Like gaming? Move right along to the iBuyPower booth, please. Want an unobtrusive PC that will feed your Hulu and YouTube HD streaming addiction? Say hello to the ZBOX HD-ID11. It's basically a desktop version of the same Ion 2 setups you saw announced on the mobile front yesterday, and as such should provide flawless Flash 10.1 playback while occupying an extremely lean footprint on your desktop. Zotac has matched MSI's Wind Box DE220 with its inclusion of a dual-core 1.66GHz Atom D510 CPU, though it obviously differs with its NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics subsystem that includes 512MB of dedicated DDR3 memory. HDMI 1.3a and standard VESA wall-mounting are expected extras, with six USB ports, integrated 802.11n WiFi, dual-link DVI, and a 6-in-1 media card reader covering the rest of your bases. Check out some 1080p playback on a similarly specced system right here while you wait for pricing and availability to be revealed.

Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 has NVIDIA Ion 2 and Atom D510 to thank for excellent media playback originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you needed more proof that rumors of plasma's demise were greatly exaggerated, just look at Panasonic's latest, the G20. FlatpanelsHD took a 42-inch model fresh out of Panny's massive new plant and ran it through a gamut of tests. The 1080p panel with its 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio blitzed all of them, delivering the infinite viewing angles, deep blacks, and rich colors that are the hallmark of charged gas, and doing so without the annoyance of active cooling fans. That said, the improvements here over the previous G10 series are said to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, with black levels about the same and network functionality little improved, meaning current owners don't need to feel too bad. But, if you don't mind waiting a little longer and paying for the latest and greatest, this looks to be it.

[Thanks, John]

Panasonic G20 HDTV review shows plasma's still got it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another month, another blockbuster trade show. CeBIT's show floor doesn't open up until tomorrow (and yeah, we'll be storming it like no other), but Netgear's wasting precisely no time in unveiling its latest wares. The two pieces that are nearest and dearest to our hearts are the WNHDB3004 and WNHDB3004, the former of which is an 802.11n HD Home Theater Kit and the latter of which is a universal WiFi adapter that adds wireless support to any AV product with an Ethernet jack. Users interested in streaming "multiple, simultaneous, jitter-free 1080p HD video streams wirelessly throughout the home" should certainly give the first a look, as it enables instant wireless streaming from your existing router to any component with an Ethernet port; think of this as the beautiful alternative to running a 50 foot patch cable through your living room and simultaneously eroding your relationship with Mr. / Mrs. Significant Other. The outfit also doled out a few SMB-centric ReadyNAS devices and a couple of HomePlug AV boxes with AC outlet passthroughs, all of which are detailed there in the source links.

Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now here's a spec sheet maven's dream: MSI has just announced its new Wind Top all-in-ones, and the top model brings every modern spec you can think of. Full HD resolution, 3D capabilities with 120Hz refresh rates, Intel processors up to Core i7, and even multitouch adorn its list of goodies. The new flagships will be known as the Wind Top AE2420 in the 24-incher category and AE2280 in the 22-inch class. They're joined by a selection of high-efficiency machines, such as the AP1920 and AE1920, which promise to cut down the electricity bills for "environmentally-minded business users." That's still hardly scratching the surface, though, as MSI is really preparing a small army of AIOs to display at CeBIT, and you can bet the house we'll be there to touch and ogle at their latest and greatest.

MSI converges everything with 24-inch 3D HD Wind Top all-in-one originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know 3D isn't for everyone, but if you've got your heart set on jumping that bandwagon nice and early, here's a review for you. The folks over at Tom's Guide have sat down with 23-inch 3D displays from Acer (GD235HZ) and Alienware (OptX AW2310) and sought to figure which one offers the better gaming experience. After some sobering notes about the need for a high end system to run 3D games -- NVIDIA's 3D Vision solution renders each scene twice, meaning you'll need as much power to drive one 3D screen as you would a dual-monitor setup -- they delve right into some benchmarking and real world testing. The key differentiator between the two panels is in the price, with the GD235HZ costing $399 and the AW2310 asking for a steeper $469, though on balance it was felt that the Alienware justified its premium with a superior feature set and better overall performance. Hit the source for the full verdict.

[Thanks, Ben]

Acer GD235HZ and Alienware OptX AW2310 do battle in 3D HD monitor faceoff originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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55.5 inches of 1080p goodness would draw attention in any case, but when they're supplemented with local dimming of an LED-backlit display, 6ms response time, a stonking 4,000:1 static contrast ratio, and an integrated Blu-ray player... well, our cup runneth over with interest. The BeoVision 7-55 is just such a monstrous, no-compromise display, and it's recently undergone a review over at Flatpanels HD. The reviewers were giddy with the versatile motorized stand and the Blu-ray player (which opens by you waving a hand in front of it), while describing the design and execution as "truly beautiful." Picture quality is no worse, mind you, and epithets like "extraordinary" and "fantastic" were used to describe the experience of watching HD content on this panel. The same words can also be applied to the $18,700 MSRP, but at least the review is free and can be found at the source link below.

Bang and Olufsen's 55-inch BeoVision 7 collects a review, much love originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, there's good news and bad news, and we tend to prefer starting with the former. According to Akihabara News, Mitsubishi has whipped up an upscaling technology to end all upscaling technologies -- one that takes vanilla 1080p material to 4K x 2K without breaking a sweat. Now, for the less-than-awesome tidbit. For whatever reason, the tech is not yet compatible with Blu-ray content, and moreover, you're still nowhere close to being able to afford a 4K television or projector. Here's hoping this breakthrough makes 'em a wee bit more feasible for the layman, though.

Mitsubishi's upconverting technology takes 1080p to 4K x 2K, you to cloud nine originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It ain't the first HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter that we've heard of, but there's nothing like a little competition in a market that Apple's own closed mindset helped create. Bitterness aside, we're pretty stoked to hear that Kanex -- the same company responsible for that oh-so-handy Mini DisplayPort Adapter for Mac mini -- has introduced its own solution for piping Blu-ray, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 signals right onto that gorgeous 27-inch panel that resides in your iMac. Our BFFs over at TUAW stopped by the outfit's Macworld booth in order to give it a look, and they said that every pixel looked absolutely fantastic. Sadly, it looks as if you'll have to wait until April to drop your buck-fifty (not including cables), but hey, it's not like using that 13-inch CRT for a few more months will kill you. Or maybe it will, on second thought.

Kanex shows off HDMI to Mini DisplayPort adapter, your iMac celebrates originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally making the transition from the trade show floor to retail shelving are Panasonic's famed Viera 3D plasma HDTVs. The company has just announced it will be launching two 1080p panels on April 23 in Japan, priced at ¥530,000 ($5,932) for the 54-inch P54VT2 and ¥430,000 ($4,813) for its smaller sibling, the P50VT2 (pictured after the break). For your money, you'll be getting those deep, deep blacks that ensure a ridiculous 5,000,000:1 native contrast ratio, a plethora of inputs highlighted by four HDMI jacks, and of course a pair of those inescapable active shutter glasses. Don't worry though, the screens are capable of working at the necessary 120Hz to ensure smooth frame rates for each eye. Whether the premium paid for 3D is worth it, on the other hand, remains a question best left for each deep-pocketed consumer to make on his own.

Continue reading Panasonic TH-P54VT2 takes plasma HDTVs into 3D territory

Panasonic TH-P54VT2 takes plasma HDTVs into 3D territory originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix Watch Instantly fans could be due for a big upgrade, as CNET has heard the company will roll out 1080p and 5.1 surround sound later this year. No word on timing or any other details, but this could mean its moving to version 3 of Microsoft's Silverlight streaming platform with its additional tweaks for adaptive streaming and hardware graphics acceleration. Also unknown is how much bandwidth would be necessary, but considering Microsoft already uses very similar technology for its 1080p Instant On videos on Zune Marketplace through the Xbox 360 while only requiring 3 Mbps and VUDU HDX 1080p videos only state a minimum of 4500 Kbps, a massive jump in available bandwidth might not be necessary if you already get clear 720p video. The last big hurdle? How much content will be available that way, Gizmodo points out only about 6 percent of current offerings stream in HD we'll be watching carefully if the pace picks up going forward.

1080p, 5.1 surround sound coming to Netflix Watch Instantly in 2010? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Physical media and cable bills not your thing, but you're still thinking you might want to see what all the 3D fuss is about? Good news because Next3D plans to deliver 1080P 3D via the internet directly to PC, game consoles and other set-top boxes in the first quarter of this year. Sports, documentaries and movies are all a part of the plan, but apparently Next3D has its own transmission technology. We'll be interested to learn if it more like MVC that Blu-ray is using, or frame-compatible techniques like cable and satellite will bring to market first; but ultimately the proof is how it looks, which of course we have to wait to see for ourselves.

Next3D to deliver 3D via the internet originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When it comes to storage-based media players that you connect to your TV, it all boils down to performance, compatibility, and capacity. LG's XF2 player ships in April and, with its 1080p video and 5.1 audio output over HDMI, has the performance side covered. In terms of compatibility it hits all its marks (MPEG 1/2/4, h.264, Xvid, DivX, FLAC, WMA, AC3, etc. etc.), also supporting subtitles and captions in a number of formats. Capacity, well, 500GB is good, but more would have been better, especially given the lack of a network interface -- and the price. This one will retail for 270,000 won, or about $240. Yeah, ouch.

LG's XF2 media player does 1080p with subtitles, blows budgets, ships next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When it comes to storage-based media players that you connect to your TV, it all boils down to performance, compatibility, and capacity. LG's XF2 player ships in April and, with its 1080p video and 5.1 audio output over HDMI, has the performance side covered. In terms of compatibility it hits all its marks (MPEG 1/2/4, h.264, Xvid, DivX, FLAC, WMA, AC3, etc. etc.), also supporting subtitles and captions in a number of formats. Capacity, well, 500GB is good, but more would have been better, especially given the lack of a network interface -- and the price. This one will retail for 270,000 won, or about $240. Yeah, ouch.

LG's XF2 media player does 1080p with subtitles, blows budgets, ships next month originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading NeoVue HD video streaming platform announced at CES

NeoVue HD video streaming platform announced at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You wouldn't generally think of a smaller outfit such as ViewSonic having a major presence here at CES, but sure enough, the company has hit the ground blazing in Las Vegas. Kicking things off is the new ViewLED TV lineup, which consists of four LED-backlit sets ranging from 19- ($299) to 42-inches ($1,199) in size. Moving from HDTVs to PC panels, we've got ten new Eco-View monitors spanning the entire gamut of sizes and features. The company is also letting loose its VFP858 connected Bluetooth smart frame, which packs an 8-inch panel, an integrated microphone, stereo speakers and support for handsfree dialing... all from a digiframe. For media junkies on the run, the new line of MovieBooks (including the 5-inch VPD550T and 3-inch VPD313T) both sport touch-sensitive displays and sub-$150 price tags. Finally, we've got no fewer than nine new laptop and desktop models, including the 13.3-inch VNB131 ViewBook Pro, 18.5-inch VPC190 all-in-one and the VOT125 nettop. Obviously we've got far too many pricing, availability and hardware details to cover in this space, but all the information you could ever want on the new kit is hosted up after the break.

Continue reading ViewSonic blitzes CES: HDTVs, nettops, PMPs, laptops and more

ViewSonic blitzes CES: HDTVs, nettops, PMPs, laptops and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thought digital delivery would get left behind in the jump to 3D? Roxio's CinemaNow 2.0 platform is ready to build on the success of its predecessor -- already embedded in many devices and powering the online stores for Blockbuster, Best Buy and Zip.ca -- and flip the switch bringing streamed or downloaded 1080p or 3D, plus the ability to add additional background info on each movie or previously disc-exclusive extras like multiple audio tracks, subtitles and more. Also new for 2.0 are plans for access on Android and Windows Mobile devices. We're still thinking a combo of lower prices, all you can eat subscriptions or a disc tie-in is the logical next step, but we'll wait for a CES demo to ask about that, and whether the new features will be backwards compatible on old hardware.

CinemaNow 2.0: 3D, 1080p, Android & WinMo get a taste of online movie distribution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In case plans by AMD and a slew of other tech vendors planning to showcase 3D Blu-ray compatible products at CES wasn't a tip-off, the updated specifications are done. The key details? First, that the Blu-ray Disc Association has chosen the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec to store 3D, so that even though it is now providing a full 1080p frame for each eye, it will only require about 50% more storage space compared to the 2D version, and all discs will be fully backwards compatible, in 2D, on existing players. Better than backwards compatibility, the PlayStation 3 will be forwards compatible with the new discs -- a new HDTV setup (the spec promises to work with plasmas, LCDs or projectors equally well) with IR emitters and glasses will still be necessary. According to the PR (after the break) we can expect Blu-ray 3D-stickered products in 2010, our only advice is to keep those responsible for the Cowboys Stadium abomination far, far away from it.

Continue reading Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready

Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom's busting out some big muscle on the video chip front today, launching both a 1080p smartphone camera chip and a single-chip Blu-ray player chip. The BCM2763 mobile phone chip supports full 1080p video recording and playback, as well as 20 megapixel stills with face / smile detection and image stabilization. There's also support for 3D gaming at 1080p, and HDMI support is included so you can plug into a TV and actually see all those pixels -- and a 20-to-50 percent reduction in power usage means you'll be able to play video over HDMI for "up to 16 hours," although we'd like to see that claim tested in a real handset before we totally buy it. Broadcom's also hyping its new BCM7630 single-chip Blu-ray solution, which offers BD decoding and support for streaming apps like Netflix, Pandora, Vudu and CinemaNow all on a single chip -- and manufacturers can combine it with the new BCM7632 for 3d-Blu-ray support. Single-chip means cheaper Blu-ray decks -- so sure, we'll take it. No word on when any of these chippies are going to end up in production hardware, but we're hoping to hear more about that at CES.

Broadcom announces 1080p camera phone chip, single-chip Blu-ray decoder originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've been waiting for what feels like an eternity for wireless HD to really have a place in the world (outside of the elite home cinema world, that is), and while the dream definitely took a hit with the FlyWire's death, it sounds as if things may be rounding the ever-present corner. Amimon, a company responsible for bringing wireless high-def capabilities to all manners of pricey wares through WHDI, has just announced the 1.0 specification of its protocol. Mind you, there are already quite a few big players onboard with the outfit, so hitting the one dot oh could very well kick start a new round of devices (set-top boxes, HDTVs, media streamers, etc.) designed to handle wireless transfers of 1080p material. You can catch the relatively calm press release after the break, and rest assured we'll be keeping our eyes peeled at CES for new gear based on the spec.

Continue reading WHDI specification hits 1.0 -- is this what wireless HD has been waiting for?

WHDI specification hits 1.0 -- is this what wireless HD has been waiting for? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray and the Cell processor are back together again, now that Toshiba has jumped on the format and is ready to release its first Cell TV, the Regza 55X1, in Japan December 10. Just making it in 2009 as promised, the path to launch has cost this initial release the 4K resolution screen we'd hoped for, with a 1080p LED backlit display hooked to the aforementioned Blu-ray DVR, 3TB HDD and slick 3D GUI for navigating all sorts of content from the internet or recording from as many as 8 tuners at one time. Also pushed back? Some video on-demand services, but we're pretty sure that at this point a few software updates on the way isn't holding back anyone from the "ultimate entertainment machine."

Toshiba's Cell TV delivers the ultimate eight tuner Blu-ray DVR experience December 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Want a gift the whole family can enjoy? A brand new television is sure to do the trick and with more HDTV content available than ever from antenna, cable, satellite, Blu-ray discs or even the internet, there will always be something to watch. Whether it's their first flat-panel or an upgrade, these picks come through in several price ranges selected to maximize your, we mean their, viewing pleasure. The only question left we can't help you with? Who gets the first turn on the remote.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Televisions

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Televisions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a while since we'd heard from XStreamHD, but with yet another CES bearing down the company is ready to talk about its advanced RF One Remote Control. In case you haven't been paying attention ocver the last two years, it's promising all manner of satellite-delivered 1080p movies with lossless audio, that beam into its media server and then stream to any of its receivers or other DLNA compatible clients in the home. Jennic's microcontroller powers the remote, and it uses Zigbee Pro wireless tech so it will control all the connected devices, even without line of sight. We've added "peek at the media closet" to our list of things to look for at the XStreamHD booth in January, but really we're still waiting to find out when beta testers will get a crack at the service.

XStreamHD adds advanced RF remote next to satellite beamed 1080p on its list of promises originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 3D revolution, whether you like it or not, is gathering steam. LG has just announced the world's first mass produced Full HD 3D-capable monitor, which spans 23 inches diagonally and looks to sport a pleasingly minimal bezel. The company hasn't spilled much in the way of further info yet, though the PR blurb (after the break) makes mention of Korea's plans to introduce Full HD 3D broadcasts, as well as satellite 3D broadcasting trials set to take place in the UK and Japan. Based on shutter glasses tech -- which seems likely to be the way forward -- this panel benefits from such great buzzwords as a "copper bus line" and a "high performance 3D exclusive controller," the benefits of which we'll have to wait a little while longer to discover. CES 2010, here we come.

Continue reading LG first to hit mass production with Full HD 3D LCD monitors

LG first to hit mass production with Full HD 3D LCD monitors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ClearPlay -- remember those guys? You know, the outfit who garnered all sorts of attention years ago by having their content filtering DVD players yanked from store shelves, only to be vindicated by Congress itself? Amazingly enough, these cats are still hanging around, and they've just pushed out their first filtering DVD player to upscale content to 1080p over HDMI. As expected, the $99.95 deck still sports the same filtering technology that gives dutiful parents the ability to block objectionable content based on customizable settings, but now you can rest easy knowing that any slip-up in blocking a steamy bedroom scene will be viewed by your impressionable youngster in glorious high-definition. Huzzah.

ClearPlay introduces first content filtering 1080p upscaling DVD player originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube has announced that support for watching 1080p HD videos in full resolution “is on its way.”

Starting next week, YouTube's HD mode will add support for viewing videos in 720p or 1080p, depending on the resolution of the original source, up from our maximum output of 720p today.

Filed under: Industry, Media streamers

Ready to have your imperfect complexions scrutinized by every anonymous coward on the Internet? You'd better 'cause YouTube has announced the move from 720p to 1080p video streaming to make use of those cheap, Full HD camcorders flooding the market. Now puff up that keyboard courage -- the ruthless bashing of your peers is set to begin next week.

YouTube begins streaming 1080p insecurities next week originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ready to have your imperfect complexions scrutinized by every anonymous coward on the Internet? You'd better 'cause YouTube has announced the move from 720p to 1080p video streaming to make use of those cheap, Full HD camcorders flooding the market. Now puff up that keyboard courage -- the ruthless bashing of your peers is set to begin next week.

Update: 1080p sample video posted after the break.

Continue reading YouTube begins streaming 1080p insecurities next week (update: 1080p video!)

Filed under: Industry, Media streamers

YouTube begins streaming 1080p insecurities next week (update: 1080p video!) originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Internet

A year removed from adding 720p streams to its repertoire, YouTube Director of Product Management Hunter Walk hit the stage at NewTeeVee Live and mentioned, among other things, that over the next few days it will be rolling out 1080p video, including going back and re-encoding all previous videos uploaded at that resolution. While other streaming services have offered 1080p for some time now we weren't exactly expecting YouTube to flip the switch just yet. With an eye towards improving quality for its 10-foot experience and moving beyond just the computer screen, clearly an upgrade was necessary, though Blu-ray or even VUDU quality is probably out of the question (though if the company jumps in the online rental biz all bets are off) the commitment is for your uploaded content to "look as good or better than the source quality." Check the video after the break for more tidbits about what's next for the site, including YouTube XL.

Continue reading YouTube going 1080p, already?

