Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Next time you take a stroll through Times Square, look up, as Toshiba’s posted a brand new high definition display at the top of One Times Square Building. The 51.2-foot by 52.5-foot consists of 1280×1248 LEDs controlled by Toshiba’s Technovirtual pixel-sharing technology to create “virtual pixels”. Whether or not we can figure out how that works, the LEDs display over one billion colors and help cut power consumption, so the display isn’t just better looking than the one it replaces but also more energy efficient. We’ve seen LEDs in other video boards before, but Toshiba claims it’s the first to offer modular HDTV screens to the outdoor rental market, and starting today they’ve got the best product placement possible.

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Filed under: Displays

You know that impossible-to-miss NASDAQ sign on Broadway at 43rd Street in New York City? Yeah, the one that’s 11,000-square feet in size. The Walgreen Company has set out to make that look like child’s play, as it aims to erect a 250,000-pound sign at a three-level emporium in Times Square. Said display will reportedly be used to “raise [the drugstore’s] visibility in New York,” while doubling as a “focal point for it nationally.” This beast will be covered in 12 million LEDs — 17,000 square feet of them, to be exact — and you can only imagine the hardware that will be required behind the scenes to keep this thing up and running. If you just can’t wait until next fall to peep this in person, head southward to the read link and dig in.

[Thanks, Brock]

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

According to a state judge in Albany, New York, Dell and its financing arm “engaged in deceptive business practices related to financing promotions for its computers and technical support.” The decision, which was just released yesterday, contained quotes from NY State Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi stating that the Round Rock mega-corp dabbled in “repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct, including false and deceptive advertising of financing promotions and the terms of warranties, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive practices in credit financing and failure to provide warranty service and rebates.” The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo last year, and while Mr. Cuomo was understandably delighted with the outcome, a Dell spokesman made clear that it didn’t agree with the decision and it would be “defending its position vigorously.” As for potential restitution for NYers, we won’t know any of that until further proceedings are held.

[Thanks, Nate]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Don’t get too excited — that image you see to the right isn’t actually a transatlantic telescope. Rather, it’s a transatlantic broadband network “rounded off on each end with HD cameras.” Still, the 11.2- x 3.3-meter Telectroscope is a real marvel to look at, and it actually does enable viewers in New York and London to peer at each other in real-time. The creation will be on display and open to the public around the clock in both cities until June 15th, so if you’ve been meaning to ask for that dame’s hand in marriage but couldn’t afford the JFK - LHR ticket, why not set up a surprise meeting at the ’scope?

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Nintendo is really rubbing in its NY-only launch date for the Wii Fit. Not only do New Yorkers get the Fit a whole two days prior to the rest of America, they also got to try it out for free alongside celebrity trainers in Central Park. Despite the threat of rain, we saw quite a few folks out enjoying the device, from young to old. Many of older set wasn’t even aware there were two products in play, the Wii and the Wii Fit — and some of the trainers seem to have trouble explaining that concept — so it seems to us that a bundled SKU could do good things for Nintendo. Not that it won’t sell like gangbusters anyways. Video of people exercising is on the way. You have been warned.

Update: Video has been added.

Continue reading Nintendo celebrates Wii Fit NY launch in Central Park

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Great news, T-Mobile USA fans — the roller coaster ride is finally over. After we thought T-Mobile’s 3G network was but moments away from launching, we soon found that data may be left out. Oddly enough, a few reports hailing from the Big Apple claimed that data actually was included. At long last, the carrier is coming clean and announcing its official 3G rollout in the States. Unfortunately, the UMTS / HSDPA network is initially launching in New York City alone, but the good news is that data will be included and the operator expects the high-speed data network to “be available in cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services” by the year’s end. Yeah, it’s safe to celebrate now, we promise it’s not a(nother) false alarm. Full release posted after the jump.

Continue reading T-Mobile clears everything up: 3G rollout (with data) is on in NYC

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Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation

About this time last year, the cab drivers of New York City were taking a stand against GPS installations. This year, they’ve taken to the streets of downtown Manhattan in order to rally for the right to use cellphones while on duty. For those unaware, NYC cabbies are currently disallowed from using hands-free apparatuses while on the clock, and those in the profession are arguing that having one would enable them to feel safer and more connected to the outside world. Unfortunately, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission doesn’t seem ready to budge, as it reportedly replied to the lobbying by stating that “cellphone abuse has resulted in many instances of drivers leaving their passengers feeling improperly served and downright unsafe.” What’s a cab driver got to do to get his / her Snake on, huh?

[Via textually]

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If I was a millionaire…

I would give the city of New York some more funding so stuff like this doesn’t happen anymore. An explosion by a steam pipe near Grand Central Station in New York has opened a 15-by-25 foot crater. One woman has been reported dead from the accident after suffering a heart attack when running from the explosion.

Tests also now confirm that the debris from the explosion did contain asbestos.

TaxiTech to install eTaxi systems in all New York cabs (Images)

If I was a millionaire…

I would have bought stocks in TaxiTech a few years ago and made a fortune. It appears that TaxiTech’s eTaxi systems will be put in all 13,000 New York cabs by the end of October.

TaxiTech has teamed up with hardware partners Apriva, Ingenico, and Grey Island Systems to offer the sleek looking 15-inch interactive touch screen system. Passengers are now able to entertain themselves during the ride with movie trailers, check out the menus at local restaurants or make sure the driver is not taking them the long route by following the ride on the GPS maps.

When these systems were installed in Philadelphia, taxi drivers went on strike. However, the systems were installed anyways. Almost all the drivers in New York do not want the systems installed either because they feel it’s an invasion of privacy.

The mandate requiring the systems to be installed by October has already been passed so there is not much point in New York’s cab drivers striking now.

Who ever bought stocks in this company was smart!

Check out this video of the eTaxi system.

[Source: Engadget]