sharp

A microwave in a drawer?

The microwave has become a key appliance in American cooking, but there are still many kitchens--especially older ones--that just don't have counter space for a microwave. The standard solution has been to put the microwave about the counter, attaching it to the bottom of a handy cabinet. But why not go below the cabinet?

I've heard plenty of horror stories about microwaves falling off the wall, and a below-the-counter option might be an easy remedy. Something along the lines of the Sharp Insight Pro Microwave Drawer might prove ideal. The Microwave Drawer installs into your cabinetry below the … Read more

Sharp's solar-powered LCD TV

At 26 inches for an LCD TV, you might sniff at its puny dimensions. But Sharp's shining some light on this particular flat panel, literally.

Its 26-inch LCD TV, showcased at this week's G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, is powered by solar energy. The set was designed specifically for developing nations where the nearest AC mains are probably a town away. Sharp claims its experimental eco outing guzzles 30 percent less power than its low-power rival, though no names were mentioned.

While the TV is intended for those earning less than $2 a day, its specs are far from … Read more

108-inch Sharp LCD headed for U.S. market

It often takes awhile for Japanese electronics to make their way across the Pacific, if they get here at all. But Sharp bucked that trend in a big way, literally, by saying its 108-inch LCD would be shipping to U.S. shores by September.

Only last week this beast made its first commercial appearance at Tokyo's Shinjuku Piccadilly multiplex complex, all 93.9 inches by 52.9 inches of it in full-HD 1080p resolution. Now the LB-1085 super-monitor will be intimidating Americans as well, and not just because of its imposing stature: The price, by Engadget's calculations, will … Read more

Sharp's 108-inch LCD descends on Tokyo

The 108-inch LCD that Sharp unveiled in January is now coming to market, ready to induce hernias everywhere.

The massive display measures 93.9 inches wide and 52.9 inches high, in full-HD 1080p resolution. That means there's plenty of real estate in the back for a variety of inputs, including HDMI and DVI-I connectors, according to Fareastgizmos. It also has a fanless design to keep noise to a minimum.

The first stop for Sharp's LB-1085 will be the Shinjuku Piccadilly multiplex complex in Tokyo, a massive theater facility that will maximize the visual impact of the gargantuan … Read more

Disney does a Cinderella act in Japan

Disney and Softbank have geen making phones for kids in Japan for some time, with the handsets becoming increasingly adult-like in both function and appearance. Its latest mobile handset also seems to be aimed at this ambiguous market in Japan, but the theme clearly belongs to the Magic Kingdom: Princesses.

The "Cinderella" line is being produced in a partnership with Sharp, using the Disney Mobility service offered by Softank, according to Akihabara News. The DM002SH has a 2.6-inch display, a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, microSD card slot, 50MB of built-in memory, and the 1Seg TV tuner used in … Read more

Sharp, MIT make strides in methanol fuel cells

Sharp and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this week detailed technology advances in making liquid fuel methanol a source for fuel cells.

Sharp on Thursday claimed to have achieved the highest density ever with its prototype direct methanol to fuel cell (DMFC). The fuel cell has a longer continuous-use life span than a same-size lithium ion battery, Sharp said in a statement.

Sharp will continue to invest in DMFC research and development. It envisions using the technology in consumer electronics such as PDAs and notebook PCs.

Also on Thursday, MIT announced that researchers have managed to improve the power output … Read more

"Power 10" ranking of top cleantech companies

I spend most of my day meeting and talking to companies in the cleantech sector. And those of you who know me know I have opinions on who is doing it right, and who is doing it wrong. So I thought it was about time to initiate the Cleantech Blog Power 10 Ranking of cleantech companies doing it right. Eligibility for inclusion in the ranking requires meeting a 6 point test. Suggestions for inclusions in future volumes are welcome. The 6 point test:

1. The company is energy or environmental technology related. 2. I like their products. 3. The market … Read more

Sharp ready to roll out wireless HDTVs

There was a time, somewhere back in the Dark Ages before cable and satellite, when the television set needed only to have a single connection--plug it into the wall outlet, and it was good to go. That day may finally have returned for Sharp's newest line of ultra-thin LCDs with the help of Amimon, an Israeli company that developed its first chips for wireless HDMI connections last summer.

The technology--known as WHDI, for "Wireless High Definition Interface"--can send 1080p signals up to 100 feet and "through four or five walls," according to Dvice, which … Read more

Japan handheld with Intel Atom chip debuts

Sharp got atomized Monday. The Japanese electronics maker along with Willcom announced the ultra-mobile Willcom D4 "communication device" based on Intel's Atom processor and Microsoft's Vista operating system.

Microsoft and Intel were also credited with development of the device, according to the Japanese-language release on the Sharp Web site.

The handheld-size device uses a 1.33GHz Z520 Intel Atom processor and runs Windows Vista Home Premium (with Service Pack 1). Other prototype devices based on similar designs--referred to as mobile Internet devices or MIDs--have also been shown running the Linux operating system.

With a separate headset, … Read more