Toshiba reveals 6.1-inch, 498ppi display

Toshiba has announced a new 6.1-inch display which boasts an incredible dixel density of 498 pixels per inch.

The Toshiba Mobile Display LCD panel is capable of displaying photo print quality images and has a quite remarkable 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, far in excess of high definition (1920 x 1080).

However, the pixel density will make the headlines, smashing Apple's Retina Display on the iPhone 4, 4S and iPod touch, which comes in at 326ppi.

Perfect for a tablet screen

The design, which has no firm production date as of yet, also has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and is capable of showing 16.7m colours.

The company says the viewing angles are an impressive 176 degrees, which would be perfect for use on a tablet screen.

It could be 3D too

Tosh is also saying that the Mobile Display LCD panel, while only 2D for the moment, could also be implemented for glasses-free 3D viewing.

The press release says: "This newly-developed world-class, high-definition LCD panel is based on our processing techniques for forming fine-pitch and high-performance, low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFT) on glass substrates, and other precise fabrication techniques which have been cultivated over the years.

"This direct-view LCD panel achieves high-definition images with photographic quality, and although the images are displayed in 2D format, they impart a sense of depth and realism."

The display will be shown off next week at an exhibition in Yokohama, Japan.

Google has announced that web users who're signed into a Google account will now benefit from securely encrypted web searches.

The company says it's adding the same SSL encryption protocol it uses to protect your Gmail account onto Google search results, to keep away prying eyes.

The company, which continues to abide by its "don't be evil" mantra, says that if you're signed into your account, web searches will automatically be diverted to https://www.google.com - note the extra 's'.

Increasingly customised experience

In a post on the company blog, Google says that as personalised search becomes more and more important, it's crucial that the privacy of what we're Googling is of the utmost importance.

"As search becomes an increasingly customised experience, we recognise the growing importance of protecting the personalised search results we deliver. As a result, we're enhancing our default search experience for signed-in users.

"This change encrypts your search queries and Google's results page. This is especially important when you're using an unsecured internet connection, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot in an Internet cafe," the blog said.

Get your SSL on

Google says that users can also navigate directly to the encrypted https site, by typing https://www.google.com into the URL bar. The change will be rolling out over the next few weeks.

The company also says it wants other companies to follow its SSL lead by adopting similar encryption for their users

"As we continue to add more support for SSL across our products and services, we hope to see similar action from other websites," the blog added.

Xbox 720 console to launch in 2013?

The long awaited next generation Xbox console will launch at E3 in 2013, according to new reports.

Develop claims to have been told by that multiple sources, from chip manufacturers to middleware firms, to expect the console to arrive at the gaming expo in June 2013.

The heavily-touted Xbox 720, or whatever Microsoft eventually likes to call it. has been the subject of much speculation in 2011.

Develop says that Microsoft is likely to focus on pushing the current model, Kinect and Windows Phone for the next two Christmasses before pushing the next console in 2013.

Fable Next to headline new line-up

The site also claims to have the scoop on one of the launch titles, with Lionhead Studios working on another addition to the Fable series, codenamed Fable Next.

Interestingly, one of the site's sources still asserts that EA has a prototype version of the new console for testing purposes. EA has previously rubbished the claim.

News that the new Microsoft console may not arrive until 2013 will be a huge boon for Nintendo, which will have at least a year to push the Wii U before the news Xbox arrives.