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Live ATSC 3.0 Ultra HD 4K HDR Content Broadcast to LG & Samsung Displays at CES[teaser]New live tests for the ATSC 3.0 candidate standard have been conducted. [/teaser] LG has announced the successful transmission of 4K Ultra HD content with HDR to its ATSC 3.0-enabled receivers at CES. The broadcast was conducted by KHMP Channel 18. In addition, a similar broadcast test was transmitted to Samsung TVs at the show. "We are proud that LG technology is behind the majority of the elements of the Physical Layer transmission system," said Dr. Skott Ahn, president and chief technology officer, LG Electronics. "ATSC 3.0 is a collaborative effort among many broadcast technology experts, and LG technology is part of at least 10 of the 15 building blocks of the new Candidate Standard." The KHMP Channel 18 4K HDR transmission was broadcast using the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer Candidate Standard, allowing for high quality and high bandwidth. ATSC 3.0 promises to deliver the high capacity necessary for Ultra HD 4K HDR content along with robust reception on mobile devices and improved spectrum efficiency. LG helped to develop the standard's scrambler, forward error correction, bit-interleaver, mapper, MIMO, time-interleaver, OFDM framer, frequency-interleaver, pilot and tone reserve, and guard interval. The CES test follows previous trials in Seoul, Ohio, and Wisconsin. An exact completion date for the ATSC 3.0 standard has not been announced, but finalization is on track for this year. Sources: LG via PR Newswire, TWICEPosted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 09:45 AM PST by: -
Sony Readies New EXTRA BASS Series with Headphones, Speakers, and Audio Systems[teaser]The new lineup offers enhanced bass. [/teaser] Sony has announced the expansion of its EXTRA BASS series. The collection will include the new MDR-XB650BT headphones, SRS-XB3 and SRS-XB2 speakers, and GTK-XB7 audio system. The MDR-XB650BT headphones feature a 30mm driver and EXTRA BASS diaphragm to offer high quality sound with bass booster. Bluetooth NFC wireless connectivity is integrated as well, along with support for several audio codecs like AAC and aptX. Meanwhile, the SRS-XB3 and SRS-XB2 are compact wireless speakers with full range speaker units. The SRS-XB2 features a 42mm gauge with a passive radiator and the SRS-XB3 features a 48mm gauge with dual passive radiators. In addition, a lightweight diaphragm offers powerful bass notes. Both models also include Bluetooth NFC connectivity with LDAC high quality wireless audio support. Finally, the GTK-XB7 is a high-powered audio system with two large gauge 16cm woofers and EXTRA BASS tech for deep low frequencies. Digital Sound Enhancement Engine ('DSEE') tech is also integrated, allowing uses to enhance compressed sound. Likewise, Bluetooth NFC with LDAC and USB connectivity are included as well. Designed for parties, the GTK-XB7 even incorporates lights that can operate in real time with the music being played. Pricing has not been detailed yet, but Sony's new EXTRA BASS audio products are due for release in the spring. Source: Sony 1, Sony 2Posted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 09:15 AM PST by: -
Samsung Announces March 2016 Release Date for First Ultra HD Blu-ray Player, Amazon Pre-Orders Now Live at $399[teaser]A release date and price have finally been announced. [/teaser] Samsung has revealed new details for its UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray. The player is set for a March 2016 release in the US and pre-orders are now live! The UBD-K8500 is HDR compatible and features four times the resolution and 64 times detailed color expression of a traditional Blu-ray player. Likewise, the device offers a sleek, curved design and includes upscaling capabilities. In addition, Samsung has partnered with Hollywood Studios like 20th Century Fox to bring Ultra HD Blu-rays to the market. Fox plans to release over 100 Ultra HD Blu-rays with HDR in 2016, including 'The Martian.' The UBD-K8500 is currently available for a pre-order price of $399.99. The suggested retail price is $499.99. Source: Samsung 1, Samsung 2Posted Thu Jan 7, 2016 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Sony Bolsters h.ear Series with High-Res Wireless Speaker, Walkman, & Headphones[teaser]The new audio lineup is now at CES. [/teaser] Sony has revealed the latest additions to its h.ear series of audio products. The new lineup includes the h.ear go wireless speakers, the h.ear wireless headphones, and the NW-A26HN Walkman. "At Sony, it is our belief that consumers should not have to sacrifice quality for portability. We are focused on delivering live, immersive sound to music lovers around the world," said Yamato "Tank" Tanikawa, Director, Home Entertainment & Sound, Sony Electronics. "Sony's new h.ear series products give consumers the ability hear high quality music, regardless of their location." The h.ear go is now the world's smallest portable wireless speaker with high-res audio support. The device features a round, compact design and uses a φ35mm gauge full-range speaker unit and Sony's DSP signal processing. Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and multi-room capabilities through the Sony SongPal link are integrated as well. In addition, users can pair multiple speakers together for wireless stereo and surround sound. Battery life is rated for up to 12 hours The h.ear wireless headphones will be available in on-ear and earbud models. The h.ear on Wireless NC features dual noise sensor technology with Digital Noise Canceling software. Likewise, the headphones use 40 mm HD drivers to reproduce sounds up to 40 kHz and DSEE technology. Bluetooth and high-res audio support are also included, and battery life is rated for about 20 hours. Meanwhile, the h.ear in Wireless Earbuds feature a 9 mm driver unit and use a slim smooth body design with natural curved shape to fit around the neck. Finally, the NW-A26HN Walkman is designed to complement the h.ear series audio products with high-res audio support and matching colors. The device uses an S-Master HX full digital amplifier for high-res playback and DSEE HX to upscale compressed sound sources to beyond CD quality. In addition, the Walkman supports LDAC for high quality wireless audio at a maximum transfer rate of 990 kbps. 32GB of built-in memory and a microSD slot are integrated as well. Battery life is rated for 30 hours of high-res playback and 50 hours of MP3 playback. Pricing has not been detailed yet, but Sony's new h.ear lineup is expected to launch this spring. Sources: Sony 1, Sony 2Posted Thu Jan 7, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
ViewSonic Preps New 1080p LightStream Projectors, Prices Start at $999[teaser]New HD projector models have been detailed. [/teaser] ViewSonic has announced plans to launch two more projector models in their LightStrem series. The LightStream Pro7827HD and PJD7828HDL are now on display at CES. "The Pro7827HD and PJD7828HDL deliver the perfect big picture for home entertainment," said Aaron Campbell, product marketing manager at ViewSonic Americas. "With advanced color and audio technologies and PortAll to wirelessly stream content or play games on a giant projected screen, these two projectors ensure an immersive visual experience." ViewSonic's Pro7827HD is a 1080p entertainment projector with 200 lumens of brightness, a 22,000:1 contrast ratio, an RGBRGB 6-segment color wheel, and ISFcertification. Meanwhile, the PJD7828HDL is a 1080p entertainment projector with 3200 lumens of brightness and SuperColor technology. Finally, both projector also feature a built-in 10W speaker, and PortAll enclosures with an HDMI/MHL connection that supports wireless HDMI media streaming devices. The ViewSonic LightStream Pro7827HD ($1,299) is due for release in February. The PJD7828HDL ($999) is due for release in January. Source: ViewSonicPosted Thu Jan 7, 2016 at 11:15 AM PST by: -
Sony Details New SRS-ZR7 and SRS-ZR5 Wireless Speakers[teaser]Two new wireless speakers have been announced. [/teaser] Sony has revealed the latest additions to its wireless speaker lineup. The SRS-ZR7 and SRS-ZR5 are both on display at CES. The SRS-ZR5 features 2 way speakers and dual passive radiators with a 0.55-inch tweeter and 2.76-inch woofer. Meanwhile, the SRS-ZR7 features a 2.2ch and dual passive radiator design with two full-range 1.7-inch drivers and two 2.44-inch woofers. Both speakers include Google Cast and Spotify Connect support, along with HDMI (ARC) connections. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC connectivity are integrated as well. Likewise, both models can be paired with other supported speakers for wireless multi-room, stereo and surround sound. Finally, the SRS-ZR7 also adds high-res audio support. Exact US pricing has not been announced yet, but the Sony SRS-ZR7 and SRS-ZR5 are due for release in Europe in June. Source: SonyPosted Thu Jan 7, 2016 at 09:30 AM PST by: -
Philips Unveils BDP7501 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player with HDR Support[teaser]Another company has revealed their first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. [/teaser] Philips has announced plans to release an Ultra HD Blu-ray player. The upcoming BDP7501 is now the third Ultra HD Blu-ray to be revealed, following models recently announced by Samsung and Panasonic. The BDP7501 Ultra HD Blu-ray player features a compact design and includes HDR support with HDMI 2.0a connections and HDCP 2.2 compliancy. In addition to Ultra HD Blu-ray disc playback, the device can also upscale lower resolution content. HEVC and VP9 decoding are integrated as well, allowing customers to watch 4K videos from streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube. Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity are also included. An exact release date and price have not been announced yet, but the Philips BDP7501 Ultra HD Blu-ray player is expected to launch in the spring for under $400. Sources: HD Guru, Digital TrendsPosted Thu Jan 7, 2016 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Philips Announces Dolby Atmos Fidelio Soundbar[teaser]A new Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar has been revealed. [/teaser] Gibson Innovations has unveiled its latest Philips-branded soundbar. The upcoming speaker features Dolby Atmos technology. The Philips Fidelio Dolby Atmos soundbar is a 400W audio system with 18 drivers, including two up-firing modules used to bounce sound off of the ceiling to simulate overhead audio. In addition, the speaker comes with an 8-inch 220W wireless subwoofer and uses proprietary Ambisound technology. Together, the soundbar and subwoofer are capable of creating a 5.1.2 soundfield. HDMI, optical, coaxial, and aptX Bluetooth connectivity are integrated as well. Pricing has not been announced yet, but the Philips Dolby Atmos soundbar is expected to start shipping this summer. The soundbar now joins previously announced Dolby Atmos models from Samsung and Yamaha. Sources: TWICE, Pocket-LintPosted Wed Jan 6, 2016 at 05:30 PM PST by: -
Dell Reveals New UltraSharp Monitors at CES, Including 30-Inch 4K OLED Model[teaser]Several new monitors have been detailed. [/teaser] Dell has announced the newest additions to its display lineup. The new monitors include the company's first OLED model. Dell's UltraSharp 30 OLED monitor ($4,999) features an Ultra HD 4K resolution. Likewise, the 30-inch display's OLED panel offers an impressive 400,000:1 contrast ratio with "true black" and a 0.1 ms response time. In addition, the monitor includes support for the AdobeRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. USB Type-C is also included for single cable power, video and data connectivity with compatible systems. Outside of their new OLED monitor, Dell also detailed new UltraSharp Infinity monitors and UltraSharp Wireless monitors. The 27-inch Quad HD ($719) and 23.8-inch Full HD ($349) UltraSharp Infinity monitors feature special InfinityEdge displays with ultra-thin borders. Meanwhile, the 24-inch ($469) and 23-inch ($429) UltraSharp Wireless monitors allow users to wirelessly display and manage content from a Windows laptop and Android smartphone through Miracast tech. In addition, the 23-inch model also includes built-in speakers and a wireless charging stand for mobile devices. Dell's UltraSharp Infinity monitors will be available on February 25 through the company's website. The UltraSharp 30 OLED monitor and UltraSharp Wireless monitors will be available on March 31. Source: DellPosted Wed Jan 6, 2016 at 04:15 PM PST by: -
Panasonic Readies HD10 On-Ear Hi-Res Premium Headphones, Price Set for $270[teaser]The company has revealed a new headphone model. [/teaser] Panasonic has announced the latest addition to its audio lineup. The RP-HD10C Over-the-Ear High Resolution Premium Headphones are now on display at CES. The headphones feature 50mm HD drivers for low bass and clear treble with a frequency response of 4Hz-50kHz. The device uses an MLF (multi layer film) diaphragm to reduce distortion and a PLA driver chassis to suppress resonance from the driver. Ergonomic 3D designed ear pads for comfort and noise reduction are integrated as well. Finally, a detachable integrated mobile mic and control cord are also included. In addition to the RP-HD10C, Panasonic is also highlighting several upcoming Technics products, including the EAH-T700 headphones and the Grand Class G30 Series and OTTAVA Premium Class Series audio components -- which were all first revealed at IFA back in September. A release date has not been announced yet, but Panasonic is currently taking pre-orders for the RP-HD10C Headphones on their website for $270. Source: PanasonicPosted Wed Jan 6, 2016 at 03:15 PM PST by:
