Sony's Stringer OLED TV in US next year

Specifications

So we had a bit of bad, OLED-related news this morning. Now for the good. Sir Howard Stringer just announced plans to launch their 3-mm OLED TV into the US market. While it's not coming this year as we had hoped beyond hope, it will be offered for "limited sales" in the US (Sony's second launch market) sometime "next year." Just as soon as Sony ramps up their mass production capabilities. Stringer admits that the expensive, tiny TV is a "symbolic device" for Sony -- fine by us. After years of corporate stoicism we're perfectly happy to see Sony take some risk. Now please resurrect AIBO, Howie, and your innovation hat-trick will be complete.

Google optimizes apps for iPhone

Introduction:
In their continued and relentless effort to take over the world, Google has optimized more of their applications for use on the iPhone. To begin with GCal and Gdocs were made iPhone friendly, but now the not-very-evil empire has made their whole portal easily and effectively usable on the fancy phones.

Specifications
When iPhone users, or iPod Touch users for that matter, visit Google they will now find a tab bar on top of the page. Using the tabs users can navigate between Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs and the rest of the Google apps that are mobile friendly. There is no additional setup or installation required beyond surfing to google.com from your iPhone. It's yet another step towards seamless access to your data regardless of where you are and what computer you are using, and one more reason for those monotonous iPhone fans to refuse to shut up about how great their phone is.

BlackJack revisited

Introduction:
From a distance, this thing looks just a little too much like the BlackJack (the old one, not the new) for comfort -- but when you zoom in a bit, it looks like Samsung's spinning a few cute touches into its SPH-i325 "Ace" for Sprint.

Specifications:
From a distance, this thing looks just a little too much like the BlackJack (the old one, not the new) for comfort -- but when you zoom in a bit, it looks like Samsung's spinning a few cute touches into its SPH-i325 "Ace" for Sprint. Mobiledia has this one pegged for the first quarter of next year, offering a Windows Mobile Standard alternative to the BlackBerrys of the world with a slim shell, QWERTY keyboard, and landscape QVGA display; it's probably not going to make any BlackJack II owners envious, but at least this gives Sprint customers a chance to keep up with the Joneses. Even better, Boy Genius Report claims that we might see a little GSM radio stuffed in there for the globetrotters in the crowd. Anyone have an old Samsung Ace for Mobile ESPN, by the way?

Samsung introduce world's fastest memory: GDDR5

Introduction

Gadzooks gamers, Samsung just announced what they are calling the world's fastest memory: GDDR5.

Specifications

The new series five, double-data rate memory chip transfers data at a lickity quick 6Gbps -- about 4x faster while using 20% less power than the GDDR3 memory found in modern GPUs and the PS3. Compare that to their 4Gbps GDDR4 chips and you'll understand the fuss. The chips have already been delivered in samples to the likes of NVIDIA and ATI. Samsung expects the series five chips to capture more than 50 percent of the high-end PC graphics market by 2010.

Steve Jobs to deliver opening keynote at MacWorld 2008

Macworld will be held at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center January 14-18, 2008, and the keynote address will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. at Moscone West.

Among the product introductions expected at the conference is an ultra-thin and lightweight sub-notebook from Apple, which AppleInsider has detailed on several occasions .

"This is one of the biggest Mac community gatherings of the year and Steve’s keynote is always the most anticipated event of the week," said Mary Dolaher, CEO of IDG World Expo. "We're looking forward to a great show and are thrilled that Steve will once again be kicking it off."

Macworld Conference and Expo 2008 will host creative professionals from a cross-section of industries including design, print, online, photography, broadcast, videography and music.

In addition to an exhibit floor featuring over 350 companies, the event will offer a conference with over 120 educational sessions, and a set of exhibit floor attractions including a free training series, an interactive Digital Photography area and live Music and Sound product demonstrations.