Maxell VCR Cleaner, Dry Type

Maxell will be showcasing its holographic storage, Blu-ray and HD-DVD technologies at the National Association of Broadcasters to be held in New York from October 24-25. ... Read Full Article

FAIR LAWN, N.J. -- Maxell Corporation of America, the technology and marketing leader in advanced data storage media, announced that it will begin shipping a new 8cm Blu-ray BD-R write-once and BD-RE rewritable discs for the HD camcorder market. ... Read Full Article

When you’re shopping for an HDTV, there are plenty of factors to consider. Chief among them is the type of display. While boxy, bulky CRTs are long dead and mammoth rear-projection HDTVs are all but extinct, the HDTV market currently offers [...] Read Full Article

If you've navigated through the endless sea of 3D [...] Read Full Article

It's no floor cleaner, so it looks like Read Full Article

SECAUCUS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Panasonic has announced the GP-KH232 series, a 1/3 type MOS full HD remote head camera system. This camera allows hospitals and clinics to upgrade surgical microscopes seamlessly from SD to [...] Read Full Article

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Read Full Article

OK, so you want to get in on the Blu-ray action, but you want to know what type of content, and how much of it, is actually available if you ... Read Full Article

Boffins at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories claim to have created a new type of multidirectional backlit screen that creates the holographic 3D effect. Read Full Article

LCD? PLASMA? Projection? Buying a television used to mean choosing between 27 or 32 inches. But today, consumers have a dizzying array of choices in size, screen type and image quality. ... Read Full Article

The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave is a new dungeon RPG by Genius Sonority, in which you use augmented reality-type exploration to find little guys in the environment, who then form your party. It's cute, quirky, and available on the 3DS eShop [...] Read Full Article

Selecting the type of display can be the most overwhelming decision in your pursuit for HDTV. There are several main types and each have their advantages and disadvantages. ... Read Full Article

Although a new survey from Panasonic reveals that one in four (about 26%) US households either owns or plans to own a HD (high definition) TV by the end of 2006, up from 15% last year, spouses are divided on what type of purchase should be made, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. ... Read Full Article

Whether you’re looking for a very basic low-cost set or a feature-packed, razor-thin model with 3D, selecting the right HDTV isn’t easy. There are plenty of questions to answer: What type of display should you get: Plasma, LCD, or LED? [...] Read Full Article

Whether you’re looking for a very basic low-cost set or a feature-packed, razor-thin model with 3D, selecting the right HDTV isn’t easy. There are plenty of questions to answer: What type of display should you get? Plasma, LCD, or LED? [...] Read Full Article

Cables can be a pain if you are trying to clean up your office or just happen to be a tad bit clumsy and the type that trips over everything that is not solid flooring. However, there is a solution if your living room looks like an electrical hazard - the new Phillips Wireless HDTV [...] Read Full Article

Although it's the type of news we'd expect to see accompanied by a huge press release, Sony apparently revealed Wednesday that stand-alone Blu-ray players have begun out-selling their HD DVD counterparts.... ... Read Full Article

LCDs, plasma screens and rear-projection sets may be winning over more television buyers, but the tubby and dependable picture-tube television... Read Full Article

You want to buy a Blu-ray Disc player, but you aren't sure if your TV will be compatible with it. To find out, check out the answer to this week's ... Read Full Article

There is this sweet little invention called HDTV that makes your television screen so crisp, clear and amazingly life like you feel as if you are sitting right in the screen. It is a must have especially if you are even thinking of watching some type of sporting event, such as football. The problem, not all local channels are dishing out the signal for HD for their network. This is causing major ... Read Full Article

A new report from the display authority says film-type patterned retarder is catching up with the shutter glass approach. Read Full Article

Shuji Nakamura scoops one million euros; Philips launches its Blu-ray Disc player, featuring a blue laser of the type that Nakamura helped to develop; and a new report suggests that the market for active optical telecom components is set for a sharp upturn. ... Read Full Article

Intel Corp. plans to ship a new family of embedded NOR-type flash memory chips with capacities as high as 1G bits to meet growing demand for the technology in consumer electronics products, the company said Thursday. Read Full Article

''One Seg,'' a new type of digital terrestrial broadcasting that began in Japan on April 1 is displayed on a mobile phone held by a man in Tokyo. People can watch TV programs in high-definition on their portable terminals like mobile phones and car navigation equipment. ... Read Full Article

