Home Electronics

Yamaha's MCR-410 Micro Stereo Uses yAired Tech For Wireless iPod Communication

News — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:13:25 GMT

To say that the iPod has revolutionized the stereo world would beunderstating things rather dramatically. Take Yamaha's MCR-410 forinstance, which is a new micro stereo system that not only features adock connecting port on the top, but also has the capability to connectwith an iPod without cords. For all the things that the iPod is, it'snot really a player to think of when you want a wireless solution.Yamaha's using its own proprietary yAired technology to change that,and the solution looks pretty darn elegant.

The MCR-410 looks somewhat vintage in its styling, but it's actuallyfairly well appointed. It boasts a CD player, iPod dock, FM/AM radiotuner and mini jack inputs. There's a pair of 4" speakers to pump outthe jams, and the yAired tech actually supports wireless transfers fromthe iPod and signal sends to a wireless subwoofer. Such a high-techdevice costs $399.95, but a wired-up version is available for just$279.95 if you don't mind the extra cables.

FLEXIBLE MICRO-COMPONENT SYSTEMS OFFER WIRELESS iPOD PLAYBACK, WIDE SOURCE COMPATIBILITY AND SOPHISTICATED STYLING

MCR-140 UtilizesCompany's Proprietary yAired Technology for Uncompressed AudioDistribution from iPods With No Delay; Two Models Available in TenColors

BUENA PARK, Calif.––YamahaElectronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digitalaudio and video reproduction, today introduces the "Made for iPod"MCR-140 and MCR-040 micro-component music systems. The innovativeMCR-140 system features wireless iPod playback and optional wirelesssubwoofer compatibility via the company's proprietary yAiredtechnology, as well as a CD player, front panel USB port, FM radio andmini jack inputs for portable audio devices. The MCR-040 is identical,minus the yAired features. Both models are currently available in tencolors (listed below).

With perfectly matched amp andspeakers for high efficiency, the MCR-140 and MCR-040 deliver soundthat is bigger and richer than would typically be expected from systemsof this size (4 3/4" W x 4 5/8" H x 11 ¼" D). Advanced Yamaha ActiveServo Technology (YST) delivers powerful, accurate bass response thatseems to come from much larger speakers. Yamaha's exclusive VibrationControl Cabinet Structure Technology (VCCS) practically eliminatesdistortion-causing speaker cabinet vibration.

Both models have iPod docks builtinto their top panels, allowing users to take out the ear buds andshare their favorite music with friends and automatically recharge theportable devices. The MCR-140 features a wireless transmitter for iPodsthat enables users to listen to audio remotely while maintaining directcontrol of the music and video content they want to access.Uncompressed audio is delivered for high fidelity playback through thesystem's speakers which can be placed anywhere in the room. The MCR-140and MCR-040 also automatically power on when a connected iPod startsplayback.

In addition to seamless wirelessconvenience, yAired technology offers key advantages over Bluetooth,including superior sound quality via uncompressed linear PCM audiotransmission and no audio delay issues when watching video. TheMCR-140's yAired capabilities enable the system to be paired with anoptional wireless subwoofer kit (Yamaha SWK-W10) for even more robustbass response.

The high sound quality of the MCR-140and MCR-040 is delivered by a Yamaha digital amplifier with extremelylow noise distortion. Two highly responsive 4 –inch speakers providedynamic bass response for powerful, clean sound from any music library.

Both models also offer a card-type remote control for operating the system and connected devices.

The Yamaha MCR-140 and MCR-040 areavailable in orange, dark blue, light blue, white, red, dark green,brown, light gray, dark gray and pink for MSRP $399.95 and $279.95,respectively.

For more information, write YamahaElectronics Corporation, P.O. Box 6660, Buena Park, CA 90620; telephone(714) 522-9105; email infostation@yamaha.com; or visitwww.yamaha.com/hometheater.

The new ipod nano 5G video to computer and DVD to ipod?

nulyjeyo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:48:59 GMT

hey well i got my ipod nano 5th generation the one with the video camera.
i have heaps of videos that i have taken with it, but i dont no how to get

those videos and put them in my computer. they wont show in my itunes wen i

plug it in i dont get it, how do i get those videos and put them on my comp.

I also want to upload a home movie from a DVD to my PC and put it on my IPOD.

Can anyone please walk me through the steps. I have no clue what I am doing!

LG Plans 40" OLED HDTV For 2012: Don't Worry, You Can't Afford It

News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:08:10 GMT

Oh, the elusive OLED HDTV. OLED displays have been around in some form or another for years now, and they've been in a multitude of gizmos for just about as long. But one device that the OLED has strayed away from is the big-screen HDTV, and the #1 reason is cost. Without question, making a 42" OLED HDTV would cost an incredible amount of money, and most companies are still figuring that the average consumer wouldn't be willing to pay the MSRP should they produce it. And they're probably right. Mitsubishi's beautiful LaserVue HDTV remains a slow seller thanks to its $6,999 sticker price and thick base, even though the image is downright stunning.

LG, however, sees a glimpse of hope in the big-screen OLED market. Reportedly, the company has made public plans to release a 40" OLED HDTV in the year 2012...assuming the world doesn't end before then, of course. The company also showcased a 15" OLED TV that it's hoping to release before the year is out, though its resolution was just 1366x768. That's right around the same kind of set that Sony has had out in its XEL-1, which has also remained a niche item due to its high cost and small size.

The company plans to work its way up by releasing a 20" OLED TV in 2010, a 30" (or slightly larger) set in 2011 and finally a 40" (and larger) OLED panel in 2012. Granted, LG also affirmed that this big-screen OLED would still be mighty expensive, but the first thing that needs to happen before prices are driven down is to have the product on the shelf. Once it's out there, others can jump in and prices can sink. So yeah, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing the LCD overshadowed by OLED in the TV market anytime soon, but then again, 2012 isn't too far away, now is it?

Samsung Introduces First DivX Certified MP3 Player

News — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:18:12 GMT

As the newest addition to Samsung’s BEAT line of portable media players, Samsung’s new R1 is the company’s first DivX Certified MP3 player. The R1 is also the slimmest player in the Samsung BEAT line.

The R1 features a 2.6-inch screen and 8 or 16GB of storage space. DivX technology produces highly compressed video that is designed to be played back on mobile platforms with limited storage capacities. In order to obtain the DivX Certified logo, products must undergo a rigorous testing program to ensure they are able to deliver a high-quality DivX media experience. Customers will be able to play back any DivX video stored on the R1’s internal memory.

"We have long recognized the value of DivX technology and have incorporated it into many of our CE devices for the home, including digital TVs, Blu-ray and DVD players," said Jooho Song, Vice President at Samsung Electronics. "By obtaining DivX Certification of our latest multimedia player, we're giving our customers the freedom to enjoy their DivX video libraries when they're on the go."

