What are AMOLED screens?

Among the many acronyms that have been part of the Consumers Electronics Show one has called attention to represent a technology that allows the development of ultra televisions and even folding screens, with high image quality: AMOLED.

This strange acronym that means a free translation Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode, is the technology that should be present at the next generation of displays, high definition television sets, which can already be found in gadgets such as mobile phone Nokia N85.

Currently, top-line computers as the new Macbook and Macbook Pro have retroilumanados with LED displays, which provides greater clarity and economy of space.

But what that means?

The AMOLED technology promises to combine the advantages of the three major types of technology, CRT, LCD and plasma in one.

Although they are relatively cheap and spend little energy, the small LCD screens still have problems, as the contrast of their color, viewing angle and a few blots that can appear in images very fast, as in sports, for example.

CRT and plasma screens, still widely popular in equipment above 60 inches, has a better contrast of colors and higher refresh rate, but suffer from respectively occupy much space or have high energy consumption.

The AMOLED screens, in turn, offer vibrant color screens on ultrafine at a cost lower than current technology. Moreover, this type of display is three times the response time of less than an OLED screen, because its pixels fine screens are installed in glass or plastic, and the images are activated from electrical impulses.

The result is brighter images with high contrast of image, color and without blots.

As a relatively new technology, the AMOLED displays still have a long way to get their prices competitive and they are out of international exhibitions for the room of your house, but maybe this change is closer than you imagine.

Manufacturers expect the AMOLED screens market to move U$$ 4.6 billion until 2014.

Plasma TVs may be banned in Europe

Although much used in devices with screen more than 50 inches, the plasma televisions must now face a competitor much more powerful than the LCD: the law. The new European Union legislation should prohibit the sale of plasma televisions in their countries, arguing that their high energy consumption, goes against its environmental policies.

A plasma TV has power consumption approximately 60% more than an equivalent LCD. If the law is approved, the devices with the technology will come out of line or on a diet to consume less energy.

How to mount a GPS vehicle with little money

An iPaq (PDA HP's) former, a software maps and a Bluetooth GPS module. Together, the three devices have become a GPS vehicle in the hands of the marketing manager Fabio Kazuo Ohashi.

A year and a half, Ohashi decided to join the on-board computers to help guide the streets. In an era where the equipment were not yet popular, the price of GPS modest even more was the average of U $ $ 661.00, the marketing manager spent just $ $ 62.00 to mount his own.

"The iPaq was already old and the high price of GPS. It was then I decided to create my device, with a saving of almost 90%. It was only need a Bluetooth module and a map," says.

In 18 months of use, the coordinates only failed once. "I needed to stop the car, look up the address in the Guide to Streets and find an alternate route." Today, the equipment is now used in the car of the manager, sometimes in the car of the wife.

How to do

The first step to mount the "low price GPS", was seeking a GPS module to give navigation function to the PDA. The model chosen was the Holux M1000, purchased for U$$ 50 in the auction site eBay. Today, 18 months after purchase, the price of the device that weighs just over 50 grams and measures 6.5 x 4.3 cm not significantly reduced, varying from U$$ 39.00 to U$$ 55.00.

"The only thing to buy a piece of equipment over the Internet is that you never know if the seller will actually deliver it," warns Ohashi. Some manufacturers already offer similar devices, but the price is much higher. The LD-3W of Nokia, for example, cost U$$ 163.00. The Motorola T815, U$$ 264.00.

To complement the new device, we had to find a map updated with the coordinates of Brazilian routes. Again, Ohashi turned to online auction sites. This time, he found a version of Route 66, for U$$ 18.00.

Please note that the price of the software when purchased directly from the developer, is more expensive (59 euros). So if you choose these sites for auction, check if the product is pirated or used.

"I knew that the program would run on devices from HP, so the choice," said the manager. In most tests, maps of other software, called Destinator (U$$ 132), also functioned correctly.

The connection

Place the new equipment to work is quite simple: just install the software maps the PDA, connect the GPS module and put the devices for pairing (via Bluetooth). Do not forget that by doing the pairing, you need to leave the module in an open place, pointing to the sky.

The program offers options to trace new routes and store-is the most common type only the name of the street and ask the search.

Support was also improvised with a Velcro tape in double-face. "A support for GPS is also expensive. The way was to adapt." With the tape stuck to the glass (for the module) and the center panel (for GPS), you can remove the equipment at any time.

Europe restricts price of a text message

The price of a text message sent and received in Europe will limit of 11 euro cents, according to draft Viviane Reding, member of the Telecommunications Comission European Union.

The phone calls will be charged per second and competition from mobile operators in offering Internet access will be intensified.

The European Parliament and 27 EU member states agreed to the proposal and the new tariffs will be implemented next year.

Nifty mp3 players (Part 1)

Zune

Probable biggest rival iPod, the Zune comes with its third generation innovations as the ability to buy songs heard through FM radio (using the Wi-Fi connectivity available throughout the line) and MusicView, a music's service recommendation which enables a mosaic of artists to the listener. In the United States, prices for Zune players range from U$$ 129.00 for the player with 4GB capacity and $ 249.99 for the model 120 GB.

Zen Mosaic

Another brand which competes with Apple is the Creative. Zen Mosaic, a product of the company's line of players, is available in storage capacities of 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB and has controls designed in the shape of a square aligned, and embedded speakers. The player's measures are 4.1 cm wide by 7.9 inches in height and 1.3 cm thick. Prices in the U.S., starting at U$$ 60.00 for the 2 GB version and comes to U$$ 150.00 for the 16GB version.

P2

If design is a key issue in selecting an MP3 player, Samsung has a choice: the player YP-P2. When it's off, he sets minimalist lines. When it's on, shows a 3-inch touchscreen that displays videos. The price of the gadget that has Bluetooth connectivity, is U$$ 500.00.

Rubik

Another player with attractive and innovative design is the Rubik from designer Hee Young. The format of the player is inspired by the classic toy magic square, and its operation is triggered with the handling of the modules that make up the geometric shape. Despite beautiful, Rubik is still a prototype and can not be acquired.

Car Cassette MP3 Player

Do you know someone that like of the 80s or that still uses tape in the car? A good gift for that person can be the player's picture on the right. With entry to SD cards and output for headphone, he works both as an MP3 player as Cassette, just need to insert the gadget on the deck of the audio tapes.