17/11/2009 - Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U350

The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 laptop offers computing and entertainment technology at its best.

With the retail price starting from as little as R6 699 (~$900), the IdeaPad U350 is a must for technology lovers for its amazing range of utilities. The smallest IdeaPad U350 laptop is a mere 1.58kg and is less than 25mm in size, making it easy to carry around.

23/10/2009 - Phillips Launches Wireless HDTV Box in the U.S.

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.

25/09/2009 - IFA 2009: Real Cable Feels the Difference

VIDEO INTERVIEW. Quality cables become more and more important part of HD - both video and audio - markets. At IFA 2009 in Berlin, Biz-News.com interviewed Catherine Torchin, Managing Director and owner of Real Cable. She described to us the strategy of the company that has already been successful on 25 markets worldwide.

Laurent Zawadil, Technical Menager for Real Cable, showed us the latest company’s product – innovative 1.4 HDMI cable with additional Ethernet Channel. The cable will be introduced to the market in October this year, but you can take a look at its main features right now.

04/09/2009 - LG W63 enters gaming monitor arena, claims to be the best

Filed under: Announcements, Displays, LG

You can't exactly accuse LG of lacking audacity -- the company that today unveiled the eccentric Color Pop displays has also updated its consumer monitor line with a gamer-centric Full HD entry that has everything but humility. The 23-inch W63 touts a new Thru Mode, which removes image processing to deliver "zero-delay" visuals, a 1,000:1 (real) contrast ratio, 2ms response time (we assume this applies when Thru Mode is off), 300 nits of brightness, two HDMI inputs and picture-in-picture functionality. There's even a Tru Light equalizer-like thingy at the bottom of the screen that pulsates in time with the sound of your glorious battle triumphs and Skype message pings. Only question left is, can anyone actually tell the difference between two milliseconds of delay and none at all?

Read - LG press release
Read - W63 product page

LG W63 enters gaming monitor arena, claims to be the best originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/09/2009 - Philips launches Wireless HDTV Link, gives airborne HDMI a fightin' chance

Filed under: Other hardware, Philips

Still reeling over the death of FlyWire this summer? So were we, until we saw this beauty pop up in Berlin. Philips Wireless HDTV Link promises to set your TV free from the tyranny of cables with an HDMI transmitter / receiver pair that'll let you place all those A/V components of yours a whopping 20 meters from your set. The base station has two HDMI connections, two component connections and boasts transmission of full 1080i and 1080p / 30 HD video. Coming soon (hopefully) this bad boy is retailing for €599.99 (about $850). [Warning: PDF read link]

Philips launches Wireless HDTV Link, gives airborne HDMI a fightin' chance originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/09/2009 - IFA 2009: Philips Launches Wireless HDTV Link

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.

10/08/2009 - Atlona Announces New AT-HD530 Down-Converter

Atlona Technologies announced their soon to be released HDMI/DVI to Composite and S-Video Down-Converter, the AT-HD530. This device will covert high-definition television video signals to standard-definition video that can be viewed on conventional television receivers or computer monitors.

30/07/2009 - Atlona Releases Swiveled HDMI and DVI Cables

Atlona has released a new range of HDMI and DVI to HDMI cables that feature a swivel connector end which allows them to bend at 90 degrees in either direction.
This connector design enables users to nearly flush mount their HDTVs - avoiding the problems posed when connecting standard HDMI cables to rear-facing HDMI ports.

29/07/2009 - Onkyo Launches Home Theater Packages for Blu-ray and HD Video Systems

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.

23/07/2009 - 3D, ARC and Ethernet capable HDMI 1.4 hardware announced, still a long way off

Filed under: Industry, Cables, Other hardware, Others

The new HDMI 1.4 spec adds a host of new features (and, most likely, a lot of new ways to get scammed on cable purchases) but for those excitedly anticipating Audio Return Channel, HDMI Ethernet Channel and 3D over HDMI should know Silicon Image has announced its first line of chips supporting them. Destined for HDTVs, receivers, Blu-ray players and the like, the new port processor and transmitter have the extremely specific sample delivery date of "second half of 2009" so while we certainly don't expect to see any actual hardware until well into next year, keep an ear to the ground if you're considering an upgrade before then.

3D, ARC and Ethernet capable HDMI 1.4 hardware announced, still a long way off originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/07/2009 - Belkin Cancels FlyWire Wireless HDMI Device

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.

07/07/2009 - MEDION Unveils Mobile HD Netbook

MEDION has unveiled its next generation netbook - with an 11.6" HD display and ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics.
The AKOYA MINI E1312 appears to offer fast performance for its class.

28/05/2009 - New HDMI Cable Adds Internet Data to Video and Audio

A new version of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable has been announced by the industry alliance responsible for licensing the specification.
HDMI Licensing said the upgraded 1.4 version of HDMI will make it easier to connect Internet-connected HD video devices to TVs and other appliances.
The new cable will be able to transfer Internet data as well as video and audio data - something that the existing version isn't able to do.

05/05/2009 - Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware

We've been waiting for an inexpensive wireless USB-to-HDMI solution for what seems like forever now, and it sounds like we'll finally have some options soon: Source R&D has just announced that it's going to be shipping the Warpia Wireless USB Adapter set at the end of May for an estimated $129-$149. Just like the Atlona AT-HDAiR, the Warpia kit is just a rebranded OEM unit from Wisair, so most of the same caveats apply: max resolution is 1400 x 1050, range is about 30 feet, and HDMI and VGA are the only output options. Still, we can't really think of a better way to do some quick'n'dirty Hulu watching, so we'll be on the hunt for one of these soon -- keep an eye out.

P.S.- Yes, we hope image quality is better than this totally bunk press pic on the Warpia site.

Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/04/2009 - Belkin Flywire Delayed, Price Rises

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.

17/04/2009 - Torrent Offers Magnetic Solution To HDMI Connector Problems

Torrent has released a magnetic connector that aims to overcome the frustrating problem of loose HDMI cable connections.
The start-up says that with the help of a sliding sleeve its MagLoc connector gives a five-fold improvement in the HDMI connection strength.

04/04/2009 - LED-infused HDMI cables add some light to your home theater

Filed under: Cables

We know what you're thinking: you've decked out your gaming rig with a translucent case and a string of LEDs inside, and gave similar treatment to the wall just behind your display ... so why not add that special glow to your connection, too? Enter these HDMI 1.3 cables from Donya, available in only the finest of patriotic colors -- red, white, and blue. It'll set you back 999 yen (about US $10) plus an unknown amount for shipping, but if you're impatient, we're sure there's a little DIY weekend project to take from this.

[Via Akihabara News]

LED-infused HDMI cables add some light to your home theater originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/03/2009 - Gefen announces 4x2 and 2x4 Switchers for HDMI v1.3

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Gefen's roll of new switchers continues today with two new ones: the 4x2 Switcher for HDMI v1.3 and the 2x4 Switcher for HDMI v1.3. The former, as the title insinuates, enables users to connect four HDMI v1.3-enabled devices to two HDTVs or projectors, while the latter is aimed at integrators wanting to display the same high-def video and audio on four HDTVs or projectors at the same time. Each one also comes bundled with HDMI cables and is fully CEC pass-through / HDCP compliant. As for pricing, you're looking at $549 for the 4x2 and $699 for the 2x4, and they'll both ship out next month.

Read - 4x2 Switcher for HDMI v1.3
Read - 2x4 Switcher for HDMI v1.3.