"With DivX technology, the Samsung R1 packs an amazing amount of high-quality video into an incredibly small package that consumers can take with them everywhere they go," said Eric Rodli, Executive Vice President, Licensing at DivX. "We're pleased to expand our relationship with Samsung and look forward to making the R1 the first of many DivX Certified portable media players from this market leader."

The R1 is currently available to customers in Russia and Europe.

Flip UltraHD Pocket Camcorder Review

News — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:11:04 GMT

Pure Digital Technologies recently announced two new products in its pocket camcorder lineup: the Flip UltraHD (MSRP: $199.99) and the Flip Ultra (MSRP: $149.99). Both models build upon the existing Flip Ultra line by offering new features, such as two-hours of recording time and increasing the LCD size to 2.0-inches (diagonal). The Flip UltraHD also offers high-definition (HD) video recording (1280x720) and an HDMI Mini TV-out port. We spent some hands-on time with the Flip UltraHD to evaluate its capabilities. Click the link below and check it out...

Flip UltraHD Pocket Camcorder Review

Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM)

realneil — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:03:53 GMT

Representative Anna Eshoo from California has introduced a bill to make television commercials "Shut up", or at least not blare at you causing your ears to jump out of your head and run away.

This is good news.

________________________________________________________________________

Sony's New Slimline PS3 Won't Be Backwards Compatible, Won't Support Linux

News — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:02:23 GMT

Sony hasn't sold a PS3 that offered a hardware-level backwards compatibility mode in several years, but with the announcement of the PS3 Slim, fans of the feature were hopeful it might reappear in the new, slimmed-down version. Ars Technica recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Sony's director of hardware marketing John Koller, and the company executive was quick to dismiss any notion that backwards compatibility would reappear.

"It's not coming back, so let me put that on the table," Koller told Ars. "It's not as big as a purchase intent driver as you may be hearing. We've got such a substantial lineup of titles on the PS3; most people are buying the PS3 for PS3 games. They've buying it for PS3 games and Blu-ray movies. That (backwards compatibility) won't be returning." Sony has ample reason not to build PS1/PS2 support into the PlayStation 3. The PS2 is still available, it's cheap ($49-$99 depending on whether you buy refurbished or new), and new games are still being developed for the platform over ten years after it debuted. PS2 owners with a massive game library they aren't willing to give up are therefore "invited" to buy a new system.

The old-style PS3 on the left, the newer, PS3 Slim on the right.

In the interview, Koller also addressed the quesetion of why Sony was removing the PS3's ability to install Linux. "There are a couple of reasons. We felt we wanted to move forward with the OS we have now. If anyone wants to use previous models and change the OS, they can do so." Koller said. "We wanted to standardize our OS."

Frankly, that doesn't make much sense. The homebrew, Linux-using PS3 market may account for just a fraction of PS3 owners, but Sony has actively encouraged the cluster computing and high performance computing (HPC) markets to consider using the PS3 (with some success.) Sony's own OS certainly isn't up to the task of running an HPC node, when the company announced the first Cell-powered rendering server, the BCU-100, the system was running Yellow Dog Linux. Documentation from Sony's website states: "Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux (YDEL) combines a minimal-interaction graphical installer with support for a wide range of Power architecture hardware...This cross-system binary support grants BCU-100 users a great deal of flexibility through compatibility with other Power architecture compute nodes and workstations."

The BCU-100—widely announced, now curiously absent

"In conjunction with the Y-HPC Cluster Construction Suite from Terra Soft...YDEL offers a complete end-to-end, server-to-compute-node solution with technical and engineering support from the industry leader in Linux solutions for the Power architecture." Pay no mind to the horrendous screech from outside, it's merely Fixstars Solutions (the developers of YDEL) being thrown under a bus. While it's possible that Sony has a pre-arranged deal to provide the older, Linux-compatible hardware to its enterprise customers and potential clients on an indefinite basis, the idea of buying a handful of PS3's and setting up a small-scale node for whatever reason is gone...

Assuming Sony has any success keeping the platform locked at all. Removing the specialized hardware and software that allowed for PS2 emulation is one thing, but the company can scarcely stop the Cell at the heart of the system from executing properly compiled PPC code. As soon as PS3 Slim's are available on store shelves, you can bet there'll be hackers dissecting system with a fine-toothed comb. Historical precedent indicates this isn't a fight Sony is going to win.

Amino Communications Announces Soda-Powered Set-Top Box

News — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:37:24 GMT

When we discussed the launch of Intel's Atom-based SoC CE4100, codenamed Sodaville, we remarked that the company's vision of "smart" televisions had yet to materialize—the same "Widget Channel" and Yahoo partnership that had marked the launch of Intel's CE3100 back in 2008 were still hanging around in 2009. At least one company, however, is planning to take a shot at turning Intel's concept devices into reality. Yesterday, Amino Communications announced it intended to build IPTV settop boxes around the new Intel architecture.

According to Amino CTO Dominique Le Foll, "The CE4100 is a powerful media processor that is designed specifically for home entertainment and enables a greatly enhanced consumer experience. As one of the first IPTV solutions providers to demonstrate its capabilities, we are very encouraged by the response from customers and partners, particularly to its OTT capabilities."

The acronym OTT stands for "over the top," and applies to a range of content an IPTV provider considers "premium." Since the term "IPTV" itself is still evolving, the question of what, precisely, OTT is or isn't is going to be both arbitrary and content-deliverer dependent. In theory, OTT services offer a sort of walled garden, in which customers receive preselected content or capabilities, rather than having unrestricted access to the "full" Internet.

Amino characterises this new, as-yet-unnamed product as a further strengthening of its ties to Intel and believes that it's positioned itself at the head of an anticipated surge in IPTV products. "With new Internet-based services and applications coming to TV, there is a need for a new generation of set-top boxes," said Keith Wehmeyer, General Manager, IPTV, Digital Home Group, Intel Corporation. "Amino recognizes the requirements for processor performance and high-quality video and graphics, and is designing a set top box based on Intel’s CE4100 media processor to provide a premium entertainment experience to consumers."

As enticing a profit center as OTT services might be, it's fair to ask where all the necessary broadband is going to come from. AT&T has already admitted that its cellular data network is buckling under the iPhone's demand, and while there's far more bandwidth available via wired connections, it's scarcely a resource that's infinitely available. AT&T is the largest IPTV provider in the US—how it handles its own bandwidth issues and rollout may serve as a roadmap (or a warning) to other US service providers

Bluetooth Headphones

Savage Animal — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:52:56 GMT

Hey all,

I wanted to ask the experts. I need a set of bluetooth headphones to work with my Ipod touch os 3.0. The wired headphones get tangeled up while I am working in customers homes and end up ripping out of my ear or worse breaking all together (I've gone through two standard sets and a set of skull candy's already). I don't necesarily need the top of the line set, though if there is a minimal price difference I would go for it. I want a set that sounds good, is light weight, and has a decent battery life. Please help with suggestions, thanks

Archos 5 Media Player Ships With Android

News — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:08:41 GMT

Archos has had a tough time gaining ground in North America. Frankly, so has every other portable media player manufacturer not named Apple, but Archos' problem is that they typically market their wares solely in France, the company's home nation. Now, however, it seems that the firm is finally ready to make a big push here in America, and it's kicking things off with the Archos 5 PMP.

