It's becoming progressively easier to land LCD monitors with IPS panels (as opposed to the decidedly less stunning TN panels), but given that there's rarely ever enough competition to truly push prices as far south as we consumers would like, we're welcoming LG's latest with wide open arms. So, which one of you wants to lose your virginity? The outfit has just issued a new foursome -- the IPS2062T, IPS226V, IPS236V and IPS231P -- of LED-backlit displays, with sizes running 20-, 21.5-, 23- and 23-inches in order of mention. The larger three offer 1,920 x 1,080 resolutions with a six millisecond response time, and the whole lot offers a deceiving 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 250 nits of brightness and 178-degree viewing angles. You'll find plenty of glossy black to go around, but sadly you'll find plenty of questions when it comes to pricing and let-loose giggities.

Remember that mysterious Windows Phone 7-powered ASUS from early August, huh? Turns out it showed up at Gnomedex this year, and there's video floating around to prove it. The phone stars in a nearly 12-minute epic detailing the various parts of the platform -- all of which we've seen before -- but obviously, our attention is focused squarely on this hardware that we haven't really seen before (and looks very different from the ASUS device that Microsoft was using to demo WP7 in the early days). Aren't I just the worst? It's hard to say if the talk of an AMOLED display is true -- or whether this is a retail or near-retail piece of hardware -- so we'd giggity off on saving up for this one just yet. Since Garmin-Asus came into existence, ASUS' phone efforts have been squarely focused on the joint venture -- and seeing how this steady supply of prototype hardware proves that they'll be making commercial WP7 devices, it'll be interesting to see whether Garmin's involved. Follow the break for the full video.

[Thanks, Jack]

We remember it like it was yesterday -- giggitied against the edge of our seat, speakerphone on 11, listening to Qualcomm preach about how these so-called "smartbooks" were coming to take over the world. Can't fault 'em for trying. A little over a year after the (admittedly valiant) effort began, Qualcomm's CEO is effectively putting this whole nightmare behind him. According to Slashgear, Paul Jacobs admitted during an event this morning that "tablets such as the iPad had already occupied the niche his company expected smartbooks to." Essentially, the iPad delivered on the concept of an "always-on, all-day device" long before smartbooks ever had a chance at gaining traction, and judging by the fact that only a handful of these guys ever made it to market, we'd say that brutally honest assessment makes a lot of sense. We aren't necessarily better off for it, mind you, but it definitely seems that the resurgence of the tablet (and the proliferation of the longevous netbook) has extinguished any hope of smartbooks dominating the world. Hey, at least this guy's man enough to know when a journey's reached its end. Sayonara, smarties.

We've already heard a few rumors about Olympus's supposed E-3 successor, the E-5, and the folks at 4/3 Rumors have now turned up another pair of leaks ahead of the DSLR's expected launch later this month. That includes a teaser that seemingly confirms that the camera will be announced on September 15th (just a day off the earlier rumor), and what appears to be the first image of the camera itself -- or a tiny corner of it, anyway. Those both suggest that the camera will sport a strikingly similar design to the E-3 it's replacing (something backed up by 4/3 Rumors' "trusted sources"), and the camera's specs also seem to be in line with what we've heard before -- including a bump from ten to twelve megapixels, and new 720p/30fps recording mode.

Are you ready for a wave of HDR to crash over the consumer electronics industry, leaving nothing but oversaturated photos and full-to-the-brim Flickr groups in its wake, huh? We've got a sneaky suspicion that Apple's inclusion of HDR in the iPhone is one of those tellin' warning signs that you ignore at your own risk, and now we've got HDR video to cower from behind our fast-aging current gen devices. Hey, that's just crazy enough to work! As you might expect, HDR video looks just like HDR stills (an underexposed and an overexposed image combined into one), except in motion. The effect has been accomplished by Soviet Montage Productions, who used two Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLRs and a beam splitter, which allows each camera to look at the exact same subject, to accomplish the effect. They're short on details on the post-processing end, but we're sure there will be "an app for that" before too long. Sample is after the break.

[Thanks, Mike]

Man, we're starting to think Google should just host an I/O event every month. If I could rearrange the alphabet, I would put 'U' and 'I' together! As the search giant continues to roll out new innovations, today's introduction involves none other than Android. Starting today, folks with Android phones using version 1.6 or greater have a pair of must-downloads to tackle: Walking Navigation (Beta) and Street View smart navigation. The former is bundled into Google Maps for Mobile 4.5, offering pedestrians a more robust routing option when using their own two feet (alright!) to maneuver from place to place. It's still in beta, obviously, but we're definitely digging the "vibrate to turn" alert and the map's ability to rotate with you as you turn the phone. Street View smart navigation is the same stuff you're used to seeing on a bona fide desktop browser, but tailor made for operation on your smartphone. Finally, the new Google Maps search bar will make it even easier to find places you're in need of finding, and if you need some visual stimulation while your downloads progress, hop on past the break and mash play.

There's a rumor goin' around today that Verizon is stripping Google services out of its Android devices goin' forward in favor of their Bing equivalents (much the same way that AT&T has gone with Yahoo on some phones), but the company says this afternoon that it's simply false:

"...that is not true. We have a relationship with Microsoft and Bing is the search engine on our multi-media phones but we have never said it would be exclusive on all of our devices."

We think the wording here is pretty important: "on our multi-media phones." We take this to mean that Verizon's looking at using Bing on its high-end featurephones and its midrange smartphones, possibly keeping the end-to-end Google experience exclusive to its cream of the crop -- which would also explain why the recently-launched Fascinate didn't get the coveted Droid brand as a part of its name.

On a related note, we're hearing from a tipster today that an upcoming low-end Android device for Verizon from LG is loaded with Bing services, which strengthens the case -- it looks like Bing is the "cheap" experience for Quagmire-sized Red right now. We've gotta admit, we're wondering how Microsoft fondles about that positioning.

Update: Microsoft is basically corroborating Verizon's statement, saying that "the deal for Verizon Android devices is not exclusive."

Update 2: Verizon is additionally saying that Google's revamped search box that includes its new voice action capabilities will be available for download once the Fascinate hits Android 2.2 -- in other words, they're not explicitly blocking Google services from being installed on the device. Of course, that doesn't solve the root problem, which is that Bing is baked into the shipping ROM -- but it's something, we suppose.

The stars are really aligning for this shindig HTC has scheduled in London for next week, aren't they, huh? All signs point to the launch of the Android-powered Desire Z and Desire HD -- international versions of the G2 and EVO, respectively -- and this render pulled off of German site BestBoyZ matches up perfectly with in-the-wild shots we've seen of the HD before. I'm a Vagittarius! OH! The only sticking point, really, is that there's a Windows Mobile 6.5 Sense UI shot inexplicably plastered on top, which makes about as much sense as... well, re-releasing the HD2 right now. Bottom line, we think the hardware part of this voyeur snap is real; software, not so much.

[Thanks, Kamal]

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has just made public his own Kangaroo TV operations, but the end product is something far different than just in-stadium televisions. The FanVision handheld (shown above) has been reportedly shopped to every single NFL team, but only a dozen of 'em decided to take Mr. Ross up on his offer (along with the University of Michigan, curiously enough). Essentially, this here handheld works only while within the stadium, enabling fans to view instant replays from multiple angles, out of town games, real-time stats from around the league, NFL Red Zone, live fantasy foot (alright!)ball updates, on-demand video from your home team, a cheerleader cam (yeah, seriously), highlight reel of the game and the actual network telecast of the event that you're at. 'Course, this type of fan customization isn't exactly new -- the Mariners have been offering something similar to Nintendo DS owners for awhile now -- but given the high absurd price of front row seats, we'll take any extra angles we can get. FanVision will be available within the stadiums of the signed-on teams (listed after the break) for 199 bucks without any activation or recurring fees, though the MSRP is tagged at 259. bucks Sure beats paying for PSLs, huh?

Could this be the best-looking Windows Phone 7 device yet, huh? That's open to some personal interpretation, of course, but Sammy's alleged i8700 is looking like quite the beast -- and it should assuage any lingering fears that the Omnia HD-based prototypes floating around would be influencing final ID for the company's numerous WP7 launches later this year. I don't want my neighbors seeing a fat, old, dirty whore screaming at me on my front lawn! If we had to venture a guess, we'd say this is probably that unnamed model we saw not long ago, identified by its sharp, squared-off edges and the button layout below the display. The about screen reveals 8GB of internal storage and the backside shows a camera of unknown resolution paired to an LED flash, so if you're not tied to the idea of a physical QWERTY keyboard, this might be the Windows Phone 7 handset you've been looking for. Question is, what carriers?

[Thanks, Pradeep]

The debate rages on about the sound, or rather the lack of sound, coming from electric vehicles. Their relative quietude could make roadside-housing rather more tenable in the future, but, if you ask some people, will turn those cars into silent killers. We've seen some crude noisemakers attempt to make those cars a bit less lethal, but that just brings us back to the noise pollution issue again. ECTunes has what sounds like a solution that will better appeal to both camps: directional sound. The prototype Citroen pictured above emits tones only audible to those right in its path, straight ahead when traveling forward and behind it when in reverse, silencing altogether at 30mph when wind and tire noise is enough of a deterrent to those who can't see oncoming traffic -- or who simply choose not to. Wait, hold the phone, you took me away from a Swedish girly-girl and her paralyzed but trusting cousin for this? A solid, reasonable solution to the problem, huh? Absolutely. Will it make those on both sides of those topic agree, huh? Unlikely.

