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Microsoft prototype stylus would work on any device screen

A new stylus in the works from Microsoft could allow for input even on non-touch screens.

Rather than relying on a touch screen, the stylus would use a mounted camera to track both movement and angle across the screen, as described by MIT's Technology Review. By using the camera to capture images from the screen, the stylus could actually count the number of pixels being tracked to determine its position.

The current prototype has received kudos within Microsoft, noted Technology Review, and the company is currently deciding whether to push its development forward with the goal of creating a … Read more

Why do my eyes hurt while watching TV?

CNET reader Jerry asks:

I recently bought a 40-inch LED LCD. I like it a lot, but over the past few months I've noticed my eyes hurt after watching the TV. Mostly it seems to happen at night. This can't be normal, right? Before I spend money on an eye doctor (I've never been), I figured I'd ask if there was something about the TV that was causing it. I never had this problem with my old TV.An interesting, and surprisingly common question.

… Read more

Five best matte-screen TVs for bright rooms

Updated August 16, 2012: We think a matte-screen finish offers the best picture quality in rooms where you can't control ambient light.

Most TVs are fine in normal lighting situations, and some glossy screens are better than others. But if you watch TV a lot in a very bright room, or have to place the set where its screen can't avoid reflecting a window or other bright light source, you should strongly consider going to the matte.

Unfortunately, most quality TVs have glossy screens. With LG going glossy on its higher-end LED models this year, the pickings are slimmer than in 2011. Sharp is a standout, Toshiba a pleasant surprise and Samsung uses matte in its lower-end EH lineup.

New in this update is the LG PM9700, the only plasma TV with a matte screen. I also included a sixth *bonus* TV since it's too good to pass up: Vizio's excellent M3D0KD, with its "semi-gloss" screen finish that's more reflective than the others, yet not as mirrorlike as truly glossy sets.

Here they are, arranged in descending order of overall CNET rating. … Read more

LG Display to pay $380M to settle LCD price-fixing lawsuit

LG Display agreed to pay $380 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of conspiring to fix prices in the liquid crystal display market, the largest sum among its fellow defendants in the case.

Collectively, three companies agreed to pay $571 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged LCD manufacturers colluded to drive up the price of screens used in televisions, laptops, and other electronics, according to a Reuters report. AU Optronics and Toshiba agreed to pay $170 million and $21 million, respectively, according to a plaintiffs' attorney.

A separate case involving seven other companies, including Samsung, Sharp, and … Read more

Get a Planar 22-inch LCD monitor for $99.99

You know the old saying: the early bird gets the cheap desktop LCD.

Until tomorrow, and while supplies last, Dell Home has the Planar PL2210W 22-inch LCD monitor for $99.99 shipped (plus sales tax in some states). That's after applying coupon code PB1$HPNGJBZ$M9 at checkout.

The 22-incher has long been the sweet spot for desktop monitors, both in terms of price and practical size. If you've never experienced the joy that is a second screen, here's your chance to add one on the cheap.

As you might expect, the PL2210W is a fairly no-frills … Read more

Jury finds Toshiba guilty of LCD price-fixing

Toshiba conspired with vendors to keep LCD prices artificially high and is liable for an $87 million fine, a San Francisco jury determined today.

The 10-member jury deliberated for less than two days before finding Toshiba liable to manufacturers for $17 million and to consumers for $70 million. U.S. antitrust laws allow overcharge damages to be tripled.

However, the Japanese electronics giant said it doesn't anticipate paying anything toward the jury's fine because other defendants in the class-action lawsuit have already paid settlements that exceed the fine against Toshiba.

"Given credits for settlements by other defendants, … Read more

Get a Planar 27-inch desktop monitor for $209.99

Big monitors are awesome. They're easier on aging eyes like mine, and they let you keep multiple windows open without forcing you to scroll around a lot within them.

For a limited time, Dell Home has the Planar PX2710MW 27-inch LCD monitor for $209.99 shipped (plus sales tax in some states). That's after applying coupon code F783J2GMPWM$D1 at checkout.

It sells elsewhere for $40-80 more.

The PX2710MW is a 1080p monitor, meaning it has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. That's great, though anyone seeking to do any really detailed photo-editing … Read more

Want affordable OLED TVs? Don't hold your breath, Panasonic says

The beauty of slender OLED televisions might be enticing, but their price tags aren't. And according to Panasonic, that will continue to be the case for the time being.

Company President Kazuhiro Tsuga told reporters in Tokyo today, according to Reuters, which was in attendance, that he does not believe OLED pricing will match LCD televisions "for a considerable time." According to Reuters, he didn't provide a road map on when the televisions might come down to a far more affordable level.

OLED televisions have become the most sought-after sets in the marketplace. The devices are … Read more

Don't buy a jumbo LCD TV, buy a projector

With all the hype and hoopla about Sharp's 80-, and now 90-inch LCDs, I think it's important to point out that these are neither a good value, nor a good idea if your goal is a big TV for the home.

Yes, I'm talking about projection, and it's easier, cheaper, and better looking than a big LCD.… Read more