In recent days, we’ve found out more about the upcoming Plastic Logic e-book reader as well as receiving another report about an Apple tablet computer that could challenge both e-book readers, including Amazon’s Kindle, and netbook computers.

Plastic Logic, the new e-book reader expected to debut in early 2010, announced that AT&T will provide mobile wireless connectivity for the device, which boasts a touch screen—which neither the Kindle 2 nor Kindle DX have.

While the Plastic Logic announcement mentions books as among the content that will be downloadable to the device, the emphasis is on content for “mobile business professionals.” The reader promises to “connect its users with their desired business and professional newspapers, books, periodicals and magazine content and will support the document formats business users need, including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents.” However, the company also recently announced that the newly upgraded Barnes and Noble e-book site would provide content for the Plastic Logic reader.

Meantime, the rumor mill over a possible Apple tablet computer has accelerated with a report from the Financial Times that Apple may be planning a 10-inch tablet-style computer for launch as soon as September. The report also says new iPods—which have often been announced in September in recent years—and new extras added to album downloads from Apple’s iTunes store could accompany the launch of the tablet.

The report is light on details on the device, which was also rumored in a recent Wired report that had it launching in October, with an $800 price tag and a 9.7-inch screen. Both reports suggest the device might resemble a jumbo iPod Touch—which is essentially an iPhone without the phone, camera, or cellular-network connection.

A new batch of cell phones is currently in our test labs, continuing this summer’s surge of models—a contrast with the wireless industry’s usual warm-weather doldrums.

Many of those we’re testing are successors, with refinements, to popular models that rank well in our current Ratings (available to subscribers). Here's a peek at some promising phones you'll soon see in our Ratings; prices listed are with a two-year contract from the indicated carrier.

LG enV3 ($80) Verizon. Succeeding the high-rated enV2 in our Ratings, this text-friendly model, which opens up like an eyeglass case to reveal a keyboard, upgrades its 1.9-megapixel camera to 3 megapixels, and adds a Favorites key that summons the ten most frequent contacts.

LG enVTouch ($150) Verizon. This phone is actually the next-generation of the Voyager family of models, with slightly larger (3-in.) internal and external displays and a slightly flatter QWERTY keyboard, which you access by opening up the phone. Its new interface lets you sweep icons by "row." Gone is support for Verizon's V-Cast TV, however – not a great loss, given the service’s cost and modest success.

Samsung Jitterbug J ($147). This is the latest version of this "special needs" phone, with large buttons, simple controls, and special service. The new "J" model has a slightly larger and sharper display, and adds support for Bluetooth headsets, voice dialing, and text messaging. Though these extras are not unwelcome, we doubt customers drawn to a phone that stresses simplicity in use have a strong desire for them.

Casio Exilim Mobile ($280) Verizon. This pricey phone features a 180–degree rotating display and a 5.1 megapixel camera with advanced features such as adjustable resolution, image stabilization, and autofocus. It supports V Cast Music with Rhapsody, the subscription music service.

Nokia N97 ($700 without a contract) This is Nokia's latest "N" series phone, which packs a touch screen and advanced 5-megapixel camera with flash. Unlike other Nokia "N" smart phones from the past, this one sports a full QWERTY keyboard that you can access by pushing the phone's faceplate to the left There's also a new interface that supports widgets for quick access to the phone's many applications. —Mike Gikas

Types of Digital TV sets

Information about the Plasma TV

Information about the LCD TV.