While market research indicates that rear-projection TVs are currently seeing a wave of renewed market enthusiasm, particularly in North America, models were not noticeably in evidence at Computex Taipei, in June. One interesting exception was RPTV models shown by Inshon, a company within Taiwan’s First International Computer (FIC) group. ... Read Full Article

Dolby Laboratories , founded by Ray Dolby on May 17, 1965, celebrates its 40th anniversary today. The company got its start by introducing Dolby A-type noise reduction, which significantly improved the sound of recorded audio by reducing background noise inherent to professional tape recordings. ... Read Full Article

Panasonic LIFI HDTV, LCZ, LCX January 16th, 2007 | Panasonic Panasonic have announced a new type of... ... Read Full Article

Filed under: CES, Features, HDTV We've now experienced JVC's Snap and Gesture HDTV -- the display that replaces your remote by responding to audio cues like snapping/clapping, or visual ones with hand gestures -- and can confirm we are exactly the type of lazy couch potatoes this is not aimed towards. While leading a nation, signaling for a time out or expressing displeasure with another driver ... Read Full Article

Featuring 4 Altera® Stratix® II EP2S130 devices, 4 GB of SDRAM, and up to 16 TI TMS320C6415 DSP processors each running at 1 GHz, Bluejay Compact PCI Card handles DSP-intensive algorithms that require true multi-processing. Card supports PCI 66/64 as well as rear I/O transition card, which can provide any type of digital I/O via LVDS interface. Bluejay is suited for development of ... Read Full Article

Filed under: HDTV, Portable Video Now we're talking Sony, this is the type of integration we expect to see on the heels of your promise to cash in on portable video after losing the audio battle to Apple. As a Blu-ray recorder, the BDZ-A70 features all the in/outs you'd expect, a 320GB (the new BDZ-T90 offers 500GB) disk with the ability to burn to dual-layer BD-RE media, and a host of analog an ... Read Full Article

( InfoWorld ) - On Tuesday Toshiba will unveil the first slim-type HD DVD writer drive suitable for use in laptop computers. The SD-L902A drive is the standard 12.7-millimeters high, which means it can fit in the drive bay of most laptop computers. It can read and write HD DVD, DVD, and CD discs, Toshiba said Monday. It will be shown at the Ceatec show, Japan's biggest electronics show, ... Read Full Article

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Streaming movie service
LG has announced that it's adding movie streaming capability to its HDTV range in a deal with VUDU - a company that provides on-demand video over the web.

A library of over 2,000 high-definition movies will be available, as will some TV shows. The company says that there's no monthly fees and no additional hardware, and that you'll get full 1080p resolution and 5.1 surround sound.

To get the package, you'll need a LG's NetCast Entertainment Access, and a TV with an ethernet port. The compatible TVs range from 42-inch to 60-inch and also have content from Netflix, Yahoo Widgets, and YouTube. Existing LG Broadband TV owners should get the VUDU service next month, the company says. Read Related links: News - LG launches 55LH95 and 55LH93 "full LED" TVs Via - Press Release Tags: HomeCinema LG Software VUDU LG adds VUDU to broadband HDTVs originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:06:58 +0100 Read Full Article

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]Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home EntertainmentBest Buy bringing value priced all-in-one 32-inch LCD & Blu-ray HDTV to stores "soon" originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Read Full Article

According to sources speaking to BoyGeniusReport, the upcoming iTunes 9.0 software update will include Blu-ray support and iPhone App management, along with social networking integration.

Blu-ray support would be a welcome addition, and the App management would allow users to connect their iPhone or iPod Touch and visually manage the apps.

Social networking integration would allow easy access to Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm.

For now, this is rumor and Apple has not confirmed or denied any of the details or a release date for iTunes 9.

App management, via TechCrunch:
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JVC today released their first budget Blu-ray player, the XV-BP11. This player is a back-to-basics type of machine. It only recognizes Blu-ray Profile 1.1 and measures only 1.5” thick at its fattest point. The XV-BP11 has the standard, front-mounted USB d... Read Full Article

[ Photo courtesy of Sanja Gjenero ] If you’re like me, you’re thrilled when a new high-def channel is added to your lineup. TV providers have been beefing up their HD offerings regularly over the last year or two, and many now offer dozens of stations. I get about 60 channels in HD, and if I subscribed to the premium channels, I’d get many more. My cable provider, Cablevision, recently added HD versions of USA and FX, so I can watch shows like Psych, Burn Notice, and Damages in all their high-def splendor. Sometimes I’ve stumbled across these new offerings by accident, while idly surfing with the channel up/down button on the remote. Though the discovery gladdens my heart, I can’t help but wonder how long I’ve been missing out, unknowingly settling for their standard-def counterparts. Cablevision does announce new HD offerings, but it’s usually in small type down the side of my monthly service bill, or in an occasional pamphlet listing the full channel line-up. But when I’m rushing to pay my bills, I don’t always read the fine print or flyers. Now, I make a point of doing so. I also check the onscreen program guide to see if any new channels have materialized in the high-def tier. And there's always the Web: Like most companies, Cablevision provides a full lineup of channels for my area on its Web site. If you’re not regularly searching out new HD options, I recommend you start doing so. You might be happily surprised by what you find. – Eileen McCooey Read Full Article

According to the LATimes, the California Energy Commission is actively considering banning sales of "energy-hungry" HDTVs, setting a new efficiency standard that will help offset the massive energy use in the state.

If the proposal goes through, sales of all non energy-efficient models will be banned by 2011 and even more strict standards will occur in 2013.

The public has a 45-day period to comment on the proposal, beginning Monday, and approval goes to vote in November. If approved, California's electricity consumption will drop enough to save $8.1 billion USD in 10 years.

If approved, the Consumer Electronics Association says about 25 percent of all HDTVs available will have to be removed from store shelves. The group also notes that any would-be customer could simply drive over a state and buy a non-restricted TV if they choose to however.Permalink | Comments
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Mitsubishi has unveiled a 155-inch OLED TV this week at the CEATEC 2009 event in Japan, showcasing one of the largest displays ever for OLED.

Mainichi Japan says the "OLED display consists of 720 10-centimeter-square OLED blocks that can be rearranged to change the dimensions of the display using Mitsubishi's Aurora Vision LED screens at baseball stadiums."

The screen is also about three times brighter than any current LCD TV. Lifespan is about 200,000 hours.

Being that the OLED blocks are so small means Mitsubishi can create a TV of any size, ranging from the now standard 15-inch TVs to infinity.


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Western Digital has officially launched its WD TV Live HD Media Player today, offering full HD playback from external drives via your HDTV.

Full specs are very interesting:

Full-HD video playback and navigation - up to 1080p -
This is the real thing; Full-HD 1080p playback. Sit back and enjoy the spectacular picture quality of brilliant high definition video and the crystal-clear sound of digital audio. Use the included remote control to make your entertainment choices using our crisp, animated navigation menus.

Play a wide variety of file formats -
WD TV Live supports a wide variety of the most popular file formats. No need to spend time transcoding.

Play videos, music and photos from the Internet on your big screen TV -
Explore and watch YouTube videos and Flickr pictures on the big screen. Rock out to thousands of radio stations via Live365 and discover new music with Pandora radio.

Access files anywhere on your home network -
Play movies, music, and photos from any PC or drive on your home network. The Ethernet port connects this player to your home network through a wired connection or via popular, supported WiFi adapters (sold separately).

Turn your USB drive into an HD media player -
Play content from most popular USB drives, and digital cameras, camcorders, and portable media players that can be recognized as mass storage devices. Optimized for My Passport portable hard drives.

Collect without limits -
There's no limit to the size of your media collection; just add more USB drives for more space.

Play media seamlessly from multiple USB drives -
Two USB ports on the player let you connect multiple USB storage devices and access them simultaneously. Our media library feature collects the content on all the drives into one list sorted by media type.

Transfer files easily -
Copy, move or delete files stored on a USB drive, a network drive, your camcorder, or a camera to the attached USB drive using the on-screen menus.

Show photos and movies directly from your digital camera or video camera -
Works with digital cameras, digital video cameras, in fact, any digital imaging device that supports Picture Transfer Protocol.

File Copy
Copy files between USB drives

HDMI 1.3, composite video and component video output -
The HDMI port lets you connect to the highest quality HDTV or home theater. Additional composite (RCA), and component outputs ensure compatibility with virtually all television sets.

SPDIF digital output -
The optical audio output sends digital signals to your AV receiver for the best surroundsound experience.

Access media files on your home network -
WD TV Live supports a direct Ethernet connection or a USB attached wireless connection to your home network. Click here to view compatible wireless-ready USB adaptors.

Ultra-compact design -
Fits easily into your entertainment center.

The player retails for $120 USD.

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LG has announced that their LH90 model has become the first THX Display certified LCD HDTV.

According to HighDefDigest "the 240hz capable LH90 features LED backlighting with local dimming for precise picture control and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio ensuring a ridiculously good picture."

Says Peter Reiner, LG VP of marketing: “LG's advanced LED Backlight technology precisely controls the brightness of specific areas of the screen, providing crisper, clearer pictures while using less energy than traditional LCD models.”

The HDTV also has THX Movie Mode, which allows owners auto-adjustments for black levels, colors and signal.

With its impressive specs, the TV is pricey. $1900 USD will get you a 42-inch model and $3200 will get you a 55-inch version.Permalink | Comments
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pc mini VOT550 looks awfully familiar
The last of a slew of ViewSonic launches is the pc mini VOT550, although, again as with the previous two mini computers, this one comes in two different models with its more basic sibling going under the name of VOT530.

The VOT550 comes with Windows Media Centre and is intended as a home entertainment or home theatre PC and as such, ViewSonic has equipped the top of the line model with a Blu-ray drive. We're not sure how big of a selling point this is, especially as this is a rebadged system from AOpen that we've seen sold under several other brand names in the past.

In terms of features, the VOT550 has a mobile Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, eSATA and a DVI port. A dongle is supplied that turns the DVI port into an HDMI port which allows for easy connectivity to your HD TV.

The VOT530 shuns the Blu-ray drive in favour for a DVD super-multi drive and both models feature slot-in type drive, similar to those in a car CD player. Price wise the VOT530 is going to set you back £494, while the Blu-ray equipped VOT550 ups the price to £678, making both fairly poor value for money compared to the other mini PCs that ViewSonic has just launched. Tags: Hardware Desktop PCs Viewsonic Blu-ray       ViewSonic launches Blu-ray home theatre PC originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:39:36 +0100 Read Full Article

Owners of LG HDTVs with NetCast Entertainment Access now have access to another source of online video. LG announced an automatic update which adds the Vudu video rental (and purchase) service to LCD models .42LH50, 47LH50 and 55LH50 and plasma models 50PS80 and 60PS80.

If you have one of these TVs (and it is connected to the internet) you should see a VUDU option in the Netcast Interface. LG broadband HDTVs were announced at this year's CES and began selling in June with support for Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming video service already available.

Unlike Netflix, which packages streaming video with online DVD rentals, VUDU uses a pay as you go model. They also give you access to more new movies on the same day they are released on DVD and give you the option to purchase them.Permalink | Comments
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Sony America has announced that beginning with the upcoming Blu-rays "Godzilla" and "The Ugly Truth," a new feature will allow PSP owners to directly transfer digital copies right from their PS3 instead of from their computers from a separate DVD disc.

“Blu-ray is already known as the best way to watch movies at home, and now SPHE & SCEA are also making it the most convenient way to watch movies on the go,” Sony VP of new business development Rich Marty added, via VB.

Added director of hardware marketing John Koller: The new feature will allow “users to easily take the best in movie and entertainment content on-the-go—all of which is only possible on the PSP and PS3 platforms.”Permalink | Comments
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Argentina has passed over European and American standards for High-definition television broadcasts, and followed Brazil in opting to adopt the ISDB-T standard for HDTV in the country.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner made the announcement of its decision to follow Brazil's lead in the region in a highly-competitive market for HDTV broadcasts at a South American summit.

Kirchner ratified a memorandum between the governments of both Argentina and of Japan to introduce the Japanese ISDB-T standard in the country to co-operate together in the sector. Kirchner also signed a cooperation accord on HDTV with Brazil.Permalink | Comments
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LG has announced that their BD390 Blu-ray player will now support VUDU video streaming, following a firmware update.

VUDU offers over 2200 movies and TV shows in SD or 1080p HD and 5.1-channel audio.

The player now supports Netflix, VUDU, CinemaNow and YouTube.

The BD390 has been applauded for fast loading times, 1GB of onboard memory, as well as its ability to play DivX video files off a USB drive.

The BD player retails for $379.99 USD from most retailers.

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The Guinness Book of Records files some of the most interesting and utterly useless records for our entertainment, constantly looking for more weird entries to fill the books each year. A new entry into the Guinness book of records is the awesome High-definition (HD) video screen(s) present above the Dallas Cowboys' football stadium in the United states.

Manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, the giant four-sided screen has a surface area of about 1058 sq m (11,400 sq ft). "This is probably the most exciting project we've ever been involved with," said Mark Foster of Mitsubishi Electric.

Mitsubishi said the video board is the equivalent size of 3,268 52-inch television sets, packs more than 10 million light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and with all four panels account for, weighs around 600 tonnes.