It's one of the world's first PMPs to ship with Google's Android operating system, which was reserved for cell phones/smartphones up until now. Some may feel that a phone OS has no business on a media player, but in many ways, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Both can surf the web, both can play back media and both support touch operation. The Archos 5 itself has a 4.8" touch panel (800 x 400) and a few buttons around the edges for familiar functions.

There's also a bottom-mounted 3.5mm headphone jack, and the Archos 5 is the first Android device that fully supports HD video playback. As far as apps are concerned, there is also a built-in application for Twitter updates, IM, streaming music and viewing Office files. There's also TeleAtlas for navigation, and varying amounts of integrated storage based on the model you choose. The 8GB flash model (which has a microSD expansion slot) is available now on Amazon for $250, while the 160GB HDD version is on sale at $430.

Sharp Claims Blu-ray Breakthrough

News — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:48:39 GMT

Sharp has announced that it's now capable of building a blue-violet laser with an optical output of 500mW that's capable of writing triple and quadruple-layer Blu-ray (BD) discs at up to 8x. (36MB/s) In theory, this new development could be attractive to consumers/businesses who prefer to backup to optical disc, but find themselves hampered by the 25GB (single-layer)/50GB (dual-layer) capacity of current BD-R drives.

Breakthroughs in optical storage density/speed can be interesting in and of themselves, but Sharp's announcement would be a lot more exciting if BD-R drives and media weren't so expensive. This is less an issue for BD recorders—a 5.25" Blu-ray drive is about $105 at NewEgg, compared to $179 for a burner. That's a relatively modest 70 percent premium for the drive, but the media cost disparity is far worse. 25GB, single-layer, write-once discs are currently about $5 each; 50GB discs are currently $19 per disc. Re-writable Blu-ray discs are $9 for 25GB media. A pack of Memorex CD-R disks is $9.29 or 18.5 cents per disc. CD-RW's are all of 55 cents each. The DVD comparisons, meanwhile, aren't much better.

The media cost disparity is one of the main reasons research firm iSuppli expects Blu-ray PC adoption will be weak; the firm projects just 16.3 percent uptake by 2013. Even if Blu-ray becomes the dominant viewing standard, it faces stiff competition in the PC market. Small hard drives, flash drives, and DVD burners each have their separate weaknesses and strengths, but collectively they fill a need BD-R can't because of its high cost-of-use. That could change in the long run, but it doesn't appear that we'll be seeing a change anytime soon.

Apple TV Gets A Healthy Price Cut, Successor On The Way?

News — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:35:29 GMT

Apple has long maintained that its Apple TV product was nothing more than "a hobby," so it makes sense to think that it has seen the fewest amount of updates when looking at its array of non-computer devices. The firm's Mac lineup and iPod/iPhone lineup gets refreshed at least once per year, while the Apple TV sees a firmware update maybe once every two years.

Since launching a few years back, the device has remained largely unchanged. The design has stuck, the functionality has only increased slightly and the internal capacity has only been bumped a time or two. Now, however, it sure smells like Apple may have bigger plans at work with regard to its own set top box. Suddenly, the company axed its 40GB Apple TV and cut 30% off of the asking price on its 160GB model. The result is a single 160GB Apple TV option for $229, which is $100 less than what the same device would've cost you yesterday.

The device, as it stands, is becoming increasingly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. With video on-demand, Vudu, Hulu and all manners of other web-based viewing/rental portals, why buy a dedicated set top box? You'd need a good excuse (or a membership in Apple's fan club) to really justify one, but who knows, maybe this is the first step in Apple overhauling the device into something that makes sense given the current state of online media.

Bowers & Wilkins Debuts Pricey Zeppelin Mini iPod Speaker System

News — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:43:01 GMT

Audiophiles, or those who pretend to be, may remember the original Zeppelin that Bowers & Wilkins developed and produced a few years back. By and large, it was the device that put this high-end audio company on the map for the every day consumer. It wasn't cheap, but it's unique, elongated shape was found in Apple stores everywhere, and it seemingly sold fairly well compared to most of the outfit's niche offerings.

Now, the company is serving up round two, yet the Zeppelin Mini isn't really a smaller version of the first. Instead, this iPod speaker system sports a new look, one that's more traditional in most every sense of the word. B&W promises that users can expect the same great sound out of a box that's far smaller, so it should fit into more spaces more easily.

There's also an updated docking arm, which can swivel and enable your iPod or iPhone to be connected and mounted vertically or horizontally. Furthermore, the included USB socket allows for syncing with your computer or for streaming tunes directly from your computer; of course, the 3.5mm jack ensures that any ole source will work here as well. Within, there are two 3" drivers, 18x2 watts of amplification and who knows what else, all packaged with a wireless remote for just under $500. We never said B&W was cheap, but this one sure looks good.

Pioneer Announces First THX Certified Blu-ray Disc Player

News — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:05:29 GMT

At the CEDIA Expo, Pioneer announced that its Elite BDP-09FDrBlu-ray Disc Player has become the world’s first to achieve THX certification.The company’s Elite EX Series in-wall speakers have also attained THX Select2certification. Both of these products complement the company’s Elite A/VReceivers, which are also THX Ultra2 Plus Certified and feature Class D digitalamplification. By meeting these certifications and adhering to the company’sown strict principles for faithful reproduction of content, Pioneer feels thatits line of products rival the movie theater experience.

Pioneer Showcases the World’s First THX Certified Blu ray Disc Player

Company Delivers Cinematic Quality to the Home with

Complete Line ofTHX Certified Audio and Video Products

Atlanta, CEDIA Booth #3009 9/10/2009--Pioneer Electronics(USA) Inc. announces its Elite®BDP-09FD flagship model has become the world’s first Blu-ray Disc® Playerto achieve THX® certification and that its Elite®EX Series in-wall speakers have attained THX Select2™ certification. Theseproducts complement Pioneer’s current top-of-the-line EliteA/V Receivers that are the world’s first and only THX Ultra2™ PlusCertified receivers to feature Class D digital amplification. When used aloneor as a system, Pioneer’s comprehensive line of THX Certified audio and videoproducts deliver faithful reproduction of multi-channel entertainment that isunmatched by any manufacturer. Attendees can experience the dynamiccapabilities of Pioneer’s home theater products in its sound demonstration roomat booth #3009.

“Pioneer recognizes THX as the industry benchmark forrigorous, unbiased testing and endorsement of high performance home theaterproducts,” said Russ Johnston, executive vice president of home entertainmentbusiness solutions group at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “As true A/Vspecialists, our engineers have worked relentlessly to craft a full line ofproducts that rival the movie theater experience, which not only meet Pioneer’sstrict principles for faithful reproduction of content, but now feature THXcertification.”

