News / Media

By Donald Melanson Dec 27th 2010 on engadget.com

Apple said last week that it expected its new Apple TV to cross the one million mark in sales before Christmas, and it’s now quietly confirmed that it’s managed to do just that. For those keeping score, that means it’s sold a million in three months, which is certainly impressive for something Apple still describes as a “hobby,” although that description does have the peculiar tendency to lower expectations somewhat. As you may recall, Roku also announced last week that it expected to sell a million units before the end of the year, and its CEO noted that the introduction of the new Apple TV actually seems to have led to a spike in sales of its own media streamers.

Powerful and packed with features without the flagship price tag.

By Daniel Kumin December 2010

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http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/3d/2010/12/test-report-onkyo-tx-nr1008-av-receiver

A check of Onkyo’s Web site shows no fewer than 17 different A/V receivers on offer, an almost General Motors-like profusion of models. (I’m pretty certain, however, the U.S. government won’t be stepping in on Onkyo’s behalf should the consumer elec- tronics industry go south.) To be fair, a half-dozen or so are last year?s models, but still. C’mon, guys, 17???

However you want to count them, Onkyo’s new TX-NR1008, which is a couple hundred dollars cheaper (and some 10 pounds lighter) than the identically powered TX- NR1007, lies pretty much squarely in the middle of this embarrassment of riches. Its lighter weight suggests that Onkyo is exchanging a bit of power-supply copper for silicon-based features, most obviously the seven HDMI inputs (one on the front panel!) and dual outputs, all in the gloriously 3D-capable version v1.4 being more or less forced on all manufacturers by the 3D police.

SETUP

Visually, the TX-NR1008 is indistinguishable from the model it replaces, at least on the outside. But upon con- necting my tangle of HDMI cables, audio and video in- terconnects, and speaker wires and then powering up, I observed a subtly updated GUI, with new, translucent overlays and menus as well as readouts that, while slightly more graphical than the previous generation’s, remain mostly text-driven, straightforward, and logical…

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<strong><a href="http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/3d/2010/12/test-report-onkyo-tx-nr1008-av-receiver" target="_blank">http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/3d/2010/12/test-report-onkyo-tx-nr1008-av-receiver</a></strong></p>

The world’s first and only HDTV powered by Google TV (NSX-40GT1) gives you easy access to more entertainment than ever. Search the entire web, TV listings and apps to find exactly what you’re looking for. Watch TV, browse the internet, or do both at the same time on the same screen.

Watch TV while surfing the web
Navigate between websites and TV or enjoy both at the same time, on the same screen, with Dual View.

Your world, in the palm of your hands
Finding your favorite content is a breeze thanks to the intuitive handheld keypad with full QWERTY keyboard and optical mouse. Easily navigate the internet, search for TV shows, apps1 movies and more.

Appsolutely Amazing
Personalize your TV experience with downloadable applications that can add new content and capabilities to your already amazing Sony Internet TV. Some apps include:

Twitter
Keep in touch with people and get real-time updates.

Pandora
Free, personalized internet radio playing only the music you love.

Android Market
Coming in 2011, you will have access to thousands of applications from the library of Android Apps.

Napster
MP3 downloads and unlimited on-demand music streaming.

Netflix
Instantly watch Hollywood movies and thousands of TV episodes.

NBA
Check stats while you watch the game. See standings, video highlights and more.

Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player

Introducing Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc™ player (NSZ-GT1), the world’s first and only Blu-ray Disc player powered by Google TV.

Access more entertainment than ever. Presenting Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc player, powered by Google TV. Search the entire web, TV listings and apps1 to find exactly what you’re looking for. Watch TV, browse the internet2, or do both at the same time on the same screen. Plus, finding your favorite content is a breeze thanks to the included, intuitive handheld keypad with mouse. Now you can watch the game while tracking your fantasy team, tweet about the TV show you’re watching, or update your Facebook® status while viewing TV.