YouTube going 1080p, already? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A year removed from adding 720p streams to its repertoire, YouTube Director of Product Management Hunter Walk hit the stage at NewTeeVee Live and mentioned, among other things, that over the next few days it will be rolling out 1080p video, including going back and re-encoding all previous videos uploaded at that resolution. While other streaming services have offered 1080p for some time now we weren't exactly expecting YouTube to flip the switch just yet. With an eye towards improving quality for its 10-foot experience and moving beyond just the computer screen, clearly an upgrade was necessary, though Blu-ray or even VUDU quality is probably out of the question (though if the company jumps in the online rental biz all bets are off) the commitment is for your uploaded content to "look as good or better than the source quality." Check the video after the break for more tidbits about what's next for the site, including YouTube XL.

Continue reading YouTube going 1080p, already?

Filed under: Internet

YouTube going 1080p, already? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung

Remember the Samsung P2370HD monitor? Well, this is it at 27 inches. How's that for concision? Oh, you want more -- well, Samsung must've expected you to, because it's also added a TV tuner and a HDMI input to its latest Full HD display, to go along with a 5ms response time and a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. There's also a pair of 3 watt stereo speakers that can simulate 5.1 channel sound -- good for emergencies or if you just can't stand speakers cluttering up your desktop. Filling out the goodie bag are Picture In Picture and Picture By Picture modes, which should make good use of the extra real estate on the screen by combining, for example, your desktop with a TV source. The price is set at 549,000 Won (or about $473) for Korea, though global availability looks imminent so don't rush to import it just yet.

Read - Samsung Korea press release
Read - Product page

Samsung SyncMaster P2770HD has built-in TV tuner, sex appeal originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the Samsung P2370HD monitor? Well, this is it at 27 inches. How's that for concision? Oh, you want more -- well, Samsung must've expected you to, because it's also added a TV tuner and a HDMI input to its latest Full HD display, to go along with a 5ms response time and a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. There's also a pair of 3 watt stereo speakers that can simulate 5.1 channel sound -- good for emergencies or if you just can't stand speakers cluttering up your desktop. Filling out the goodie bag are Picture In Picture and Picture By Picture modes, which should make good use of the extra real estate on the screen by combining, for example, your desktop with a TV source. The price is set at 549,000 Won (or about $473) for Korea, though global availability looks imminent so don't rush to import it just yet.

Read - Samsung Korea press release
Read - Product page

Filed under: Displays, Samsung

Samsung SyncMaster P2770HD has built-in TV tuner, sex appeal originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZiiLABS announced the ZMS-08, its 3rd generation media-rich applications processor that brings 1080p Blu-ray quality H.264 decode to low-power devices.

ZMS-08 delivers the low-power, high performance processing required of next-generation connected devices such as web tablets, netbooks, connected TVs, video conferencing systems and home media hubs.

Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes

We had a sneak peek at ASUS' BR-HD3 just a week few back, and rather than holding out on us any longer, it looks as if the company has come forward to make things official. The O!Play Air HDP-R3 isn't a tremendous update from the previous edition, though the addition of 802.11n WiFi and a multimedia card reader are certainly appreciated. Reportedly, the media player packs an HDMI 1.3 socket, support for just about every file format known to man and a respectable price tag of around €90 ($133). Too bad the Yanks in attendance are left in the lurch.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

ASUS O!Play AIR HDP-R3 arrives with WiFi and card reader originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Players

The WD TV is still more or less the king of the tiny media player boxes, but now Viewsonic is getting into the game at a lower price point -- and minus the whole network compatibility bit. The VMP70 is a "direct connect" media device, so it will play content from your choice of USB-compatible storage, pumping it at up to 1080p to your display over HDMI or component cables, also sporting composite for lower-def fare. It packs an S/PDIF port to get clean audio, and supports a slew of formats including the usual suspects (DivX,Xvid,H.264) along with some slightly less usual ones (RM/RMVB, DTS, OGG). It's all available for an MSRP of $129.99, but order now and you'll get special holiday pricing of $98.99. Operators are standing by... somewhere... probably.

ViewSonic's VMP70 media player does 1080p for less than a hundie originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips confirmed U.S. retail availability for its much-anticipated Wireless HDTV Link, introduced in September at IFA 2009 in Berlin.

HDTV Link uses innovative technology to wirelessly deliver high-definition TV picture quality (up to 1080p) without ruining the aesthetics of the home.

It transmits HD signal up to 75 feet away from the TV without signal loss or degradation, making it possible e.g. to stream devices like a Blu-ray player to a TV from the other side of the room.

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

ASUS has been toying around with wireless transmissions to displays for a hot minute now, and it sure looks as if the outfit is fixing to pick up where the Belkin FlyWire left off by introducing the BR-HD3. Currently in testing, the wireless HDMI streamer is said to pass along 1080p content "with no lag," though there's currently no official range to speak of. The real kicker, however, is the price. The aforesaid FlyWire -- which worked amazingly in the trade show demos that we saw -- was priced at $1,499, which is obviously far too much for most consumers. This box? £399 ($654), and it could be out as early as next month. Unfortunately, the device only supports a single HDMI input (so you can forget about connecting your Blu-ray player and Xbox 360 at the same time), but ASUS is planning to introduce a three-port version in June 2010 as well as a niche spinoff in Q1 that'll wirelessly stream one source to three HDTVs.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

ASUS working up BR-HD3 wireless HDMI streamer originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Eying a Popcorn Hour device, are you? We know Patriot isn't exactly the first name you think of when pondering your next media streamer, but the $129.99 price tag affixed to the black box shown above definitely piqued our interest. Like most of its rivals, this one features a 2.5-inch HDD slot (though you'll need to bring your own drive, obviously), a trio of USB sockets, 10/100 Ethernet for content streaming, UPnP support, a rather decent file support list and a bundled remote. There's also an optional USB WiFi adapter for those not keen on running 80 feet of Ethernet cabling through their den, and while the GUI won't revolutionize your life, it certainly ain't bad given the low barrier to entry. Too bad it's still stuck in that painful-to-watch "pre-order" stage, huh?

[Via thegadgetsite]

Patriot's $130 Box Office 1080p media player streams on the cheap originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Sharp, LCD

Sharp's LC-52LE700UN is the 52-inch member of the company's first-ever LED-backlit AQUOS range, and we were fortunate enough to give it a spin here recently. The LE700 series began shipping out to consumers this summer, packed with web connectivity (AQUOS Net), a trio of HDMI ports, a 1080p X-Gen panel and a dejudder feature for smoothing out jaggies. The set packed a starting tag of $2,799.99, though in the few short months that it has been on the market, the street rate has fallen to just south of $1,600. Without a doubt, the fall in price helps the screen's cause in terms of value, but is there enough to warrant a purchase? Head on past the break for a few of our thoughts.

Continue reading Sharp AQUOS LC-52LE700UN impressions

Sharp AQUOS LC-52LE700UN impressions originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Panasonic, Camcorders

We can't say for certain how good it feels to hoist this big-faced behemoth onto one's shoulder, but it's the first time we've seen Panasonic's 1080p twin-lens P2 3D camcorder out and about since its fabled introduction at NAB earlier this year. Strategically placed beside a 3D Avatar trailer demo, the camcorder looked exactly like the press shot we saw of the prototype before, though there's still no formal word on when it'll be used to film your friend's Bar Mitzvah (or anything else half as cool). A boy can dream, yeah?

Panasonic's 1080p twin-lens P2 camcorder seen behind three-dee glass at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

At this point, Panasonic's 50-inch 3D plasma is just another one joining the fray, but considering how highly hyped the technology behind this was, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to throw our eyes on it for a bit at CEATEC. The 1080p panel was strikingly thin (or well mounted to give that impression), and the viewing angles were fantastic. The glasses that Panny provided, however, were relatively annoying (no surprise there). It should be noted that the actual spectacles sit pretty far off of your face, which simultaneously enables those with actual glasses to partake in the 3D experience while frustrating those without by giving them a cute blue rim that refuses to leave the periphery. As for image quality, the G-Force demo looked downright stunning, with depth being easily perceived and fast moving action whisking about seamlessly. Still, we're having a hard time believing a family of four would sit down and use these glasses for a two-hour presentation, but hey, we're not going to give up on the marketing squads just yet.

Panasonic's 50-inch 1080p 3D plasma spotted, watched at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Polls, Cable, Fiber, Satellite

The technology exists, or will soon, the only question is how or if it should be used. We know it won't require a huge stretch for your provider to deliver 1080p broadcasts, and CableLabs is right in step with others trying to figure out how to bring 3D home, but as a viewer which one would you rather see? As always, write-in votes are allowed so don't be afraid of the comments section.

Poll: Would you rather see live 1080p or high quality 3D from your cable / satellite provider? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc, Camcorders

GoPro announced its 1080p HD Hero Wide helmet cam earlier this year, back when people were jumping off of high things and speeding around other things whilst wearing helmets. Now the summer adventure season is drawing to a close, the winter one is starting to develop, and the company has released a series of high-def, high-adrenaline clips to show what that camera can do -- most filmed when the days were still long and the sun still high. Sadly the videos are not embeddable, but click on that read link for your morning dose of speed. The company has also released a good bit of information about the cam, that it's 30fps at the full 1080p or an optional 60fps mode at 720p. 720p footage is recorded at a particularly wide 170 degrees, while 1080p footage is slightly less wide (though still rather broad) 127. Also, the company promises that the microphone will actually be usable at speed, a rarity in this sort of device. It's all slated to ship this fall, and we look forward to putting one through its paces then.

GoPro releases first footage from 1080p HD Hero Wide helmet cam originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

We'd been promised at CEDIA that VIZIO's first LED backlit LCD would be hitting stores within days and were thankfully not misled. EHD reader Evan spotted this VF551XVT chilling on a Costco rack (not the best place for PQ evaluation, we know) nearby rocking a $1,999 price tag, we're sure they can be found in your neck of the woods by now. The only decision remaining, if VIZIO is a brand on one's watchlist, is whether to snap up this reasonably-priced competitor, or wait a little while for its widget & WiFi packing Connected TV VF552XVT due out later this year.

VIZIO VF551XVT LED-backlit HDTV spotted in the wild originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Displays, Others, LCD

It's not that surprising to learn Best Buy will be among those delivering a 1080p LCD with Blu-ray disc player packed in under its Insignia store brand, as we've been expecting rebadged units from overseas to hit the value market for some time. Marked "coming soon" at $599, it's easily a few hundred less than a comparable model from Sharp, but buyers will have to live without some of the newer line items like 120Hz motion processing and a contrast ratio higher than 20,000:1. Though we don't expect a lot in terms of load times, audio support or other features (no specs on the Blu-ray player noted) we're sure a bedroom or dorm room somewhere will find a spot for the NS-LBD32X. Your move, Wal-mart.

[Thanks, Zach]

Best Buy bringing value priced all-in-one 32-inch LCD & Blu-ray HDTV to stores "soon" originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Cable, Fiber, OTA, Satellite

Everyone knows the holly grail of video today is 1080p60, but not many realize there is almost no 1080p60 to be found. Almost all Blu-ray Discs are 1080p at 24fps or maybe 1080p at 30 and most broadcast TV is 1080i60, which when properly de-interlaced is equivalent to 1080p30. What most don't know is why not, and the reason probably isn't what you think. Most would say it is the bandwidth, there simply isn't enough of it for 1080i, how could you possible do 1080p? But that isn't really the case and the new Motorola SE-6000 Multi-Encoder proves why (SE-5100 pictured above). This new piece of gear -- that you need to start praying your favorite channel buys -- can actually enable a broadcaster to send out honestest to goodness 1080p using the same number of bits as 1080i60 by using H.264 instead of MPEG-2. So in other words, assuming all the equipment in between this new guy and your TV or set-top can handle it, it is technologically possible for us to get true 1080p60 at home. We can dream, right?

Motorola's new pro encoder makes 1080p broadcast a breeze originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today at IFA 2009, Philips presented Wireless HDTV Link that allows to connect TV to set top box and AV components without any cable.

Wireless HDTV Link transmits 1080p/30 HD signal up to 20 meters, making it possible e.g. to stream devices like a Blu-ray player to a TV from the other side of the room.

Filed under: Displays, Media streamers, Mitsubishi, LCD

Joining LG and (eventually) VIZIO, Mitsubishi's new line of Diamond Unisen HDTVs are shipping with VUDU 1080p streaming capability built in, plus out of the box ability to handle the service's Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio, thanks to the 18 speakers peeking out of the bottom of the frame. The 46- and 52-inch LCDs can stream movies via Ethernet, or wirelessly with the optional VUDU wireless accessory bridge. Buyers unsure of whether the streaming experience can live up to expectations are encouraged to take advantage of an offer of two months of SD, HD and HDX movies (up to $50 worth) for free, so if the LT-46249 or LT-52249 find their way into your living room for anywhere near their respective $2,599 and $3,099 MSRPs, we'd plug that network cable in and give it a shot. Check the official PR after the break.

Continue reading Mitsubishi now shipping VUDU powered 1080p streaming HDTVs

Mitsubishi now shipping VUDU powered 1080p streaming HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Projector

Panasonic's PT-AE3000 has gone over quite well in the home theater space, with its 1080p resolution and gorgeous image quality winning over more than a few projector junkies. But given that there's always room for improvement, the outfit has today introduced the PT-AE4000, an ever-so-slightly refreshed version that looks essentially identical to its predecessor. The Full HD native resolution and 1,600 ANSI lumens remain unchanged, though the contrast ratio has been bumped from 60,000:1 to 80,000:1 and Panny has outfitted it with a new "red rich lamp" and dynamic iris. Finally, this beamer supposedly eliminates those nasty Cinemascope issues that some users were seeing on the AE3000, though the estimated £2,000 ($3,255) asking price still feels a bit steep when you consider the alternatives.

Panasonic issues mildly revamped PT-AE4000 1080p projector at IFA originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray

Just in case there was any doubt since the task force was announced in May, the Blu-ray Disc Association is still hard at work on a standard to bring home 3D movies the way they were meant to be seen. Ahead of IFA, the group squeezed off an announcement, mentioning its decision of minimum specs including requiring 1080p resolution to each eye and backwards compatibility for discs and players, so any 3D flick will have to include a 2D version for older Blu-ray players. Of course, we're sure Panasonic has something to do with this push, it's already planning to tour the country with 3D capable Blu-ray players in tow, so it shouldn't be too much longer until final decisions are made.

Blu-ray Disc Association (still) working on a 3D standard, promises 1080p & backwards compatible discs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc, Set-top boxes

It is done. MIPS Technologies has demonstrated its enhanced implementation of Android running in 1080p via extended libraries to support hardware graphics acceleration and decoding on Sigma Designs hardware, a portent of set-top boxes yet to come. Of course, without any video or pictures or video of the blessed event (ISB Corp's previous OMAP based effort is pictured above) it's hard to tell why Android coming to TV is such a great idea, if its cousin widgets are any indication, there's a chance of being high on pre-release hype but low on desirability once it reaches the market. Still, the Open Embedded Software Foundation pledges to continue on shoehorning Android into devices beyond the mobile handset, but if it's shut down by a band of torch wielding villagers demanding the monster be put down, don't say we didn't warn you.

[Via SlashGear & LinuxforDevices]

1080p Android demo'd, set-top boxes prepare for a new master originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Displays, DVRs, Mitsubishi, LCD

Providing some competition for Sharp's DX series, Mitsubishi has taken the wraps off of its REAL Series LCD HDTVs, including a set with built-in hard drives and Blu-ray recorders, plus a few more that lack the recording, but throw in super resolution upconversion that claims to make even the worst SD look better than ever. Even if that's just hype, we hope it fares better than the company's ill-fated 120Hz processing. The 37- (1080p) and 32-inch (720p) BHR300 models feature their disc drives in the stand, rather than back-mounted approach of the AQUOS, plus 320GB HDDs, SDHC slot, plus i.LINK and USB connectors that let owners edit video from a camcorder on the TV before saving to disc or hard drive. The MZW300 models are all 1080p, in 40-, 42- and 52-inch sizes, with Diamond Engine Pro IV HD super resolution tech, the latest and most power efficient Diamond panel with 20,000:1 contrast ratio, built in 5.1 Dolby Digital decoder, virtual surround speakers and a talking program guide feature. These hit shelves in Japan in late October ranging in price from ¥350,000 ($3,705) for the LCD-52MZW300 to ¥200,000 ($2,117) for the LCD-32BHR300.

Mitsubishi unveils REAL line of Blu-ray burning, super upconverting LCDs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Mitsubishi, LCD, Projector

Mitsubishi is back with a spec bump to last year's well-received midrange HC6500 1080p projector with the HC6800. This model slots in below the king GT-styled HC7000 but increases its contrast ratio specs to 20,000:1 and does its big brother one better with a higher 1,300 lumens, apparently aimed at living rooms rather than the darker, more controlled home theater environment. Video processing is once again handled by the capable HQV Reon-VX chipset, this one is due in Japan September 15 for ¥250,000 ($2,647,) we don't expect to wait long for a U.S. date & MSRP.

[Via AV Watch]

Mitsubishi's new 1080p midrange PJ contender is the HC6800 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: JVC, Camcorders

Lookie here -- time for yet another HD camcorder in the quickly expanding Everio family. Launched today in the Land of the Rising Sun, the JVC Everio GZ-HM400 is a Full HD shooter with a 10.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, 2.8-inch flip-out LCD, 32GB of built-in storage, an SD / SDHC expansion slot, HDMI output, a 10x optical zoom and a fairly preposterous (in a good way) 600fps slo-mo mode, just like that ultra-sleek GZ-X900 we peeked back in March. The unit can also snap 9 megapixel still shots and hold nearly three hours of Full HD content before needing a USB-led cleansing. Indeed, this here camcorder mimics the aforesaid GZ-X900 in pretty much every way save for design, and it's expected on Japanese store shelves early next month for ¥110,000 ($1,157).

[Via Akihabara News]

Read - JVC press release
Read - Hands-on shots

Continue reading JVC issues Everio GZ-HM400 Full HD camcorder in Japan

JVC issues Everio GZ-HM400 Full HD camcorder in Japan originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers

We didn't have a problem playing 30fps 1080p video on the Kodak Theatre HD Player when we tested it back in January, but apparently we were living on the edge -- the box just got an update officially supporting 1080p playback. There's also now YouTube HD support, some basic web browsing ability, and a few other features in the mix, so all in all it's a nice little update for the $200 box with solid codec support and that nifty gyroscopic Pointer Remote. Current owners should see an option to update to 1.4 shortly, we'd imagine.

[Via Electronista]

Kodak Theatre HD Player updated with YouTube HD, 1080p support originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

VUDU and Xbox Live, welcome your new competition in the 1080p movie streaming arena, now that Sonic Solutions has announced its CinemaNow service will offer "Blu-ray Disc resolution" (3D is already on the way) with buffer-free playback thanks to its new Cinevision Adaptive HD encoding and delivery system. Sonic claims to have a leg up since the system is already used for Blu-ray disc production, and it's teaming with Widevine for the adaptive streaming backend. As usual, even if you're not directly a CinemaNow user, its wide compatibility and position behind Blockbuster's store and upcoming ones from Best Buy and Zip.ca should mean 1080p streaming to an ethernet equipped home theater device will be available no matter where you are, whether you're ready to ditch the discs (and downloads) or not.

Sonic upgrading CinemaNow movie streaming to 1080p originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media PCs

Neuros has earned significant kudos with techies for its hackable OSD media player / recorder and its commitment to open source software. It's no surprise then to see the company reaching out to its loyal community for input on what should be found in the third generation of the device. Yes, technically the OSD 2 isn't even out of the developer kit stage yet, but Neuros is planning well ahead of time, with the 3.0 model unlikely to be seen for another 18 months. Founder Joe Born has confirmed a continuing partnership with Texas Instruments on an ARM-based unit, which should be able to play and record at 1080p / 60 with support for all the relevant formats and containers. There'll be a minimum of 2GB DDR3 RAM, as well as a HTML5- and Flash-compliant browser, but the rest of the specs are up to you -- if there's some killer feature you simply must have, hit the read link and let Neuros know.

[Via Slashgear]

Neuros OSD 3 in development, makers want your input originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onkyo has introduced two new 7.1-channel home theater systems that it claims deliver leading edge AV processing and surround sound reproduction for HDTV and Blu-ray.
The HT-S7200 and HT-S6200 each feature powerful AV receivers with 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, 130 watt-per-channel amplification, processing for every major audio format on the market.

Filed under: Displays, Media streamers, LG, Others, LCD, Plasma, Internet

After a quick test run on Entone's IPTV boxes, VUDU has now done the deed with a big time player. In a joint announcement today with LG, the outfit is announcing its first major foray into STB-less movie streaming. LG's Netflix-friendly LH50 line of connected HDTVs will act as the hosts, with VUDU's tried and true high-def streaming service acting as the highly anticipated guest. The outfit's next generation movie platform will enable owners of the 47LH50, 50PS80, 60PS80 and 42LH50 to buy or rent HD and HDX (1080p) films on demand through a refreshed user interface that promises no stutters or buffering waits. The new VUDU also brings along instant fast forward and rewind as well as instant start for all movie qualities, and as before, there's no monthly fee associated with the service. Eager to dive on in? It'll be made available for everyone (existing owners included) starting next month, and just so you know, we definitely don't envision LG being the last TV maker to slip under VUDU's covers. The full release is after the break.

Continue reading VUDU ditches the box, integrates into LG's LH50 NetCast HDTVs

VUDU ditches the box, integrates into LG's LH50 NetCast HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Players

It seems that Brando can't go a month without bringing out yet another slightly-improved domicile for your orphaned SATA HDDs. Following in the footsteps of the very recent Multimedia Dock, the latest unit adds H.264 decoding to the already present DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4, while output graduates to full 1080p. Featuring HDMI and a plethora of supported media formats, the humble docking station has certainly grown up, but is it enough to compete with standalone media players? Input flexibility would suggest so -- the new device accepts 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives, alongside USB flash memory, SD, MMC, and MS cards -- but alas, Brando loses the plot at the final hurdle, asking for an astronomical $199. With prettier alternatives available at half the price, this is unlikely to sell like hotcakes, but Brando's breakneck refresh cycle give us the feeling it won't be long before we see that perfect do-it-all dock.

Brando HD Media Player Docking Station does multi-format 1080p originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Most other places will simply refer to this as the M2TV, but we're not that lazy. For you, readers, we'll dig out our bag of magical key combinations and do it the proper way: MediaGate's MG-M²TV. Beyond the needlessly elevated name what we have here is a reasonably comprehensive media player with a title far more interesting than its look. That boring black box houses a lot of functionality, including compatibility with oodles of video formats like AVI, WMV9, MKV, Xvid, H.264 -- and even RealVideo for some reason (yes, RealNetworks is still around). Music and image formats are equally comprehensive, there's even subtitle support, and it can all be sent to your HDTV at 1080p over HDMI or Component (check out the outputs after the break). It'll take media from a USB HDDs, memory cards, and there are plans for a WiFi module in the not too distant future. MSRP is $119, but we're finding it for around $100, meaning WD's HD Media Player has a little competition on its hands.

[Via Newswire Today]

Continue reading MediaGate's MG-M²TV, world's first superscripted HD media player, is now available

MediaGate's MG-M²TV, world's first superscripted HD media player, is now available originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

Sophomore slump? Fuhgetaboutit. After announcing its very first projectors last year with little to no fanfare at all, Vivitek is looking to get everyone's attention with an all new 1080p model that should hit US retail outlets this August. If all goes well, the company's H1080FD will hit just before CEDIA kicks off, and it'll be based on Texas Instruments' S450 chip / light-engine design with Dark Chip II technology. Other specs include 1,800 lumens of brightness, a 5,000:1 contrast ratio, a pair of HDMI ports, composite / S-Video / component inputs, an RS-232c control connector and a 12v trigger -- in other words, even the so-called AV junkie should find plenty to adore. If you're curious just how big of a deal this is in the sector, just have a look at how stoked Sanyo was to introduce an entry-level 1080p beamer 11 months ago at twice this price.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Vivitek to shake up HD projector market with 1080p H1080FD at $999 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After a series of postponements Belkin has finally said it will not be releasing its FlyWire wireless HDMI accessory.
According to the company, the decision not to offer the FlyWire for sale has been taken because of the current state of the economy.

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

It's not that ASUS hasn't dipped its toes in HDTV waters before (by the way, whatever happened to that altogether enticing Eee TV?), but we dare say that the TV Monitor T1 is a fresh, if not unsurprising new direction for the company. Arriving in 22- (22T1E), 24- (24T1E) and 27-inch (27T1E) sizes, this trio of sets features a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) panel, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits of brightness, five millisecond response time, built-in TV tuners (for the UK market) and a pair of seven-watt speakers. As for sockets, you'll find VGA, HDMI (x2), component, composite, S-Video and even a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack. Per usual, ASUS is refusing to dole out pricing and release date information, but hopefully it won't be long before Britons can indulge (and North Americans are notified of an NTSC-capable version).

ASUS dabbles in HDTV arena with 1080p TV Monitor T1 series originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Media streamers, Other formats, Internet

That's the idea behind a recent column on TheStreet.com, which cites consumers happiness with DVD and the oncoming march of downloads as reasons that "Blu-ray rips off consumers." Now to be fair, actually within the article are less hyperbolic statements like "Blu-ray hasn't failed" but even from here we can see several holes in the author's theory. To begin, he claims that downloadable and streaming high definition video is "360 lines away from providing the same clarity" demonstrating an unfortunate ignorance of 1080p downloads already available from Vudu and streaming from CBS.com. Unfortunately, as we all should be aware there's more to the movie experience than simply resolution, and even with more 1080p movies on the way from Xbox Live, it will be some time before a customer can get the same experience available on Blu-ray from any internet service. Another assumption? That Blu-ray "expects customers to ignore the rapidly advancing technology right on their doorstep." Tell that to companies like Samsung, LG and Panasonic, who already sell Blu-ray players that double as digital distribution set top boxes delivering HD movies from Netflix and Amazon. Check out all three pages of this guy's opinion yourself and let us know if we missed anything.

So is Blu-ray really ripping off consumers? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mvix has announces the worldwide launch of the Mvix Ultio, a hard-disk based media center capable of HD digital media playback with video output as high as 1080p.
The company claims the device supports the largest array of AV formats and codecs of any media player.

Filed under: Media PCs

Just a few months removed from its 1.2 update, the latest version of the GeeXBoX LiveCD has added multi threaded video decoding for MPEG-1/2/4 and h.264, which should finally let all users decode even 1080p video on dual- and quad-core systems running Linux. Otherwise there's some additional DVD CSS tweaks, updated MPlayer and codec support, so why not burn a copy and take a tour? Load it RAM, pop out the CD and run whatever discs and hard drive stored media your heart desires.

[Via Softpedia]

GeeXboX 1.2.2 LiveCD media player adds multi-core video decoding, now 1080p is possible originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, LCD

CEDIA's UK show is going on right now across the pond, and while things are rather quiet overall, JVC has definitely garnered a fair bit of attention with its 32-inch LT-32WX50. The 1080p set features 100Hz dejudder technology, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, 90 percent of Adobe's RGB color space and -- here's the real kicker -- a thickness of just seven millimeters. The whole panel weighs just 11 pounds, meaning that even the weaklings should be able to transport, move and install this one sans any overpriced help from Geek Squad. Around back, there's a pair of HDMI inputs, a PC port, an SD card slot and a USB connector. If all goes well, it should start hitting retailers this fall, but there's no mention of when it'll ship stateside.

JVC shows off LED-backlit, 7mm-thin 1080p LT-32WX50 LCD HDTV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

Sure we'd love to see Panasonic mass produce that 4K 150-inch plasma, but so far we'll just have to be happy with a cheaper 103-inch HDTV and the latest model, an 85-inch 1080p display its showing off at InfoComm '09 this week. All that super size flat panel building experience has been pored into a package that is 99mm think and apparently 30 percent lighter per square inch than its 103-inch cousin, at a total of 130Kg. This one's coming through business channels to Japan and the U.S. this fall, 'til then you'll just have to live with your 4 x 42-inch matrix setup or for the cost conscious, a projector.

[Via AV Watch & Japan Corp (English)]

Panasonic unveils 85-inch plasma at InfoComm '09 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XStreamHD has boosted its executive team ahead of a national launch with the appointment of Jude Panetta as vice president of operations and Jack Wrigley as vice president of business development.
The direct-to-home Full HD transport network company is to launch later this year, offering 1080p images and 7.1 surround sound through a USD $400 box.

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features, Projector

We've had a few projector related questions before, but this one comes from a commenter on a previous post interested in upgrading his cinematic experience:

"Can anyone recommend a decent 1080p projector that won't break the bank? Mainly for movies at night."

Not a whole lot to go one, with no particular desired technology or info on room size, but for someone trying to pick up a 1080p projector nowadays while spending something less than a million dollars, or perhaps something more resembling a couple grand at most, what's your pick?

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Ask Engadget HD: A good & cheap 1080p projector? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Polls, Blu-ray, Media streamers, Other hardware

Real simple question. Internet video delivery has been promising to kill disc for about as long as this site has been around, and Microsoft's E3 announcement of 1080p instant streaming with surround sound and even social watching features is merely the latest shot across the bow. So tell us, when it launches this fall will that be enough for you to consider internet video as an alternative to Blu-ray when deciding how to watch a new movie?

View Poll

Poll: 1080p streaming video vs. Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Projector

Prepare for the LED powered followup to projectiondesign's F32 projector as it will show off the FL32 model at InfoComm '09, available in 1080p and WUXGA (1920x1200) editions. More than prepared for an existence of pumping out ESPN 24/7 in your den, the ReaLED illumination at its heart promises 100,000 hours of life and improved image quality. Want more details, like price and exact specs? So do we.

[Via About Projectors]

projectiondesign ReaLED illuminated FL32 projector to debut at InfoComm '09 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC Electronics has announced a new chip that reduces blurring when SD images and video are expanded and displayed in 1920 x 1080 resolution HDTVs.
The µPD9280GM is also capable of supporting one billion colors (30-bits color depths - or "Deep Color"), which enhances color vividness and accuracy of display, according to the company.

Filed under: Industry, Others

Apparently already in a position to improve on its previous efforts, NEC has developed the µPD9280GM chip designed to expand low res images to 1920x1080 resolution with less blurring. Bettering the old uPD9245GJ by running at 150Mhz instead of the previous 108Mhz clock speed and expanding color quality from 24-bit to 30-bit "Deep Color," it also promises to do its super-resolution magic based on just one frame of image data instead of needing multiple frames and additional external memory. This chip will be going into mass production in July so regardless of how super-resolution compares to a true HD source, a wider (and cheaper) range of devices should be able to offer high quality image processing soon.

NEC delivers new super resolution upconverting chip for 1080p HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 28 May 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Hitachi, LCD

Unlike practically ever other brand, Hitachi didn't take the wraps off of its 2009 HDTV line at CES. Instead, it waited until summer officially began, and we can't really argue with the tactic. At any rate, the company is following JVC, LG and Sony with their respective HD news by announcing new members in the long-standing UltraVision line (shown left) as well as the Alpha series (shown right). In the former, we'll soon see the 55-inch L55S603 ($1,799), 46-inch L46S603 ($1,299) and 42-inch L42S503 ($999) hit the streets (in September, August and June, respectively), while the Alpha crew contains the 42-inch L42A403 ($849) and the 32-inch L32A403 ($499), both of which ship this month. The UltraVision sets all boast 1080p panels, 120Hz dejudder technology, up to five HDMI sockets and built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC TV tuners. As for the Alphas, you'll find a total of seven HD inputs (four HDMI), a 1080p panel on the fat kit and a 720p display on the little guy.

Hitachi details UltraVision and Alpha LCD HDTV lines originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 27 May 2009 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

Remember all those LCDs LG flooded us with at CES earlier this year? Another set of them is shipping, the LH55 models in sizes ranging from 37- to 55-inches. These don't have any of the fancy internet connectivity or wireless HDMI tricks offered by some of the company's more flash sets, but all offer 1080p resolutions at TruMotion 240Hz refresh rates, 80,000:1 contrast ratios, and other niceties like auto-calibration and Clear Voice II, which pledges to ensure dialogue doesn't get washed out by heavyhanded soundtracks. They're all Energy Star 3.0 certified, too, so you'll feel a little more green while watching that Discovery Earth Blu-ray on a television that's almost five feet on the diagonal. MSRPs range from $1,399 up to $3,899, so get bargain hunting.

LG's LH55 series of 1080p, 240Hz LCDs now shipping originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 27 May 2009 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG has launched the first DivX HD 1080p certified Blu-ray player.
The BD390 - originally displayed at CES in January - has an 802.11n WiFi module and support for DivX streaming from a DLNA server.

Filed under: Camcorders

Another day, another couple of Panasonic HD camcorders. This pair may not be the "world's lightest" (with an asterisk) like the entrants we saw yesterday, but each sports a dubious record of their own. First is the HDC-TM30 (pictured after the break), another "world's lightest" cam, this one with the caveat that, at 227 grams, it's the lightest with 32GB of internal storage. It sports a 16x (44 - 706mm equivalent) optically stabilized zoom ahead of a single CMOS sensor that can record 1080p24 video. The other player, the HDC-TM350 (above), offers a bit more on the quality front and pledges the "world's largest capacity" full HD camcorder -- with 64GB of storage. That equates to a nigh-ridiculous 16 hours of 1080p24 video shot through a stabilized 12x (45 - 540mm equivalent) lens. It even records 5.1 audio, but with the mics all placed within what looks to be a one square inch patch don't expect great channel separation here. Both are set for release in late-June for undisclosed (but hopefully non-record-breaking) prices.

[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading Panasonic breaking more arbitrary records with two new 1080p24 camcorders

Panasonic breaking more arbitrary records with two new 1080p24 camcorders originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 20 May 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Players, LG

LG continues to up its game in the Blu-ray department, first shipping the planet's first Netflix-enabled BD deck and now shipping the planet's first DivX HD 1080p certified player. Yep, the BD390 -- which was originally unveiled back at CES this year -- is now making its way out to eager consumers, boasting an 802.11n WiFi module and support for DivX streaming from a DLNA server. The pain? $399.95, but at least that includes BD-Live support, 7.1-channel audio output, 1GB of inbuilt memory and a USB 2.0 socket.

LG's WiFi-enabled, DivX-friendly BD390 Blu-ray player now shipping originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 19 May 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: CBS, Internet

CBS is kicking up the competition in online streaming, now offering some full episodes in up to 1080p resolution in its HD gallery on CBS.com and TV.com. There's no doubt that's a major shot across the bow at Hulu, which offers only 720p in its limited HD Gallery, but when we tried it out though the picture remained sharp even blown up to full screen, the framerate of the Flash video made it clear we weren't watching a Blu-ray disc or even broadcast TV. Check it out yourself and see how it runs, all the CSI's, How I Met Your Mother and more are up in "full HD."

[Via Video Business]

CBS.com up the HD streaming ante, offers 1080p HD gallery of full episodes and clips originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 14 May 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung, DLP, Projector

Been waiting for something to top the well-received Samsung SP-A800B? How about the next in the line, the SP-A900, ready to ship later this month but now improved with Texas Instruments' DarkChip 4 DLP chipset for an even higher contrast ratio (now up to 12,000:1), similarly higher price, 1080p res at an MSRP of $12,999. CNET lets it be known this should bring the Joe Kane approved design home via specialty retailers as is its custom, but we're sure fans of quality projectors know where it can be found.

Samsung's Joe Kane-designed SP-A900 due later this month originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 11 May 2009 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc, Displays

It took long enough, but we've finally got video (embedded after the break) of the giant 159 x 72-foot 1080p displays facing each sideline of the new home of the Dallas Cowboys, playing back some highlights of a game vs. the Colts. We've seen the specs and the mockups of Mitsubishi's huge DiamondVision screen, but suddenly things look very different when the camera pans down and one realizes exactly how large these displays are. Once we've confirmed the stadium isn't built by the same guys that put together the team's practice bubble, we'll be making plans to head down and catch a game. Eat that, Dolphin Stadium.

[Thanks, Yaggs]

Continue reading Dallas Cowboys record breaking 1080p display caught on video before the stadium opens

Dallas Cowboys record breaking 1080p display caught on video before the stadium opens originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 07 May 2009 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Got a need for an HDTV that can handle anything nature throws at it? Pantel's updated the 42-inch model of its waterproof outdoor line of LCDs, so the PAN-420 is now 1080p. The contrast ratio and other specs seem the same, but the extra pixels will cost you, with an MSRP of $4,999 so the real question is exactly how close will this be mounted to the hot tub / grill / Slip-n-slide to make the higher res worthwhile? Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Pantel PAN-420 outdoor LCD upgrades resolution, price tag

Pantel PAN-420 outdoor LCD upgrades resolution, price tag originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 06 May 2009 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

With its 2009 LED-backlit LH90 LCDs already announced, LG has decided its LH80 line should be next up, its first of many -- following Panasonic's lead -- packing a Wireless HD media box to stream any HDMI, USB, or OTA content to the TV. Available in Korea is just this 55-inch model for about 5.1 million South Korean won ($4,008) but you can check out our CES '09 Wireless HD demo for a better look at the box and display while we wait for its LH85 branded U.S. cousin to make an appearance later on this year.

LG's WirelessHD LH80 LCD TVs released in Korea originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 06 May 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Misc, ESPN-HD

ESPN made a point of mentioning its new Lexington designed L.A. Live based studios (home of the new West Coast SportsCenter edition) would be the first capable of "full HD" 1080p production, but with no details we could only speculate on what that meant -- check that week's podcast for our take. We got in contact with Colleen Lynch of ESPN and confirmed the new equipment is designed for 1080p at 60 frames per second, with additional production equipment coming in over the next few months. There's no way to get that bandwidth home yet and won't be for at least several years but it's good to know the network is ready for whatever comes next. Check out the full response and a video clip of the studio for those who hit the sack before 1 a.m. EST after the break.

Continue reading 1080p / 60 fps production confirmed for ESPN's new L.A. studio

1080p / 60 fps production confirmed for ESPN's new L.A. studio originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 05 May 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Fiber, Internet

Verizon tells what to expect from FiOS TV in the future originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 05 May 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc, Others

Plenty of modern cell phones have HD-quality screens on them, but few can manage any sort of high-definition video content at a respectable frame rate. That's set to change with the release of the Renesas SH7370, a chip we first got wind of back in December with its promise to offer 1080p video at 30fps in a package small (and efficient) enough to be included in a handset. The first units are now shipping to manufacturers, and while the size has increased (it's about 1cm square vs. the 6.4 x 6.5mm package previously discussed) it's still impressively small given its functionality: 1080p H.264 video decoding and encoding along with on-chip Dolby Digital 5.1-channel output. Overkill? Maybe for now, but you might change your mind when the first head-mountable satellite speakers with subwoofer seat cushions hit retail.

Renesas's 1080p-decoding processor coming soon to a cell phone near you originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 05 May 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Fiber, Internet

We hope you weren't too attached to the old FiOS TV guide and video on-demand setup, as these screens would indicate an upgrade is on its way. Our tipster let us know these screens were a part of a survey that focused on which version of the guide was best (Verizon - we've got plenty of suggestions for you right here.) We like the widescreen layout they're indicating, and that 1080p notation underneath the Quantum of Solace box shown above isn't too shabby either. The price of $29.99 to buy an HD copy? Not so sweet. Check out the rest of the screens in the gallery and let us know if they pass the test.

[Thanks, Matt!]

Survey screens reveal potential new FiOS guide, 1080p VOD, HD purchases on the way? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 04 May 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Media streamers, Other formats, Others

AMIMON, the company behind the wireless HD technology (WHDI) in Belkin's FlyWire (among other devices), has just introduced its second-generation chipset. The device, which utilizes video modem technology operating in the 5GHz unlicensed band, consists of the new AMN 2120 transmitter and AMN 2220 receiver, both of which are angling to slip into set-top-boxes, HDTVs and all sorts of other HDMI-enabled devices in short order. AMIMON asserts that this chipset is the first capable of "delivering full uncompressed 1080p/60Hz HD content throughout the entire home," with a range of beyond 100 feet through walls, under one millisecond of latency and support for HDCP 2.0. Best of all, the new kit is available now for manufacturers to snap up, so for the legions of consumers waiting for someone to get wireless HD right, let us say this: "get to snapping." The full release is after the break.

Continue reading AMIMON's second-gen WHDI spec does full uncompressed 1080p

AMIMON's second-gen WHDI spec does full uncompressed 1080p originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Other hardware, Players, Epson, Projector

Considering that Epson's highest-end HTIB is nearly two years old now, we'd say an update was definitely in order. Today, the outfit has just taken the wraps off of its next-generation Ensemble HD Home Cinema, which gets updated by way of including the PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 or Home Cinema 6500 UB. As with the prior kit, these two also include a motorized 100-inch screen, integrated surround sound, AV controller with built-in DVD player, universal remote and all virtually components needed for installation. The only thing that's glaringly absent is a Blu-ray player, which -- at this point -- is completely and utterly inexcusable. At any rate, those content with treating themselves to upscaled DVD can fork out $4,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 720p, $6,499 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6100 and $7,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6500 UB.

Epson launches next-gen Ensemble HD Home Cinema System originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other formats, Players

While RED has been pretty tight-lipped about its planned RED RAY product, some footage shown off at RED's NAB party gave a sizable hint that RED RAY could be much more than meets the eye -- specifically a $1,000 device that can play cinema-quality 4k video off of standard DVDs. At the party they played an uncompressed showreel of 4k footage on a Sony 4k projector, which clocked in at 1.3GB per second, and then showed that exact same footage under the "RED RAY" codec at a mere 10Mb/s (megabits, not bytes; about half the bitrate of SD DV), at a compression rate of 700:1. Attendees claimed they could see zero visible compression, though a projector in a ballroom isn't exactly the best case scenario to test that sort of thing. Unfortunately, there's little other info about how they're achieving this (we hear "wavelets" come into the equation at some point), or to what nefarious aims, but with compression like this the implications for content distribution are pretty stunning: 1080p+ streaming for all. Naturally, the down side of all of this is probably some pretty hefty processing power on the consumer end, but we'll cross that I/O bridge when we come to it.

[Thanks, Ben H]

RED blows away small room of videophiles with 4k RED RAY footage at half the bitrate of MiniDV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Electronics' new range of HDTVs will be capable of playing full DivX HD 1080p videos.
The company says the upcoming models will be the first device series capable of doing this - enabling consumers to play DivX HD videos from a PC or the Internet through a USB slot.

Filed under: Displays, LG

LG's always done a good job supporting DivX in its players and TVs, so this morning's press release announcing that the company will offer 1080p DivX support in its latest gear isn't all that surprising -- we're mostly excited because it suggests that the latest round of LED-backlit LCDs will arrive in "late May and late April." That's, uh, real soon now, so those of you waiting on a little Scarlet action in your lives should look sharp.

LG announces 1080p DivX support, release windows for new TVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Panasonic, Camcorders

You know that 3D bandwagon you're still hesitant to jump on? We get the feeling that this year's NAB show may just push you over the top. Shortly after hearing of Fujifilm's newest P2 memory cards comes this, a conceptual camcorder in which to eventually slot 'em in. Currently, Panasonic's 3D Full HD Camera Recorder is merely a prototype, but it's made clear that the company intends to bring this to market as soon as possible. Essentially, the device will boast a twin-lens system for capturing 3D footage natively in 1080p, and all of the video streams will be stored on Panny's professional P2 cards. It's hard to say if this would even be useful for 2D shooting on the side, but with practically every major studio at least considering (if not committing to) 3D production, we'd say it's a solid investment on Panasonic's part either way.

Panasonic developing 1080p twin-lens P2 camcorder for native 3D captures originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The launch of Belkin's FlyWire has once again been delayed - this time until August.
First announced at CES 2008, the initially promising-sounding wireless device streams 1080p HD content from multiple HDMI inputs to HDTV televisions using the 5GHz band.

Filed under: Displays, Samsung, Projector

Good ole' Sammy's announced an octuplet of new projectors, and while we'd like to say they're all special in their own little way, two models definitely catch our eye more. The A800B DLP boasts a 1080p output, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1000 ANSI lumens, two HDMI ports, and a variety of other input options. The luxury doesn't come cheap, of course: retail price is $10,000. The other full HD model is the A900, and although we're lighter on details with this one, we do know it's packing 1000 ANSI lumens, only one HDMI port, an impressive 12,000:1 contrast ratio, and what we can only assume is price tag of equal magnitude. As for others, we've got the travel-sized $700 P400 with SVGA output, the L220 (price unknown) and $1100 L300 for bringing VGA / XGA to classrooms, respectively, the XGA-blasting D300 for large venues, and a $1500 A400B for home theaters, which features WXGA, 2500:1 contrast ratio, and 2000 ANSI. We kindly direct your attention to the read link for all the nitty-gritty details.

[Via About Projectors]

Samsung's 1080p-blasting A800B and A900 projectors unveiled, plus six more originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Satellite, New content

"HD Supremacy" was claimed by DISH Network, but DirecTV is heading down the Comcast path, touting its VOD offerings with the biggest selection of 1080p movies. With "more than 30" movies available it doesn't quite match Blu-ray and falls short of HDX, but DirecTV Plus HD DVR receiver owners can look forward to new flicks like Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler and Quantum of Solace being available in the highest res as soon as they launch on the DirecTV on Demand platform. According to VP Eric Shanks, even customers without 1080p HDTVs are seeing the benefit. A year after we first heard 1080p HD VOD was on the way, are you taking advantage?

DirecTV claims largest 1080p library, including all new HD VOD on the way originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

Sanyo's had a knack for pumping out short-throw projectors, but its latest prototype unquestionably takes the cake. Debuting without so much as a model name, this here DLP beamer -- which, at 93- x 20- x 25-inches, easily doubles as a bench -- throws up a 100-inch 1080p image with just 24-inches of space between it and the wall. Better still, that can scale up to 150-inches by adding just another foot of breathing room -- and just to remind you, we're talking full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution here. Sanyo also tossed in 7,000 lumens of brightness, though mum's the word when it comes to price or nearness to production.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Prototype Sanyo projector throws up 1080p at near point-blank range originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, LCD

Not that JVC's been avoiding the 3D bandwagon or anything, but it has yet to formally introduce a 3D HDTV to really take advantage of the in-home 3D revolution that 3D backers just swear is right around the bend. The GD-463D10 is a 46-inch LCD HDTV with a native 1,920 x 1080 resolution, 2,000:1 contrast ratio, twin ten-watt speakers and support for three-dee material. We're also told that the set will come bundled with a pair of polarized glasses when it ships in Japan early next month. The only problem? That ¥700,000 ($6,978) price tag, which seems particularly painful with no real 3D programming to speak of. Yet, of course.

[Via Impress]

JVC intros 1080p GD-463D10 3D LCD monitor in Japan originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: ESPN-HD, Sports, New content

Think you've seen everything SportsCenter has to offer? Already a go to channel for most HDTV owners by default, the next big change to ESPN's daily news show is the debut of a West Coast produced edition, coming 5 days a week at 1 a.m. EST / 10 p.m. PST. The Sony-outfitted digs in the L.A. Live entertainment complex are the world's first capable of 1080p production (what, no 3D?), but until someone starts broadcasting live that way, it'll be the same 720p as usual when Neil Everett and Stan Verett bring it to your house featuring a Magic Johnson / Larry Bird interview on the 30th anniversary of their championship game tonight.


Read - ESPN's studio in L.A. debuts
Read - Bird and Magic Interview on Debut of SportsCenter from Los Angeles Monday, April 6

ESPN's SportsCenter goes West Coast & 1080p production tonight originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Others, Camcorders

Sanyo's line of Dual Cameras -- which are described as camcorders at heart with formidable still capture capabilities -- is now shipping to select retailers in the United States and Mexico. The crew is comprised of the VPC-FH1, which handles 1080p at 60fps along with 8 megapixel stills, and the VPC-TH1, which shoots at 720p and sports a 30x optical zoom. Also included is the waterproof (up to ten feet, anyway) 720p VPC-WH1 and the otherwise vanilla VPC-CG10. As for pricing? Try $499.99, $299.99, $399.99 and $199.99 in order of mention.

Sanyo ships Xacti VPC-FH1, VPC-WH1, VPC-TH1 and VPC-CG10 camcorders originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sony, Camcorders

Think your "high-def" camcorder is hot stuff? Think again, vaquero. Sony's swerving around the low-end and waving jovially as it laps the mid-range with the HDR-TG5V Handycam, a decidedly upscale pocket camcorder that's capable of logging full 1080p clips and holding 16GB of data. Moreover, the HD camcorder includes an embedded GPS module, minimal buttons and a new intuitive user interface for the touch-panel LCD -- something we harshed on in our review of the TG3E last year. The built-in GPS antenna and NAVTEQ maps enable photos and videos to be geotagged, and you should be able to scope things out pretty good on the 2.7-inch LCD. If holding six hours of footage isn't enough, you can pop in a Memory Stick PRO Duo card for even more capacity, and there's also a 10x optical zoom for getting all up close and personal. Look for it to ship this May for a solid grand, and if you're up for spending another $100, a wide angle conversion lens (Sony VCL-HGE07TB) can definitely help you there.

Sony debuts $1,000 GPS-packin' HDR-TG5V 1080p Handycam originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Not ready to go big screen? Just need a medium sized set to handle your bedroom Xbox 360 addiction? ViewSonic's got a new one ready to splash down in your abode -- the 22-inch VT2230. Said panel checks in with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, VGA / HDMI inputs, a built-in ATSC / NTSC / QAM TV tuner and a relatively small price tag. Further specs include a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, five millisecond response time, 300 nits of brightness and twin 3-watt speakers. Sure, nothing mind-blowing or anything, but it's not half bad for $349.

ViewSonic ships 22-inch VT2230 1080p LCD monitor originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Satellite

XStreamHD picked the Satellite 2009 show (aren't you mad you didn't go now? we are) to demonstrate its advanced graphical user interface, moving things just a bit closer to reality after finally having some satellite delivered 1080p to show us at CES in January. A content parter or two would go even further in convincing the skeptics this has a shot to come to market, but for now we guess this will have to do.

XStreamHD takes baby steps towards reality originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc, Media PCs

We've got to hand it to 'em -- VIA sure knows where the weak spot is in the netbook / nettop market, and it's doing an impressive job bringing 1080p to areas where it was once thought impossible. After trumpeting its Surfboard concept and VX855 chipset, the company is striking yet again from the Embedded Systems Conference with its P710-HD module. Said device, which works in conjunction with the EPIA-P710 Pico-ITXe board, brings full HD playback support to a mainboard that's almost small enough to fit in your oversized cargo pocket. The expansion module includes S3 Graphics' 4300E embedded GPU, 256MB of GDDR2 memory and support for dual DVI and HDMI outputs. Sadly, there's no mention of a price or release date, but we'd bet NVIDIA, Intel and the rest of the gang are definitely paying attention.

[Via HotHardware]

VIA's P710-HD module brings 1080p to EPIA-P710 Pico-ITXe board originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Cables, Others

HDMI has certainly taken hold in the consumer AV space and component video connection -- despite its merits and supporters -- is in decline. Looking around at the back of a receiver, you might think that small, high density connectors used for digital signals are just better, right? Not necessarily -- consider the rearTwist BNC connectors Neutrik is bringing to the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show for 1080p HD/SDI (serial digital interface) use by pros. That's good-old coax design, specced out to 4.5GHz, with a kind of in-field reliability that our beloved HDMI connectors can only dream of. We're not bashing HDMI -- it's now mature, has lots of nice features and puts great performance within the reach of lots of people. Also, discrete coax connections like these Neutrik connectors are too pricey for consumer gear; but don't be fooled into thinking that the move to HDMI was all about performance, either.

Neutrik delivers a 1080p HD/SDI connector to pros, and it's not HDMI originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon today launched its Rebel T1i DSLR - its first-ever entry-level DSLR with 1080p HD video recording.
The 15.1-megapixel camera uses the DIGIC 4 imaging processor to record either full 1080p video at 20 frames per second or 30 frames per second at 720p.

Filed under: Media PCs, Others

Following up on its impressive debut earlier this month, HABEY's unveiled the BIS-6540HD mini HTPC that, like its 6550 counterpart, is capable of running an impressive 1080p signal with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor -- special thanks go to its HD hardware decoder for that feat. The fanless unit also features up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, eight USB ports, a built-in CF socket, two SATA II ports with SSD support, DVI and VGA outputs, ethernet, and options for wireless and HD TV tuner. No word on pricing or availability, but it looks like it's being marketed as an OEM product and we suspect it'll cost more than a pretty penny. Check out the video after the break to see it rocking Planet Earth on Blu-ray.

Continue reading HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof

HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elgato has launched a successor to its Turbo.264 USB video conversion dongle with the addition of 1080p compatibility.
Called the Elgato Turbo.264 HD, the upgraded - and much faster - device converts videos into the H.264 format from camcorders and digital cameras.

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Slowly but surely, the BeoVision 8 is creeping up into big screen territory. Bang & Olufsen's latest iteration, more casually known as the BV8-40, pulls those LCD TV edges out to 40-inches diagonally and features a lush 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution. Other specs include 500 nits of brightness, a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, six-millisecond response time, a digital TV tuner (for those in DVB regions) and a pretty swank set of internal speakers to boot. All we're told regarding pricing is that the MSRP is "attractive," but we get the feeling it's only sexy to those who aren't concerned with zeros and decimal places.

[Via GadgetReview]

Bang & Olufsen debuts 40-inch BeoVision 8 LCD HDTV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poor video acceleration - stuttering and frame rate drops - has been something of a blight for netbooks when it comes to playing HD video.
Now Intel has confirmed that the GN40 chipset for Atom chips, when paired with the Atom N280 processor, is capable of playing 1080p video.

Filed under: Media PCs, Others

An Atom N270-powered rig that can handle 1080p content? Say it ain't so! The relatively unknown HABEY has stepped forward with a minuscule media PC that includes a fairly weak CPU and a potent hardware decoder that can supposedly handle 1080p content and even Blu-ray flicks. The BIS-6550HD is meant to be one of the most energy efficient machines on the planet to adequately play back 1080p material, with the entire system sucking down under 13 watts. Complementing the 1.6GHz processor is a single SODIMM slot for carrying up to 2GB of RAM, wireless / HDTV tuner options, a slew of video outputs, multicard reader, gigabit Ethernet and four USB 2.0 sockets. Unfortunately, pricing and availability both remain undisclosed, but we get the feeling you'll be paying dearly for the chance to see 1080p sans stutter on a machine this tiny.

HABEY intros Atom N270-powered mini HTPC, makes it crunch 1080p originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Media PCs, Other hardware

We know, we're just being greedy at this point, but hey -- did you honestly expect anything less? We knew Intel's new Atom N280 processor, when paired with the equally fresh GN40 chipset, could deliver silky smooth 720p video playback. What we didn't know, however, was how well it could handle 1080p material. According to Fudzilla, an Intel product manager has stated that the GN40 is "designed to do 1080p HD playback for typical broadband internet content," but that it wasn't engineered to "enable full Blu-ray capability where the bitrates and demands of multi-layer content are significantly higher than that of internet HD content." The optimist within us is hoping that the GN40's successor will take the next logical step and handle BD films, but we wouldn't dare suggest you get your own hopes up that high if you're not good with handling disappointment.

[Image courtesy of TechArena]

Intel admits that GN40 chipset is no match for Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It seems peculiar that with the drive towards making HDTVs all-singing, all-dancing Internet-connected marvels, little had been done to improve something as simple as enjoying your photos on the big screen.
Now Hong-Kong-based Hi-Den Vision has popped up with what it claims is the world's first HDMI 1080p digital photo viewer.

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

Our hearts were aflutter at the sight of a new Kaleidescape product today, but alas, it wasn't the fabled Blu-ray player we were hoping for. Instead, we're getting the cutely named Mini System, which bills itself as a complete multi-zone entertainment server for those with oodles of cash and a thing for ease-of-use. The device is the company's first to combine the player and server functionality into one unit, and it's also the firm's first product to ship with a remote control. With installation "as ease as an ordinary DVD player," the system contains space for DVD and CD storage as well as a main "Player" zone and two music zones; those wishing to expand things can tack on more Mini Systems or additional Players / Servers. Said system is available as we speak for a somewhat reasonable (by Kaleidescape standards) $7,995, and the 1080p Player, 1080p Mini Player and Disk Cartridges for the 1U, 3U and 5U Servers will all fall to $2,995, $1,995 and $995 (respectively) on March 16th in the United States.

Kaleidescape intros "whole-home" Mini System, cuts prices on other systems originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Camcorders

Not even a year after its Lumix DMC-G1 got all the glory as the first Micro Four Thirds camera on the market, Panasonic is back with a slightly tweaked version in the DMC-GH1. We say slightly tweaked since the exterior is more or less the same, but under the hood the camera has 1080p recording at 24 frames per second, or 720p recording at 60 fps, which the camera stores to AVCHD format. Panasonic has also included continuos auto focus, something lacking from most DSLRs with video capability. Users can set the shutter speed and aperture manually, and record stereo audio -- with an optional external mic if they so choose. The camera shoots 12.1 megapixel stills just like the G1, and now offers iPhoto-style Face Recognition in addition to Face Detection to make sure particular people are well exposed and in focus. No word yet on price or availability.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-GH1 does 1080p video in a Micro Four Thirds form factor originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BitGravity announced today that it is launching a live digital video service that will allow users to stream Flash-based HD video over the Internet.
The BG Live HD service can stream live events in 1080p or 720p resolution and doesn't require a viewing client to be downloaded.

Filed under: Cables, Other hardware, Others

These days, it's just not enough to have a grainy, low quality loop of a crook robbing a convenience store. No one understands this better than Gennum, who has just introduced a new audio / video interface for professional and industrial applications (such as advanced video security and surveillance systems) that will enable 1080p transmissions over existing coaxial cables up to 100 meters long. The main selling point is this technology's ability to work over existing coax infrastructures, giving CCTV networks the ability to capture and distribute content at high resolutions without upgrading to CAT5 or the like. Big Brother just found a way to keep a much, much clearer eye on you -- better watch your steps, bub.

Gennum's Aviia enables 1080p surveillance over coax originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mirial has released version 6.2 of its video conferencing software that steps the Softphone up from 720p to 1080p.
Cristoforo Mione, business development director at Mirial, said that with Full-HD resolution up to 1080p for both decoding and encoding, the upgraded version set the pace of the evolution in video and VoIP technology.

The global economy may be suffering but that doesn't mean the drive for technological advancement draws to a complete halt.
At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, On2 Technologies' director of marketing, Tony Hope, told hdtv-biz.news about the push to bring high-def video content to mobile devices.

Filed under: Industry, Misc, Other hardware

Right around this time last year, Texas Instruments was busy showing off its OMAP 3 platform, which enabled 720p playback from a mobile phone. At this year's MWC, we've got a real live handset recording 720p, and TI upping the ante once more with a chip that handles 1080p. For those still with us after being blasted with resolutions, the predictably titled OMAP 4 aims to bring 1080p support, 20 megapixel imaging and "approximately a week of audio play time" to mobiles and MIDs that house it. Granted, TI also calls this stuff "future-proof," so don't believe it's totally incapable of uttering some pretty outlandish stuff. At the heart of the platform is a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 chip, a programmable multimedia engine based on TI's C64x DSP and a POWERVR SGX540 graphics engine. We're told that it'll play nice with Linux variants such as Android and LiMo, Symbian and Windows Mobile, though it'll have to be mighty impressive to outgun NVIDIA's Tegra. Battle on, we say.

[Via Linux Devices]

TI's OMAP 4 bringing 1080p support to smartphones and MIDs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others

Let's face it, that low res cellphone video of last weekend's party and your Days of Thunder VHS won't be upscaling themselves, hence the sudden explosion of Super Resolution technology including this most recent entry from NEC. Claiming low power and memory requirements, part number uPD9245GJ is ready for duty blowing up images for display on your VGA cellphone or nav system without blurring, or upscaling low res sources to 1080p in a Blu-ray player or HDTV. Don't let the ridiculous soundtrack on the demo reel fool you -- recent reviews have given super resolution tech a thumbs up, and with Toshiba, Hitachi and Broadcom already in the game we've got a clue what feature will be checkmarked on your next electronics purchase.

NEC shows off super resolution upconverting for your cell, HDTV and all in between originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

Interested in obtaining Panasonic's 1-inch thick first-with-WirelessHD Z1 series 1080p plasma -- before this summer? Hope you've got a good connect in Japan, because this baby is touching down April 20, complete with YouTube and 2.4GHz remote. Thanks to the slim 40,000:1 contrast ratio NeoPDP panel and ability to work without the usual assortment of cables it was born for stylish wall mounting in your appropriately adorned apartment as pictured above. Throw in half the power consumption of last year's PZ800 model and you've got a very attractive package. Checking in with ¥700,000 (about $7,835) 54-inch, ¥600,000 (about $6,715) 50-inch, and ¥550,000 ( about $6,156) 46-inch models our jealousy extends far across the Pacific, but until these get a U.S. ship date and pricetag, your closest look lies within our CES gallery.

[Via AV Watch]

Panasonic Z1 plasmas bring WirelessHD to Japan first originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Others, LCD

You know what's tough? Finding a 30- to 35-inch HDTV that's actually worth owning. VIZIO's hoping to fill that gap with the 1080p VO32LF, a 32-inch LCD that just checked into CNET's labs. This here display takes the place of the CES 2008 announced VO32L, and for all intents and purposes, performance was pretty much the same. That said, reviewers appreciated the "accurate grayscale and primary color," the abundance of picture controls and the "generous connectivity suite" that included a trio of HDMI sockets and a single PC input. The only real knocks were on its below-average uniformity and off-angle viewing, but even those negatives didn't stop it from being called "one of the better small-screen LCDs." And at just $599 (MSRP), that just might be good enough to warranty a buy.

VIZIO's 32-inch VO32LF LCD HDTV reviewed: not bad, not bad at all originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Pioneer, Plasma

No need to wait for the CEDIA Gold Coast expo to see new plasmas from Pioneer, as the company has just announced a few new KUROs for those residing in Australia. The 50-inch PDP-LX509A and PDP-C509A have both been officially announced (though whispers of 'em have been circulating for a few weeks now), and the MSRPs are expectedly staggering. AU$6,499 for the LX model, AU$5,499 for the C509A -- yeah, ouch.

[Via CNET]

Pioneer launches new KURO plasmas in Australia originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Satellite, New content

DISH Network's 1080p video-on-demand service may be impressive, but up until now, it hasn't been utilized in any fanciful ways to get outsiders to pay attention. Thanks to a new push from A&E Networks, however, that's all about to change. Said channel's new drama, The Beast, is now available to DISH subscribers with an MPEG-4 HD box via the 1080p IP-VOD platform. Users simply plug in their broadband connection, fire up their set-top-box and surf over to the DishONLINE feature within the 'DVR' menu. Episodes will be made available the day after they air live, and the content is said to be "comparable to Blu-ray Disc." We've got to say, we're totally digging this initiative -- now, if only it were simple to get every other network to follow suit with their own hit shows.

A&E brings 'The Beast' to DISH Network's 1080p IP-VOD service originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other formats

So look, we fully understand that Hollywood and just about everyone who follows the industry is gravitating towards 3D, but the red flags here are just too bright to ignore. Next3D has just pumped out a completely unbelievable press release claiming that it's oh-so-close to establishing the first in-home 3D distribution service. For starters, it claims to integrate nicely with the Xbox 360, which sounds more than a little suspicious. Next, we're told that "like YouTube, Next3D will offer user-created content channels for stereo enthusiasts to post and share 3D video and still images." Right, because so many consumers have handheld 3D cameras to capture this stuff. Sorry, but the vaporware stamp has officially been slammed.

Next3D makes completely far-reaching claim of bringing 3D to the home originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Just nabbed a 55-inch 1080p Vizio XVT for Chrismakwanzika and feeling good about yourself? Consider a return, because the specs on the new models are here and the list is long. Music, 1080p movies (MPEG-2, h.264 & WMV9) or pics from a USB drive? The whole line has that with Vizio's Multi-media hookup, while LED backlighting, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 5 HDMI ports are kept exclusive to the $1,999 55-inch VF551XVT1A. 42- and 47-inch models share the 240Hz motion technology that's become so popular with their larger relative, but only rock 50,000:1 contrast and 4 HDMI jacks for $1,099 and $1,399 respectively. 32- and 37-inch aficionados can expect 120Hz refresh rates for $749 and $999 respectively when they ship in the fall, while the rest of the pack are summer babies. Of course, by then you'd probably want to wait for a Connected HDTV....we love this time of year.

Continue reading Vizio presents 240Hz, LED backlit updates to the XVT series

Vizio presents 240Hz, LED backlit updates to the XVT series originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

This ain't the first time Sanyo's slipped in just under the two large wire with a 1080p beamer, but it's no less proud the second go 'round. Announced here in Vegas, the PLV-1080HD is a Full HD projector with a lens-shifting system for flexible placement, a variable iris, two HDMI 1.3 inputs, a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,200 ANSI lumens. $1,995 gets you in, and it's shipping right now.

Sanyo ducks under $2,000 again with 1080p PLV-1080HD projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes, Satellite

We heard way back in May of last year that DISH Network's next major wave of DVRs would have hints of Sling all over. Guess that played out alright, huh? The company has just announced its first SlingLoaded DVR, the ViP 922 HD DuoDVR. For those still scratching their heads, here's the skinny: this is the industry's first high-definition digital video recorder that incorporates placeshifting technology. The device packs five video sources including satellite, broadband and optional OTA tuners, and the 1TB HDD can hold up to 1,000 hours of content before tapping into external drive space. The box comes bundled with an innovative touchpad remote, and it can be controlled using the all new SlingGuide, which enables users to control their TV viewing experience over the web. No word on a price or release date, but boy, it'll be hard to resist regardless. The full release for both the DVR and the SlingGuide are just after the break.

Continue reading DISH Network's ViP 922 and SlingGuide unveiled: first "SlingLoaded" HD DVR

DISH Network's ViP 922 and SlingGuide unveiled: first "SlingLoaded" HD DVR originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Westinghouse, LCD

No wonder we haven't seen a fresh TV from Westinghouse since July of last year -- it's been hoarding 'em up for a CES extravaganza. The company is dishing out no fewer than 14 new sets (yes, we caved and counted), so let's not waste any time here. The 120Hz collection consists of the 21.6-inch PT-22F380S, 37-inch TX-37F510Z, 42-inch TX-42F970Z / TX-42F450S, 46-inch VK-46F260S, 47-inch VK-47F140S and 55-inch TX-55F350Z, all of which look to boast 1080p panels, a decent array of ports and an ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM TV tuner if you're lucky. The lower-res sets include the 18.5-inch PT-19H340S, 21.6-inch PT-22H340S, 26-inch SK-26H630S / SK-26H735S / SK-26H570D, 32-inch SK-32H635S / SK-32H820S / SK-32H570D and the 37-inch SK-37H730S. If any of those caught your eye (we know, it's a blur), feel free to hop past the break for the spec-by-spec breakdown.

Continue reading Westinghouse launches more HDTVs than we care to count at CES

Westinghouse launches more HDTVs than we care to count at CES originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector

Vivitek didn't really do an awesome job of making its very first projectors anything memorable (see, you didn't even know they were in the beamer biz, now did you?), but it's hoping to remedy that here at CES 2009 with the beastly HC7500A. Said device is the world's first 1080p LED projector, offering up a 35,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, 700-lumen brightness rating and a lamp-free LED light source that can keep shining for around 20,000 hours. We know, you're impressed. But impressed enough to drop $13,999 for one in June? Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Vivitek's HC7500A is world's first 1080p LED projector

Vivitek's HC7500A is world's first 1080p LED projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, LCD

Continue reading Sony brings 120Hz Motionflow, BRAVIA Engine 2 to lower-end V-, S-, and L-series HDTVs

Sony brings 120Hz Motionflow, BRAVIA Engine 2 to lower-end V-, S-, and L-series HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sony

Sony shows off GPS packing 1080p camcorders originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung, Plasma

We knew CES would deliver internet-lovin' HDTVs, but we had no idea Samsung would be bringing along so many. In case LCDs aren't really your bag, the company has also managed to bring along the Series 6 and Series 8 plasma sets. Both lines are hailed as the "greenest plasmas yet" thanks to their Energy Star 3.0 ratings, and they're also among the first TVs to be wireless DLNA-compliant. Both lines are obviously compatible with the Yahoo!-powered Internet@TV functionality, and the Series 8 checks in at just over an inch thick with an inbuilt ATSC tuner. Comically enough, Sammy doesn't even bother mentioning what sizes these things will arrive in (and definitely no price / release date), but it sure does stop to gloat about all this newfangled technology.

Samsung's Series 6 / 8 plasma HDTVs are well connected originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sharp, Projector

Sharp's chosen to focus on creating an affordable 1080p home projector, rolling out the single chip DLP-based XV-Z15000. Ready for the discerning customer with $2,999 in their pocket, it features a 30,000:1 contrast ratio and 1600 ANSI brightness, plus Keystone Correction ready to take care of any type of distortion that may crop up. Projector heads can put this up against the PT-AE3000 and company when it ships in March.

Continue reading Sharp shows off the XV-Z15000 1080p projector

Sharp shows off the XV-Z15000 1080p projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, LCD

Just in case you haven't seen enough from JVC today, how's about a look at nine new TVs? From the top, we're look at four newcomers with 1080p panels -- the LT-32J300, LT-42J300, LT-46J300 and LT-52J300 -- all of which tout a dynamic backlight, the company's own Smart Picture technology, there HDMI inputs and a new cabinet with a snazzy new bezel and a black glossy finish. Moving on to more Apple-friendly pastures, we've got an all new TeleDock line that spans from 31.5-inches to 46-inches. All five models come with an integrated iPod dock for playing back portable media and recharging your player, and the whole crew should be in stores by April. Check the links below for all the minutiae.

Read - JVC's new Full HD line
Read - JVC's TeleDock line

JVC announces Full HD LCD TVs, new line of iPod-friendly sets originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Satellite, New content

Here's an indication of just how important The Dark Knight is to the movie / content industry. DISH Network has just pushed out a bona fide press release solely to announce that the aforementioned film is now available via its 1080p on-demand service. Customers of the satcaster who skipped out on the Blu-ray version and would rather just rent can spend their New Year's Eve trying to figure out if Batman's voice can possibly go any deeper without exploding for just $6.99.

DISH Network adds The Dark Knight to 1080p on-demand movie lineup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Displays, Sharp, LCD

You already knew that Sharp would be gearing up to bring a pair of Blu-ray-infused LCD HDTVs to the United States next month, but did you have any idea that they would be showing their faces first in Las Vegas? Yep, according to Wired, the BD-packin' 32- / 42-inch AQUOS DX HDTVs will be shown off first at CES 2009, after which they'll quickly multiply and separate out to various retail outlets across the land. Also, we fully expect to get pricing details for the couple at the show, but that's obviously not guaranteed.

[Via CDFreaks]

Sharp to unveil 32- / 42-inch Blu-ray-equipped LCD HDTVs at CES 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Other formats, Other hardware, Set-top boxes, Others, Satellite

XStreamHD didn't quite make its planned October 2008 launch, but movies, music and games beamed down via satellite in high bitrate 1080p with lossless audio is a bit more real, now that the company has actually tested its vaunted delivery system. Other than confirming its FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) capability from the AMC-16 satellite, there aren't many details available other than where to go for a demo at CES 2009, we just hope they can keep things running long enough for us to get a look (announcing a content partner or two probably wouldn't hurt either.)

XStreamHD satellite delivery system successfully tested, next stop CES originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XStreamHD has successfully tested a transport system that delivers Full HD movies, music, and games directly to subscriber homes via satellite.
The system, tested on the AMC-16 satellite at 85 degrees west longitude, will be able to provide content throughout North America.

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Viewsonic introduces 24-inch, 1080p VT2430 LCD TV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Mitsubishi, Projector

Mitsubishi's HC7000 1080p projector just started leaving the docks not too, too long ago, and now the kind folks over at BigPictureBigSound have published a thorough review after spending a decent bit of time with it. Installation and setup was said to be "a simple affair," and one of the first things they noticed upon firing it up was just how quiet it was while operating. In fact, critics deemed it the quietest projector they had tested in this price range. Testers fired up an upscaled DVD after calibration procedures were done, and what they saw was "perfectly acceptable," with black levels being ultra black and color being "vibrant and very natural." Blu-ray Disc and HDTV content were even more stunning, and overall, only minor niggles ("remote backlight shuts off too quickly," for instance) were mentioned. In case you couldn't guess, critics deemed this one "a keeper," and to sweeten things up, the street price on this puppy is a far cry from its original MSRP. Mmm, price drops.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Mitsubishi's 1080p HC7000 HD projector reviewed: it's a keeper originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Epson, Projector

Epson's EH-TW3000 isn't much to look at, but we all know it's the innards that count. The 1080p beamer sports the company's 3LCD technology, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, 2,000 ANSI lumens, a 10-bit video processing engine, whisper quiet design, twin HDMI 1.3 inputs and a 3-year warranty. In other words, it's housing everything you need to make your movies look great, but it'll cost you a stiff €1,614 ($2,084) in order to bring one home.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Epson introduces 1080p EH-TW3000 projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector

Around this time last year, SIM2 was busy busting wallets with its $32k C3X. This year, we've got a revamped version coming in at an even higher price point: the network-friendly C3X LUMIS HOST. The 1080p beamer packs a 3-chip DLP (DarkChip4) engine, a 35,000:1 contrast ratio, 3,000 ANSI lumens, DynamicBlack technology and IR / Ethernet / RS-232 control ports. The standout feature, however, is SIM2's own proprietary three-line optical-digital High-Definition Optical Signal Transfer (H.O.S.T.) system, which allows two of these beasts to be connected over distances of up to 750-feet. Sadly, this unit will only find homes with those with copious quantities of disposable income, as it starts at $36,495 and goes higher when throwing in a T3 extra-long throw lens.

[Via CyberTheater]

SIM2 launches Ethernet-packin' C3X LUMIS HOST 1080p projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Displays, Sharp, LCD

You know those AQUOS DX panels that are likely already filtering out in Japan? Word on the street has it that two of the crew will be shipping to American soil in January. More specifically, TWICE is reporting that a 32- and 42-inch Blu-ray-infused AQUOS HDTV will be arriving in just a month, both of which will tout 1080p panels, 120Hz processing technology and a slot-loading optical drive. No prices have been set just yet, but a nice round $2,000 figure is being floated around for the big daddy.

Sharp to ship 32- / 42-inch Blu-ray-infused AQUOS HDTVs to US in January originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, Projector

Clearly, just one hue for JVC's DLA-HD750 1080p projector wasn't enough, but the outfit's making darn sure that few people ever see the alternative color. Just 200 of the all white DLA-HD750-W models will ever be released, and so far as we can tell, they'll all be up for grabs in Japan. As for specs, you can expect a delightful Full HD native resolution, 50,000:1 contrast ratio, 900 lumens, twin HDMI ports, VGA / S-Video / composite inputs and a ¥756,000 ($7,940) sticker. What? You didn't expect such a rare beast to be a bargain, did you?

[Via AboutProjectors]

JVC reveals limited edition white DLA-HD750 1080p projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Other hardware

Believe it or not, this is far from the first we've heard of bringing high-def video to cellphones, and it's not even the first application to dabble in mobile 1080p. Still, we'll take all the innovation we can get in this space, and when the real Touch HD ever arrives, we'll be ready and waiting with Full HD capabilities. Announced at ISSCC 2009 in San Francisco, Renesas Technology is showing off an application processor that enables handsets to process 1,920 x 1,080 resolution video at 30 frames-per-second; the processor's core has a maximum operating frequency of 500MHz and supports MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video formats. There's no telling when the 6.4- x 6.5-millimeter chip will be available en masse, but we need the HTCs of the world to get us a 1080p phone and a retina implant or two to read 0.2-size fonts before it even matters.

Renesas aims to bring 1080p playback to your next cellphone originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Mitsubishi

When we had Mitsubishi's 1080p iSP LT-52149 HDTV in our own labs for testing, we weren't exactly thrilled with the image quality, particularly the 120Hz shenanigans. The folks over at Home Entertainment saw a lot of the same flaws we did, though they seemed to think the overall package was palatable after a great deal of tweaking. In fact, they outrightly stated that this set "requires more attention during video setup than other high-end LCDs [it had] tested," but it was worth the effort. The soundbar didn't serve as a 5.1-channel surround sound system or anything, but it did treat the ears more so than most integrated speakers. 'Course, SD material looked pretty terrible, but it did make Blu-ray Discs look fairly excellent. Still, the $4,000+ MSRP is slightly ridiculous in this world of low-cost LCDs, and we still can't see enough jaw-dropping positives here to warrant that kind of sticker.

Mitsubishi's soundbar-equipped iSP LT-52149 gets full-on review originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Mitsubishi, Projector

Mitsubishi's 1080p HC6500 has been shipping for just over a month now, but if you've been holding off from unloading $2,500 until you saw a bona fide review, you can finally have a peek and move on with life. CNET was able to wrap its retinas around the expansive image beamed out of this sexy piece of front-projection goodness, and overall, it had incredibly positive things to say. For instance, the deep blacks were applauded, skin tones were "natural," noise wasn't an issue at all and the input selection was quite stout. The only real rubs critics had were that it wasn't perfectly calibrated out of the box and the fact that it's up against some stiff competition -- neither of which are particularly "negative" traits. The bottom line? It's an "excellent all-round performer for the money," or in other words, you can finally commence with that trigger pulling.

Mitsubishi's HC6500 HD projector reviewed: a serious contender originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCoS, Projector

If the BlackWing Three was just a touch too rich for your blood, yet you dug what Cineversum had going on, have a look at this. The BlackWing One 1080p digital video projector relies on three 0.6-inch LCoS panels (all with a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, obviously) and comes pre-calibrated for optimal performance right out of the box. Additionally, it features a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,400 ANSI lumens, two HDMI 1.3 sockets, an RS-232 control port and a "futuristic deep metallic-black ABS plastic chassis" designed by France's own Antoine Béon. The first batch is scheduled to hit North America in mid-December for $6,500 apiece, but those up for spending more can have their unit splashed with a custom color.

Cineversum intros $6,500 BlackWing One 1080p projector originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Just in time for brands like Vizio, Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo to undercut it on Black Friday, HANNspree has swooped in and delivered its bedroom-sized 1080p LCD HDTV to the great lands of North America. The set, which was made available a few months prior in the UK, claims to be the planet's first 28-inch "1080p" HDTV, with a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, two HDMI ports, a VGA socket, integrated ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM tuner, 3-millisecond response time, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, stereo speakers (5-watts x 2), audio in / out ports and an Energy Star 3.0 sticker for good measure. Not too shabby for $499.99, and we'd count on finding it even cheaper given the current level of competition in the sector.

HANNspree's 28-inch 1080p HT09 LCD HDTV comes to America for $500 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung, LCD

It's missing the nearly iconic glossy black bezel that has become such an expectation on Samsung displays, but the SyncMaster 2494HS would still be welcome at our cluttered work desk. The 23.6-inch panel sports an all-business, matte black motif with a native 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 300 nits of brightness, a 5-millisecond response time, 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, inbuilt stereo speakers and DVI / VGA / HDMI inputs. The LCD is expected to go on sale in Japan next month for around ¥40,000 ($423), but if we were the betting type (an we're not), we'd expect it to roll onto fresh, moist US soil in due time.

[Via Impress]

Samsung shows clean lines on 1080p SyncMaster 2494HS LCD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Speakers, Others

Chrismakwanzika has come early for anyone remotely interested in Vizio kit, and quite honestly, even for those that aren't. From the top, we've got the 55-inch VF550XVT1A, a 1080p HDTV with 120Hz Smooth Motion Video technology, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, five HDMI inputs, SRS TruSurround HD and a $1,999 MSRP. Next up is the firm's own soundbar and wireless subwoofer kit (VSB210WS), which has finally escaped rumor purgatory to pop official. The kit sports four 3-inch speakers alongside a single 1-inch tweeter for each channel, and the long throw 6.5-inch subbie makes sure the lows are well addressed, too. Just a single cable is needed to connect the VSB210WS to any flat-panel, and just $349.99 is needed to bring it home. On deck are a trio of smaller LCDs: the 19-inch VA19 ($249.99), 22-inch VA22 ($349.99) and 26-inch VA26 ($449.99), with the middle guy becoming Vizio's smallest 1080p HDTV ever. Closing things out is the 26-inch VMM26, a 25.5-inch "multimedia monitor" with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, HDMI / USB ports, touch-activated menus and a $429.99 sticker. All but the first two products mentioned are on sale now, while the first two will be available just before your '09 Super Bowl bash.

Vizio intros 55-inch 1080p XVT HDTV, soundbar, more goodies originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Others, Plasma

Vizio promised that this beast would be on store shelves in July, yet we've been forced to wait (and wait... and wait) until mid-November to finally see it ship. As disgruntled as we are by the delays, we can't help but think that Vizio has a winner on its hands with this 50-incher. The secret weapon here is the Silicon Optix REON HQV processing engine, not to mention the absurdly low $1,499.99 MSRP. For those keeping score, that's a full $200 less that what we were expecting, though shipping rates do range from patently rediculous to clinically insane when ordering direct from Vizio. Our suggestion? Phone up every Costco in your area 'til you land one.

[Thanks, Michael]

Read - On sale
Read - Review

Vizio's 50-inch REON HQV-packin' VP505XVT now available originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Further blurring the line between an LCD computer monitor and a bedroom HDTV is Acer, as its P244Wbmii boasts not only a 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) panel but also a pair of HDMI inputs. The 24-inch (TN) display features a 2-millisecond response time, 300 cd / m2 brightness, 20,000:1 contrast ratio and a VGA port for PC purists. Mum's the word on a price or availability, but all signs point to a Japanese first / only release.

[Via Impress]

Acer's 24-inch P244Wbmii LCD monitor touts 1080p panel, twin HDMI inputs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, Blu-ray, Other formats

Just last week we heard that Warner Bros. was ending its home video / DVD business in South Korea due to rampant piracy, and now we've got a report from China suggesting that sophisticated pirates are duping buyers with faux Blu-ray Discs that are actually DVDs. As the story goes, movie pirates in select parts of Asia are ripping bona fide BDs and then burning them in AVCHD format (which uses 720 horizontal lines of resolution compared to Blu-ray's 1,080) on writable DVDs. Word on the street has it that these discs are being offered for around $7 each, and they even boast the BD hologram and the iconic blue hues on the packaging. Reportedly, none of the discs have made it outside of Asia just yet, but stay sharp should you ever get the urge to snag a discounted BD title while traveling abroad.

[Image courtesy of UberGizmo]

Chinese pirates offering cheap AVCHD Blu-ray rips on disguised DVD-Rs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HDTV penetration has doubled in the past two years with 34 per cent of US households having at least one high definition television (HDTV) set.
Representing about 40 million households, this figure is set to double again over the next two years, according to consumer research from the Leichtman Research Group.

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, JVC, LCD

With the plethora of 40-some-odd-inch HDTVs with 120Hz dejudder technology, it's tough for a name like JVC to cut through the marketing campaigns of those other guys. That said, the 47-inch LT-47X899 is a solid, if not upper-level set that's easy to overlook, but a glance around the web proves that you probably shouldn't. For starters, the 120Hz tech built in here actually improves the image quality -- something that can't be said about all sets. Furthermore, it produced crisp, clear details, excellent screen uniformity and a decent array of ports... at least in most eyes. One particular review found the image quality subpar for the price (around $1,900 on the street), so we'd probably suggest having a look in-store before buying blind. There's plenty more reading material below if you're interested.

Read - Home Theater review
Read - Sound & Vision review
Read - TelevisionInfo review
Read - UltimateAVmag review

JVC's 47-inch LT-47X899 1080p LCD HDTV review roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Sharp, LCD

Sharp intros 52-inch PN-S525 / 65-inch PN-S655 pro LCDs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Others, LCD

Even with the big boys lowering prices this year to cope with bulging inventories and a flagging economy, Vizio sets are still apt to be one of your cheapest options. That said, if you've been cautiously eying the 42-inch SV420XVT, this here review should certainly provide a little guidance. Reviewers were pleased (and somewhat surprised) to see that Vizio included everything an HDTV virgin would need to get it up and running in ten minutes (or three hours, we guess): a remote, power cord, the set itself, cleaning cloth, safety strap and an HDMI cable. Furthermore, they found the out-of-the-box picture settings to be remarkably solid, but things began to turn slightly south when checking out the image quality. Black levels weren't awesome and the image sharpness "left very little to be desired," but again, you're not realistically expecting KURO-like qualities out of an $1,100 set. Overall, the 1080p HDTV was still impressive enough to net an 8.3 out of 10 rating, and so long as you're not anticipating world-beating performance, you'll likely be quite stoked for the price.

Vizio's 42-inch SV420XVT LCD HDTV gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Industry, Misc, Displays

As of now, it's still rare to find an HDTV with media streaming / playback capabilities built right in, but in preparation for the possible explosion of media-friendly sets, Broadcom has went and got a trio of its digital television (DTV) system-on-a-chip solutions certified for DivX. Yep, the BCM3548, BCM3549 and BCM3556 are all stamped with a DivX seal of approval, giving whatever HDTVs they land in the ability to natively play back streamed or local DivX / DivX HD files. Now, if only we knew which sets these chips were headed to (and when)...

DivX HD Certification given to Broadcom chips originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung, OLED

Anyone who figured OLED would go the way of SED has another thing comin', and Samsung's got the prototype to prove it. Over at the OLED-heavy FPD International 2008 show, Samsung is showcasing the biggest panel (of this nature) that its pilot line can even create: a 40-inch Full HD OLED display. 1,920 x 1,080 pixels of delicious OLED goodness, mixed with a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, a color gamut of 107% NTSC, a luminance of 200cd/m2 and a thickness of just 8.9-millimeters. Judging by first hand reports, the actual quality wasn't top-notch, but we're willing to forgive the early glitches in hopes of a better tomorrow. Hit the read link for one more look.

[Via OLED-Display]

Samsung drops jaws with 40-inch 1080p OLED display originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc, Other hardware

Polycom's been on the HD video conferencing bandwagon for quite some time now, but it's looking to make your droopy eyes and unkempt hair show up better than ever by bringing 1080p to its telepresence portfolio. Starting now, support for 1080p / 720p at 60 frames-per-second will be available on new Polycom RealPresence Experience and Telepresence Experience wares, with "qualified" owners of the existing RMX 2000 and HDX products being able to upgrade their systems in due time (we're hearing Q1 2009). Also announced today is the December-bound Polycom HDX 8006, which includes an EagleEye 1080p camera, remote and microphone array for a stiff $17,449. Time to upgrade that corporate connection, don't you think?

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Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Set-top boxes, Others

There's nothing more annoying when you're enjoying HD than when the background starts moving when it's not supposed to. We know all to well what compression artifacts look like, and the lack of artifacts is one of many reasons why we just love to watch Blu-ray movies. So if you were disappointed to read about the less-than-stellar quality of VUDU's HD titles, you're probably wondering if the recently announced HDX titles live up to their name. We're happy to say that they do, and although we aren't anywhere near the biggest videophiles around, we're hard pressed to see a difference between the picture quality of VUDU's HDX movies and Blu-ray.

Unfortunately for VUDU, when it comes to home entertainment, picture quality isn't everything. Among the remaining barriers to acceptance over Blu-ray is the fact that although the movies are encoded with Dolby Digital Plus, the box is only capable of letting you enjoy old fashioned Dolby Digital -- either way, a far cry from TrueHD or DTS-HD. Oh, and you still can't own HD movies. And HDMI is required for any HD viewing. The download speed is limited to 4Mbps, so even if you have a 20Mbps connection, you'll still have to wait four hours for an HDX title to download. On top of all that, the box costs $300 and is a one trick pony -- even Blu-ray players sell for less now and can upconvert DVDs.

Even with all of these caveats, we could still see this being the perfect solution for an HD movie junkie, but there's the relatively limited selection of HD and HDX titles to contend with. So while we're very happy to see Vudu make an important step in the right direction, we're still not ready to jump on in.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Displays, Players, Sharp, LCD

Tough luck, Mitsubishi and Funai. Big talk is all fine and dandy, but in our world, it's the results that count. Say hello to Sharp's AQUOS DX family, the world's first range of LCD HDTVs to boast internal Blu-ray players. Slated to hit in 26- (LC-26DX1), 32- (LC-32DX1), 37- (LC-37DX1), 42- (LC-42DX1), 46- (LC-46DX1) and 52-inch (LC-52DX1) sizes, the whole lot will come equipped with an integrated HDTV tuner, bottom-mounted speaker and the ability to handle BD flicks sans an external deck. Of note, only the 37-inch through 52-inch sets offer Full HD 1080p resolutions (1,920 x 1,080), as the other two get stuck with "just" 1,366 x 768. Best of all, those in Japan will barely have to wait a month to see these in shops, as the entire crew is destined to ship in late November (in black and white motifs) for around ¥200,000 ($1,963) to ¥500,000 ($4,909) depending on size. As for the rest of the globe? Put on your patience caps.

[Via Impress]

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HDTV penetration in US households is climbing so steadily that it's apparently no longer deemed necessary to mention the high-def part.
According to Paul Gagnon, director of North America TV Market Research for DisplaySearch, “HDTV has simply become TV, with nearly every consumer either owning or understanding the benefits of HDTV and desiring to become an owner”.

Filed under: Reviews, DVRs, Set-top boxes, Satellite

A couple of months back, we saw what was to come with DISH Network's 1080p video-on-demand service. Now, the cats and kittens over at Sound & Vision have a definitive writeup explaining the value of the aforementioned offering. At the time of review, Speed Racer was DISH's 1080p VOD movie of the month, so critics fired it up via the satcaster's set-top-box while comparing it to the version on Blu-ray. Obviously, DISH's 1080p isn't the same quality 1080p as what you'll find on a BD-50 (something to do with sophisticated compression, we hear), but the results were pretty astounding, regardless. In fact, critics had a tough time deciphering between the two from a normal viewing distance, and while they were fully expecting to be underwhelmed by DISH Network's 1080p material, they were actually stunned by just how impressive it looked. Of course, the dearth of titles available at any given time means that this won't sway potential customers in and of itself, but you can rest assured DISH is looking to beef up its 1080p HD VOD lineup as quickly as possible.

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Filed under: Displays, Speakers, LG, LCD

The highly controversial (okay, maybe not so much) Scarlet series from LG is being expanded today with the introduction of the LG80. The natural step-up from the LG60 and LG70 features an undisclosed screen size (though we assume it'll range from 42- to 65-inches) with a Full HD (1080p) resolution, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, three AV modes (for movies / video games / sports) and a USB 2.0 port for piping in photos or digital video files. You'll also find a pair of HDMI 1.3 sockets, but the real kicker is the sound system. When powered on, two side speakers extend from the rear of the unit while working alongside the stationary center speaker and "subwoofer" to create a 3.1 system with 50-watts of output. Sure, it's not a 3,000-watt, 7.1-channel master rig, but it's probably decent enough for an inbuilt setup. Look for this one to ship everywhere save for the US and Europe starting later this year.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Media PCs, Others

Acer believes you're seeking a PC with a Blu-ray drive and formidable storage space so you can watch hours and hours of high definition video. That's why it's introducing the AX3200 desktop (suggested retail: $679.99) and the P244W 24-inch 1080p LCD display ($399) -- to fill that consumer electronics-shaped hole that you didn't even know existed within you. The compact desktop sports an AMD Phenom X3 8450 triple-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, and NVIDIA's GeForce 8200 integrated graphics chip. The graphics solution won't rev up the frames in modern computer games -- especially not at the P244W's 1920 x 1080 resolution -- but it'll do fine for watching movies, and there are tons of great Blu-ray releases out there by now, right? Right?

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Plasma

Not quite sure if NEC's three latest will ever be revealed outside of Australia, but we'll take a look if for no other reason than to appease those in Perth, Sydney and Darwin. Starting things off is the PXT-50FHDP1, a 50-inch 1080p plasma that packs a 100Hz refresh rate, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, multiple HDMI inputs, a built-in EPG and an integrated TV tuner. As for the other guys, we've got the 42-inch PXT42XD3 and 50-inch PXT50XD3, both of which arrive with their own HD tuner, three HDMI ports, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, RS-232 control ports and a 1,024 x 768 / 1,365 x 768 resolution, respectively. As for pricing? Try $3,499 for the Full HD fellow, $1,599 for the PXT4 and $2,199 for the PXT5.

[Via ARN]

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Filed under: Displays, Mitsubishi, Projector

There's nothing lightweight about Mitsubishi's latest beamer, as the burly FL6900U checks in with a man-sized 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 4,000 ANSI lumens, an RS-232 control port, automated zoom / focus and digital keystone correction, and a built-in motion-sensitive anti-theft alarm. It also packs a man-sized price, but hopefully that corporate card can handle another $9,995 when this thing lands later in the month.

[Via AboutProjectors]

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Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Projector

Funny that Panasonic's TH-AE3000 was actually loosed here in the States first (under the PT-AE3000 label), huh? Nevertheless, those in Japan lookin' for some of that 1080p PJ action can get their desires satisfied this November when it ships for around ¥436,000 ($4,152).

[Via AkihabaraNews]

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Filed under: Sports

Good decision London, you will never top the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, so why not try pushing them on resolution. That's the potential idea coming out of a recent roundtable discussion at Rapid News TV. Reps from Tektronix and Pace cited interest from their customers in 1080p-ready equipment and the potential for an IBC 1080p feed in 2012 as reasons to believe, while the Tandberg rep -- from the company that previously predicted the onslaught of 1080p VOD via satellite -- was more concerned about finding enough bandwidth. Hit the read link for the full discussion, while we ponder a world where NBC could actually get 1080i right before going to 1080p, or least show the 100m final live, somewhere.

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, LCD

Betcha didn't see this one coming, did you Philips? No sooner than the aforementioned company unveiled a rather striking 56-inch Quad Full 3D HDTV over on the left coast of the US did Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and JVC Victor one-up that with a 72-inch prototype of their own. Revealed at CEATEC 2008, the Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) set doesn't even require viewers to sport those face-consuming glasses to experience the effect. In essence, the display utilizes multiple projectors to really emphasize that elusive third-dimension, but the viewing angle is understandably limited. Oh, and we hope you're not too geeked up about this -- NICT stated that we probably wouldn't see these in the commercial realm before 2011. Ah well, at least there's IMAX to hold us.

[Via Gearlog]

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Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Set-top boxes, Others

We had a hunch that VUDU was readying Blu-ray quality rentals, and sure enough, the company has just got official with its HDX format. Essentially, HDX is a new tier of video quality for the on-demand rental service. VUDU will be delivering the content in 1080p24 via its patent pending TruFilm compression technology, which is reportedly "unrivaled" in the home content delivery biz. In our talks with the outfit, it clearly spent some serious time mastering the delivery process here, but all this quality comes at a cost. Not monetary, mind you -- the actual HDX rental fees will be the same as current HD rentals -- but we're talking time. On most broadband connections, you'll be waiting three to four hours before the experience begins, though the ability to order an HDX film online (while you're at work, for instance) helps alleviate that pain somewhat. Also of note, HDX flicks will only be available for rental initially, though hopes are that a purchase option will show up in due time. 50 HDX films are on tap today -- dig in and see what you think. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading VUDU goes live with 1080p HDX rentals, doesn't charge extra for 'em

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SIM2 has teamed up with the US's Entertainment Experience, LLC to offer just-released movie blockbusters as part of a better-than-blu high-def home-cinema package.
hdtv.biz-news.com spoke to the high-performance HD projector specialists to find out why they've launched what appears to be yet another HD format when the public is still wavering about Blu-ray.

Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector

Just a day after rolling out its smallest SVGA projector of all time, Dell has quietly slid a new home cinema beamer into its accessories lineup. The 7609WU features a native 1,920 x 1,200 (WUXGA) resolution, DLP / BrilliantColor technology, 3,850 ANSI lumens, a 2,700:1 contrast ratio, twin stereo speakers, a lamp good for around 2,500 hours and a whole slew of ports including VGA (x2), component, S-Video, USB, RJ-45 and HDMI (x2). It'll set you back a stiff $4,999, but just think, you'll never have to spend another cent at the local Cineplex.

[Via Electronista]

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Panasonic

First Blu-ray chipset to nab the DivX HD Certified stamp of approval? That'd be Panasonic's UniPhier SoC (specifically model #MN2WS0043DA, oddly enough not the MN2WS006 sample that claimed DivX HD support in May, but who's counting?), now thoroughly tested and promised to be compatible with all manner of videos using the codec in resolutions up to 1080p. Expect a renewed flood of DivX HD-compatible devices to hit...any minute now.

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, LCoS, Projector

JVC has pushed out a release today clarifying some of the claims it made back at CEDIA 2008, and by and large, it's things that prospective buyers will want to hear. The company introduced an HD foursome of projectors in Denver earlier this month, but apparently, some of the specifications it included weren't, shall we say, final. Looking specifically at contrast ratio, we see the DLA-HD750 and DLA-HD20 jumping from 30,000:1 to 50,000:1, the DLA-RS10 going from 17,000:1 to 32,000:1 and the DLA-HD350 doubling up from 15,000:1 to 30,000:1. Also of note, JVC is now highlighting the 16-step fixed aperture in the DLA-HD750 and DLA-RS20 that "helps eliminate extraneous light that can reduce contrast levels and allows adjustment of brightness to suit user preferences." As for updated prices, you can expect to pay around $6,000 for the DLA-HD350, while the DLA-HD750, DLA-RS10 and DLA-RS20 come in at $8,000, $6,000 and $8,000 in order of mention.

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Players, Panasonic

Ah, now this is more like it. Just a day after we realized that Panasonic's DivX-lovin' DMP-BD55 would be hitting the streets at $399, in comes confirmation that its little brother -- the DMP-BD35 -- will be offered for a full Benjamin less. Yep, that means you're looking at a UniPhier-equipped Profile 2.0 Blu-ray deck that's launching at under $300. We're still not told how soon it'll be in stock, but $299.95 for a BD-Live-capable standalone player is something worth paying attention to. Now, how's about we dip down even lower for Black Friday?

[Via Big Picture Big Sound]

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It has been described by Vincent Laforet, one of the world’s top professional photographers, as having the “potential to change our industry”.
The soon-to-be-launched Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR can record full 1080p video clips at 30 frames-per-second.

Filed under: Blu-ray, Players, Sony

Sony's BDP-S300 has seemingly always been at the forefront of Blu-ray price drops, and while we were pretty stoked to see it hit $299 last December, the very solid 1080p player has now reached an unquestionably delectable $199.98. On sale at Amazon "while supplies last," the deck combines a name you've heard of with a price point you can probably stomach, and moreover, we're hoping this is just the beginning of an industry-wide effort to lower the barrier to entry for BD. Scoop it on up if this is the moment you've been waiting (and waiting) for.

[Thanks, Tyba]

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

Thanks to Sanyo's quick-fingered Japanese branch, you already know the basics on the PLV-Z3000. For those that missed out, it's being hailed as the industry's very first 5:5 pull down beamer with a 120Hz Full HD panel. Furthermore, it boasts a 65,000:1 contrast ratio, TopazReal HD 3D color management technology, a pair of HDMI 1.3 inputs and 1,200 ANSI lumens. The best news here is the US price -- the converted yen amount is actually a fair bit higher than what Sanyo plans on charging in greenbacks, though $3,295 will still be tough to part with come December.

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Filed under: Displays, Sharp, LCD

Earlier this year, we saw Sharp dish out more internet-ready LCD HDTVs than we could shake a stick at. Now, the outfit is catering to those clamoring for a GX5 model larger than 52-inches. The expansive 65-inch AQUOS LC-65GX5 steps in with a 1080p panel, 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 cd/m2 brightness, ARSS speaker system, 176-degree viewing angles, built-in analog / digital terrestrial tuners and a whole mess of ports including HDMI (x3), optical audio, i.LINK, composite, S-Video and DVI. As expected, the set is DLNA-compliant, and there's a built-in IR port for anyone that still cares. Expect it next month (at least in Japan) for ¥680,000 ($6,450).

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector

Whoa, Leica -- what got into you of late? Introducing three new cameras at once just not good enough? Evidently not, as the outfit better known for its retro-styled snappers has just produced an all new high-def projector, the 7.5-pound Pradovit D-1200. Taking a hint from projectiondesign's, um, design cues, this DLP beamer boasts a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, 1,400 ANSI lumens, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio and a VARIO-ELMARIT-P f/2.8-3.1/33-42 mm high-speed lens. You'll also find a 220-watt FusionPlus VIDI UHP lamp from Philips which is said to be good for around 3,000 hours, and as for ports, there's component, HDMI 1.3, DVI, composite, S-Video, VGA and Ethernet jacks. Mum's the word on a price, but it'll be available for those with thick wallets this November.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, Projector

While we were just able to take a look at Sony's BRAVIA VPL-VW70 SXRD at CEDIA, it appears that the company is showing Europe a little love with the awfully similar VPL-VW80. The Full HD beamer includes High Frame Rate SXRD panels, a 100Hz Motionflow Dark Frame Insertion system, the BRAVIA ENGINE 2 processing tech and a 2.5-millisecond response time. You'll also find a 60,000:1 contrast ratio, Advanced Iris 2, electronic panel alignment, two HDMI connectors and a 1.6x motorized zoom lens. Unfortunately, there's no mention of a price and / or release date, but we'll go way out on a limb here and suggest you start saving up immediately.

[Via AboutProjectors]

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Much has been made of the role the high cost of Blu-ray Discs has played in hampering the high def format's uptake.
Yet if reports from Engadget are borne out, VUDU is shortly to offer HD downloads " equal in quality to Blu-ray movies"

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

You heard that Nikon busted out a DSLR with a 720p movie mode, right? Even that is going to pale in comparison to RED's alternative, or at least that's what RED would have you to believe. In a recent post over at the REDuser forums, Jannard points out that its DSLR "replacement" should be ready to rock by late 2009, and while an official name has yet to arrive, it's going by DSMC (Digital Still & Motion Camera) for the time being. Also of note, Jannard casually mentioned that this piece would be more advanced than Nikon's D90 and an undisclosed 1080p DSLR from Canon; that's the first we've heard of such a beast, but given the natural progression of technology, we suppose it fits. C'mon guys, 3K 4K 5K shooting in a DSLR, we know you can do it.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

projectiondesign's overhead sign was practically larger than its array of projectors, but those uniquely designed boxes drew our attention and wouldn't let go. Thus, we snapped a few shots of what we saw, and while everything there was too rich for our blood, no one said we couldn't stare real hard. Dive in below.

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Filed under: Displays, DLP, Projector, Runco

The fun has just begun in the Mile High City for Runco, which has followed up its outlandish flat-panel announcement with a replacement to the fabled VX-2 projector. The 3-chip VideoXtreme VX-8 is squarely aimed at those with fat wallets and the word "videophile" stitched into their Ralph Lauren scarfs, evidenced by the superfluous (but very appreciated) video processing capabilities via DHD with Vivix and three SuperOnyx DMDs. Additionally, you'll find the outfit's ConstantContrast tech, which delivers frame-by-frame contrast correction, while the CorrectColor brings "complete color calibration for D65 perfection." For more technobabble on the January-bound unit, hit up the read link -- but before you waste your time, let us remind you that this will cost $19,995.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Other formats, Players, Set-top boxes, Others

Kaleidescape's booth was jammed packed with prospective buyers this year, evidently unaffected by a flagging economy and absurd prices flung from the mouths of on-hand representatives. All angst aside, we did stop by the outfit's CEDIA booth to see just what was crackin' and to snap a few photographs all the while. We'll admit, the 1080p Player / 1080p Mini Player are both beautiful pieces of equipment, and they certainly worked well when demonstrated. We'll refrain from commenting (again) on the value proposition here, but instead, we'll direct you to the gallery below with a forced grin.

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Filed under: Displays, Other formats, Others

Now here's a real head-scratcher -- imagine that instead of having Netflix ship you a new movie on disc every few days, you had some other company sending you a new hard drive once or twice a week. If we're understanding SIM2's latest news correctly, that's exactly what'll happen when signing up with Entertainment Experience, LLC. The Digital Entertainment Solution includes SIM2's ultra-pricey C3X 1080p projector, but that's not even the best part; purchasers will apparently also receive an undisclosed amount of additional hardware in the form of a "Digital Entertainment Center" that accepts HDDs with motion pictures stored in a reference-grade DCI format accepted by Hollywood. It even sounds like an AV signal processor comes bundled in to make even your current media components (Xbox 360, PS3, Blu-ray player, etc.) look better. Both firms have noted that content should be available "soon," and while we'll be doing our best to track down more information at CEDIA, feel free to read up on the cryptic release after the break for now.

Continue reading SIM2 tag-teams with Entertainment Experience to bring you movies on hard drives

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, LCD

Sony already fessed up to the European versions of these sets last week at IFA, but we were able to wrap our eyes around the US versions here at CEDIA. Both sets were expectedly gorgeous, but the ultrathin KLV-40ZX1M really won over our hearts. Hit the gallery below and see if you're equally touched.

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, Projector

Sony's 400-disc BD Mega Changer was just a small part of what it had going on at CEDIA, and we couldn't pass up the chance to photograph its two newest SXRD BRAVIA beamers. The VPL-VW70 and VPL-HW10 projectors didn't look all that different than previous units in the family, with smooth lines, a rather large body and all of the ports conveniently tucked on one side. At $8,000 and $3,500 (respectively), they ain't cheap, but even those tags are minuscule compared to similar units just a few years back. Have a closer look in the gallery below.

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Filed under: Displays, Epson, Projector

Look, we aren't kvetching about yet another 1080p projector for under two grand, but Epson's getting a tad carried away by claiming that its PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 is the first 1080p PJ under $2k. Sanyo's $1,995 PLV-Z700 notwithstanding, this 3LCD beamer is still a pretty good value, offering up a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, 18,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Epson's exclusive Dynamic Iris system, which allows light to be controlled precisely on a frame-by-frame basis. Additionally, the E-TORL lamp delivers 1,800 lumens to light up even a mildly lit room, and the 22dB operation should keep most folks sufficiently pleased with noise output. As for ports, you'll find two HDMI 1.3a sockets, an S-Video / composite jack and a VGA connector. Check it this November for $1,999.

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Filed under: Displays, Epson, Projector

Continue reading Epson churns out 1080p PowerLite Pro Cinema 7100 and 7500 UB projectors

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, Projector

We already knew that Sony's VPL-HW10 was well on its way to retail shelves, but now you can mark it down -- it, along with the VPL-VW70, are officially official here in Denver. This 1080p SXRD two-fer offers up 24p True Cinema technology and the BRAVIA Engine video signal processing engine. As for the VPL-VW70, it checks in with a 60,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 800 ANSI lumens; the VPL-HW10 offers up half the contrast ratio and 1,000 ANSI lumens for use in brighter areas. Full specifications are just after the cut, but if you're anxious for pricing: the VW70 will hit this November for a staggering $8,000, while the HW10 can be had later this month for around $3,500.

Continue reading Sony trots out 1080p SXRD BRAVIA VPL-VW70 and VPL-HW10 projectors

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, LCD

Sony's thunder on these sets was already felt over in Berlin, but there's nothing quite like official verbiage saying that a 9.9-millimeter thick HDTV (and one with 240Hz technology) will be coming to the good 'ole US of A. Alongside Blu-ray HTIBs and a pricey new BD deck, Sony's also formally introducing the 52-inch BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 and 40-inch BRAVIA KLV-40ZX1M here at CEDIA. The former features the eye-testing Motionflow 240Hz frame rate tech, which promises to deliver "exceptional motion detail in movies, sports and video games." It also boasts the outfit's BRAVIA Engine 2, an 80,000:1 contrast ratio and compatibility with BRAVIA Link expansion modules. As for Mr. Thin, it features a 1080p panel, an edge-lit wide color gamut LED backlight, a single HDMI input and support for Sony's BRAVIA Wireless Link. Both sets should ship in December for undisclosed prices, but you can read up on the full array of specifications just after the break.

Continue reading Sony debuts 240Hz KDL-52XBR7 / 9.9mm KLV-40ZX1M LCD HDTVs for USers

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Filed under: Displays, Sharp, LCD

Haven't had your fill of Sharp LCD HDTVs yet? Fret not, as said outfit is taking the wraps off of two more families at the Colorado Convention Center. The D65U / D85U LCD HDTVs all pack 1080p panels and range between 42- and 52-inches in size. The D65U line comes with five HDMI inputs, a six-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angles and a dedicated PC input to boot. The D85U steps it up by offering 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a four-millisecond response time. The sets will be in stores this fall (think October / November) for $1,599.99 and up. Per usual, the full releases are waiting after the break.

Continue reading AQUOS D65U / D85U LCD HDTVs get uncovered at CEDIA

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Filed under: Displays, Sharp, LCD

Though making a limited run of LCD HDTVs seems like a curious choice, Sharp is unleashing two of 'em (again) today in Denver. The 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S and 65-inch LC-65XS1U-S both sport newly-developed 10-bit Advanced Super View (ASV) LCD panels and feature native 1080p resolutions, AQUOS Net capabilities, an RGB-LED backlight system and a dynamic contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1. You'll also find a super thin integrated sound system powered by a 1-bit digital amplifier, and the entire set is just one-inch thick at its thinnest part. Of note, these units come bundled with a separate AVC system set-top-box for handling inputs, though WHDI was unfortunately left out. Catch the pair this October for currently undisclosed prices, and peep the full release just after the cut.

Continue reading Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S / LC-65XS1U-S AQUOS LCD HDTVs loosed by Sharp

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Filed under: Receivers, Others

Integra's doing more than just adding ISF calibration into its receivers this year, it's also dishing out an all new unit and upgrading one of its more popular choices. The DTR-7.9 is a 7.1-channel AVR boasting 130-watts per channel, THX Ultra2 Plus certification, a Faroudja DCDi chip for 1080p upscaling over HDMI (or 1080i over component) and five HDMI 1.3a ports. On a related note, the DTR-6.9 has been upgraded to carry THX Select2 Plus certification along with 1080p Faroudja DCDi upscaling, "on board decoding for lossless and HD audio formats, multizone / multisource capabilities, and Integra's signature systems integration and control features." Hit up the read link for the laundry list of specifications (trust us, we've only brushed over the surface here), and expect to find the DTR-7.9 at local resellers soon for $1,300.

Read - Integra DTR-7.9
Read - Upgraded Integra DTR-6.9

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Fiber, Satellite

Not that long ago, 1080p Hollywood movies were the domain of Blu-ray, but with Numericable jumping on the full HD VOD bandwagon, followed in short order by DISH Network and DirecTV, it's neighborhood is looking a little crowded. Luckily Strategy Analytics has an $899 report on why Blu-ray is safe -- at least for now -- from from competing with service providers, although they also report the BDA is "exploring" DirecTV and DISH's claims of Blu-ray quality movies on demand will take "appropriate action". We know how cheap you are, so the read link points to the totally free blog entry which you'll is about as skeptical as we were about their supposed picture quality. Of course, since too many HDTV owners aren't even watching high definition, it could be a hard sell convincing them of the difference between Blu-ray and other lower-bitrate 1080p sources.

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Satellite and cable providers on both sides of the Atlantic have recently claimed they are offering full HD - or 1080p - programming.
The Blu-ray Disc Association is objecting to these claims of equality, suggesting the comparisons are irresponsible and misleading, and says it will take “appropriate action”.

Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

After vaguely describing its new 1080p 3LCD-based PLV-Z700 projector as "entry-level", Sanyo's finally returned with a pricetag: $1,995. While that doesn't exactly spell "cheap" to most, good luck finding another full HD projector that matches these specs with an MSRP starting south of two grand. 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,200 ANSI lumens and a variable lens designed to adjust to smaller rooms adds up to the perfect solution for those who want more pixels but less price, expect to find out more when it hits the stage at IFA 2008 in Berlin August 29, followed by store shelves worldwide in October, closing out its run with full specs after the break.

Continue reading Sanyo's entry-level 1080p PLV-Z700 projector runs $1,995, shipping in October

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung, LCD

Samsung's Series 7 / 8 / 9 plasmas and LCDs have broken cover already in Europe or North America, including the slim PAVV Bordeaux 850 (pictured), but Asia gets first crack at the company's local dimming LED backlighting tech trickling down into the 40-inch LCD size range. Auto Motion Plus 120Hz technology, 1080p, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratios are a must, while also substituting direct YouTube access for the U.S. version's USA Today-powered InfoLink RSS service. No word on the prices the newly expanded Bordeaux line, but we're more interested in how soon the latest in backlighting technology is moving downmarket.

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Filed under: DVRs, Media streamers, Other formats, Other hardware

Realtek's found some additional horsepower for the next generation of DivX hardware, as its RTD1262/RTD1282 is the first to support 1080p DivX decoding as opposed from the 720p limitations on the previous solutions like the D-Link DSM-330. Designed for Networked Media Box and DVR STB applications, we're sure someone will find a box to wrap around this chip before long, although there's no word on exactly when it will be available to manufacturers. 1080p DivX DVR with support for streaming or local HDDs and USB devices? Yes, please.

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Filed under: Other hardware, Others

We've seriously stopped trying to understand what differentiates one DXG camcorder from the next. Every release reads something like "blah, blah, 1080p," followed by a price that's simply too good to be true. The DXG-595V claims to capture 1080p (imagine that!) video onto your SDHC card for a mere $200, and the ability to snag stills / connect to your SDTV via composite or S-Video is thrown in for free. Thanks, DXG -- can't wait for you to slap a new model number on some leftover inventory and treat us again next month.

[Via Gearlog]

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Filed under: Reviews, InFocus, DLP, Projector

The crew at Trusted Reviews didn't waste any time getting their hands on the just-announced InFocus Play Big IN80 projector. Better still, they liked what they saw. Despite initial trepidations about how the IN80 would fare compared to the £400 cheaper X10, they found performance significantly better in the bigger brother. Better contrast (with an emphasis on deeper black levels) and higher brightness earned points, and overall the review pegged the IN80 as the "knee" in the price-to-performance curve. The only niggles that turned up were fan noise and DLP rainbow effects, perhaps more noticeable due to the IN80's brighter lamp. Sounds like a worthy competitor to the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080, but take our advice -- don't go looking for those rainbows; see them once and you're ruined!

[Via AboutProjectors]

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

"Entry-level" and "1080p projector" don't often go hand-in-hand, but Sanyo's mashing the two terms together with its PLV-Z700. The Full HD beamer provides a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, 1,200 ANSI lumens, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, twin HDMI 1.3b ports (along with an array of others) and a variable iris that can "control lens iris adjustment every 1/60th of a second." Unfortunately, the most tantalizing tidbit has been omitted for now (yes, the price), but word on the street has it shipping to the UK in October.

[Via AboutProjectors]

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Information is beginning to emerge about Sony's first device harnessing the new standard for wireless high-definition video connectivity – WHDI.
The DMX-WL1T will allow uncompressed 1080p HD video and audio signal to be transmitted to any Dmex compatible Sony Bravia HDTV.

DivX has announced the high-definition DivX certification of Broadcom Corporation’s BCM7405 system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution.
It supports the playback of DivX 1080p content, and other key integrated features for digital television content such as recording, playback, time-shifting and trick modes.

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

To be completely honest, we're not so sure there's any real difference between any of Aiptek's crapcorders. They all seem to boast some form of HD capturing abilities, utterly worthless digital zooms and expansion slots for your SDHC card of choice. Additionally, they all produce output that's marginally better than mediocre and cost next-to-nothing compared to "real" HD camcorders. Are we missing anything, or do you really want us to run down the official specs list of the £129.99 ($249) AHD 300?

Via The Gadgets Weblog]

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Filed under: Internet, Satellite, New content

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Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

Never one to let its rival Samsung get too far ahead, LG is rolling out its long awaited local-dimming LED-backlit 1080p LCD (formerly known as the 47LG75) now dubbed the 47LG90. Rocking a $3,599 pricetag when hits shelves in September -- we'll assume it missed the original Q2 2007 projections due to our request for 120Hz motion processing, now included -- a spec sheet from LG Canada indicates a 500cd/m2 brightness rating, 3 HDMI v1.3 inputs, Intelligent Sensor to adjust for lighting conditions, Invisible Speakers, ISFccc calibration ready, USB port and LG's SimpLink control technology. The "unique teardrop design" with blue accents encloses a 5-inch thick package that can't be as slim as its LGX cousin, but we're thinking the LED-enhanced view from the front will make up for it. On paper, the Samsung 9 Series seems to have the edge on price and features, but we'll have to wait and see if reality matches the specs.

Read - Press release
Read - Spec sheet (Warning: PDF link)

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Subscribers to America’s DISH Network who have its MPEG-4 HD DVR boxes are to be offered full 1080p (1920x1080 progressive) resolution wherever content is available.
Starting on August 1 with a Video On Demand option for the movie I Am Legend, the new high resolution programming will supercede the 1080i (interlaced) or 720p which until now was usual HD fare for DISH and other services.

LG Electronics and Netflix are to launch the first Blu-ray Disc player that will have the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to the TV.
The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player, which is to be launched in the autumn, will play high definition Blu-ray discs and up-convert standard DVDs to 1080p.

Filed under: Set-top boxes, Satellite, New content

Take that DirecTV, you announce 1080p "this year" and 130 HD channels in August and DISH one ups you with an announcement that it'll start offering 1080p VOD in August -- but DirecTV fanboys will take some comfort in the fact that DirecTV's latest bird started broadcasting HD channels today, while Echostar XI won't start for a few more months. Either way, this is good for everyone, but based on both company's track record, we tend to take DISH's word over DirecTV's -- after the whole CES 07 lie. DISH subscribers with MPEG-4 HD DVRs should receive an update in the next two weeks that will allow them access the 1080p VOD movies, such as I Am Legend. The release also goes on about how the quality will be "same as Blu-ray Disc quality," but we'll believe that one when we see it for ourselves.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, DLP, Projector

SIM2's DOMINO line -- okay, SIM2's entire line -- isn't known for being the cheapest bunch. The new DOMINO D60, however, is actually affordable by said company's standards, checking in at just 4,995 US dollars. This 1080p beamer is based on Texas Instruments' DarkChip3 0.95-inch DMD chipset and includes a single-chip DLP projection system, BrilliantColor, three different preset modes (Cinema, Dynamic, and Standard) and three user-customizable memories. It's shipping now for those with fat wallets.

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Belkin have announced a wireless HD transmitter that gives 1080p resolution to any HDTV in the home.
The Flywire HDMI hub wirelessly connects devices such as Blu-ray players, receivers, video-game consoles, and set-top boxes to HDTVs and projectors, transmitting a high-definition 1080p True Cinema picture resolution.

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

If the Envision L42H761 was just barely, barely too rich for your blood at $1,050, AOC's looking to break the one grand mark with its newest 42-incher. The L42H861 packs a 1080p Full HD panel, a 6,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 176-degree viewing angles, 3-D comb filter, three HDMI ports, a VGA input (with audio socket) and a digital ATSC / Clear QAM TV tuner to boot. The $999.99 asking price also includes a swivel stand, but it's not scared of being hung upside your wall, either. The full release is after the jump.

Continue reading AOC unloads 42-inch L42H861 LCD HDTV for $1,000

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Filed under: Misc, Blu-ray

This isn't the first time we've heard of a Blu-ray release not exactly living up to the format it's being released on, but apparently purchasers of Gangs of New York are none too pleased with the BD transfer. It is noteworthy that this film had a pretty wretched DVD transfer, but it seems that those in charge of transferring it to Blu-ray didn't quite take the time to fix the issues that were already present. Sure, the BD version looks a touch better than the DVD edition, but we're still seeing loads of artifacts and noise... just at 1080p. Anyone else raging mad right about now, or is your copy not worth griping over?

[Thanks, Michael]

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Delta Electronics will soon begin volume shipments of full HD projectors, according to company CEO Yancey Hai.
He expects its business outlook for the second half of 2008 to remain “guided positive”.
Hai said orders for Delta’s power supply products from segments such as desktops, notebooks and LCD TVs have remained strong, with order visibility extending at least three months.
The CEO said Delta had recently begun production of full HD projectors and the company is now in talks with a number of brand vendors for ODM orders.
Delta’s projector will deliver a full HP 1080P resolution and brightness of 6,000 lumens.

Onkyo, the A/V manufacturer that backed the high def DVD format and sold around 2,000 players, is to launch its first BD player later this year.
The company had flagged up its intention to let bygones be bygones and join the other “side” shortly after Toshiba announced that it would concede the format war last February.
It discontinued production of its HD DVD players, while assuring existing customers they would continue to receive full product support and service.
A company statement also said it’s R&D team had “maintained a parallel development programme for the competing Blu-ray technology”.

Filed under: Cable

That DOCSIS 3.0 technology isn't going to waste, as Numericable is apparently going to be one of the first providers to broadcast 1080p content. The 11.25Mbps MPEG-4 streams will include videos from CinéPlay, TF1 Vision and I-Concerts, so you can check out Amy Winehouse's tattoos, pockmarks and teeth in glorious full HD, before quickly switching to National Treasure for some eyebleach. Those with the Cablebox HD can get the titles for €4.99/€3.99/€2.99 depending on the type. All we can say for U.S. operators is where's ours?

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Filed under: Other hardware, Others

Watch out DXG, you've got a new rival in town, and it goes by the name Lancerlink. Just when we thought you had the cheap-o HD camcorder market all locked up, in comes this firm with a rather chintzy looking camcorder capable of logging clips at 1,440 x 1,080 (30fps) or 1,280 x 720 (60fps) in H.264 format. The 5-megapixel sensor can also snag stills, but considering that there's just 90MB of free memory within, you should probably keep an SD / MMC / SDHC card nearby. You'll also find a 3-inch LCD monitor, HDTV (component) output, USB connectivity and a rechargeable battery good for around four hours of use. The worst part, however, is the ¥49,800 ($474) price tag that's attached to the July-bound DDV-1080HD, which makes it a few hundies more than most of DXG's awfully similar collection.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

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Filed under: Receivers, Sony

Say hello to this year's warmed-over line of Sony's ES 7.1 channel audio/video receivers. Now-standard features in the line include a PS3/PSP-style xross media bar interface, 1080p Faroudja DCDi upconversion, a slew of audio codec support (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts High Resolution Audio and dts HD Master Audio) plus Digital Media Port connectivity to hook up iPod or Bluetooth adapters or satellite radio. The higher end STR-DA4400ES (above) packs a 120-watt amplifier, six HDMI inputs, HD video output to two zones and audio to three zones for $1,500 when it debuts this August. The STR-DA3400ES and STR-DA2400ES both include a 1000-watt amp, four HDMI jacks, the 3400 includes an IR repeater and support for a second video zone with its $1,000 price tag, while the 2400 drops those features and includes a basic interface for $800 next month. Take a peek at both after the break, then check your wallet to see where you fit in.

Continue reading Sony unveils 2008 ES receiver lineup

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD, Plasma

Well, what have we here? A trio of newcomers from "North America's fastest growing brand of flat-panel HDTVs," that's what. Kicking things off in the all new XVT Series is the 42-inch SV420XVT and 47-inch SV47XVT LCD HDTVs, both of which feature 1080p panels, VIZIO's Smooth Motion technology (120Hz), a 6,500:1 contrast ratio and the usual complement of ports including four HDMI 1.3 sockets. Next up we've got the 50-inch VP505XVT, a 1080p plasma with Silicon Optix's famed REON HQV processing engine. Furthermore, this one packs an integrated digital TV tuner (with ClearQAM support), a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 and SRS Labs' TruSurround XT audio processing technology. The new trio is all set to ship next month for $1,499.99, $1,899.99 and $1,699.99, and of course, you'll find 'em perched at Circuit City, Sears and your favorite Club retailer. [Warning: PDF read link]

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Filed under: Displays, JVC, LCD

Dust those cobwebs out and strain that memory, won't you? Surely you haven't forgotten about JVC's pair of "world's thinnest" LCD HDTVs; after all, they were just announced at CES. Whatever the case, the 42-inch LT-42SL89 and 46-inch LT-46SL89 HDTVs are both proud members of the outfit's Procision series and boast a cabinet that "across most of its width measures a mere 1.5-inches, with a maximum depth of just 2.9-inches at the panel's center." Of course, each set also includes a TV tuner, three HDMI inputs, two component jacks and one S-Video / VGA port to complement the USB picture viewer, illuminated remote and touch-sensitive buttons on the front panel. Both super-slim units will hit retail stores next month for $1,899.99 and $2,399.99, respectively.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

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Manufacturers will have to install features currently only available as paid-for add-ons in top-of-the-range HDTV models if sales growth is to be sustained.
That is the conclusion of a report by research firm DisplaySearch which suggests that sales of HDTVs will peak in the next two or three years.
It goes on to say that sales will then fall unless manufacturers can add compelling features that consumers are willing to pay for.
Calvin Hsieh, the director of research at DisplaySearch, said internet connectivity, full 1080p resolution, PVR capabilities and upgraded HDMI port specifications need to become standard fare by next year.

Filed under: Displays, Sony, LCD

Not content with just rolling a few truckload of new projectors out at InfoComm, Sony has also decided to introduce a pair of LCDs aimed at the commercial market. The 42-inch FWD-S42H1 and 47-inch FWD-S47H1 both sport 1,920 x 1,080 resolutions and come ready to accept the outfit's VSP-NS7 HD player on the rear. As expected with digital signage displays, these too can be managed remotely, used horizontally or vertically and feature a trio of screen saver modes. As for inputs, you'll find DVI, VGA, S-Video and composite, with optional adapters for HDMI / HD-SDI / etc. Both sets should hit dealers in October for a currently undisclosed amount.

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Filed under: Displays, Media PCs, Samsung, LCD

Here comes yet another release from InfoComm about a professional LCD -- Samsung's new CX Series, integrated digital tuner, HDMI ports and, uh, a PC? Humorously enough, Sammy's introduction of the 400CX, 400CXn and 460CX focuses more on how they're perfect for commercial applications than keying in on the fact that this thing has a full-fledged PC inside of it. The so-called "integrated network PC" is there to facilitate "easy content management," and just like other digital signage displays, this one is just fine being tilted horizontally or vertically. As for the 400CX and 400CXn, you'll find a 1,366 x 768 resolution; the 460CX gets a Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 panel. Each unit also possesses built-in 10-watt speakers, advanced cooling technologies and a three-year warranty. From what we can glean, we highly doubt you'll find a bona fide HTPC inside here, but those with enough patience may find a satisfactory alternative to the Lumenlab Q42.

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Filed under: Displays, Samsung, DLP, Projector

It took nearly a year to get here, but shortly after being reviewed, Samsung's upscale SP-A800B DLP projector is finally available in the USA. Co-developed with industry legend Joe Kane, this 1080p PJ features a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1, a 95% aperture ratio, 16-microsecond response time and a full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Additionally, it hums along quietly at 25dB and gets backed by a two-year warranty. Sammy's not bothering to tell you the price, but we've heard it'll list for just under ten grand.

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Filed under: Reviews, Cables, Players, Others

Let's get real honest with one another here: if folks are legitimately arguing that a $700 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player is overpriced, there's absolutely no way a DVD player is worth over four times as much. That being said, the folks over at Sound & Vision put the pricey pair through the paces, and they were actually quite pleased with the results. In a nutshell, it seems that reviewers found the best upscaling DVD players this planet has to offer, and while all the fawning over their pristine reproduction of colors was fine and dandy, it's the value proposition here that's absurdly out of whack. In fairness, it's good to hear that the bundled Gennum VXP video processor chip lived up to the hype, but all the upconverting in the world won't make us believe these things are worthy of the stratospheric prices.

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Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Believe it or not, Aztech's WL850MS was actually first mentioned way back at CES 2008, but it's just now finding the limelight at CommunicAsia. The well-spec'd unit supports 1080p media streaming over Ethernet or 802.11n WiFi, and you'll likely be thrilled to know that it boasts MIMO antennas for extended coverage and 2.4GHz / 5GHz dual-band capability. You'll also find four 10/100 Ethernet ports for multiple video recipients and a pretty swank enclosure, if we may say so ourselves. Word from Singapore has the unit retailing for around $263, but there's no telling how long we'll have to wait before seeing it on US soil.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

Oh sure, waterproof LCD TVs have been available for ages, but Sanyo's making the choice of which outdoor display to buy simple with the introduction of its CE52SR1. You see, unlike many alternatives, this waterproof set packs a 1080p Full HD panel, meaning that you can enjoy your Blu-ray films in full-res glory while slouched in a beach chair beside your pool. Furthermore, the display is daylight readable and features a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 1,500 cd/m2 brightness, 6.5-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angles, a slew of inputs and a frame constructed from marine grade anodized aluminum. Unfortunately, the summer in America will be long over before you can actually drop $13,995 in order to claim one, but October isn't too far out, now is it?

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Filed under: Displays, Mitsubishi, Projector

We've got good news and bad news. We'll go ahead and get the latter out of the way. Mitsubishi, like everyone else today, is introducing a few new projectors, two of which you'll likely care nothing about. Those are the education-focused XD500U-ST -- which packs a paltry XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution -- and the slightly less mind-numbing XD530U, which touts 3,000 lumens, an XGA resolution and wireless capabilities. Now, for the good stuff. The HC4900 (pictured) is being replaced by the 1080p HC5500, which is designed to operate at just 19dB in order to keep home theater enthusiasts smiling. Unfortunately, Mitsu hasn't seen fit to disclose pricing / availability details just yet (outside of the tempting $2,495 sticker on the HC5500), but hopefully all of that will come in due time. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading Mitsubishi reveals HC5500 1080p projector, other forgettable ones

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Filed under: Blu-ray, Other formats, Players, Others

And you thought Toshiba's super-resolution DVD player taking on Blu-ray was comical. Kaleidescape -- the company famous for selling grossly overpriced (albeit fanciful) DVD / BD archiving systems for wealthy home theater junkies -- has just announced two new standalone DVD players that "provide a viewing experience that rivals Blu-ray." The argument goes something like this: there are 170,000 titles on DVD, and "just 6,000" (wait, for real?) on BD -- why support the next-gen format when these two upscaling DVD players display content that is utterly indiscernible from Blu-ray. For starters, the outfit is launching the 1080p Player (pictured), which earns the "ultimate DVD player" label by featuring a Sigma Designs Gennum VXP chip, 10-bit processing and full support for Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG and PCM audio formats. The 1080p Mini Player offers the same, but in a tinier package meant for inconspicuous installations. Granted, both units do have exclusive access to Kaleidescape's Movie Guide database, but that hardly justifies the $4,295 / $2,995 price tags (in addition to the required $10,000 Kaleidescape System). Full release after the jump.

Continue reading Kaleidescape claims new 1080p upscaling DVD players "rival Blu-ray"

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Filed under: Industry, Displays, Others, DLP, Projector

InfoComm is in full swing down in Vegas, and Texas Instruments isn't wasting any time showcasing its latest gear. First up is a prototype 1080p beamer hailed as the industry's first with a lamp-free design. Said unit also utilizes a PhlatLight LED light source and a BrilliantColor chipset, and if TI is to be believed, certain vendors will be shipping wares based on this stuff later this year. Moving on, we're being (re)treated to the planet's "first" 3D front projector (also known as the F10 AS3D), designed in cooperation with projectiondesign. Hidden beneath the big boys is the DLP Pico chipset for mobile applications, which will unsurprisingly pop up in pico projectors from companies like Optoma in late 2008 (Europe and Asia) / 2009 (the rest of us). Peek the full release after the break.

Continue reading TI showcases 3D projector and DLP Pico chipset at InfoComm

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, LCD

Another month, another BRAVIA. Not that we're kvetching or anything, though. On the docket today are four new ones from Sony which make up the all new S4000 family. Arriving in 26-, 32-, 37- and 40-inch sizes, the crew showcases Sony's fresh "draw the LINE" design concept and features a deep piano black finish, clean lines, gently-rounded curves and a swivel base to boot. The largest of the four boasts a 1080p Full HD panel, 24p True Cinema mode and the outfit's BRAVIA ENGINE 2 signal processing technology, while the other guys get stuck with the original BRAVIA ENGINE and "HD Ready" panels. The whole lot gets a trio of HDMI sockets,an integrated DVB-C / DVB-T TV tuner and a dynamic contrast ratio at or above 22,000:1. No word on a price / release date, but we're figuring that they land somewhere in Europe first.

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Filed under: Misc, Other hardware, Ports, Others

Not like Team Xtender hasn't been offering something similar to this for well over a year now, but hey, nothing wrong with a bit of delayed competition. XCM has just made clear that it will soon be selling the 1080p Mega-Cool VGA box, which takes any component input and shoots it back out via VGA. The box supports PC resolutions up to UXGA (1,600 x 1,200 at 75Hz) or HDTV (up to 1,920 x 1,080). Plug-and-play, NTSC / PAL support and USB power are all included -- you just provide the ins and outs. Mum's the current word on pricing / availability, but we're hearing that e-tailer Total Console will be offering it soon.

[Via IGN]

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Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

LG's Xcanvas line of LCD HDTVs look mighty sexy as-is, in our humble opinion, but we're certain a little extravagance can't hurt. The 1080p 47LB90FD has a surprisingly sparkly base that's doused in Swarovski crystals, and as you can likely glean, it'll only be released in limited quantities. Sadly, the nitty-gritty details on this thing are few and far between, but when you're talking about a ritzy ?3.3 million ($3,204) HDTV, who needs a contrast ratio?

[Via CNET]

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Filed under: Displays, Sony, LCD

Pucker up, BRAVIA fans -- it's nearly time to lay a big one on Sony's forthcoming flagships. The 40-inch KDL-40Z4100 and 46-inch KDL-46Z4100 have both surfaced on Amazon with a tantalizing June 1st release date, and just in case your memory is failing you, the pair packs 1080p panels, BRAVIA Engine 2, Motionflow 120Hz technology, four HDMI ports and DLNA compatibility. As for pricing, you'll be forking over $2,299.99 for the "little" guy, while the larger sibling demands $2,799.99. Pretty proud of these guys, aren't you Sony?

[Thanks, Rob]

Read - Sony BRAVIA KDL-40Z4100
Read - Sony BRAVIA KDL-46Z4100

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Filed under: Cables, Other hardware

Move over HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort, here comes DIVA (Digital Interface for Audio and Video). Cooked up by the above group of Chinese manufacturers, they say this standard can improve on HDMI by enabling bi-directional data connections above and beyond HDMI-CEC protocols, creating easy DLNA connections between devices with a single cable. Forward channel video speeds of 13.6 Gbps provide plenty of room for 1080p and higher resolutions with Deep Color, plus the two-way connection at up to 2.25Gbps that can simultaneously handle multichannel audio, control or other data. With a working demo shown over a single 8 wire CAT6 cable, it's got specs that interest us, and with a growing AV market in China maybe these companies have enough pull to get wider support. Still, until someone produces a platinum cable measuring 3-feet long that costs $200 we won't be sure of its success.

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Filed under: Displays, Others, Projector

projectiondesign is apparently working on a 3D projection-based solution to fit anyone's need. If a rotating panoramic display or eight camera visualization system seems like overkill, try its latest 2D/3D 1080p projector on for size. When driven by a dual-head PC via DVI it can deliver 3D in 1080p at 60Hz from a single projector, courtesy of a pair of active wireless glasses kept in sync with the projector via IR. AVING reports the system is expected in Korea in September and has a few more pics from the presentation, but your guess is as good as ours as to when this might be available in the U.S., and at what cost.

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Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

After slipping past their original spring release date, Panasonic's PZ850 series of plasmas are no longer the only ones with YouTube support, but those desiring internet features, high contrast ratios and easy-access calibration settings can expect them on shelves this summer. The 46-, 50- and 58-inch versions should all be available in mid-June, with the 65-incher rolling out in August. Other than the IP features (Picasa access is also part of the package) the THX-certified PZ850s support h.264 playback from the SD card slot, RS-232C, 24p native playback, and a variety of display modes and settings to get the picture just the way the director intended, the way you like it, or anywhere in between. Check after the break for a list of prices, and our video hands on from CES 2008.

Continue reading Panasonic VIERACast internet-enabled plasmas due this summer

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Filed under: Other hardware, New content

We knew native 1080p gaming wouldn't necessarily be the standard this console generation, but especially in light of Sony's "HD era doesn't start until we're on the market" comments, things are getting a bit ridiculous. PS3-exclusive Haze is the latest to slide in underneath the 720p bar, with sharp eyed pixel counters finding a mere 1024x576 resolution in the demo on PSN, anumber confirmed by the game's creative lead after it was originally denied on the U.S. Playstation blog. Haze is hardly the first game to do this, with GTA IV on the PS3, Call of Duty 4 on Xbox 360 and PS3 and Halo 3 on Xbox 360 all using upscaling to deliver extra effects over pixels, but someday we'd like to have our cake and eat it too. Of coruse, judging by early reviews, how many pixels are present might not have saved lackluster gameplay.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

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Filed under: Displays, Sharp, LCD

Sharp's re-upped on the super-size rollouts, with 22 LCDs including every color and size variation, ready to hit shelves this summer ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Available in black or brown, the RX5 series (pictured) headlines the pack with 65-, 52- and 46-inch versions including 1080p resolution, 120Hz motion, a "living contrast" ratio of 1500:1 (dynamic ratio 20,000:1), 12bit image processing and internet access to a specially tuned Yahoo! Japan page all packed into a 5cm deep frame (42- and 52-inch, 6.6cm for 65-inch). The more mainstream GX5 line ranges from 52- to 32-inches complete with all the 1080p resolution, side mounted ARSS "Around Speaker System" DLNA access and internet hookups we know and love, plus 32- and 26-inch GH5 models that drop down to 720p, losing the around speakers, internet and 1080p res. The DS5 line is aimed at those who don't need internet access, but do need to choose between black, white and red LCDs. Check the chart on Sharp's page to compare with the "world's thinnest" X-series and see what HDTV corresponds with your social status when these drop in June.

[Via AV Watch & Akihabara News]

Read - Aquos 22 LCD models comparison
Read - R series
Read - G series
Read - D series

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