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Vizio Dominates Black Friday With 280,000 TVs Sold[teaser]It's not a surprise when an already popular company sells a huge number of televisions on Black Friday. When they announce a forty percent increase in sales over the previous year, that's something worth paying attention to. [/teaser] Only seven years after the company was created, Vizio has become a major player in the LCD market. Vizio has developed a reputation as being one of the best budget television manufacturers. In the last year though, they've made a move away from the low end and it seems to have paid off. Vizio added a few new features to their new sets this year, including LED backlighting, even on their smaller televisions, and they've been well received by customers. Of the 280,000 televisions sold by Vizio during the week of Black Friday, 50,000 of them featured a 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rate. Size has also played a strong role in the increased sales. While Vizio certainly did well in the sales of their more modest sets, they sported a full one thousand percent increase in sales of sets over 50”. Soundbars also did fairly well during the week of Black Friday, though obviously not as well as HDTVs. Still, Vizio managed to sell 7,000 soundbars in a single week, which speaks highly of the potential adoption rate of the still relatively unknown technology. Source: VizioPosted Thu Dec 3, 2009 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Buffalo Announces USB 3.0 12x Blu-ray Burner[teaser]Buffalo’s new Blu-ray burner – hitting Japan this month, with international releases later – boasts impressive transfer speeds. The downside? You can’t really use it yet. [/teaser] Blu-ray burners seem to be pretty slow in hitting the market, and let's face it, slow in burn speeds as well. 8x burners are commonplace, while 12x burners are still relatively rare. Buffalo, well known for its computer components and accessories, has announced the release of what they say is the fastest Blu-ray burner yet. Not that anyone can use it though. The much touted 12x burn speed of Buffalo's new burner is only available via a USB 3.0 connection. Unfortunately, USB 3.0 isn't quite here yet. Until it is, Buffalo can only promise 7x burning speeds, and that's only if you're using a Turbo USB 2.0 chipset. When this is launched in Japan in early December, customers will have the opportunity to pay around $450 USD for a Blu-ray burner that – for now – functions at lower than average speeds. Of course, USB 3.0 is only the first part of the problem. Recordable Blu-ray discs that handle up to twelve times speed aren't exactly flooding the market. In fact, Buffalo only recommends one Panasonic disc type as compatible, and even that comes with an asterisk. Source: Buffalo (via Google Translate)Posted Wed Dec 2, 2009 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
NAD Unveils T 557 Blu-ray Player[teaser]The new quick loading and fully featured T 557 Blu-ray player from NAD launches this January. [/teaser] It seems backwards, but the trend tends to be that higher end consumer electronics manufacturers are the last to integrate new features. The T 557 Blu-ray player from NAD, for example, is their first player to stream video and audio from a home network. It's something other players have been doing for a while, and something the PS3 has been doing for ages. That's not to say that NAD is behind the times, their newest player includes an impressive feature set. The 557 is of course a BD Live capable player, and offers both Ethernet and WiFi connectivity. It outputs at a 1080p resolution at 24, 50, or 60 Hz. It's got 7.1 channel analog audio outputs as well as both coax and optical digital audio outs. The NAD T 557 also bitstreams all the latest in high definition audio formats including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Especially tantalizing though is the load time of the 557. NAD states that their new player “loads most Blu-ray discs in just a few seconds.” The NAD T 557 also has an instant open function which quickly ejects the disc. Though a picture in picture feature isn't unique to the NAD T 557, the ability to play standard definition and high definition video simultaneously is intriguing. NAD will be showing off their new player at CES next month, but it is available now from authorized dealers at a price of $599. Source: NADPosted Wed Dec 2, 2009 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: HD Gear[teaser]The first of High-Def Digest’s annual holiday gift guides has arrived. This installment focuses on HD Gear, and a few choice titles for testing out your new favorite things.[/teaser] by Michael S. Palmer ‘Tis the season, my friends. A favorite, festive time. For charity. Goodwill. And, bless us all, a chance to toss a new toy under our tree into our family rooms. Hard to believe it’s upon us already, but next week is Thanksgiving, which fires off the holiday shopping season’s official opening salvo: Black Friday. A day of deals to be followed by a month-long shop-a-thon, where by the most experienced may survive only through sheer will and a steady Cinnabun diet. But thing’s are tough, I know. The economy did a cannonball into an empty swimming pool, and now we’re all doing our best to recover while indulging out HD addictions. But the worst is over. It’s time to pull together, learn from the past, and jumpstart our future. Which is why, on this historic day, we are starting a brand new campaign: SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF! This is patriotism, people. Pure and simple. Purchase a high definition home theater system to watch a Blu-ray Disc or play a video game, and you employ the millions who designed, built, shipped, sold, and installed your gear. Not to mention the thousands of names on the credits of that epic film or game franchise based on your favorite best selling novel. And don’t forget the fnancial obligations of handsome high-def writers and reviewers. With our civil duties properly outlined, it’s time to prepare. First: Budget, budget, budget. Remember, we’re in the “want” category of life (as opposed to “need”) so save your pennies first, then spend only what you have. Second: Research is key. In the crowded, frenzied malls of the season, you don’t have the time to park the car, let alone properly demo gear. So head to the stores in advance, ask friends, read reviews (or helpful holiday shopping guides written by handsome high-def writers), and above all, loving shopper, listen to your husband/wife/kids to see what they really want this year. TO BLACK FRIDAY OR NOT TO BLACK FRIDAY? The Bard’s most famous question (or close approximation there of) for those who now have their list of wants. Black Friday Info is your go-to source for all sales on the day. But is it really worth it to spend a night on an icy sidewalk outside sears? The truth is, Black Friday is just a marketing gimmick. And like all things that worked well to bring out droves of potential consumers, it’s no longer limited to one day a year. Amazon starts “Black Friday” this Monday, November 23 with a week of deals (as always, Amazon is the place to be for free shipping and no sales tax (unless you live in Washington state)). Beyond that, most stores are going to be riddled with sales for the rest of the year. The key is to look out for the products you already want, and cross check the major retailers to find the best price (many have price-matching policies, which create easy one-stop shopping). With our list in hand, it’s time to get shopping, and save money while doing it. Here’s a list of fantastic gear I’d ask Santa for this year as well as recommend to my friends and family. I know everyone’s budget is different, so I've tried to find entry, mid, and high-end options to help start or improve your home theater set up (as usual, faithful readers, add your own suggestions to the forums!): HDTVS Remember the golden rule: below 40 inches, don’t worry about 1080p because you’ll probably be sitting too far away to tell the difference. I always tell my friends to get the biggest TV they can afford/fit because with HD, you’ll always want more. Sony Bravia KDL-40V5100. At around $879, this 40-inch, entry-level LCD has a solid picture, and 120hz. JVC LT-46P300. Find this 46-inch LCD for just over $1,000. Another entry-level model, this one is pretty big, has a good picture, and an easy-to-use built-in iPod/iPhone dock which can be hooked to your home theater receiver via the TV’s Dolby Digital out on the back. Panasonic TC-P54V10. This massive 54-inch plasma sells for $2,399, is Internet ready, and according to CNET delivered “the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we’ve tested so far this year.” Plasmas excel at deep, rich black levels, and it won’t have the same motion flicker that bothers some LCD owners. Mitsubishi 737 Series. The last of the rear projection DLP. If you don’t need to hang something on a wall, and want “bigger for cheaper,” look for this series at 60 inches for as little as $1,200. The whopping 82-incher sells for $4,500 (forklift not included). Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR10. At 52-inches and $3,999, the super thin XBR10 featuring 240Hz anti-blur technology is Sony’s flagship LED-LCD. Not only does this HDTV have every adjustment imaginable, but it has built-in web capabilities, and wireless high-def hookup. Simply mount this flat panel on the wall (and over the power outlet). Then, hook up the separate “Media Box” to your receivers, Blu-ray Disc players, and cable boxes. Simple. No need to run or hide cables. BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS LG BD370. A well priced, fully functional Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Disc player, the BD370 retails for $150, and can be hardwired with a broadband Internet connection for access to streaming content such as Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow. LG BD390. At $270, the BD390 is the older brother. Same great picture and sound, but the BD 390 has a built-in Wi-Fi abilities, and includes access to Vudu’s On Demand streaming service. Vudu’s “HDX” encoded movies look and sound almost as good as the Blu-rays you’re watching. Sony PlayStation 3. At $299 for the newer slim, the PS3 is an amazing, versatile machine. Still, in my opinion, the best console around. Not only is it a wireless Internet ready Blu-ray disc player, it has its own web browser, a huge hard drive to act as a media server, and, oh yeah, it plays video games. RECEIVERS Finding a great, multi-feature receiver is pretty easy, and quite affordable. In addition to the brands and models listed below, check out Harmon/Kardon, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Integra for great, modern AVRs (or audio/video receivers capable of HDMI video/audio content used in Blu-ray and even cable or satellite boxes). Denon AVR 1610. At $379, this is a great entry-level machine. It has 3 HDMI inputs, and can decode all the newer HD audio codecs into stunning 5.1 surround sound, 75 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD (total harmonic distortion). Denon AVR 2310. For $849, one gets 5 HDMI inputs, 7.1 surround sound capabilities, 105 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD and bells n’ whistles like Audyssey MutlEQ and Dolby’s new ProLogic IIz. Personally speaking, I have last year’s model, the 2309, and I can’t turn it up loud enough. Onkyo TX-NR5007. For $2,295, one gets this monster of an AVR: THX Ultra2 Plus certified, 8 HDMI inputs, new technologies like Dolby Volume and ProLogic IIz, and a staggering 9.2 channels of surround sound with 145 watts per channel @.05% THD. SPEAKERS There are literally so many choices out there, it should always be noted that speakers are best tested out by each individual buyer. If you don’t like these, check out Infinity, Definitive Technology, Martin Logan, and Klipsch. There’s something for everyone, and the main lesson here is simple: Never use your TV’s own speakers. They’re cheap, and can never compare to a 5.1 surround sound experience. Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 Speaker System. Your choice of black or white finishes, this is the perfect little system for someone just starting out in surround sound, or who needs to save on space. Take it home for $499.99. HSU Research HB-1 MK2 5.1 package. Home Theater Sound’s 2008 product of the year, this set for mid-sized rooms provides outstanding performance at a bargain. Priced online direct from HSU, pick these up for as little as $1149 (for the satin black finish), which includes 1 HC-1 MK2 center, 4 HB-1 MK2s bookshelf speakers, and 1 VTF-1 Sub. Kef iQ Series 7.1 Speaker System. Britain’s own Kef Speakers are fantastic. Deep lows, clean mids, and mountainous highs. Checking around online (using 2 iQ90 fronts, 1 iQ60C center, 4 iQ30 surrounds, and the PSW2500BL Sub), bring home Kef in 7.1 channels for $2320. There are cheaper options as well (smaller fronts, or less surrounds), but these are world class speakers for a fair price. In the speaker world, there is no budget limitations (Revel’s Ultima2 Salon2 front Towers are ONLY $21,998 per pair!). Above are some, albeit pricey, “entry-level” surround sound systems featuring quality satellite, bookshelf, and floor standing speakers. But I implore you to only buy when you hear what you love and can’t live with out. Happy hunting. HD ACCESSORIES No surround sound system is complete without a few finishing details: Monoprice is a great place to save on all sorts of accessories, including speaker wire, HDMI cables and flat panel wall mounts. Accessories are like printing money for local retailers. They’re hugely overpriced, and you’ll save when you remember to NEVER BUY MONSTER CABLE. Do they work well? Of course, but why buy name brands when the Monoprice version works just as well, yet sells for a 10th of the price? It’s okay, I’ll wait for your answer. Don’t forget a universal, computer programmable remote to easily run the whole system (the technical term is making it “wife proof” because who really wants to figure out what each of the 7 remotes on the coffee table actually do?). The Logitech Harmony series is excellent. I have owned the 550 and 880. The Harmony One, at under $200, is easy to program, illuminates in the dark and includes a rechargeable battery, but remember: if you want to run your PlayStation 3 using a Harmony remote, you will need the $60 “PS3 Adaptor” to go along with it. MOVIE & GAME DEMOS. Now that you have your first system, or maybe you’ve just brought home a new Blu-ray Disc Player, video game console, or surround sound system, it’s time for the best part: DEMO!!! Time to show yourself and your family that there will be no buyers’ remorse for this money well spent because if there’s one way to win over high-def converts, it’s to simply let the technology speak for itself. Here’s a handful of must buys for cinema and gaming enthusiasts: ‘Star Trek’ is out now, and this action/special features packed reboot soars in high definition. ‘The Godfather Collection’has never looked this good, classic cinema lovers. ‘Up ’ might be the newest Pixar release, but this year alone they’ve released (or re-released) ‘Monsters, Inc.’, ‘Cars’, and ‘A Bug’s Life’ on Blu-ray disc. Not only do these movies represent the finest digital picture and sound, but Pixar continues to make the best movies of any year. There’s no better way to gather as a family, than over heartwarming adventures that connect to every generation with equal appeal. ‘Taken’ is a visceral ride for adult-oriented action junkies, and along those lines, watch the opening studio logos for ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’. Viewing the movie itself may cause brain damage, but kudos to the sound engineers for engaging the viewer on every flying star as they whoosh across the screen and settle around the word “Paramount.” It’s stunning. TV fans won’t find better television, or better high definition than this year’s releases of ‘LOST: The Complete First Season’ and ‘Band of Brothers’. As for gaming, look no further for stunning graphics than these bestsellers and new releases: ‘Madden 10’, ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’, ‘Gran Turismo 5: Prologue’ (the most realistic driving graphics I’ve ever seen, courtesy of the PS3), ‘HALO 3: ODST’, ‘Assassin’s Creed 2’, and ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’. Happy hunting. Happy saving. And Happy Holidays, dearest readers, from all of us at High-Def Digest. And remember, always: SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!Posted Mon Nov 30, 2009 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
37 HD Advisors. In a Row?Editor's Note: Each Friday, High-Def Digest's own HD Advisor will answer a new round of questions from our readers. If you have home theater questions you need answered, send an email to [email protected]. If you've already sent a question and don't see it answered yet, please be patient as we work our way through them. To browse through previously answered questions, visit the main HD Advisor page. Answers by Joshua Zyber Rental vs. Retail Blu-ray Discs Q: I recently rented a Blu-ray copy of 'Léon: The Professional' from Netflix and was amazed by the crystal clarity video of the HD transfer on this movie. I liked it so much that I went out and purchased a copy of this Blu-ray at my local Walmart store. Maybe it's just me, but I swear when I played my purchased copy of this movie, the video clarity seemed to be a lot worse than the rental I previously viewed. I had sent my Netflix copy back, so I could not compare the two, and now I am in a "Long Wait" status at Netflix to get it again. My question is, could this be possible that there are differences in the video clarity on these two Blu-ray discs of the same movie? If so, could or has this happened with other movies? (And I don't mean like what happened with 'The Fifth Element'.) I know it seems unlikely, but I am pretty sure there was a "night-and-day" difference in the video between these two. There were no hardware or setup changes with my equipment when I viewed these two. Any thoughts on this matter? A: Without having seen either copy of 'Léon' for myself, what you describe sounds pretty unlikely. There have been cases of studios sending stripped-down versions (with no bonus features) of their movies on Blu-ray to rental outlets. However, that's primarily an issue with 20th Century Fox, Warner Home Video, and Disney. I haven't heard of Sony Pictures (the studio behind 'Léon') doing it. Even if they did, no studio would go to the trouble of striking two separate film-to-video transfers for the rental and retail markets. The transfer process and disc authoring are extremely expensive. It would simply not be in the studio's financial interest to do it. Nor is there any good reason to do so. In a worst-case scenario, the studio may overly-compress the rental version, which could result in worse picture quality. But what you're describing is the opposite of that. I really can't imagine a scenario where a studio would allow its retail copies to look worse than the rental copies. The digital mastering processes used in the authoring of Blu-ray discs are basically immune from copy-to-copy variances like we may have seen back in the VHS days, where one tape could produce a dramatically worse picture than another if it were damaged or defective. A damaged or defective Blu-ray will either not play at all, or will have serious and unmistakable playback problems. It won't just cause the disc to have different picture quality than another. 'Léon' was previously released on Blu-ray in Europe with a video transfer that may be different than the new Sony disc. My first thought was that perhaps Netflix was somehow renting out copies of that older import. Unfortunately, the import was locked to Region B. You wouldn't have been able to play that disc at all. I have two theories here, one more likely than the other. The less likely scenario is that perhaps your home theater equipment has somehow changed its calibration settings without you realizing it. Perhaps someone in your household changed something when you weren't around, or the equipment reset to the factory defaults in between power cycles? I've had both of these happen. Be sure to double-check your settings to see if they're really where you last left them. I hate to say it, but I think that the most likely scenario here is that your memory of the rental copy is betraying you. Perhaps you were in a better mood that day and were more inclined to be impressed by the disc's video quality? By the time you bought your own copy, you may have been feeling more critical and were subconsciously scrutinizing it for flaws that you missed the first time around. Memory can be fickle. Such things happen. But, if you do manage to rent that Netflix copy again and can do a side-by-side comparison, be sure to write back if you find a real quantifiable difference between the two discs. That would certainly be an issue worth taking up with the studio. No HD Resolution over Component Connection Q: I have a Mitsubishi WS-65857 HD-Ready TV without HDMI. I bought a Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray player, and don't understand why I can only watch Blu-rays in 480p format. When I set the player to 1080i, I get nothing but a blue screen. Is this because I don't have a HDMI connection? A: In most cases, a Blu-ray player should allow you to transmit HD video signals at either 720p or 1080i resolution over Component Video for Blu-ray content. Unfortunately, due to ridiculous restrictions imposed by the DVD Forum, you will not be able to upconvert DVD content to resolutions higher than 480p over Component. You must use HDMI for that. The Blu-ray spec includes a provision for something called the Image Constraint Token that would also prevent Blu-ray discs from being viewed at more than 480p resolution over Component. However, to date, this ICT flag has not been used on any Blu-ray discs. I did some research into your TV, which is an older model. Apparently, the WS-65857 has two sets of Component Video inputs. Only one of them is capable of accepting high-def input resolutions. The other Component inputs are intended only for SD signals up to 480p. My guess here is that you've connected the Blu-ray player to the wrong input. Take another look at your connections and see if that's the problem. Homework Assignment: You Be the Advisor The HD Advisor knows many things, but he doesn't know everything. Some questions are best answered with a consensus of opinions from our readers. If you can help to answer the following question, please post your response in our forum thread linked at the end of this article. Your advice and opinions matter too! HD Advisor Column Photo Images Q: Last week, I asked for suggestions for future HD Advisor column titles. I got some good responses. This week's column title was one of the less-than-good suggestions. For the half dozen readers out there who get the reference, you can blame High-Def Digest's own Nate Boss. It's all his fault. If you've read the column for any length of time, you've probably noticed that I also try to pick an opening photo image in the theme of questions and answers, or people who give advice. I've had teachers, game show hosts, psychics, etc. My personal favorite was the picture of the young Melissa Joan Hart, which I'm sure all of five people found clever. But I'm running out of ideas again. If you have some suggestions along these themes, preferably movie- or TV-related, please throw them my way. Check back soon for another round of answers. Keep those questions coming. Joshua Zyber's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of this site, its owners or employees.Posted Fri Nov 27, 2009 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
A High Definition Disconnect[teaser]We all know that guy. He picks up a nice HDTV for the holidays because he's heard how great it is, but fails to pick up a Blu-ray player, high definition game console, or even an HD cable or satellite service. According to a recent survey by Frank N. Magid Associates, he's not alone. [/teaser] There are some fun statistics in the survey, which can easily be mistaken as nitpicking. For example, while thirty-five percent of households that responded to the survey said they had an HDTV, it appears that an additional eight percent own and HDTV and they don't even know it. Magid says that those eight percent did not describe their sets as HD, but said that they had either LCD, plasma, or widescreen televisions. The survey results also state that only sixty-six percent of respondees were subscribed to a high definition cable or satellite service. If this is the case, that would make the number of people without a high definition service an approximate fourteen million. Magid's survey was a web based survey of 1,373 adults aged 21 and up. Some of the results are questionable to say the least, such as the statistic that thirteen percent of those that completed the survey had never heard of high definition. The numbers suggest that forty-two percent of those who purchased an HDTV but do not have high definition television service don't feel that the cost of service is worth the improved picture. Interestingly, thirty two percent selected an option stating that “I like the way the set looks, I don't need HD programming.” Source: MagidPosted Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Google and TiVo Join Forces For Advertising Deal[teaser]It's not all bad news for TiVo today, as they've teamed with Google to create a sort of 'pay per click' advertising scheme for TV. [/teaser] There's not much defense for the current television advertising model. It's behind the times at best, and advertisers really have no way to guarantee that their ads will be watched, let alone whether the ads will be effective. Thanks to an effort in tandem with TiVo, Google has a solution. With second by second viewing data from TiVo, Google has created a television spin on their pay-per-click web based advertising. By using the data from TiVo, Google is able to determine exactly how many people watched each commercial, how many changed channels mid commercial, and how many fast forwarded right through it. Using these statistics, customers buying ads through Google TV will pay for each ad based on the actual viewership. Under a more traditional advertising model, ads are bought based on the expected viewing data, with no regard for whether the advertisement is already watched. Google hopes that this will help to create more appropriately targeted ads. By knowing exactly what gets watched and what doesn't, advertisers will have a better idea of what to see and viewers won't be barraged with ads for products irrelevant to them. Google TV currently sells advertising for a variety of television channels, including SyFy, MSNBC, and CNBC. Source: VarietyPosted Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 02:30 PM PST by: -
TiVo's Q3 Results Better Than Expected, Subcriber Rate Drops[teaser]TiVo is a name that was once synonymous with the DVR, but despite better than expected sales results from the third quarter of 2009, the once mighty TiVo is losing subscribers in droves. [/teaser] The third quarter of 2009 was a bit of a mixed bag for TiVo. The press release reads like a 'good news, bad news' scenario. The bad news is that TiVo posted a loss of $6.7 million. The good news? They expected it to be worse. Of course, the company isn't taking this in stride. In the last year they've made significant investments to expand outside of the US market, including entering New Zealand for the first time. They've teamed up with Virgin Media in the UK, and DirecTV in the US, which has potential to increase their subscriber base by millions. TiVo is also quick to remind investors and analysts of the recent deal with Best Buy. In return for allowing Best Buy advertisements and branding on their DVRs, TiVo is expected to get a large marketing and sales push from Best Buy starting in early 2010. According to TiVo's SEC filing, the subscriber base has been steadily declining since the first month of 2007. The last few years have seen a slow shift away from the service, with declines of one or two hundred thousand subscribers a month, but October showed a huge increase of over three hundred thousand subscribers leaving the service. This correlates interestingly with a similarly sharp increase in subscriber rates in October of 2004, which peaked two months later when over six hundred thousand new subscribers joined the service in December. There have been several new announcements from TiVo recently, including a new keyboard style remote, but thusfar, there's no indication of new DVRs. Source: TiVo, TVByTheNumbersPosted Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
LaCie LaCinema Classic HD 1TB Media Player[teaser]LaCie recently introduced the LaCinema Classic HD media player to their lineup. With a full terabyte of storage, the $250 price is looking pretty good. [/teaser] Networked media players, media streamers, whatever you want to call them, they’re being produced at an increasing rate. It seems like every company with a few extra bucks to spare is throwing these together at the lowest price point they can. LaCie’s LaCinema classic takes a bit of a different tact. To start with, it might be the only media streaming set-top that actually looks like a nice piece of hardware. It’s black, it’s shiny, and it’s got a nice little LED underglow. It’s just plain impressive. It’s also reasonably priced, which is unusual for streaming devices with built in storage. While the terabyte hard drive certainly adds to the cost, a price of $250 isn’t at all unreasonable for the components. Media can be played from an attached USB storage device or from any networked source. While LaCie’s media player doesn’t offer any online streaming services, it does feature an impressively full set of supported codecs. On the video side, the LaCinema HD handles AVI, MP4, MKV, DivX, DAT, MOV, MPEG, VOB and several others including ISO. Audio formats including MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, OGG and FLAC can be played back on the LaCinema HD, as well as JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP and TIFF images. At $250, the LaCinema HD is currently sold out from LaCie but is available through any authorized reseller. Source: LaCiePosted Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Consumer Electronics Spending Hits Two Year High[teaser]Even during a post recession economy with incredibly high unemployment rates, spending on consumer electronic devices manages to soar.[/teaser] The Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) is one of those strange terms that just floats around without ever really being explained. Essentially, it’s just what it sounds like. It measures consumer confidence in the economy, and is used to predict consumer spending patterns. If people are pretty confident they’ll still have a job next year, they’ll spend more. The ICE is down again this month, to the lowest level since summer of 2008. However, the Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) – created in 2007 to specifically track tech spending – has reached an all time high. The increases in the ICTE have been significant, climbing over 14 points from October’s numbers for a 93.5. Around 80% of consumers are looking to receive consumer electronics as gifts this holiday season, the highest number in the survey’s history. Partnered with CNET, the CEA runs this index monthly, and the results of this month’s survey is particularly heartening to both. “This holiday shopping season is shaping up to be a digital one with consumers looking to purchase technology gifts,” says CEA’s Shawn DuBravac. “November’s index results show consumers are eagerly anticipating purchasing electronics on Black Friday and during the rest of the holiday shopping season even with a difficult overall economic picture.” Source: CEA/CNET (pdf)Posted Wed Nov 25, 2009 at 09:00 AM PST by:
