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Philips Ditches 21:9 Sets to Focus on 16:9[teaser]A lack of interest in the sets has forced Philips to abandon the idea. [/teaser] Philips was the first company we really saw pushing 21:9 super-wide sets, and it wasn’t long before the folks at LG and Vizio began to jump on board. Unfortunately, it seems like 21:9 TVs – as cool as they are – just aren’t something that most consumers want. According to one spokesman from Philips, the demand for the unique sets barely meets the minimum requirements for mass production, which means it’s time for Philips to find a more profitable use for their manufacturing facilities. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Aug 30, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony Debuts an 84 Inch 4K TV of its Own[teaser]Now LG isn’t the only company with a horse in that very particular race. [/teaser] Recently, LG launched a TV to fit a very specific niche and now Sony is hot on its heels with an 84 inch 4K set of its own. There are a lot of similarities between the sets, but there are a few things that set Sony’s offering apart. For starters, the 84X900 features the 4K X-Reality Pro Picture Engine, which upscales lower resolution content up to 4K, so you can enjoy your existing movies and TV shows at higher resolution without having to shell out for new gear. The new set also packs a 10 Unit Live Speaker System, which gives you virtual 5.1 surround. What’s more, if you’re using your own speaker system, you can detach the speakers from the side of the TV. It’s a nice touch to be sure. Sony’s 84X900 is also a bit different in that you won’t be using passive 3D technology, but active. The company says you’ll be seeing the 84X900 released this year, but has not set a date or price. Source: Electronic HousePosted Thu Aug 30, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
ADAM Audio Introduces the ARTist 5.1 Surround System[teaser]The system is designed to be flexible for placement in a home theater or an office environment. [/teaser] ADAM is a company that’s only recently jumped into home theater after making a name for itself in the pro audio market. The folks at ADAM seem to know what they’re doing in both arenas, and are launching a brand new 5.1 surround system built for both office and home theater use. The ARTist 5.1 surround system includes a pair of ARTist 5 monitors to handle rear channels, ARTist 6 floorstanding speakers for left and right channels and an ARTist center and ARTist subwoofer. Each of the speakers sports its own volume control as well as bass control. They also offer up ADAM’s X-ART tweeters and two built-in 25 watt amps for each driver. The price and release date of the system have yet to be announced. Source: Electronic HousePosted Tue Aug 28, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Reveals a 27 Inch 3D Smart TV[teaser]It packs MHL and WiDi compatibility, as well as the things we’ve come to expect from a Smart TV. [/teaser] The TM2792 is LG’s latest creation and, in terms of size anyway, it pales to their 84 inch UHD behemoth. In terms of practicality though, it has quite a bit more potential. It’s a 27 inch set that gives you everything you’ve come to expect from a Smart TV but in a much smaller frame. LG’s TM2792 offers up Smart TV functionality so you can stream your favorite shows and movies as well as taking advantage of whatever other LG Apps you like. It sports MHL compatibility for viewing video from portable devices and WiDi for streaming from newer Intel laptops. The set also packs Cinema 3D, which gives you the same passive 3D experience provided by LG’s larger sets. A price hasn’t been announced, but the European release date is expected in September. No word yet on the US. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Aug 28, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Projector Shipments are Up 11 Percent from 2011[teaser]LED and 3D projectors are down, while bang-for-the-buck projectors increased their market share. [/teaser] Projector sales are down when compared to the fourth quarter of last year – something to be expected – but are up a full 11 percent from the same quarter in 2011. It’s not the hugely expensive section of the market that’s driving this, but low and mid priced projectors. 720p projectors in general were up, now holding 8.49 percent of the market share. Last year they accounted for just 5.66 percent. 1080p projectors with traditional lamps still own the market, with LED losing traction. LCoS tech gained a six percent share of the market. “The reality is that consumers can buy a whole lotta projector below $10,000 as well as below $5,000,” says Quixel Research principal researcher Terry Pratt. “It is up to manufacturers to work with their retailers to offer a story to keep the high end of the market healthy.” Source: TWICEPosted Tue Aug 28, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
SkyPlay-HD Gives You 100 Feet of Wireless HDMI[teaser]Each transmitter can support up to 20 receivers, which gives you a great deal of freedom. [/teaser] The folks at Intelix have created a new wireless HDMI system that’s designed to provide you an incredible amount of freedom in your setup. SkyPlay-HD gives you wireless HDMI with a 100 foot range, so you can even sneak away your components in another room if you like. The receiver of the SkyPlay-HD is capable of communicating to up to 20 receivers, so if you want to set up for multiple TVs, you can do so. It supports not only HD video and audio, but 3D as well, and uses WHDI technology with AES 128-bit encryption. You can pick up the SkyPlay-HD now from authorized dealers or for $409 on Amazon. Source: Electronic HousePosted Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Star Wars Episode II and III Come to Theaters in 3D September and October 2013[teaser]And of course, there’s nothing yet regarding the original three movies. [/teaser] The 3D theatrical release of ‘Attack of the Clones’ and ‘Revenge of the Sith’ has finally been announced. We’ll be getting both movies in 2013 – September 20th and October 11th respectively. The original plan was one film a year, and it’s definitely nice to see things speed up. Unfortunately, there’s not yet an announcement about when we’ll see the original trilogy in 3D, but we expect the Lucas camp is waiting to see how II and III do before starting on ‘A New Hope.’ There’s also no word yet on when we’ll see 3D Blu-ray releases. Source: EngadgetPosted Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Bonus View Digest - August 24, 2012[teaser]It's been a tough week on The Bonus View. We've had to report some very sad news in the world of filmmaking. Tony Scott's apparent suicide topped movie news, but we also discussed Bob Hoskins retiring from acting because of his diagnosis of Parkinson's. However, there is a bright spot. We've been running another great contest. If you're into free Blu-rays and you're into great TV, then you'll love our latest giveaway. [/teaser]We're giving away a free copy of Showtime's 'Homeland' on Blu-ray. If you haven't seen 'Homeland' then you need to, because it was one of the best new shows from last year's TV season. So, enter the contest today because it's the very last day to be eligible to win. Blu-ray News What new Blu-rays are you excited about? Josh covers this week's new releases in his weekly Blu-ray Highlights column. Josh also gives his opinions on the slew of animated Disney titles hitting Blu-ray and whether or not you should think about owning them. Oh yeah, and 'Wargames' is finally coming out. How great is that? Tom Landy gives you the goods on a new 'Snow White and the Huntsman' steelbook that is one of the best looking steelbooks in recent memory. Check out his Full Metal Jackets post to see this beauty. Finally, if you already forgot from the opening paragraphs… We're having a CONTEST! Win 'Homeland' on Blu-ray. Enter now! Theatrical News We have a review from Luke Hickman for the new movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon. An action movie about a bicycle delivery guy in New York called 'Premium Rush.' You might be surprised that it's actually good. E covers a couple upcoming movies in his Trailer Park post. Check out the new trailers for 'Fun Size' and 'Oz: The Great and Powerful.' Sadly, we also had to hear about and absorb the news of director Tony Scott's apparent suicide. It was with heavy hearts that we reported this story here on the blog. Video Game News Did you know that the Nintendo Power magazine was still around? Remember reading that when you were trying to beat that certain level you could never get past? Well, Nintendo Power is calling it quits, so Brian Hoss provides a detailed look at the magazine's beginning, the run it had, and its eventual end. It's a very entertaining piece indeed. Also, get the low-down on the new video game releases of the week like 'Super Mario Bros. 2,' 'Dark Souls: Prepare to Die,' and 'Transformers: Fall of Cybertron' just to name a few. Special Features This week's Weekend Roundtable asked about what book you just read. Find out what the Bonus View crew has been reading and discuss other great reads in the comments. The Mid-Week Poll was a tribute to Tony Scott. We asked you what your favorite Scott films were during his career. Take a moment and peruse the list to see what you think were Scott's top films. Aaron has another Cinematic Association post this week, but it's a sad one indeed. Bob Hoskins has retired from acting. In this post Aaron talks about his love for Hoskins as an actor and a few of his movies that really impressed him. Finally, Josh continues his Auteur Theory series about David Lynch by talking about ''On the Air'' and 'Industrial Symphony.' Thanks for joining us this week on The Bonus View even though there were a few bits of sad news to digest. We hope you'll take some time and enter our contest to win a free Blu-ray copy of 'Homeland' before time runs out for entries. Thanks again and we'll see you next week.Posted Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM PDT by: -
Klipsch Announces 5th Generation Quintet System[teaser]The speakers have been improved with new horns, woofers and more. [/teaser] The latest update to the Klipsch Quintet system brings with it plenty of improvements, starting with a brand new 90-degree by 90-degree Tractrix horn, which is designed to give you more flexibility in placement and listening area without losing any clarity. Also new to the Quintet is a Linear Travel Suspension. The new design is made to help reduce distortion while simultaneously improving the overall sound. You’ll also find new long-throw injection molded graphite woofers. The Quintet will be available in September at a price of $549. Source: eCousticsPosted Fri Aug 24, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Best Buy Income Drops 91 Percent in Second Quarter of 2012[teaser]The company attributes at least some of that charge to restructuring costs. [/teaser] Best Buy has been in the news quite a bit recently thanks to the attempts of the founder to buy the company back. The latest from the company looks quite dire – a 91% drop of income in the second quarter of this year. Rather than the 128 million during the second quarter of last year, they only brought in 12 million. Another reason for the lagging income is, of course, a drop in sales. Mobile phones and notebooks grew nicely, mid-sized TVs had a slight increase and everything else sold less than the previous year. Sales in China were also down overall thanks to a slowing economy. “Consumers remain very cautious,” says Best Buy’s interim CEO Mike Mikan, “and sales in the industry may be dampened at the moment by those who are holding back on spending as they await some highly anticipated new technology releases.” Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Aug 23, 2012 at 03:00 PM PDT by:
