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Samsung Details Galaxy S7 & S7 Edge Smartphones with Quad HD Super AMOLED Displays[teaser]The latest Galaxy smartphones have been revealed. [/teaser] Samsung has officially unveiled the newest additions to its Galaxy line of mobile products. Serving as a successor to the Galaxy S6, The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge offer a more advanced camera, improved design, upgraded performance, and new features. "We believe in a world that is brighter, sharper, more convenient, and more fun. We strive to deliver on that vision with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge by marrying elegant design with functionality and providing a seamless mobile experience," said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. "We empower consumers with technology to help them get more out of life and will continue to push the frontier of what’s possible." The Galaxy S7 features a 5.1-inch screen while the S7 Edge features a 5.5-inch dual edge screen. Both displays use Quad HD Super AMOLED panels with a resolution of 2560x1440. Likewise, the smartphones now incorporate Always-On displays for easy zero touch access to notifications. The devices are constructed of 3D glass and metal and use an ergonomic design with IP68 water and dust resistance. Under the hood, the phones are powered by Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad) or Quad core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual) processors with 4GB of RAM running Android 6.0. A rear Dual Pixel 12MP camera and a front 5MP camera are integrated as well. In addition, the smartphones include a hybrid SIM card tray that allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage. Finally, the S7 uses a 3,000mAh battery and the S7 Edge uses a 3,600mAh battery -- both with fast wired and wireless charging technology. Pricing has not been detailed yet, but the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will be available in mid-March. Source: SamsungPosted Sun Feb 21, 2016 at 12:30 PM PST by: -
Netflix Unveils Teasers for 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' & 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny'[teaser]Trailers for the upcoming 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' sequel and second season of 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' have been released. [/teaser] Netflix has released a new full trailer for its original movie, 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.' The upcoming film is a sequel to the 2000 Ang Lee movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.' In addition, the company has also released a teaser trailer for the second season of 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.' 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny' follows renowned warrior Yu Shu-Lien as he comes out of retirement to keep the legendary Green Destiny sword away from the villainous warlord Hades Dai. The movie is based on the novel "Iron Knight, Silver Vase" by Du Lu Wang and is directed by Woo-Ping Yuen from a script written by John Fusco. The cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, and Natasha Liu Bord. Exclusive Netflix streaming is set to begin on February 26. The film is rated TV-14 and the runtime is listed as 1h 40m. Check out the trailer below! Created by Robert Carlock and Tina Fey, 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' is a comedy that follows a woman who is rescued from a doomsday cult. When she lands in New York City, she must navigate a world she didn’t think even existed anymore. The show's first season premiered on March 6, 2015 and consisted of 13 episodes. The cast includes Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, and Carol Kane. Season two is scheduled to premiere on April 15. Check out the teaser below! Netflix also recently released trailers for 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday' and the second season of 'Daredevil.' Beyond 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny,' other future Netflix original films include 'Special Correspondents,' 'War Machine,' and 'Tallulah.' A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Source: Netflix YouTubePosted Fri Feb 19, 2016 at 07:30 PM PST by: -
Yamaha Reveals DTS:X Firmware Release Date for A/V Products[teaser]Another A/V manufacturer has announced a release window for its DTS:X firmware upgrade. [/teaser] Joining Denon and Marantz, Yamaha has now revealed a release window for its DTS:X firmware upgrade. The upgrade will be available for the CX-A5100 AV processor and the RX-A3050, RX-A2050, RX-A1050 AV receivers in early March. In addition, DTS:X support will also be available for the YSP-5600 sound bar in late April. DTS:X is an object-based immersive audio format that allows for the addition of overhead speakers to a user's surround sound setup. Current Blu-ray discs with DTS:X tracks include 'Ex Machina,' 'The Last Witch Hunter,' 'American Ultra,' and 'Crimson Peak.' The RX-A1050 7.2 Channel Receiver, RX-A2050 9.2 Channel Receiver, and RX-A3050 9.2 Channel Receiver all currently offer Dolby Atmos support, MusicCast compatibility, 4K Ultra HD playback with HDCP 2.2 copyright protection, Bluetooth connectivity, and Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer. In addition, The Aventage receivers include high-res audio support for DSD (Direct Stream Digital; 2.6 MHz / 5.6 MHz), AIFF, WAV, FLAC and Apple Lossless audio. Finally, Spotify Connect, Pandora, and vTuner internet radio are integrated as well. Meanwhile, the CX-A5100 11.2 Channel AV processor uses SABRE32 Ultra DACs with 192 kHz / 32-bit processing and a Cinema DSP mode. Likewise, the unit also currently includes Dolby Atmos support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, high-res audio playback, and 4K support with HDCP 2.2 compliancy. MusicCast wireless multiroom audio compatibility is integrated as well. Finally, the YSP-5600 sound bar is the world's first soundbar with Dolby Atmos 7.1.2-channel multi-dimensional sound and will now be the world's first with DTS:X as well. The device uses 46 speaker drivers and Yamaha exclusive Digital Sound Projector technology to simulate surround sound and overhead audio. Likewise, HDMI inputs with 4K Ultra HD pass-through and HDCP 2.2 are included as well, along with MusicCast wireless multiroom audio support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay connectivity. In addition to Yamaha, Denon and Marantz previously announced dates for their own DTS:X firmware upgrades as well. Source: Yamaha via PrwebPosted Fri Feb 19, 2016 at 04:30 PM PST by: -
Amazon Studios Acquires Woody Allen's Upcoming Film Starring Steve Carell[teaser]The director's new untitled feature length film has been acquired by Amazon Studios for theatrical and streaming exhibition. [/teaser] Amazon Studios has announced the acquisition of Woody Allen's latest movie. The deal covers all North American rights for the film's upcoming release, including theatrical and streaming. "Like all beginning relationships, there is much hope, mutual affection, and genuine goodwill -- the lawsuits come later," said Allen. The still untitled film is a romantic comedy that takes place in the 1930s. The movie stars Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll and Ken Stott. Shooting took place last summer on location in New York and Los Angeles. The film is being produced by Allen’s longtime collaborator, Letty Aronson, as well as Steve Tenenbaum and Edward Walson. Executive producers also include Ronald L. Chez, Adam B. Stern, and Marc I. Stern. In addition to the upcoming feature length movie, Woody Allen is also writing and directing a six episode TV series for Amazon as well. The show will star Woody Allen, Elaine May, and Miley Cyrus, and is being executive produced by Erika Aronson and produced by Helen Robin. Plot details are unknown at this time, but the series is scheduled to begin filming next month. "Woody Allen is a brilliant filmmaker," said Roy Price, Head of Amazon Studios. "We're so proud to be in business with him for both his next film and his first ever TV series." Amazon Studios will debut Woody Allen's upcoming untitled feature length film in theaters this summer with a traditional, nationwide theatrical release. Following the film's theatrical run, the movie will then be made available for streaming exclusively to Amazon Prime members through Prime Video. Source: AmazonPosted Fri Feb 19, 2016 at 08:30 AM PST by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Up to 39% off Full HD 1080p Monitors[teaser]Amazon is offering big discounts on monitors! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing deals, Amazon is running a special sale on monitors from Dell, Acer, and HP. Dell SE2416HX 23.8" Screen LED-Lit IPS Monitor - Currently $140 (39% off). Dell S2240M 21.5-Inch Screen LED-lit Monitor - Currently $130 (35% off). Dell S2340M 23-Inch Screen LED-lit Monitor - Currently $158 (28% off). Acer R240HY bidx 23.8-Inch IPS Widescreen Display - Currently $132 (27% off). Acer G226HQL 21.5-Inch Screen LED Monitor - Currently $100 (23% off). HP Pavilion 21.5-Inch IPS LED Monitor - Currently $100 (17% off). Dell SE2417HG 23.6" Screen LCD Gaming Monitor - Currently $180 (14% off). These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Thu Feb 18, 2016 at 04:00 PM PST by: -
LH Labs Readies New Soundbar & Subwoofer, Prices Start at $399[teaser]A new soundbar and optional subwoofer are now available for pre-order. [/teaser] LH Labs has announced the latest addition to its audio lineup. The new Inspire 5 Soundbar and Sub 5 Subwoofer are designed for use with all audio applications, including movies, TV, games, music, and parties. The Inspire 5 Soundbar features a curved design for optimal listening. The soundbar uses two 3-inch midbass drivers, two 1-inch silk-dome tweeters, and dual tuned and guided bass ports for LFE down to 60 Hz. For more powerful bass, LH Labs is also offering an optional companion subwoofer. The Sub 5 is a 500 watt subwoofer with dual 8 inch drivers. In addition, the speaker features five specially designed audio modes optimized for specific sources. The Movie Mode uses a DSP algorithm called "Sound Space Expansion" to deliver a full home theater experience. Meanwhile, the TV Mode uses a dialog enhancement DSP algorithm to enhance clarity in speech. The Music Mode uses a proprietary Reverse EQ Audiophile Compensation algorithm that makes the frequency response of the sound system perfectly flat for lifelike sound. Likewise all of the music inputs (Bluetooth 4.0, AUX, L & R) are digitally processed using the soundbar's powerful DSP engine through its ADC and DAC. The Game Mode uses a proprietary DSP algorithm that expands the sound field and decompresses the dynamic range of the audio in the vocal frequency range. Finally, the Party Mode uses the system's DSP algorithm to digitally decompress music and allows users to playback music files from a connected USB hard drive. ARC (audio return channel) is supported as well for delivering sound to the speaker from a user's TV, and the soundbar also incorporates a video processor from Silicon Image to support all digital video formats including 3D and Ultra HD 4K Resolution. LH Labs' Inspire 5 Soundbar is now available for pre-order for $399. Likewise, a bundle with the Inspire 5 Soundbar and Sub 5 Subwoofer is also available for pre-order for $799. Units are expected to start shipping in May. Source: LH Labs via TWICEPosted Thu Feb 18, 2016 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Vimeo Updates Android App with Chromecast Support[teaser]Chromecast streaming has finally been added to the Vimeo Android app. [/teaser] Though the company added Chromecast support to its iOS app nearly a year go, Vimeo's Android app has previously been left out of all the casting fun. Thankfully, that has finally been rectified. With the release of Vimeo 2.1.0 for Android, the mobile app now includes Chromecast streaming support. Chromecast is an HDMI dongle with support for dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi that allows customers to cast media from mobile devices, computers, and laptops to their big-screen TVs. With the Vimeo Android app, users with a Chromecast dongle connected to their TVs can now tap the Chromecast icon on their mobile devices to seamlessly stream Vimeo videos to their televisions. In addition, the upgrade also includes fixes for bugs and crashing issues. Beyond Chromecast, the Vimeo Android app allows users to share and discover videos with ad-free playback and up to full HD 1080p streaming. Users can also save videos to their Watch Later queue for future viewing; upload videos from their phone or tablet; manage their settings and profile; privately share videos with select people; access videos and collections on the go; maintain control with the new video action sheet; customize their feed by following creators, categories, and more; use the Explore icon to discover more content; enjoy Staff Pick recommended videos; and browse curated sections like Animation, Documentary, Travel and more. Vimeo users can now download the new 2.1.0 Android app for their smartphones and tablets from the Google Play Store. Vimeo streaming apps are also available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS devices, and more. A Google Chromecast currently costs $35. Source: Google via EngadgetPosted Thu Feb 18, 2016 at 09:45 AM PST by: -
FOX Sports & NextVR Team Up to Offer Live Virtual Reality Sports Broadcasts, Including Daytona 500[teaser]More live virtual reality sports content is on the way to Gear VR devices. [/teaser] Following successful tests, FOX Sports and NextVR have announced a new partnership to provide live virtual reality coverage for sporting events. The five year deal will include a variety of televised sports that FOX has the rights to, including the upcoming Daytona 500. "We have worked with FOX Sports for over a year to test live, virtual reality programming across several sports," said Brad Allen, executive chairman, NextVR. "This wide-ranging agreement is proof that our technology provides an exciting and compelling option to witness great sporting events in virtual reality." To kickoff the new agreement, FOX Sports and NextVR will be offering live coverage of Sunday's Daytona 500 in virtual reality to owners of the Samsung Gear VR. The HD VR stream promises to give viewers an immersive experience and will include audio commentary and graphics highlighting the race leaders. FOX Sports and NextVR previously streamed the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) in VR, and earlier tests also included the Auto Club 400 NASCAR race in Fontana, Calif. and the United States Open Golf Championship from Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. "It's all about delivering something new and exciting for our viewers," said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports president, COO & executive producer. "Virtual reality is the next great frontier in immersive experiences for fans across a wide variety of sports. It's a rapidly changing technology, and this deal with NextVR positions us to be on the front lines for years to come." The Daytona 500 virtual reality broadcast will be available for free through the NextVR app on the Samsung Gear VR and supported Samsung smartphones. The stream will begin on February 21 at 1pm ET. More information can be found at www.nextvr.com/gearvr-live. In addition, a dedicated FOX Sports section will soon be added to the NextVR portal along with information on more upcoming virtual reality streams. The Samsung Gear VR is on sale now for $99 and is compatible with Galaxy Note 5, S6 edge+, S6, and S6 edge smartphones. Source: PR NewswirePosted Wed Feb 17, 2016 at 04:00 PM PST by: -
Atlantic Technology Announces New In-Wall Home Theater Speakers, Prices Start at $350[teaser]Two new speaker models designed for unobtrusive in-wall installation have been revealed. [/teaser] Atlantic Technology has detailed the latest additions to its home theater speaker lineup. The IW-110LCR and IW-105LCR in-wall speakers are both designed to be installed in the wall next to flat screen TVs or projection screens, offering high quality audio for movies and music that remains hidden from view. Both models feature premium 6-1/2 inch mineral damped polymer woofers, a 1-inch dome tweeter, and a premium first-order 3,500 Hz crossover network for powerful bass, clear highs, and articulate dialogue reproduction. Likewise, the speakers include magnetic mounting grilles and integrated mounting clamps, and their grilles can be painted to match a user's specific wall color. In addition, a three step tweeter level switch lets customers adjust high frequency sound for their optimal room acoustics, and computer designed wave-guides are used to optimize treble distribution. The IW-110LCR incorporates an MTM (midrange tweeter midrange) driver configuration with two woofers surrounding the tweeter. The speaker can be mounted vertically for use as a left and right channel for a surround sound setup or stereo music system, or it can be mounted horizontally for use as a center speaker channel. Meanwhile, the less expensive IW-105LCR offers similar performance but with only one woofer. Atlantic Technology's IW-110LCR in-wall speaker is now available for a suggested retail price of $500, and the IW-105LCR in-wall speaker is now available for a suggested retail price of $350. The company's other home audio products include the 44-DA Dolby Atmos speaker module ($499), the 3.1 HSB Speaker Base ($799), and the 4400LR THX Certified home theater speakers ($808). Sources: Atlantic Technology via Home ToysPosted Wed Feb 17, 2016 at 01:15 PM PST by: -
New Subscribers to Spotify Premium Can Now Receive a Free Google Chromecast[teaser]For a limited time, Spotify is offering free Chromecasts to new premium subscribers. [/teaser] Spotify has announced the launch of a special Chromecast promotion. From February 17 through February 28, new users who sign up for three months of Spotify Premium for $29.97 will also receive a free Google Chromecast. In addition, existing Spotify free members can also upgrade to three months of Spotify Premium for that same price and receive the free Chromecast as well -- so long as they have not already taken a free trial or tried Premium in the past. Chromecast is an HDMI dongle that allows customers to cast media from mobile devices, computers, and laptops to their big-screen TVs. With support for dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi, the updated Chromecast offers greatly improved connection speeds and stability. In addition, the model features a revamped app with Android and iOS support that makes it easier for customers to stream their favorite content. Likewise, the new circular design makes it easier to plug into a user's display. Models are available in black, coral, and lemonade. With Spotify for Chromecast, users can cast music from the Spotify app for their smartphones and tablets directly to their TVs. Customers can also control playback, browse, and search from the app, and can even make calls while their music keeps playing. In addition, Spotify Premium also includes ad-free listening and the highest quality streaming option. The free Google Chromecast Spotify Premium promotion is currently available in the US and UK while supplies last. To redeem the offer customers can click here. After the initial $29.97 cost for three months, a Spotify Premium subscription requires a $10 monthly fee. Suggested retail price for Google's Chromecast is currently $35. Sources: Spotify 1, Spotify 2Posted Wed Feb 17, 2016 at 11:00 AM PST by:
