Posts Tagged ‘Monitors’

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Ubisoft DRM Monitors Computer Hardware, Breaks When You Change Graphics Cards

January 17th, 2012
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Ubisoft has been annoying PC gamers with its DRM for quite awhile now. PC gamers will find more reason to sulk about the company’s attitude upon the discovery that Ubisoft’s limited activation scheme is not only machine specific, but also hardware specific. Specifically, the DRM will know if you’ve replaced a graphics card.

A game like Ubisoft’s Anno 2070 will not run if and when you swap out a graphics card. For gamers who regularly update their systems, such an action can render every game in their Ubisoft library worthless. Guru3D discovered this DRM ‘feature’ while they were trying to run a benchmark on the aforementioned game.

According to the website, the game simply stopped working when they swapped out the card. Attempts to reinstall the game and reactivate it were met with failure, as the DRM had assumed—wrongly—that the copy-protection was tampered with.

The company’s insistence on implementing heavy-handed DRM into its games has earned it a formidable amount of ire from the PC gaming community, especially since the games it releases on Steam already come with their own copy-protection, courtesy of Valve.

Source:http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/4487/article/ubisoft-drm-monitors-computer-hardware-breaks-when-you-change-graphics-cards/

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LG 3D Monitors Bringing Movies and Games to Life

October 29th, 2011
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One of the big trends nowadays are people buying big television sets. These sets include all kinds of different apps now, and the TV can multi-function as a large monitor for your tower or laptop for movies and games. For the last few years, TV screens have increased in size while remaining cheaper; so honestly, who wouldn’t want a 42″ or bigger screen in their room?

Let’s look at the price and technology. For the last few years, 3D TVs have been appearing more and more on the market, along with more hardware and software supporting 3D, including Sony Blu-ray movies, video games and PC games. They all have been releasing more and more 3D compatible games and movies to enhance the experience, but not many consumers have 3D TVs or computer hardware to view them in 3D. That’s where LG has it covered.

During BlizzCon 2011, we got the chance to play with the monitor, known as D2342P, in a few games of StarCraft II. The first thing you’d notice is the pair of 3D glasses similar to the 3D glasses you get at movie theaters, or a clip on for your everyday glasses. Both are very light compared to others 3D glasses, while giving you the full look of 3D. The games really come to life on the screen, as LG used the 2D to 3D conversion which comes built in the monitor, so no extra parts are needed and easy to switch back and forth with ease.

Normally 3D glasses run up to 150 dollars, but the LG versions are $10 a pair and similar to the ones you get at the movie theater. For those who already wear glasses, there is a clip on for your glasses that gives you the same experience. I tried this out with the Steelseries Desmo gaming glasses while playing StarCraft 2, and I got both experiences at once, which scared me on how great it looked, even though the combination of the two looked funny. So losing your glasses or wanting a second pair won’t take a big chunk out of your wallet.

While we only got the chance to play StarCraft II, I would love to have given this monitor a complete test drive with a few of my 3D Blu-ray movies I have, like the Captain America 3D Blu-ray we recently reviewed, Batman Arkham City, or better yet, next week’s release of Uncharted 3.

Features:

* LG Cinema 3D technology
* 1 pair of 3D glasses and 1 clip on for people who already use glasses
* Full HD 1080p
* TriDef 3D Conversion Software
* Energy Star Qualified

23″ Class 1080p LED 3D Monitor specifications:

* Size: 23″
* Aspect Ratio: 16:9
* Resolution 1920 x 1080
* Brightness 250 cd/m2
* Response time: 5 ms
* Display Colors: 16.7 M
* Features: 1 D-sub/ 1 DVI-D/ 1 HDMI /1 Headhphone output
* weights: 7 lbs.

At a MSRP of $349.99, you can also find it online for $265 on Amazon, making it an even cheaper pick up. The addition of allowing you to convert your PC from 2D to 3D with no 3rd party software just makes it more worth it.

Source:http://nerdreactor.com/2011/10/28/lg-3d-monitors-bringing-movies-and-games-to-life/

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How to set up dual monitors in Windows 7

July 14th, 2011
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Maybe your neck is reminding you that it prefers a different posture, or maybe you need a desktop that can’t be fully displayed in a single monitor. There are many reasons you may want to connect a second monitor to your desktop or laptop Windows 7 machine, and while it’s simple, it’s not always intuitive. Grab a spare video cable and see how it’s done.

1. Make sure you’ve got all the hardware you need–and that your second monitor is compatible with your computer. A quick glance at the specs sheet should tell you all you need to know, though you may need to double-check your computer’s settings. Here are the most important hardware issues to check:
* Does the monitor work with Windows 7? If it’s new, it probably does, but you should still check to make sure.
* Does the monitor need a fancier video card than you’ve got? This could be an issue with a laptop and a high-end monitor, but it’s well worth checking for a desktop computer as well. Compare the monitor’s spec sheet with the information on your computer’s video card by selecting Display Adapters in the Device Manager, accessed from the Control Panel. Even if you’re unsure, it’s safe to proceed, but if things don’t work out you may want to contact customer support for the monitor.
* Do you have the right cable? It may have come with the monitor, though that’s not always the case. Most likely your computer and monitor use a VGA or DVI-I interface, so you just need to make sure they’ve both got the same kind of port. If not, you need to pick up an adapter.

# Fire up your Control Panel again, choose Hardware and Sound > Display, then choose “Connect to an external display.”

# Connect your second monitor. If you don’t see a dual-monitor display near the top of your monitor screen, click “Detect” or check to make sure the monitor is connected properly. If you can’t find a problem with the connections but the monitor still isn’t displaying, it’s time to contact customer service.
# After successfully connecting the second monitor, you can monkey with the resolution or orientation if you like, but you definitely need to choose how the multiple displays will operate. You’ve got four (really three) options:

* “Duplicate these displays”: This shows the same display on both monitors and can be handy in some situations, especially when you’re giving presentations.
* “Extend these displays”: This creates an extended desktop across both monitors. This is great for multitasking or for complex desktop setups, but may take some getting used to before it becomes intuitive.
* “Show desktop only on 1″ or “Show desktop only on 2″: If you’re using a second monitor to improve your ergonomic situation, this is likely the way to go. Power off one monitor (usually the laptop’s primary screen) and focus on the other at a neck-friendly angle.

That’s how it works. Things can get trickier, so be sure to explore the Control Panel for more options. For basic dual-monitor use, this is all you need to know.

Source:http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20078955-285/how-to-set-up-dual-monitors-in-windows-7/

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Acer’s HS244HQ and HN274H 3D monitors ship in the US

April 18th, 2011
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Acer America has today proudly announced the US release of its latest 3D monitors, the 23.6-inch HS244HQ and 27-inch HN274H, both of which feature built-in IR receivers and are bundled with active shutter 3D glasses, enabling easy, straight out-of-the-box 3D.

“Acer’s newest 3D displays are a powerful tool for providing fun and visual excitement for years to come. Their compelling benefits include an ultra high level of clarity and 50 percent more power savings than other 3D solutions,” said Dan Oka, senior product marketing manager for peripherals, Acer America. “Setting the standard for premium 3D multimedia, the new Acer 3D displays give the sensation of full immersion in a virtual world, while the contemporary design sports stylish features, convenient touch-sensitive controls and earth-friendly materials.”

Acer’s displays have a curved base rimmed in silver, touch-sensitive controls, an adjustable stand, a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 2ms response time, 170/160 viewing angles, and two integrated 2W speakers.

The HS244HQ features a 12,000,000:1 contrast ratio and costs $449 while the HN274H tops 100,000,000:1 and goes for $689. Both monitors are backed by a three-year warranty.

Source:http://www.motherboards.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=744416#744416

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IT recycling charities need your monitors

January 31st, 2011
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Computer Aid International has called for companies to donate unwanted equipment to meet a current shortfall, especially in monitors.

The charity, which supports the recycling of electronic waste and refurbishes donated computer equipment for use by not-for-profit organisations, said that while firms are donating their computer base units, around half do not include monitors.

“We need donations of computers, laptops, monitors, cables, mice and keyboards for reuse across hospitals and schools in developing countries,” said Anja Ffrench, director of marketing and communications at Computer Aid.

We have got a big waiting list, but we are not getting enough monitors. There must be schools, colleges and companies that have monitors they are not using and maybe they do not realise that they [the monitors] can have a second life.”

Ffrench said that the charity is looking for about 7,000 monitors, and that Computer Aid is unable to ship out refurbished PCs while they are incomplete.

“We can use CRT monitors, any monitors from 2002 and any Pentium 4 equipment. We accept any condition,” Ffrench added.

Computer Aid is experiencing a shortage of donations as firms seem to be holding onto their hardware to avoid paying for an equipment refresh during the recession.

But it is not the only charity looking for unwanted computer equipment.

The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH) is also calling for PCs, laptops and monitors to be donated, for use by the ASBAH staff and volunteers in the charity’s Peterborough headquarters.

In return for donations of these items, the charity is offering to send out press releases to local media and messages promoting a company’s donation via social networks, such as Facebook, to its more than 10,000 followers and friends. In addition, organisations that donate will be given free publicity on the ASBAH website, ASBAH.org.

Source:http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/it-business/3258590/it-recycling-charities-need-your-monitors/

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Asus intros trio of 27-inch full-hd monitors

October 16th, 2010
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ASUS announced a trio of full-HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) 27-inch monitors.

The VK278Q and VE278Q have LED-backlit illumination with dynamic contrast ratio (DCR) of 10,000,000:1, and the third model, VE276Q, with common CCFL illumination with 100,000 DCR. The VK278Q features a 2 megapixel webcam.

All three models give you 2 ms response time GTG, 3W stereo speakers.

The VK278Q and VE278Q, and VE276Q are priced at €359, €339, and €329, respectively.

Source:http://www.techpowerup.com/132784/ASUS-Intros-Trio-of-27-inch-Full-HD-Monitors.html

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Eizo ex240w, ex210, ex190w, and es150 radiforce surgical monitors unveiled

October 15th, 2010
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Eizo Nanao today launched the Eizo EX240W, EX210, EX190W, and ES150 Radiforce surgical LCD montors.

EIZO has been supplying the RadiForce G&R-Series of diagnostic monitors to display X-ray, CT, and MRI images and in order to achieve its goal, EIZO will add the RadiForce E-Series of surgical monitors which can be connected to endoscopic video cameras to offer smooth rendering of the video images.

The RadiForce E-Series supports multiple input signals to allow connections with both legacy and state-of-the-art endoscopic systems without the need of other optional devices or accompanying costs.

With loop-through output support, the monitors are also ideally suited for multi-monitor integration or archiving in the operating room.

The color, hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, temperature and tones of the RadiForce E-Series can be adjusted to best fit the physician’s color preference.

With Picture-in-Picture (PiP), Picture-and-Picture (PaP), and Picture-over-Picture (PoP) functions, archived images or patient data can be reviewed simultaneously during an operation.

The RadiForce E-Series consists of four models in different sizes and resolutions: the 24″ wide EX240W with a 1920 x 1200 native resolution, the 21.3″ EX210 with a 1600 x 1200 native resolution, the 19″ wide EX190W with a 1680 x 1050 native resolution, and the 15″ ES150 with a 1024 x 768 native resolution.

All models offer compliance with stringent medical, safety, and EMC emissions standards including EN60601-1 and UL60601-1.

Source:http://www.coolcomputing.com/article.php?sid=4271

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