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Comcast Launches XFINITY[teaser]Want more bandwidth, more online content and more HD? Comcast’s bringing it and switching up their name in the process. [/teaser] Comcast is introducing some new, higher tier subscription plans, and rebranding their existing products with the new XFINITY brand name. Let’s get it out of the way right at the top. XFINITY is a silly name, we all agree. XFINITY is rolling out in eleven cities initially with more to come this year. While for most customers this will simply be a name change, Comcast is adding more high-end internet and television packages to their lineup. The details of the television packages, such as content and pricing, are not yet announced. Comcast Voices, the company’s official blog, revealed some of the plans for internet packages though. “We’re offering 50 Mbps in XFINITY markets, and those speeds will keep increasing to 100+ Mbps and even faster in the future,” writes Comcast VP of Operations David Watson. Watson also teased a few projects that are still in the works, such as iPhone apps, caller ID features, and Remote DVR. Source: Comcast VoicesPosted Thu Feb 4, 2010 at 02:40 PM PST by: -
JVC TeleDock LCDs Sport a Built-in iPod Dock[teaser]Looking for a TV with a built in iPod docking station right in the front? Well look no further. [/teaser] JVC’s TeleDock series of LCDs are a bit different. They’ve got a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1080p screen resolution. They come in sizes from 32” on up to 46”. Oh, and they’ve got an iPod dock built right in. It’s a solution, admittedly, for those who want to hook their iPods and iPhones up to their new TVs. It’s not the most elegant solution, since it leaves the iPod sitting right in front of the television on a flipped out plastic dock, but for what it is, it works. You can play music and movies directly from your iPod, and use JVC’s remote to control playback. If you want, you can even play music from the iPod while watching TV. Videos from the iPod can be played back at different aspect ratios, though the lower the quality, the smaller the picture. The JVC TeleDock series also comes complete with three HDMI inputs as well as two component, two S-video, and a PC input. Pricing has not yet been determined for the JVC TeleDock, but we’ll see the release of JVC’s new sets this spring. Source: JVCPosted Thu Feb 4, 2010 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Our TVs are Inexpensive, Not Cheap says Vizio CEO[teaser]Vizio has certainly come a long way in the last few years. [/teaser] They established themselves early on as a good alternative for entry level sets, but they’re increasingly popular, even when compared to more established companies. William Wang says it has everything to do with quality. “Most people think the way to make inexpensive TVs is to use inexpensive parts,” says William Wang, CEO of Vizio. “These days that's not the best approach.” In an interview with Nikkei Electronics Asia, Wang stressed that even though the company makes some of the most economically priced televisions on the market, that doesn’t mean they make cheap TVs. He says that the main way the company keeps prices down is to establish strong relationships with other firms. “We outsource TV design, manufacture and other matters to AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd. and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., both of Taiwan,” he said. “For sales, our tie-ups with companies like Costco Wholesale Corp. are essential.” He says that regardless of the quality and price of the televisions Vizio offers, if the company were to use the same high-cost system of manufacturing and distribution as larger companies, it just wouldn’t work. In closing, Wang said that one of his goals with Vizio over the next few years is to create smart TVs that are capable of much more than regular televisions, but to keep them simple enough that anyone can use them. Source: Tech-onPosted Thu Feb 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Outdoor 3D Advertising Hits Grand Central Station[teaser]Grand Central Station is one of the busiest parts of the busiest cities in the world, and the perfect place to try new advertising techniques. Visa and CBS Outdoor have teamed up to do just that with their new 3D ads. [/teaser] Let’s not get too excited here. These aren’t the wonderful autostereoscopic 3D ads of 'Back to the Future II.' No one will be tricked into thinking they’re being eaten by a holographic shark. This is the same 3D that’s in theaters now and coming to homes later this year. Every day between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM, over seventy thousand pairs of 3D glasses will be passed out to commuters. The traditional 2D ads shown in the station will be replaced with 3D ads for the two hour period, and potential customers will get a chance to see 3D for free. There will also be 3D dioramas scattered throughout the station that will be running throughout the day, and, apparently, a billboard campaign advertising the Grand Central Station advertising campaign. Whether the campaign will be successful is anyone’s guess, but thrifty New Yorkers with 3D sets will have a great way to get extra glasses for when company comes over. Source: CBSPosted Thu Feb 4, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
2010 Onkyo Receivers Will Support HDMI 1.4[teaser]HDMI 1.4 is on its way and Onkyo is leading the charge. [/teaser] There’s been a surprisingly small amount of hubbub over HDMI 1.4. The new standard is set to make some significant changes to the way we connect our components. While there is a lot to nay-say about HDMI 1.4, there’s a lot to be excited about too, namely the option to send Ethernet signals over HDMI. Onkyo announced today that they’ll be supporting HDMI 1.4 in all of their new receivers for 2010. “We are very supportive of the new standard,” said Onkyo’s marketing manager Paul Wasek, “because of the added capabilities and the simplification of system connections.” HDMI 1.4 has a few different capabilities that 1.3 didn’t, but Onkyo is specifically supporting 3D capabilities and the Audio Return Channel. The return channel simplifies audio connections by allowing audio data to go both down and up stream, eliminating the need for a separate S/PDIF connection. Source: OnkyoPosted Wed Feb 3, 2010 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Get Your Hands on the LG BD550 Manual Now[teaser]LG’s new Blu-ray players aren’t out yet, but that doesn’t have to stop you from wanting them. If you’re looking for a quick fix, the manual for the BD550 is online now. [/teaser] It might not be the top of LG’s new Blu-ray lineup, but if you’re into gear like we’re into gear, you’ll want to take a peek at the manual for the BD550. Sure, there’s nothing that’ll come as a huge surprise. You’ve got Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, VUDU and Pandora all available thanks to NetCast. It plays back Blu-ray discs in 1080p and is BD-Live compliant. The BD550 will rip CDs down to a USB drive, which is a cool feature, but the manual doesn’t say which format it rips to. In fact, it specifically says that it “records CDs” to a thumb drive, which is a bit of an odd use of the terminology. Leaked information is always exciting, and the full user manual for the BD550 being available before it releases is right up there. But come on LG, how bout leaking some more info on the BD590? Source: LGPosted Wed Feb 3, 2010 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Panasonic Unveils 3D Blu-ray Authoring Facility[teaser]Panasonic’s Advanced Authoring Center beats the competition to the punch. [/teaser] It’s no secret that Panasonic absolutely loves 3D. They’ve been pushing the new 3D technologies hard from the beginning, and their gear was used exclusively in the production of 'Avatar.' So the news that they’re the first company to launch a 3D Blu-ray probably won’t shock anyone. They’ve got it all up and running pretty quickly though. Panasonic has upgraded their Advanced Authoring Center for compatibility with the new 3D Blu-rays based on the Blu-ray Disc Associations standards. It’s now the one and only place that studios can go to get their 3D content put onto disc. There are a few companies making the push for 3D dominance, and while Samsung and Sony want to take the 3D market in the home, Panasonic’s looking for businesses. “Given Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory’s vast experience with HD image processing,” says Jeannine Patton, of the Advanced Authoring Center, “we are confident that we lead the industry.” Other companies will launch authoring facilities too, but speed counts for a lot in the ongoing tech race. Panasonic says that the first 3D Blu-ray discs will be rolling out as early as this spring. Source: PanasonicPosted Wed Feb 3, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Wireless HD Coming from Hitachi, Panasonic, and Toshiba[teaser]All three companies are developing wireless chips for the 60GHz frequency. [/teaser] Judging from the number of announcements from companies working on wireless high definition in the last few years, you’d think we’d have it by now. And technically we do, it’s just not at a price most people are willing to pay. While wireless HDMI is easy to dismiss, the option to go wireless with a TV can’t be overlooked. Getting rid of the need for wires allows incredible freedom of placement for a television, though the need for power, and the cost and reliability of wireless HDMI units are still limiters. From the looks of things, the technology is finally ready for mass production, as Hitachi, Panasonic and Toshiba have all stated that they’re working on wireless chips of their own. Each company is independently working on semiconductors, says one Hitachi engineer, to avoid having to rely on third party manufacturers. There’s no word as to which company is going with which wireless standard, WiGig or WirelessHD. Either way, the 60GHz spectrum will allow transfer rates as high as 1.5 gigabits a second without interference from other wireless devices. Even at a 1Gb/s transfer rate – about two thirds of the maximum – a full audio CD could be transferred in about five seconds, while a full movie could be sent in nine. Blu-ray discs have a 54Mb/s transfer rate, and even at the proposed 8x read speed, they’ll only need 288Mbps. If 60GHz streaming works in the home like it does in demos, and the costs aren’t prohibitive, we’re in for a treat. Source: Tech OnPosted Tue Feb 2, 2010 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
AVRev Publishes 'The Definitive 2010 HDTV Buyer's Guide'[teaser]Audio Video Revolution (AVRev.com), High-Def Digest's sister site, has just posted an indispensable guide for purchasing an HDTV in 2010.[/teaser] Whether you're just making the switch to HD, or itching to upgrade your home theater equipment for the new year (I sure know I am!), AVRev has got you covered. The guide is a perfect checklist as you research and pick out your next prized possession. From common sense questions like, "What's this thing weigh?" to more in depth consideration such as, "Will this monster have that new 120hz – 240hz “motion” technology?" the AVRev crew will walk you through the HDTV minefield, pointing out each and every obstacle along the way. Whether you're buying it for sport nights, movie marathons, or as a budget minded alternative to a family night at the multiplex, this guide is well worth your time. Check out The Definitive 2010 HDTV Buyer's Guide now.Posted Tue Feb 2, 2010 at 12:35 PM PST by: -
Acer’s Twenty-four Inch 3D Display is Available Now[teaser]There’s a new 3D capable LCD on the market for only $399, but it’s not a TV. [/teaser] If you’re looking for a nice 3D display and you don’t mind sitting at your desk, Acer’s got a 23.6” monitor that’s fully 3D capable for only $399 on sale today. To watch content from your computer, you’ll still need to pick up Nvidia’s 3D Vision kit, but $600 is still a relatively low price of entry for 3D technology. Not sold on the whole 3D thing? The Acer GD235HZ is still a great monitor for HD movies. Just like a television, Acer’s new creation sports a 1080p resolution. It’s got a 16:9 aspect ratio, rather than the 16:10 ratio found in many widescreen computer monitors. The GD235HZ also sports has an impressive 80,000:1 contrast ratio. The big news is in speed though. Acer’s new monitor has a ridiculously fast response time of as little as 2ms. It’s also one of few LCD computer monitors that hits the 120Hz mark, which has been a bit of a struggle for the technology. This isn’t going to replace your living room television by any means, but it’s a nice cheap way to jump into 3D, and an all around nice monitor. Source: AcerPosted Tue Feb 2, 2010 at 10:00 AM PST by:
