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Five Promising Blu-ray Players from CES 2009
Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 05:30 PM ETTags: Blu-ray Players, Industry Trends, CES 2009, HD Gear (all tags)
With CES wrapped up and 2009 stretching out ahead of us, we wanted to take a look at five of the most interesting Blu-ray players coming out in the coming year.
ezGear bluCobra EZ3000 – It seems like everyone’s getting into the Blu-ray game this year, including a little known company shooting to become a household name. ezGear is primarily a seller of add on products, such as the UFO wall plug, iPod skins, and Wii accessories, and the bluCobra marks their first venture into the world of home theater.
With the bluCobra , ezGear is trying to fill a very interesting niche, that of a budget high end player. The EZ3000 supports DVD, SACD, and Blu-ray with full 1080p/24Hz output, BD profile 1.1, and has outputs that should satisfy no matter how high or low tech the home theater. The player also supports multiple audio formats including Digital Dolby, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD Master Audio.
ezGear has stated a price of “$399 or less”, but we will see exactly what that means when the player is released in March. With a less than impressive price tag, the bluCobra EZ3000 looks to be an economic alternative to higher end players.
It will come down to the consumer of course to determine the success or failure of the new entry to the already crowded Blu-ray market, but this just might be a niche that needs to be filled.
Samsung BD-P4600 – Samsung is a name synonymous with cutting edge technology. A constant innovator and always ready to show off their latest and greatest, Samsung changed the pace a bit at this year’s CES by unveiling, not the most technologically advanced player, nor the most full featured, but without question the best looking Blu-ray player at the show.
The BD-P4600 is absolutely beautiful. Jet black with a hint of dark red and an amazingly sleek design, were it not for the Blu-ray Disk logo in the center, Samsung’s new player could easily be mistaken as a piece of home décor. The touch sensitive controls on top of the player even fade to black when not in use. The BD-P4600 isn’t just looks though, this 1.5” thick wall mountable player abides by the old rule “it’s what’s on the inside that counts.”
Supporting BD Live (Profile 2.0) and Bonus View (Profile 1.1) straight out of the box and boasting a gigabyte of internal storage, this is definitely a capable player. Full HD 1080p playback is of course supported as is total HD soundtrack support. Last but not least, the BD-P4600 comes packaged with a Wi-Fi dongle allowing wireless streaming of both the ever popular streaming movies of Netflix and music of Pandora.
Vizio VBR100 – Economy and quality so rarely come together as well as they consistently do with Vizio products. Certainly not the top of the line, Vizio is clearly happy to offer an affordable alternative at a quality above what consumers have come to expect out of budget televisions.
Taking that philosophy into the realm of Blu-ray, Vizio’s foray into Blu-ray looks to be headed right for the mainstream. Fairly plain feature wise, the VBR100 is profile 2.0 compatible and features onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio decoding. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the 7.1 analog outputs, ensuring that those without the newest receivers will have guaranteed compatibility.
This is all pretty standard, so what’s got us so excited about the Vizio VBR100? The price. Launching in April at an MSRP of only $199, this is a price point clearly set for those new to Blu-ray. Cheaper prices mean that more people will be bringing Blu-ray into their homes, edging that adoption rate even higher and ensuring more quality Blu-ray content for years to come.
LG BD390 – LG, never one to be overlooked, has several Blu-ray players coming to market in 2009. Surely we can expect the same quality from them as with all LG products, but quality alone doesn’t set a product apart. Profile 2.0 compatible, a gig of built in memory, Dolby TrueHD, Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio processing, you get the picture. There are only so many ways to say the same thing so let’s cut to the chase.
The BD390, along with the full feature set to be expected in a Blu-ray player, features built in Wi-fi connectivity. No wires, no dongles, and good to go right out of the box. Coming out in June, the sub $400 BD390 should help to set the standard of what’s expected from a Blu-ray player.
Panasonic DMP-B15 – At first, many people see it as having a limited interest, others see it as pointless, but Panasonic is bringing out the first portable Blu-ray player. Clearly, the 8.9” screen isn’t big enough that the 1080p resolution will even matter, and it’s a WSVGA display, meaning the screen can’t even handle 720p. The battery life won’t be as good as portable DVD players, and clearly it’s not going to be cheap.
That’s the obvious, now here’s the interesting bit. The DMP-B15 has, according to Panasonic “all the technology found in its stand alone brethren, the DMP-BD60 and 80.” This includes Bonus View, BD Live, and Viera Cast functionality, allowing access to Amazon on Demand, YouTube, and other web based entertainment sources.
Making the DMP-B15 a bit more practical are HDMI and HD Audio outputs, allowing the player to be hooked up to not only televisions but home theater systems as well. Imagine starting Return of the King on a plane or a bus on the DMP-B15 only to come home and finish it in full surround sound.
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News From CES 2009: Twitter Updates From Vegas!
Fri Jan 09, 2009 at 03:15 PM ETTags: CES 2009, Industry Trends (all tags)
Mike Flacy, Content Manager for our sister site AVRev has journeyed to Vegas and is sending us minute by minute updates live from the scene!
Mike is currently making his way through the booths and displays, picking out the items he thinks our readers will be most interested in.
Now you too can be a fly on the wall. To check out Mike's photos and observations of the big event, just go to his Twitter feed. Bingo!
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- AVREV Twitters from CES 2009 [AVREV.com]
News From CES 2009: JVC Debuts Its First Blu-ray Player
Fri Jan 09, 2009 at 03:00 PM ETTags: JVC, Industry Trends, CES 2009 (all tags)
Looks like a friendly bird finally whispered in JVC's ear and told them about Blu-ray!
JVC announced it's first Blu-ray player today at CES 2009 in Las Vegas. The low-profile unit will be available in March and is set to offer BD Live compatibility and AVCHD playback, among other features.
The player's connections include HDMI ver.1.3, component, and composite video outputs, as well as analog, optical, and coaxial audio outputs. In addition to AVCHD, other playable formats include JPEG, MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS and DTS HD. Playable discs will include BD-ROM, BD-R/RE, BD/DVD Hybrid, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Audio CD and CD-R/RW.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- JVC ANNOUNCES BLU-RAY PLAYER [jvc.com]
News From CES 2009: Vizio To Sell Sub-$200 BD Player
Fri Jan 09, 2009 at 02:45 PM ETTags: Industry Trends, CES 2009 (all tags)
Hoping to drive mass adoption of the Blu-ray format, Vizio has announced a new BD player at a price point just under $200.
Available in April, the new player will deliver images at to 1080p for a suggested retail price of $199.99. As far as the company is concerned, a price this low "means everyone can afford to bring these exquisite sights and sounds into their home theater."
"VIZIO doesn't stop at high performance HDTVs at a great price. Our Accessories line continues to expand with new components and add-ons to augment the home theater experience," said Laynie Newsome, VIZIO Co-Founder and VP Sales and Marketing Communications. "These latest products demonstrate VIZIO's continued commitment to provide the most advanced technologies at a value and a better way to enjoy HD entertainment."
In additional to standard BD playback, the machines offer selectable 720p/1080i/1080p video upconversion for standard definition DVDs via HDMI output, 24-bit/192kHz audio, built-in audio decoding for uncompressed audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and multi-channel PCM in addition to Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus. In addition to Blurays and DVDs, the players can also read DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, audio CD-R, and CD-RW, plus MP3 CDs.
Additional features include 1.3 HDMI, component, and composite outputs, 7.1 channel analog audio, coax and optical digital audio, analog stereo (RCA), and a remote control.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- VIZIO releases its first High Performance Blu-ray Player at a Value Price Point for Mass Adoption [vizio.com]
News From CES 2009: LG BD-Player shouts "Networking, Baby! Networking!"
Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 03:00 PM ETTags: LG, Industry Trends, CES 2009 (all tags)
LG hopes to top its first of its kind networked BD player, by introducing two new networked Blu-ray machines.
After offering consumers the BD300, the world's first BD player to instantly stream Netflix content, LG electronics has now debuted two new machines at CES 2009 in Las Vegas. The BD370 and the BD390 raise the bar, with expanded content options and wireless connectivity.
In addition to Netflix, LG's alliances with CinemaNow and YouTube offer viewers a broad range on content options in addition to the HD quality offered by Blu-ray. Best of all, the online content can be streamed directly from the internet without the need of a personal computer.
“With LG, consumers do not have to compromise flexible entertainment options for exceptional sound and picture quality,” said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing and strategy. "Our new network Blu-ray disc players and home theater systems allow consumers to personalize their entertainment experience.”
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- Related links:
- LG ELECTRONICS DEBUTS FULL LINE OF NETWORK BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS AND HOME THEATER SYSTEMS [us.lge.com]
News From CES 2009: Samsung thinks "skinny."
Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 02:45 PM ETTags: Samsung, Industry Trends, CES 2009 (all tags)
Just like Oprah, Samsung has one goal in mind for 2009, to slim down with some low profile HDTV and Blu-ray player offerings.
First up among its CES 2009 unveilings is the Samsung Series 8 Plasma HDTV, which the company says is the world’s slimmest 1080p resolution plasma set to feature a built-in ATSC tuner. At just over one inch in depth, the TV features a luxurious design, with a chrome like translucent surface, high dynamic contrast ratio, and Ultra FilterBright technology to minimize glare and maximize contrast. The sets are also equipped with the Internet@TV – Content Service platform to bring web content to the television using the Yahoo! Widget Engine. Users can use this feature to browse videos, share photos, and interact with their friends and family members. The displays are also wireless DLNA-compliant.
Samsung is taking bold steps forward with its 2009 plasma line-up,” said Steve Panosian, director of Visual Display Marketing at Samsung. “By combining superior picture quality, energy efficiency and networking options with the latest audio-visual technologies, the Series 8 and 6 plasmas are sure to become the model of excellence in plasma HDTVs.”
Just as exciting is the HT-BD8200 Blu-ray Home Theater Sound Bar, which Samsung calls the first of its kind to incorporate Blu-ray technology. The self-contained, wall-mountable unit is only 2.6 inches deep, features a fully integrated Blu-ray player with Full HD 1080p playback, virtual 5.1-channel surround sound, a wireless subwoofer, Samsung's "Smart Volume" technology, and is capable of seamless playback of video, photos, and music from, mobile phones, and digital cameras, using the built-in USB port or Bluetooth. The player is also capable of wireless networking, BD-Live, Netflix streaming, and Pandora music playback.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- SAMSUNG Launches High Performance Plasma HDTVs At CES 2009 [samsung.com]
- SAMSUNG Delivers World's First Blu-ray Home Theater Sound Bar [samsung.com]
News From CES 2009: Sharp Announces First LCD TV with Built-In BD Player
Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Sharp, Industry Trends, CES 2009 (all tags)
Sharp is focusing its energy on the High-Def LCD and Blu-ray markets with a series of TV announcements and the first LCD TV with a built in Blu-ray player.
“Sharp continues to show why we are an LCD leader. But we’re also introducing several new products that complete the home theater experience," said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. Some of the highlights of the products introduced this week at CES 2009 in Las Vegas include two new widescreen LCD TV lineups, an 82" 1080p LCD option, and what it calls the world’s first LCD TV with a built-in Blu-ray player.
First up are the E77U and E67U model lineups of AQUOS LCD TVs. According to the company's press release, the E77 models feature the new 10-bit Superlucent Advanced Super View (ASV) panels, which allow for brighter, crisper pictures with reduced haze and reflections. The units also make use of enhanced technology for 120 Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a dejudder feature to eliminates background motion artifacts on BD movies. The units also feature a 176 degree viewing radius, five HDMI inputs (yowsers!), two component inputs, and a dedicated PC input. As for the E67 models, they also make use of the ASV technology, while offering four HDMI inputs (still not too shabby), 24p input capability, and two component video inputs. All units are capable of 1080p video resolution. In addition to these offerings, Sharp is also proudly touting its new 82" class LCD display.
Finally, the company has announced the AQUOS HDTV BD Series, the first high-definition series with a built-in Blu-ray player. Available in 52 inch, 42 inch, 37 inch, and 32 inch screen sizes, the unit take advantage of AVS panel technology, while incorporating stylish new design specifications, and a convenient swivel stand.
You can find out much, much more about each of these units by checking out the company's press release here.
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- Related links:
- SHARP DEMONSTRATES CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN LCD INNOVATION AND INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE VIDEO AND AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES AT CES 2009 [SHARPUSA.COM]
News From CES 2009: Panasonic Focused on High-Def
Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 01:15 PM ETTags: Blu-ray Players, Industry Trends, Panasonic, 3-D, CES 2009 (all tags)
As CES gets into full swing, some of the biggest early news is coming from Panasonic, with the company making some exciting announcements regarding HDTVs and Blu-ray.
First up, Panasonic has announced the debut of its first 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System (3D FHD) which incorporates a 103-inch Plasma HDTV and a Panasonic Blu-ray player. According to a company press release, the system takes advantage of Blu-ray's increased bandwidth and resolution to provide two different images, one for each eye. Wearing special active shutter glasses, viewers are able to experience 3D movies in full surround sound, while taking in dual images captured, recorded, and displayed throughout in full HD quality.
“This goes well beyond conventional 3D” said Bob Perry, Executive VP of Panasonic. “Plasma is currently the only TV capable of delivering a 3D Full HD experience due in great part to its ability to refresh at a speed which enables multiple image display without loss of resolution." He says Panasonic is "fully committed to making [3D Home Theater] a reality, and soon."
In other news, the company is also debuting some new super thin Plasma and LCD HDTVs, which use technology that has been dubbed NeoPDP and NeoLCD, respectively.
The NeoPDP technology has been utilized in two different plasma displays. A highly efficient 42-inch plasma model that uses 1/3 the energy of the company's 2007 model (the TH-42PZ750SK), and an ultra-thin 50-inch plasma display that provides 1080 lines of resolution in a unit that's only 8.8 mm thick.
The NeoLCD technology has been utilized in LCD displays in order to provide high moving picture resolution with a wide viewing angle. The technology also promises dramatically improved image contrast while consuming only 90 kWh per year (roughly half that of the 2008 model (the TH-37LZ85).
Finally, there has been much talk of Panasonic's DMP-B15, which is being touted as the first portable Blu-ray player. The player, which features an 8.9-inch WSVGA LCD screen, internet accessibility, and BD Live functionality, is capable of displaying images in full 1080p. The player will go on sale in May.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- PANASONIC’S WORLD'S FIRST 3D FULL HD PLASMA HOME THEATER SYSTEM* MAKES U.S. DEBUT AT CES 2009 [Panasonic.com]
- PANASONIC DEVELOPS SUPER HIGH-EFFICIENT THIN-PROFILE PLASMA AND LCD HDTV DISPLAYS [Panasonic.com]
- PANASONIC INTRODUCES WORLD’S FIRST PORTABLE BLU-RAY PLAYER [Panasonic.com]
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