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Oppo Announces a Pair of High-End Universal Blu-ray Players[teaser]The BD-103 and BD-105's newly added HDMI ports mean you can route other devices through your player to take advantage of the scaling and processing. [/teaser] It's been a while since we've seen anything out of Oppo, but the company has finally announced updates to the BDP-93 and BDP-95 Blu-ray players that they're so well known for. The new models add some updates for new tech and new content, as well as offering up some unexpected bonuses. On the visual side of things, you'll get Marvell Qdeo processing to help video look its best. In addition to 1080 upscaling like you'd expect, both the BD-103 and BD-105 take video up to 4K. They'll also convert 2D to 3D and provide you with the plenty of options to tweak video to your liking. A particularly cool addition to these players is a pair of HDMI inputs, one of which is located on the front and the other of which is located on the back. You can attach a set-top box, game console or whatever else you like and the player will apply the same processing and upscaling. And you're in luck if you want to watch content from a tablet or smartphone – the front HDMI input doubles as an MHL input. As you might imagine, both of Oppo's new players can handle decoding of the latest HD formats. Both the BDP-103 and 105 give you configurable 7.1 channel analog outs, but the BDP-105 steps thing up with a pair of ESS Sabre32 Reference DACs, a Toroidal linear power supply, dedicated RCA and XLR stereo outputs and even a headphone amplifier that connects directly through the DAC. The BDP-103 is expected to launch sometime in October at a price of $499. The BDP-105 is expected by the end of the year at a price of $1,199. Source: OppoPosted Thu Sep 20, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Display Development Announces a pair of In-Ceiling/In-Wall Projectors[teaser]The IC-3 and IC-4 stay hidden until you need to use them, and even then they're pretty subtle. [/teaser] When you're going for that minimalist looks, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are a great way to do it. Projectors muck things up a bit though. They're not exactly the easiest thing to hide, and you can't just shove them behind something like with a subwoofer. The IC-3 and IC-4 from Display Development are different. They're designed specifically to stay out of the way until they're needed. "Think of the IC system as a kind of upside down periscope," explains Display Development president Jim Burns. "The projector remains stationary in the ceiling [or wall] which means it is always hidden and silent. When the system is turned on only the optical portion of the system is lowered into the room." Source: Electronic HousePosted Wed Sep 19, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
On the Anniversary of Qwikster, Netflix Disc Rental Subscriber Share Down 23 Percent[teaser]The NPD also says that disc renting is down overall, in correlation with the closure of rental locations. [/teaser] A year ago, Netflix decided to try something new. Instead of a single service that offered both discs and streaming content, they would break off the disc-based rentals into a separate service called Qwikster. It should be obvious, but the idea didn't work. The result of the Qwikster announcement, coupled with price increases across the board, was instant dissatisfaction from disc renters. Now, a year later, the popularity of Netflix disc rentals has decreased. A year ago, 35 percent of Netflix customers rented discs, while now they're down to 27 percent. This seems to be part of a general trend away from disc rentals in general, which are down 40 percent from last year. It doesn't help that there's also been a large decline in the amount of renters on the market. The biggest, and likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future, is Redbox. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Wed Sep 19, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Severson Now Shipping Curved Perforated Projector Screens Aimed at 3D Enthusiasts[teaser]The SeVision 3D GX offers a signal-to-noise ratio of 250:1 and gain of 2.4. [/teaser] The folks at Severson have a new screen on the way, designed just for those who can't get enough of 3D. It's called the SeVision 3D GX and it uses a variety of different technologies to ensure that your 3D picture is as clear and clean as it can be. It all starts with PristiVue technology, which is designed to give you the same kinds of video quality intended by the director. The SeVision 3D GX also boasts a water-based optical coating to ensure that the screen doesn't yellow as it ages. Severston CEO L. Craig Shelley says that the signal-to-noise ratio of 250:1 and 2.4 gain "make ‘ghosting’ near obsolete, and thus allow it to work beautifully in ambient lighting." He also adds that the screen boasts the same tech used to win IMAX screens an Oscar in 1996 and that "The SeVision 3D GX is the first home theater screen to be certified by all the major 3D licensors for digital projection." Source: Electronic HousePosted Tue Sep 18, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Protests in China Force Panasonic and Others to Shut Down Plants[teaser]Car companies seem to be the ones most affected, but camera and electronics manufacturers are being attacked as well. [/teaser] If you've somehow missed it, there is a huge dispute happening now between Japan and China. It's the kind that goes way back and doesn't seem to have a resolution that will make both countries happy. It's, well, complicated. Protests in China have become incredibly intense, resulting in violence, looting, and arson. Japanese car dealerships have been burned down, Japanese products destroyed and even workers are causing problems. Panasonic's plant was even sabotaged. As a safety measure to their products and – more importantly – their workers, many Japanese companies have shut down their plants for a day or two in hopes that things will ease up. Expect to see them remain closed longer if tensions stay as high as they are. Source: CNNPosted Tue Sep 18, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Contest: Win 'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' on Blu-ray!How would you like to win one of the most hotly-anticipated Blu-ray releases ever? That's right, we're giving away the 'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' box set! Don't miss your chance to win. Enter our contest in the blog today.Posted Tue Sep 18, 2012 at 06:15 AM PDT by: -
Pioneer Announces a New Elite 3D Blu-ray Player[teaser]The new 3D player packs Qdeo video processing and playback for DVD-Audio and SACDs. [/teaser] The BDP-62FD is the latest Blu-ray player to join Pioneer's Elite line, and it comes equipped with a few features that earn it the title. For starters, Pioneer has given their new player Marvell Qdeo video processing, which will give you better video quality whether you're watching a Blu-ray or upscaling from SD. Pioneer's new Blu-ray player has a few connectivity options as well. If you're the kind of person that has both a projector and a TV set up, you'll be happy to know that dual HDMI outputs are included to accommodate. The player also sports an Ethernet port for streaming of Netflix, Pandora and YouTube. Unfortunately, there's no Wi-Fi built in, so you'll have to pick up the adapter separately if you'd like to go wireless. Finally, the BDP-62FD is equipped with different control options, including IP, RS-232, and via the iControlAV2012 smartphone app. You'll be able to pick up the BDP-62FD later this month at a price of $399. Source: Electronic HousePosted Mon Sep 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
SOFT DOME TWEETER INVENTOR BILL HECHT DEAD AT 89[teaser]Hecht was also the man behind the design and manufacture of many speaker systems thanks to his OEM company United Speaker Systems. [/teaser] Bill Hecht, born in 1923, is one of the men responsible for the sound that we know and love today. He started working in the projector industry in the 1950s but in 1955, he found his true calling. Hecht wasn't working due to a strike, and so started making speakers to sell through a local hi-fi dealer. He made one a week and received highly positive reviews which landed him the gig of creating the first Fisher loudspeaker system – the XP-1. In 1967, Hecht patented his invention of the soft dome tweeter, which has since become the most used tweeter in the industry. His company grew into a major OEM provider, designing and manufacturing speakers for some of the biggest in the business. Hecht died on September 12th, 2012 after a brief illness and hospital stay. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 14, 2012, 2:00p.m., at Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207, 904.396.2522.Posted Mon Sep 17, 2012 at 08:38 AM PDT by: -
Sharp Cuts Bonuses and Salaries to Keep Afloat[teaser]Executive salaries have gone down a full ten percent and bonuses have been halved. [/teaser] The folks at Sharp aren't doing too well these days and they're having to tighten up the belt just to keep things going. The most recent cost cutting measure is a reduction on executive salaries and bonuses, which help keep around $180 million dollars in the company. The average Joe at Sharp isn't exempt either. Non-executive salaried workers are all taking a cut too, of seven percent. In the end, these sacrifices result in a very small amount of extra cash for Sharp, but at this point they need everything they can get. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Sep 14, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Warner Will Provide Original Programming to Netflix[teaser]The company said it will also be working with other subscription VOD services, though they didn't drop any names. [/teaser] The folks at Warner are finally beginning to see some value in streaming and are working with Netflix to get some of those internet dollars. Warner CEO John Martin says that services like Netflix are perfect for shows that don't syndicate well but still drive viewership, like hour long serial dramas. Martin also says that the company will also be working with Netflix and possibly some other streaming providers on some original programming. Just what that will entail and what other services Warner will be working with is a bit of a mystery. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Fri Sep 14, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
