Given the knockings we give it, you might think we're on a mission to nobble OLED.

But, honestly, we really want the technology to succeed.

In fact, what we'd love most is OLED screens everywhere: on your desk at work, at home, on your cellphone, digital camera, you name it ...

However, you know DigitalVersus for being a lot more realistic than that, and it's true that, for the time being, OLED screens are still a long way off.

Seductive though the technology is, it's not worth dreaming about: it's not here yet, and it won't be for a while.

The description of OLED being ready in 'five to ten years' isn't our own personal pragmatism, though, but the opinion of a Kodak rep who was revealing the manufacturer's latest digital photo frame which relies on the technology.

We'll be taking a look at that photo frame very soon, which is probably more than we can say for our dream of cheap, universal OLED.

Last week, we looked at some excellent multifunction inkjet printers, which were all positioned in the center of the market.

This week, we've returned to our labs to look at a series of entry level models with even lower price tags.

Some of the cheapest offer color printing, copying and scanning from just 39 euros, but, as ever, it's important to watch out for costly cartridges.

We've added the following to our Product Survey for Multifunctions:

• Epson Stylus SX205

• HP Deskjet FF2280

• Lexmark X2650

After reading plenty of rumors on the net, we contacted Mitsubishi France to find out whether or not their Laser TVs, whose US launch we covered last week, would be available in Europe.  Unfortunately, the answer's no.

The manufacturer was able to confirm that these products will not be brought to market in Europe.

Too Thick

These first laser TVs could be held back by the fact that, compared to many other TVs available today, they are very thick.

Measuring 25 cm from front to back, Mitsubishi's laser TVs seem unduly bulky compared to the latest generation of LCD TVs.

The American market, which is more closely orientated towards Home Cinema fans with a dedicated entertainment room, is, it seems, more tolerant of these large sizes than Europeans with cramped apartments.

No Availability

Even though the TV won't be commercially available in Europe, we still tried to convince Mitsubishi to offer us a sample model to try out the new laser TV technology, only to learn that not a single one of the units will be shipped outside of North America. 

Laser TV is not around the corner for everybody, then.

This decision on market positioning is not definitive, apparently, but it will take a lot of persuasion - perhaps from eager customers - before Mitsubishi decide to bring laser TV to Europe.

Just because we spend all day running around town in a packed-out old banger doesn't mean we can't enjoy getting behind the wheel of a sports car when the opportunity presents itself ... that's how we felt this morning at Photokina, anyway, when we had the chance to play with the S2, Leica's brand-new digital SLR.

After the German manufacturer converted its rangefinder series of cameras to digital just ahead of the last Photokina in 2006, everybody had been expecting a similar development for its SLRs. 

The most logical step would have been an upgrade of the classic R9, for which a digital add-on was briefly available. 

Instead, though, Leica have opted to introduce this brand-new range.

With its 30 x 45 mm sensor capable of capturing up to 37 Megapixels and a standard 70 mm lens, the camera weighs in at just over two kilos. 

The components we were trying out were prototypes, so we don't have an exact date yet, but an optional handle will add to the bulkiness for those who choose to add it.

As is usual for Leica, the whole interface is designed round professional photographers using manual mode: two wheels give quick access to shutter speed and aperture while the A mode allows for priority mode and programmed configurations.

One technical innovation is the inclusion of a range of lens with built-in shutters, and users will have the choice of using this or the camera's regular shutter.

There's no news yet on availability, although Leica have made vague indications about the end of spring 2009.  Similar cameras retail from around 7000 euros, though ...

There have already been several videos demoing the interface of the G1, the first phone to run Google's Android software.

So far, this one is one of the most thorough walkthroughs of its functionality, look and feel.

At the same time as they revealed their new TVs, Philips also unveiled three new Home Cinema systems:

The HTS 8140 and 8150, in black and white respectively, include a docking station for an iPod, a subwoofer and a remote control, as well as a DVD player with a HDMI output that can handle upscaling to 1080p.

Thanks to the built-in DCDi Faroudja system, it can also read your DivX and MPEG files, and JPEG photos.

The styling and form factor are designed to be compatible with Philips' current line of 42'' flatscreen TVs, but the system will work with any compatible products.

Both bars are available for 999 euros [800 GBP / 1500 USD].



The HTS 6100 is a stripped-down version of the same product, and both the DivX/MPEG decoding and iPod docking station have been removed.

This makes room for a more compact system, which this time best complements 37'' TVs from Philips but which works with televisions from other manufacturers.

The manufacturers of panels in LCD screens are preparing to make two big changes:

• 22 inch panels will be replaced with 21.5 inch panels and
• resolutions will be improved, moving from 1680 x 1050 pixels to 1920 x 1080

These two complementary modifications will create Full HD panels that are only marginally smaller than the popular 22'' form factor.

The change will also mean a shift from the 16:10 aspect ratio to 16:9, which will make movies look a lot better, while graphic designers and office workers will have to put up with losing a little bit of information from the top and bottom of their screen.

Right now, the very first screens of this kind are available in China, and are retailing for around 200 euros [160 GBP / 300 USD] -- more or less the average price for today's 22'' LCDs without HD.

Some bloggers have suggested, though, that we may see a drop in quality associated with this change, but we'll have to wait until they arrive in Europe to test this out.