Toshiba have beaten their closest rivals and used the IFA Consumer Electronics Show in Berlin to unveil the world’s first 3DTV for consumers that doesn’t need glasses. It carrys the name of 55ZL2. The company say it will go on sale in December 2011 in Germany. Read further down the page for more details.

With Direct TV planning to offer even more channels in 3D in the near future, a glasses-free TV could be a fantastic investment for those interested in sporting events or hosting Super Bowl parties.

Toshiba 55ZL2 image.

The TV has a diagonal screen size of 55inches, and is capable of 4x the quality of the existing Toshiba full high-definition TVs. This is what they call a ‘Quad Full HD screen’, this is described in the press release as “a 3D TV experience that can be enjoyed by a large group of viewers and displays 2D contents in four times (Quad) Full HD resolution”. The company claims it will have 9 perspectives, using face tracking to know where individuals are sitting.

Want to know more details? Well it is powered by the multi-processor platform CEVO-ENGINE. It has an Auto Calibration feature. It is a 16:9 LCD panel, with LED backlight. ‘Personnel TV’ with profiles for 4 users. Tuner for DVB-T, DVB -T2, DVB-C, and DVB-S/S2. SMART-TV: Access to Toshiba Places, with built-in wireless interface, compatibility with Windows7, USB capture to external HDD, and Toshiba apps Connect HbbTV.

Many people are somewhat put off by the need to wear glasses to enjoy existing 3D televisions, and the cost involved with having to buy multiple pairs if you want to enjoy the big screen with your buddies. This new release may cause some to wait for the market to continue to develop before buying their first 3DTV. Given the probable high price of this particular product most will not be able to afford this actual set, but it will show what is on the way and encourage some to hold out.

At the time of writing we are unaware of what the price will be in the UK, we expect many thousands of pounds though. The initial release date of December 2011 is for Germany, other regions have not yet been confirmed.

Will you be buying this TV, or waiting for competitors to release their own glasses-free screens?

Source for info and image: press release

Urbanears are a Scandinavian company who create some cool looking headphones, I’ve been fortunate enough to test a pair out for a week and here are my thoughts.

I have been sent a pair of black ‘Medis’ earphones. And I have a black iPod Nano, so for me they make a great pair looking very cool, much better then with my normal Apple earphones.

Materials And Feel
All aspects of the earphones feel very well made, with good quality materials. The cord is actually a bit like shoe lace, that makes it sound bad, but it is actually a great thing, very cool look and feel instead of the usual plastic feeling cord. The actual part you put into your ear is a nice slightly soft material (some kind of rubber and plastic compound).

Fit in your Ear
The ways these fit in your ear is first class, the best I have ever experienced. I also had a couple of friends try them out and they also loved the fit. They have been cleverly designed to hook in to your ear, no matter which way you turn or move your head they stay perfectly in place, and feel good as well. Brilliant.

Look
All Urbanears products have a minimalistic design, and they use a variety of bright colours, the black certainly being one of the more understated. They do look cool.

Sound Quality
For me this is definitely their weakest feature, a big shame given sound quality is very important. Compared to my usual Apple earphones these are quite inferior, the crispness of the sound is really poor in comparison. However they can go nice and loud and don’t become too distorted.

Price
At the time of writing the pair I reviewed cost £45 on amazon uk, so they are not cheap, or if you are in the US they cost $49 which is not too bad, unfortunately us Brits will have to put up with them costing quite a bit more as always.

Overall
These are a very good pair of earphones. Unfortunately the sound let them down which is too important to ignore. This makes the price tag a bit steep for me. However they look great, feel well made, and the way they fit in your ear is brilliant. So if comfort and style is what you are after these are definitely worth a good look at.

More images:

Package of Black Urbanears Medis

Urbanears Part You Put in Ear

Back of Packaging

It is always good to buy products which have already been reviewed by real customers just like you. So to save you time we have put together the top mini hair straighteners currently for sale online in the UK.

They are designed for shorter hair and can be used by either women or men. You can click on an image or the title to visit the retailer who sells it at the listed price below.

• ghd IV

  Temperature control. Comfort tips. Power indicator. Floating plates mean even pressure. Sleep mode after 30mins in case you leave them on. Highly popular ghd’s.

• BaByliss Pro 200

  Ultra fast heat up and heat recovery. Half inch Ceramic plates for a smooth shiny finish

• Morphy Richards Narrow

  Ready to use in 1 minute. 2 heat settings. 3 metre cable length. Very good value for money.

There are a few more then this available so you may want to take a peek on others that are at available if none of these are what you are after. These aren’t the cheapest on the market so if you are operating on a strict budget it may be wise to select ‘order by price’ when on a retailers website.

We hope this quick list has helped and you have great looking hair with these cool beauty gadgets in no time. And remember if what you buy isn’t as good as you’d hoped then return it for a refund, legally you can within 7 days without a reason!

To help you out further here are some frequently asked questions, complete with answers.

 
Are mini hair straighteners good for both men and women?
Yes. For most men they are probably a better choice than a full-size one because it’s easier to use on short hair.

What hairstyles are they suitable for?
They are great for short to medium hairstyles. They work for long hairstyles too, but styling with a mini straightener will take longer than a full-size one would. They are also good for complicated hairstyles that require detailed styling and for thin hair, which might be damaged by a full-size pair.

How long do they last?
Depending on your usage, the brand and the type, they can last from 6 months to several years. Straighteners with ceramic plates will last longer than ones with metal plates. Worth remembering when you come to buy.

How do you avoid heat damage?
Look for a straightener that lets you control the temperature, and find the lowest temperature that will keep your hair straight without burning it. There are also many commercial hairsprays and serums that are designed to be used with heat styling. These will protect your hair from the damaging effects.

What sort of features should I consider when looking to purchase?
Not all mini hair straighteners are alike. Some might have detailed temperature control, which lets you set it to the temperature you want. Some have only a ‘high’ and ‘low’ setting and some may not have temp settings at all. There are also ionic straighteners, which use a flow of negative ions to help hair retain moisture. Frequent travelers may want a cordless pair so they can straighten on the go. It’s best to look at several different products and figure out what features you like before you buy one.

If you have any more questions you can put them in the comments section below!