Acer Launches a Pair Of 3D LCDs

8:50 PM - April 14, 2011 by Douglas Perry -
source: Acer

Acer announced two new 3D LCDs.
ZoomBoth monitors run at resolution of 1920x1080 and support 3D via HDMI or DVI-DL to PCs as well as Blu-ray players, game consoles, cameras and 3D TV programming via a set-top box.

The 27-incher (HN274H) supports Nvidia 3D Vision and comes with a pair of Nvidia's 3D vision glasses by default. The 23.6-inch model (HS244HQ) does not include Nvidia 3D vision support and instead ships with Acer's own 3D glasses. The Nvidia transmitter is not required as the transmitter is built into the displays. According to Acer, any other type of active shutter glasses works with its new displays.

The 27-inch version provides a dynamic contrast ratio of 100 million:1, while the smaller display is rated at 12 million:1. Both displays use LED backlights and offer a response time of 2 ms, Acer said. Prices start at $449 for the 23.6-inch LCD. the 27-inch version carries an MSRP of $689.   

E3 Rumor: Powerful Wii HD with HD Controller

11:20 PM - April 15, 2011 by Jane McEntegart -
source: Tom's Hardware US

A deluge of Wii 2 rumors with your coffee, sir?
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Earlier in the week it was reported that Nintendo would be dropping the price of its motion-sensing Wii console to $150, bringing the cost down a full hundred dollars from the launch price. Though it was hard to argue with the logic (the Wii is five years old at this stage, and sales are declining), rumor had the price cut scheduled for May 15, just three weeks before E3. Many wondered why Nintendo would make that kind of announcement so close to E3. Why not just wait a few weeks and announce it at the convention?

Well, today’s rumors lend credence to reports of a price cut while also providing a reason for not waiting until E3 to announce it: Nintendo is planning a Wii 2 launch for E3. That’s the latest. According to sources from both IGN and Game Informer, the device will be revealed at or before E3 (which runs June 7 to 9), and will support HD. Though GI’s sources couldn’t agree on how the graphics would compare to that of the Xbox 360 or the PS3, IGN’s sources say "significantly more powerful than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360." These same sources also revealed that the new Wii will be backwards compatible with older Wii games.

Throwing yet more turf on the Fire of Hope is a report from CVG claiming that 1080p is not the only thing the new Wii will have going for it. Nope, Computerandvideogames.com reports that the new Wii will also come with a new controller. Sources say the controller will be quite different to the original in that it will also feature an integrated HD display. CVG’s sources also confirmed IDG’s report regarding the power of the console and backwards compatibility.

"Nintendo's plans sound unreal," one source said. "Publishers are already planning launch titles and it's all very exciting.

"The hardware is even more powerful than current HD consoles and backwards compatible with Wii.”

All three publications are saying it’s going to be an E3 reveal but a 2012 launch.

So, who’s excited?