

Nowadays, you’re much more likely to purchase an LCD than any other display technology. Not bad for something that started out turning clear liquid to a milky substance, huh?

History of TV is Giz AU’s month-long look back at the development of the world-changing medium and its influence on our daily lives.

For $369, you get dual audio inputs, a 3.5mm jack for MP3s and a touch panel on the front for controls. It probably doesn’t compete with the high end soundbars from Yamaha in terms of performance, but for $369, what do you expect? It does look nice though…

[Sharp]

At the moment, only 10 per cent of PCs or TVs are actually recycled in this country, and even those generally have a cost involved with them. The introduction of a mandatory recycling scheme should see that number increase to over 80 per cent, which could save up to 2.5 million tonnes of e-waste sent to landfill over the next 20 years.

The scheme is most likely going to be industry driven, and will consequently mean that the TV manufacturers will pass on the costs to consumers at the point of sale. The good news is that the EPHC (Environment Protection and Heritage Council) report reckons that the cost would be between $5-$10 for each TV, which is such an insignificant sum when buying something worth hundreds or thousands of dollars that it makes you wonder why this wasn’t introduced years ago.

So far, Panasonic, Sony and Sharp have filled my inbox with press releases stating their public support for the scheme. Lets hope that all the other manufacturers jump on board as well, and this thing gets up sooner rather than later…

[EPHC (pdf)]

The car itself used Sharp solar panels to give it enough juice to chug along at an average of 100kph. It output 1.8kW, with a conversion efficiency of 30%, and although that sounds low, it’s relatively one of the highest in the world.

The real question now though is this: Would you drive this thing? Personally, I’d rather drive a Roadster…

There’s no word on exactly what games are included, other than the fact that they’re “premium” games, but from the image it looks like Halo: ODST and Kameo are included. As for which TVs are eligible, you can get the LC40LE700X, LC40LB700X, LC42D77X, LC46D77X, LC52D77X, or LC65RX1X. Catchy names, huh?

For more info, head on over to Sharp’s promo page. The deal’s running until December 31.

[Sharp – Thanks Luke!]

How do they do it? With a triple junction compound solar cell that uses three photo absorption layers made from elements like indium and gallium. I’ll leave it to the physical chemistry geniuses among you to explain exactly what that means in the comments.

You might have heard of efficiency ratings that climb into the 40 per cent range. Sharp even lists one in their press release. To clarify, those are different tests. Apparently there’s a distinction made in efficiency ratings between concentrated and unfocused light. The more you know, right?

Don’t expect to be covering your house in these soon, they’re meant for use in satellites. [Akihabara via Engadget]

Between a general leeriness towards AT&T and spectacularly huge numbers involved, the whole thing sounds a little conspiratorial. Thing is, the price-fixing definitely happened:

South Korea’s LG Display Co., Sharp Corp. and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. agreed last November to pay $US585 million in criminal fines in a U.S. Justice Department probe of illegally price fixing on LCDs used in flat-screen televisions, mobile phones and other devices.

This lawsuit is less about AT&T proving that some of the biggest LCD manufacturers in the world have been gouging them (and in turn, their customers) than it is about getting some kind of compensation for said gouging, which has apparently been driving up prices of phones for quite a while now.

I mean, probably not by more than a few cents apiece, but still! Outrage! [WSJ]

Just how long will we have to wait? There’s no information on that, but we do know that Sharp is going through some testing of the devices:

Sharp has already verified the reliability of the new blue-violet semiconductor laser. It confirmed that the laser operated for more than 1,000 hours under the temperature of 80°C with a pulse width of 30ns and an output of 500mW.

