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Denon Readies HEOS HomeCinema Wireless Soundbar for $799[teaser]The upcoming soundbar has been detailed. [/teaser] Denon has announced the latest addition to its HEOS wireless multi-room audio products. The HEOS HomeCinema is a wireless soundbar and subwoofer system designed to be paired with flat screen TVs. The soundbar features dual 2-inch by 5-inch precision drivers and dual 20mm dome tweeters. Meanwhile, the included subwoofer features dual 5¼-inch woofers and can be placed vertically or horizontally. An HDMI input and output (with TV audio return channel), optical and coaxial inputs, and a USB input are integrated as well. The device supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS decoders with Virtual Surround processing. Finally, the soundbar can also connect to existing Wi-Fi networks to stream audio through several popular music services. Denon's HEOS HomeCinema is expected to start shipping in July for $799. Source: DenonPosted Thu Jun 18, 2015 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
Sonos Updates Spotify Music Streaming Features for Android Users[teaser]The new update offers more features and better performance. [/teaser] Sonos has announced an upgrade for its Spotify integration, allowing Android users to access more music streaming options. The update is currently available to download in beta for Android smartphones and tablets. With the new upgrade, Sonos customers can use new Spotify features directly through the Sonos Controller App. Newly added options include genres + moods, time-of-day recommendations, and the ability to start a radio station from any artist or track. Likewise, the update also offers performance improvements that will make playback on Sonos devices more stable, even during peak times when there are lots of simultaneous listeners. In addition to Android, the update will also be available for iOS and desktop users soon. The Sonos Play:1 ($199), Play:3 ($299), and Play:5 ($399) are on sale now. Source: SonosPosted Thu Jun 18, 2015 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
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HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Up to 61% off Ultra HD TVs & 1080p Projectors![teaser]Amazon is offering big discounts on 4K TVs and HD projectors! [/teaser] Just in time for Father's Day, Amazon is running a special sale on Ultra HD TVs from LG and Samsung. Likewise, the site is also offering deals on projectors from Optoma and Epson. LG Electronics 55UB8200 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV - Currently $849 (61% off). LG Electronics 65UF7700 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TV - Currently $1,999 (26% off). Samsung UN65JS8500 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV - Currently $2,998 (25% off). Optoma GT1080 Full 3D 1080p DLP Gaming Projector - Currently $700 (50% off). Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5025UB 1080p Projector - Currently $1,700 (15% 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 Wed Jun 17, 2015 at 03:30 PM PDT by: -
Panasonic's 2015 4K Ultra HD TVs Earn Netflix Recommended Designation[teaser]The new designation singles out displays that offer the best Netflix and smart TV experience. [/teaser] Pansonic's 2015 4K Ultra HD TVs are now the latest displays to qualify for the "Netflix Recommended" designation. This title ensures that the televisions provide superior Netflix performance. In order to achieve Netflix Recommended status, TVs have to meet five out of seven required criteria: Fast App Launch, Fast App Resume, Fast Video Playback, Netflix Button, Easy Netflix Access, TV Instant On, and Latest Netflix Version. Pansonic's Netflix Recommended displays include the CX850, CX800, CX650, and CX600. The lineup includes nine models in total that range in size from 50-inches to 65-inches. All of the displays use the Firefox OS smart TV platform. In addition to these models from Panasonic, TVs from LG, Sony, Sharp, Hisense, TCL, and Insignia have also earned the Netflix Recommended status. Sources: Panasonic via PR Newswire, NetflixPosted Wed Jun 17, 2015 at 02:45 PM PDT by: -
LG Details Minibeam Nano Micro LED Projector for Portable Video[teaser]The new portable projector is the company's smallest model yet. [/teaser] LG has announced the newest addition to its Minibeam line of projectors. The PV150G Minibeam Nano is an ultra-portable LED projector designed for mobility. "As the number one LED projector maker in the world, we are committed to growing our Minibeam lineup for consumers who are becoming increasingly more mobile but don't want to give up the comforts of a big display when it comes to their entertainment," said Lee In-kyu, senior vice president and head of the TV and Monitor Division at LG's Home Entertainment Company. "The Minibeam Nano is the perfect projector for those who favor portability over everything else. And at only a quarter of a kilogram, you can't get much more portable than Minibeam Nano." The Minibeam Nano weighs just 270 grams and features a resolution of 854 x 480. The projector offers a brightness level of 100 ANSI lumens, a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, and an LED lamp lifespan of up to 30,000 hours. In addition, the device includes an integrated 3,800mAh battery for up to 2 hours of playback off of a single charge. Likewise, wired and wireless Mirroring support for smartphones, tablets, and PCs is included as well, along with USB drive playback. The PV150G can project images up to 100-inches and has a throw ratio of 1.64. Pricing has not been detailed yet, but LG's Minibeam Nano is expected to start shipping later this month. Source: LGPosted Tue Jun 16, 2015 at 07:00 PM PDT by: -
Netflix Updates Web Experience with New Interface[teaser]The streaming service has revamped its website. [/teaser] Netflix has launched a new version of its online interface. The updated website now offers improved discovery with more images and faster navigation. Taking its inspiration from mobile devices, the website is now designed to work more like an app with info appearing in-line rather than on separate pages. Likewise, hovering over a title now prompts a slideshow of images while clicking will bring up more details and episode selections. Scrolling through rows has also been improved and the site has been optimized to work with a mouse, trackpad, or touch screen. The upgraded Netflix website is rolling out globally now and will be available for all members in about two weeks. A monthly Netflix subscription currently starts at $7.99 for SD streaming, $8.99 for HD streaming, and $11.99 for Ultra HD streaming. The service is available on a variety of smart TVs and media players, including the Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Roku 3, Apple TV and Chromecast. Source: NetflixPosted Tue Jun 16, 2015 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Up to 39% off Soundbars![teaser]Amazon is offering big discounts on several soundbars! [/teaser] Just in time for Father's Day, Amazon is running a special sale on soundbars from LG, Samsung, Vizio, Harmon Kardon, and JBL. JBL Cinema SB400 Soundbar Speaker System - Currently $400 (39% off). JBL L8 Two-Way Speaker System - Currently $500 (31% off). LG Electronics LAS350B Sound Bar - Currently $99 (34% off). LG Electronics LAS551H Sound Bar - Currently $219 (27% off). Harman Kardon SABRE SB35 Soundbar - Currently $800 (33% off). VIZIO S5451w-C2 5.1 Sound Bar - Currently $400 (20% off). Samsung HW-J6000 Curved 6.1 Soundbar - Currently $400 (20% 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 Mon Jun 15, 2015 at 07:00 PM PDT by: -
MLB Begins Live Streaming Baseball Coverage on Mobile Devices and Computers[teaser]The baseball network has begun live streaming over the web and its mobile apps. [/teaser] MLB Network has announced the launch of its live streaming feature. The channel's 24/7 baseball content is now available to stream over mobile devices and computers. The live stream includes all of the network's original shows and baseball game telecasts. In order to access the stream, users will need to sign into an authenticated pay-TV subscription on MLBNetwork.com or through the "At Bat" app for iOS and Android mobile devices. TV providers that currently offer support include AT&T U-verse TV, Bright House Networks, Cablevision/Optimum, Cox Communications, DirecTV, DISH, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FiOS. This marks the first time that a league-owned network has offered a live, authenticated streaming option for its year-round programming on smartphones, tablets, and computers. With that said, streaming games will still be subject to local blackouts. Source: Forbes via EngadgetPosted Mon Jun 15, 2015 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest Attends Sharp's 2015 Ultra HD TV Launch"Delicious." That's the keyword Sharp repeatedly used to describe its latest 4K display lineup during the company's recent New York City Launch Event. Now, I know what you all might be thinking, "Could it be? Has someone really found a way to make a TV that finally tastes good?" I mean, those LG OLEDs sure do look cool, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that their flavor leaves a lot to be desired. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it turns out that by "delicious," Sharp is merely referring to their displays' rather sumptuous eye-candy. In other words, these TVs still taste very much like TVs... but they do look absolutely delectable! All kidding aside, after seeing these new models in person, this somewhat peculiar marketing keyword does start to make a lot of sense. With Ultra HD resolution, wide colors, Android TV, and some potentially interesting settings like AquoDimming, the Sharp 2015 4K lineup really is a feast for the senses -- just not our literal taste buds. [teaser]To celebrate the retail launch of the UH30 & UE30 Ultra HD TVs, High-Def Digest was invited to attend a special demo, showcasing the displays' smart TV options and impressive picture quality features. [/teaser] Here's a rundown of what we got to see! Spectros Rich Color To start things off, Sharp highlighted its most dramatic demo of the event. In a side-by-side comparison, the company pitted one of its standard color UE30 Ultra HD TVs against a 70-inch UH30 series Ultra HD TV with Spectros expanded colors. According to the press materials, the UH30 is capable of rendering a 21% wider color spectrum than conventional LED HDTVs. To achieve this step-up in color reproduction, the new Sharp panel uses special LED phosphors that are coated in colors. The result is a much richer sheen of hues. For demo purposes, we were treated to a reel of footage showcasing gorgeous nature shots and appetizing meals. While the material looked pretty good on the standard LED display, the UH30 panel really did offer a sizeable improvement in color, resulting in a lot more pop, particularly in reds and greens. Likewise, despite the increased saturation and punchier quality, the colors still looked natural and did not bleed. In addition, fleshtones on people's faces looked much more full and lifelike on the Spectros display, with the standard model looking comparatively dull and flat. Thankfully, the set isn't just equipped with more saturated colors, as Sharp has ensured picture quality accuracy by also including THX certifciation (only available on the LC70UH30U). With all that said, as impressive as the improved colors are, it should be noted that Spectros technology does not incorporate High Dynamic Range, and though standard HD and Ultra HD material will still benefit from the more realistic and bold colors, these sets will not support Dolby Vision or similar HDR graded content. AquoDimming For the next demo, Sharp showed off its proprietary AquoDimming technology. Not to be confused with local dimming, this feature doesn't actually have anything to do with LEDs, black level luminance, or the TVs backlight at all. Instead, this is a software enhancement option that uses special processing to optimize contrast on a pixel level. In other words, the TV analyzes each of the individual 8 million pixels in the image and then adjusts them to display superior shadow detail and highlights. The feature offers a High, Middle, Low, and Off setting. In practice, toggling the AquoDimming feature from Off to High did indeed present a greater level of perceived detail in dark and light portions of the image, bringing out previously lost textures in walls, streets, trees, and stars. With that said, during my limited time with the TV, the effect seemed pretty similar to other "detail enhancing" tools found on competing sets and the dynamic picture adjustments might make it difficult to achieve an accurate calibration. Likewise, based on the lighting conditions in the room, it remains to be seen if the AquoDimming has any real beneficial effect on the TV's dark room performance. Still, based on the demo alone, the feature appears to work as advertised and the jump in detail in the blacks and whites was readily apparent without any notable artifacts. Ultra HD Streaming & Android TV To demo the TV's Ultra HD streaming capabilities, Sharp showed off a few 4K videos from Netflix and YouTube using the display's Android TV platform connected to the internet in real time through an Ethernet cable. The YouTube app uses the VP9 codec for Ultra HD content and the video demonstrated featured footage of Dubai. The material looked pretty good, but of course, like any other streaming source, compression and artifacts were apparent and it appeared as if the television had some unnecessary noise reduction filters turned on. On the Netflix front, I sampled some clips from 'Breaking Bad,' 'Daredevil' and 'House of Cards,' and all three shows benefited nicely from the jump to Ultra HD resolution using the HEVC codec, revealing lots of fine details in character faces and background textures. Likewise, the video looked less compressed and had fewer artifacts than the YouTube clip. Upon starting a 4K stream, the TVs would initially begin with a bitrate of about 11Mbps, and while this rate allows for an Ultra HD resolution, optimized 4K video does not kick in until the bitrate hits 15.3Mbps. In practice, it only took a few seconds (30 max) for the rate to increase and the video to optimize to full Ultra HD quality. Beyond YouTube and Netflix, Amazon Instant Video with 4K streaming will also be available on the Sharp 4K sets later this year. Further navigation throughout the apps using the Android TV platform was silky smooth and responsive, and I encountered no lag during the demo. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with simple access to Google Play, personal recommendations, and various media services and games. The UH30 series also features a touch remote and voice search feature to make navigation even simpler. Despite the relatively noisy environment during the event, the remote was able to pick up my voice query perfectly and the screen came back with relevant results from different apps. Overall, my brief time with the display's smart TV interface left a strong impression, offering a convenient and robust media library. Beyond 4K While the event was geared toward showing off the recently launched UE30 and UH30 series Ultra HD TVs, Sharp did also address one of its most anticipated display models. First announced at CES back in January, the company's 80-inch "Beyond 4K" display is still in the works and is expected to hit the market in early 2016. The TV will use proprietary pixel-splitting and Quattron technologies to create 66 million subpixels. That's 42 million more subpixels than a traditional 4K set and 167 percent greater resolution, simulating a 7,680 x 4,320 picture. In addition, Sharp plans to incorporate all of the latest display technologies, including HDR, expanded colors, and full-array local dimming, hoping to make the set as future-proof as possible. The Sharp UE30 and UH30 series Ultra HD TVs are now available. In addition, the previously released UB30 series is also on sale (below prices reflect current Amazon discounts). The full Sharp 2015 4K lineup is as follows: 43-inch LC-43UB30U ($600) 50-inch LC-50UB30U ($800) 55-inch LC-55UB30U ($1,000) 65-inch LC-65UB30U ($1,900) 60-inch LC-60UE30U ($1,700) 70-inch LC-70UE30U ($2,300) 80-inch LC-80UE30U ($5,600) 70-inch LC-70UH30U ($3,300) 80-inch LC-80UH30U ($6,300) With their impressive Android TV interface and handy picture quality features, these new models look very solid in person. And the UH30 series' added Spectros Rich Color technology and THX certification really does bring an extra level of pop and accuracy to the image. While some customers might be disappointed by the lack of HDR and 3D (the latter was essentially declared dead in the market during the company's press remarks), there is no denying the display's beautiful picture. I mean just look at how tasty all that colorful produce looks below... one might even say that they look "delicious!" For now, though, what do you think about Sharp's latest 4K offerings? Do these sets have all the smart TV and picture quality features that you're looking for? Is the Spectros expanded color tech a selling point for you? How do you think these sets stack up to the competition? Let us know your thoughts in the forums!Posted Mon Jun 15, 2015 at 08:30 AM PDT by: -
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Nickelodeon Streaming Heads to Roku Devices[teaser]Content from the popular children's network is now available on Roku. [/teaser] Roku has announced the addition of Nickelodeon to its media lineup. The streaming app is now available in the channel store under the "Kids & Family" section. The Nickelodeon Roku channel allows users to watch full episodes of select shows, including 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' 'Henry Danger,' 'Bella and the Bulldogs,' 'Harvey Beaks,' and more. The home screen offers the most popular content and new video clips, and customers can also browse by show and episode. In addition to the free content, viewers with an authenticated pay-TV subscription will be given access to even more full episodes and extras. The Roku 3 with Voice Search is now on sale for $89. Source: RokuPosted Fri Jun 12, 2015 at 07:15 AM PDT by:
