By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 1/30/2006
LAS VEGAS — Westinghouse Digital Electronics, a leading LCD TV resource, used International CES to unveil a range of new products, highlighted by a 56W-inch LCD TV with 3,840 by 2,160 pixel resolution.
In addition, the company showed LCD TV lines with integrated ATSC tuning (some of the first for the company in the 27W-inch through 37W-inch screen sizes), a 42W-inch 1,080p model, 32W-inch and 42W-inch integrated HDTV/DVD combo units, HDTV monitors in the 15-inch through 37W-inch screen sizes, and the first Westinghouse branded digital photo frames.
The new 56W-inch ultra-high resolution HD LCD TV is said to feature 8 million pixels (3,840 by 2,160p), or “four times the highest HDTV resolution currently available.”
The panel features an 8ms response time, 600 nits of brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and advanced color gamut.
Westinghouse Digital will initially target the display, which is slated to ship in the fourth quarter at a $20,000 suggested retail, for high-end applications in the government, military, aerospace, medical and digital content creation channels. Niche market applications are also cited for custom home entertainment systems.
In 1,080p LCD TV displays, the company showed new monitors in the 42W- ($2,799 suggested retail) and 47W-inch ($3,499) screen sizes, joining the current 37W-inch model ($2,299). The 42W-inch model is slated for a first quarter delivery and the 47W-inch model was said to be shipping in May.
The 42W-inch model — LVM-42w2 (shipping in first quarter at a $2,799 suggested retail) — features two 10-watt speakers, a 10-watt subwoofer, six HD inputs and Genesis Display Perfection advanced video processing. It includes a new industrial cosmetic design in charcoal with silver trim, with a footprint designed to fit in the same space as many 37W-inch or 32W-inch displays.
A cable management system dubbed “SpineDesign” offers access from both sides of the TV “spine” for all of the video source connections.
In fully integrated HDTV sets, Westinghouse Digital showed a line of models from 27W inches to 37W inches, all including built-in ATSC tuning. All models feature 1,366 by 768 HD resolution and five HD input connectors.
The flagship of the line is the 37W-inch LTV-37w2 ($1,699 suggested retail) which features the SpineDesign cable management system, and a black chassis with silver trim design, wall-mountable frame and detachable pedestal.
In LCD/DVD combo products, the company unveiled its first front-loading models in the 32W-inch and 40W-inch screen sizes.
The combo models feature a front-loading “auto wake” slot which detects when a CD or DVD is inserted and automatically powers the TV on, switches to DVD or CD source, and plays the movie or music. An internal Pixel Direct technology delivers the DVD video signal from the source to the screen with a nearly direct path.
Both models are available now at suggested retail prices of $1,499 (model LTV-32WHDC) and $2,299 (LTV-40w1HDC).
Westinghouse Digital also showed models in its HD-Grade family of LCD TV monitors, with screen sizes ranging from 15 inches to 37W inches.
In PC monitors, the company showed new 19-inch widescreen and 20-inch high pixel density models. The 19W-inch widescreen monitor, model LCM-19w4 ($329 suggested retail), includes display solutions for TV and desktop applications, and the new 20-inch LCD monitor, model LCM-20v5 ($399), features higher pixel density for better viewing, rendering larger fonts and for computer graphics.
The 19-inch monitor offers 1,440 by 900 pixel resolution and is suited for both desktop PC and video playback, Westinghouse said.
The LCM-20v5 features 1,440 by 1,050 pixel resolution and is said to be well suited for viewing larger fonts and images. Its resolution format is also optimized for graphics, such as Adobe Photoshop.
Westinghouse also showed an expanded family of digital photo frames in the 3.5-inch, 7-inch and 8-inch screen sizes, joining its successful 5.6-inch model.
The new models — DPF-0351, DPF-0701 and DPF-0801 — are all shipping in April, and will display digital photo files individually or as part of a rotating slide show.
Estimated retail pricing for the new models is listed as $119, $199 and $279, respectively.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
LG Electronics Introduces New, High-Performance LCoS HDTVs.
SpatiaLight, Inc. (NASDAQ:HDTV) , a leading manufacturer of state of the art liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) microdisplays, announced today that LG Electronics has officially introduced its 2006 line of high-performance microdisplay rear projection television models -- led by a series of 1080p rear-projection HDTVs powered by SpatiaLight's LCoS microdisplay technology.
Demonstrated at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the two widescreen LCoS Digital Cable Ready HDTVs, highlighting LG's six-model microdisplay HDTV family for 2006, bring premium cable programming to the screen without the need for a separate set-top box, offering a cost-effective alternative to flat panel technology.
LG's microdisplay HDTV family includes proprietary XD Engine(TM) technology that takes low-resolution analog signals to near high-definition levels, enhancing overall picture quality and providing a more pleasant viewing experience. These products were on display from January 5th - 8th in Las Vegas at CES.
The flagship model is LG's 71-inch LCoS HDTV (71SA1D). Built around SpatiaLight's three-chip LCoS technology, this model provides powerful, high-quality HDTV viewing experiences and includes the Gemstar TV Guide Onscreen interactive program guide, allowing viewers easier program navigation. Additional features include HDMI, IEEE 1394 DTV link and 9-in-2 memory card slots. This 1080p set and LG's 62-inch 1080p LCoS Model 62SA1D are planned for first-quarter 2006 availability.
www.spatialight.com
Demonstrated at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the two widescreen LCoS Digital Cable Ready HDTVs, highlighting LG's six-model microdisplay HDTV family for 2006, bring premium cable programming to the screen without the need for a separate set-top box, offering a cost-effective alternative to flat panel technology.
LG's microdisplay HDTV family includes proprietary XD Engine(TM) technology that takes low-resolution analog signals to near high-definition levels, enhancing overall picture quality and providing a more pleasant viewing experience. These products were on display from January 5th - 8th in Las Vegas at CES.
The flagship model is LG's 71-inch LCoS HDTV (71SA1D). Built around SpatiaLight's three-chip LCoS technology, this model provides powerful, high-quality HDTV viewing experiences and includes the Gemstar TV Guide Onscreen interactive program guide, allowing viewers easier program navigation. Additional features include HDMI, IEEE 1394 DTV link and 9-in-2 memory card slots. This 1080p set and LG's 62-inch 1080p LCoS Model 62SA1D are planned for first-quarter 2006 availability.
www.spatialight.com
Monday, January 30, 2006
HDTV or Giant Not-So-Portable Media Player?
By Darryl Wilkinson
January 28, 2006 — After simmering on the back burner for lack of compelling performance and ease-of-use, "convergence" was once again a hot topic at the 2006 CES. Sure, it wasn't as ubiquitous as things designed to work with Apple's iPod (including a toilet paper dispenser/iPod dock combo - hey, I'm not making that up), but convergence wasn't far behind. Some items were just plain bizarre (like that iPod toilet paper thingee). Others made you think, "Hey, that's cool!" And then there were the ones that made you say, "Man, I think I'd actually use that."
Digitrex's new HD Network LCD TVs fit in that last category of product. The company says their new HD Network LCD TVs are the world's first high-definition network LCD TVs to include Microsoft Windows Media Connect capabilities. The three newly introduced models - 32, 40, and 46 inches - have built-in wireless 801.11 b/g networking components along with a built-in "mini-computer" running Microsoft Windows Media Connect software.
The combination allows a user sitting in front of the LCD TV to access and view multi-media content - including digital photos, video, music, content from PlaysForSure services, and high-definition Windows Media Files (wmv format) - from any Windows XP-based PC connected to the home network. In other words, no external media center set-top box is required.
Each LCD HDTV is controlled by an embedded interface with graphical icons and on-screen drop-down menus. The three 16:9 displays are said to have resolution of 1366 x 768 with a contrast ratio greater than 800:1.
The $1,999 32-inch (JFN-3250W) and $3,499 40-inch (JFN-4050W) models are expected to be available around the end of March, 2006. The 46-inch JFN-4650W is scheduled to arrive sometime during the second quarter of the year. The price has not yet been determined.
http://www.hometheatermag.com
January 28, 2006 — After simmering on the back burner for lack of compelling performance and ease-of-use, "convergence" was once again a hot topic at the 2006 CES. Sure, it wasn't as ubiquitous as things designed to work with Apple's iPod (including a toilet paper dispenser/iPod dock combo - hey, I'm not making that up), but convergence wasn't far behind. Some items were just plain bizarre (like that iPod toilet paper thingee). Others made you think, "Hey, that's cool!" And then there were the ones that made you say, "Man, I think I'd actually use that."
Digitrex's new HD Network LCD TVs fit in that last category of product. The company says their new HD Network LCD TVs are the world's first high-definition network LCD TVs to include Microsoft Windows Media Connect capabilities. The three newly introduced models - 32, 40, and 46 inches - have built-in wireless 801.11 b/g networking components along with a built-in "mini-computer" running Microsoft Windows Media Connect software.
The combination allows a user sitting in front of the LCD TV to access and view multi-media content - including digital photos, video, music, content from PlaysForSure services, and high-definition Windows Media Files (wmv format) - from any Windows XP-based PC connected to the home network. In other words, no external media center set-top box is required.
Each LCD HDTV is controlled by an embedded interface with graphical icons and on-screen drop-down menus. The three 16:9 displays are said to have resolution of 1366 x 768 with a contrast ratio greater than 800:1.
The $1,999 32-inch (JFN-3250W) and $3,499 40-inch (JFN-4050W) models are expected to be available around the end of March, 2006. The 46-inch JFN-4650W is scheduled to arrive sometime during the second quarter of the year. The price has not yet been determined.
http://www.hometheatermag.com
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Leading Consumer Electronics and PC Companies Unveil New HD DVD Hardware.
Hollywood Studios Showcase Availability of HD DVD Content Starting March 2006
The HD DVD Promotion Group, a multinational organization comprised of more than 120 top consumer electronics, IT, disc replication and entertainment companies, today announced at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that next-generation, HD DVD players and leading film content will be widely available in the U.S. market beginning March 2006.
At a press conference featuring top executives from each industry, Toshiba demonstrated the unparalleled sights and sounds created by the company's first two production HD DVD player models. The players will be available in the U.S. in March 2006, with prices starting at $499.99 -- ushering in a new era of high-definition home entertainment. Today online retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy.com, Crutchfield.com and Tweeter.com, have started accepting pre-orders.
Microsoft also announced it will offer a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies, adding more high definition choices to the popular gaming and entertainment system.
Warner Home Video, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment were also on stage to announce that nearly 50 HD DVD titles, including "Aeon Flux," "Batman Begins," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Jarhead," "The Matrix "and "U2: Rattle & Hum," will be available this Spring to coincide with the launch of the players. The studios also outlined plans to release additional titles throughout the year. More than 150 titles are expected to be available in time for the 2006 holiday season.
"We're proud that HD DVD will be appearing in a living room near you in a matter of weeks, with affordable players and the hottest film titles," said Yoshihide Fujii, corporate senior vice president and president and CEO of Digital Media Network Company, Toshiba Corporation. "With the support of leading studios, consumer electronics manufacturers and PC industry titans, I can confidently say that HD DVD will have the time to market advantage and the breadth of content to show consumers that this is the next-generation HD format."
"We have reached a point where consumer interest in high-definition programming far outweighs availability," said Warren Lieberfarb, chairman of Lieberfarb & Associates and an American Film Institute board member. "As the first widely available high definition format to market, HD DVD will help satisfy the ever-growing consumer appetite for great movies with mind-blowing extras. Between Warner Home Video, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures, they are responsible for more than half of the major feature films and television programs ever developed and their movies make up more than fifty percent of the American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time."
Retail Support
Retail outlets, including Best Buy, Crutchfield, Sears and Tweeter, plan to carry HD DVD players and movies beginning in March.
"High definition televisions have been extremely popular on Amazon.com, so we know our customers are eager to start enjoying more high definition programming," said Greg Hart, director of North American Music, DVD, and Computer and Video Games for Amazon.com. "With attractively priced players, numerous top-selling DVDs soon to be available in high definition and widespread industry support, we expect our customers to take advantage of the opportunity to start building their HD DVD libraries today."
Additionally, CustomFlix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, plans to provide an opportunity for small studios and filmmakers to utilize disc-on-demand technology to offer packaged high definition content much earlier, faster and more efficiently than may otherwise be possible with traditional replication methods.
Texas Instruments, which is leading the industry in maximum-HD 1080p resolution DLP HDTV technology as the number one selling 1080p television at retail, also announced strong support for HD DVD as well.
Accelerating Digital Convergence
As the first high-definition format to reach the mass market, HD DVD will provide consumers with stunning picture and sound quality, taking full advantage of high-definition televisions and home theater systems. The entertainment experience extends well beyond today's DVDs, allowing new and innovative ways to view movies and access bonus content. The format will also give consumers the opportunity to securely transfer high definition content for storage on their PC's hard disk drive, stream over a home network or even synchronize to a portable media player.
Enthusiasm for HD DVD was echoed at the press conference by prominent leaders in the IT industry. Microsoft reaffirmed that it will build the infrastructure to support HD DVD into the upcoming Windows Vista operating system coming later this year and HP was welcomed as the newest member of the HD DVD Promotion Group. Toshiba also demonstrated its AV notebook PCs, featuring slim-type HD DVD ROM drives, while NEC, a leading Japanese PC manufacturer, offered a strong commitment to enhancing the momentum for next-generation PCs with HD DVD drives.
www.hddvdprg.com
The HD DVD Promotion Group, a multinational organization comprised of more than 120 top consumer electronics, IT, disc replication and entertainment companies, today announced at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that next-generation, HD DVD players and leading film content will be widely available in the U.S. market beginning March 2006.
At a press conference featuring top executives from each industry, Toshiba demonstrated the unparalleled sights and sounds created by the company's first two production HD DVD player models. The players will be available in the U.S. in March 2006, with prices starting at $499.99 -- ushering in a new era of high-definition home entertainment. Today online retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy.com, Crutchfield.com and Tweeter.com, have started accepting pre-orders.
Microsoft also announced it will offer a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies, adding more high definition choices to the popular gaming and entertainment system.
Warner Home Video, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment were also on stage to announce that nearly 50 HD DVD titles, including "Aeon Flux," "Batman Begins," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Jarhead," "The Matrix "and "U2: Rattle & Hum," will be available this Spring to coincide with the launch of the players. The studios also outlined plans to release additional titles throughout the year. More than 150 titles are expected to be available in time for the 2006 holiday season.
"We're proud that HD DVD will be appearing in a living room near you in a matter of weeks, with affordable players and the hottest film titles," said Yoshihide Fujii, corporate senior vice president and president and CEO of Digital Media Network Company, Toshiba Corporation. "With the support of leading studios, consumer electronics manufacturers and PC industry titans, I can confidently say that HD DVD will have the time to market advantage and the breadth of content to show consumers that this is the next-generation HD format."
"We have reached a point where consumer interest in high-definition programming far outweighs availability," said Warren Lieberfarb, chairman of Lieberfarb & Associates and an American Film Institute board member. "As the first widely available high definition format to market, HD DVD will help satisfy the ever-growing consumer appetite for great movies with mind-blowing extras. Between Warner Home Video, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures, they are responsible for more than half of the major feature films and television programs ever developed and their movies make up more than fifty percent of the American Film Institute's top 100 films of all time."
Retail Support
Retail outlets, including Best Buy, Crutchfield, Sears and Tweeter, plan to carry HD DVD players and movies beginning in March.
"High definition televisions have been extremely popular on Amazon.com, so we know our customers are eager to start enjoying more high definition programming," said Greg Hart, director of North American Music, DVD, and Computer and Video Games for Amazon.com. "With attractively priced players, numerous top-selling DVDs soon to be available in high definition and widespread industry support, we expect our customers to take advantage of the opportunity to start building their HD DVD libraries today."
Additionally, CustomFlix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, plans to provide an opportunity for small studios and filmmakers to utilize disc-on-demand technology to offer packaged high definition content much earlier, faster and more efficiently than may otherwise be possible with traditional replication methods.
Texas Instruments, which is leading the industry in maximum-HD 1080p resolution DLP HDTV technology as the number one selling 1080p television at retail, also announced strong support for HD DVD as well.
Accelerating Digital Convergence
As the first high-definition format to reach the mass market, HD DVD will provide consumers with stunning picture and sound quality, taking full advantage of high-definition televisions and home theater systems. The entertainment experience extends well beyond today's DVDs, allowing new and innovative ways to view movies and access bonus content. The format will also give consumers the opportunity to securely transfer high definition content for storage on their PC's hard disk drive, stream over a home network or even synchronize to a portable media player.
Enthusiasm for HD DVD was echoed at the press conference by prominent leaders in the IT industry. Microsoft reaffirmed that it will build the infrastructure to support HD DVD into the upcoming Windows Vista operating system coming later this year and HP was welcomed as the newest member of the HD DVD Promotion Group. Toshiba also demonstrated its AV notebook PCs, featuring slim-type HD DVD ROM drives, while NEC, a leading Japanese PC manufacturer, offered a strong commitment to enhancing the momentum for next-generation PCs with HD DVD drives.
www.hddvdprg.com
Friday, January 27, 2006
Dishing up some HDTV.
By Shane C. Buettner
In a classic good news/bad news scenario, both DISH Network and DirecTV announced at CES 2006 that the two satellite giants will offer vastly expanded lineups of HD content in 2006. While more HD is always good news, the at least semi-bad news is that MPEG4 compression is being used on the new channels, and that means existing customers who want to watch the new HD channels need to invest in new equipment.
DISH currently carries 10 of the original HD channels from the now defunct VOOM satellite HD service, and in 2006 will push that number to 15. That's a lot of VOOM! In addition to those channels, DISH is adding ESPN2 HD and Universal HD to a lineup that already includes ESPN HD, HBO HD, HDNet and HDNet Movies, Showtime HD and TNT HD. But DISH's biggest coup in 2006 will be the addition of major network affiliates (CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, etc.) in HD in "up to 50" local markets, including Boston, Chicago, LA, and New York, which will launch the initiative in February.
