Jay Petter's blog

Sure, you're used to having a touchscreen on your smartphone or tablet…but what about your TV? LG just launched LG PenTouch TV, new Plasma HDTVs that - when connected to a computer - lets you use a special stylus pen to control content directly on the screen.

All it takes is a click on the remote control to activate the PenTouch mode. You can then access and edit files on your PC, or move them around the screen using the stylus. And with the (included) PenTouch software, you can draw pictures directly onto the screen - even save the files, or print them if your computer is connected to a printer. The software also includes a Gallery with a built-in slide show feature; Digital Photo Frame, which lets you show off your work with the frame of your choice; and even a Family Calendar, where you can leave notes and to-do lists.

The LG PenTouch TV uses a protective scratch-resistant glass screen and comes with a stand that has been designed to provide more stability, so you won't have to worry (as much) when your kids are using the PenTouch feature. The TV supports simultaneous two-pen use, and pen batteries can be recharged through USB ports on the TV or PC.Read more

First previewed at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, Sennheiser's high-end CXC 700 ear-canal noise-cancelling headphones are now available.

The CXC 700 features Sennheiser's unique NoiseGard /digital system, which includes not one, but three noise-cancelling modes:

• Mode 1 is for use on low-frequency noise (100 to 400 Hertz), such as engine noise from trains, buses or small passenger planes.
• Mode 2 is for medium frequency range (400 to 3,000 Hertz), caused mostly by air-conditioning systems in large passenger aircraft or office buildings.
• Mode 3 has a wide frequency range (100 to 3,000 Hertz), and combines the noise-cancelling effect in the medium and low-frequency ranges. Because of this, background noise experienced in airports, railway stations or underground stations can be suppressed, but with slightly lower noise-cancelling performance than the first two modes.

Last year Logitech introduced the Wireless Solar Keyboard for PC. But what about Mac users? It may have taken a year, but Logitech didn't forget about you. Just announced today is the Wireless Solar Keyboard for Mac.

Featuring the same design as the Logitech K750 for PC, the new Mac version comes in five colors – four of them just for you Mac users. But the really nice thing about the keyboard is you never have to worry about batteries again. It has onboard solar cells that power the keyboard using ambient light in the room – no direct sunlight is needed. When fully charged, it can work in total darkness for three months – pretty impressive! A solar power app is also available for download that gives you at-a-glance information about battery levels, and will alert you when you need more light.

Featuring 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, the K750 for Mac is a full-size keyboard featuring a number pad and a layout designed specifically for Mac users. Eco-friendly too, it touts PVC-free construction and a fully recyclable box.

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac will be available later this month for $59.99. You can pre-order it now at www.logitech.com.

AOC on Thursday unveiled the new Touch Monitor (model e2239FwT), a 22-inch widescreen Full HD LED monitor with multi-touch functionality. Great for notebook computer users who want a larger screen or desktop PC owners who want to add multi-touch input, the AOC Touch Monitor is now available for $299.

The Touch Monitor offers 16:9 widescreen Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, 10,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, and a 5ms response time. It also includes a built-in SRS speaker bar, two side-mounted HDMI ports and two USB 2.0 ports.

On the aesthetic side, the monitor has a piano black bezel with a white high gloss back and features two legs instead of a central stand, allowing users to put a keyboard beneath the monitor. Notebook users can also open their laptop, slide the screen underneath and easily connect the display via D-sub, USB or HDMI cable.

It's eco-friendly too. Thanks to the monitor's LED backlight panel, power consumption is lowered up to 50 percent, consuming 0.1W in standby mode and less than 25W in normal mode. There's a Power Off Timer as well, so users can schedule a time for the monitor to automatically turn off.

Need more than one? Multiple Touch Monitors can be easily Daisy Chained together without the use of additional hardware or a new VGA card. Even a notebook can add up to six additional screens.

The AOC Touch Monitor, model e2239Fw, is available now for $299. Read more

This week at InfoComm 2011, Panasonic announced that they have in development the company's first Full HD 3D Home Theater Projector. The new projector will be a successor to the PT-AE4000U - a three-chip, 1080p LCD model that has a 2.35:1 extra wide aspect cinematic Lens Memory Feature.

No stranger to 3D, Panasonic has had professional 3D camcorders, 3D VIERA televisions and 3D Blu-ray players available in the marketplace for some time now, along with its own 3D authoring and encoding facilities (Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory).

Panasonic plans to release the new 3D home theater projector for sale sometime this year, although an exact date, model number and pricing has not been announced.

For more information on Panasonic projectors, visit http://panasonic.net/avc/projector.