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Funai and Sonic Solutions have announced a deal which will bring online video to more consumer electronics devices. A client for Sonic's CinemaNow service will be built into an as of yet unspecified selection of HDTVs and Blu-ray players built by Funai.

Funai manufactured brands include Phillips, Sylvania, Magnavox, and Emerson.

Like many online video services CinemaNow video on demand can already be used on a number of devices ranging from PCs and portable media players to blu-ray players

What makes them somewhat unique is their use of Sonic Solution's Qflix, which allows them to sell you DVDs which can burn at home, complete with standard CSS encryption, and don't depend on the continued operation of DRM servers. Unfortunately they do require you to buy a Qflix DVD burner and media.

Hideaki Funakoshi, General Manager of DVD Division, AV Management HQ of Funai, said "We view the inclusion of Roxio CinemaNow technology powering convenient access to high-quality entertainment as an important driver for consumer adoption of our next-generation devices."Permalink | Comments
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Philips has announced during the recent IFA event that they will be the latest company to go 3D, adding the third dimension to their Philips Cinema 21:9 HDTV.

"The technology is ready, but the content is not there yet," said Philips Consumer Lifestyle CEO Andrea Ragnetti. "It has to be based on what consumers really want and currently it is not clear if consumers actually want to wear glasses to watch TV or want it without."

A different spokesperson did add that "3D TV is the ultimate dream for consumers", and Philips decision follows that of Sony and Panasonic.

One glaring difference however, is that Philips is said to be favoring strereoscopic glasses, instead of active shutter glasses like its rival brands.

The TV is still in prototype but will be available when the content is there.Permalink | Comments
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Sony's latest Blu-ray player, the BDP-N460, will add for the first time, streaming video and audio, from Netflix, YouTube and Slacker.

The company does note however that regardless of what TV you have attached the wireless will work better with a Linksys WET610N Ethernet-to-Wi-Fi bridge.

The player has oboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, is BD-Live compliant, and will output HDMI Deep Color. The player can read photos and MP3s off USB drives and will upscale DVDs and AVCHD videos.

The BDP-N460 will begin shipping in October, with a price tag of $250 USD, the same price as other BD players with similar specs, and $50 cheaper than the PS3.

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Sonic Solutions has announced that they will finally be bringing HD streaming to its Roxio CinemaNow online video service, using a new technology dubbed Sonic CineVision Adaptive HD which the company promises will make films look Blu-ray-esque in 1080p full HD.

Sonic's competitors, such as iTunes, Amazon, VUDU, and Sony have all had HD streaming or downloads for some time now.

CineVision Adaptive HD will also be available "as part of the company’s CineVision Master Encoding system" says TWICE, "enabling others to maximize the quality of streaming video content."

The CineVision Master Encoding system is used in current Blu-ray production, so the company says the streaming quality will be second to none.

Adds CinemaNow executive VP of strategy Mark Ely: “Consumers not only want instant access to new Hollywood hit movies on their connected TVs and Blu-ray players, they want it in HD.”Permalink | Comments
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We've been working on updating some of our stone-age guides (yes, we get the complaints ;-) ) and adding a few new ones as well, for anyone who is interested. Decided just to mention a couple here that were written as a result of recommendation. The first one uses a freeware utility to download Windows Updates for any Windows OS after 2000 (not 7 just yet), make an ISO and burn to disc.

The disc (or alternatively USB) will provide an automated install then on a Windows machine. It's a very useful program if computer repairs are part of your business. It also can download all updates for Microsoft Office 2000, XP, 2003 or 2007 and automate the installation.

Read: Create DVD with all Windows & Office Updates

The second is just an update to a simple guide for saving YouTube videos to your hard drive. I had been asked about saving YouTube HD videos and remembered a simple JavaScript bookmark I had set just to do that, so I added it as a second page to the guide. I looked for the original source but found it has been scattered pretty far across the Internet, so I couldn't find it anymore (so kudos, whoever you are).

Read: How to save YouTube videos (incl. HD) to HDD

Hopefully they will be useful to any of you.Permalink | Comments
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Earlier this week we reported that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made comments that implied that the company would be bringing Blu-ray accessories to the Xbox 360.

At the time, the notoriously tongue-tied Ballmer had said: "Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there -- you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories."

The company has since released a statement denying the rumor and adding that Ballmer was speaking instead of PC accessories.

