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Logitech's Google TV Set-Top – The Revue[teaser]We've finally got official details on the Google TV equipped Revue, and they were well worth waiting for. [/teaser] If you were trying to decide between the Boxee Box, a Roku player, an Apple TV, and the countless other devices available to fill the need of getting digital content, the choice may have just gotten easier. The Logitech Revue has been announced, detailed, and priced, and it's nothing short of impressive. The box itself doesn't come as a huge surprise. It's small, sleek, and does just what we expected it to do. It lets you search through a wide variety of sources for the content you want and allows you to experience the internet right on your TV. Things get that much better if you've got a DVR that's compatible with the Revue. Instead of just searching the web, you'll be able to search your DVR and play video straight from the Revue. No need to switch inputs or fumble through menus. Of course, you'll need a way to control it all. That's why the Revue comes bundled with a wireless keyboard controller with a trackpad built in. It's a simple way to control the device, though not the most compact. For an added $129 you can pick up the six inch long Mini Controller that's got more of a smartphone layout. You can also pick up a free app for your iPhone or Android phone that will give you full control over the device. The Revue will be available by the end of this month and is available for pre-order today at a price of $299. Source: eCousticsPosted Fri Oct 8, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
McIntosh Launches New Amps and Preamps[teaser]They’ve got a classic look and an impressive set of features. [/teaser] There's something to be said about the look of a McIntosh component. They're not sleek and minimalist like most amps these days, but they still manage to give off the feeling of high-end high-quality gear. The MC452 and MC302 are the newest amplifiers from McIntosh and were designed to be the best of the best. Both utilize the Autoformer, which allows them to mate with any loudspeaker and both boast oversized transformers in encapsulated aluminum enclosures. The MC302 pushes out 300 watts per channel while the MC452 can output 450. When it comes to preamplifiers, McIntosh wants you to think of the C48 and C50 as the top of the line. They boast 32 bit/195kHz digital to analog conversion which re-samples all digital data up to that standard. They boast a wide range of inputs, the ability to stream music from a PC, and a separation in circuitry that eliminates interference. Source: Amplifiers, Preamplifiers via eCousticsPosted Thu Oct 7, 2010 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Boxee Announces the new TED App[teaser]You can now get some of the best tech presentations delivered right to your TV. [/teaser] If you've never heard of TED, you've been missing out. The Technology Entertainment Design conferences are home to some of the best talks and presentations you're likely to find anywhere. Past speakers at TED conferences include Richard Dawkins, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Malcom Gladwell, the great (or should I say amazing?) James Randi, and more. It's one of the biggest events of the year if you're a fan of science, technology, or just fantastic speakers. These incredible events, which carry a ticket price in the thousands, will now be available to watch on Boxee for free. New talks will be posted every day Monday through Friday. Source: Boxee BlogPosted Thu Oct 7, 2010 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Advertising is Going 3D[teaser]A low cost of entry and greater ad retention makes 3D ads a marketing team's dream. [/teaser] The seventh annual Advertising Week in New York was abuzz with talk about 3D. The attendees weren't excited about new TVs or 3D Blu-ray or even the 3DS – they were excited about the possibility of 3D ads. "Coupled with the reduced cost and new ease of 3D production thanks to Panasonic's professional 3D camcorder and editing equipment and the availability of class-leading 3D stock footage," explains Panasonic's CTO Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, "companies that create commercials in 3D will experience a dramatic surge in product awareness, interest, and buy-in." Tsuyuzaki isn't wrong about that stock footage. The company BlackLight Films is one of the leading ones for stock footage, and they've already compiled 500 hours of 3D footage from thousands of locations and are constantly pushing out more 3D content. "Now is the time for the advertising community to take advantage of a technology that is cost-effective and stunning," says Tsuyuzaki. Source: PanasonicPosted Thu Oct 7, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Amimon's Wireless HD PC-to-TV Stick is the Smallest to Date[teaser]Don't let the size fool you, it's still cranking out 1080p. [/teaser] There are many ways to get a 1080p video signal from your laptop or desktop computer to your TV. You can hook them up manually, or rely on a bulky box to send the HDMI wirelessly. Alternatively, you can pick up Amimon's new WHDI Stick. The WHDI Stick is as simple as it gets. Plug it in to your laptop, plug the receiver in to your television and you're good to go. The WHDI stick is going to be offered as a set with a receiver, or individually for folks who already have a WHDI setup. "The WHDI Stick showcases the advantages of WHDI," says Amimon's Uri Kanonich, "high image quality, low latency, low power and low cost, all in one compact design." The WHDI stick is being demoed at CEATEC now, but there's no word on when it will be coming to market. Source: MarketWirePosted Wed Oct 6, 2010 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Flo TV is Shutting Down[teaser]Qualcomm is looking for a way to compensate current subscribers. [/teaser] Remember Flo TV? It was a device with a lot of potential that just didn't pan out. With it, you could watch on-demand and live television on the go. It was interesting, but apparently not interesting enough. Sales and service have been low, and Qualcomm has taken a step back to look at just what they've been doing. Flo TV is neat and all, but the wireless data is being sent on a spectrum that's worth $2 billion. That's like driving to McDonald's in a Lamborghini – your transportation shouldn't be that much more impressive than your destination. With that realization, the folks at Qualcomm are shutting down Flo TV and working on a way to compensate current customers. We'll keep you updated if anything is revealed. Source: Paid ContentPosted Wed Oct 6, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Toshiba is the First to Unveil Glasses-Free 3D Sets[teaser]And yes, they're incredibly expensive. [/teaser] Toshiba has just announced a pair of 3D televisions that don't require the use of glasses. They're cool, but expensive. Not just expensive – OLED expensive. You can pick up a 12 inch model with a 466 x 350 resolution – no, we're not sure why either – at a price of 120,000 yen, or around $1,440. Not satisfied with a tiny set? You'll have the chance to go bigger with the strangely shaped 720p capable 20GL1 for just 240,000 yen, or $2,880. Obviously, these sets are only geared towards the very early adopter and are priced for that audience. It could be a very good start though, if the 3D effect is really up to snuff. At the very least, it makes the $300 3DS look like a steal. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Oct 5, 2010 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
The Google TV Site Launches – Explains[teaser]Google TV isn't something that can be summed up in one sentence, but one website does a pretty good job with it. [/teaser] Google TV is going to be unveiled, explained, priced and dated on Wednesday, but the Google TV website offers a good start for people looking for information. It's a simple site that does a fantastic job of showing and explaining just what you'll need to know. The new service, which launches with the Sony Internet TV and Logitech Revue, isn't exactly innovative or new. Most of what it does can be done with other devices like the Boxee Box, but Google TV just looks crisper, cleaner and most importantly – easier. We'll find out the full details of Google TV soon, until then, check out the site for more information. Source: GooglePosted Tue Oct 5, 2010 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Penetration is Up to 17 Percent[teaser]That's twice what the numbers were last year, which is good news for the Blu-ray industry. [/teaser] Surveys and reports don't always reveal what's actually going on, and the latest from the NPD group does have a few odd points, but they're full of wonderful numbers that we can over-analyze for our own amusement. Let's start with Blu-ray penetration, which is up to 17 percent this year. That means twice as many homes now have Blu-ray players when compared to last year. Not bad by any standards. NPD also says that Blu-ray players are more prevalent than Netflix, which is a bit vague. It seems to mean that Blu-ray player ownership is higher than the number of Netflix subscriptions, but could also point to the amount of people that own Netflix capable devices. The same study also showed the popularity of the PlayStation 3 as a primary Blu-ray player, since only 1.7 million households owned a Blu-ray player in addition to their PS3. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Oct 5, 2010 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Yamaha Debuts New Retro Receiver Line[teaser]The new line sports today's features and yesterday's look. [/teaser] If you've been in the home theater game for a while, or if you've got a penchant for things with a bit of an old-school vibe, you may want to check out the latest line of receivers from Yamaha. "Along with muscular vintage designs reminiscent of earlier, highly regarded Yamaha stereo receivers, amps and tuners," says Tom Summers, president of Yamaha, "these systems provide total sonic purity and refinements—such as a special power supply for the clearest sound from iPods, multi-zone capabilities, Yamaha ToP-ART circuitry and the latest amplifier designs." The R-S700, 500 and 300 offer outputs of 100 watts per channel, 75 watts and 30 watts respectively. They've got the classic look and are made to pair up well with the A-S500 integrated amplifier and the T-S500 tuner. Pricing for receivers starts at $329, while the tuner will run $299 and the amp $449. Source: Computer UserPosted Tue Oct 5, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