Gefen announces 4x2 and 2x4 Switchers for HDMI v1.3 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20/03/2009 - Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Be warned -- unless you seriously need eight HDMI sources hooked up to a single matrix switch in order to activate four at a time on an array of panels, you should probably skip right over this one. If we just rung your bell, however, read on. Gefen's latest HDMI distribution box is definitely catering to the high-end / commercial market by being entirely rack-mountable and supporting up to eight HDMI inputs and four outputs. High-def signals can be transmitted over CAT5 cabling, and there's even an RS-232 port for additional control capabilities. As for distances, you can expect 1080i material to travel up to 300 feet without degradation, while 1080p content will flow 150 feet. The only problem? The $4,499 price tag. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you

Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/03/2009 - RedMere introduces industry's thinnest "smart" active HDMI cables

Filed under: Cables

They'll cost just shy of four gazillion dollars per meter, but the world's thinnest "smart" active HDMI cables are still pretty enticing; unfortunately for us, RedMere chose Monster to deliver said cables to retail, but we're crossing our fingers that it partners with other brands that are less soiled by frivolous lawsuits and priced even remotely close to "reasonable." At any rate, the new ultrathin cables feature RedMere's MagnifEye Active chip technology, and while we're not told precisely how slim these new strands will be, we're sure Monster will make quite the fuss whenever they begin to ship. Now, the only question remaining is this: will there be a locking version?

RedMere introduces industry's thinnest "smart" active HDMI cables originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/03/2009 - Hi-Den Launches First HDMI 1080p Photo Viewer

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.

20/02/2009 - Indian Satellite TV Is Propelling Worldwide Market

The worldwide market for pay-Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite television rose significantly in 2008, with an estimated 18 per cent rise in subscriptions, reports In-Stat.
It suggests the primary reason for this increase was strong growth in the Indian market, which more than doubled to about 9 million subscribers at the end of 2008.

07/01/2009 - Octava's HDS31A 3x1 HDMI switch with L/R audio routing is made for legacy HDTVs

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Octava's pushed out a few HDMI switches before, but never one like this. The HDS31A 3x1 HDMI switch is custom tailored to play nice with legacy HDTVs, which -- generally speaking -- have a single DVI input for digital video and L/R stereo audio inputs that are mapped for other video sources such as composite or S-Video. This here box enables users to sync up a trio of HDMI video sources and three L/R audio outputs through a single connection, and it enables users to keep the video input select on DVI. The unit is 1080p compatible and gets its commands via IR remote or manual selection -- if that's good enough for you, you can pony up $149.99 to get one headed your way.

Octava's HDS31A 3x1 HDMI switch with L/R audio routing is made for legacy HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/12/2008 - NXP Chip Brings High-end HDTV Quality Into Mainstream

NXP has launched a new global single-chip LCD TV platform that it claims will give mid-range TVs an HD viewing experience previously only available on higher end sets.
Founded by Philips, the semiconductor company believes its new platform will allow manufacturers and content providers to bring a broad range of Internet and digital video content to a significantly wider audience.

25/11/2008 - Gefen intros $499 1:5 Splitter for HDMI 1.3

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Anyone remotely familiar with Gefen gear will understand that "inexpensive" isn't really an option, so we suppose that explains the lofty $499 price tag attached to the outfit's freshest splitter. Designed to take a single HDMI 1.3 source to five different displays without a loss in quality, the 1:5 Splitter for HDMI 1.3 is fully HDCP compliant and supports resolutions as high as 2K (so yeah, 1080p is totally covered). It's available now with a 2-year warranty.

Gefen intros $499 1:5 Splitter for HDMI 1.3 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19/11/2008 - IXOS busts out XHE228 2-way auto HDMI 1.3 switcher

Filed under: Switches, Others

No need for a half-dozen HDMI inputs in your HDMI switcher? No worries, as IXOS has you covered. The outfit's XHE228 is a minuscule auto-switching box with two HDMI 1.3 inputs and a single HDMI 1.3 output, and it's capable of handling 1080p material up to 15-meters without signal degradation. Sadly, Americans will have to swallow the conversion fees and inflated shipping costs when paying €59 ($75) to bring it home, but those living in Europe are a-okay.

[Via HDTV Info]

IXOS busts out XHE228 2-way auto HDMI 1.3 switcher originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/10/2008 - Samsung implements InstaPort HDMI port switching on next-gen HDTVs

Filed under: Displays, Ports, Samsung

We heard about Silicon Image's InstaPort fast HDMI switching tech back in July, and now it seems we're finally seeing implementation. Samsung has emerged as the first manufacturer to buy in, with its next-generation HDTVs to include the sub-second HDMI port switching functionality. Also, we're told that nine of the top ten TV makers are currently testing the product, which means they should be ready to roll by next year. Unfortunately, we're not clued in on what exact models will include the port / input processors, so here's hoping this means "all" Samsung sets.

[Via Digital Science]

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27/08/2008 - Sony debuts $1,500 SACD player with HDMI output

Filed under: Other hardware, Players, Sony

We have to admit, that headline makes us a little bit giddy, and Sony seems to be betting there's enough folks giddy enough to throw down their credit card to snag its new high-end SACD player, which has just made its debut in Japan. In addition to making a bold statement of non-conformity in your A/V rack, the SCD-XA5400ES is particularly notable for its inclusion of an HDMI output, which nicely complements the usual digital optical, coax, and analog audio options. According to Sony, you can also expect nearly zero distortion from the twin R-core transformer and D/A system, which is independent from the general processing chipset. What's more, unlike many such product announcements, while this one made its debut in Japan, it's already available for pre-order from at least one US retailer (JR.com), although there's no promised release date just yet (it lands in Japan in October).

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18/08/2008 - Tributaries Cable's HX101 joins the 130-foot HDMI extender club

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

For all of HDMI's promises of "one cable to rule them all," there sure seem to be large number of accessories to go along with the format, many of them for supporting longer runs. Tributaries Cable has added its HX101 to the growing number of repeaters/extenders that will stretch the not-so-long arm of HDMI to 40-meters (130-feet). The HX101 will pass all kinds of good bits you might be using, like HDMI 1.3 with HDCP, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD MA; and you can rest easy knowing features you're probably not making any use of -- 1440p resolution, Deep Color and xvYCC -- are just fine, too. Sure, the device is a little more portly than some we've seen recently, but this kind of thing isn't really system showoff material anyways, and the $150 price will save you a little money.

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12/08/2008 - DisplayPort offers serious challenge to HDMI dominance

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) has become the dominant interface technology for connecting HD devices, featuring in more than 70 per cent of digital televisions sold worldwide in 2007.
hdtv.biz-news.com asked Randy Lawson, senior analyst with iSuppli Corporation, about his new report Hogging the Spotlight: HDMI Growth Continues in Spite of DisplayPort.

01/08/2008 - Kodak offers HDTV answer to photos "lost" in the PC

Kodak has long been known for producing imaging and photographic material.
hdtv.biz-news.com asked Matthew Yarrow, Kodak country business manager for the UK and Ireland, to explain the rationale behind his company’s decision to move into new territory with the launch of a set-top box.

02/07/2008 - Former backer of Toshiba's "defeated" HD DVD format to release first Blu-ray Disk player

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”.

23/06/2008 - HDTV sets will need new features for sales to continue improving

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.

12/06/2008 - Wireless high definition transmitter removes clutter of cables

Monster Cable has unveiled a transmitter that wirelessly sends HD video signals from a device such as a Blu-ray player to a high definition TV up to 10m away.
The transmitter sends the video signal using ultra-wideband, or UWB, technology from Sigma Designs Inc.
It will also upscale non-HD signals to high-def resolution before displaying on screen. A receiver plugs into a HDMI port on the back of the TV.
To back up the short-range wireless capability, the boxes can also connect via coaxial cable to reach each other in different rooms, up to 110m away.