"During an interview yesterday, Steve Ballmer was asked about Blu-Ray and the Xbox 360. I wanted to clear something up. Steve was referring to Blu-Ray accessories for the PC. As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360. In fact, the future of home entertainment starts very soon when Xbox 360 becomes the first and only console to offer instant-on 1080p streaming HD movies. With a library of thousands of TV shows and movies to choose from, Xbox 360 owners can instantly watch the movies they want, when they want, in the highest form of high definition," says the post on MajorNelson.

That should put the Blu-ray on Xbox 360 argument to rest, at least for the time being.Permalink | Comments
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The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has appealed to regulator Ofcom to be allowed to use encryption on Freeview HD data to prevent piracy. Of course, the request was immediately criticized as under licensing rules, the BBC is not allowed to encrypt video or audio streams. However, the BBC is requesting it be allowed to encrypt the data associated with TV listings, which in effect will stop set-top boxes from decoding TV content.

"We are committed to ensuring that public service content remains free to air i.e. unencrypted," the broadcaster said in a statement. "However, HD content holders have begun to expect a degree of content management on the Freeview HD platform and therefore broadcasters have recognised that a form of copy protection is needed."

A vocal critic of the plan is Labour MP Tom Watson, who says the plan results in limiting consumer choices. "In an attempt to satisfy the fears of powerful rights holders, the BBC will prohibit millions of people from programming their existing set top boxes," he in a blog entry. "If implemented this will make it difficult to view or record HDTV broadcasts with free software. Where's the consumer interest in that settlement?"

Under the new system, only trusted manufacturers would be offered the decryption keys for the HD data. Many set-top-boxes use open source software such as Linux to bring down costs, and critics say that the BBC's request will hit these boxes, because DRM is incompatible with open source software. As a result, it would be more difficult for producers of the boxes to get the necessary permissions from the BBC.Permalink | Comments
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Update to their popular model
Adding to the already popular D300 DSLR is the D300s, which brings HD movie capture to the party in a previous-anticipated move by Nikon.

With an effective 12.3-megapixels, the D300s offers 7fps continuous shooting (8 with battery pack) driven by the EXPEED image processor, and a 51-point focusing system.

The new video mode benefits from autofocus whilst shooting, but doesn't stretch to Full HD, instead offering a maximum resolution of 1280 x 720 at 24fps. Lower resolution options are also available.

Boosting the video option, you'll be able to attach an external mic thanks to a 3.5mm audio input. Video capture is sadly limited to 5 minutes in 720p, but can be extended to 20 minutes at lower resolutions.

Dual memory card slots have been added, giving you Compact Flash and Secure Digital, with flexible set-up options allowing you to shoot JPEGs to one and RAW to the other, or stills on one and video on the other.

Live View mode can be activated on the 3-inch 920k-dot display, whilst viewing your movies will be a breeze to view thanks to the on-board HDMI slot.

Available from 28 August, the Nikon D300s will set you back £1499.99, body only. Related links: Link - Nikon Tags: Cameras DSLR cameras Nikon 12 megapixels Digital cameras           Nikon introduces the D300s with HD video originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0100 Read Full Article

According to a new NPD analysis, Blu-ray will finally break into the mainstream in 2010, especially as prices continue to drop.

The company researched consumers using Blu-ray set-top boxes (not including the PS3) in February 2008 and in August of this year, and the figures clearly showed that BD is out of the "early adopter" phase and into the "dreamers" phase which is the group that wants the new technology but are "deterred by price."

Regardless, NPD says falling prices, strong holiday sales, and a slowing uptrending economy will finally push Blu-ray from "niche" technology to "mainstream."

In the 2008 study, over 64 percent of users were early adopters, which only account for 20 percent of the entire market. By August however, the number had been reduced to 38 percent, and replaced by "dreamers" and "sensibles," a group full of middle aged families who like the technology but waited some time before investing. Those two groups account for over 40 percent of the entire market.

“In the last year, we have made great strides toward becoming mainstream, but we’re not quite there yet,” ntoes NPD analyst Russ Crupnick, via VB. “But going into the holiday season, we are seeing a combination of fairly reasonable price points on hardware and a lot of content. By February, after the holidays, it’s going to quickly look more and more mainstream. We are on that path.”

There are however still a decent amount of "late adopters" who do not care for the technology or are neutral. Neutral consumers are at 17 percent while "anti-tech" (users that frankly hate Blu-ray) are at 7 percent.Permalink | Comments
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Despite Sony's marketing team deciding to change the focus of the PS3 more to the console's movie downloading and Blu-ray capabilities, it appears consumers are still purchasing the system mainly for gaming.

Last August, the NPD Group released a study that showed that about 37 percent of PS3 owners had never once watched a Blu-ray film on their system. The second edition of the study was released recently, and the number hardly changed, moving down to 34 percent.

NPD did note however that the number of PS3 owners watching Blu-ray was higher then PS2 owners watching DVDs at the same point in the console's life cycle.

“It’s at a fairly high level, where it took years for PS2 owners to use [that console] for DVD,” NPD analyst Russ Crupnick added, via VB. “Most PS3 people think of it as a gaming device, but there is a reasonable level of awareness and intended use for Blu-ray.”

The new study gave the following figures to the question of why PS3 owners had purchased the console:
58 percent - Mostly to play games
34 percent - For games and movie, equally
8 percent - Mostly movies

NPD also noted that PS3 owners who have had their machines for a couple of years of more tend to buy more Blu-rays over standard definition DVDs and vice versa for newer owners.

“Newer owners are somewhat more oriented to DVD than Blu-ray,” Crupnick says. “The later you get into an adoption cycle, the more you’re not getting the super aficionado. These are people who are tougher to convince about the benefits of Blu-ray and who are sensitive to price.”Permalink | Comments
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Toshiba has unveiled their first HDTV to use the extremely powerful PS3 Cell processor today during the CEATEC event in Japan, and the TV packs a serious punch.

Besides the processor, the 55-inch REGZA 55X1 includes LED-backlighting, 240Hz refresh rate, and dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1. The Cell processor also allows for improved image quality, stronger colors, enhanced brightness balance and a "luminance of 1250cd/m²."

The TV also has a 7-speaker sound bar, and has DLNA support as well as a built in HD web browser created by Opera.

More notably, the HDTV has a 3TB HDD allowing users to record up to 26 hours of 1080p content from 8 channels, at the same time. As pictured below, the Regza can also display 8 channels at the same time, with no delay when switching between stations.

Toshiba also dropped word that they plan to use the Cell processor in an upcoming TV that will upconvert 1080p films to 3840 x 2160.

The TV will leave a dent in your wallet however, and is retailing for 1 million yen in Japan (about $11,000 USD) and Toshiba says it anticipates 1000 sales before release in North America next year.

Pictures, specs via Gizmodo:

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Hold on before you run out to buy a new TV! You may have seen the report on Engadget stating that, according to a Sony rep, all PS3 games will run in 3-D with a software update next year. We contacted Sony ourselves to learn more about what sounded like a major megaton to let slip at a trade show. Sony told us that the company is "conducting a technological investigation" of whether it's even possible to do that. As for specifics: "there is no plan for the market launch of this at this time."

If you're dying to look at a 3-D game right now, Engadget also captured a video of Wipeout HD being played in 3-D, which you can see above. For some reason, the 3-D effect doesn't come through when viewed in an embedded video recording -- even with the glasses in front of the lens. Sony really needs to work on that.Sony: No plan to launch 3-D support for all PS3 games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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According to a new Piper Jaffray note this week, analyst Gene Munster says he expects Apple to eventually get into the HDTV market providing a full home entertainment system alongside the Apple TV media device.

Additionally, Munster says that a new, updated Apple TV is coming before Christmas, including DVR and a monthly sub to iTunes TV shows.

"We believe Apple is exploring a subscription-based offering for its TV content in iTunes," says Munster, via The Street. "Apple could leverage its deep library of content with many network and cable channel content owners to provide unlimited access to a sub-library of its TV shows for a standard monthly fee."

Adds Apple COO Tim Cook of the Apple TV:

"It is clear that the movie rental business has really helped Apple TV and there are more and more customers that want to try it," he says, noting that sales were up 300 percent year-on-year. "We're going to continue to invest in it, because we fundamentally believe there is something there for us in the future."

As for the HDTV, Munster expects a 2011 debut, and the completion of a full Apple home entertainment center.

"The device would push Apple further into the digital living room with interactive TV, music, movie, and gaming features," he added. "Such a device would command a premium among a competitive field of budget TVs."Permalink | Comments
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Via a press release today, Toshiba has put the final nail in HD DVD's coffin, unveiling their first Blu-ray player, the BDX2000.

