Shortly after launching its first US in-car navigation system, Panasonic is doing it big yet again across the seas with its “highest-end” F-Class lineup. This well-spec’d trifecta sports a seven-inch VGA touchscreen, a PEAKS processor, an integrated TV tuner, boosted sensitivity compared to prior models, a built-in graphics processor, hard drive, SD card slot, and the ability to map your route online via the Odekake Strada website and transfer the guidance via SD. Additionally, you’ll find an SD Link function that nicely interfaces with your iPod, CD / DVD playback abilities, and the flagship CN-HDS965TD can even handle the ill-fated MD format. Users interested in adding Bluetooth streaming abilities can snap up the CY-BT200D module for a stiff Â¥21,000 ($175), which actually pales in comparison to the Â¥344,400 ($2,861) to Â¥354,900 ($2,949) pricetags that you’ll find on these luxurious devices.

[Via Nikkei]
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While Gigabyte officially launched its first UMPC, the curiously-familiar U60, back at CeBit, the company unfortunately left out a few key details at the time — namely, pricing and availability. That seems to have finally been sorted out, however, and DigiTimes is now reporting that the device will be released in Taiwan on May 22nd for NT$26,900, or just over $800 (it’ll apparently hit the “global market” in the second half of the year). Gigabyte isn’t exactly going all out with them though, with the initial run pegged at just 500 units. In case you missed it, the device itself runs on a VIA C7-M processor, boasts a 6.5-inch 800 x 600 display, a 20GB or 30GB hard drive, and (something we didn’t know before) built-in 3G/3.5G support. According to DigiTimes, Gigabyte is also planning to release a second UMPC before too long, with it reportedly set to make its debut sometime in the second half of this year.

[Via Akihabara News]
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S.Korea’s DViCO just made it a bit easier to take your HD video collection on the road. Meet the Â¥27,800 ($229) TViX HD M-4000SA which combines a 3.5-inch SATA disk enclosure with 1080i output. The player pumps WMV HD, MPEG-2TS and DivX HD video and MP3, Ogg Vobis, and WMA audio out a selection of jacks including DVI, component, and S-Video along with optical and coaxial digital audio — sorry, no HDMI. It even features a USB-host port to quickly suck media from DAPs and digital cameras with Ethernet providing a link back to DViCO’s TiVX series of home media servers. Now don’t be shy, go ahead and slap in some hot 1TB disk action for all your self-ripped HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc titles. Then get Kerouac and take your mad, beat media on the road.

[Via Impress]
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Just about a year ago, JVC introduced its first lineup of quickly refreshing LCD TVs, and now the company is reinstating its support by offering up adequate replacements. The forthcoming High Speed 2 series of sets will sport a second-generation version of its Clear Motion Drive technology, which enables a 120Hz refresh rate that was “designed specifically for Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) displays” and is said to “improve motion detection fivefold compared to the original high speed driver.” Essentially, CMD II will offer up reduced blurring, flickering, and motion interpolation, and it will work side by side with the fifth-generation D.I.S.T. (Digital Image Scaling Technology) engine on the “JVC-exclusive” 32-bit Genessa chip. Additionally, the trio will sport three HDMI 1.3 ports apiece, a slimmer bezel around the display, and a whole lot less plastic compared to previous iterations. While there’s no word on price just yet, the 37-inch LT-37X898, 42-inch LT-42X898, and 47-inch LT-47X898 should hit US shores sometime this fall.

[Via Electronista]
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