Here’s a hybrid device that comes with a useful mix of functions: Aiptek’s PocketCinema Z20 combines a pico projector with a 5MP digital camera that can record 720p HD videos. That’s a handy thing to have on a vacation or a company trip that mixes business with a bit of downtime; a pocket-sized device that’ll shoot videos from the hip and then show them on the wall for everyone to watch right after.

The Z20 comes with its own 2GB internal memory, plus a microSD card slot that allows for expansion. It’s listed to be able to come up with a 65-inch projection, with the ability to act as a separate projector that you can plug other sources—like set-top boxes, consoles, and notebooks for presentations—into. For showing HD videos onto other displays, the Z20 also comes with A/V connections and an HDMI adapter for porting photos and videos to an HDTV.

It’s set to be released next month in Europe for the equivalent of around $475.

LG Display will begin production on 20-inch OLED (Organic LED) screens later this year, according to VP Won Kim. Usually found on high-end mobile phones, OLED technology allows for power efficient displays that are not only slim, but also brighter, and more vividly colored.

The company also plans to step up production on even larger screens, with plans to build 30-inch OLED TVs in 2011 and 40-inchers in 2012. “”They may be expensive, but it will be possible to buy a 40-inch class OLED TV in 2012,” Kim said.

Of course, “possible” is the operative word there, since like he said, OLED screens can get really pricey. A 15-inch OLED TV is already available in Korea, selling for the equivalent of $2,500—that’s money you can use to pick up a pre-owned 1989 BMW 535i posted on Yahoo Autos, or this ’99 Pontiac Grand Prix GT if you’re not into Euros—for an OLED screen the same size as your average mainstream laptop. Ouch.

The GD235HZ's design perfectly matches the Predator's awesomely-orange panels.

That’s just about all you need to know. Designed for top-end performance for graphic pros and serious gamers (or at least gamers who are serious enough to plop down $400 for a 23-inch 3D LCD monitor), featuring a 16:9 wide aspect ratio, full 1080p HD support, a fast 2ms response time, and a high 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

As for the striking exterior design, well, they did say that the GD235HZ is good enough to cater to graphics professionals, but who are we kidding? This display was made for gaming, with an exterior design that perfectly matches the Aspire Predator, Acer’s awesome gaming system.

The display features HDMI input for connecting to high-end video cards and HD sources, plus the usual DVI and VGA for working with any other computer system.

Building a 3D Vision system:

If you’re looking to build a 3D gaming system around this display, remember that the 120Hz display only makes up part of the equation. You’re also going to need a compatible graphics card (check out the hardware support list here), Nvidia’s $200 3D Vision kit, and a Windows Vista or 7 operating system. Check out the list of games that support 3D Vision here.

Add photo effects. That’s the answer to “what else can we do to a digital photo frame to make it more interesting?” Casio’s new Digital Art Frame separates itself from the rest of the pack not by adding internet connectivity (which is the answer to “what would be the most unnecessary feature we can add to a digital photo frame to make it needlessly expensive?”), but by adding a “Snapshot-to-painting conversion” function.

“The Digital Art Frame adds personalization and artistic integrity to your conventional digital photo frame,” said Toshiharu Okimuro, Chairman of Casio America, Inc. Okay, we don’t really understand where or how “artistic integrity” comes into the figurative picture, but here’s what it does: you take a photo, load it onto the frame using a number of available means (via card slots, USB, or Wi-fi), and choose an art/style preset using the on-board controls to be applied to the photo. The frame comes with up to eight different style presets, including Water Color Painting, Color Pencil Sketch, Pastel Painting, Pointillism, Air Brush, Oil Painting, Gothic Oil Painting, and Fauvist Oil Painting–it might not help much with crappy photos, but at least they’ll be a little bit more interesting.

The Digital Art Frame lets you choose from different style overlays to turn your photos into photo-art. We just call 'em "pharts" for short.

The frame also comes with “superior” facial recognition technology that highlights facial characteristics without messing up the photo of your mom’s face. Casio’s Dynamic Photo function (which usually goes into their digicams) allows you to create composite moving images. This feature, coupled with the Art Dynamic Photo function, lets you create “moving works of art”—like those old stop-motion animation episodes of Gumby, but more “artistic.” The frame also supports Adobe Flash Lite playback, allowing it to display flash content, such as clocks and calendars.

The frame itself is a 10.2-inch wide LCD that comes with integrated stereo speakers (for adding music to the slideshows) and 2GBs of internal memory for storing media. Wireless connectivity is available, although we still do believe that this is a little unnecessary for these devices—it’s really not that hard to plug in a media card or USB flash drive anyway.

Casio’s artsy frame is expected to ship sometime in Spring, 2010.

LG Display has just unveiled a new LCD TV panel that they claim to be the thinnest ever. At only a tenth-of-an-inch thick, it’s hard to dispute the claim. To get a better scale of just how slim this set is, Samsung’s Ultra 5.9 U100 phone (released back in 2007) is one of the slimmest ever at 5.9mm thick. Apple’s iPod shuffle (the latest-gen) measures a third-of-an-inch (7.8mm) thick. This 42-inch HDTV? 2.6mm thick.

LG makes it happen by using an LED backlight that lights up the screen from the edges, as well as a new optical film, among others. It’s not a cheap gimmick either—this LCD TV supports a full 1080p resolution and sports a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

Further details aren’t available, but this screen is expected to be shown off in public at next month’s CES.

The M2700HD’s panel is capable of a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 400 cd/m2 brightness level, while the exterior hides built-in 10W stereo speakers. For people looking to move this thing off the computer table and into the living room, the M2700HD also comes with a remote.

The display’s price isn’t available yet, but it’s set to be released before the year ends.

Both projectors are fitted with a short throw lens that eliminates shadows on the screen, plus a Virtual Remote that allows the projectors to be controlled from a computer without having to use the remote (since it should be close enough to a PC in a small room anyway). Both projectors also feature an ECO Mode that extends the lamp life to 5000 hours while lowering power consumption, closed captioning for the hearing impaired, and auto keystone and color correction for easy image calibration, a built in 7W speaker for audio monitoring, and quick starup and shutdown times.

They’re virtually identical, but differ on the displayed aspect ratio: the $949 NP510WS displays a standard 4:3 screen, while the NP610WS gives a widescreen image for $50 more. Both projectors are set to ship in January 2010.

Samsung has just released a new 8-inch photo frame, the SPF-800P, with LED backlighting and 2GBs of built-in storage. The screen stretches out to an 800 x 480 resolution, with a stylish glass-rimmed frame that looks oh-so-Samsung. Storage can be extended with a microSD card reader for plugging in content other than just photos—this frame comes with built-it speakers that allow it to play audio and video files, plus built-in Bluetooth for pairing it with wireless headsets.

The SPF-800P has been released in Korea for the equivalent of $170.