Home Entertainment
Philips introduces Blu-ray players and media
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June 20, 2006 Philips has announced the availability of its first Blu-ray devices, the TripleWriter (SPD7000) all-in-one PC Writer and a home entertainment player (BDP9000). Also announced are two types of recordable media, a 25GB single-layer BD-R (Recordable) and BD-RE (Recordable and Erasable). The Blu-ray discs are available now in North America and Europe, while the Triple Writer and Blu-ray player will be available in both markets later in the year. The new TripleWriter (SPD7000) features recording and playback capabilities of all popular storage formats including CD, DVD and Blu-ray, which allows users to select their media of choice depending on the preferred application. Philips’ TripleWriter features a 2x (72MB/s continuous-data rate) read and writer speed on BD-ROM, BD-R and BD-RE media. The drive reads and writes a variety of legacy media including: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD+RW and DVD-RW.
32-Inch HD-Ready All-Weather Outdoor LCD TV
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June 13, 2006 We understand ruggedised laptops, mobile phones and digital cameras, but didn’t realise the trend had taken hold to this extent … the ruggedised teev! Homeowners can now enjoy their favorite TV show or DVD in the comfort of their own backyard, with the new SunBriteTV 32-inch HD-ready all-weather LCD television that is designed for outdoor installation.
Radial iPod Speaker System
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May 10, 2006 Every time we run another iPod accessory story, we swear it’s the last. But innovation and in this case, an exquisite design, can sway us. JBL announced the JBL Radial overnight, a high-performance entertainment dock for the iPod. Designed with audiophiles in mind, the Radial delivers powerful high- and mid-frequency sound, and ample deep and distortion-free bass, in a single compact, stylish 60 watt device. Offered in black or white, both with chrome accents, JBL Radial makes the perfect iPod companion by adding a sleek and modern look -- and clean and beautiful sound -- to any room or office.
TiVo announces its first dual tuner DVR
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April 26, 2006 TiVo is a name that will forever be linked with pioneering television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), so although dual-tuner DVRs are readily available (indeed here’s one with seven tuners), its newly announced TiVo Series2 DT DVR is important as it’s the first standalone dual tuner DVR with the TiVo functionality. The TiVo Series2 DT DVR allows you to record two shows at once. The TiVo Series2 DT DVR also incorporates built-in Ethernet and USB ports, making it easier than ever to add the TiVo box to the home network. The new box will be available at retail on May 1.
LG announces retail availability of World's largest (71-Inch) production plasma display
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April 7, 2006 The ever-changing digital display landscape received a seismic tremor yesterday when LG announced the U.S. availability of its 71-inch Plasma High-Definition Monitor (MW-71PY10), the largest production plasma display in the world. The mammoth MW-71PY10 boasts 1920x1080p display resolution, making it among the first plasma displays to offer the full HD specification, about twice the resolution of conventional plasma displays. The unit also incorporates LG's proprietary XD Engine technology, which takes the low resolution of analog signals to near high-definition levels, providing consumers with better overall picture quality and viewing experience. This offering can be broken down into six distinct processes that help to improve brightness, enhance detail, and apply more accurate color and noise reduction with film-like high-resolution.
Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 – the World's Oldest Bottle of Whisky to go to auction
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March 28, 2006 As part of New York's Tartan Week celebrations, a week-long series of activities highlighting Scottish culture and heritage, Glenfiddich has partnered with City Harvest, a noted New York-based charity, to auction one of the four remaining bottles of the world's oldest whisky - Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937. This exceptionally rare spirit will be auctioned on April 4, 2006 in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal.
Consumer Electronics' role as “king of home entertainment” threatened in near term
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February 13, 2006 2006 According to IDC's latest Digital Home research, "Australian Digital Home Convergence: One Box to Rule All", the proliferation of digital media is changing the way entertainment reaches consumers. As the demarcation lines between delivery platforms such as the TV, Internet and mobile devices blur, entertainment does not necessarily reach consumers via TV broadcast only, but also through the Internet. Consequently, broadband service providers (BSPs) and IT vendors will capitalise on this trend and compete for the control of the home, thereby threatening Consumer Electronics (CE) vendors' position as king of home entertainment in the near term.
The 360 degree LED television
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November 29, 2005 If you’re looking for a new centrepiece for your new entertaining area, the new 360 degree LED display from Dynascan offers exactly that – quite literally. Taiwanese-based Dynascan has been developing the 360 degree LED display for several years now and it is initially being used as an advertising medium in shopping centres and public areas, with an outdoor version just launched too. The first time you see one of the screens you’ll understand what the fuss is about – the quality, colour, contrast and definition is extraordinary and the screen is absolutely huge – the third generation of the new LED screens is being introduced at present with the largest being a 2.5 metre high, 5.46 metre circumference screen and capable of being viewed clearly from 30 metres away. Interestingly, the screens can actually display one image around the full 360 degrees, so it would be possible to use them as output for a 360 degree camera. In their commercial configuration the screens are usually configured as three identical images, with each image claiming 120 degrees of the surface. Two 180 degree screens is also possible and … if the ambitious Tholos Project hadn’t died, it would have had an ideal screen.
Tony Hawk's SIRIUS Satellite Radio Show Integrated into Video Game
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October 19, 2005 We sincerely apologise for the using the word convergence in this story (and the previous one and maybe even the next story too) – it’s just that there’s a lot of it going round. If you haven’t heard of skateboarder, entrepreneur and living legend Tony Hawk then you’ve probably been in a coma for the last decade. Hawk the youth icon gets a mention because his latest American Wasteland video game hits the stores today and includes a unique cross-media integration and promotion with his weekly SIRIUS Satellite Radio show. The tight integration and promotion will assist in the migration of an entire cultural subset to the new satellite medium – while skateboarders play the best selling (it will be because all the previous ones have been) game for hundreds of hours, their brain will be hypnotised, x-rayed, tattooed and thoroughly impregnated with the sounds, interface and benefits of satellite radio – and to think they used to worry about the effects of subliminal advertising.
SCART TV - instant digital television
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September 24, 2005 There's not much to this - it's simple, effective, small, cost-effective and downright ingenious. 100 Euro will get you this tiny device that plugs into the SCART connection on the back of your idiot box and gives you instant digital television. In essence, it's a terrestrial digital television receiver built inside a SCART plug. With remote control. Just plug it into your telly, attach aerial and consume. Pretty slick, heh. via the equally ingenious Red Ferret Journal
Claro holographic TV now in commercial display sizes
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September 22, 2005 When it comes to television and home entertainment, the Claro TV has a wow factor approaching ten on the Richter Scale. It offers everything you expect from a high quality TV or display system - except in GLASS. The result is a stunning TV without a box around it and the first time we wrote up the system after seeing it on display in Harrods, it moved into Gizmag readers’ most read articles and has stayed there ever since. Well now you can go one better as the company has released a range of televisions that stretch up to 102 inches and you can have a bigger one made to order. Available as super large flat screens which fit flush on the wall or as portable free standing units, each ClaroTV is made from high quality toughened glass which doubles as a piece of designer furniture. The pictures don’t do it justice - and now it's big enough for professional display systems with a nuclear wow factor!
Logitech Delivers 5.1 Surround Sound Without the Cables
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September 8, 2005 It’s a small step for technology, as wireless household more running cables or tripping over speaker wires. Logitech has announced the world's first THX-certified 5.1 speaker system with digital wireless dual rear speakers. The new Logitech Z-5450 Digital speakers, ideal for use with the living room entertainment center or the office PC, provide flexibility in setting up an instant surround-sound system. Each of the independent rear speakers can be placed anywhere within 8.5 meters (28 feet) of the speaker system control center, requiring only a power outlet; no unsightly speaker wires running around the room, yet no compromise on quality. With THX-certification and 315 watts of power, these speakers help create a theater-quality movie watching experience and provide enough thump to help people feel like they're inside the game.
Epson's all-in-one instant home cinema system: big screen, big sound, wherever you want
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September 7, 2005 : Epson has released an interesting all-in-one home cinema with integrated Epson 3LCD projector and JVC DVD player and simulated surround sound system all in one portable case. The new system (the usual Epson alphabet soup designation being EMP-TWD1) simplifies the home cinema entertainment system because it is truly plug-and-play: it needs only one lead to supply power, making it easy to turn any room into a cinema or to create your own cinema under the stars on those balmy summer nights. Most importantly, the TWD1 is intuitive to use, and offers a vast array of the latest technologies to ensure a quality picture and sound. We’ve seen and heard the TWD1 and think it will further the cause of home entertainment in that it offers superb quality at an affordable price.
Wireless digital music centre goes HiFi
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July 29, 2005 It often takes a while for a new concept to be fully embraced by the establishment – historically, this has not been a strategically good move. So we kinda like the take the “Symphony” in that it’s a wireless digital HiFi component based on the popular idea of a central device that stores, manages and wirelessly distributes digital music throughout the home, but goes a new way with regard to its hardware and user interface concept. Engineered as a true HiFi component, the Symphony features the proprietary Digital Pure Audio (DPA) technology that delivers the high fidelity sound an audiophile calls for. Although the Symphony is filled with innovative convergence technology, its intuitive navigation requires no prior user knowledge of such.
New projection screen turns day into night
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A new front projection screen that allows users to see clearly in high-brightness environments could significantly increase the market for front projection systems if the manufacturers claims are verified when it is shown for the first time at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association EXPO (CEDIA) to be held this year in Indianapolis in September. The Screen Innovations Mirage Screen features a patented high-contrast filter that covers 60% of the screen surface. This filter allows the projected image to be reflected by the screen and effectively absorbs incidental light from other angles from such sources as windows and room lighting. As a result, the screen is virtually unaffected by ambient light.
Motorised In-Ceiling Loudspeakers offer decorative subtlety
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July 1, 2005 – Some interesting new speakers from KEF seem to offer an ideal solution for someone who wants their audio system to stand out through its sound rather than its looks. For a home theatre to transform movies into an immersive viewer experience, all of its highly variable elements must converge to seamlessly engage the senses. In-ceiling speaks are less visually intrusive, but as most of them point straight down, they are challenged at delivering sound directly at the audience. KEF’s new Ci 3-80QT motorized loudspeaker overcomes this by tilting the entire driver array down from the ceiling and toward seats, and it does this automatically when the system is activated. Accordingly, the speakers envelope the audience with realistic movie sound while the design maintains the utmost decorative subtlety.
Samsung develops World's largest (82-inch) TFT-LCD screen
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March 11, 2005 Samsung has again inched ahead in the “mine’s-bigger-than-yours” contest it is playing with LG over the world’s largest LCD screen. This time it has announced an 82-inch TFT-LCD. In an illustration of just how far and how fast the game has progressed, Samsung developed the first 40-inch model in August 2001, the first 46-inch panel in October 2002, the first 57-inch model in December 2003 and now the first 82-inch panel. The screen uses12.44 million thin-film transistors to achieve an image quality of 6.22 million pixels.
Bose SoundDock turns iPod into a digital music system
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November 12, 2004 Bose has introduced the SoundDock digital music system, designed to deliver a new standard of audio performance for the Apple iPod and the iPod mini. The new speaker system lets iPod owners access, control and listen to their stored music with the ease of dock and play - no headphones, cables or adaptors required.
Microsoft Unveils Windows XP Media Center
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October 29, 2004 The inevitable PC invasion of the lounge room began in earnest when the world's largest software manufacturer (Microsoft) began rolling out its updated multimedia-oriented operating system (OS), Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 in ealy October. Most significantly, the new system supports multiple TV tuners, (so you can watch one channel and record another), and the facility to schedule TV recording via the Internet.
1 terabyte storage from Sony home server TV/PC
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The Vaio Type X home server debuted recently at the CEATEC 2004 convention in Japan. For around US $5000 it offers an entire rolling digital media library at your fingertips. Equipped with the 1-terabyte hard disk, the Sony VAIO Type X performs as an "audiovisual recording server." A terabyte, in case you don't know, is 2^40 = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes or 1024 gigabytes, so memory isn't an issue. And with the liberation of space comes a change in the viewing and usage patterns of Vaio customers that will transform the way they interact with their media and the medium itself. The device can record six channels of terrestrial analog broadcasts simultaneously, and the dedicated recording disk has enough space for one week of viewing pleasure. It also has a "television time machine" viewing function, allowing users to watch programs that have been recorded. They can also use the remote control to go back in time and arrange programs by genre, as well as enter key words to find their desired shows.
New Bose system stores preferences, selects music
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With the digitisation of the world's entertainment content underway at warp speed, it seems logical that high-end audio system manufacturers should add new functionality to differentiate their wares from the MP3 jukebox functionality now becoming ubiquitous. On cue, Bose has released two new Lifestyle home entertainment systems that store, organise and select music, taking into account the preferences of up to nine household members, with the ability to expand the system to up to fourteen zones throughout the home. Interestingly, Bose has chosen to improve the convenience and usability of the system, not the quality of the sound - Bose's usual hallmark. It's an important breakthrough that "removes the barriers between the listening and the equipment."
Sony Previews 2005 Grand Vega
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Sony's VEGA range has always been characterised by sleek design and advanced visual and audio technology. Early next year Sony will add to the stylish series with the release of the new KF range of LCD screens ranging from 42" to 60". Combining a Sony LCD Optical Engine with Sony's VEGA Engine, the new KF-Series produce a crisp, brilliant image quality that set these televisions apart from others on the market. Created for consumers seeking to maximise their home theatre viewing experience, the Grand VEGA television takes Sony's popular VEGA televisions to the next level with their stunning design and striking picture performance.
Claro Holographic TV
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The CLARO represents the latest innovation in TV and display technology combined with a visual design aesthetic to introduce the TV system of the future - a transparent glass TV and media system utilising holographic technology.
The Holoscreen is a revolutionary holographic film which displays any image fed through a projector at a specific angle on to a transparent display. All other light is ignored. The result is a remarkably bright and sharp image quality - even in brightly lit environments. The screen is a 1.5m x 1.0m rectangle of 10mm glass with a 610mm x 814mm sheet of translucent attached to it. Any type of projector can be used to cast the image. To complete the futuristic setup, a pair of optional Ferguson Hill FH001 speakers can be positioned either side of the screen.
Philips' New Line Of Flat Plasma And LCD TVs.
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Philips Australia has announced the availability of the two largest Philips plasma televisions to date, the 50PF9966 and 42PF9966. At the same time, they've released eleven new look flat television solutions for every room in the home, with sizes that extend to 50 inches in Plasma and 42 inches in LCD TV.
Highlighting key innovations in the new FlatTV range for 2004, these models feature Philips' own Ambilight and Pixel Plus 2 visual enhancing technologies. Philips is significantly extending its FlatTV range to match consumers' growing demand for flat, slim and widescreen televisions, modern design and advanced picture quality.
KiRo- The autonomous table soccer player.
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Meet KiRo- the completely autonomous table soccer playing robot that rivals all but the most nimble foosball freaks.
KiRo was developed at the institute for computer science at the University of Freiburg in Germany and was conceived for the purposes of research into the foundations of robotics and artificial intelligence (nice excuse guys). KiRo is capable of playing table soccer on a competitive level through a combination of various technologies built around a commercially available table soccer table.
It consists of four individually mountable custom made control units, a safety light grid, a camera overlooking the table and a standard personal computer. Using the camera it perceives the playing field and depending upon the current game situation, it decides how the rods under its control should be moved.
Gamepod chair offers "reality experiences"
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The quest for reality experiences from our digital entertainment devices seems to be a reliable trend, and heaven knows where we'll be with this quest a decade from now. Gizmo recently reported on the D-Box ''motion simulator'' for home theatres which synchronises the movement of the viewer's seat to the action on screen. Now there's a similar much cheaper (thoiugh less functional) device being incorporated a plush lounge chair known as the Gamepod that heightens the sensual experience of video games through high quality speakers and tactile sound technology embedded in the chair.
The Digital Video Recorder a threat to television advertising
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The era of the digital video recorder is looming large as new research studies emerging from the US indicate that 15% of all Internet households have connected their computers to a TV or stereo, that DVR users spend 60% of their TV time watching recorded programs and that when watching recorded programs, they skip 92% of commercials. Further, 75% of households with these PC/CE connections play music on their PC through a stereo and over 40% have viewed digital photos on their TV. "Music and imaging applications are much more important than video to these consumers," said John Barrett, director of research for Parks Associates. "People don't need a computer to watch video on their TV. However, they do need a computer if they want to view digital photos on their TV."
A new lease of life for the colour TV?
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An Israeli company specialising in visual technology is looking to redefine the quality of colour TV screens, monitors and display units, a move that is bound to work harmoniously with the rising standards in digital TV and other digital media. While the move from black and white to colour TV sets seemed an obvious one fifty years ago, developers at Genoa have taken the existing five decade-long standard of RGB colour (red, green and blue) and replaced it with, well, more colour. Six colours!
Set Top Box technology offers advert screenings for television
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Peter Vogel, the man who invented the world famous Fairlight Music Synthesiser has developed a new set-top box technology which addresses two of the most persistent and widespread consumer demands regarding TV - the managing (indeed, complete elimination if required) of commercials, and the organisation of recording TV shows.
Colour TV's 50th Birthday
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It was 50 years ago this month that the first colour television set was manufactured by RCA and the invention began its march to ubiquity in many countries.
Apple iPOD mini announced
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Apple has finally announced the iPOD mini, after months of strong rumours suggesting the highly successful iPOD range was to be extended downwards. Simultaneously, the iPod range has been extended upwards - we are currently awaiting pricing details for the iPod range.
Stylish New LCD TV Turns Heads
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One of the stars of the 2002 RACV Home Show was the Sharp AQUOS LCD flat-screen television. Gizmo watched as the AQUOS, which lacks photogenic pizzaz but has real visual presence...
B&O's Glimpse of the Future
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The 1966 sci-fi film Fahrenheit 451 was the first to feature a futuristic, flat, widescreen TV hanging on the wall. Science fiction has now become reality with the release of the Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 5, the first plazma TV to hit the market complete with integrated tuner and speakers.
SlimAudio MP3 Player
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At roughly the size of a credit card, the SlimAudio MP3 player is the smallest available at just 61mm x 91mm x 5mm and it weighs just six grams. It won a 2002 CES innovation award due to its size & compression algorithm which trebles equivalent storage capacity. See www.lucktechnology.co.kr.
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 2 MP3 System
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Combining advanced technological function with exquisite form is this new MP3 system from Bang & Olufsen - the BeoSound 2. Not much larger than a piece of jewellery and equally as beautiful, the Beosound2's tiny screenless stainless steel case fits in the palm of a hand, and the functions behind the control buttons were immediately evident. Apart from an exquisite tactile quality, it has the best set of three-way adjustable earpod headphones we've ever seen.
