Archive for the 'Video' Category
“With the increasing adoption of flat-panel display TVs, consumers expect larger screen sizes with advanced performance at a good value,” said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. “The addition of the 65-inch class E77 series LCD TV and introduction of a new screen size class at 60 inches enables more consumers to bring home large-screen TVs.”
The LC-65E77UM and LC-60E77UN employ Sharp’s Advanced Super View (ASV) Superlucent Panel for a dramatically bright and crisp picture with reduced haze and reflectivity. They also feature Sharp’s Fine Motion Enhanced technology for 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a fast pixel response time of 4ms, providing the ultimate medium for high-definition viewing of fast-action imagery.
The ASV Superlucent panel applies an ultra-smooth finish that minimizes haze while intensifying panel brightness and contrast. The ASV Superlucent panel with Spectral Contrast Engine XD provides high contrast, enabling deep blacks and vibrant colors, and a special dejudder feature results in the smooth reproduction of film content.
Two components of the Spectral Contrast Engine, Optical Picture Control (OPC), which automatically adjusts luminance to room brightness and lighting conditions, and Brightness Preservation picture processing, also make these models very energy-efficient. In fact, all models in the E77 series exceed the EPA’s Energy Star criteria. An advanced Power Savings mode is easily accessed through a dedicated remote control button.
The large-screen E77 series provides a stunning picture and a new design sure to complement any décor. The black cabinet blends elegantly into a soft champagne gold hue that accents the bottom of the frame, befitting both modern and traditional design schemes. These AQUOS models also come equipped with a full array of connectivity options, including four HDMI™ and two component video inputs, all of which are 1080p compatible, accepting signals from Blu-ray Disc™ players and advanced gaming devices. A dedicated PC input and RS-232 port for custom installations add to the feature set.
The complete E Series includes models in 65- (64 33/64” Diagonal), 60- (60-1/32” diagonal), 52- (52-1/32” diagonal), 46- (45-63/64” diagonal) and 40-inch (40” diagonal) screen class sizes (LC-65E77UM, LC-60E77UN, LC-52E77UN, LC-46E77UN and LC-40E77UN respectively), as well as the 40-inch class LC-40E67UN (40” diagonal).
Pricing and availability
The LC-65E77UM is available now for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $4,499.99
The LC-60E77UN is available now for a MSRP of $3,499.99
“3D brings a whole new dimension to the gaming experience,” said Jon Grodem, Optoma’s director of product and marketing. “Designed for flawless performance with today’s top HD consoles and Gaming PCs, the GT360 and GT720 energize games with stunning speed, high contrast and vivid colors.”
Both the GT360 and the GT720 share many features that optimally serve the needs of gamers as well as sports enthusiasts and movie buffs.
Both employ a short-throw lens to create large images in smaller rooms and 2500 lumens to deliver a 3000:1 contrast ratio for startlingly crisp, larger-than-life images. Each projector utilizes a powerful 10-Watt stereo speaker system to deliver in-the-action sound without external speakers.
Optimally designed for Nintendo’s WiiTM console, the GT360 delivers a native 800 x 600 pixels (SVGA) resolution. It is PC and MAC compatible, supports computer resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 pixels (HD), and can also accept common global video inputs and video formats up to 1080p (HDTV, EDTV, SDTV, NTSC, PAL, SECAM).
The GT720 offers a native widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) resolution, and is designed to maximize the widescreen attributes of major gaming consoles such as WiiTM, XboxTM and Sony PlayStation®. It also is PC and MAC compatible, supports computer resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 pixels (HD), and accepts common global video inputs and video formats up to 1080p (HDTV, EDTV, SDTV, NTSC, PAL, SECAM).
Accessories for both projectors include a remote and a special backpack. Both projectors are compact and lightweight at only 7 lbs., allowing gamers to take the gaming and video experience with them.
“The GT360 and GT720 provide cinema-sized fun with a whopping 300” maximum screen size,” said Grodem. “Designed to run with minimal shut-down time needed, the GT360 and GT720 are the ultimate gaming projectors providing gamers with non-stop action.”
With the Sling Receiver 300, viewers can enjoy the same HD programming that they experience on their primary HDTV on a secondary HDTV in their home without the need to run additional cables or purchase a second DVR.
“HDTV viewers often want to extend their main set-top box experience to another HDTV with minimal hassle and expense,” said John M. Paul, executive vice president of Products at Sling Media. “The Sling Receiver 300 can extend the full quality of a primary HD DVR experience to any secondary HDTV in the home, while eliminating the cost and problems of running cable.”
