Dell Drops Price Of UltraSharp 5K Monitor Before It Even Ships

Price wars are common throughout all facets of business, 5K monitors included. The price wars for this market have started, surprisingly, before a single stand-alone display technology has even shipped. Dell, which recently announced but not shipped its UltraSharp 5K monitor, has already said that it will cut prices of the device in the wake of Apple's latest 27" iMac jumping into the market. Dell's UltraSharp was announced back in September and will be priced under $2,000 from December, the same month it is set to ship.

When originally announced, this monitor was priced at $2,499.99. Even though Dell did not immediately provide reasons for the price drop, founder and President of Touch Display Research Jennifer Colegrove stated that Apple's 27" iMac, which sports a 5K display, may have been a catalyst. Apple is throwing in an entire computer with its 27" iMac with 5K Retina display for the same $2,499.99 price as the UltraSharp.

Apple was first to make 5K displays available when it began shipping the iMac earlier this month. 5K monitors display images at a 5120 x 2880 resolution, which is nearly 60% more pixels than 4K displays, which have resolutions of 3840 x 2160. Dell is still taking orders for the 5K monitor at $2,499.99 on its website, but stated the price drop would occur in December. At $2,000, Dell's 5K monitor may be worth it for people who want to upgrade from conventional 1080p moniotrs, according to Colegrove.

Dell's UltraSharp has two 16-watt integrated Harman Kardon speakers, six USB ports and one media card reader. In addition to that, it also has one mini-DisplayPort and two DisplayPort interfaces. The monitor is also capable of working with any PC a user chooses, meaning it could be attractive to graphic designers, movie makers and others who find high-resolution images valuable. Moreover, the UltraSharp is also likely to be the only stand-alone 5K monitor available when it ships, whereas Apple's iMac is an all-in-one.

If you have already taken the plunge into 4K then there is little incentive for you to jump ship into 5K. 4K monitors are available for as little as $700 and there is content being produced for 4K, which is already being considered the next industry standard. Content made for 4K will look no better on 5K devices, unless it is upscaled through special software.

Vendors, on the other hand, are gradually moving to 5K and higher, all the way up to 8K resolutions. The first 8K TVs are said to be coming out next year and monitors based on that technology are likely to appear in 2017, according to Colegrove.

Top 3 Monitor Upgrade Choices!

It can be extremely easy to get caught up in new tech and products. Take buying a new computer for example. It's beyond easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of having a new computer. Anyone would be excited to replace their old Gateway 2000. During that rush of emotions though, some may not think about the monitors they come with. Just because you may have gotten the newest and hottest computer doesn't mean that you also got the newest and hottest monitor as well. If you are going to do it, then you might as well do it big, right? After all it is a new year. Might as well get a new monitor to go along with your new computer. In case you are not sure where to start, here are 3 choices to get you going in the right direction!

The Apple Thunderbolt Monitor is perfect for any Mac fanatic out there. Apple is known for offering the very best in quality, and the new Thunderbolt display doesn't shy away from that principle. This 27 inch monitor is big enough to properly display anything you may need to view, with amazing clarity. The 2560x1440 pixel LED backlit screen makes sure of that. The monitor offers 6 different input ports. With 3 USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port, this particular monitor offers a lot of room for add ons. The fact that the included MagSafe connector can charge and power your Macbook is also a nice little addition. Again, perfect for any Mac user looking for a beefed up monitor.

The Dell Ultrasharp LED-Lit Monitor is a monitor that looks to base its selling point on one word: adjustable. This 24 inch monitor uses IPS technology in conjunction with its LED back lit display to give off a beautiful image. The height of the monitor can be adjusted to whatever makes you feel comfortable, or just whatever fits. The display can also be adjusted by turning it for a vertical view or a landscape view. The overall color temperature and text brightness of the monitor can also be adjusted to your own personal preferences. A good pick for someone who is... picky.

Finally, the Asus Full-HD LED-Lit LCD Monitor might become your solution if you are looking for an energy saving monitor that is still a powerhouse. This 23.6 inch monitor is VESA compatible for those of you who may be looking to have a wall mounted monitor. The high def visuals, coupled with the LED back lit display, ensure that you have a bright and crystal clear picture. The 2ms response time guarantees it's owners will have smooth visual playback for movies and videos. It is Energy Star approved, so you won't be killing your electricity bill whenever you turn this bad boy on.

There are many other monitors out there currently, and many more to come out during the rest of the year. If you are unsure of your monitors specifications, be sure to look up the model and do some research. If you feel a need for an upgrade, these are some good starts. And should you feel a bit more inclined to try before you buy, it is never a bad idea to rent before deciding on a purchase!

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A Great Computer Monitor Made by Apple?

In the world of computer monitors, there are many different manufacturers and hardware makers for consumers to choose from. The interesting thing is that a name most would not think of makes one of the world's best monitors...Apple.

While this may seem like the wrong place to be discussing and talking about an Apple product, the fact is that the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display is a computer monitor and is fantastic. With a resolution of 2560 x 1440 on a beautiful 27-inch LED display, the thunderbolt display is a "top-of-the-line" monitor.

The 27-inch Thunderbolt display is not only a great product because of its large, bright display but also because it has a built in webcam, speakers, and various I/O inputs such as USB and Firewire. The connection used to connect this display to a computer is the "new" connection developed by Intel, Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is a new connection that is available on all new Apple computers and an increasing amount of PC's.

While this is certainly a great monitor that would make nearly any consumer happy, it does have certain drawbacks. The first of these would be price. The 27-inch Thunderbolt display costs an astounding $999. That price is sure to drive away many consumers as there are many great monitors and even "all-in-one" computers available for less. The other major drawback is that the connection type, Thunderbolt, is still a relatively rare connection, save for Apple products.

In the end, the 27-inch Thunderbolt display from Apple is a fantastic display that will really only be used by two different groups. The two consumer classes that will purchase this monitor are those that are diehard Apple fans that want a big display or those with money to burn that want an amazing monitor. It is hard to say that this is not a good monitor, since the specs are as good as you can get, but until the staggering price drops, it is hard to recommend it.

Source: Apple Thunderbolt Display

Canadian Companies May Have Early Apple TV Prototypes

New reports about an Apple HDTV are coming in every day, including this new one that suggests that Apple is currently talking to Rogers Communications Incorporated and Bell Canada Enterprises (both located in Canada) about a possible TV deal. These talks are so serious, in fact, that both Bell and Rogers reportedly have a prototype of Apple's TV in their development labs right now, that is if reports from Canada's biggest national newspaper The Globe and Mail are correct.

Both companies offer wireless, internet, home phone and TV services in Canada and both companies also own a lot of different Canadian television brands. All of these services may also be vital for Apple to get its TV into physical form. According to a statement from an anonymous source to The Globe and Mail, "They're looking for a partner...with wireless and broadband capabilities."

However, the report fails to mention any type of content plans from Apple for its new TV, like whether or not the set would exclusively offer online streaming content or include connections for standard cable or satellite TV. Apple may be looking for a partner with cable providers to make sure that the TV works with broadcast television services from major providers without any problems. But you never know with secretive Apple. The partnership could go farther down the rabbit hole to a place where Apple's hardware is sold exclusively through your cable or internet service provider.

Aside from the two Canadian companies, there haven't been any reports of American cable providers working this closely with an Apple TV. USA Today did report back in January that the company was having some trouble securing content deals for an Apple TV with American content providers. CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves also hinted during an earnings call that CBS had decided against "joining Apple TV."

Apple TV rumors took off after the death of former Apple CEO and Co-Founder Steve Jobs when Walter Isaacson released Steve Jobs' autobiography. In the book, Jobs was quoted saying "I finally cracked it," referring to solving the problem of a user-friendly TV interface. Right after the book was published, the New York Times claimed that Apple was planning a TV that had voice commands ala Siri and could ship as early as 2013. But for now, everything is all rumor.

Source: PC World - Apple's Expected Television Set May Be in TV Makers' Hands

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Apple Eyeing 5% Market Share in HDTV Industry

The HDTV market is rich with competition but is still dominated by names like Sony, Panasonic, Sharp and Samsung. However, that may all be coming to an end if Apple decides to throw its hat in the ring with an Apple TV. If this predictions truly comes to fruition, it is expected that Apple will make a significant mark in the industry.

Ben A. Reitzes, an analyst for Barclays Capital, has envisioned a world where an Apple TV in the HDTV market could net almost $17 billion in revenue in its first year and climb all the way to the point of controlling 5% of the market share. In a statement from Reitzes, "Apple's eventual television could be so much more than a TV - including gaming, video, communication, content delivery, apps, computing and all the capabilities of the current Apple TV - it is not really fair to compare it to products already available on the market."

A while back, Apple bragged that it could get 1% of the entire cell phone market. Many people found this statement amusing, never believing that Apple would ever achieve such a high expectation. Fast forward to today and those naysayers are pretty quiet as Apple has clearly dominated the smartphone market for the past five years.

That's why not many people are finding the idea of Apple having a 5% market share in the HDTV industry that surprising. The Cupertino giant has already shown that it is capable of lighting a fire under the most dull, rigid and inflexible markets so doing the same to the HDTV industry shouldn't be that hard.

It has already been reported that Apple has approached Rogers and Bell, two Canadian carriers, to integrate their services with iTV. Full details on that partnership are, of course, extremely secretive so we probably won't be getting any new information for quite some time. However, it does go to show you just how innovative Apple can be. Many people believe that we will be seeing an Apple HDTV on the market by the end of this year, provided we live that long.

Source: TG Daily - Apple could take 5% of HDTV market

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Will Apple Release a TV Set in 2012?

Apple has been wildly successful with pretty much everything that they have released recently, so do you believe that an Apple TV set could be a piece of technology that we see in the near future?

On Tuesday, January 31 Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster stated that he believes that Apple is currently targeting a TV set that they would launch sometime in late 2012.

"We are confident that Apple will enter the connected TV market, but timing remains uncertain," he wrote. "More specifically, the hardware could be ready quickly, but the timing and scope of a revamped TV content solution is unclear."

Munster claimed he had talked to a major TV component supplier that told him that Apple had contacted them “regarding various capabilities of their television display components." This report comes shortly after another report was released claiming that Apple was highly interested in a TV set. In September an Asian supplier told Piper Jaffray that a prototype of an Apple TV was in the works.

“We believe that Apple only enters mature markets with the goal of revolutionizing them, as it did with the smartphone," Munster wrote.

"In television we see an opportunity for Apple to reinvent how consumers discover and enjoy video on their TVs and mobile devices (live TV, previously aired shows, movies, user generated content, etc.)," he continued. "Without a revamped TV content solution, we do not think Apple enters the TV market. Since we know Apple is exploring television hardware, we are therefore led to conclude that the company is exploring a solution for live TV, and this solution could be one that has not yet been taken mainstream."

Munster went on to say that he believes that there are three scenarios that Apple could choose from when it comes to its TV plans: partner with cable companies, offer access via broadcast TV or an Internet-based source, or secure a license that would allow them to offer a monthly subscription service.

Of course, the simplest of the three options would be the first. However, "while this would be the easiest and most likely option, it would also be the least revolutionary," Munster wrote.

The second option would be a “broadcast/Web-based hybrid.” According to Munster, "Apple could then leverage a new App Store for the Apple Television to supplement the basic live TV features with Netflix, Hulu Plus, or any content provider that chooses to build an app for the television. In this instance, Apple would also likely continue to offer its iTunes movie and TV content through the iTunes store to the Apple Television."

The third option would definitely be the most difficult because Apple would become the manufacturer as well as the provider. This option would take plenty of work because getting a license can be very difficult.

"Such an offering would be unlikely given existing licensing arrangements between content providers and service providers as well as the fact that it lies outside of Apple's core competencies, even in media," Munster said.

One thing that Munster said was very important was the availability of the App Store on the TV. "Apple's strong iOS developer community would likely jump at the chance to build apps for an Apple Television, and Apple's iOS users would likely jump at the chance to buy one," Munster said.

Source: PCMag – Analyst Predicts Apple TV Set in Late 2012

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HP Sues AU Optronics for Fixing LCD Panel Prices

HP recently filed a law suit against AU Optronics in which HP accused the company of conspiring to fix prices of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display panels according to the filing.

According to a document filed on August 19 in federal court in San Francisco by HP Vice President and General Manager for HP's Displays Business Jun Kim, a complaint for damages alleging violations of antitrust laws was filed under seal in order to conceal confidential information about HP's process for acquiring LCD panels from HP's competitors.

According to a related document, AUO and other companies "conspired to fix the prices of LCD panels". The document is related to a complaint about a pending group case that was filed against LCD makers on behalf of purchasers of the screens used in personal computers, televisions and mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Yawen Hsiao, a spokeswoman for AUO, was not immediately aware of the complaint when recently contacted for information by multiple media outlets. Hsiao also declined to comment further on anything regarding such complaints or a lawsuit between AUO and HP. HP is one of the largest clients AUO has and provides the company with panels used in laptops and computer monitors.

However, if it is true that HP is suing AUO for fixing prices, it wouldn't be surprising. The Taiwanese company was indicted last year for supposedly conspiring to fix prices on flat-panel screens sold around the world. The conspiracy lasted from 2001 until 2006. Apple, Dell and HP were among the many companies directly affected by the supposed scheme according to the United States Justice Department.

Source: Bloomberg - HP Sues AU Optronics in U.S. Court Alleging It Fixed Prices of LCD Panels

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Air Display for Mac App

Avatron Software, which is a leading developer of popular applications for Apple's iOS platform, just announced the release of their Air Display app, which is available on the Apple App Store. The Air Display app is capable of turning a Mac OS X computer into a secondary wireless monitor to be used in conjunction with another Mac or Windows PC. This is not the first Air Display app from Avatron. The original app debuted in the iOS App Store back in May 2010 making your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch into an extra wireless monitor which allows you to add up to 70% additional screen space to your computer. According to CEO of Avatron Software David Howell, "We were amazed by the response Air Display for iOS received in the marketplace and the accolades from the press. As our users have grown accustomed to the productivity advantages of using a second monitor, we've been inundated with a Mac port of Air Display. We're thrilled to announce Air Display for Mac, and to let people use their Mac laptop as an extra display while they work at their desktop computer." Air Display for Mac is able to operate in a window as well as in full screen and also adds a new feature that allows you to connect over Ethernet, which allows it to operate much faster than WiFi. The performance of Air Display for Mac is very responsive and employs a dynamic compression algorithm. Air Display for Mac does require Mac OS X 10.6 or higher with an Intel CPU. The Windows PC support software requires XP (32-bit only), Vista (32-bit or 64-bit) or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit). Just like Air Display for iOS, both computers must be connected to the same local network whether via WiFi or Ethernet. "Studies have shown that using a second monitor increases work productivity," explained Howell. "For anyone who already owns two computers, or a computer and an iPhone or iPad, Air Display is an extremely cost-effective way to enjoy the efficiency of a dual-monitor configuration." The Air Display for Mac application is now available in the Apple App Store for a reasonable $19.99. This app is also a part of Avatron's highly acclaimed family of productivity apps. Source: PR Newswire - 'Air Display for Mac' App Turns Computer Into Secondary Monitor

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New Rumor: Apple's iMac Touchscreen?

There's a new Apple rumor out there and it has nothing to do with the new tablet computer (thank goodness). According to the Commercial Times, Apple is jumping on the touchscreen bandwagon and will be producing a 22-inch touchscreen iMac to become part of the iMac family, which already includes 21.5-inch and 27-inch versions. A lot of information about the new device is not available but it would most likely be manufactured by Quanta and produced by Sintek Photronic.

Some tech experts are really questioning the rumor, due to the fact that Mac as just begun putting multi-touch support in the iMac through the Magic Mouse. If past behavior is any indication, making such a major change in such a short amount of time is highly unlikely. Also, with the iMac already having a 21.5 inch display option, why would they make the new touchscreen 22 inches, not much difference from the old one?

Several PCs companies, such as Hewlett-Packard have been making 22-inch touchscreens lately, as the new Windows 7 made touchscreens all the rage last year.

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