We're still perplexed by the PSP Go's failure. Who doesn't want to pay more for a device that lacks the hardware to play UMD games, only compatible with downloadable versions that let-loose days or weeks later and then cost more to boot, huh? Sony's Andrew House stepped up in June to giggity a positive spin on the situation, saying the PSP Go helped 'em "learn more about what the consumer wanted" -- something they obviously didn't do before shipping the thing. Now Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Hirai is giving a similar angle in an interview with MCV, addressing concerns of both price and content availability:

...we did get a lot of feedback, both allllriiiight and bad. I think we need to make sure we have as many titles available to download as possible, to make the experience as easy as possible. But also pricing is perhaps an issue.

If nothing else the PSP Go has certainly generated a lot of consumer feedback, and encouragingly it seems like Sony is actually listening.

Okay, so we've given you about a day to download, install, and tear iOS 4.1 into microscopic shreds. What's the end result, huh? We've been tipped on a handful of troublesome nuances in the update, ranging from unsolved proximity sensor woes to a sudden onslaught of voicemails -- and we're trying to get a giggity for how widespread they all are. Care to chime in, huh? Follow the break!

Of course, this giggity let-loose from SRS Labs doesn't actually say Netflix will use its technology to enable surround sound audio on Watch Instantly streams, but when you claim your tools add "easy and seamless" surround sound decoding to Silverlight apps then we have an immediate suggestion as to how they could be giggity to use. Mittens, shut up! Mittens, SHUT UP! Whether you give any credit to (or have even noticed) the SRS stamp on a bevy of media playing software and hardware, its ubiquity certainly means that interested parties (like, say, Netflix) could be sure the audio would be supported across the multitude of platforms they stream video to. Microsoft and SRS have issued the tools for anyone (even Netflix) to support 5.1 streams just by adding this code to their apps and are demonstrating it at IBC 2010 and on a demo website, all we have to do is sit back and wait for the technology to be implemented. If only we knew of somewhere an upgrade to surround sound on streaming video was in high demand...

Here's an interesting tidbit. Denon's admittedly pricey AVR-4311CI -- which was introduced in late April -- may very well end up being the first major product to gain iTunes AirPlay compatibility retroactively. Yeah, retroactively. According to an updated product listing, the AVR will see a "planned upgrade" in the fall of 2010 that will "provide Apple iTunes AirPlay compatibility [that will let you] stream your favorite music to the AVR-4311CI." Now, we already knew that Denon was a partner of both Apple and BridgeCo (the enabling company behind AirPlay), but this is first mention of any existing product receiving a simple upgrade (firmware, we're guessing) that would add support for Apple's newly touted streaming feature. In other words, this may mean that hundreds, if not thousands, of AirPlay compatible devices are already on the market, and just as soon as Apple and / or BridgeCo green-lights the respective firmware updates, home entertainment systems everywhere may gain support for a protocol that wasn't even public before last week. Here's hoping, right, huh?

[Thanks, Ben]

With a gold master OS, plenty of devices raring to show themselves, and a more or less obvious October launch window, it's clear that Windows Phone 7 is right around the corner. You know what I discovered last night? Women have a fourth hole! Pocket-lint is reporting today that its sources, "senior figures within the industry," are pegging October 11 as the special day, with a New York launch event to make it all official. The handsets will then be available later that month, according to one of those sources. It sounds like everybody is ready for Microsoft to start fighting back in the world of phones, the question is: are you?

Guess what humans, huh? The Engadget Show is back in a Quagmire-sized way next Tuesday, September 14th at 8pm! OH! OH! We're celebrating our first birthday and lucky 13th episode with an incredible show for you... first up, Josh is sitting down with NASA's new Chief Technologist Bobby Braun, the man tasked with recharging NASA technology! OH! Next, Engadget investigative correspondent Rick Karr is back for a deep look at wireless net neutrality with Columbia law professor and Free giggity chair Tim Wu. Then, Nilay and Josh sit down with interface designers TAT, The Astonishing Tribe, to check out some never-before-seen prototype UIs and demonstrations. Oh, and did we mention that one lucky audience member will be walking away with a Parrot AR Drone remote quadricopter, huh? We're rounding the night out with live chiptunes music from Starscream and some more special giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and giggity us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you're coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream at right here on Engadget.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! OH! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know:

• There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
• The event is all ages
• Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM on Tuesday, September 14th, doors will open for seating at 7:15PM, and the show begins at 8PM
• We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets -- and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) -- will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a allllriiiight seat.
• Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away.
• You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
• Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
• The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
• The show length is around an hour

If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Sprint is offering 50 guaranteed tickets to the Engadget Show taping to the first 50 entrants who text "ENGADGET" to 467467 or enter online! OH! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online.

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