LAS VEGAS — Samsung stepped up to the CES plate with a new line of LCD televisions that use LED for back-lighting, instead of florescent light that’s the standard but is quickly becoming old-fashioned in the industry.

The LED back-lighting allows for LCD TVs that are brighter, more environmentally friendly and ultra-slim. Samsung’s new Luxia line will feature sets only about an inch thick, including the tuner that some TVs hide in the base.

There will be three Luxia models coming out in the spring. No prices were disclosed, but Tim Baxter, vice president for Samsung Electronics America, said they would probably cost at least "several hundred" dollars more than the company’s current LED back-lit sets that are already at a premium.

The 6000 will be the downscale model, while the 7000 will build on the TV/Internet trend, adding online capability that Samsung plans to deliver in conjunction with Yahoo for news, stocks, entertainment and other content.

The 7000 will also come with a wall mount that adds only about a half-inch of additional thickness. The full-fledged 8000 will have all of the above, plus a picture delivered at 240 Hz to cut down on fast-action blur.

– David Colker

Photo: Luxia TV

Credit: Samsung

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CES: Samsung gets LED down the path to thinness

LAS VEGAS — Get ready, Halo Nation. Microsoft tonight announced that it expects to release Halo Wars on March 3 and that Halo 3 ODST was on track to debut during the second half of this year.

The announcement, made during Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer’s CES keynote speech, means many Halo addicts fans can get their first fix of the franchise since Halo 3 was released in September 2007. That game, Halo 3, smashed video game sales records and lifted eyebrows by selling $170 million worth in the U.S. within the first 24 hours of its release. So far, 8 million copies have sold.

Halo Wars differs from Halo 3 in key ways, however. The first, and arguably most significant, difference to hardcore Halo fans is that Halo Wars was developed by Microsoft’s Ensemble Studios, not Bungie, the original developer of the franchise. The second is that it’s a strategy game, not a shooter like its older siblings. That said, Microsoft is hoping to broaden the franchise’s appeal to a bigger audience, said Craig Beilinson, director of marketing for Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, which runs the Xbox game business.

For purists, there is Halo 3 ODST. Developed by Bungie, the title is named after an elite military force in Halo 3 called Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. The studio in November announced it would release the game in fall 2009.

– Alex Pham

Photo credit: Bungie

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CES: Halo Wars and Halo ODST set for release this year

Razer gets it: The sleek Mamba mouse “features 2.4GHz “gaming grade” wireless technology, an optional, detachable cord, first-in-class polling rates of 1-millisecond, a “world’s fastest” 5,600DPI Precision 3.5G Laser sensor and a battery life / DPI stage indicator.” Click here for first picture in gallery. With dual mode wired/wireless functionality, the Razer Mamba lets users immediately and seamlessly switch from wired to wireless play. With first in class polling rates at 1ms as compared to traditional wireless mice that poll at 8ms, players will have virtually lag free game play. [via Engadget ]

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Razer Mamba

Digital cameras are synonymous with being used to snap pictures, the Sony Cybershot G3 is the exception. It’s the first internet-enabled camera — made possible with Wi-Fi connectivity. Available now, priced at $500

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Sony Cybershot G3

Motorola introduces the SURF A3100. This touchscreen phone features a 3.15-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM7201A (528-MHz) CPU, 256MB Flash memory, 128MB RAM, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 w/A2DP, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, microSD card slot, and built-in GPS. Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery. In light of TouchFLO and its endless competitors, the skin Moto’s developed for this thing — while tasteful and seemingly finger-friendly — really isn’t anything to get terribly excited about, but it does an adequate job of making the superficial surface of Windows Mobile reasonably finger-friendly

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Motorola SURF

For just $42,000 on eBay , you could purchase HardcoreGamer , a nationally distributed gaming magazine that was established in 2005. The seller reports that they “have published 34 issues so far and are currently enjoying all the respect and recognition that a print magazine gets, that the thousands of gaming web sites may never get.” Auction page . Interested? Well, the magazine — distributed nationally by DoubleJump Books — and all its associated copyrights, back issues, internet domains etc. can be yours for the starting bid of $42,000.

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eBay Watch: Nationally Distributed HardcoreGamer Magazine Selling for $42,000

Amazon is offering the Olympus Evolt E410 with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses for just $388.00 shipped. It’s “loaded with an impressive 10 million pixels for high-resolution photos.” Product page .

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Deal of the Day: Olympus Evolt E410 10MP Digital SLR Camera for $388 Shipped

This foldable AMOLED display from Samsung is perfect for people who love reading digital magazines and books, but still want to retain full-color pages along with the ability to fold it in half. No word yet on pricing or availability. There was even a crease in the middle from where the screen had been constantly folded (it can actually close all the way like a book or clamshell PDA) but it didn’t seem to interfere with the display whatsoever. [via OhGizmo ]

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CES 2009: Samsung Debuts World’s First Foldable AMOLED Display

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to name the nation’s first-ever federal chief technology sometime soon.

According to Obama’s website, the role of the CTO will be to "ensure that our government and all its agencies have the right infrastructure, policies and services for the 21st century."

It’s not surprising that Obama plans a major emphasis on technology. His more-than successful presidential campaign relied heavily on the latest forms of communication -– like Internet social networking sites and text-messaging -– to organize volunteers, raise funds and get voters to the polls.

Scott Goodstein, a D.C.-based campaign manager, ran all of the text-messaging and mobile communications for the president-elect’s campaign. The L.A. Times killer political blog, The Ticket, recently talked to him in detail about the campaign’s new media strategy, the size of its phone book and that much-talked-about 3 a.m. text message.

Read the first part of the interview here.

Read the second part of the interview here.

– Kate Linthicum

Photo credit: Haraz N. Ghanbari / Associated Press

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Talking texting with Barack Obama’s main mobile man

Want to know your exact weight after using the toilet? This interesting toilet seat with built-in scale by designer Haikun Deng should do the trick. However, the display should be relocated to someplace that won’t be blocked by your leg

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Toilet Seat with Built-in Scale