-
Samsung Drops Price of OLED in Korea, U.S. Announcement is Rumored to be Imminent[teaser]The company has reduced the price of its curved screen OLED in Korea while plans to bring the technology to the U.S. could be announced later today. [/teaser] The 55-inch curved screen OLED TV originally launched in Korea with a retail price of 15 million won ($13,500). Now, Samsung has cut the price down to 9.9 million ($8,910) thanks to improved manufacturing. The overseas price cut also comes amid rumors that the company will finally announce the U.S. release date of its OLED display. Fellow Korean manufacturer, LG, recently brought their own OLED set to America and is currently selling it exclusively through Best Buy's Magnolia stores for $14,999. Rumors suggest that Samsung will reveal its OLED plans for the States later today at a special press briefing. At the event, the company is expected to announce full details on its KN55S9 55-inch OLED HDTV, including pricing and availability. Stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more updates on this developing story. Source: Engadget, CNETPosted Tue Aug 13, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Mad Catz Tritton Pro+ 5.1 Surround Sound Headset for Windows and Mac Now Shipping[teaser]Headset contains four drivers per ear and in-line remote with Selectable Voice Monitoring.[/teaser] Last week Mad Catz began shipping its Tritton Kunai Stereo Headset for the PC and Mac, but now its much bigger and badder brother, the Tritton Pro+ True Surround Sound Headset for the Windows PC and Mac is ready to change how players experience their PC and Mac gaming. Announced at E3, the Tritton Pro+ True Surround Sound Headset for the Windows PC and Mac utilizes four drivers per year in order achieve discrete surround sound within a headset design. Unlike its console cousin, this 5.1 headset connects directly to the three 5.1 analogue jacks found on PC soundcards. As with other products in the Mad Catz Tritton line, the Pro+ headset is available in glassy red, black, and white, also features a detachable mic. Unique to this range in the line is he headset's in-line remote cluster of controls, which gives the user control over which voices will be heard during play. Of course, normal control over headset volume and mic mute are also part of the cluster. The Tritton Pro+ True Surround Sound Headset for the Windows PC and Mac is shipping now and is available to order. Source: Mad Catz Author: Brian HossPosted Tue Aug 13, 2013 at 08:30 AM PDT by: -
Retro Design Meets Modern Technology with LG's Old School Wood Framed HDTV[teaser]The 32-inch 1080p LED display is designed to look like an old tube TV. [/teaser] While ultra thin bezels, curved screens, and motion guided controls might be the wave of the future for HDTV technology, LG has decided to take a moment to celebrate the past. With its 32LN630R LED TV, the company has returned to the old school designs of yesteryear, evoking televisions of the 70s and 80s. The display features a wood paneled frame and even rotary dials for changing stations and controlling the volume. These retro flourishes are only cosmetic, however, as the TV has a full 1080p IPS screen with a 178-degree viewing angle, and comes complete with USB connections with MHL support and, if the Google translation is accurate… possibly a free coffee machine. The 32LN630R Classic TV is currently available in South Korea for a suggested retail price of 840,000 won ($754). Sadly, for now, there doesn't appear to be any plans to bring the set to the United States. Source: LG via GizmodoPosted Mon Aug 12, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
New Skype Update Allows HD Video Calls on iPad[teaser]The latest version of the video chat software finally supports calls in high definition for Apple's tablet. [/teaser] With the recent release of Skype 4.10, the popular video chat software has added HD calling capabilities for the iPad 4. Previously, the app was limited to standard definition chats, but now users can finally take advantage of their fourth generation iPad's front facing HD camera. In addition to HD support, the new update also promises general improvements to call stability and quality, helping to ensure that all your new HD conversations go through with as few snags as possible. The latest version of Skype is now available for download in the App Store. The Fourth Generation iPad is currently available for purchase starting at a suggested retail price of $499 for the 16GB model. Sources: Engadget, App StorePosted Mon Aug 12, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Amazon Kindle Fire HD Receives Limited Time Price Drop[teaser]The company's 7" HD tablet has cut its price for a limited time. [/teaser] Amazon has reduced the base price of its popular Kindle Fire HD 16GB tablet from $199 to $159, saving customers $40. The price cut comes in the wake of the release of Google's latest 7" tablet and amid rumors that Amazon will soon announce its own updated line of tablets in September. The Kindle HD Fire features a 1200x800 IPS display, a 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor with Imagination PowerVR 3D graphics core, dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi, a front facing camera, and built in Bluetooth. The tablet is rated for up to 11 hours of battery life and provides users with access to over 23 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, books, audiobooks, apps and games. The Kindle Fire HD 16GB is currently available for a limited time reduced price of $159. The Kindle Fire HD 32GB has also received a $40 price reduction and is currently available for $189. Sources: GeekWire, AmazonPosted Fri Aug 9, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Mad Catz Now Shipping the Tritton Kunai Stereo Headset for PC and Mac[teaser]40mm drivers and removable mic typical features of the line.[/teaser] Gaming headsets have come a long way from the old stereotypical image of a customer support type, and one of the current strongest examples is the Mad Catz Tritton Kunai line of headsets. Announced at E3, the Tritton Kunai Stereo Headset for PC and Mac is now shipping, and the model joins a line-up that emphasizes simplicity over extravagance. Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., “Our TRITTON Kunai range proved popular at E3 thanks to its clean aesthetics and impressive audio. We are confident that passionate PC and Mac gamers will appreciate the performance and value synonymous with the brand.” The stylish look is available in three glossy colors, red, white, and black. Even at its low price point, the headphones sport 40mm Neodymium drivers that have been tuned to the specific platform, which in this case, are the PC and Mac platforms. Another big feature for the headset is its removable mic, which is great for use as just headphones and for traveling. Connectivity for the headset runs through a 3.5mm detachable stereo cable. The cable attaches to the Kunai's in-line audio controls, which includes a mic mute and volume controls. The headset, which also compatible with smartphones and tablets, is available to order now. The universal version, which is suitable for current generation consoles, is also available now. Source: Mad Catz Author: Brian HossPosted Fri Aug 9, 2013 at 07:30 AM PDT by: -
Sony Releases its First Premium Home Theater Sound Bar[teaser]The 7.1 channel sound bar is designed for high performance with movies and music. [/teaser] Sony has announced its first foray into the premium sound bar market with the release of its brand new HT-ST7 sound bar. The 450 watt system features 9 drivers and 7 amplifiers, and supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. Using Sony's S-Force Pro Front Surround technology, the speaker simulates full 7.1 surround sound. The unit comes complete with a dual driver wireless subwoofer, 3 HDMI inputs, 3 digital audio inputs, and 1 analog input. Bluetooth capabilities and OneTouch NFC technology are also included, allowing for an easy connection to your mobile device. The Sony HT-ST7 HD Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer is currently available for a suggested retail price of $1299.99. Source: SonyPosted Fri Aug 9, 2013 at 05:00 AM PDT by: -
Trio of Videos Show Off Xbox One Peripherals[teaser]Impulse triggers, thumb mute, and a farewell to disposable batteries.[/teaser] Microsoft has released a trio a videos highlighting some major features on some of the Xbox One's most important peripherals. After Major Nelson's revelation today, two of the three peripherals will be included in both the Day One and standard versions of the Xbox One. The three peripherals are the Xbox One wireless controller, the Xbox One Chat headset, and the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit. For the Xbox One wireless controller, the video promises that you will feel the action like never before with the "Impulse Triggers," which contain vibration motors similar to the style used for force feedback in the last ten plus years of console controllers. New responsive thumbsticks with radial traction surfaces are mentioned, as is the "precision d-pad." The video concludes by declaring the new controller the "best controller Xbox has ever made." The video does not mention if the 360 and original Xbox controllers now feel diminished as a result. For the Xbox One Chat Headset, the video fails to mention that the recent change that will seem the headset included with each new Xbox One. The video does describe the headset as providing "crystal clear" chat, and being comfortable for long gaming sessions. The headset has a rotating, bendable microphone and looks like a refined version of the familiar 360 design. Where the headset connects to the controller, a large control pad suggests that players will be able to mute the microphone and modify the headset speaker volume without moving their hands from the controller. This design is described as "control at your fingertips." Finally, the Xbox One Play and Charge Kit video shows how the battery pack resides inside the controller, and is easily accessible. The pack is charged exactly like the 360 version, through a port on top of the controller. The charging cable is nine feet in length. One new feature in the design is the ability to connect the charging cable directly to the battery for charging without a controller and is described as "recharge while you play or afterwards." The battery is described as chargeable in "under 4 hours." One sensible option for Xbox One buyers planning to get a second controller is to purchase a combination Controller with Play and Charge Kit, which offers a $10 savings versus buying the two items separately. Source: Polygon Author: Brian HossPosted Thu Aug 8, 2013 at 09:30 AM PDT by: -
Vizio Introduces New Sound Bars Designed for Small and Mid-Size TVs[teaser]The company has revealed three new sound bars that will hit stores in late August and September. [/teaser] Vizio has announced the addition of three sound bars to its audio collection. The new speaker systems are all geared toward complementing consumers with small and mid-size HDTVs. The lineup includes the S2920w, the S3820w, and the S3831w. The S2920w is a 29" 2.0 sound bar with 95 dB of audio and a convenient compact size. The S3820w is a larger 38" 2.0 sound bar that provides 98 dB with Integrated Deep Bass. The S3831w is also 38" but features a 2.1 configuration at 100 dB, adding a wireless subwoofer to the mix for a dedicated low frequency kick. Each model uses DTS audio technology and includes Bluetooth streaming capabilities. The S3821w and the S3820w are expected to be in stock in late August for a suggested retail price of $179.99 and $119.99 respectively. The S2920w will be available in September for a suggested retail price of $79.99. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Aug 8, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Reveals 1080p G2 Smartphone[teaser]The premium HD smartphone features new innovations in design. [/teaser] LG has officially unveiled its new G2 smartphone. The mobile device marks a new direction in smartphone design by doing away with side buttons. Instead, the G2 features a Rear Key design that moves all buttons to the back of the phone. The device also comes equipped with a 5.2 inch full 1080p edge-to-edge IPS display. The G2 runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 and is fueled by a 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of ram, and a 3,000mAh battery. A rear 13MP camera (with Optical Image Stabilizer) and a front 2.1MP camera are also included, and the smartphone is capable of 4 bit/192kHz Hi-Fi playback for superior sound. Both a 16GB and a 32GB model in black or white will be available across 130 wireless carriers within the next eight weeks but exact pricing has yet to be detailed. Source: LGPosted Thu Aug 8, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
