Philips Launches 21:9 Television display

Even though 16:9 displays have become quite mainstream in 2009, support for this aspect ratio in the consumer market is only a few years old. Everyone loves watching widescreen movies – still, for some people, 16:9 still isn’t wide enough.

Philips will soon be launching a new television set supporting an aspect ratio of 21:9 – the same aspect ratio as you’d find in Panavision film. The new “Cinema 21:9 LCD TV” will have a diagonal of 56 inches and will feature the Ambilight technology, for that extra degree of immersion.

The tradeoff, of course, is that (if my trigonometry is right) is that HD programs will have an effective viewing area of 45″ and SD programs, an effective viewing area or 36″, though Philips says it will somehow make 16:9 HD programs fill the screen.

According to Philips, further details on the Cinema 21:9 LCD TV will be available by the end of February. They have also confirmed that the display is set for release sometime in Spring 2009.

[Official Press Release]



Design, Discovery and Humor

Great design is a never-ending journey of discovery — for which it helps to pack a healthy sense of humor. In the following video presentation, sociologist and surfer-turned-designer David Carson walks us through a gorgeous (and often hilarious) slide deck of his work and found images.

The Inauguration – Digital Style

By Jimmy Rogers
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

obamaSince the last national swearing-in ceremony, America has become a much more net-centric country.  Obama’s inauguration was not only watched by a large portion of the US, but by millions (perhaps billions?) in countries all over the world.  For this reason, the people on the scene wielding the tech were extremely important.  Personally, I watched the ceremonies from my TV and updated on the #inaug09 Twitter hash code.  Many others used the CNN/Facebook mashup for combined viewing and status updating.  

There were lots of other ways people shared their inaugural experience.  Pictures were an obvious favorite.  Here is a one [via Gizmodo] of Malia Obama capturing her father during his stupendous speech.

Continue reading ›



Feature – Have fun storming the castle: Mongo the Trebuchet

By Brian Boyko
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Mark Winkler decided, in infinite wisdom, to spend six months building a full-scale trebuchet. In the next installment of Geeks Are Sexy’s series on crazy inventions and crazy inventors, we introduce Mark’s brainchild, “Mongo, the Trebuchet.”

Mongo often launches watermelons, but the 25Gs of force put on the melon as it launches often causes it to burst in mid-air. In the video, Mark throws a 16 pound (7.25 kg) fireball – yes – fireball – about 250 meters or so with 1200 pounds (550kg) of counterweight. (Mongo can handle up to 1600 pounds/725kg of counterweight.)

Three things you should know if you try this at home.

First, don’t try this at home.

Second, these things go a long way – don’t do this near anything flammable.

Third, launching fireballs have a tendency to launch kerosene everywhere – so stand back.

(I can tell you that when I was filming, I was genuinely concerned for my own safety and considered how stupid I was being. On the other hand – how often do you get footage like this?)

If you’d like to see the video in full HD resolution, just hit this link, which will take you to the video’s high-def page on YouTube.

Other installments of Crazy Inventions and Crazy Inventors:

Return of The Electric Company

By Casey Lynn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Remember The Electric Company? It was part of the Children’s Television Workshop on PBS through most of the seventies, and it used skits and songs to help kids with their reading skills. It also featured a pre-film-star Morgan Freeman and the Franklin Gothic font. This might jog your memory:

Well, a new version of the show is premiering today, with a plan to help a whole new generation of six-to-nine-year-olds who are still struggling to sound out “cat.” But don’t tune in expecting a dose of nostalgia–because apparently the language of learning for today’s kids is rap. I wonder if Easy Reader would approve?

The Ad Placement From Hell

WARNING: This clip from the season premiere of Battlestar Galactica contains spoilers. If you follow the show and haven’t seen it yet (which is unlikely at this point), you may want to watch the entire episode at Hulu first.

You’ve seen unfortunate ad placements before, but you’ve never seen anything as unfortunate as this commercial break during Friday’s Battlestar Galactica. There are other words I could use besides “unfortunate”, such as shocking, disgusting, or hilarious, but I couldn’t decide between them.

[via Metafilter]

Scott McCloud: Understanding Comics

In this unmissable look at the magic of comics, cartoonist Scott McCloud bends the presentation format into a cartoon-like experience, where colorful diversions whiz through childhood fascinations and imagined futures that our eyes can hear and touch.

Fox/Warner Settlement: Watchmen is ON!

By Casey Lynn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

WatchmenMost of you have probably already seen the trailer for Watchmen by now, and if you’re a fan, you’ve probably been on pins and needles knowing that the film might not actually see the light of day. The two studios have been waging a battle for a year over the distribution rights, stemming from Fox’s allegation that they had already optioned Alan Moore’s graphic novel, and Warner Brothers producer Larry Gordon had failed to obtain the rights before beginning his own Watchmen project.

On December 24, a District Court judge (working on Christmas Eve?) granted Fox’s copyright claim. This must have been pretty scary for Warner Brothers, since they’ve already been advertising like mad, and slated the film for a March 9 release.

Of course, no matter whose name ended up on it, the real tragedy would have been if the film simply languished in litigation and negotiations for years. Luckily for the fans, the studios apparently realized that neither of them would make money if that happened, and came to a settlement. They haven’t announced the exact details, but various news sources have reported that Warner agreed to pay Fox as much as 8.5% of the film’s gross receipts and $1.5 million to cover the development costs.

The studios did do a nice job of patting each other on the back in a joint statement: “Warner Bros. acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography. Fox acknowledges that Warner Bros. acted in good faith in defending against those claims.” They probably figured that bad PR for either one of them would only hurt the film.

I think this is great news, and I can’t wait to see the film. Alan Moore has been notoriously disappointed in the previous adaptations of his work (including The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and V for Vendetta), to the point where he’s said he doesn’t watch them. I’ve still got pretty high hopes for this one, though, just based on the buzz and the trailer.

College Girl Drops Out of School Because of… Ubuntu?

Hmmm… don’t you find her excuses just a little… how should I say… pathetic? Yep, I think that’s the correct word.

[Via [H]]