Sony unveils 20in LCD TV-monitor combo

By Tony Smith
17th March 2006 16:02 GMT

Sony will next month extend its line of dual-role displays - they operate as a TV and as a computer monitor - with a 20in widescreen HD model capable of being wall-mounted and has a 3D sound capability.

The MFM-HT205 sports a 16:9 ratio 1680 x 1050 resolution LCD equipped with Sony's ErgoBright image processing system and the company's Xbrite coating. The display has a 6ms response time, a contrast ratio of 1600:1 and a brightness rating of 470cdpm². Sony claims it has a 170° viewing angle horizontally and vertically. The screen has its own analogue TV tuner.

The screen incorporates two 3W stereo speakers and a 5W sub-woofer - all fed through SDS' 3D WOW audio processing system.

The MFM-HT205 is compatible with PCs and Macs, and has S-video, component, composite, HD-15 and HDCP-compatible DVI ports on board.

The HT205 goes on sale in the US in April for around $900. ®

Source: RegHardware | [Just the photo]

Epic Records, Microsoft in Xbox 360 Deal

Thu Mar 16, 8:37 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - Xbox 360 gamers will get a year of free music videos and other content from artists signed to Epic Records under a promotion deal between the record label and Microsoft Corp., the companies said Thursday.

The arrangement calls for Epic Records to feature 12 of its artists on a program dubbed Artist of the Month, which users of Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's popular gaming console can access over the Xbox Live entertainment network.

Source and full story: Yahoo! News

House panel OKs bill to stop Net gambling

Bill would stop companies from accepting credit cards, other transfers
Updated: 6:39 p.m. ET March 15, 2006

WASHINGTON - A House committee Wednesday approved a bill aimed at stamping out the $12 billion Internet gambling industry by stopping businesses from accepting credit cards and other forms of payment.

The bill, cleared by voice vote in the House Financial Services Committee, would prohibit a gambling business from accepting credit cards, checks, wire transfers and electronic funds transfers in illegal gambling transactions.

Unlawful gambling, under the legislation, would include placing bets on online poker sites, for example, and any other online wager made or received in a place where such a bet is illegal under federal or state law.

Source and full story: MSNBC

Amazon poised for film downloads assault

If it's serious, it's game over
By Wireless Watch
Published Thursday 16th March 2006 11:24 GMT

It comes as little surprise for those that follow online video downloads that Amazon is in discussions with the major studios, as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal both state this week.

Amazon acquired CustomFlix back in July last year, a partner company that allows films to be downloaded for burning onto a DVD. The company has since entered the High Definition TV business backing the Toshiba based HD DVD platform for downloading and burning high def films.

Source and full story: theregister.com

Drug trial creates 'Elephant Man'

Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Posted: 10:07 a.m. EST (15:07 GMT)

LONDON, England -- Two men are in critical condition in a London hospital and four others are in serious condition after taking part in a clinical trial for a new drug.

One victim, whose head and neck were reported to have increased to three times normal size, was described by a friend as resembling "the Elephant Man."

The men were admitted late Monday to the intensive care unit from an independent medical research unit at Northwick Park Hospital after reacting badly to the drug, which is intended to treat chronic inflammatory conditions and leukemia.

Source and full story: CNN

The Real Life Simpsons House

Thanks to SpikedHumor

Gaming cures attention deficit syndrome

You probably hadn’t noticed this
By Nick Farrell: Monday 13 March 2006, 14:23

BOFFINS have discovered that computer games could be the way to treat kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Clinical psychologist Henry Owens, has developed a video game system which adjusts its operation so that if kids don’t concentrate, the game will stop.

Source and full story: INQUIRER
More information: USA Today

eBay Faces 'Buy It Now' Patent Threat

Posted by Tom Graham on 13 March 2006 - 12:48[EST]

Online auction giant eBay is facing a rather serious patent dispute over one of its more popular functions. The so called 'buy it now' feature often seen on auctions allows users to end the auction early at a pre-determined price. The problem is the action is detailed in a patent filed by MercExchange, who've taken eBay to court.

Source and full story: neowin.net
More information: Arstechnica

Video Collection 3-11-06

Awesome Pool Tricks - [via BREAK.com]
Hockey: Goaltender Cleans The Glass - [via SpikedHumor]
Extreme Biking - [via SpikedHumor]
Colbert Report - The Long War - [via SpikedHumor]
The Daily Show - Bloggers - [via SpikedHumor]
Family Guy - Peter's Retarded - [via SpikedHumor]
Mr. Bean - Visits The Beach - [via SpikedHumor]
Mr. Bean - Art Class - [via SpikedHumor]

Major US Music Labels Charged with Price-fixing

Posted by Nic Goodman on 10 March 2006 - 09:09 [EST]

According to a report by Red Herring, several major US music labels have been slammed with a class action lawsuit filled by San Diego lawyer William Lerach. The labels accused with price-fixing include Sony BMG, Universal, Warner, Bertelsmann and EMI. The suit accuses these labels of "deliberately attempting to prevent the development of legitimate online music service."

The suit later accuses the labels to "conspired to fix and maintain" prices once legitimate service appeared on the market, such as iTunes and Rhapsody among others. This class action comes at a curious time as both the US Department of Justice and the New York Attorney's office launch separate independent investigations into conspiring between labels involving download prices.

Source: neowin.net