Sounds safe enough to me, but sadly that stage is nowhere near actual products shipping. Let’s hope they hurry up. [TechOn via electronista]

SHARPÒ INTRODUCES TWO NEW ULTRA-PORTABLE
IPOD® DOCKING SYSTEMS
High-fidelity Sound and Convenience in an Elegant, Handheld Design

ATLANTA, September 10, 2009 – Sharp today introduces two new iPodÒ docking systems for headphone-free music on the go. The DK-AP8P and DK-AP7P allow users to play music directly from any iPod or iPhoneÒ while simultaneously recharging the unit. Weighing less than 1.6 lbs, these 2.1-channel units feature premium sound quality, a long battery life and an ultra-portable design. An IR wireless touch panel remote control on the DK-AP8P adds flexibility and convenience, acting as a magnetic cover when not in use, while the DK-AP7P folds shut – protecting the units from damage during travel.

“As the popularity of digital music devices continues to grow, so does the desire for consumers to share their vast digital music libraries, whether travelling, in their backyard or in the comfort of the home,” said Sean McBride, senior product marketing manager, audio, Entertainment Products Division, Sharp. “The introduction of the DK-AP8P and DK-AP7P strengthens Sharp’s lineup of portable iPod audio systems and gives users the ultimate ease and convenience of high-quality music on the go, with an extremely small footprint.”

The DK-AP8P and DK-AP7P join Sharp’s existing lineup of iPod audio systems, including the DK-AP7N and DK-CL6N.

DK-AP8P and DK-AP7P

These small, yet powerful, made for iPod audio systems also work with iPhone and feature an ultra-portable design that folds closed for safekeeping when on the go (the DK-AP8P has a magnetic cover). A 2.1-channel speaker system houses all of the necessary components for an enjoyable listening experience, including the main drivers and subwoofer. With approximately six hours of battery operation and an AC adaptor and soft carry bag included, these models are truly a portable solution to enjoying high-quality audio from any location.

The iPod terminal allows the user to charge and play music directly from any iPod or iPhone through the unit’s full-range bass reflex speakers with HDSS™ (high-definition sound standard) sound technology. For optimum sound, the units offer ESound, a digital signal processing technology that improves the quality of compressed digital music. By enhancing the sound frequency and increasing the sound pressure, ESound mode corrects deterioration to the sound quality that plagues most compressed music. Both models also include a video output so that when connected to a TV, users can enjoy their favourite iPod videos and photos on a larger screen. Additionally, each unit features a 3.5mm stereo audio input for use with other audio MP3 players or PC audio for increased versatility.

The DK-AP8P and DK-AP7P feature a piano black finish. The current DK-AP7N is available in two eye-catching colour combinations, sporting a glossy black body with either white or red accents.

DK-CL6N

With this clock radio music system made for iPod, users can wake up to their favourite playlists, direct from any iPod or iPhone (in aeroplane mode). The DK-CL6N charges and plays music from the docked iPod or iPhone (in aeroplane mode) with high-quality sound through the system’s 4 watt, 2.0-channel audio speaker system. The alarm clock function includes a sleep timer with snooze and dual alarms for ultimate convenience. An AM/FM tuner allows users to program up to 10 favourite radio stations. The unit also features an electronic equalizer that customises sound based on the music genre and has a five-step mode to accurately adjust the sound for any type of music.

The DK-CL6N is designed for the home or dorm room, featuring a compact design with a blue illuminated clock display. The unit also supports MP3 music players as well as streams video files from iPod video via the video output jack to the television.

All models feature low power consumption and comply with Energy StarÒ standards.
Pricing and availability

* The DK-AP8P will be available in September for a for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $US189.99
* The DK-AP7P will be available in September for an MSRP of $US129.99

[Sharp]

The Netwalker, also called the PC-Z1 in the official literature, seems to be somewhat pocketable with its 6.3 x 4.2 x 0.9-inch build. The thing is the ultimate tweener with an ARM Cortex-A8 based processor, 4GB of on board storage, and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, but no 3G or WiMax. It reminds me a lot of the UMID mBook M1, but with a slightly bigger keyboard.

Sharp, maybe you should make some coffee. It has become pretty evident in the last few years that devices like this have failed more times than not, especially for an above $US400 price point. The Netwalker looks cute, but people will buy smartphones or netbooks. [Sharp Japanese via Engadget]