Major tech manufacturers to drop VGA by 2015, Apple wonders what took ‘em so long

BY BEN BOWERS DEC 9TH 2010

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http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/major-tech-manufacturers-to-drop-vga-by-2015-apple-wonders-what/

A syndicate of consumer electronics titans including AMD, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Samsung and LG announced this week that its products will collectively drop support for VGA by 2015. Saying sayonara to the 20+ year-old analog technology is pretty self explanatory to us in this day and age, but the council of doom apparently felt compelled to cite DisplayPort’s and HDMI’s benefits of increased energy efficiency, smaller size and support for higher-resolutions as proof the move wasn’t personal – just business. AMD plans to lead the charge by starting the VGA removal process in 2013 and even intends to go the extra mile by stripping DVI-I and low voltage differential signaling technology (LVDS) support too. We definitely side with AMD’s desire to focus on cutting edge standards like Displayport 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a sooner, but if plenty of lead time and “going green” excuses help everyone else involved in the sentencing sleep better at night, then so be it.

Leading PC Companies Move to All Digital Display Technology, Phasing out Analog

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 8, 2010 – AMD, Dell, Intel Corporation, Lenovo, Samsung Electronics LCD Business and LG Display today announced intentions to accelerate adoption of scalable and lower power digital interfaces such as DisplayPort and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) into the PC.

Intel and AMD expect that analog display outputs such as Video Graphics Array (VGA) and the low voltage differential signaling technology (LVDS) panel interface would no longer be supported in their product lines by 2015. HDMI has increasingly been included in new PCs for easy connection to consumer electronics devices. DisplayPort is expected to become the single PC digital display output for embedded flat panels, PC monitors and projectors.

DisplayPort and HDMI allow for slimmer laptop designs, and support higher resolutions with deeper color than VGA – a technology which is more than 20 years old. Additionally, as laptops get smaller and their embedded flat panel resolutions increase for more immersive experiences, the power advantages, bi-directional communications and design efficiency benefits of DisplayPort make it a superior choice over LVDS, the previous standard for LCD panel inputs.

Intel plans to end support of LVDS in 2013 and VGA in 2015 in its PC client processors and chipsets.

“Modern digital display interfaces like DisplayPort and HDMI enhance the consumer visual PC experience by immersing them with higher resolutions and deeper colors – all at lower power – to enhance battery life for laptops,” said Eric Mentzer, Intel’s vice president of Strategy, Planning and Operations for the Visual and Parallel Computing Group. “By moving to these new interfaces, Intel is able to focus investment on new innovations to enhance the PC experience rather than having to solve challenges of supporting legacy analog interfaces on our latest silicon process technology and products.”

AMD plans to begin phasing out legacy interfaces, starting with the removal of native LVDS output from most products in 2013. The company also plans to remove native VGA output starting in 2013, with expansion to all AMD products by 2015. This would mean DVI-I support will be eliminated in the same timeframe.

“Displays and display standards are rapidly evolving, with new features such as multi-display support, stereoscopic 3-D, higher resolutions and increased color depth quickly moving from early adopter and niche usage to mainstream application,” said Eric Demers, AMD’s chief technology officer, Graphics Division. “Legacy interfaces such as VGA, DVI and LVDS have not kept pace, and newer standards such as DisplayPort and HDMI clearly provide the best connectivity options moving forward. In our opinion, DisplayPort 1.2 is the future interface for PC monitors, along with HDMI 1.4a for TV connectivity.”

While the large installed base of existing VGA monitors and projectors will likely keep VGA on PC back panels beyond 2015, leading PC makers are in strong support of this transition. The DisplayPort connector interface provides backwards and forwards compatibility by supporting VGA and DVI output via certified adapters, while also providing new capabilities such as single connector multi-monitor support…

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<strong><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/major-tech-manufacturers-to-drop-vga-by-2015-apple-wonders-what/" target="_blank">http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/09/major-tech-manufacturers-to-drop-vga-by-2015-apple-wonders-what/</a></strong></p>

By: HomeTheaterReview.com

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http://hometheaterreview.com/control4-unveils-new-operating-system—os-20/

Control4 just showed its second-generation operating system (“OS 2.0”) at CEDIA EXPO 2009. Control4’s OS 2.0 will enable new levels of customization for the installer and personalization for the homeowner. This next-generation release offers new home-control functionality, easy-to-access whole-home systems, integration of third-party applications, and improved media management. Featuring an elegant new user interface, Control4® OS 2.0 will provide Control4 integrators with its most powerful automation and entertainment solution to date.