The full specs read as follows:

* BD-Live(TM) (Profile 2.0)
* 1080p/ 24 fps Full HD Video Output
* AVCHD Playback
* Toshiba REGZA-LINK(R) (HDMI-CEC)
* Support for enhanced audio formats from Dolby(R) True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio | Essential(TM) Playback
* Bonus View
* SD Card Slot
* ENERGY STAR(R) Certified

"Toshiba is a technology leader in high definition products," says Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Digital A/V Group. "From listening to our consumers we know they demand access to full high definition content. With the introduction of our BDX2000 we are offering consumers what they want with a breath-taking HD viewing experience to meet the needs of today's home theater."

The REGZA-LINK, much like how Sony does with Bravia TVs, allows for users to connect a Regza HDTV to the Blu-ray player via HDMI, and then control both from one single remote controller. It's unclear what formats the player can read off the SD cards, but standard MP3, WMA, JPEG and AVI should not be a problem.

The player will hit stores in November and have $249.99 MSRP.

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Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced they will be expanding their Blu-ray 'Diamond Collection', adding 12 new titles including The Lion King, Bambi, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians and Pinocchio.

The 'Diamond' collection is considered the studio's high-end BD line, just like the 'Platinum' collection was for standard DVD.

The releases will be staggered, two per calender year, with Fantasia and Beauty and the Beast set for 2010. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be the first Diamond available, hitting shelves on October 6th. Just like the Platinum collection before it, each Diamond title will include a plethora of new bonus features and will only be available in limited quantities for a limited period.

One of the bonus features for Snow WHite, as explained by VideoBusiness is "‘Magic Mirror,’ which the studio touts as its first use of artificial intelligence in a film. The Blu-ray-exclusive technology recognizes viewing patterns and suggests where viewers should go next in the film for an overall personal experience."

“Walt Disney’s gift of telling captivating and engaging stories was matched only by his passion for presenting them in the most spectacular way,” adds Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “We are proud to continue his pursuit of excellence with ‘The Diamond Collection,’ which brings the films that are the foundation of our company to audiences of all ages across the globe.”

Bob Chapek, president of Disney’s DVD division, also noted: “We believe that the collection offers consumers the opportunity to enjoy these timeless classics like never before and underlines Disney’s commitment to continue to bring the best quality product and immersive experiences into the home.”Permalink | Comments
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During an interview with Reuters, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings spoke out about the future of the physical DVD, as well as Netflix's plans for the iPhone, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and possible competition from YouTube

The interview in its entirety:

Reuters: What will Netflix subscribers gain from the improvements in the recommendation system?

Hastings: ItÂ’s doubling the quality of our movie recommendation and that helps our subscribers get more enjoyment from movies. Because more often they love the movie they watch. More often the movies recommended will will turn out to be movies that you love. If you watch a couple of movies and donÂ’t like many, you start to watch (sports and other programming). If every movie is incredible, you start to watch more.

Reuters: Netflix video streams on MicrosoftÂ’s Xbox Live system. What about the PS3 and Wii?
Hastings: Eventually we want to be on all the game consoles, all the Blu-ray players, all the Internet TVs. So we are working in parallel with all of those efforts. Currently our Xbox deal is exclusive and we havenÂ’t characterized it more than that.

Reuters: Any plans to work in partnership with Apple and the iPhone?
Hastings: itÂ’s something thatÂ’s likely to come over time. But nothing in the short term. (With) movie watching, we are not focused on mobile yet, but (instead) on the TV, on Blu-ray and on the video game consoles. We will get to mobile eventually, including the iPhone.

Reuters: What of YoutubeÂ’s potential movie service?
Hastings: I think there will be a lot of competition in this market: Hulu, Apple, Amazon, Youtube, Blockbuster. Internet video is a huge opportunity. And there will be a lot of people engaged, and that is going to be great for the consumer. All of us are going to innovate and compete with each other and provide more and more value to the consumer.

Reuters: How far along are we on the transition to all digital video watching?
Hastings: There will be people doing DVD-by-mail in 15 or 20 years, so I think DVD will last a long time. Our best guess is that DVD will peak for us in 5 or so years. But it is continuing to grow. And the streaming is exploding. So we are getting nice growth in the DVD side and huge growth on the streaming side.

Reuters: What do you make of BlockbusterÂ’s store closing plan?
Hastings: Blockbuster and Redbox really compete on doing the inexpensive new releases, and we are much more the streaming and the catalog. Their closings donÂ’t really benefit us. It will benefit Redbox more than it does us.

Reuters: Have you been approached about an acquisition or partnership?
Hastings: We donÂ’t comment and any acquisition prospects.Permalink | Comments
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