Toshiba
YouTube Expands Android-to-TV Playback Directly to TVs
Google today announced that Android smartphone owners will be able to push YouTube content directly to more TVs beginning this year. In November, Google enabled Android smartphones and tablets to connect to Google TV boxes (via Wi-Fi) and push YouTube videos directly to the Google TV box (and ultimately the attached TV). Moving forward, Android YouTube fans will be able to do the same thing, but without the Google TV box. New television sets from Bang & Olufsen, LG, Panasonic, and Sony, to be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show next week, will ship with support for this YouTube feature built in. Google expects more TVs from Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Vizio, and Western Digital to arrive with the same feature later in the year. Android phones and tablets can also act as a remote control for the YouTube video, and control play, pause, fast-forward, and other functions.
Apple Joins Board of Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group today announced two new board members, Apple and Nordic Semiconductor. The Bluetooth SIG explains that Apple and Nordic Semiconductor will help evolve the way Bluetooth 4.0 is used at the platform, application, and sensor levels, as well as help ensure compatibility between Bluetooth devices. Other members of the board include Intel, Motorola, Lenovo, Nokia, Microsoft, Ericsson, and Toshiba. Apple and Nordic's appointments are effective July 1 and will last for two years.
Toshiba Shows Off High-Def Displays for Phones
Toshiba Mobile Display today announced new displays intended for use in devices such as mobile phones. The displays in question use low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) technology, also known as p-Si LCD panels. These types of displays can be thinner, lighter, and require less power than some competing screen technologies. One example of a new p-Si LCD revealed by Toshiba measures 4 inches across the diagonal and crams in 720 x 1280 pixels, which makes for 367 pixels per inch. Another display offers 480 x 864 (WVGA) pixels in a screen measuring 3.3 inches at 300 pixels per inch. The displays also reach contrast ratios of 1,500:1, offer wide viewing angles, and high color capabilities. Toshiba didn't say when these displays might appear in end-user devices.