First and Only toFeature Three Categories of THX Certified A/V Products:
Pioneer’s no-compromise engineering approach continually strives to delivercontent with the same level of detail, precision and power as it was producedfor the cinema or in the studio. Pioneer’s THX Certified series includes:

EliteBDP-09FD Flagship Blu-ray Disc Player: At the forefront of optical discinnovations for more than 30 years, Pioneer continues to lead Blu-ray Discproduct advancements with its BDP-09FD. Outfitted with high-grade componentsand proprietary processing technologies, the player’s THX certificationguarantees performance that matches the original content.
EliteEX Series In-Wall Speakers: Built from the ground up by Chief SpeakerDesigner Andrew Jones and his team of engineers, the Elite EX line integratesPioneer’s 70-year heritage in speaker manufacturing and is specificallydesigned for ultimate fidelity throughout the home. Pioneer’s S-IW891,S-IW691and S-IW691Lintegrate the exclusive Coherent Source Transducer (CST) driver technology thatimproves off-axis performance and provide a smoother, more accurate frequencyresponse to fundamentally expand a room’s “sweet spot.” THX Select2certification validates their capability to output the same sound level as whatis required in the movie theater.
EliteA/V Receivers: Pioneer’s ICEPower Class D amplifier is uniquely designedfor a more compact chassis resulting in higher power output and better energyefficiency of any A/V Receiver on the market today. First shown in the flagshipSC-09TXto meet the emerging needs of high-resolution audio formats, THX certificationverifies that the A/V receiver can deliver crisp, clear sound even at studioreference volume level. Pioneer has continued to integrate this digitalamplifier technology in its current THX Certified SC-25and SC-27.Worldwide, Pioneer has the most THX Certified A/V Receivers in the industrywith more than 100 models.

For more information on Pioneer’s trio of THX Certified product categories, visit www.pioneerelectronics.com.

JVC Ships HD Everio GZ-HM400 Camcorder For $999.95

News — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:44:03 GMT

We know the raft of summer vacations is sadly over, but there's always a need to capture those Thanksgiving get-togethers and holiday pow-wows, right? JVC has today announced a new Full HD camcorder designed to hit the sweet spot between high-end cams and consumer-level SD cams.

The HD Everio GZ-HM400, which records to an SD/SDHC card and includes 32GB of internal memory, features a 10.3MP CMOS sensor which can take 9MP still images and record video up to 600fps (for slow-motion playback). The core image sensing device for this camera is a 1/2.33-inch 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor with Bayer Array RGB Color Filter, and the 24 Mbps recording capability of this engine (UXP mode) — the highest bit rate possible for AVCHD video — delivers detailed images with fluid motion.

Optically, the GZ-HM400 features a KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS that provides a high-resolution image source, and there's also a JVC-developed optical image stabilizer to keep things steady. There's also Face Detection, One Touch Upload to YouTube and One Touch Export to iTunes features, not to mention compatibility with the SHARE STATION DVD Burner. The JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 is available immediately for $999.95; the full specifications and press release is listed below.

JVC Launches New HD Everio Memory CameraFor Video Enthusiasts
New HD Everio GZ-HM400 offers Full HD, 9 MP stills and slow motion.
WAYNE, NJ, September 14, 2009 – JVC today announced a new videocamera that offers the performance, features and handling demanded byvideo enthusiasts. The new JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400, availableimmediately, emphasizes image quality and usability in a design thatvideographers will find allows comfortable extended use.

The HD Everio GZ-HM400, which records to an SD/SDHC card andincludes 32GB of internal memory, features a 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensorthat delivers nine-megapixel still images and 1080 TV lines ofhorizontal resolution for Full HD video. High-speed recording of up to600fps is also possible for slow-motion playback of sports and otherfast action. The camera’s features are easily accessible through anintuitive user interface that features analog-like dial adjustment anddirect-access buttons.

The core image sensing device for this camera is a 1/2.33-inch10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor with Bayer Array RGB Color Filter. Thistranslates into obvious advantages in digital still photography, asnine-megapixel stills are possible without any need for interpolation.

For video, the high-speed image processing of 5.3 million effectivepixels applied by the HD Gigabrid Premium II Engine’s super high-bandprocessor results in 1080 TV lines of horizontal resolution — thetheoretical maximum level of 1920 x 1080 Full HD. What’s more, the 24Mbps recording capability of this engine (UXP mode) — the highest bitrate possible for AVCHD video — delivers detailed images with fluidmotion.

Optically, the GZ-HM400 features a KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS thatprovides a high-resolution image source. But perhaps more noteworthy isthe JVC-developed optical image stabilizer that uses two active prismsto correct camera shake at the lens entrance before the image entersthe lens. The two prisms, compensating in the horizontal and verticaldirections, provide the same effectiveness throughout the entire zoomrange, from wide to telephoto.

On the top of the camera are three buttons, “A”, “S” and “U”, forselecting shooting modes. “A” selects the Aperture Priority Setting,“S” is for selecting the shutter speed, and “U” is User-Assignable,which lets users assign their own frequently used settings to thisbutton. Positioned next to the lens barrel are controls for manualbrightness and focus adjustment; just tilt a lever switch to selecteither brightness or focus, then turn the manual adjustment dial in thedirection desired. This “analog” type control provides more intuitiveoperation and allows fine-tuning of both settings. What’s more, whenused in conjunction with the SET button, this same dial allows easysetting of various other functions with menu-free simplicity.

Zoom is controlled by a seesaw-style zoom lever, which providessmooth zooming. The body is sculpted to offer a sure-grip contour, andsize-balanced to afford extended operation with reduced fatigue.

Three different high-speed recording modes are available forslow-motion video playback: 600fps, 300fps and 120fps. For instance, at600fps, motion occurring over a mere 2.4 seconds is slowed down to 24seconds (10 times as long), enabling the user to capture crucialmoments that are not visible to the naked eye. This function can beused as an effective tool for sport technique analysis, nature studies,and much more.

For still image shooting, up to 60fps 5.3-megapixel stills canbe shot in a continuous burst of up to 11 images. Or, if preferred,continuous shooting of up to six nine-megapixel stills at up to 15fpsis also possible. It is also possible to shoot 5.3-megapixel stillssimultaneously while recording 1920 x 1080 Full HD video.

JVC’s K2 Technology, a proven technology in the audio field thatrestores fine sound details that are lost during compression, has beenincorporated for the first time in a camera.

Other noteworthy features of the GZ-HM400 include Face Detectiontechnology that identifies up to 16 faces to accurately adjust thefocus and exposure, as well as One Touch Upload to YouTube™ and the OneTouch Export function to easily export videos and stills to an iTunes®Library.

In addition to the SHARE STATION DVD Burner that allows easy AVCHDDVD burning without using a PC, this year JVC offers a new option forplayback and enjoyment of GZ-HM400’s recordings. The new CU-VS100 HDMedia Player plays back AVCHD video saved on an SD card, with doubleslots for uninterrupted playback from two cards. HDMI connection to anHDTV assures maximum quality enjoyment without complicated wiring.