With a Flash-based software development kit (SDK) now available, the Control4 OS 2.0 will further the integration of third-party devices by adding the flexibility to design and integrate an interface to the control capabilities that is unique to the device and is delivered directly via the Control4 user interface (UI). Third-party companies can create applications that provide information to the customer, ranging from local weather and traffic reports to RSS Feeds. Installers can easily download applications that have been developed by third parties. They can also customize the interface without using the SDK, simply by taking advantage of pre-set macros and system shortcuts. The new OS 2.0 also features language localization to support the 37 countries where Control4 sells products today.

“The new Control4 OS 2.0 is at the heart of an expanding ecosystem of leading consumer electronics products designed to work together with ease,” stated Control4’s CEO Will West. “With this version, we make it easier to integrate partner products and applications, giving consumers and dealers a wider range of affordable options as they design scalable and powerful Control4® home-control solutions that are customized to address each user’s needs.”

Control4 OS 2.0 implements ZigBee® Pro standard, including the Home Automation (HA) profile, which allows a greater number of interoperable devices to be added to the Control4® system. The new OS 2.0 also implements the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard, enabling media served up by other products to be automatically available for playback within the Control4 system–improving management of video and audio files.

The OS 2.0 has new whole-home capabilities to interact more effectively with media management, lighting, HVAC, and security. This enables easy expansion by third parties to support other subsystems.

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<strong><a href="http://hometheaterreview.com/control4-unveils-new-operating-system---os-20/" target="_blank">http://hometheaterreview.com/control4-unveils-new-operating-system---os-20/</a></strong></p>

By Chris Davies on Wed Nov 24th, 2010

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http://www.slashgear.com/lg-bd690-blu-ray-player-first-to-get-wi-fi-direct-certified-24116026/

LG’s BD690 Blu-ray player has become the first A/V device to be Wi-Fi Direct certified, meaning the unit will presumably be able to send and/or receive content between other WiFi-enabled devices. That means WiFi HDTVs, tablets and notebooks, which should significantly remove complexity for home entertainment networks.

Wi-Fi Direct allows for straightforward point-to-point connection of devices using WiFi, greatly exceeding Bluetooth range and supporting files, content and multimedia with WPA2 security. Only one device need be Wi-Fi Direct compliant, too, which means that even if the BD690 is the only such device in your home, it should be able to establish connections with other, non-certified hardware.

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<strong><a href="http://www.slashgear.com/lg-bd690-blu-ray-player-first-to-get-wi-fi-direct-certified-24116026/" target="_blank">http://www.slashgear.com/lg-bd690-blu-ray-player-first-to-get-wi-fi-direct-certified-24116026/</a></strong></p>

It may look like the VPL-HW15, but Sony’s new VPL-VWPRO1 SXRD projector for custom A/V dealers boasts a brighter picture, higher contrast ratio, better two-way communications.

By Joe Whitaker November 24, 2010

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http://www.cepro.com/article/review_sony_vwpro1_projector_is_worth_the_extra_1000/

With so many good projectors on the market these days, do we really need another one? Sony thinks there is a special place for the new VPL-VWPRO1 and I do too. The manufacturer packs a few extra goodies into the $3,499 home theater projector, available now exclusively through the specialty A/V dealers and custom integrators. (Sony is working to quash unauthorized Internet resellers that have offered the product for sale.) It’s the extra goodness that sets this projector apart from Sony’s popular VPL-HW15, which looks just like the new projector but costs $1,000 less. I suggest spending the extra grand for the VPL-VWPRO1, which gives you a much brighter picture (1,300 lumens vs. 1,000) and higher contrast ratio (85,000:1 vs. 65,000:1). It also offers a feast for home systems integrators, who can create logs, macros and alerts thanks to a number of useful feedback mechanisms.

An Eventful Unboxing
So what’s in the box? Normally there isn’t much to report, but in this case, you’ll find a nice surprise inside. As usual there was the projector, the remote, some batteries, a power cable, a manual I will never read … and another box. I almost tossed the extra box, thinking it was a packaging spacer, only to find out there was an extra projector bulb inside. After a phone call to Sony, I learned that the extra bulb was not shipped accidentally, but is included standard with the purchase of a VPL-VWPRO1. The bulb life I am told is 2,000 hours at the HIGH lamp control setting and 3,000 hours at the LOW setting. This means out of the box you get 4,000 to 6,000 hours of bulb life.

Great Picture
Let’s start with the most important feature of any video projector: the picture. I won’t bore you with a bunch of calibrator speak. Suffice it to say, Sony has included all of the options that professional calibration demands. I tested this projector on a Screen Innovations Black Diamond, an Elite white screen, and a Screen Innovations Gamma Maestro perforated screen. The 1080p cinema projection and its unique SXRD panel display system alone sets this projector apart from others in its price range. What this display system accomplishes is a smooth image, awesome colors, a contrast ratio that is an eye popping 85,000:1, and over 6.2 million pixels – like the image you might see in much more expensive units. Compared to Sony’s existing VPL-HW15, this projector boasts exceptional brightness even after hours and hours of testing. Sony says it increased the lamp brightness on the VPL-VWPRO1 by about 30 percent over the previous model, and I found the new one to be a big improvement in combating ambient light. Sony’s Advanced Iris 3 technology (see sidebar) is great for users who like white screens, as it helps to increase the black and shaded levels without compromising brightness, which Sony says is 1,300 lumens. This implementation in the new projector corrects an issue I had with Sony’s previous efforts in this projector range. I, for one, like my blacks to be as true as possible, which is why I usually complain about white screens, especially when ambient light is involved. One of the notable features that I initially overlooked in the projector is 24p True Cinema for outputting video at the true 1080p/24 frames per second at which it was shot. Just watching a movie you might not notice the improvement without a side-by-side comparison; however, the 24 frames per second keeps the theater experience intact. This nice feature is lacking with some of the other popular projectors at this price point. Perhaps the most under-heralded feature of the VPL-VWPRO1 is its 10-bit color delivery, which is barely mentioned in the projector specs.

In the Sony implementation, you don’t see those nasty lines between different shades of the same color – a problem I experience with several PS3 gaming titles. When trying these same troublesome titles with the VPL-VWPRO1, I noted nothing less than smooth transitions in color, similar to what I have seen on much more expensive projectors. In fast-paced action sequences, the transitional color changes are almost unnoticeable. “Almost” unnoticeable at this price point is quite an accomplishment. While the picture is stunning, it didn’t just happen for me out of the box. With the factory settings, the skin tones, even in the cinema mode, were a little on the yellow side, and the reds were slightly depressing. This was an easy fix with Sony’s on-board calibration tools. Finally, the viewing experience of the VPL-VWPRO1 was never disrupted by typical projector noises. When installed on the ceiling, I couldn’t even tell the unit was on.

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<strong><a href="http://www.cepro.com/article/review_sony_vwpro1_projector_is_worth_the_extra_1000/" 

target=”blank”>http://www.cepro.com/article/reviewsonyvwpro1projectorisworththeextra_1000/

A/V gear, gadgets, Blu-ray movies, video games, and more for your holiday shopping.
November 04, 2010 by EH Staff

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http://www.electronichouse.com/article/the_ultimate_holiday_gift_guide_2010/

Sony PlayStation Move



Already available, the PlayStation Move is Sony’s direct competition to the Nintendo Wii. Some reviewers tout that it has the most precise tracking of any motion-controlled gaming console, but it comes at a price range. You can play with one bulb-tipped wand ($50), but you’ll also need the separate Eye camera ($40) and probably the navigation controller ($30) if you’re what Sony calls a “core” gamer.

Kinect (Project Natal) for Xbox 360


Whether or not you’ll get your hands on one remains to be seen, but Microsoft’s Kinect (formerly Project Natal) is sure to be a hot gift this holiday season. The Kinect makes you the controller (think Sony Move, Nintendo Wii). It might not be for hardcore gamers, but it will be fun for casual gamers and parties.

Wii Fit Accessories



Nintendo Wii games are fun, engaging, and—best of all—they burn calories. The Wii Fit platform offers a plethora of workout options, from yoga to skateboarding. And there are scads of awesome accessories, like a pair or adjustable Wii dumbbells and a Wii push-up bar to keep the heart pumping. Take your pick of nifty add-ons from CTA Digital, or package them together to create kickin’ workout combos.

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http://www.electronichouse.com/article/the_ultimate_holiday_gift_guide_2010/

A/V gear, gadgets, Blu-ray movies, video games, and more for your holiday shopping.

November 04, 2010 by EH Staff

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http://www.electronichouse.com/article/the_ultimate_holiday_gift_guide_2010/

Sony Bloggie Touch Camera

The Bloggie Touch packs a goofy name and insanely good camera specs into an iPhone-type shell. The device does 12.8-megapixel still images and 820 x 1080 video all on the go. Relive those memorable moments, by taking a quick peek on the unit’s 3-inch LCD touchscreen or hook the device up to any TV, via the camera’s HDMI output. If it’s an especially cute or embarrassing incident, you can tag photos and videos inside the camera. Then, next time the device meets your computer, those designated items will get instantly uploaded to Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, or YouTube. Choose between pink, blue, silver or black on the 8GB model; silver or black for 4GB users.

Clicker Universal Remote

Ever used a remote to crack open a beer? Someone must have. That’s the only explanation for this truly goofy, ingenious gadget. The Clicker is the ultimate universal remote, packing in a built-in bottle opener. First and foremost, it is a remote, which means it can change channels, crank the volume and do some of the things you’d expect from a normal remote. The company says the Clicker can accommodate 800 preset manufacturer device codes, and has both manual searching and learning functions. Every guy on our list is getting one of these this year—a few of the ladies as well.

iHome iB969 Charging Station

For the geek with every gadget, we have iHome’s new charging station. This hot little hub ditches cables for at least four of your must-have-ready-at-all-times gadgets. That includes a stand for your iPad, dueling docks for both an iPhone and iPod, and whatever else you can shove in there via USB. One of those docks also allows for syncing up to iTunes, while the other is just gets the juice. A rubberized rest area helps keep everything nice and contained, as does cord holders. It also comes packing with a mini-to-micro USB adapter, and cables for those USB add-ons.

ION Tape Express Plus Cassette Converter

Yes, we know you still have a box-load of mixed tapes leftover from junior high—or maybe even a few summers ago. It’s time to clear some space, but you don’t have to erase those memories. Pop in your favorite mixed tape (we suggest something involving “love,” “summer” or “rocks”), plug the device into your computer, and watch technology take over. No external cassette player is needed; this portable works with all kinds of tapes, as well as both Mac and PC computers. It also comes with ION’s own EZ Tape Converter software, which makes transferring and syncing music to iTunes a breeze.

TiVo Slide Remote

Sure, this remote only good for TiVo users and really won’t replace anyone’s universal controller. That said, it’s certainly a must-have for TiVo-addicted friends and family. Instead of the old remote, this packs in a retractable QWERTY keyboard, which makes it easy to search for programming as well as every and any whim on YouTube. Even better, it’s got Bluetooth, which means you can stuff that TiVo inside an A/V cabinet, without missing a beat.

Atlona AT-HDAir

You’ve got all this great stuff stored on the hard drive of your computer: pictures, videos, music. Your friends probably do to. Untie them—or yourself—from the tiny screen of the PC by giving them a wireless PC-to-HDTV adapter. Atlona’s AT-HDAir connects any Windows-based PC to an HDTV or another computer wirelessly. High-resolution content can be streamed up to 30 feet away from Point A to Point B. If seeing the PC content on one TV isn’t enough, the device can be configured to transmit the same video, photos, whatever, to a second TV.

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target=”blank”>http://www.electronichouse.com/article/theultimateholidaygiftguide2010/