While DISH's premium channel HD lineup has been strong, CBS has been the only major network the satellite provider has offered in HD over its satellite system (customers within range have been able to pull network affiliates in over-the –air in HD). DirecTV has been offering CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox in HD via satellite for over a year.
Existing DISH customers with MPEG2 boxes will continue to enjoy the current HD channel lineup, and DISH is offering an upgrade package to existing customers wishing to step up to the new ViP series gear required to decode the new MPEG4 HD channels. Two ViP series set-top boxes will be available, the ViP211 at $49.99, and the $299.99 ViP622 MPEG4 HD DVR. The ViP6122 can record up to 25 hours of HD, and can record two HD channels at once while standard def is being watched in another room. Both the ViP211 and ViP6122 support MPEG2 and MPEG4 signals. The ViP211 is available now, while the ViP6122 is scheduled for the first quarter of this year, which means people in Boston, Chicago, LA and New York might have to decide if they want the DVR functionality badly enough to wait for it come February!
The most surprising thing to me about DirecTV's announcement that it will have local HD network affiliates carried in 36 markets by the first half of 2006 was that 12 of those markets already launched last November, and one of those markets is the one I’m in! My wife and I have been loyal DirecTV customers since 1997, and have a special preferred customer card to prove it. We have been subscribers to as much HD content as DirecTV offers for years. We get tons of little messages in our DirecTV mailbox, but not a one of them let us know that our local San Francisco bay area HD network affiliate stations have been available since last year!
To elaborate on this a little more, DirecTV customers have been offered network affiliates in HD in certain geographic areas as long as certain criteria are met. For example, where we live there is no cable operator at all, and off-air isn't possible either. So, we've been getting west coast ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates in HD, but not our "locals" from San Francisco. Now, we can get them, but there are a couple of catches.
As with DISH, current subscribers to DirecTV's MPEG2 HD channels will still get what they're paying for. Required to receive the new HD locals are an upgraded 5-LNB satellite dish, and a new MPEG4 capable receiver. DirecTV has a couple of sweet deals on the MPEG4 capable H20 receiver and satellite dish. Calling DirecTV and asking for "customer retention," I was offered the new H20 and a 5-LNB dish for the $99 install fee for the dish. Buying the receiver alone through a local retailer costs $200, but a $200 rebate makes it a freebie (excepting the tax). Requirements of the rebate are that the user must send in a DirecTV bill showing activation of DirecTV programming with HD service. It's not clear whether an existing DirecTV HD customer could buy this box and send in a current bill and complete the rebate.
While the potential of a free MPEG4 box, and an inexpensive dish/install looks good on paper the catch is that the new dish won't work with current DirecTV receivers, including the DirecTV HD TiVo I paid $650 for just last year, and am totally addicted to! DirecTV's HR20 set-top box will have HD DVR capability, but won't be available until mid-year. I want my locals in HD very badly, but I've watched more HD in the last several months than I've watched in the last several years thanks to the HD TiVo. I guess I'm going to have to wait and hope the deal for the new DVR is as sweet as those for the new MPEG4 set-top box.
Another tidbit on the DVR is that it will not be powered by TiVo, but will use the same interface technology of the currently available DirecTV Plus DVR. DISH is now claiming 12 million subscribers and DirecTV 15 million. HD's potential coverage area is expanding right along with the lineups!
http://www.guidetohometheater.com
In a classic good news/bad news scenario, both DISH Network and DirecTV announced at CES 2006 that the two satellite giants will offer vastly expanded lineups of HD content in 2006. While more HD is always good news, the at least semi-bad news is that MPEG4 compression is being used on the new channels, and that means existing customers who want to watch the new HD channels need to invest in new equipment.
DISH currently carries 10 of the original HD channels from the now defunct VOOM satellite HD service, and in 2006 will push that number to 15. That's a lot of VOOM! In addition to those channels, DISH is adding ESPN2 HD and Universal HD to a lineup that already includes ESPN HD, HBO HD, HDNet and HDNet Movies, Showtime HD and TNT HD. But DISH's biggest coup in 2006 will be the addition of major network affiliates (CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, etc.) in HD in "up to 50" local markets, including Boston, Chicago, LA, and New York, which will launch the initiative in February.
While DISH's premium channel HD lineup has been strong, CBS has been the only major network the satellite provider has offered in HD over its satellite system (customers within range have been able to pull network affiliates in over-the –air in HD). DirecTV has been offering CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox in HD via satellite for over a year.
Existing DISH customers with MPEG2 boxes will continue to enjoy the current HD channel lineup, and DISH is offering an upgrade package to existing customers wishing to step up to the new ViP series gear required to decode the new MPEG4 HD channels. Two ViP series set-top boxes will be available, the ViP211 at $49.99, and the $299.99 ViP622 MPEG4 HD DVR. The ViP6122 can record up to 25 hours of HD, and can record two HD channels at once while standard def is being watched in another room. Both the ViP211 and ViP6122 support MPEG2 and MPEG4 signals. The ViP211 is available now, while the ViP6122 is scheduled for the first quarter of this year, which means people in Boston, Chicago, LA and New York might have to decide if they want the DVR functionality badly enough to wait for it come February!
The most surprising thing to me about DirecTV's announcement that it will have local HD network affiliates carried in 36 markets by the first half of 2006 was that 12 of those markets already launched last November, and one of those markets is the one I’m in! My wife and I have been loyal DirecTV customers since 1997, and have a special preferred customer card to prove it. We have been subscribers to as much HD content as DirecTV offers for years. We get tons of little messages in our DirecTV mailbox, but not a one of them let us know that our local San Francisco bay area HD network affiliate stations have been available since last year!
To elaborate on this a little more, DirecTV customers have been offered network affiliates in HD in certain geographic areas as long as certain criteria are met. For example, where we live there is no cable operator at all, and off-air isn't possible either. So, we've been getting west coast ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates in HD, but not our "locals" from San Francisco. Now, we can get them, but there are a couple of catches.
As with DISH, current subscribers to DirecTV's MPEG2 HD channels will still get what they're paying for. Required to receive the new HD locals are an upgraded 5-LNB satellite dish, and a new MPEG4 capable receiver. DirecTV has a couple of sweet deals on the MPEG4 capable H20 receiver and satellite dish. Calling DirecTV and asking for "customer retention," I was offered the new H20 and a 5-LNB dish for the $99 install fee for the dish. Buying the receiver alone through a local retailer costs $200, but a $200 rebate makes it a freebie (excepting the tax). Requirements of the rebate are that the user must send in a DirecTV bill showing activation of DirecTV programming with HD service. It's not clear whether an existing DirecTV HD customer could buy this box and send in a current bill and complete the rebate.
While the potential of a free MPEG4 box, and an inexpensive dish/install looks good on paper the catch is that the new dish won't work with current DirecTV receivers, including the DirecTV HD TiVo I paid $650 for just last year, and am totally addicted to! DirecTV's HR20 set-top box will have HD DVR capability, but won't be available until mid-year. I want my locals in HD very badly, but I've watched more HD in the last several months than I've watched in the last several years thanks to the HD TiVo. I guess I'm going to have to wait and hope the deal for the new DVR is as sweet as those for the new MPEG4 set-top box.
Another tidbit on the DVR is that it will not be powered by TiVo, but will use the same interface technology of the currently available DirecTV Plus DVR. DISH is now claiming 12 million subscribers and DirecTV 15 million. HD's potential coverage area is expanding right along with the lineups!
http://www.guidetohometheater.com
Hitachi Technologies Spur Advancements in HDTV, HD Recorders DVD Camcorders, Storage and Personal Authentication.
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), a leading global electronics company, demonstrated its engineering innovations with a wide range of products and technologies at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
New Hitachi products on display will feature innovations in plasma HDTV technologies, including the industry's first 55-inch full specification 1080p plasma display panel; advancements in LCD display technologies, such as a compact and ergonomic 3D LCD panel; new hard disk drive recording technologies, including iVDR, Blu-ray and the world's first 1-Terabyte high-definition hard disk drive recorder; in addition to an all new DVD camcorder line up. CES 2006 show attendees will also see a multi-stream GUI TV interface, advancements in storage hardware and a personal authentication system that relies on an individual's finger vein pattern for incredibly accurate identification.
"Hitachi is very pleased to be back on the floor of CES to present its lineup of leading-edge products at the premier show for innovative consumer electronic offerings," said Hiroaki Nakanishi, Hitachi, Ltd.'s Chief Executive for North America. "We continue to produce industry advancing products through our core technologies that are unmatched in the industry today."
Television & Front Projector Technologies
Hitachi will provide a technology demonstration of the industry's first 55-inch full-specification HD 1080p plasma display panel, which combines the best advantages of plasma, including incredible color reproduction, rich black levels, rapid motion response and wide-viewing angles, with a full high-definition pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080 with progressive scanning in the most popular 55-inch screen size for today's home theater installations.
New Hitachi products for 2006 will include Plasma and LCD televisions with built-in HD recording functionality via an internal hard disk recorder. The Plasma HDTV with HDD and 37-inch LCD HDTV with HDD enable easy recording with a remote control and come with two tuners so customers can record an HD broadcast in the background while watching another. Additional features include a time shift function, slow motion playback and a one-touch scheduler to automatically set a weekly schedule with just the touch of a button while watching the program.
Additional HDTVs in the booth will include the company's stunning UltraVision Plasma 42- and 55-inch HDS52 series models with ALiS technology and the VirtualHD 1080p II Video Processor; the VF820 series of 50-, 55-, and 60-inch rear projection LCD sets with High-Contrast Dual Focus Lens System with Ultra-Compact LCD 3-Panel Light Engine; the 37HDL52 LCD flat panel with Super In-Plane Switching technology, and a high-performance 55-inch Professional Plasma Monitor with WXGA Wide-Aperture pixel technology.
The HDPJ52 HD LCD front projector, with exclusive Hitachi Hi-2 Dual Iris System and Super-Focus Quattro ELD Glass Lens and a stunning contrast ratio of 7000:1, will also be on display. This front projector features a resolution of 1280 x 720, 3:2 film processing, 1,200 lumen Light Output, HDMI-HDTV Input, a user-replaceable 150-watt lamp and a "whisper quiet" operation to reduce noise output to an industry low of just 24db.
Other Hitachi Products
Additional Hitachi products on display include:
High-Definition DVD Recorder & Blu-ray Disc HDD Recorder - Hitachi will display the world's first 1-Terabyte hard drive and dual digital recorder capable of recording two simultaneous HD broadcasts. This breakthrough device enables 128 hours of digital recording or 1,700 hours in extended play mode. The Blu-ray Disc HDD Recorder is a multi-drive supporting all Blu-ray Disc, DVD and CD formats. The recorder provides a user-friendly interface and records HD broadcasts in original quality, providing more than two hours of HD program recording onto a single Blu-ray disc.
Travelstar, Endurastar & Microdrive 3K8 Mobile Hard Drives - Hitachi's line of mobile storage products will include the rugged Travelstar line-up offering the 1.8-inch Travelstar C4K60 60GB drive, providing ultra-high capacity for the mobile digital consumer; the 2.5-inch Travelstar 5K100 100GB drive, providing outstanding non-operating shock features; and the 2.5-inch Travelstar 7K100 100GB drive, the industry's only second-generation 7200 rpm HDD for desktop-like performance. The 2.5-inch Endurastar J4K30, designed specifically to perform in extreme temperature environments and perfect for automotive and entertainment functions, is offered in both 20GB and 30GB capacities. The Microdrive 3K8 comes in removable or embedded configurations and is ideal for integration into mobile phones or ultra-miniature CE devices.
Deskstar & Ultrastar Hard Drives - Offering the world's highest-capacity drive, the 3.5-inch Deskstar 7K500 is ideal not only for standard PC systems but also for ATA entry-servers, personal video recorders and other non-PC computing requirements. Also featured will be the Ultrastar, the highest-performing hard disk drive ever at up to 15,000 rpm and an average seek time of 3.6 milliseconds - an ideal solution for mission-critical, enterprise-computing applications.
LCD Monitor & Display Products - Hitachi will demonstrate the Ergo-3 Panel, a compact 3D display that uses a method involving overlapped images to produce a 3D image. The brilliant 3D display, which significantly reduces eyestrain, is cost effective and will be targeted at automobile navigation systems. The LCD Monitor with Edge-Illuminated RGB-LED Backlight provides a slim design and vivid colors ideal for high-end multimedia applications including true-color image processing. Also on display will be the T-17SLX, a 17-inch interactive pen-driven tablet that can track 125 points per second. It offers SXGA resolution, a USB PC interface and comes bundled with StarBoard Software 6.3.
Finger Vein Authentication Technology - Also on display will be Hitachi's innovative Finger Vein Authentication technology, the most advanced personal authentication system worldwide. This revolutionary biometric technology uses near-infrared beams to scan the unique pattern of crisscrossing veins in the human finger and then match the captured image with a pre-registered vein pattern profile to verify individual identity. The system is fast, enabling highly accurate and reliable personal identification in approximately one second. Finger vein authentication technology has already been adopted by banks in Japan, in addition to applications for door access control, computer login, national and international security at present, and even automobile and cell phone access in the future.
Liquid Cooling System for AVPC - With more than 200 patents worldwide, this system provides better cooling performance for audio video PCs and other digital appliances in a very reliable, whisper-quiet package. Originally developed to accommodate mainframes and supercomputers, Hitachi's liquid cooling system remains maintenance free for over five years of operation.
www.hitachi.com
New Hitachi products on display will feature innovations in plasma HDTV technologies, including the industry's first 55-inch full specification 1080p plasma display panel; advancements in LCD display technologies, such as a compact and ergonomic 3D LCD panel; new hard disk drive recording technologies, including iVDR, Blu-ray and the world's first 1-Terabyte high-definition hard disk drive recorder; in addition to an all new DVD camcorder line up. CES 2006 show attendees will also see a multi-stream GUI TV interface, advancements in storage hardware and a personal authentication system that relies on an individual's finger vein pattern for incredibly accurate identification.
"Hitachi is very pleased to be back on the floor of CES to present its lineup of leading-edge products at the premier show for innovative consumer electronic offerings," said Hiroaki Nakanishi, Hitachi, Ltd.'s Chief Executive for North America. "We continue to produce industry advancing products through our core technologies that are unmatched in the industry today."
Television & Front Projector Technologies
Hitachi will provide a technology demonstration of the industry's first 55-inch full-specification HD 1080p plasma display panel, which combines the best advantages of plasma, including incredible color reproduction, rich black levels, rapid motion response and wide-viewing angles, with a full high-definition pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080 with progressive scanning in the most popular 55-inch screen size for today's home theater installations.
New Hitachi products for 2006 will include Plasma and LCD televisions with built-in HD recording functionality via an internal hard disk recorder. The Plasma HDTV with HDD and 37-inch LCD HDTV with HDD enable easy recording with a remote control and come with two tuners so customers can record an HD broadcast in the background while watching another. Additional features include a time shift function, slow motion playback and a one-touch scheduler to automatically set a weekly schedule with just the touch of a button while watching the program.
Additional HDTVs in the booth will include the company's stunning UltraVision Plasma 42- and 55-inch HDS52 series models with ALiS technology and the VirtualHD 1080p II Video Processor; the VF820 series of 50-, 55-, and 60-inch rear projection LCD sets with High-Contrast Dual Focus Lens System with Ultra-Compact LCD 3-Panel Light Engine; the 37HDL52 LCD flat panel with Super In-Plane Switching technology, and a high-performance 55-inch Professional Plasma Monitor with WXGA Wide-Aperture pixel technology.
The HDPJ52 HD LCD front projector, with exclusive Hitachi Hi-2 Dual Iris System and Super-Focus Quattro ELD Glass Lens and a stunning contrast ratio of 7000:1, will also be on display. This front projector features a resolution of 1280 x 720, 3:2 film processing, 1,200 lumen Light Output, HDMI-HDTV Input, a user-replaceable 150-watt lamp and a "whisper quiet" operation to reduce noise output to an industry low of just 24db.
Other Hitachi Products
Additional Hitachi products on display include:
High-Definition DVD Recorder & Blu-ray Disc HDD Recorder - Hitachi will display the world's first 1-Terabyte hard drive and dual digital recorder capable of recording two simultaneous HD broadcasts. This breakthrough device enables 128 hours of digital recording or 1,700 hours in extended play mode. The Blu-ray Disc HDD Recorder is a multi-drive supporting all Blu-ray Disc, DVD and CD formats. The recorder provides a user-friendly interface and records HD broadcasts in original quality, providing more than two hours of HD program recording onto a single Blu-ray disc.
Travelstar, Endurastar & Microdrive 3K8 Mobile Hard Drives - Hitachi's line of mobile storage products will include the rugged Travelstar line-up offering the 1.8-inch Travelstar C4K60 60GB drive, providing ultra-high capacity for the mobile digital consumer; the 2.5-inch Travelstar 5K100 100GB drive, providing outstanding non-operating shock features; and the 2.5-inch Travelstar 7K100 100GB drive, the industry's only second-generation 7200 rpm HDD for desktop-like performance. The 2.5-inch Endurastar J4K30, designed specifically to perform in extreme temperature environments and perfect for automotive and entertainment functions, is offered in both 20GB and 30GB capacities. The Microdrive 3K8 comes in removable or embedded configurations and is ideal for integration into mobile phones or ultra-miniature CE devices.
Deskstar & Ultrastar Hard Drives - Offering the world's highest-capacity drive, the 3.5-inch Deskstar 7K500 is ideal not only for standard PC systems but also for ATA entry-servers, personal video recorders and other non-PC computing requirements. Also featured will be the Ultrastar, the highest-performing hard disk drive ever at up to 15,000 rpm and an average seek time of 3.6 milliseconds - an ideal solution for mission-critical, enterprise-computing applications.
LCD Monitor & Display Products - Hitachi will demonstrate the Ergo-3 Panel, a compact 3D display that uses a method involving overlapped images to produce a 3D image. The brilliant 3D display, which significantly reduces eyestrain, is cost effective and will be targeted at automobile navigation systems. The LCD Monitor with Edge-Illuminated RGB-LED Backlight provides a slim design and vivid colors ideal for high-end multimedia applications including true-color image processing. Also on display will be the T-17SLX, a 17-inch interactive pen-driven tablet that can track 125 points per second. It offers SXGA resolution, a USB PC interface and comes bundled with StarBoard Software 6.3.
Finger Vein Authentication Technology - Also on display will be Hitachi's innovative Finger Vein Authentication technology, the most advanced personal authentication system worldwide. This revolutionary biometric technology uses near-infrared beams to scan the unique pattern of crisscrossing veins in the human finger and then match the captured image with a pre-registered vein pattern profile to verify individual identity. The system is fast, enabling highly accurate and reliable personal identification in approximately one second. Finger vein authentication technology has already been adopted by banks in Japan, in addition to applications for door access control, computer login, national and international security at present, and even automobile and cell phone access in the future.
Liquid Cooling System for AVPC - With more than 200 patents worldwide, this system provides better cooling performance for audio video PCs and other digital appliances in a very reliable, whisper-quiet package. Originally developed to accommodate mainframes and supercomputers, Hitachi's liquid cooling system remains maintenance free for over five years of operation.
www.hitachi.com
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Belkin TuneTalk(TM) Stereo for iPod(R) video Nabs the iLounge 2006 ``Best of Show'' Award.
At Macworld Expo, Belkin Shows Its New TuneTalk Stereo, the First Voice Recorder for iPod video, to Offer High-Quality Stereo Recording.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006-Belkin Corporation took the iLounge "Best of Show" Award for its new TuneTalk Stereo, a new voice recorder for iPod video. iLounge made the announcement on January 11, at the 2006 Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco.
iLounge editors scoured both the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Macworld Expo for iPod accessories that not only enhanced the iPod video and nano user experience, but that also stood out from the masses. Winners ranged from docking speaker systems and iPod remotes to cases.
"Several companies have been working on microphone adapters for Apple's latest iPods," says Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge Editor-in-Chief, "but Belkin delivered the first actually working ones we've seen. We were impressed by TuneTalk Stereo's compact, double-microphone design and clean sound, which make good use of the new iPod's improved recording capabilities."
One of the many new iPod accessories to be showcased by Belkin at Macworld, TuneTalk Stereo features two directional microphones and a speaker for instant playback. A line-in jack connects an external microphone or electronic guitar for recording. The first product to record in stereo and mono, it will be offered in both black and white when it is formally released.
About iLounge
iLounge is an independent provider of information about Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod mobile digital devices, accessories, and related software, and is published online at www.ilounge.com. Based in Irvine, California, the iLounge website is owned and operated by Dennis Lloyd's company, The Media LLC, and is not affiliated with Apple Computer or the manufacturers of iPod-related products.
About Belkin Corporation
Belkin Corporation offers a diverse product mix designed to bring consumer electronics users an enhanced experience from their MP3 and iPod devices, home theaters, and networking devices. The recognized leader in USB, Belkin's award-winning CableFree USB Hub delivers the first wireless USB-device connectivity. Belkin extends its reach to the high-speed FireWire(R) and Bluetooth(TM) arenas as well as to access, power protection, and enterprise solutions. Belkin products are available through www.belkin.com as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.
iPod is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006-Belkin Corporation took the iLounge "Best of Show" Award for its new TuneTalk Stereo, a new voice recorder for iPod video. iLounge made the announcement on January 11, at the 2006 Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco.
iLounge editors scoured both the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Macworld Expo for iPod accessories that not only enhanced the iPod video and nano user experience, but that also stood out from the masses. Winners ranged from docking speaker systems and iPod remotes to cases.
"Several companies have been working on microphone adapters for Apple's latest iPods," says Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge Editor-in-Chief, "but Belkin delivered the first actually working ones we've seen. We were impressed by TuneTalk Stereo's compact, double-microphone design and clean sound, which make good use of the new iPod's improved recording capabilities."
One of the many new iPod accessories to be showcased by Belkin at Macworld, TuneTalk Stereo features two directional microphones and a speaker for instant playback. A line-in jack connects an external microphone or electronic guitar for recording. The first product to record in stereo and mono, it will be offered in both black and white when it is formally released.
About iLounge
iLounge is an independent provider of information about Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod mobile digital devices, accessories, and related software, and is published online at www.ilounge.com. Based in Irvine, California, the iLounge website is owned and operated by Dennis Lloyd's company, The Media LLC, and is not affiliated with Apple Computer or the manufacturers of iPod-related products.
About Belkin Corporation
Belkin Corporation offers a diverse product mix designed to bring consumer electronics users an enhanced experience from their MP3 and iPod devices, home theaters, and networking devices. The recognized leader in USB, Belkin's award-winning CableFree USB Hub delivers the first wireless USB-device connectivity. Belkin extends its reach to the high-speed FireWire(R) and Bluetooth(TM) arenas as well as to access, power protection, and enterprise solutions. Belkin products are available through www.belkin.com as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.
iPod is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Luminus Devices' PhlatLight(TM) Chipset Used in Samsung's HL-S5679W 56-Inch DLP HDTV.
Luminus Devices, Inc. today announced that it's new PhlatLight(TM) chipset is the light source behind Samsung's HL-S5679W 56-inch rear projection television (RPTV), which won the prestigious CNET Best of 2006 Award in the TV category at last week's International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. PhlatLight, based on Luminus' photonic lattice technology, was designed from the ground up to meet the requirements of microdisplay illumination. PhlatLight chipsets are the only commercially available solid state light sources that can deliver enough high-quality brightness to illuminate large screen RPTVs.
"Samsung is continuously looking to align our brand with key innovations and technology to incorporate in our award-winning product line," said Dan Schinasi, senior marketing manager for projection TV at Samsung Electronics America. "We are proud to work with Luminus and their PhlatLight technology to help Samsung deliver a new level of system performance and benefits to our customers."
Samsung is expected to launch the HL-S5679W, the company's first DLP-based rear-projection TV illuminated with a solid state light source, in May 2006. The television will be initially sold through specialty retailers such as Tweeter, Best Buy/Magnolia and Sound Advice.
"PhlatLight technology is forging new ground in microdisplay illumination by enabling TV manufacturers to create a new class of television using our advanced solid state light source," said Udi Meirav, CEO of Luminus Devices, Inc. "We are proud that a worldwide leader like Samsung is using our PhlatLight technology to deliver a superior viewing experience to consumers."
The HL-S5679W operates for a longer period of time than previously designed light engine-based rear projection TV sets. The LED light sourced DLP RPTV provides natural color, with an improved color gamut versus traditional CRT televisions. Featuring full high definition 1920 x 1080p resolution and Samsung's Cinema Smooth(TM) light engine with Texas Instruments(TM) DLP technology, the HL-S5679W displays picture with breathtaking clarity and vividness. Two 1080p HDMI inputs that are compatible with the latest 1080p source content provide plug and play connectivity for digital devices. The black glossy finish and integrated ATSC and NTSC tuner ensure that the HL-S5679W will be an elegant addition to any living room, and the Cable Card feature allows the TV to be used without a cable box.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2004 parent company sales of US$55.2 billion and net income of US$10.3 billion. Employing approximately 113,000 people in over 90 offices in 48 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Luminus Devices
Luminus Devices, Inc., headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, is focused on the clear and singular vision that photonic lattice technology will change the nature, future and worldwide impact of Solid State Lighting (SSL). PhlatLight (Photonic Lattice Light Source) technology, developed by Luminus Devices based on research done at MIT, is the only solid state light source that provides enough brightness to illuminate large screen rear projection televisions (RPTVs). With commercialized PhlatLight chipsets in production, Luminus is leading the industry in designing this new, powerful light source for a variety of applications, including microdisplay RPTVs and other advanced, high-definition displays. Several notable television and consumer electronics vendors are currently including PhlatLight technology in their products. For more information, visit www.luminus.com.
For more information, contact: Bree Clidence SVM Public Relations 760-940-9025 Email Contact OR Jill Colna SVM Public Relations 401-490-9700 Email Contact Note to editors: PhlatLight is a trademark of Luminus Devices.
"Samsung is continuously looking to align our brand with key innovations and technology to incorporate in our award-winning product line," said Dan Schinasi, senior marketing manager for projection TV at Samsung Electronics America. "We are proud to work with Luminus and their PhlatLight technology to help Samsung deliver a new level of system performance and benefits to our customers."
Samsung is expected to launch the HL-S5679W, the company's first DLP-based rear-projection TV illuminated with a solid state light source, in May 2006. The television will be initially sold through specialty retailers such as Tweeter, Best Buy/Magnolia and Sound Advice.
"PhlatLight technology is forging new ground in microdisplay illumination by enabling TV manufacturers to create a new class of television using our advanced solid state light source," said Udi Meirav, CEO of Luminus Devices, Inc. "We are proud that a worldwide leader like Samsung is using our PhlatLight technology to deliver a superior viewing experience to consumers."
The HL-S5679W operates for a longer period of time than previously designed light engine-based rear projection TV sets. The LED light sourced DLP RPTV provides natural color, with an improved color gamut versus traditional CRT televisions. Featuring full high definition 1920 x 1080p resolution and Samsung's Cinema Smooth(TM) light engine with Texas Instruments(TM) DLP technology, the HL-S5679W displays picture with breathtaking clarity and vividness. Two 1080p HDMI inputs that are compatible with the latest 1080p source content provide plug and play connectivity for digital devices. The black glossy finish and integrated ATSC and NTSC tuner ensure that the HL-S5679W will be an elegant addition to any living room, and the Cable Card feature allows the TV to be used without a cable box.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2004 parent company sales of US$55.2 billion and net income of US$10.3 billion. Employing approximately 113,000 people in over 90 offices in 48 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Luminus Devices
Luminus Devices, Inc., headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, is focused on the clear and singular vision that photonic lattice technology will change the nature, future and worldwide impact of Solid State Lighting (SSL). PhlatLight (Photonic Lattice Light Source) technology, developed by Luminus Devices based on research done at MIT, is the only solid state light source that provides enough brightness to illuminate large screen rear projection televisions (RPTVs). With commercialized PhlatLight chipsets in production, Luminus is leading the industry in designing this new, powerful light source for a variety of applications, including microdisplay RPTVs and other advanced, high-definition displays. Several notable television and consumer electronics vendors are currently including PhlatLight technology in their products. For more information, visit www.luminus.com.
For more information, contact: Bree Clidence SVM Public Relations 760-940-9025 Email Contact OR Jill Colna SVM Public Relations 401-490-9700 Email Contact Note to editors: PhlatLight is a trademark of Luminus Devices.
Universal Electronics Advances Control Solutions for the Digital Life.
Partnering with Leading Global Companies to Develop Innovative Solutions that Enable Consumers to Access and Control Entertainment Devices, Digital Media, and Home Systems
Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (NASDAQ:UEIC) today announced that it will be showcasing its latest innovative control solutions for the digital life at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Leveraging cutting edge wireless and software technologies and building on relationships with major consumer electronics (CE) companies, UEI's Digital Home tour will introduce solutions that enable seamless device and content connectivity giving consumers complete control of their entertainment experience.
The digital life landscape is in the midst of radical transformation as technologies are changing and people's concepts of how they interact and use their digital devices are evolving; driving the need for easier management of digital content and control of the user experience.
"New home and personal entertainment devices and digital media are proliferating in the market, quickly making controlling devices and interacting with content a major challenge for consumers who want to embrace the new digital lifestyle," said Paul Arling, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "UEI has developed solutions that enable consumers' seamless connectivity and control of their media from traditional audio visual devices in their living room to digital media content on personal computers in the study to mobile media solutions on handhelds and in the automobile."
Building on UEI's 20 years of innovation and its principal membership in the Z-Wave Alliance, UEI continues to build strong ties with global consumer brands to deliver advanced consumer solutions for the digital life. Some of the "digital life" solutions that UEI will demonstrate at CES will include:
-- SimpleCenter(TM), digital media management and control software that powers certain advanced media products for leading CE manufacturers, enabling these devices to manage and stream digital content anywhere in the home. SimpleCenter is also slated to be bundled with next generation mobile handsets from industry leading providers enabling consumers with those handsets to wirelessly transfer digital music, pictures, and video between their phone and PC as well as use the mobile phone to stream digital media throughout the home.
-- Working with a major satellite radio provider, and leveraging the emerging Z-wave standard, UEI's latest liquid crystal display (LCD)-equipped remote controller allows consumers to wirelessly view and select satellite radio content on the remote's display and enable music playback on a connected satellite radio receiver anywhere in the home.
-- In Home Control, UEI's Helix universal remote control brings reality to the next generation of convenient home control systems by seamlessly controlling not only a vast array of audio visual devices, but also any Z-wave enabled home environment device allowing consumers to dim the lights, close the curtains and start the movie all with the touch of a button. This product will be showcased at the UEI booth and at the Z-Wave Partner Pavilion.
-- UEI's control technology further expands into the digital lifestyle by teaming with Gibson Guitar Corporation to help launch and re-invent the classic jukebox. Powered by UEI's SimpleWare(R) Home embedded software solution, the Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox(TM) will allow users to store a large collection of CDs digitally, buy new music directly through the Wurlitzer Music Service, and easily control their music collection from a wireless touch-screen remote running UEI's award-winning Nevo 1.0 home control application.
-- UEI's technology reach also extends to the automobile, where UEI's SimpleWare(R) Auto embedded digital media software is powering solutions that enable automotive tier-1 suppliers, and automotive electronics manufacturers such as Delphi, to deliver digital entertainment products to connect consumers with their home-based digital media in the car. SimpleWare Auto is available on proven automotive-grade silicon platforms, from Freescale and Texas Instruments, ensuring fast time-to-market for integration on the next generation in-car entertainment systems.
"We're excited to be working with such leading CE, broadcast, mobile, and technology companies as we shape the next evolution of the digital life with innovative wireless technologies that expand the user experience," stated Paul Arling.
www.uei.com
Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (NASDAQ:UEIC) today announced that it will be showcasing its latest innovative control solutions for the digital life at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Leveraging cutting edge wireless and software technologies and building on relationships with major consumer electronics (CE) companies, UEI's Digital Home tour will introduce solutions that enable seamless device and content connectivity giving consumers complete control of their entertainment experience.
The digital life landscape is in the midst of radical transformation as technologies are changing and people's concepts of how they interact and use their digital devices are evolving; driving the need for easier management of digital content and control of the user experience.
"New home and personal entertainment devices and digital media are proliferating in the market, quickly making controlling devices and interacting with content a major challenge for consumers who want to embrace the new digital lifestyle," said Paul Arling, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "UEI has developed solutions that enable consumers' seamless connectivity and control of their media from traditional audio visual devices in their living room to digital media content on personal computers in the study to mobile media solutions on handhelds and in the automobile."
Building on UEI's 20 years of innovation and its principal membership in the Z-Wave Alliance, UEI continues to build strong ties with global consumer brands to deliver advanced consumer solutions for the digital life. Some of the "digital life" solutions that UEI will demonstrate at CES will include:
-- SimpleCenter(TM), digital media management and control software that powers certain advanced media products for leading CE manufacturers, enabling these devices to manage and stream digital content anywhere in the home. SimpleCenter is also slated to be bundled with next generation mobile handsets from industry leading providers enabling consumers with those handsets to wirelessly transfer digital music, pictures, and video between their phone and PC as well as use the mobile phone to stream digital media throughout the home.
-- Working with a major satellite radio provider, and leveraging the emerging Z-wave standard, UEI's latest liquid crystal display (LCD)-equipped remote controller allows consumers to wirelessly view and select satellite radio content on the remote's display and enable music playback on a connected satellite radio receiver anywhere in the home.
-- In Home Control, UEI's Helix universal remote control brings reality to the next generation of convenient home control systems by seamlessly controlling not only a vast array of audio visual devices, but also any Z-wave enabled home environment device allowing consumers to dim the lights, close the curtains and start the movie all with the touch of a button. This product will be showcased at the UEI booth and at the Z-Wave Partner Pavilion.
-- UEI's control technology further expands into the digital lifestyle by teaming with Gibson Guitar Corporation to help launch and re-invent the classic jukebox. Powered by UEI's SimpleWare(R) Home embedded software solution, the Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox(TM) will allow users to store a large collection of CDs digitally, buy new music directly through the Wurlitzer Music Service, and easily control their music collection from a wireless touch-screen remote running UEI's award-winning Nevo 1.0 home control application.
-- UEI's technology reach also extends to the automobile, where UEI's SimpleWare(R) Auto embedded digital media software is powering solutions that enable automotive tier-1 suppliers, and automotive electronics manufacturers such as Delphi, to deliver digital entertainment products to connect consumers with their home-based digital media in the car. SimpleWare Auto is available on proven automotive-grade silicon platforms, from Freescale and Texas Instruments, ensuring fast time-to-market for integration on the next generation in-car entertainment systems.
"We're excited to be working with such leading CE, broadcast, mobile, and technology companies as we shape the next evolution of the digital life with innovative wireless technologies that expand the user experience," stated Paul Arling.
www.uei.com
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Pushing The Right Buttons. Technophobes, Rejoice: Experts Help You Use Those Gift Gadgets
By Jay Dedrick and Lesley Kennedy, Rocky Mountain News
Remember that dazzling digital camera you found under the Christmas tree last month? The iPod plucked from your stocking?
Don't tell us those shiny-as-tinsel toys already are gathering dust.
There's no shame in being a late adapter to the new technology that inspired an electronics-heavy gift-giving season. But don't let your technophobia delay you from exploring your new gear's possibilities any longer.
With this guide, novices can make a push toward:
• getting the photos out of your camera and into view;
• making the most of your media on an iPod or other MP3 player;
• dialing up all the best your cell phone has to offer;
• taking full advantage of the high-definition TV.
On top of the practical info, you'll find suggestions for the next purchase that'll make your new gear all the more fun. After all, Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away. So set your heart on falling in love with your gadgets.
The gadget: digital camera
• The lowdown: They're in about half the households in the country now, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Amateur shooters have become empowered by the high-capacity storage and photo-editing possibilities.
• The inside secrets: Many new owners just let the digital images accumulate on the camera's memory card, never to be displayed beyond the tiny viewing screen. You can practically hear the little images screaming to be freed.
"A lot of people have the way we worked with film stuck in their heads," says Brett Larson, host of the Gadgets Guide at about.com.
One of the easier ways to get started sharing your digital photos, he says, is to sign up with a free online service. They make it easy for you to post your photos and share them with friends and family via computer. They also offer print services. Some worth checking out: shutterfly.com; snapfish.com; kodakgallery.com
Because film and negatives are out of the equation, it's important to back up your photo files, Larson says. Using your PC, you can burn photos onto CDs, or you can order CDs of your photos from online services like those above. Or take your camera's media card into a drug, discount or grocery store that offers photo services. They can create a CD of your photos for you, and you can order prints, too.
Software included with personal computers and digital cameras makes printing at home relatively easy. But if you find the process cumbersome, Larson says, consider a printer with a media-card slot built in. It will enable you to print images directly without going through your computer.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Consider a handy camera case. Longmont-based Case Logic's products, about $5 to $25, are widely available. Or try a media card with more memory. Most media cards included with new cameras store only a dozen or so photos. Larger-capacity cards, starting around $30 to $60, hold hundreds of pictures - something the ol' Brownie never could do.
Larson also suggests rechargeable batteries, because digital cameras tend to be thirsty for juice. "I always like to recommend two sets of batteries and a charger, so you always have a fresh set," he says. Prices vary widely, but Kodak offers a new kit around $30 that includes four AA batteries and a charger that gets the job done in an hour.
The gadget: iPod
• The lowdown: We're now an iPod nation. Apple's MP3 player was one of the season's hottest holiday gifts, with the newer iPod Nano(a pencil-thin version of the original)and the video version topping sales.
• The inside secret: The iPod has evolved to store much more than just music. You can read audiobooks, view photo slideshows and watch video podcasts and TV shows. One cool feature you may not be using is the iPod's ability to update your calendar. We went to the Apple Website for advice and foundiPod supports industry-standard iCalendar and vCalendar files,whichcan be exported by many applications such as Microsoft Entourage,Microsoft Outlook and Palm Desktop. iCal,a desktop calendarapplication from Apple, also works with the new iPod calendar.Just drag your iCalendar or vCalendar files to your iPod, and you canaccess your personal agenda away from your computer.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Having an iPod isn't enough. It's all about the accessories. One top seller is the iDog, a palm-size pooch with speakers that barks, lights up and wags its ears to the music when you hook it up to your iPod ($29.99). And, of course,the iDog has its own accessories, including the iDog Chill Set, which includes a hat, sweater, scarf, socks and ear warmers($9.99) and its own carrying bag($19.99). At www.amazon.com.
The gadget: high-definition TV
• The lowdown: One of the sexiest -and priciest- gifts of the season. Sleek flat-panel plasma and LCD sets hang on the wall like paintings. Bigger DLP or LCD projection sets may look like old tube TVs, but they're skinnier and lighter, with pictures comparable to flat panels.
• The inside secret: Many proud new owners aren't taking full advantage of the high-resolution images available to them."You've got to make sure you're getting a high-definition source, "says Phil Murray, marketing manager of Listen Up Audio/Video. The best bet for many viewers is Comcast Cable, which provides a lineup of high-def channels,including local stations, via digital cable, for $5 a month. Another mistake Murray sees customers making: They get the high-def cable but fail to tune in the correct station. For instance, if you punch up 4, you'll get the standard CBS4 telecast. You must tune in CBS 4's high-def number -654- to get the whole picture. Don't forget the sound, either. Most HD TV stations broadcast a 5.1 Dolby surround-sound audio track. If you don't have a surround sound system hooked up, you're short-changing yourself.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: If you've got the whole shebang - high-def TV, digital cable, surround-sound receiver and DVD player- you've also got a collection of remote controls. Do yourself (or your loved one) a favor by getting a universal remote that controls all your devices. Some connect to your computer and communicate via the Web to determine which commands you need. They range from affordable ($50) to 'did we pay this much for the original equipment?' ($5,000).
The gadget: the of-the-moment cell phone
• The lowdown: Using your cell phone to simply callhome is so passe. The hottest phones have all kinds of bells and whistles, including cameras, MP3 players and Internet access.
• The inside secret: What are some of the featuresyour phone can provide? It depends, of course, on whether your phone is compatible. Once you determine that, there are lots of options at avariety of costs(some are charged as a monthly fee, others as a one-time download cost). We went to Cingular's Cool Tools Webpage for thelowdown on top tools:
MobiTV ($9.99 a month): Transforms your wireless phone into a wireless TV, giving you access to news, sports and TV shows whereveryou have service coverage. It offers the same broadcast and premium channels you get from your home TV.
MatchMobile ($4.99 a month): Match.com provides wireless dating for singles, allowing you to connect with other singles through the phone.
MovieGoer ($2.99 a month): Get up-to-date movie listings, reviews from nationally known critics integrated with movie posters, driving directions and detailed color maps.
Nascar.com to go ($2.95 a month): Get news alerts, standings, results and live leaderboards during races. Driver stats, weekly schedules.
Calorie Counter ($4.99 one-timecharge): Includes listings for calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and kilo joulesfor hundreds of common foods.
Mileage Tracker ($5 one-time fee): Record distances driven for business, with data transfer via e-mail to an Excel file. Review entries by mileage amount or value, assign type fields to entries and easily record odometer settings.
My-CastWeather ($1 to $3.95 a month): See current U.S. weather conditions, including real-time Doppler radar and satellite imagery. View temperatures, wind speeds,dew points and sky conditions displayed over regional, national or local weather maps. Also get 12-hour and seven-day forecasts and severe weather alerts.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Single friends might appreciate a subscription to the MatchMobile feature. Formates, think about a cool accessory. If they have a compatible phone, a Bluetooth wireless headset ($49.99 at www.cingular.com) will keep them hands-free while on the go.
More articles like this can be found at: http://www.rockymountainnews.com
Remember that dazzling digital camera you found under the Christmas tree last month? The iPod plucked from your stocking?
Don't tell us those shiny-as-tinsel toys already are gathering dust.
There's no shame in being a late adapter to the new technology that inspired an electronics-heavy gift-giving season. But don't let your technophobia delay you from exploring your new gear's possibilities any longer.
With this guide, novices can make a push toward:
• getting the photos out of your camera and into view;
• making the most of your media on an iPod or other MP3 player;
• dialing up all the best your cell phone has to offer;
• taking full advantage of the high-definition TV.
On top of the practical info, you'll find suggestions for the next purchase that'll make your new gear all the more fun. After all, Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away. So set your heart on falling in love with your gadgets.
The gadget: digital camera
• The lowdown: They're in about half the households in the country now, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Amateur shooters have become empowered by the high-capacity storage and photo-editing possibilities.
• The inside secrets: Many new owners just let the digital images accumulate on the camera's memory card, never to be displayed beyond the tiny viewing screen. You can practically hear the little images screaming to be freed.
"A lot of people have the way we worked with film stuck in their heads," says Brett Larson, host of the Gadgets Guide at about.com.
One of the easier ways to get started sharing your digital photos, he says, is to sign up with a free online service. They make it easy for you to post your photos and share them with friends and family via computer. They also offer print services. Some worth checking out: shutterfly.com; snapfish.com; kodakgallery.com
Because film and negatives are out of the equation, it's important to back up your photo files, Larson says. Using your PC, you can burn photos onto CDs, or you can order CDs of your photos from online services like those above. Or take your camera's media card into a drug, discount or grocery store that offers photo services. They can create a CD of your photos for you, and you can order prints, too.
Software included with personal computers and digital cameras makes printing at home relatively easy. But if you find the process cumbersome, Larson says, consider a printer with a media-card slot built in. It will enable you to print images directly without going through your computer.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Consider a handy camera case. Longmont-based Case Logic's products, about $5 to $25, are widely available. Or try a media card with more memory. Most media cards included with new cameras store only a dozen or so photos. Larger-capacity cards, starting around $30 to $60, hold hundreds of pictures - something the ol' Brownie never could do.
Larson also suggests rechargeable batteries, because digital cameras tend to be thirsty for juice. "I always like to recommend two sets of batteries and a charger, so you always have a fresh set," he says. Prices vary widely, but Kodak offers a new kit around $30 that includes four AA batteries and a charger that gets the job done in an hour.
The gadget: iPod
• The lowdown: We're now an iPod nation. Apple's MP3 player was one of the season's hottest holiday gifts, with the newer iPod Nano(a pencil-thin version of the original)and the video version topping sales.
• The inside secret: The iPod has evolved to store much more than just music. You can read audiobooks, view photo slideshows and watch video podcasts and TV shows. One cool feature you may not be using is the iPod's ability to update your calendar. We went to the Apple Website for advice and foundiPod supports industry-standard iCalendar and vCalendar files,whichcan be exported by many applications such as Microsoft Entourage,Microsoft Outlook and Palm Desktop. iCal,a desktop calendarapplication from Apple, also works with the new iPod calendar.Just drag your iCalendar or vCalendar files to your iPod, and you canaccess your personal agenda away from your computer.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Having an iPod isn't enough. It's all about the accessories. One top seller is the iDog, a palm-size pooch with speakers that barks, lights up and wags its ears to the music when you hook it up to your iPod ($29.99). And, of course,the iDog has its own accessories, including the iDog Chill Set, which includes a hat, sweater, scarf, socks and ear warmers($9.99) and its own carrying bag($19.99). At www.amazon.com.
The gadget: high-definition TV
• The lowdown: One of the sexiest -and priciest- gifts of the season. Sleek flat-panel plasma and LCD sets hang on the wall like paintings. Bigger DLP or LCD projection sets may look like old tube TVs, but they're skinnier and lighter, with pictures comparable to flat panels.
• The inside secret: Many proud new owners aren't taking full advantage of the high-resolution images available to them."You've got to make sure you're getting a high-definition source, "says Phil Murray, marketing manager of Listen Up Audio/Video. The best bet for many viewers is Comcast Cable, which provides a lineup of high-def channels,including local stations, via digital cable, for $5 a month. Another mistake Murray sees customers making: They get the high-def cable but fail to tune in the correct station. For instance, if you punch up 4, you'll get the standard CBS4 telecast. You must tune in CBS 4's high-def number -654- to get the whole picture. Don't forget the sound, either. Most HD TV stations broadcast a 5.1 Dolby surround-sound audio track. If you don't have a surround sound system hooked up, you're short-changing yourself.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: If you've got the whole shebang - high-def TV, digital cable, surround-sound receiver and DVD player- you've also got a collection of remote controls. Do yourself (or your loved one) a favor by getting a universal remote that controls all your devices. Some connect to your computer and communicate via the Web to determine which commands you need. They range from affordable ($50) to 'did we pay this much for the original equipment?' ($5,000).
The gadget: the of-the-moment cell phone
• The lowdown: Using your cell phone to simply callhome is so passe. The hottest phones have all kinds of bells and whistles, including cameras, MP3 players and Internet access.
• The inside secret: What are some of the featuresyour phone can provide? It depends, of course, on whether your phone is compatible. Once you determine that, there are lots of options at avariety of costs(some are charged as a monthly fee, others as a one-time download cost). We went to Cingular's Cool Tools Webpage for thelowdown on top tools:
MobiTV ($9.99 a month): Transforms your wireless phone into a wireless TV, giving you access to news, sports and TV shows whereveryou have service coverage. It offers the same broadcast and premium channels you get from your home TV.
MatchMobile ($4.99 a month): Match.com provides wireless dating for singles, allowing you to connect with other singles through the phone.
MovieGoer ($2.99 a month): Get up-to-date movie listings, reviews from nationally known critics integrated with movie posters, driving directions and detailed color maps.
Nascar.com to go ($2.95 a month): Get news alerts, standings, results and live leaderboards during races. Driver stats, weekly schedules.
Calorie Counter ($4.99 one-timecharge): Includes listings for calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and kilo joulesfor hundreds of common foods.
Mileage Tracker ($5 one-time fee): Record distances driven for business, with data transfer via e-mail to an Excel file. Review entries by mileage amount or value, assign type fields to entries and easily record odometer settings.
My-CastWeather ($1 to $3.95 a month): See current U.S. weather conditions, including real-time Doppler radar and satellite imagery. View temperatures, wind speeds,dew points and sky conditions displayed over regional, national or local weather maps. Also get 12-hour and seven-day forecasts and severe weather alerts.
• The fitting Valentine's Day gift: Single friends might appreciate a subscription to the MatchMobile feature. Formates, think about a cool accessory. If they have a compatible phone, a Bluetooth wireless headset ($49.99 at www.cingular.com) will keep them hands-free while on the go.
More articles like this can be found at: http://www.rockymountainnews.com
Netflix Says It Will Offer HD DVDs.
Online movie rental service Netflix Inc. on Tuesday said it will carry the first high-definition DVD movies available when the new format launches in March.
The company also said it will offer titles in Blu-ray format when that product is released later this year.
Several movie studios, including Warner Home Video, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures and the Weinstein Co., have announced plans to begin selling HD DVD movies in late March, when compatible players become available to consumers.
The company also said it will offer titles in Blu-ray format when that product is released later this year.
Several movie studios, including Warner Home Video, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures and the Weinstein Co., have announced plans to begin selling HD DVD movies in late March, when compatible players become available to consumers.
The Hunt For The Perfect MP3 Player Begins Here. A Four Step Approach to Sorting Through MP3 Player Options.
By: Matt Clark
Buying an MP3 player is a lot like finding a mate. One may look at the size, shape, style and features, as well as how high maintenance or "easy" that person eyeing them across the bar is.
Similarly, finding the MP3 player of your dreams requires careful consideration of a myriad of specs.
Some players offer more than meets the eye and thankfully the BG News is here to lead you through your purchase, from first glance to final union.
No oddballs allowed
This guide will focus entirely on portable MP3 players, not those for your car or home stereo. Another category of players that will be skipped is the "oddball" players.
Portable MP3 CD players - which fall into the oddball category - play CDs loaded with around 200 MP3s and regular CDs purchased at a music store. MP3 CDs can be burned on any computer.
These may be an excellent choice for some as they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive (many retail for under $50). But they are big, they skip easily, and they require their users to carry around CDs.
Many, such as grad student Zak Knauss, consider getting rid of their CD case the major reason for buying an MP3 player.
"The fact that everything is right there," he said. "I don't have to dig through my discs, I just have everything there."
Other oddball players include those that connect to cell phones, Palm Pilots and Pocket PCs. We will also skip players such as the Sony PSP and other multimedia devices where playing MP3s is not the main feature.
However, each oddball player may appeal to a certain crowd, say someone that carries their Palm Pilot everywhere they go. Consider each before focusing on standard players.
The four steps
The most important rule to follow when finding the perfect player is to decide on a player before going to the store. Or, at least have a narrow idea of what you want. Never choose from the few players available at some electronics outlets when there are hundreds more out there.
No worries, though. By following a simple four step process, buyers can eliminate the headache of sorting through the countless players available. First select a size, then consider the features, next look at how the player gets its music, and finally decide where to purchase your perfect player.
Concerning size
The size of an MP3 player can have two meanings. There is the physical size of the player: its width, length and height dimensions. There is also the size of its hard drive or internal memory, which determines how many songs, photos, videos or other files the player can hold.
There are four physical size categories to choose from in MP3 players. Ultracompact players such as the Apple iPod Shuffle, the Creative Labs Muvo line of players and others are often the best workout companions.
Before junior Alicia Joynson purchased her iPod Nano, she had an ultracompact RCA Lyra player that she could easily take on a run. What was her reason for upgrading?
"I am not limited to 20 songs like my first MP3 player and can make playlists," she said.
The major disadvantage to ultracompact MP3 players is that their storage capacity maxes out at about one gigabyte. So, the largest number of songs these players normally hold is about 250. Most hold between 32 and 128 songs, ranging in capacity from 128 to 512 megabytes.
Ultracompacts do have several advantages, however, especially their price. The iPod shuffle remains the least expensive iPod on the market. They also store their songs on flash memory.
Players that use flash memory store songs on chips rather than hard drives. The importance of this is that a hard drive has moving parts. Fewer moving parts will result in a more reliable, skip-free device. This is another reason ultracompacts are great for working out.
Those concerned with the small capacity of ultracompacts, but allured by their skip-free play, may find the next size category perfect for their needs and, hopefully, their pocketbooks.
The iPod Nano is a member of the next size category, the not-so-compact flash players. These players range in space from about 1 gigabyte all the way up to the Nano's 4 gigabytes, or between 250 and 1,000 songs.
The not-so-compact flash players tend to be the most expensive per-gigabyte players on the market. They are not the most expensive players, but are pricey for the storage capacity they have.
For instance, the iPod Nano (with 4 gigabytes) retails at $249, while its much bigger sibling the iPod Video (with 60 gigabytes) retails at $399. This is a difference of about $60 per gigabyte.
Besides the Nano, other not-so-compact flash players include the iRiver U10 and Samsung Yepp YP-T7Z.
Being that these players are a bit larger, they tend to have bigger, oftentimes color screens. This allows for easier navigation from song to song and for the display of photos.
There are obviously no clear distinctions between the first two size categories other than relative size. The two categories are merely meant to indicate that there are a wide range of flash memory player sizes and capacities.
The next category is clearly different: microdrive players. These bad boys are small, but pack large capacity - usually around 5 gigabyte - mini hard drives.
They are cheaper per-gigabyte than flash players, but have hard drives with moving parts and are bigger in size than nearly all flash players. Sorry fitness-gurus.
Interpersonal Communication major Maureen Hawkins went with Apple's now discontinued microdrive player the iPod Mini after a less-than-satisfied experience with an ultracompact player from a competing manufacturer.
"When I received [the ultracompact] and put music on it, it only held up to twelve songs," she said. "Now I have all my songs from my computer and I have so much more space."
Unfortunately for Hawkins, though, the microdrive player cannot be held when she is running. If she does not set the iPod Mini down on the treadmill, it will skip, even turn off.
Other microdrive players include Creative Lab's Zen Micro and Muvo 2 lines and Rio's Carbon line.
Players in the last category are big, both in physical size and capacity. These players all have hard drives with more than 8 gigabytes of space. Some have 60 gigabytes and more.
Imagine holding 15,000 songs or 1,000 hours of music in your pocket. What's more is some are now allowing for the playing of video on their small screens.
When most people think of an iPod, they think of Apple's hard drive-based players. The current iPod hard drive player is known as the iPod Video. It is smaller and cheaper than the previous generation iPod and comes in sizes of 30 and 60 gigabytes.
These players are not intended for most exercise activities. There size, capacity and other features make them ideal for walks, parties and vacations.
The massive capacity of these drives allows for a few tricks other than playing music. While player features will be covered more in depth later in this article, it is important to note what can be done with 60 gigabytes of space besides storing MP3s, photos and videos.
Nearly all MP3 players, from the 128 megabyte ultracompacts to the monster hard drive players, act as a regular computer drive when plugged in to their owner's system. Many of them do not require drivers, including all iPods.
This means that students wishing to transfer large PowerPoint presentations from their computer in their dorm room to a computer lab for printing have their work cut out for them. They plug their player into their system, drag the file to the drive, take it to the lab and print it out.
Others may want to use the extra space to back up important files onto their new drive or utilize it for a large video project. Just make sure you have a fast, USB 2.0 or Firewire cable connection. More on this later, too.
For Hawkin's sister and her husband, the extra space on their iPod Photo came in real handy.
"It has so much space on it that you can have a file for his music and a file for her music and only have to purchase one," she said.
Features abound
After choosing the size and capacity, one must look at the numerous features now available on players. And it is features where all the iPods get a serious run for their money.
While in recent generations the iPod has introduced features such as photo and video viewing, the new iPod Video still mainly focuses on the playing of MP3s.
It seems the new video feature is mainly intended for purchasing television shows, music videos and other content from the iTunes music store, as the ability to convert other videos into a format compatible with the iPod is only possible with Quicktime Pro, which retails for $29.99.
Video owners will also have to purchase a separate cable in order to display that video on television screens. Watching Desperate Housewives on a 2.5 inch screen may not excite many users.
The Archos Gmini 402, on the other hand, allows users to watch their videos on the go without any additional software.
It includes the cable needed for playing video on the big screen, and its sister model the 402 Camcorder has an embedded camcorder for recording up to 50 hours of video on its 20 gigabyte hard drive.
While video features have been all the rage recently, there are many other features one may consider for their new player.
Several players have come on the market with the ability to record audio, whether through an onboard microphone, an external one, or any audio device via a line-in connection.
Such a feature is helpful for students wishing to record interviews or lectures, but sadly many may never use this excellent feature.
Even though music education major Katie Mielke's Creative Labs Zen Micro has an onboard microphone, she has only used it a couple times "just for fun."
Audio recording can be added to certain iPods with a separate accessory.
Another feature available on several players is FM radio. Some even offer the ability to record the radio.
The most varied feature on players out there today is their screens. Consumers should decide how large a screen they want, if it should be a color screen, and if they require a backlight for playing in the dark.
Some screens are so small they cannot even display the title of a song, but other players, such as the iPod Shuffle, don't even have a screen.
And then there are several other features many would never expect from an MP3 player. Those going for a run with their player may enjoy having a stopwatch, calorie counter or pulse rate monitor, such as those available on certain RCA Lyra players.
Others may want to play games. Many players, including the iPod, have simple games such as solitaire. The Archos Gmini 402 has the Mophun game engine for downloading titles off the internet.
There are also personal information management features on several players today, such as the ability to upload and view a schedule or address book on the go.
Finally, there are features directly associated with the overall enjoyment of the player. Some players come with better earphones. Others have longer lasting or removable batteries for endless amounts of playing time while away from an electrical outlet.
Some players have equalizers that allow you to adjust the tone of the player's sound. Several have digital signal processing, for those wanting to modify the acoustics of a piece of music.
A few allow you to crossfade between songs like the pro disc jockeys. This is an excellent feature for those using their player for a non-stop dance party.
Make connections
The third step in courting the MP3 player of your dreams is deciding how you want your player to receive its music.
There are two things to consider when deciding how a player will interface with your computer. The first is its connection and the second is its software.
Any player with a capacity greater than 256 megabytes should have a USB 2.0 or Firewire connection. Most computers made within the last few years have USB 2.0, Firwewire or both.
USB 2.0 and Firewire are about 40 times faster than the older USB 1.1.
While there is not much choice in the connection one uses for their player, there are several software packages out there.
The most popular software among players is Microsoft Windows Media Player, which is free and already installed on most PCs. It is also available free for Macintosh computers.
Another advantage to Windows Media Player is that consumers may have already used it to organize their MP3 collection.
Mielke went with her Zen Micro after returning an iPod Nano. The reason? She did not want to install iTunes, the software required to use any iPod.
"My computer didn't have iTunes on it," she said. "It already had Windows Media Player and it already had all my music in it so it was just convenient for me."
There is one major advantage to iTunes, though: the iTunes Music Store, which can only be accessed through the program. Songs purchased from the store can only be played on the iPod.
If you plan on purchasing music from online music stores, be sure to take a look at our sidebar that gives you the basics about the most popular music stores in this issue. It also includes information on which players are compatible with which stores.
I'll get the bill
The final step is shopping for and purchasing your new player. Once you know what size, capacity, features and interfaces you want on your new player it is a lot easier to weed through the field of players out there.
But don't go to the store yet. First, pick up a dependable consumer magazine with player reviews. These publications give you an inside take on what each player is like, and are available at most libraries.
But no review or picture can demonstrate the size or feel of the player in your hand.
The design of the player's controls is crucial and can only be experienced in person.
Some players on the market are impossible to control blindly. Users of these players must pull them from their pocket each time they wish to skip a song.
Some say it is the iPod's Click Wheel controls that have made it so popular. Junior Justin Yates lists it as one of the best features of the player.
"The Click Wheel is just amazing," he said.
Experiencing the controls is important, but don't think that means buying your player from a brick-and-mortar retail outlet is the best way to go.
Buying online makes for difficult returns, but can save money. Websites such as CNET.com and Pricewatch.com allow surfers to search through hundreds of stores for the best price.
There is also the option of purchasing a used player from an online auction site. There is a certain amount of risk, but can also save money.
When buying an MP3 player used, look for one with a removable battery. Players without this feature may already have lost a percentage of their battery's life.
This is also a good reason to purchase an extended warranty for a new player, as batteries do not last forever. Those using their player everyday may wear their battery out just past the warranty date.
According to Apple's web site, iPod batteries are designed to retain up to 80 percent of their capacity after 400 charge cycles.
A charge cycle occurs every time the player has been used for an amount of time equal to its battery's capacity (15 hours on the Nano), irrespective of when it is charged.
When at the store of your choice, go over to the accessories section and make sure the player you are eyeing has the accessories you need available.
The iPod Nano and Video have a wired remote accessory that allows the user to control them while they are tucked away in a backpack or purse. The wired remote also adds FM radio.
The honeymoon
Choose the size, features, interface and store. It's that easy. And when someone finds that special player, they never worry about introducing it to their parents.
Sit back and let the MP3 player of your dreams serenade you.
To find more articles like this go to http://www.bgnews.com
Buying an MP3 player is a lot like finding a mate. One may look at the size, shape, style and features, as well as how high maintenance or "easy" that person eyeing them across the bar is.
Similarly, finding the MP3 player of your dreams requires careful consideration of a myriad of specs.
Some players offer more than meets the eye and thankfully the BG News is here to lead you through your purchase, from first glance to final union.
No oddballs allowed
This guide will focus entirely on portable MP3 players, not those for your car or home stereo. Another category of players that will be skipped is the "oddball" players.
Portable MP3 CD players - which fall into the oddball category - play CDs loaded with around 200 MP3s and regular CDs purchased at a music store. MP3 CDs can be burned on any computer.
These may be an excellent choice for some as they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive (many retail for under $50). But they are big, they skip easily, and they require their users to carry around CDs.
Many, such as grad student Zak Knauss, consider getting rid of their CD case the major reason for buying an MP3 player.
"The fact that everything is right there," he said. "I don't have to dig through my discs, I just have everything there."
Other oddball players include those that connect to cell phones, Palm Pilots and Pocket PCs. We will also skip players such as the Sony PSP and other multimedia devices where playing MP3s is not the main feature.
However, each oddball player may appeal to a certain crowd, say someone that carries their Palm Pilot everywhere they go. Consider each before focusing on standard players.
The four steps
The most important rule to follow when finding the perfect player is to decide on a player before going to the store. Or, at least have a narrow idea of what you want. Never choose from the few players available at some electronics outlets when there are hundreds more out there.
No worries, though. By following a simple four step process, buyers can eliminate the headache of sorting through the countless players available. First select a size, then consider the features, next look at how the player gets its music, and finally decide where to purchase your perfect player.
Concerning size
The size of an MP3 player can have two meanings. There is the physical size of the player: its width, length and height dimensions. There is also the size of its hard drive or internal memory, which determines how many songs, photos, videos or other files the player can hold.
There are four physical size categories to choose from in MP3 players. Ultracompact players such as the Apple iPod Shuffle, the Creative Labs Muvo line of players and others are often the best workout companions.
Before junior Alicia Joynson purchased her iPod Nano, she had an ultracompact RCA Lyra player that she could easily take on a run. What was her reason for upgrading?
"I am not limited to 20 songs like my first MP3 player and can make playlists," she said.
The major disadvantage to ultracompact MP3 players is that their storage capacity maxes out at about one gigabyte. So, the largest number of songs these players normally hold is about 250. Most hold between 32 and 128 songs, ranging in capacity from 128 to 512 megabytes.
Ultracompacts do have several advantages, however, especially their price. The iPod shuffle remains the least expensive iPod on the market. They also store their songs on flash memory.
Players that use flash memory store songs on chips rather than hard drives. The importance of this is that a hard drive has moving parts. Fewer moving parts will result in a more reliable, skip-free device. This is another reason ultracompacts are great for working out.
Those concerned with the small capacity of ultracompacts, but allured by their skip-free play, may find the next size category perfect for their needs and, hopefully, their pocketbooks.
The iPod Nano is a member of the next size category, the not-so-compact flash players. These players range in space from about 1 gigabyte all the way up to the Nano's 4 gigabytes, or between 250 and 1,000 songs.
The not-so-compact flash players tend to be the most expensive per-gigabyte players on the market. They are not the most expensive players, but are pricey for the storage capacity they have.
For instance, the iPod Nano (with 4 gigabytes) retails at $249, while its much bigger sibling the iPod Video (with 60 gigabytes) retails at $399. This is a difference of about $60 per gigabyte.
Besides the Nano, other not-so-compact flash players include the iRiver U10 and Samsung Yepp YP-T7Z.
Being that these players are a bit larger, they tend to have bigger, oftentimes color screens. This allows for easier navigation from song to song and for the display of photos.
There are obviously no clear distinctions between the first two size categories other than relative size. The two categories are merely meant to indicate that there are a wide range of flash memory player sizes and capacities.
The next category is clearly different: microdrive players. These bad boys are small, but pack large capacity - usually around 5 gigabyte - mini hard drives.
They are cheaper per-gigabyte than flash players, but have hard drives with moving parts and are bigger in size than nearly all flash players. Sorry fitness-gurus.
Interpersonal Communication major Maureen Hawkins went with Apple's now discontinued microdrive player the iPod Mini after a less-than-satisfied experience with an ultracompact player from a competing manufacturer.
"When I received [the ultracompact] and put music on it, it only held up to twelve songs," she said. "Now I have all my songs from my computer and I have so much more space."
Unfortunately for Hawkins, though, the microdrive player cannot be held when she is running. If she does not set the iPod Mini down on the treadmill, it will skip, even turn off.
Other microdrive players include Creative Lab's Zen Micro and Muvo 2 lines and Rio's Carbon line.
Players in the last category are big, both in physical size and capacity. These players all have hard drives with more than 8 gigabytes of space. Some have 60 gigabytes and more.
Imagine holding 15,000 songs or 1,000 hours of music in your pocket. What's more is some are now allowing for the playing of video on their small screens.
When most people think of an iPod, they think of Apple's hard drive-based players. The current iPod hard drive player is known as the iPod Video. It is smaller and cheaper than the previous generation iPod and comes in sizes of 30 and 60 gigabytes.
These players are not intended for most exercise activities. There size, capacity and other features make them ideal for walks, parties and vacations.
The massive capacity of these drives allows for a few tricks other than playing music. While player features will be covered more in depth later in this article, it is important to note what can be done with 60 gigabytes of space besides storing MP3s, photos and videos.
Nearly all MP3 players, from the 128 megabyte ultracompacts to the monster hard drive players, act as a regular computer drive when plugged in to their owner's system. Many of them do not require drivers, including all iPods.
This means that students wishing to transfer large PowerPoint presentations from their computer in their dorm room to a computer lab for printing have their work cut out for them. They plug their player into their system, drag the file to the drive, take it to the lab and print it out.
Others may want to use the extra space to back up important files onto their new drive or utilize it for a large video project. Just make sure you have a fast, USB 2.0 or Firewire cable connection. More on this later, too.
For Hawkin's sister and her husband, the extra space on their iPod Photo came in real handy.
"It has so much space on it that you can have a file for his music and a file for her music and only have to purchase one," she said.
Features abound
After choosing the size and capacity, one must look at the numerous features now available on players. And it is features where all the iPods get a serious run for their money.
While in recent generations the iPod has introduced features such as photo and video viewing, the new iPod Video still mainly focuses on the playing of MP3s.
It seems the new video feature is mainly intended for purchasing television shows, music videos and other content from the iTunes music store, as the ability to convert other videos into a format compatible with the iPod is only possible with Quicktime Pro, which retails for $29.99.
Video owners will also have to purchase a separate cable in order to display that video on television screens. Watching Desperate Housewives on a 2.5 inch screen may not excite many users.
The Archos Gmini 402, on the other hand, allows users to watch their videos on the go without any additional software.
It includes the cable needed for playing video on the big screen, and its sister model the 402 Camcorder has an embedded camcorder for recording up to 50 hours of video on its 20 gigabyte hard drive.
While video features have been all the rage recently, there are many other features one may consider for their new player.
Several players have come on the market with the ability to record audio, whether through an onboard microphone, an external one, or any audio device via a line-in connection.
Such a feature is helpful for students wishing to record interviews or lectures, but sadly many may never use this excellent feature.
Even though music education major Katie Mielke's Creative Labs Zen Micro has an onboard microphone, she has only used it a couple times "just for fun."
Audio recording can be added to certain iPods with a separate accessory.
Another feature available on several players is FM radio. Some even offer the ability to record the radio.
The most varied feature on players out there today is their screens. Consumers should decide how large a screen they want, if it should be a color screen, and if they require a backlight for playing in the dark.
Some screens are so small they cannot even display the title of a song, but other players, such as the iPod Shuffle, don't even have a screen.
And then there are several other features many would never expect from an MP3 player. Those going for a run with their player may enjoy having a stopwatch, calorie counter or pulse rate monitor, such as those available on certain RCA Lyra players.
Others may want to play games. Many players, including the iPod, have simple games such as solitaire. The Archos Gmini 402 has the Mophun game engine for downloading titles off the internet.
There are also personal information management features on several players today, such as the ability to upload and view a schedule or address book on the go.
Finally, there are features directly associated with the overall enjoyment of the player. Some players come with better earphones. Others have longer lasting or removable batteries for endless amounts of playing time while away from an electrical outlet.
Some players have equalizers that allow you to adjust the tone of the player's sound. Several have digital signal processing, for those wanting to modify the acoustics of a piece of music.
A few allow you to crossfade between songs like the pro disc jockeys. This is an excellent feature for those using their player for a non-stop dance party.
Make connections
The third step in courting the MP3 player of your dreams is deciding how you want your player to receive its music.
There are two things to consider when deciding how a player will interface with your computer. The first is its connection and the second is its software.
Any player with a capacity greater than 256 megabytes should have a USB 2.0 or Firewire connection. Most computers made within the last few years have USB 2.0, Firwewire or both.
USB 2.0 and Firewire are about 40 times faster than the older USB 1.1.
While there is not much choice in the connection one uses for their player, there are several software packages out there.
The most popular software among players is Microsoft Windows Media Player, which is free and already installed on most PCs. It is also available free for Macintosh computers.
Another advantage to Windows Media Player is that consumers may have already used it to organize their MP3 collection.
Mielke went with her Zen Micro after returning an iPod Nano. The reason? She did not want to install iTunes, the software required to use any iPod.
"My computer didn't have iTunes on it," she said. "It already had Windows Media Player and it already had all my music in it so it was just convenient for me."
There is one major advantage to iTunes, though: the iTunes Music Store, which can only be accessed through the program. Songs purchased from the store can only be played on the iPod.
If you plan on purchasing music from online music stores, be sure to take a look at our sidebar that gives you the basics about the most popular music stores in this issue. It also includes information on which players are compatible with which stores.
I'll get the bill
The final step is shopping for and purchasing your new player. Once you know what size, capacity, features and interfaces you want on your new player it is a lot easier to weed through the field of players out there.
But don't go to the store yet. First, pick up a dependable consumer magazine with player reviews. These publications give you an inside take on what each player is like, and are available at most libraries.
But no review or picture can demonstrate the size or feel of the player in your hand.
The design of the player's controls is crucial and can only be experienced in person.
Some players on the market are impossible to control blindly. Users of these players must pull them from their pocket each time they wish to skip a song.
Some say it is the iPod's Click Wheel controls that have made it so popular. Junior Justin Yates lists it as one of the best features of the player.
"The Click Wheel is just amazing," he said.
Experiencing the controls is important, but don't think that means buying your player from a brick-and-mortar retail outlet is the best way to go.
Buying online makes for difficult returns, but can save money. Websites such as CNET.com and Pricewatch.com allow surfers to search through hundreds of stores for the best price.
There is also the option of purchasing a used player from an online auction site. There is a certain amount of risk, but can also save money.
When buying an MP3 player used, look for one with a removable battery. Players without this feature may already have lost a percentage of their battery's life.
This is also a good reason to purchase an extended warranty for a new player, as batteries do not last forever. Those using their player everyday may wear their battery out just past the warranty date.
According to Apple's web site, iPod batteries are designed to retain up to 80 percent of their capacity after 400 charge cycles.
A charge cycle occurs every time the player has been used for an amount of time equal to its battery's capacity (15 hours on the Nano), irrespective of when it is charged.
When at the store of your choice, go over to the accessories section and make sure the player you are eyeing has the accessories you need available.
The iPod Nano and Video have a wired remote accessory that allows the user to control them while they are tucked away in a backpack or purse. The wired remote also adds FM radio.
The honeymoon
Choose the size, features, interface and store. It's that easy. And when someone finds that special player, they never worry about introducing it to their parents.
Sit back and let the MP3 player of your dreams serenade you.
To find more articles like this go to http://www.bgnews.com
Monday, January 23, 2006
FujiFilm FinePix E550 Digital Camera Review
Fujifilm FinePix E550 digital camera review : the Fujifilm FinePix E550 digital camera was introduced in July 2004. This new model looks a lot like the FinePix 810 digital camera but is presented like a 'no-nonsense' camera, or in other words, it's a digital camera from the 'E' series FinePix digital cameras. The Fujifilm FinePix E550 digital camera is equipped with a Super CCD HR sensor which delivers a resolution of 6.3 megapixels. This sensor should ensure lower sensitivity and a more precise signal/noise ratio.
Fujifilm FinePix E550 - Features
The FinePix E550 offers an attractive resolution for a rather low price. It is even possible to produce a 12.3 Megapixel image (interpolated) thanks to the Super CCD HR. Beside the special sensor technique, the Fujifilm FinePix E550 features a 4x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 32.5 -130mm equivalent to a 35mm camera. If you require more zoom, you can use the optional accessories, which extends the focal range to 24.7mm or for telephoto lovers, to a focal length of 252mm.
Fujifilm FinePix E550 - PictBrigde
The Fujifilm E550 digital camera has a solid metal-plastic housing and is equipped with a pleasant large sized (2 inch) LCD monitor. Because of this size it is easier when photographing but also when sharing the images with others. Beside the standard USB and A/V out connectors, the Fujifilm FinePix E550 supports PictBridge, a standard to produce prints directly from a PictBridge supporting printer, without the interference of a pc. It's also possible to place the Fujifilm E550 in a Picture Cradle with the use of an adapter. This docking station is directly connected to a computer and gets its energy from the electric mains, a clever way of downloading your pictures and movies easily and fast.
Fujifilm FinePix E550 - Experiences
The Fujifilm FinePix E550 digital camera is available for a while now on the Dutch market, so it was about time to use the camera in practice. Read our user's experiences in the following digital camera review.
This article and others can be found at http://www.letsgodigital.org
Fujifilm FinePix E550 - Features
The FinePix E550 offers an attractive resolution for a rather low price. It is even possible to produce a 12.3 Megapixel image (interpolated) thanks to the Super CCD HR. Beside the special sensor technique, the Fujifilm FinePix E550 features a 4x optical zoom lens with a focal length of 32.5 -130mm equivalent to a 35mm camera. If you require more zoom, you can use the optional accessories, which extends the focal range to 24.7mm or for telephoto lovers, to a focal length of 252mm.
Fujifilm FinePix E550 - PictBrigde
The Fujifilm E550 digital camera has a solid metal-plastic housing and is equipped with a pleasant large sized (2 inch) LCD monitor. Because of this size it is easier when photographing but also when sharing the images with others. Beside the standard USB and A/V out connectors, the Fujifilm FinePix E550 supports PictBridge, a standard to produce prints directly from a PictBridge supporting printer, without the interference of a pc. It's also possible to place the Fujifilm E550 in a Picture Cradle with the use of an adapter. This docking station is directly connected to a computer and gets its energy from the electric mains, a clever way of downloading your pictures and movies easily and fast.
Fujifilm FinePix E550 - Experiences
The Fujifilm FinePix E550 digital camera is available for a while now on the Dutch market, so it was about time to use the camera in practice. Read our user's experiences in the following digital camera review.
This article and others can be found at http://www.letsgodigital.org
Kodak V570 Torino Olympic 2006 Limited Version.
Dennis Hissink :This article and others can be found at http://www.letsgodigital.org
Kodak V570 Torino Olympic 2006 limited version : At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2006 Kodak introduced their latest EasyShare model; Kodak EasyShare V570. The new Kodak V570 digital camera is unique in its own way. It features a dual lens system, offering wide and 3x optical zoom lens in one digital camera system. However, those of you who are interested in something extra should try to get their hands on the Kodak EasyShare V570 Torino Olympic 2006 limited version. This edition of the Kodak EasyShare V570 will be limited to 1,000 pieces. The complete Japanese Olympic team will each get one Kodak V570 sample; the rest of the batch will be available from January 17 - February 28, 2006 via the online shop of Kodak.
Kodak EasyShare V570 - Dual lens
Using proprietary Kodak Retina Dual Lens technology, the Kodak V570 camera wraps an ultra-wide angle lens (23 mm) and an optical zoom lens (39 - 117 mm) into a small, sleek package less than an inch thin. The innovative Kodak EasyShare V570 camera's ultra-wide angle lens coupled with its optical zoom lens produces a total 5X optical zoom range, providing more options to help today's picture takers capture the perfect shot, group photos, scenic landscapes, dramatic portraits, and close-ups.
Kodak EasyShare V570 Torino Olympic 2006 limited version features
- Official Olympic logo
- Large 2.5-inch, high-resolution LCD screen
- Dual lens system
- 5 Megapixel resolution
- Exclusive Kodak Color Science image processing chip
- Automatic red-eye reduction and on-camera cropping
- Picture blur alert and auto picture rotation
- In-camera distortion correction to compensate for ultra-wide angle fish-eye effects
- 22 scene modes plus 3 color modes
- Photo Frame Dock 2
- 32MB of internal memory
- SD card slot for additional storage
Kodak EasyShare software and accessories
The Kodak EasyShare V570 camera includes Kodak EasyShare software for Windows and Mactintosh systems, providing effortless digital picture organization, editing, sharing and printing, and even CD and DVD burning. The exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak to help users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from inkjet printers, while the enhanced favorites feature helps you always have your best shots at hand, whether on your camera, on your computer, or online via the Kodak EasyShare Gallery. Kodak also makes it easy to accessorize the new V570 camera with a range of products that help show off your pictures. For instance, the popular Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock Plus Series 3 (US$179 MSRP) makes it one-touch simple to print real KODAK pictures at home in just 60 seconds, with or without a computer.
About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images - for memories, for information, for entertainment. With sales of $13.5 billion in 2004, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on the following businesses: Health, supplying the medical and dental industries with traditional and digital imaging-information products and services, as well healthcare IT solutions and services; Graphic Communications, offering on-demand color and black and white printing, wide-format inkjet printing, high-speed, high-volume continuous inkjet printing, as well as document scanning, archiving and multi-vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems, providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components, which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers.
Kodak V570 Torino Olympic 2006 limited version : At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2006 Kodak introduced their latest EasyShare model; Kodak EasyShare V570. The new Kodak V570 digital camera is unique in its own way. It features a dual lens system, offering wide and 3x optical zoom lens in one digital camera system. However, those of you who are interested in something extra should try to get their hands on the Kodak EasyShare V570 Torino Olympic 2006 limited version. This edition of the Kodak EasyShare V570 will be limited to 1,000 pieces. The complete Japanese Olympic team will each get one Kodak V570 sample; the rest of the batch will be available from January 17 - February 28, 2006 via the online shop of Kodak.
Kodak EasyShare V570 - Dual lens
Using proprietary Kodak Retina Dual Lens technology, the Kodak V570 camera wraps an ultra-wide angle lens (23 mm) and an optical zoom lens (39 - 117 mm) into a small, sleek package less than an inch thin. The innovative Kodak EasyShare V570 camera's ultra-wide angle lens coupled with its optical zoom lens produces a total 5X optical zoom range, providing more options to help today's picture takers capture the perfect shot, group photos, scenic landscapes, dramatic portraits, and close-ups.
Kodak EasyShare V570 Torino Olympic 2006 limited version features
- Official Olympic logo
- Large 2.5-inch, high-resolution LCD screen
- Dual lens system
- 5 Megapixel resolution
- Exclusive Kodak Color Science image processing chip
- Automatic red-eye reduction and on-camera cropping
- Picture blur alert and auto picture rotation
- In-camera distortion correction to compensate for ultra-wide angle fish-eye effects
- 22 scene modes plus 3 color modes
- Photo Frame Dock 2
- 32MB of internal memory
- SD card slot for additional storage
Kodak EasyShare software and accessories
The Kodak EasyShare V570 camera includes Kodak EasyShare software for Windows and Mactintosh systems, providing effortless digital picture organization, editing, sharing and printing, and even CD and DVD burning. The exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak to help users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from inkjet printers, while the enhanced favorites feature helps you always have your best shots at hand, whether on your camera, on your computer, or online via the Kodak EasyShare Gallery. Kodak also makes it easy to accessorize the new V570 camera with a range of products that help show off your pictures. For instance, the popular Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock Plus Series 3 (US$179 MSRP) makes it one-touch simple to print real KODAK pictures at home in just 60 seconds, with or without a computer.
About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the leader in helping people take, share, print and view images - for memories, for information, for entertainment. With sales of $13.5 billion in 2004, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on the following businesses: Health, supplying the medical and dental industries with traditional and digital imaging-information products and services, as well healthcare IT solutions and services; Graphic Communications, offering on-demand color and black and white printing, wide-format inkjet printing, high-speed, high-volume continuous inkjet printing, as well as document scanning, archiving and multi-vendor IT services; Digital & Film Imaging Systems, providing consumers, professionals and cinematographers with digital and traditional products and services; and Display & Components, which designs and manufactures state-of-the-art organic light-emitting diode displays as well as other specialty materials, and delivers imaging sensors to original equipment manufacturers.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Water Proof iPod Now Available.
By Lance Winslow
Everyone loves an iPod yet prior to now they have had some serious limitations. For instance you could not take them into the water or surfing? So for an avid surfer who spends hours in the water why would you bother to own one? Well all that has changed now; introducing the H2O Audio Corporations new waterproof cases. Previously these cases were only water resistant; splash proof or snow proof, but now you can submerge them and take them diving, snorkeling, surfing or in the pool.
At the World Famous CES Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas H20 Audio had one of their units dunked in water and playing away. The cases are not really out of line either, for instance you can get a waterproof iPod Shuffle case for only forty bucks. The iPod Nano, which should be cheaper because it is smaller costs eighty dollars and if you get a new video iPod the case is ninety smackeroos.
The new and improved tight seals are able to hold up under water pressure of ten feet or more and you can also get a dive case which can go down some three-hundred feet below sea level, which only costs one-hundred dollars. You need this in 2006.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
Everyone loves an iPod yet prior to now they have had some serious limitations. For instance you could not take them into the water or surfing? So for an avid surfer who spends hours in the water why would you bother to own one? Well all that has changed now; introducing the H2O Audio Corporations new waterproof cases. Previously these cases were only water resistant; splash proof or snow proof, but now you can submerge them and take them diving, snorkeling, surfing or in the pool.
At the World Famous CES Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas H20 Audio had one of their units dunked in water and playing away. The cases are not really out of line either, for instance you can get a waterproof iPod Shuffle case for only forty bucks. The iPod Nano, which should be cheaper because it is smaller costs eighty dollars and if you get a new video iPod the case is ninety smackeroos.
The new and improved tight seals are able to hold up under water pressure of ten feet or more and you can also get a dive case which can go down some three-hundred feet below sea level, which only costs one-hundred dollars. You need this in 2006.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
Truth About Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry.
The Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future, and that it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
* Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
* There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
* Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
* The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers' cell phones.
* There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
* The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
* While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government's National Do Not Call Registry.
In addition, according to the industry:
* Your number would not be included in a wireless 411 directory unless you wanted it to be (i.e., you will have to "opt-in"); and
* The wireless 411 directory would not be available in a printed, electronic, or Internet list for telemarketers. In other words, a list of numbers on the wireless 411 directory would not be made available to telemarketers.
Source: Federal Trade Commission
This article and others can be found at http://www.Foodconsumer.org
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
* Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
* There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
* Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
* The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers' cell phones.
* There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
* The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
* While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government's National Do Not Call Registry.
In addition, according to the industry:
* Your number would not be included in a wireless 411 directory unless you wanted it to be (i.e., you will have to "opt-in"); and
* The wireless 411 directory would not be available in a printed, electronic, or Internet list for telemarketers. In other words, a list of numbers on the wireless 411 directory would not be made available to telemarketers.
Source: Federal Trade Commission
This article and others can be found at http://www.Foodconsumer.org
High Tech Consumer Gadgetry.
By Richard Thorne
High-tech consumer gadgetry gets shown off around the world each year in the first weeks of January, so trail-blazing electronics manufacturers don't get much of a New Year's break.
A four-day trade show in Las Vegas sounds like a bit of a high-life doddle, but this year's record-breaking Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attracted 2500 exhibitors and 150,000 punters.
Needless to say, heaps of hotels and exhibition centres are needed to accommodate all those people. The Samsung booth alone covered 2500sq m.
At CES, both market leaders and lesser companies get to show off their innovations. Bill Gates and Larry Page are regulars, and this year Hollywood stars including Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and Tom Cruise helped get the big-business message out.
Morgan Freeman was there as a spokesman for services that will soon be delivering first-run movies to people's homes via the internet while the movies play in theatres. ClickStar, a joint venture between his production company and Intel, will this year release a movie starring Freeman called 10 Items or Less that will be downloadable two weeks after it is released.
There was disappointingly little in the way of revolutionary new home-theatre products at CES.
Toshiba was one company to show off new television technology. Its prototype flat-panel SED (surface-conduction electron-emitter display) screens greatly impressed, and the picture quality was rated superior to LCD or plasma screens. Toshiba expects to release this new SED line late this year with screen sizes starting at 55in.
Toshiba's new Gigabeat S Series portable video player was also acclaimed - and was even talked up as a challenger to the iPod.
The brand also showed some of the first HD-DVD players, expected to be on sale in the US by April. They can upscale standard DVD images to 720p or 1080i, making things look even better if you have an HDTV standing idle.
Panasonic is committed to plasma, and asserted that biggest is best with a 103in plasma TV screen - out-gunning rival Samsung by a whole inch.
Both home-entertainment giants had high-definition Blu-ray disc players on display. These units look to offer lots of advantages over standard or even HD-DVD players including much greater hard-disc capacity, but will be several months away and will break new cost frontiers.
For LCD-screen advocates, Westinghouse showed a 56in display with eight megapixels - four times the standard 1080 pixel count. Targeted at those needing ultra-high resolution like medical imaging, it is nonetheless a pointer to LCDs' flexibility.
And in case those choices aren't enough to confuse, Philips Electronics was talking up 3D TV, saying it hoped to introduce a high-definition television that can play 3D content in about two years.
High-tech consumer gadgetry gets shown off around the world each year in the first weeks of January, so trail-blazing electronics manufacturers don't get much of a New Year's break.
A four-day trade show in Las Vegas sounds like a bit of a high-life doddle, but this year's record-breaking Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attracted 2500 exhibitors and 150,000 punters.
Needless to say, heaps of hotels and exhibition centres are needed to accommodate all those people. The Samsung booth alone covered 2500sq m.
At CES, both market leaders and lesser companies get to show off their innovations. Bill Gates and Larry Page are regulars, and this year Hollywood stars including Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and Tom Cruise helped get the big-business message out.
Morgan Freeman was there as a spokesman for services that will soon be delivering first-run movies to people's homes via the internet while the movies play in theatres. ClickStar, a joint venture between his production company and Intel, will this year release a movie starring Freeman called 10 Items or Less that will be downloadable two weeks after it is released.
There was disappointingly little in the way of revolutionary new home-theatre products at CES.
Toshiba was one company to show off new television technology. Its prototype flat-panel SED (surface-conduction electron-emitter display) screens greatly impressed, and the picture quality was rated superior to LCD or plasma screens. Toshiba expects to release this new SED line late this year with screen sizes starting at 55in.
Toshiba's new Gigabeat S Series portable video player was also acclaimed - and was even talked up as a challenger to the iPod.
The brand also showed some of the first HD-DVD players, expected to be on sale in the US by April. They can upscale standard DVD images to 720p or 1080i, making things look even better if you have an HDTV standing idle.
Panasonic is committed to plasma, and asserted that biggest is best with a 103in plasma TV screen - out-gunning rival Samsung by a whole inch.
Both home-entertainment giants had high-definition Blu-ray disc players on display. These units look to offer lots of advantages over standard or even HD-DVD players including much greater hard-disc capacity, but will be several months away and will break new cost frontiers.
For LCD-screen advocates, Westinghouse showed a 56in display with eight megapixels - four times the standard 1080 pixel count. Targeted at those needing ultra-high resolution like medical imaging, it is nonetheless a pointer to LCDs' flexibility.
And in case those choices aren't enough to confuse, Philips Electronics was talking up 3D TV, saying it hoped to introduce a high-definition television that can play 3D content in about two years.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Konica Minolta Announces Withdrawal Plan for Camera Business and Photo Business.
News Release, Jan 19th, 2006.
Konica Minolta has long been a leading company in photo imaging business covering wide range of imaging from input to output. In addition, we have provided inspiring products and services by fusing our unique technologies.
In camera business, we have expanded picture-taking opportunities by developing innovative technologies such as the world’s first autofocus cameras. In 1962, our camera, well-accepted for its high reliability, boarded on the US’s first manned spaceship “Friendship 7.” Also, ever since introduction of the world’s first body-integral autofocus SLR camera, Maxxum/Dynax series, in 1985, SLR cameras have become more popular among picture-takers, and we have succeeded in selling 16 million units of interchangeable lenses since then.
However, in today’s era of digital cameras, where image sensor technologies such as CCD is indispensable, it became difficult to timely provide competitive products even with our top optical, mechanical and electronics technologies.
In photo business, represented by the silver-halide photography such as color film and color paper, we have produced Japan’s first photographic paper in 1903, and Japan’s first color film in 1940, thus pioneering joy of photography for more than a century. In 1984, we introduced the world’s first compact washless photofinishing system known as a minilab system. The minilabs contributed to the expansion of worldwide photographic market by making photos closer to consumers and amazingly shortening delivery time.