PC users will appreciate the GZ-HM400’s Everio MediaBrowser, asingle application for everything from simple editing to file playbackand management.

The JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 is available immediately at a nationally advertised value of $999.95.

About JVC U.S.A.
JVC U.S.A., headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, is a division ofJVC Americas Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Victor Company ofJapan Ltd. JVC distributes a complete line of video and audio equipmentfor the consumer and professional markets. For further productinformation, visit JVC’s Web site at http://www.jvc.com or call 1-800-526-5308.

Specifications– JVC Everio GZ-HM400

Format

Video

Video: [AVCHD] MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: Dolby Digital (2ch)

Stills

JPEG

Storage Media

32GB Internal Memory

SD/SDHC Memory Card (not supplied)

Image Sensor

1/2.33” CMOS, 10.3 Megapixel

Lens

KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS

Zoom Ratio

10x Optical / 15x Dynamic / 200x Digital (max.)

Video Recording Modes

UXP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 24Mbps (VBR)

XP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 17Mbps (VBR)

SP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 12Mbps (VBR)

EP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 5Mbps (VBR)

Still Image Sizes

4:3

3456x2592 / 3072x2304 / 2592x1944 / 1600x1200 / 640x480

16:9

3456x1944 / 3072x1728 / 2592x1456 / 1920x1080 / 1280x720

LCD Monitor

2.8” 207K-pixel Color LCD

Interfaces

HDMI^TM Out (mini), AV Out, Component Video Out, USB 2.0/1.1, Headphone Out, Microphone In, SD/SDHC Card Slot, DC In

Power Consumption

4.0W

Dimensions

(W x H x D)

Without battery

2-11/16” x 2-7/8” x 5-3/8” (67mm x 72mm x 135mm)

With battery

2-11/16” x 2-7/8” x 5-9/16” (67mm x 72mm x 141mm)

Weight

Without battery

0.89lbs (400g)

With battery

1.1lbs (485g)

Available video recording times

Rec Modes

Internal Memory

SDHC Card

32GB

32GB

16GB

8GB

UXP

2hr 56min

2hr 40min

1hr 20min

40min

XP

4hr 9min

4hr

2hr

1hr

SP

5hr 53min

5hr 52min

2hr 56min

1hr 28min

EP

14hr 44min

14hr 40min

7hr 20min

3hr 40min

Number of storable still images

Image Sizes

Internal Memory

SDHC Card

32GB

32GB

16GB

8GB

4GB

4:3

3456x2592 (Fine)

7730

7810

3860

1930

960

16:9

3456x1944 (Fine)

9999

9999

5180

2570

1270

Software System Requirements (Windows^®)
OS:   Microsoft^® Windows^® XP Home Edition (SP2/SP3)/XP Professional (SP2/SP3) (pre-installed). It must be equippedwith a standard USB2.0 interface.
   Microsoft^® Windows Vista^® Home Basic or SP1/Home Premium orSP1 (32-bit edition, pre-installed)
CPU:   Intel^® Core™ Duo, at least 1.66GHz
           Intel^® Core™ 2 Duo, at least 2.13GHzrecommended
RAM:   Windows^® XP: At least 1GB
Windows Vista^®: At least 2GB

LG Introduces Two New Wireless HDTV Series

News — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:39:49 GMT

LGshowed off its first-ever series of wireless LCD HDTVs, including an LED model,at the CEDIA Expo 2009. Both the 55-inch class Slim Wireless LED-Backlight HDTV (model55LHX) and the LH85 series of wireless LCD HDTVs giveinstallers the freedom to put the HDTV anywhere in the room without having todeal with wires. To enable this wireless experience, LG uses a supplied mediabox that transmits an uncompressed Full HD 1080p signal with virtually nointerference or delay to the TV.

LG ElectronicsBroadens Home Entertainment Options

With Two New Wireless HDTV Series

Wireless LCD HDTVsOffer Flexible and Convenient Custom Installation Options

ATLANTA, Sept. 10 -- Offering diverse integration optionsfor custom installers, LG Electronics is highlighting its first-ever series ofwireless LCD HDTVs, including an LED model, this week at the Custom ElectronicDesign & Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623).

Whether it's design, technology or screen size, LG's wirelessHDTVs have something for everyone, according to Peter Reiner, senior vicepresident, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. LG's 55-inch class* SlimWireless LED-Backlight HDTV (model 55LHX) combines advanced technology withcutting-edge style for a TV that blends beautifully into any home environment.For those seeking a variety of design options, LG's LH85 series of wireless LCDHDTVs will be available in 47- and 55-inch class* sizes.

"As custom installers look to create a truly uniquespace, the wireless capability found in the 55LHX and LH85 models allow thefreedom to place the HDTV anywhere in the room," said Reiner. "Withwireless HDTVs, LG continues to expand home entertainment design and placementoptions to meet consumers' ever evolving needs."

Entertainment Freedom

Both 55LHX and LH85 wireless models allow installers thefreedom to place the HDTV virtually anywhere in the room - without messy wires.To achieve this wireless experience, LG uses a supplied media box to transmitan uncompressed Full HD 1080p signal with virtually no interference or delaydirectly to the TV. The HDTVs can receive a wireless signal up to 30 feet away,allowing consumers to hook all content sources (such as a cable or satellitebox, Blu-ray disc player, game console and home theater systems) into one box.

Enhanced PictureQuality

The 55-inch LHX model features superior picture quality withan elegant ultra-slim design - less than one-inch thick at its thinnest point.This unit has attained THX Display Certification. This certification ensuresthat the 55LHX delivers exceptional images, bringing a more immersive andenjoyable movie, broadcast and video game experience to consumers' living room.Since THX certification begins during the initial product design phase, everyproduct detail is meticulously mapped to THX standards and tested in laboratoryand home theater environments to ensure quality, usability and compatibility.

By presenting HD and standard-definition content at themaximum resolution with the correct color and luminance level, the LHX providesconsumers a crisper, clearer image. To achieve this, LG uses a full-array LEDbacklighting system with local dimming technology, for precise picture controlresulting in deeper blacks, wide color gamut and an incredible 5,000,000:1dynamic contrast ratio. This model also incorporates TruMotion 240Hz technologyfor smooth motion during fast-action scenes.

LG's LH85 series delivers an 80,000:1 contrast ratio fordeeper blacks and greater picture detail. Additionally, the LH85 seriesfeatures LG's 24p Real Cinema technology that allows consumers to enjoy a truecinematic experience at home, the way the movie was intended to be seen. Forthose that want more from their HDTV, the LH85 also includes USB 2.0functionality allowing easy access to MP3 files and viewing of JPEG photos fora more enjoyable TV viewing experience.

ISFccc CalibrationOptions

Those seeking advanced calibration based on their own hometheater environment, will appreciate LG's ISFccc option on both the 55LHX andLH85 series. The professional ISF calibration helps to deliver picture quality,representing what filmmakers intended viewers to see.

Using the LG Expert Mode, an ISF-certified calibrationtechnician will use professional equipment to calibrate the HDTV using ISFparameters based upon individual home theater environments and ambientlighting. Once calibrated to the optimal setting, the calibrations are saved asISF "Day" and ISF "Night" modes. With ISFccc, LG offers asuperior 10-point calibration. This provides an extra level of precision forgray scale calibration resulting in a more uniform picture.

Energy Savings

With Intelligent Sensor, both wireless models automaticallyoptimize the picture to the lighting conditions in the room for a personalizedand more enjoyable viewing experience; and potential energy savings. Both theLHX and LH85 series are Energy Star 3.0 compliant, and with LG's "SmartEnergy Saving" package, which consists of features such as backlightcontrol options and video mute, LG further paves the way toward greater energysavings, while also allowing consumers to customize their viewing experience.

The 55LHX will be available soon at a manufacturer'ssuggested retail price of $4,799 and the LH85 series will be available laterthis Fall in 55- and 47-inch class* screen sizes with MSRPs of $3,199 and$2,399, respectively.

For more information please visit http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/kit/LGCEDIA

* 55LHX 55-inch class/54.6-inch diagonal

* 55LH85 55-inch class/54.6-inch diagonal

* 47LH85 47-inch class/47.0-inch diagonal

*Specifications subject to change without notice

Sony's BDP-N460 Blu-ray Player Also Streams Netflix, Web Content

News — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:54:04 GMT

Remember the days when you were content with a DVD player doing nothingmore than playing back DVDs? Those days are long gone. Now, Blu-ray decks aren't even considered worthwhile against rivals unless they cando a whole mess of other things, including stream Web content, checkTwitter feeds and enable users to access BD-Live material.

And that's why Sony has made sure that it's new BDP-N460 is wellconnected, ready to take on whatever the Internet can throw at it.Introduced at CEDIA Expo this past week alongside the gorgeous JVC HDTVwe spotted earlier, this Blu-ray Disc player also handles DVD playback(upscaled to "near HD") and streaming Internet video. Owners simplyplug in a live Ethernet cable and, like magic, they have access to avast library of premium and free on-demand content from the BRAVIAInternet Video platform. Said portal features thousands of movies, TVprograms, and music from YouTube, Slacker, and, later this fall,Netflix.

On the BD front, this one delivers Full HD (1080p) playback and 24pTrue Cinema output, and it also decodes the latest audio formatsinternally. Naturally, it's also Profile 2.0-compliant, meaning thatBD-Live discs are welcome here so long as you can provide your own 1GBUSB stick for holding the additional content. Also of note, this unitincludes built-in software specially designed for use with the Linksysby Cisco Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band (WET610N, soldseparately); the bridge helps ease the connection between theEthernet-enabled player and a wireless router in either the 2.4GHz or5GHz radio band for optimal streaming.

Finally, the heck includes a feature that frequent Netflix renters willlive: Sony's Precision Drive technology. This addition helps it toetect and correct wobbling discs from three directions, supportingstabilization of warped or scratched Blu-ray Discs and DVDs duringplayback. Those interested can pick one up this October for around $250.

Vudu's Movie Rentals Come To LG's Networked BD390 Blu-ray Player

News — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:24:20 GMT

Vudu has certainly come a long way during its brief existence in the world of home entertainment. Starting out as a company peddling standalone movie boxes, the outfit has morphed into a software solutions provider that puts its iconic software and UI onto devices that people are already looking to buy. No extra mess, same great content.

Shortly after announcing that its movie rental services would be coming to LG HDTVs and Mitsubishi HDTVs, Vudu has now made the move into the realm of Blu-ray. Starting later this month, a free software update will enable LG's NetCast-capable BD390 Blu-ray Disc player to access Vudu's library of films. From there, users will see the same UI present on Vudu's own box, and renting movies on-demand in HD/surround sound will be as simple as navigating to your favorite flick and punching in your credit card information.

The BD390 has been shipping all summer, but until now, the $399 price point just seemed a bit steep. Of course, if you're really into Vudu, that same MSRP now seems a lot more attractive.

VUDU NOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY PLAYERS
VUDU Extends Footprint of Industry-Leading HD Movie Service To LG Electronics' Network Blu-ray Disc Player

SANTACLARA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2009 – VUDU, Inc.'s industry-leading on-demandhigh definition (HD) movie service is now available on the BD390Network Blu-ray Disc player from LG Electronics, giving consumers awhole new way to access the largest on-demand HD library of Hollywoodmovies in their living rooms, the company announced today.

VUDUcontinues to work with top consumer electronics manufacturers to becomemore accessible to customers who want to rent or buy major Hollywoodmovies in high definition. The VUDU service, already available onflat-panel HDTVs, uniquely delivers the largest available HD movielibrary of instantly-viewable movies in 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus5.1 surround sound and provides customers with VUDU's superior userexperience for finding and watching movies in high definition.

"Ourgoal as a company is to offer the best possible HD movie service to thebroadest possible audience," said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU. "Byadding the top-rated LG BD390 Blu-ray player to the lineup ofVUDU-enabled products, we've made it easier than ever for customers toenjoy the VUDU experience."

Some of VUDU's key features include:

* Instant viewing experience: unlike typical Internet and on-demandvideo streaming, VUDU movies start immediately, and viewers can fastforward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or thefrustration associated with buffering
* Highest quality video: VUDU's unique HDX format delivers true 1080presolution and TruFilm encoding enhancements, now available for thefirst time on an instant-start basis
* Immersive sound: VUDU is the only on-demand service to deliver DolbyDigital Plus 5.1 surround sound at all video quality levels
* No monthly fees: customers can instantly buy or rent from VUDU'sextensive library of standard and high definition movie and TV titleswithout any monthly service charges
* Largest HD library anywhere: over 2,200 titles are available in HD or HDX format
* New releases: Newly-released titles from all major studios areavailable the same day as DVD release, typically months before they areavailable on subscription-based services

LG'sBD390 networked Blu-ray player transforms and personalizes the hometheater experience by offering a stellar array of entertainmentoptions. In addition to its broadband capabilities, the BD390 offersexceptional "Full HD" 1080p video performance and exceptional imagequality from standard DVDs with 1080p up-scaling via HDMI output. TheBD390 is also equipped for easy connection to the home network and hasone gigabyte (GB) of built-in memory for BD Live functionality.

ModelBD390 with LG's "NetCast Entertainment Access" feature is available nowat nationwide retailers at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of$399. VUDU connectivity will be available at the end of the month via afree upgrade.

About VUDU

VUDUis a leading provider of digital technologies and services that deliverInternet entertainment to consumers' HDTVs. The VUDU entertainmentservice supports native instant start HD and, for the first time,instant-start HDX, which, with 1080p resolution at 24 frames persecond, the cinematic gold standard, is the highest quality on demandformat available anywhere. Through relationships with every major U.S.movie studio and more than 40 independent studios and distributors,VUDU offers a vast array of on-demand choices at the highest quality.The VUDU collection is constantly updated, and newly released moviesfrom major studios are available on the same day as the DVD isreleased. Consumers can finally watch great movies without the hasslesassociated with traditional services: no driving, no mailing, and nomonthly fee. For more information, visit http://www.vudu.com/.

Logitech's Squeezebox Radio And Touch Cut The Wires From Music

News — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:45:08 GMT

For true music lovers, Logitech's Squeezebox line is one they're veryfamiliar with. The company's latest offerings in the line are some ofthe best yet, with the Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player andSqueezebox Touch giving owners simple, intuitive access to a widevariety of music choices including free Internet radio, personaldigital music files and music subscription services. In other words,each of these should provide you with access to any kind of jam youcould possible need to groove to, all through over-the-air Wi-Finetworks that are already easy to locate.

Think of these as "connected radios." You just plug it in, turn it onand connect to your home Wi-Fi network. Once you're online, theSqueezebox products can tap directly into Internet radio stations orstream files from any networked machine or hard drive. Pretty much anyfile is fair game, with DRM-free iTunes Plus downloads and subscriptionservices such as Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody, SIRIUS, and Last.fmavailable to access at just a touch. The Sqeezebox Radio even touts acolor screen to display album art, track and station information.

There's also a few typical radio functions like six preset buttons forstoring your favorite song, Internet radio station or playlist. There'salso a built-in alarm clock as well as a 3.5mm jack to plug in any kindof wired music source too. The Squeezebox Radio also includes built-inspeakers, and the optional battery pack lets you take it on the roadfor up to six hours.

As for Squeezebox Touch, you can expect the same functionality but on a4.3" color screen that supports touch input. There's also a USB portand SD card reader for loading up tunes locally, and the bundled wallmount even lets you make this a part of your home automation/audiosystem. Heck, it can even link up with Facebook in order to share musicrecommendations, as well as check out your friends’ statuses,recommendations, and full-color photos. The Logitech Squeezebox RadioWi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europebeginning in September for a suggested retail price of $199.99, whilethe Squeezebox Touch should land in December for $299.99.

NVIDIA's Tegra Finds Home Within Samsung's M1 PMP

News — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:26:21 GMT

NVIDIA's Tegra is sure doing a good job at gaining respect in theindustry. The company's HD Mobile Processor enables portable mediadevices to handle HD video and 3D graphics, feats that were deemedimpossible for small gadgets just a few years back. Now, however, Tegrahas already found a home in the high-profile Zune HD, and just in caseyou've got some beef with Microsoft, you'll also find it withinSamsung's new M1.

The M1 is a pretty darn sleek player, equipped with an AMOLED display,wireless technology, 3D graphics and a Flash-based user interface.Reportedly, the device can handle 720p HD video playback, and it'sequipped with a dedicated audio processor, a GPU and two ARM cores.

The Samsung M1 uses the following NVIDIA Tegra technology to deliver rich multimedia features:
An HD video processor for smooth, vivid 720p HD video and movie playback
A graphics processor for an intuitive, responsive user interfaceand excellent 2D/3D graphics for wireless mobile games, applicationsand photos
An audio processor for advanced audio playback and recording
NVIDIA nPower technology to optimise overall system performance and power

Samsung's M1 should be filtering out to US stores shortly, though official pricing remains a mystery.

Toshiba's BDX2000 To Be Company's First-Ever Blu-ray Player

News — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:18:20 GMT

Toshiba told us it was coming, and now the world can finally mark itdown: the company famous for supporting HD DVD while everyone elsesided with Blu-ray has finally decided to product its very own BD deck.Some might view this as the real death of HD DVD, as for the longesttime, Toshiba would have nothing to do with the rival format thateventually killed the "red" format that it so dearly loved.

The BDX2000 will be forever known as Toshiba's first-ever Blu-ray Discplayer, and it'll provide 1080p video output, Profile 2.0 (BD-Live)support, a smoked mirrored front panel, REGZA-LINK support, an SD cardslot for loading up multimedia locally and AVCHD playback. The fulllist of highlights are below, and if you're interested, you can get inline for one starting this November for $249.99.

Additional Product Features:

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

Logitech's Harmony 700 Replaces Up To Six Remotes

News — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:50:33 GMT

Logitech's Harmony remote lineup has been pleasing affluent A/Venthusiasts for ages now, but the company's universal devices havehardly ever suited the low-end crowd. All that changes today, or atleast it does if you consider $150 to be "low-end." The Harmony 700offers up a lot of the same controlling features found on some of thecompany's higher-end units, but at a price that's much less than thestickers found on other units.

Designed to control up to six components at a time, the remote packs acolor display, rechargeable AA batteries and one-click control of manyof your favorite activities. In short, this remote can be programmed toturn on your TV, DVD player, audio system and even turn down yourmusic--with one single button press. You simply program your remote tohandle those tasks when you mash the "Watch a DVD" command, and justlike that, everything clicks.

Users can also check our the favorite channels on the color display,and if you're concerned about the setup process, don't be. Owners canhook this up to their PC or Mac, and once it's linked, they can tapinto Logitech's online database of over 250,000 devices in order toprogram practically any A/V component ever made. As we stated, this onewill be available in the US and Europe later this month for $149.99.

Sony Introduces S Series And E Series Walkman MP3 Players

News — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:03:51 GMT

We haven't a clue why Sony would choose today to introduce its S SeriesWalkman--after all, the company's Reader Daily Edition was also justannounced, and it's undoubtedly the show stopper of the two. At anyrate, those more interested in portable music than portable words justmight find this tidbit more interesting.

As rumored, the S Series Walkman Video MP3 player is real, and whileit's definitely no iPod killer, it's unique in its own way. Forexample, it features built-in stereo speakers, a 2.4" QVGA display, aframe that's under a half-inch thick, video playback of 30fps and abattery life that's downright staggering. The unit can spin tracks forup to 42 hours or videos for 6.5 hours without needing to be recharged;if you're using the internal speakers, those numbers are slashed to 17and 5 hours, respectively.

The device also features voice recording, an FM recorder/tuner andsupport for drag-and-drop or iTunes 8.1. As for format support? It'llhandle MP3, WMA, AAC, LPCM, H.264/AVC, MPEG-4, JPEG and MPEG-4. Insomewhat less interesting news, Sony also officially revealed the ESeries Walkman, which ditches the internal speakers and steps down to a2" QVGA display. The battery also isn't as impressive, with liferatings of just 30 hours for audio and 4 hours for video.

The Sony S Series Walkman video MP3 player will be come in several colors including black, red, violet and pink with capacities includes 8GB ($110) and 16GB ($130). The new Sony E Series Walkman Video MP3 player will be available in red and black for $80 (8GB) and $100 (16GB).

Sony's ALTUS Audio Line To Make Music In Best Buy

News — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:38:30 GMT

As if Sony's week couldn't get any better, the company responsible forissuing a new, slimmer PlayStation 3 is also announcing a new audioproduct line that'll soon be gracing the shelves of Best Buy locations.The ALTUS range will initially consist of just a handful of kits, allof which are tied to the company's S-AIR wireless protocol in some formor another.

Up first is the ALT-SA31iR multi-room iPod package, which featuresthree separate components: a docking station for iPod/iPhone and twohigh-output wireless speakers. This multi-room package also features anAM/FM tuner and S-AIR remote commander with an LCD display, on whichusers can see metadata (title, artist, track name, etc.). The systemcan be used to transmit audio without wires to all other S-AIRcompatible receivers should you own one, and if you pick this up, it'scertainly incentive to outfit the rest of your home with S-AIR-friendlywares.

The AIR-SW10Ti docking system for iPod consists of a compact dockingstation with two built-in speakers and a wireless subwoofer that can beeasily concealed. The rig packs 60 watts of RMS power and includes anIR remote and FM tuner. The AIR-SW10Ti system can also be used totransmit wireless audio to compatible ALTUS and S-AIR products. TheALT-SA31iR system will retail for approximately $700 and the AIR-SA10Timodel will retail for about $400, and both are available for pre-ordertoday through SonyStyle.com if you can't wait for them to show up inBest Buy next month.

Moving right along, there's the ALT-SA32PC multi-room audio package,which is also a three-piece set featuring an -AIR transmitter thatconnects to your PC (via USB input) and twohigh-output wireless speakers. The USB transmitter streams audiowirelessly from the connected PC to the two included speakers for asimple multi-room solution. The ALT-A33PC package has an identical USBS-AIR transmitter, butincludes a universal receiver that can connect to a variety of audioproducts with its analog audio inputs. This enables users to streammusic wirelessly from their computer to most existing music systems.Both of these bundles ship with music management software that has theability to tap into existingplaylists on your computer in programs like iTunes and WindowsMedia Player, with the former selling for $500 and the latter foraround $200.

Bringing up the rear, there's the ALT-SA34R Socket Speaker Package.This ALTUS product is compatible with all S-AIR enabled transmittersand features two small, unobtrusive S-AIR wireless speakers that plugdirectly into any power outlet in the home. The speaker system alsoincludes an S-AIR remote commander highlighted by an LCD display forviewing music metadata. Sadly, such a nice concept won't be cheap, withthe MSRP expected to hover around $350 when it ships in September.Finally, the BDV-E500W 5.1 Channel Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System isavailable to new home theater junkies looking for a simple, all in onesetup to bring BD functionality and surround sound into their home. TheBD-Live capable system can be found now for around $800, which includesfive surround speakers and a dedicated subwoofer.

NVIDIA's HD-Capable Tegra Chip Powers Zune HD

News — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:29:58 GMT

There's little doubt that the hype surrounding Microsoft's Zune HD farexceeds that which surrounded the original Zune. The design is farsuperior, the technology is cutting edge (HD Radio, OLED display, etc.)and far more is at stake. Microsoft didn't exactly hit a home run withthe original Zune, but if the Zune HD crashes and burns in much thesame way, who knows if the software giant will even bother to try itshand at Apple's game again?

In order to really launch an all out assault on Apple's iPod touch,Microsoft has also enlisted the help of NVIDIA. An odd partner in theportable media player business, but one that could prove all the moreviable in the coming months and years. Unlike just a few years back,NVIDIA is now making mobile-centric processors designed to push seriouspixels in the smallest of devices. Like the Zune HD, naturally. Thecompany's Tegra processor has been talked about for months on end, butlittle has actually been done on the "walk the walk" front.

Until now. The planet's "first" ultra-low-power HD processor is a vitalpart of the Zune HD, giving the player high-def capabilities not foundon rivaling units (like Apple's iPod family). Michael Rayfield, generalmanager of NVIDIA’s mobile business, stated that Tegra "provides themultimedia muscle in Zune HD," also proclaiming that users will simply"love the device’s new design, amazing multimedia features and HD videoout capability." Of course, he would say something like that given hisvested interest, but we digress.

The Tegra chip within the forthcoming Zune HD (September 15th shipdate) contains eight independent processors, each designed for aspecific class oftasks - among them are an HD video processor, an audio processor, agraphics processor, and two ARM cores. The processors can work togetheror independently to minimize power consumption. Here's an overview ofwhat the processor brings to the table:

HD video processor dedicated to HD video, providingunprecedented picture quality and ultra-smooth, vivid movie playbackwith low power consumption
Ultra-low power graphics processor for a compelling and intuitive user interface
NVIDIA nPower™ technology, which optimizes system power use and enables extended HD video and MP3 playback time

Will an HD chip within a media player be enough to catch the eye of thegeneral public? It's hard to say. Most average consumers don't know andcouldn't care less about the processor, RAM and controller board withintheir iPod. They just care that it works. We suspect mostnon-enthusiasts will share those same feelings about the Zune HD, butif Microsoft can somehow market this player as one that can actually domore than the iPod touch, it may be able to convince people to switch.Time will tell, and so will the holiday shopping numbers.

Format	Video	Video: [AVCHD] MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: Dolby Digital (2ch)
	Stills	JPEG
Storage Media		32GB Internal Memory SD/SDHC Memory Card (not supplied)
Image Sensor		1/2.33” CMOS, 10.3 Megapixel
Lens		KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS
Zoom Ratio		10x Optical / 15x Dynamic / 200x Digital (max.)
Video Recording Modes		UXP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 24Mbps (VBR) XP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 17Mbps (VBR) SP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 12Mbps (VBR) EP: 1920x1080i, Avg. 5Mbps (VBR)
Still Image Sizes	4:3	3456x2592 / 3072x2304 / 2592x1944 / 1600x1200 / 640x480
	16:9	3456x1944 / 3072x1728 / 2592x1456 / 1920x1080 / 1280x720
LCD Monitor		2.8” 207K-pixel Color LCD
Interfaces		HDMI^TM Out (mini), AV Out, Component Video Out, USB 2.0/1.1, Headphone Out, Microphone In, SD/SDHC Card Slot, DC In
Power Consumption		4.0W
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Without battery	2-11/16” x 2-7/8” x 5-3/8” (67mm x 72mm x 135mm)
	With battery	2-11/16” x 2-7/8” x 5-9/16” (67mm x 72mm x 141mm)
Weight	Without battery	0.89lbs (400g)
	With battery	1.1lbs (485g)

Rec Modes	Internal Memory	SDHC Card
Rec Modes	32GB	32GB	16GB	8GB
UXP	2hr 56min	2hr 40min	1hr 20min	40min
XP	4hr 9min	4hr	2hr	1hr
SP	5hr 53min	5hr 52min	2hr 56min	1hr 28min
EP	14hr 44min	14hr 40min	7hr 20min	3hr 40min

Image Sizes		Internal Memory	SDHC Card
Image Sizes		32GB	32GB	16GB	8GB	4GB
4:3	3456x2592 (Fine)	7730	7810	3860	1930	960
16:9	3456x1944 (Fine)	9999	9999	5180	2570	1270