How It Works
The Sling Receiver 300 connects to a second HDTV via its built-in HDMI, component or composite video connectors. Depending on the connection method, multiple video formats up to 1080i can be delivered. Audio is delivered to the second TV using HDMI, digital audio or analog audio outputs. The Sling Receiver 300 is small enough to be mounted behind an HDTV.
The Sling Receiver 300 is one in a suite of products and services that EchoStar Technologies L.L.C and its affiliate Sling Media are making available to television service providers to help them attract new subscribers, retain current customers, and bring placeshifting to the largest audience possible.
“Television service providers are constantly looking for ways to deliver new and exciting services to satisfy existing customers and attract new customers,” said John M. Paul, executive vice president of Products at Sling Media. “The surprisingly small, easy-to-install Slingbox 700U delivers ‘TV Everywhere’ services at a low acquisition and installation cost because it connects via USB on the existing set-top box and self-configures.”
The Slingbox 700U eliminates the need for television service providers to invest in the development of their own placeshifting set-top boxes in order to offer “TV Everywhere” services. The newest Slingbox is easy to set up and can help television service providers reduce training and installation costs. The Slingbox 700U can significantly reduce time-to-market for television service providers wanting to add “TV Everywhere” services to their portfolio.
“The Slingbox 700U is an ideal device to implement our ‘TV Everywhere’ strategy for existing customers with ViP series satellite TV receivers,” said Ira Bahr, chief marketing officer for DISH Network. “Sling Media has developed an easy-to-install Slingbox that greatly expands the number of customers who can enjoy ‘TV Everywhere’ around the house, or anywhere outside the home, on their laptops or mobile smart phones.”
How It Works
The Slingbox 700U’s sleek, modern and ultra-slim enclosure only hints at the technical sophistication inside. It is powered through a USB connection which removes the need for any other wires or connectors. In real time, the Slingbox 700U decrypts incoming video, transcodes it and then re-encrypts it for secure transmission over the Internet.
The Slingbox 700U is one in a suite of products and services that EchoStar Technologies L.L.C and its affiliate Sling Media are making available to television service providers to help them attract new subscribers, retain current customers, and bring placeshifting to the largest audience possible.
The Sling Touch Control 100 was selected as a CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award honoree in the Video Accessories category.
The Sling Touch Control 100’s interface delivers an intuitive and flexible user experience that goes beyond the traditional electronic program guide. Current on-screen program guides can limit a consumer’s ability to find and view what is really available to watch both now and later. Using SlingGuide’s powerful search technology, the Sling Touch Control 100 makes it easy for viewers to discover new programming they may never have known was available.
“As the volume of compelling television content increases, it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to search and navigate available content,” said John M. Paul, executive vice president of Products at Sling Media. “The Sling Touch Control 100 and SlingGuide changes the way viewers interact with programming and helps them discover and manage programs that they might miss using existing on-screen electronic programming guides.”
How It Works
The Sling Touch Control 100 features a bright 4.3 inch, capacitive touch-screen LCD display with 272 x 480 resolution. Its comfortable, soft-touch molded finish makes it easy to handle. The Sling Touch Control 100’s Lithium-ion battery is charged while sitting in the included cradle which is designed with a shallow angle so the remote can be used while charging. The Sling Touch Control 100 communicates with HD DVRs and other SlingGuide-enabled devices via IP over a home 802.11 network and communicates with non-IP devices via IR-based control.
The Sling Touch Control 100 also allows viewers to control most of the IR-based devices in an AV rack. With a few touches of the screen, viewers can program each of the AV devices into the Sling Touch Control 100. Then, by touching an icon on the screen, viewers will be presented with an easy-to-navigate interface. They can play, fast-forward, rewind and perform all the other functions that they would normally do with their device’s native remote control.
The Sling Touch Control 100 is one in a suite of products and services that EchoStar Technologies L.L.C and its affiliate Sling Media are making available to television service providers to help them attract new subscribers, retain current customers, and bring placeshifting to the largest audience possible.
NewKinetix LLC, of Portland, Oregon, will be demonstrating their Universal Remote Control, RēTM, at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The Rē infrared (IR) hardware accessory plugs into your iPhone or iPod touch mobile digital device and the user interface will be provided by a supporting Rē Universal Remote iPhone application planned to be offered free on the App Store. As users are turning to their iPhone for information and entertainment, an IR universal remote accessory for the iPhone has been highly requested throughout social media platforms, as in mobilecrunch.com’s “5 iPhone Accessories We’re Still Waiting For.”
As a plug-in accessory, the Rē Universal Remote requires no cables, batteries, charging, or network connections to provide complete control of your TV, stereo, DVD player, or most any remote controlled device. Its portability allows you to use it anywhere you go, and it is set up and ready for use with any IR ready AV entertainment device within minutes. The Rē accessory includes an extensive database of IR codes that will control most popular AV entertainment devices. Not only will it eliminate remote control clutter by consolidating all of your remotes into a single unit at your fingertips, but the smart design and functionality of the application software is intended to offer extensive personalization capabilities including:
• Create remotes automatically for each device to be controlled • Customize Activity Remotes to control entertainment activities like “Watch TV” or “Watch Movie”
• Edit button images and button layout on the touch screen • Add buttons and learn IR codes to enhance device remotes
• Setup and playback of button sequences to provide automated device control • Create “Favorites” lists that span multiple sources, so quick access can be personalized for TV channels, CD tracks, movie scenes etc. The Rē is planned for initial availability in North America. For more information on the Rē, you can check out the new Rē web site.
Amulet Devices will launch their new second generation voice-enabled Remote control for Windows Media Center at CES 2010 in Las Vegas, running from 7-10 January.
Fully compatible with Microsoft’s new Windows 7 Media Center, as well as supporting existing Windows Vista users, the Amulet Remote uses simple voice commands to provide instant access to any media item in your digital library – music, television programs, movies, home videos and photos.
Building on the company’s previous successful voice-enabled remote for Windows Vista, a CES i-stage nominee, the new product features a sleek new case design, improved voice capability and full IR learning capability.
CEO Garry McMullan said, “CES is the most important show we attend each year, and we can’t wait to let visitors get some hands on experience with our new model. I know they’ll be amazed.”
President, Amulet Devices US Pat Lawless added, “The early feedback from customers who have previewed the new Amulet Remote has been exceptional, and demand is very high. This is the remote Media Center users have been waiting for.”
In conjunction with product availability Amulet Devices are launching an Early Adopter Program (EAP) for a select number of end-users and resellers. Early adopters will have access to the newest Amulet® products and the opportunity to provide suggestions on the features of new products before they are released.
The Windows 7 Amulet Voice Remote is due to ship in Q1 2010 and will retail for $249. For more information, including demonstration videos, visit the company’s website at www.amuletdevices.com.
“VIZIO’s entry into custom and specialty electronics is great for the industry. VIZIO has built strong brand recognition, so offering specialty retailers and custom installers exclusive access to a line with features they can market is a nice sales tool. Customers already know the VIZIO brand and it’s an easy transition to educating them about the benefits of their advanced 3D, LED technology and unique solutions such as (21:9) 2.35:1 native aspect ratio HDTVs,” said Tom LeBlanc, Senior Writer/Technology Editor, CE Pro magazine.
“Our 2010 XVT Pro series offers a refreshing combination of the latest technology like 480Hz SPS™ TruLED™ coupled with must-have features like immersive FULL HD3D™ experience and VIZIO INTERNET APPS (with built in wireless networking) and wireless HDMI and Bluetooth capabilities. We at VIZIO are setting new standards for picture quality and user experience,” said Laynie Newsome, VIZIO Co-Founder and VP Sales and Marketing Communications. “50% of consumers want a 3D home theater, according to Quixel Research, and our new XVT Pro Series brings the latest technology to consumers who want the absolute BEST in class.”
Defining state of the art performance, these VIZIO 72”, 55” and 47” Full HD3D™ TVs advance refresh rates to 480Hz SPS™ with VIZIO’s Smooth Motion™ technology. Their TruLED™ brilliant LEDs pervade the entire display (Under 3” profile) and have Smart Dimming™ circuitry that controls hundreds of zones of LEDs per screen to the precise light level per picture frame in 480, 120 and 160 zones, respectively. The XVT Pro series offers an incredible 10 million to 1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio™ for extraordinary picture quality that delivers incredible color, and even brighter whites and deeper blacks than ever before while displaying 1.7 Billion Colors using a 10-Bit data input panel.
For environments with bright ambient lighting, the 55” and 47” models feature a unique anti-reflective panel that produces better contrast with rich and deep blacks even in brightly lit rooms.
FULL HD3D™
Utilizing SENSIO® 3D technology to deliver 3D content over conventional 2D infrastructure, the new VIZIO XVT Pro Full HD3D TVs display stunning 3D content that the user can view with XpanD active-shutter glasses (sold separately). Unlike other 3D TVs that use passive stereoscopic imaging, VIZIO’s Full HD3D TVs can display full 1080p video to each eye by rapidly alternating between the left-eye and right-eye images within the same visual space. The special active-shutter glasses, which communicate with the television over Bluetooth, then transform each lens from opaque to transparent in perfect synchronization with the images displayed on the TV, which allows for delivery of the full frame rate capable by the television for the ultimate 3D HDTV viewing experience.
These sets can produce 3D images from SENSIO encoded material on conventional DVD and Blu-ray players, as well as from future distribution channels such as pay per view, video on demand, DTV and HDTV broadcasts.
“We are pleased to be working closely with VIZIO and be a part of the creation of a substantial install-base of consumers ready to watch 3D movies, live concerts, and sporting events from the comfort of their home,” states Nicholas Routhier, President and Chief Executive Officer of SENSIO Technologies.
“We are excited to partner with VIZIO as catalysts in the 3D revolution for the home,” said Maria Costeira, CEO of XpanD. “The combination of XpanD Cinema active-shutter glasses and Vizio displays will provide an immersive, dynamic and cost-effective solution for VIZIO XVT Pro owners.”
Wireless HDMI
Eliminating the need for an HDMI cable from source components to the display, the 72”, 55” and 47” XVT Pro Series have an integrated Wireless HDMI receiver built-in, using SiBEAM’s robust 60 GHz technology to receive HD content from high definition sources such as Blu-ray players or set-top boxes with full HD 1080p resolution when paired with a separately available VIZIO XVT Pro Wireless HDMI Adapter. The XVT Pro Adapter supports up to 4 HDMI sources and operates at 60GHz to avoid interference with other wireless devices in the home like cordless telephones and wireless networks that operate at 2.4 and 5 GHz.
SRS StudioSound HD
VIZIO XVT Pro TVs will feature SRS StudioSound HD – the ultimate all-in-one audio suite designed specifically for Flat Panel TVs. Years of excellence in audio, practical experience and patented technologies allow StudioSound HD to deliver the most immersive and natural surround sound ever using built-in TV speakers. The suite also delivers remarkably crisp and clear dialog, rich bass, an elevated sound stage and consistent, spike-free volume levels. StudioSound HD features optimized audio presets for movies, news, sports and music while also providing a built-in EQ toolset for peak audio performance.
VIZIO INTERNET APPS™ (VIA)
All of the XVT Pro sets feature the VIZIO INTERNET APPS™ (VIA) Connected HDTV platform, delivering unprecedented choice and control of web-based content directly to the television without the need of a PC or set-top box. Able to connect to the Internet using the built-in high definition wireless (802.11n dual-band) or a wired connection, accessing on demand movies, TV episodes, music and other online content is easy, using the included Bluetooth universal remote control with sliding QWERTY keyboard that makes thumb-typing easy.
58” Cinema Wide Display
Taking a major step forward in enabling viewers to experience a fully immersive widescreen film experience without a separate projector and screen, VIZIO’s first Cinema Wide Display, the XVTPRO580CD offers the ultimate experience for the movie enthusiast. This 58” Razor LED display has a 21×9 aspect ratio, with an incredible resolution of 2560 x 1080p, allowing consumers to view 2.35:1 “Scope” aspect ratio films using the entire display area, with no loss of resolution and no black bars. With 1 million to 1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio™, Smart Dimming™, and 120 Hz with Smooth Motion technology, the XVTPRO580CD delivers brilliant details and rich colors to bring the cinematic experience into the home.
Its striking wide appearance is further enhanced by its brushed aluminum chassis. The Cinema Wide Display also includes VIA, built-in wireless (802.11n dual-band) or wired networking, and a Bluetooth universal remote control with sliding QWERTY keyboard. It is expected to ship later this year.
Demonstrations of the VIZIO XVT Pro products and the VIA platform will be held by appointment for key business partners, analysts and press in Las Vegas during private CES press meetings January 6th through 9th at the Wynn Hotel’s, Chambertin ballrooms. Interested content and service partners should contact VIZIO at partners@vizio.com or call (949) 428-2525 ext. 2554.
A Faster Mac In 10 Minutes
The OWC series of free online upgrade installation videos for MacBook and MacBook Pro models are rated from an “Easy” to “Straightforward” level and can be performed at home as quickly as an estimated 10-minute installation time. The complete series of installation videos for MacBook and MacBook Pros, as well as videos for Mac tower, desktop, and iPod battery installs is available at: http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/
“One of OWC’s founding principles is to maximize the usefulness of existing resources. Whether a customer has a legacy Mac or the latest machine, these videos are an invaluable resource for getting greater performance from their Mac and/or extending its useful life,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO, OWC. “With the typical service center charging upwards of $80 for an easy memory install, MacBook and MacBook Pro owners can save both time and money by utilizing this free resource.”
Memory Upgrades From $29.79, 7200RPM Hard Drives From $64.99
OWC Memory Upgrade Kits priced starting at $29.79 are available up to 8GB for MacBook and MacBook Pro models and are backed with a Money Back Guarantee and OWC’s Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty. Additional money savings are also available through OWC’s Rebate program, which provides $5.00 Cash Back per 1GB Apple Factory Standard memory module.
Upgrading the internal hard drive can also make MacBook and MacBook Pro machines faster. Prices start at $64.99 for a 250GB 7200RPM drive, with the most popular upgrades including a 320GB 7200RPM drive priced at $84.99 and a 500GB 7200RPM drive priced at $149.99. In addition, MacBook and MacBook Pro owners that purchase a new hard drive from OWC also enjoy the benefit of keeping their existing drive, which can be used as a temporary backup drive, converted into an external storage solution, or sent to OWC for a cash back trade-in.
For a complete list of upgrades for MacBook and MacBook Pro models, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade
OWC – The Trusted Name in Mac Memory
OWC memory upgrades are available from 16MB up to 32GB for nearly every current and past Apple notebook and desktop computer manufactured during the past twenty years, including Mac Pro Xeon, iMac, PowerMac, Xserve, iBook, and PowerBook computers. By maintaining an active state-of-the-art test lab, OWC can ensure its memory upgrades offer the highest product quality and reliability and backs them with a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty and Money Back Guarantee.
OWC’s independent memory benchmarks testing on a wide variety of Mac computers consistently demonstrates having more memory provides higher real-world performance. OWC memory performance gains are even more apparent when using memory intensive applications, such as audio/video, photo, 3D modeling, gaming and other applications, where OWC memory upgrades offer the best performance for the investment.
The full OWC Memory line, as well as a compatibility guide which directs customers to the correct upgrades for each specific Apple model, can be found online at: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/
The impressive list of hardware for the Axess HD includes a powerful Core i7 processor combined with dual 9800 GT video cards in SLI to deliver a stunningly visual1080p experience. MAINGEAR also teamed up with NVIDIA to integrate GeForce 3D Vision so that gamers with Mitsubishi DLP’s or Samsung desktop LCDs can experience an unparalleled 3D gaming experience. MAINGEAR further enhances the luxurious home theater gaming experience by being the first company to offer the Phantom Lapboard, a unique keyboard that liberates users from desktop settings through an innovative 360-degree rotating design. The Axess HD Gamer also offers cutting edge media center capabilities including 7 channel pre amplified audio, Blu Ray and DVD Movies, Music, Home Videos, HD TV, Internet TV, based on Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium which also provides access to Netflix’s online streaming through the Media Center interface.
”The Axess HD Gamer was conceived to deliver unsurpassed gaming performance fused with advanced media center capabilities all contained within a low profile case, making it the perfect cornerstone for any home theater environment” said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. “A lot of the media centers currently on the market don’t specifically address the PC Gamer and we want to give our customers a solution to game from the comfort of the living room without sacrificing quality or performance.”
“We’re thrilled that MAINGEAR is providing a Games for Windows solution that complements the wide range of media functionality that Windows Vista Media Center already provides,” said Megan Both, Snr. Director of OEM Sales at Microsoft. “This high performance 3D gaming system combined with the advanced functionality of Windows Media Center make the Axess HD Gamer a phenomenal option for the home theater enthusiast as well as the avid gamer.”
Gamers can purchase the Axess HD Gamer at MAINGEAR’s Web site www.maingear.com or order by phone at (888-MAINGEAR). The base price is $1,799. Axess HD Gamer comes with MAINGEAR’s standard 14 month warranty and is backed by the best in-house support team in the country.