However, traditional silver-halide photographic market is shrinking astonishingly by the surge of the worldwide digitization. In such a changing world, profits for camera and photo businesses worsened in recent years, and it became necessary to drastically reform business structure for the further growth of Konica Minolta. Ever since we decided and announced restructuring guidelines of our businesses on November 4, 2005, we have been considering practical and detailed plan, and we would like to announce our decision made today as follows:
1) Camera Business
In camera business, we have reached an agreement with Sony Corporation(Sony), having numerous image sensor technologies such as CCD and CMOS, to jointly develop digital SLR cameras in July 2005. In order to continue to have our customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come, we came to the conclusion that it was best to transfer assets concerning camera business to Sony. Since then, we have been negotiating with Sony, and as a result, we have reached an agreement with Sony to transfer a portion of assets regarding digital SLR camera system to Sony*1. In this relation, we have decided to withdraw from camera business*2, such as film cameras and digital cameras, within Konica Minolta Group as of March 31, 2006.
Sony is planning to develop digital SLR cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system, so that the current Maxxum/Dynax users will be able to continue to use them with Sony’s digital SLR cameras. In addition, we will consign camera service operations for Konica Minolta, Konica,Minolta brand cameras and related equipment to Sony.
2) Photo Business
In today’s shrinking photographic market represented by color film and color paper, we have been considering to scale back and to continue photo business at an appropriate size; however, when we foresee the photographic market, it is quite difficult to maintain profitability in this field, and we have decided to withdraw from photo business. As schemed below, we will, as much as possible, avoid causing any inconvenience in providing products to our worldwide customers in the course of withdrawal.
For color film and color paper, while considering our customer needs, we will step-by-step reduce product lineup and cease our color film and color paper production by the end of fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.
For minilab business, we will cease production of the system by the end of fiscal year ending March 31, 2006; however we will have such company as Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd to provide maintenance and customer services so as not to cause any inconvenience to our customers.
In line with the above scheme, with consideration to our customers and regional situations, we will step-by-step reorganize our sales offices and withdraw from all of our photo sales activities by September 30, 2007.
3) Personnel Management
As a part of Konica Minolta Group’s restructuring, we will proceed with withdrawal plan for camera and photo businesses and aggressively shifted their management resources to other Konica Minolta Group companies. While continuing this effort, in order to rationalize a number of employees, we have decided to reduce worldwide Konica Minolta Group employees by 3,700 from the current 33,000 including early retirement offering by September 30, 2007*.
* The early retirement offering is for Konica Minolta Group’s holding company, five business companies and two common function companies in Japan.
The expenses to be incurred with this restructuring are already included in the forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
Konica Minolta Group will make our utmost efforts not to cause any inconvenience to our customer due to the decision we made this time. At the same time, camera and photo businesses are our traditional businesses ever since our founding, and we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the worldwide Konica Minolta fans for their patronage to our products for more than a century.
Konica Minolta Group is aiming to become more powerful corporate group by swiftly meeting market changes and pursuing “selection and concentration”. We will, from now on, be concentrating our business resources on non-consumer businesses, such as the core “business technologies” field, the strategic “optics and display devices” field, and the growth expected “medical imaging” and “sensing” fields, increase competitiveness, and endeavor to further expand corporate value.
Outline of camera business Main business: Manufacturing, sale, and related services of photographic equipment such as digital cameras, film cameras and lenses
Fiscal year ended March 31, 2005: Net sales: 117,000 million yen (Forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 is 75,000 million yen)
Operating Loss: 7,300 million yen
Outline of photo business Main business: Manufacturing, sale, and related services of consumer and commercial photographic materials, inkjet media, and related equipment
Fiscal year ended March 31, 2005: Net sales: 151,500 million yen (Forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 is 110,000 million yen)
Operating Loss: 1,400 million yen
Konica Minolta has long been a leading company in photo imaging business covering wide range of imaging from input to output. In addition, we have provided inspiring products and services by fusing our unique technologies.
In camera business, we have expanded picture-taking opportunities by developing innovative technologies such as the world’s first autofocus cameras. In 1962, our camera, well-accepted for its high reliability, boarded on the US’s first manned spaceship “Friendship 7.” Also, ever since introduction of the world’s first body-integral autofocus SLR camera, Maxxum/Dynax series, in 1985, SLR cameras have become more popular among picture-takers, and we have succeeded in selling 16 million units of interchangeable lenses since then.
However, in today’s era of digital cameras, where image sensor technologies such as CCD is indispensable, it became difficult to timely provide competitive products even with our top optical, mechanical and electronics technologies.
In photo business, represented by the silver-halide photography such as color film and color paper, we have produced Japan’s first photographic paper in 1903, and Japan’s first color film in 1940, thus pioneering joy of photography for more than a century. In 1984, we introduced the world’s first compact washless photofinishing system known as a minilab system. The minilabs contributed to the expansion of worldwide photographic market by making photos closer to consumers and amazingly shortening delivery time.
However, traditional silver-halide photographic market is shrinking astonishingly by the surge of the worldwide digitization. In such a changing world, profits for camera and photo businesses worsened in recent years, and it became necessary to drastically reform business structure for the further growth of Konica Minolta. Ever since we decided and announced restructuring guidelines of our businesses on November 4, 2005, we have been considering practical and detailed plan, and we would like to announce our decision made today as follows:
1) Camera Business
In camera business, we have reached an agreement with Sony Corporation(Sony), having numerous image sensor technologies such as CCD and CMOS, to jointly develop digital SLR cameras in July 2005. In order to continue to have our customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come, we came to the conclusion that it was best to transfer assets concerning camera business to Sony. Since then, we have been negotiating with Sony, and as a result, we have reached an agreement with Sony to transfer a portion of assets regarding digital SLR camera system to Sony*1. In this relation, we have decided to withdraw from camera business*2, such as film cameras and digital cameras, within Konica Minolta Group as of March 31, 2006.
Sony is planning to develop digital SLR cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system, so that the current Maxxum/Dynax users will be able to continue to use them with Sony’s digital SLR cameras. In addition, we will consign camera service operations for Konica Minolta, Konica,Minolta brand cameras and related equipment to Sony.
2) Photo Business
In today’s shrinking photographic market represented by color film and color paper, we have been considering to scale back and to continue photo business at an appropriate size; however, when we foresee the photographic market, it is quite difficult to maintain profitability in this field, and we have decided to withdraw from photo business. As schemed below, we will, as much as possible, avoid causing any inconvenience in providing products to our worldwide customers in the course of withdrawal.
For color film and color paper, while considering our customer needs, we will step-by-step reduce product lineup and cease our color film and color paper production by the end of fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.
For minilab business, we will cease production of the system by the end of fiscal year ending March 31, 2006; however we will have such company as Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd to provide maintenance and customer services so as not to cause any inconvenience to our customers.
In line with the above scheme, with consideration to our customers and regional situations, we will step-by-step reorganize our sales offices and withdraw from all of our photo sales activities by September 30, 2007.
3) Personnel Management
As a part of Konica Minolta Group’s restructuring, we will proceed with withdrawal plan for camera and photo businesses and aggressively shifted their management resources to other Konica Minolta Group companies. While continuing this effort, in order to rationalize a number of employees, we have decided to reduce worldwide Konica Minolta Group employees by 3,700 from the current 33,000 including early retirement offering by September 30, 2007*.
* The early retirement offering is for Konica Minolta Group’s holding company, five business companies and two common function companies in Japan.
The expenses to be incurred with this restructuring are already included in the forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
Konica Minolta Group will make our utmost efforts not to cause any inconvenience to our customer due to the decision we made this time. At the same time, camera and photo businesses are our traditional businesses ever since our founding, and we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the worldwide Konica Minolta fans for their patronage to our products for more than a century.
Konica Minolta Group is aiming to become more powerful corporate group by swiftly meeting market changes and pursuing “selection and concentration”. We will, from now on, be concentrating our business resources on non-consumer businesses, such as the core “business technologies” field, the strategic “optics and display devices” field, and the growth expected “medical imaging” and “sensing” fields, increase competitiveness, and endeavor to further expand corporate value.
Outline of camera business Main business: Manufacturing, sale, and related services of photographic equipment such as digital cameras, film cameras and lenses
Fiscal year ended March 31, 2005: Net sales: 117,000 million yen (Forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 is 75,000 million yen)
Operating Loss: 7,300 million yen
Outline of photo business Main business: Manufacturing, sale, and related services of consumer and commercial photographic materials, inkjet media, and related equipment
Fiscal year ended March 31, 2005: Net sales: 151,500 million yen (Forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 is 110,000 million yen)
Operating Loss: 1,400 million yen
Move Over Men - New National Survey Reveals You're Not the Only Ones Who Want to Watch the Big Game on a Big Screen TV.
Circuit City's New Online 'Home Theater Headquarters' Brings Together Resources to Help Consumers Choose the Right Technology to Meet Their Needs
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new national survey from electronics retailer Circuit City has sidelined the widespread belief that only men are excited about watching the Super Bowl on a big screen TV.
Nearly 5,200 men and women responded to Circuit City's "Big Game, Big Screen TV Survey"* and one third of men said they would be more inclined to invite friends over to watch sports or the Super Bowl if they had a big screen TV. Contrary to popular belief, nearly the same number of women (29 percent) agreed with the men. While sporting events were the top reason for hosting a TV gathering, nearly 24 percent of men and women said having a large TV also would prompt get-togethers to watch movies.
Other survey findings:
Sixty-one percent of men believe they want a flat panel TV more than their significant other. However, when asked to describe their desire for a flat panel TV, two thirds of both men and women (69 percent men, 65 percent women) reported they were very interested, or wanted one "now."
More than two-thirds of all respondents said the most important reason for wanting a flat panel TV is for the better picture quality. Almost one-third cited sleek design as the critical factor, and a few admitted they wanted a flat panel TV to impress friends.
Fifty-seven percent are very interested in purchasing a flat panel TV. However, nearly 40 percent are unaware of the significant price drops for these TVs during the past year.
Respondents indicated that a new flat panel TV would be an opportunity for some redecorating. Thirty-seven percent said they would replace or remove their home entertainment center; 35 percent said they'd change the layout of the room where they watch TV; and 13 percent said they'd buy new furniture.
Almost three quarters (72 percent) reported they are somewhat or very confused about the different technologies and options available for new TVs.
Circuit City's Home Theater Headquarters: A new section on Circuit City's Web site is designed to help consumers choose the right technology to meet their home entertainment needs. The "Home Theater Headquarters" offers up-to-the-minute product information along with technology articles geared toward every level of expertise, from novice to seasoned electronics enthusiast.
The "Home Theater Headquarters" sections include:
Home Entertainment Discussion: Circuit City's Home Entertainment Forum provides a new and unique experience allowing consumers to get advice and answers from experienced Circuit City associates and, in many cases, other consumers. For those needing fast answers or those curious to learn, forum.circuitcity.com/ contains a long history of questions and answers, covering a wide variety of topics.
Click & Learn: From the beginner to the expert, consumers now have access to approximately 80 of the latest buying guides from CNET and Home Theater Magazine, including instructive videos from CNET.
Build Your Own: Circuit City suggests compatible products for consumers' specific needs, from how far you sit from the TV to what type of display technology you prefer. This section cuts through the clutter of home theater shopping and gives consumers great ideas on where to start.
Enthusiast's Corner: This section offers independent product reviews from Home Theater Magazine, as well as candid assessments from consumers who have used the products. The unbiased reviews reveal the good, the bad and an overall assessment of the product.
Product Assistance: The most commonly asked questions and answers are listed in this section. Consumers can also view diagrams on how to hook up and install products, as well as receive troubleshooting tips and warranty information for a wide variety of products.
*The Circuit City "Big Game, Big Screen TV" survey was commissioned by Circuit City Stores, Inc. and conducted on the Internet by Decision Analyst, Inc. of Arlington, Texas. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 2%.
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. The domestic segment operates through 625 Superstores and six other locations in 157 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through more than 950 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at http://www.circuitcity.com and at http://www.thesourcecc.ca.
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new national survey from electronics retailer Circuit City has sidelined the widespread belief that only men are excited about watching the Super Bowl on a big screen TV.
Nearly 5,200 men and women responded to Circuit City's "Big Game, Big Screen TV Survey"* and one third of men said they would be more inclined to invite friends over to watch sports or the Super Bowl if they had a big screen TV. Contrary to popular belief, nearly the same number of women (29 percent) agreed with the men. While sporting events were the top reason for hosting a TV gathering, nearly 24 percent of men and women said having a large TV also would prompt get-togethers to watch movies.
Other survey findings:
Sixty-one percent of men believe they want a flat panel TV more than their significant other. However, when asked to describe their desire for a flat panel TV, two thirds of both men and women (69 percent men, 65 percent women) reported they were very interested, or wanted one "now."
More than two-thirds of all respondents said the most important reason for wanting a flat panel TV is for the better picture quality. Almost one-third cited sleek design as the critical factor, and a few admitted they wanted a flat panel TV to impress friends.
Fifty-seven percent are very interested in purchasing a flat panel TV. However, nearly 40 percent are unaware of the significant price drops for these TVs during the past year.
Respondents indicated that a new flat panel TV would be an opportunity for some redecorating. Thirty-seven percent said they would replace or remove their home entertainment center; 35 percent said they'd change the layout of the room where they watch TV; and 13 percent said they'd buy new furniture.
Almost three quarters (72 percent) reported they are somewhat or very confused about the different technologies and options available for new TVs.
Circuit City's Home Theater Headquarters: A new section on Circuit City's Web site is designed to help consumers choose the right technology to meet their home entertainment needs. The "Home Theater Headquarters" offers up-to-the-minute product information along with technology articles geared toward every level of expertise, from novice to seasoned electronics enthusiast.
The "Home Theater Headquarters" sections include:
Home Entertainment Discussion: Circuit City's Home Entertainment Forum provides a new and unique experience allowing consumers to get advice and answers from experienced Circuit City associates and, in many cases, other consumers. For those needing fast answers or those curious to learn, forum.circuitcity.com/ contains a long history of questions and answers, covering a wide variety of topics.
Click & Learn: From the beginner to the expert, consumers now have access to approximately 80 of the latest buying guides from CNET and Home Theater Magazine, including instructive videos from CNET.
Build Your Own: Circuit City suggests compatible products for consumers' specific needs, from how far you sit from the TV to what type of display technology you prefer. This section cuts through the clutter of home theater shopping and gives consumers great ideas on where to start.
Enthusiast's Corner: This section offers independent product reviews from Home Theater Magazine, as well as candid assessments from consumers who have used the products. The unbiased reviews reveal the good, the bad and an overall assessment of the product.
Product Assistance: The most commonly asked questions and answers are listed in this section. Consumers can also view diagrams on how to hook up and install products, as well as receive troubleshooting tips and warranty information for a wide variety of products.
*The Circuit City "Big Game, Big Screen TV" survey was commissioned by Circuit City Stores, Inc. and conducted on the Internet by Decision Analyst, Inc. of Arlington, Texas. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 2%.
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. The domestic segment operates through 625 Superstores and six other locations in 157 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through more than 950 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at http://www.circuitcity.com and at http://www.thesourcecc.ca.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Sony's New Bravias to Include 45-Inch, $4,499 LCD.
by Marc Perton
Sony has taken the wraps off of the new Bravia LCD TVs that the company first showed off at CES. Unfortunately, the 82-incher they wowed us with is just a "technology statement," according to the company. The shipping models will top off with the 46-inch KDL-46S2000, which will have an MSRP of $4,499 and specs that include a built-in HD tuner, 1366x768 resolution, and a 1300:1 contrast ratio. If you're looking to spend a little less, the new Bravia S line also includes a 40-incher $2,999, a 32-inch set for $1,999, and a 26-inch model at $1,499. The new models are expected to ship in May.
Read this and more articles from http://www.engadget.com
Sony has taken the wraps off of the new Bravia LCD TVs that the company first showed off at CES. Unfortunately, the 82-incher they wowed us with is just a "technology statement," according to the company. The shipping models will top off with the 46-inch KDL-46S2000, which will have an MSRP of $4,499 and specs that include a built-in HD tuner, 1366x768 resolution, and a 1300:1 contrast ratio. If you're looking to spend a little less, the new Bravia S line also includes a 40-incher $2,999, a 32-inch set for $1,999, and a 26-inch model at $1,499. The new models are expected to ship in May.
Read this and more articles from http://www.engadget.com
Samsung GX-1S Digital Camera Announced - Their First Digital SLR.
We've finally made it to one of the first steps in the Pentax/Samsung partnership. As expected, the first model out has the Samsung name on an existing Pentax camera. A jointly developed camera will come later. For now, the Samsung GX-1S digital SLR has been announced.
Bascially, a rebadged Pentax *ist DS, the camera shoots 6 megapixels, features a Pentax lens mount and a 2.5 inch LCD. The camera can shoot 2.8 frames per second up to 8 images and has an ISO range of 200-3200. The camera is powered by 4 AA-sized batteries. For storage, the camera accepts SD memory media.
Other specs:
11 area auto focus
Shooting modes: Auto/SCN, Portrait, Flash Off, Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual, Bulb
Scene modes: Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene
Weight: 505 grams (without batteries)
Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6 in
USB 2.0
The Samsung GX-1S will be available starting in February
This Article and others can be found at http://www.digitalcamerareview.com
Bascially, a rebadged Pentax *ist DS, the camera shoots 6 megapixels, features a Pentax lens mount and a 2.5 inch LCD. The camera can shoot 2.8 frames per second up to 8 images and has an ISO range of 200-3200. The camera is powered by 4 AA-sized batteries. For storage, the camera accepts SD memory media.
Other specs:
11 area auto focus
Shooting modes: Auto/SCN, Portrait, Flash Off, Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual, Bulb
Scene modes: Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene
Weight: 505 grams (without batteries)
Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6 in
USB 2.0
The Samsung GX-1S will be available starting in February
This Article and others can be found at http://www.digitalcamerareview.com
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
ANYCOM Announces Bluetooth Speaker System.
ANYCOM has announced its new BIWAS-20 Bluetooth enabled speaker system. One of the first Bluetooth enabled speaker systems in the world, the BIWAS-20 streams the high-quality format of the Bluetooth specification (A2DP profile) from audio sources such as mobile phones and PDAs supporting the A2DP profile and any analog source like TVs, MP3 players or stereo systems with ANYCOM Bluetooth audio gateway. The included ANYCOM USB-250 Bluetooth adapter makes the speaker system compatible with PCs, Notebooks or XP Media Center PCs.
The sleek ANYCOM BIWAS-20 is a 2.1 speaker system with a 2.5-inch bass driver and two integrated satellite speakers powered by a 20 Watt amplifier. Simply connect the ANYCOM BIWAS-20 to the main power source and make the wireless connection over Bluetooth.
The indoor maximum range for the BIWAS-20 is 100 feet, and the outdoor maximum range is 250 feet. The BIWAS-20 is multi-functional:
• Use it as a portable speaker for your MP3 Player, Apple iPod or mobile phone
• Mount it as a wall speaker with the provided mounting kit
• Connect it as the main or additional speaker system to your Media Center PC
• Send music or Internet radio from your PC into different rooms of your house
• Stream MP3 files for a party into your garden or backyard
• Use for office and store applications
The BIWAS-20 will be available in January 2006 and will include the ANYCOM USB-250 Bluetooth 2.0 / EDR dongle and a wall mounting kit for $149. The ANYCOM General Audio Gateway is sold separately. Products can be purchased at www.ecost.com, www.amazon.com, www.mobileplanet.com, www.buy.com, Frys, Microcenter (CA) and Office Depot. For more information, visit www.anycom.com.
To read our Bluetooth product reviews please visit:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tips/bluetooth.htm
The sleek ANYCOM BIWAS-20 is a 2.1 speaker system with a 2.5-inch bass driver and two integrated satellite speakers powered by a 20 Watt amplifier. Simply connect the ANYCOM BIWAS-20 to the main power source and make the wireless connection over Bluetooth.
The indoor maximum range for the BIWAS-20 is 100 feet, and the outdoor maximum range is 250 feet. The BIWAS-20 is multi-functional:
• Use it as a portable speaker for your MP3 Player, Apple iPod or mobile phone
• Mount it as a wall speaker with the provided mounting kit
• Connect it as the main or additional speaker system to your Media Center PC
• Send music or Internet radio from your PC into different rooms of your house
• Stream MP3 files for a party into your garden or backyard
• Use for office and store applications
The BIWAS-20 will be available in January 2006 and will include the ANYCOM USB-250 Bluetooth 2.0 / EDR dongle and a wall mounting kit for $149. The ANYCOM General Audio Gateway is sold separately. Products can be purchased at www.ecost.com, www.amazon.com, www.mobileplanet.com, www.buy.com, Frys, Microcenter (CA) and Office Depot. For more information, visit www.anycom.com.
To read our Bluetooth product reviews please visit:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tips/bluetooth.htm
DVDO'S 1080P VIDEO PROCESSOR IS NOW SHIPPING.
For more info visit http://www.dvdo.com
Flexible connection, wide array of resolution and display options combine on the most advanced video scaling processor available.
Campbell, CA – January 17, 2006 – DVDO®, powered by Anchor Bay Technologies, Inc. (ABT), announces the shipping of their next generation high-definition video scaling processor, the DVDO iScan™ VP30. This third generation 1080p capable video processor builds on the success of the iScan HD and iScan HD+ and is the first stand-alone high definition video processor offered by DVDO with four HDMI inputs.
ABT’s Precision Video Scaling II technology, which incorporates 10-bit scaling, enhanced sharpness controls and non-linear scaling, appears for the first time in the iScan VP30. Analog transcoding and analog HD processing allow connections to be “anything in, anything out” thereby reducing the amount of cables needed to connect all video sources, current and legacy, to a High Definition display. This affords the maximum connectivity options for consumers who wish to incorporate their legacy analog sources into a theater setup with new digital based receivers and displays. The iScan VP30 offers the greatest flexibility of any processor currently available by allowing the user to precisely match their display’s native resolution to any resolution between 480p and 1080p, including 720p or 1080i, and has many preset output resolutions for plasmas, LCD, DLP, LCOS and CRT-based displays.
The iScan VP30 features 11 video inputs: four HDMI, two Component, two S-Video, two Composite, and an RGBHV input along with an optional SD-SDI input. Each input has separate picture controls allowing the user to set their own parameters for each input to achieve the best picture from every source. Standard and custom aspect ratios can also be setup and then “one button selected” giving users many options for fitting and viewing an image on their display.
iScan VP30 provides complete pan and zoom capability to position and/or stretch your image on the screen with overscan, underscan, and border controls to eliminate “black-bars” and fill the entire screen. DVDO's video processor also functions as an audio switcher and router, featuring four digital audio inputs and one analog that can be assigned to any of the video inputs to allow one button switching of both audio and video together. Each one of the audio inputs on the iScan VP30 employs ABT’s Precision A/V Lipsync™ which eliminates the annoying audio/video delay common on many displays. The four HDMI inputs accept both audio and video, allowing one simple connection for sources like a DVD player, high definition set top box, D-VHS, or the next generation game consoles.
Serving as a complete A/V hub, the iScan VP30 provides simultaneous audio/video switching with “any rez in – any rez out” video up-conversion and one simple wire to the display.
An elegant front panel designed to complement the most sophisticated home theater systems will allow the iScan VP30 to blend seamlessly with other components. For home theater systems that utilize an equipment rack, an optional rack-mount kit is available.
The iScan VP30 is currently available for volume shipment to authorized DVDO Resellers and has a U.S. MSRP of $1,999.
For more information on DVDO, please visit www.dvdo.com.
Anchor Bay Technologies Inc. (ABT) designs, manufactures, and markets semiconductor and system-level solutions for the next generation of Digital Television and Digital Video electronic products. Headquartered in Campbell, California, ABT is the parent to DVDO® Home Theater Products and the creator of the proprietary DVDO iScan™ line of video processing systems. Anchor Bay Technologies’ Precision Video Scaling technology is based on ABT’s proprietary video scaling engine that can independently scale an image horizontally and vertically to achieve an outstanding picture quality for today’s high resolution video displays.
Press Contact:
Caster Communications, Inc. at 401.792.7080
Nicholas Brown nbrown@castercomm.com
For digital images: www.castercomm.com
The DVDO® and iScan™ trademarks are licensed exclusively to Anchor Bay Technologies Inc., and are registered trademarks of Silicon Image Inc. All products bearing the DVDO® and iScan™ trademarks are based upon technologies, architectures, and product designs originally created and developed by the ABT Team. Powered by ABT™ is a trademark of Anchor Bay Technologies.
Flexible connection, wide array of resolution and display options combine on the most advanced video scaling processor available.
Campbell, CA – January 17, 2006 – DVDO®, powered by Anchor Bay Technologies, Inc. (ABT), announces the shipping of their next generation high-definition video scaling processor, the DVDO iScan™ VP30. This third generation 1080p capable video processor builds on the success of the iScan HD and iScan HD+ and is the first stand-alone high definition video processor offered by DVDO with four HDMI inputs.
ABT’s Precision Video Scaling II technology, which incorporates 10-bit scaling, enhanced sharpness controls and non-linear scaling, appears for the first time in the iScan VP30. Analog transcoding and analog HD processing allow connections to be “anything in, anything out” thereby reducing the amount of cables needed to connect all video sources, current and legacy, to a High Definition display. This affords the maximum connectivity options for consumers who wish to incorporate their legacy analog sources into a theater setup with new digital based receivers and displays. The iScan VP30 offers the greatest flexibility of any processor currently available by allowing the user to precisely match their display’s native resolution to any resolution between 480p and 1080p, including 720p or 1080i, and has many preset output resolutions for plasmas, LCD, DLP, LCOS and CRT-based displays.
The iScan VP30 features 11 video inputs: four HDMI, two Component, two S-Video, two Composite, and an RGBHV input along with an optional SD-SDI input. Each input has separate picture controls allowing the user to set their own parameters for each input to achieve the best picture from every source. Standard and custom aspect ratios can also be setup and then “one button selected” giving users many options for fitting and viewing an image on their display.
iScan VP30 provides complete pan and zoom capability to position and/or stretch your image on the screen with overscan, underscan, and border controls to eliminate “black-bars” and fill the entire screen. DVDO's video processor also functions as an audio switcher and router, featuring four digital audio inputs and one analog that can be assigned to any of the video inputs to allow one button switching of both audio and video together. Each one of the audio inputs on the iScan VP30 employs ABT’s Precision A/V Lipsync™ which eliminates the annoying audio/video delay common on many displays. The four HDMI inputs accept both audio and video, allowing one simple connection for sources like a DVD player, high definition set top box, D-VHS, or the next generation game consoles.
Serving as a complete A/V hub, the iScan VP30 provides simultaneous audio/video switching with “any rez in – any rez out” video up-conversion and one simple wire to the display.
An elegant front panel designed to complement the most sophisticated home theater systems will allow the iScan VP30 to blend seamlessly with other components. For home theater systems that utilize an equipment rack, an optional rack-mount kit is available.
The iScan VP30 is currently available for volume shipment to authorized DVDO Resellers and has a U.S. MSRP of $1,999.
For more information on DVDO, please visit www.dvdo.com.
Anchor Bay Technologies Inc. (ABT) designs, manufactures, and markets semiconductor and system-level solutions for the next generation of Digital Television and Digital Video electronic products. Headquartered in Campbell, California, ABT is the parent to DVDO® Home Theater Products and the creator of the proprietary DVDO iScan™ line of video processing systems. Anchor Bay Technologies’ Precision Video Scaling technology is based on ABT’s proprietary video scaling engine that can independently scale an image horizontally and vertically to achieve an outstanding picture quality for today’s high resolution video displays.
Press Contact:
Caster Communications, Inc. at 401.792.7080
Nicholas Brown nbrown@castercomm.com
For digital images: www.castercomm.com
The DVDO® and iScan™ trademarks are licensed exclusively to Anchor Bay Technologies Inc., and are registered trademarks of Silicon Image Inc. All products bearing the DVDO® and iScan™ trademarks are based upon technologies, architectures, and product designs originally created and developed by the ABT Team. Powered by ABT™ is a trademark of Anchor Bay Technologies.
Klipsch and ZON Help Create Advanced Digital Lifestyle Environment Inside NextGen Home.
Inside the NextGen Home at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, attendees will get a first-hand look at how today's products can create a comprehensive digital lifestyle environment for a multi-generational family. Featuring top-named brands throughout, the home uses Klipsch and ZON to showcase the latest advancements in high-performance audio.
Located outside the entrance to Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the NextGen 2006 CES Home Experience(tm) is a partnership effort designed to illustrate the evolution of the American home and the different ways in which technology enhances our lives.
With seven digital lifestyle experiences and a total of 16 stops inside the home, ZON is featured in four separate areas, while Klipsch is presented in six. ZON is paired with a home control system featuring a Lifeware user interface that makes whole house audio an integral element of the integrated home entertainment system.
ZON's unique architecture allows audio sources to be located throughout the home and accessible from any other location in the home with a ZON controller/amplifier or Lifeware(tm) touchscreen interface. A single CAT-5 or CAT-6 cable delivers the control and power to each listening zone and audio source location.
A variety of Klipsch speakers, including the RVX-42 flat-panel solution, THX(r) Ultra2 custom home theater system and ProMedia Ultra 2.0 personal audio system, are used throughout the home to demonstrate that dynamic sound is available in all shapes and sizes.
In addition to the Klipsch and ZON products, the home utilizes items from Microsoft(r), Lifeware, Intel(r) and Hewlett-Packard. All of the products that are featured inside the NextGen Home are currently available or will be on the market by the end of the first quarter. For those interested, exact duplicates of this NextGen home can be built on their property.
www.klipsch.com
Located outside the entrance to Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the NextGen 2006 CES Home Experience(tm) is a partnership effort designed to illustrate the evolution of the American home and the different ways in which technology enhances our lives.
With seven digital lifestyle experiences and a total of 16 stops inside the home, ZON is featured in four separate areas, while Klipsch is presented in six. ZON is paired with a home control system featuring a Lifeware user interface that makes whole house audio an integral element of the integrated home entertainment system.
ZON's unique architecture allows audio sources to be located throughout the home and accessible from any other location in the home with a ZON controller/amplifier or Lifeware(tm) touchscreen interface. A single CAT-5 or CAT-6 cable delivers the control and power to each listening zone and audio source location.
A variety of Klipsch speakers, including the RVX-42 flat-panel solution, THX(r) Ultra2 custom home theater system and ProMedia Ultra 2.0 personal audio system, are used throughout the home to demonstrate that dynamic sound is available in all shapes and sizes.
In addition to the Klipsch and ZON products, the home utilizes items from Microsoft(r), Lifeware, Intel(r) and Hewlett-Packard. All of the products that are featured inside the NextGen Home are currently available or will be on the market by the end of the first quarter. For those interested, exact duplicates of this NextGen home can be built on their property.
www.klipsch.com
Monster Looks To A Future Beyond Attachment.
By Jeff Malester -- TWICE, 1/16/2006
Las Vegas — You are looking at the “rebirth of Monster for the next 25 years, with branding far beyond cable and power,” Noel Lee, Monster Cable head monster/CEO, told press representatives crowding the Monster South Hall exhibit here at International CES earlier this month.
“We are extending the Monster brand to areas outside of cable,” continued Lee, who said the company already has been successful with its Monster Power products and has established a dominant position in Apple iPod accessories.
Lee said Monster is changing its product structure to reflect two distinct sections — attachment selling, or accessorizing, for one, where “we offer things to make other components better.” The second section is the company's “home of the future, where we work to bring home theater to customers at large,” said Lee. Yet this is not just home theater, but “proper demonstration of home theater in the home.”
To do this, Lee said Monster is continuing to develop its M Design concept of home theater components, “where the lady of the house must approve. We are going beyond just movies to music and games.”
For Monster Music, the company is offering a special process called HDS, or High Definition Sound, to “bring the music experience into the home theater environment,” said Lee. The company will reposition surround sound as the “A” way of listening to music, and stereo will become the “B” way, said the company. Part of the new system will include gaming, namely Xbox solutions.
Yet all the problems a consumer has about home theater have not been solved, said Lee. “The consumer remains frustrated” primarily with the current remote controls.
To answer this, Lee said Monster has introduced a product that controls a complete A/V system, namely the Monster Central Controllers, and specifically the AVL300 remote control. The remote allows users to master even the most sophisticated home entertainment systems, while being friendly enough for the entire family to use, the company said.
The controller sends complex strings of commands to all necessary components with the touch of a single button. Users access the Monster Central Control online wizard and simply enter the brand and model numbers of their equipment, and answer simple questions from the wizard.
The RF flagship AVL300 is a multiroom unit that works through walls, ceilings and floors. Consumers have whole-house control. Also, the AVL300 is a lighting controller that can create customized lighting scenes that are integrated with home theater equipment to accompany chosen activities such as a romantic dinner, with dimmed lights and soft music.
The sister AV100 remote shares the same main functionalities of the more powerful AVL300, without the RF and lighting capabilities.
Both units will be shipping in February, with a suggested retail of $499.95 for the AVL300 and $299.95 for the AV100.
Monster also unveiled at CES Outlets To Go, an electric outlet solution for travelers who need to plug in more than one electronic device when there never seem to be enough outlets. Outlets To Go is a small and compact unit with a “road warrior” design that is “super flat” and features a travel cord management system. A four-plug outlet has a suggested $19.99 retail and a six-plug unit is $29.99.
Las Vegas — You are looking at the “rebirth of Monster for the next 25 years, with branding far beyond cable and power,” Noel Lee, Monster Cable head monster/CEO, told press representatives crowding the Monster South Hall exhibit here at International CES earlier this month.
“We are extending the Monster brand to areas outside of cable,” continued Lee, who said the company already has been successful with its Monster Power products and has established a dominant position in Apple iPod accessories.
Lee said Monster is changing its product structure to reflect two distinct sections — attachment selling, or accessorizing, for one, where “we offer things to make other components better.” The second section is the company's “home of the future, where we work to bring home theater to customers at large,” said Lee. Yet this is not just home theater, but “proper demonstration of home theater in the home.”
To do this, Lee said Monster is continuing to develop its M Design concept of home theater components, “where the lady of the house must approve. We are going beyond just movies to music and games.”
For Monster Music, the company is offering a special process called HDS, or High Definition Sound, to “bring the music experience into the home theater environment,” said Lee. The company will reposition surround sound as the “A” way of listening to music, and stereo will become the “B” way, said the company. Part of the new system will include gaming, namely Xbox solutions.
Yet all the problems a consumer has about home theater have not been solved, said Lee. “The consumer remains frustrated” primarily with the current remote controls.
To answer this, Lee said Monster has introduced a product that controls a complete A/V system, namely the Monster Central Controllers, and specifically the AVL300 remote control. The remote allows users to master even the most sophisticated home entertainment systems, while being friendly enough for the entire family to use, the company said.
The controller sends complex strings of commands to all necessary components with the touch of a single button. Users access the Monster Central Control online wizard and simply enter the brand and model numbers of their equipment, and answer simple questions from the wizard.
The RF flagship AVL300 is a multiroom unit that works through walls, ceilings and floors. Consumers have whole-house control. Also, the AVL300 is a lighting controller that can create customized lighting scenes that are integrated with home theater equipment to accompany chosen activities such as a romantic dinner, with dimmed lights and soft music.
The sister AV100 remote shares the same main functionalities of the more powerful AVL300, without the RF and lighting capabilities.
Both units will be shipping in February, with a suggested retail of $499.95 for the AVL300 and $299.95 for the AV100.
Monster also unveiled at CES Outlets To Go, an electric outlet solution for travelers who need to plug in more than one electronic device when there never seem to be enough outlets. Outlets To Go is a small and compact unit with a “road warrior” design that is “super flat” and features a travel cord management system. A four-plug outlet has a suggested $19.99 retail and a six-plug unit is $29.99.
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