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Comcast Raising Prices, Places Blame on HD Signals[teaser]There will be a reported price increase for subscribers of Comcast’s cable TV services next month, and the blame is being placed squarely on the shoulders of HDTV. [/teaser] Citizens of California and Washington have been warned by Comcast that their rates will be increasing anywhere from 1.6% to 2.7% in the upcoming year. Additionally, cable modem rental rates will increase from three dollars monthly up to five. “We continually invest in providing customers with next-generation equipment and technology” said Comcast in a statement issued yesterday. “Our costs for this new equipment will increase by 167% over the next two years.” Comcast could not give specifics on who the rate hikes will affect, but said that they will happen market to market, but are starting this fall. Source: Multichannel.comPosted Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
57 Percent of Californians Against Big Screen Ban[teaser]Not surprisingly, Californians are divided on the proposal to ban the sale of large screen televisions. [/teaser] The proposal, which would ban the sale of 25% of large screen televisions, including all plasmas over 60,” was met with dismay, not only from consumers, but from retailers as well. “This regulation is absurd,” says Jim Kingsley, CEO of Kingsley Audio Video. “The CEC cannot regulate the entire market, so savvy consumers are simply going to buy the TV models they want online and across-state-lines -- sending jobs and tax revenues with it.” Another local businessman, William Janka of Mission Audio Video, expressed his concern not only for the economy, but for future technologies. "I am concerned that this regulation will delay or ban new technologies -- like 3D-HDTV or Internet-enabled TVs -- if they can't comply with the California Energy Commission's regulations,” he stated. According to a poll conducted by Zogby International, 59% of people polled believe that the option to select a less energy efficient television should be a choice left to the consumer, not to the government. 58% of those polled called this proposal out as “another example of the costly and unnecessary rules the state continues to force on small business owners.” Source: Press ReleasePosted Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
Maryland Ban on MAP Pricing Hits Oct 1st[teaser]State senate eliminates Minimum Advertised Pricing, consumers to benefit.[/teaser] With a few months to spare before the biggest holiday of the year when it comes to buying good cheap gear – Black Friday – the Maryland senate has officially done away with manufacturer restrictions on Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP). MAP pricing, simply stated, is a price set by the manufacturer of an item which companies are not allowed to sell below. Sellers that violate MAP risk termination of selling rights, but starting October 1st, MAP will be considered illegal. In Maryland, anyway. MAP could even be going away on a national level, as a similar ruling is considered in the US Senate. This pricing scheme is oft condemned of being a form of vertical price fixing. For example: Company BB purchases televisions from Company SY for $1000 with the agreement that they will not sell the TV’s for under $3000. Company SY reaches this agreement with anyone who wants to buy their televisions, and voila, every TV from SY is selling at the same price. While certainly the company in the example is able to sell the TV at a lower cost, as are all companies buying the sets, but they are unable to mark them down. As a result, the buyer, in order to get what they want, must pay the fixed price. Without a minimum or maximum sell price from the manufacturer, retailers will be free to mark down products as they see fit, meaning that this could be a very good Black Friday for consumers in Maryland. Source: CE ProPosted Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
New FreeAgent Hits the Market[teaser]Seagate has officially announced the release of its new FreeAgent Theater + HD media player. A followup to the unimpressive FreeAgent Theater, Seagate hopes to turn things around with their latest offering.[/teaser] Shipping next month at $149, the FreeAgent Theater + features support for a variety of popular music and video formats including DivX, Xvid, FLAC and of course Mpeg -1 and 4 and MP3 formats. The player is also capable of streaming from home computers, though wireless connectivity isn't a built in option. Much of the celebration regarding the FreeAgent is in its clean look and simple setup, both of which rely on the use of a FreeAgent Go hard drive. The FreeAgent Theater + still allows the hookup of standard external drives, but hooking through USB is a much less elegant solution. The FreeAgent + is available for preorder now, sold alone at $149 or bundled with a 500GB FreeAgent Go drive for $289. The wireless adapter, available in November, will retail for $69. Source: SeagatePosted Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Viewsonic Announces Six New LCDs[teaser]Specializing in TVs for the budget conscious consumer, Viewsonic has revealed new LCD displays, ranging from twenty inches to forty-two. [/teaser] At the top of the line is Viewsonic’s N4285, a 42” 1080p display with a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1. Launching in October, this TV is not only ecologically friendly, but economically friendly too, with a sale price of $999. A step down in size are the VT3245 and VT3745. Measuring 32” and 37” respectively, these LCDs still offer a 1080p picture, SRS TruSurround XT and 3D video processing. The VT3245 will sell for $649 while the VG3745 has an MSRP of $799. Finishing up the line, and designed to be functional as either a computer monitor or HDTV, the 20” VT2042, 23” VT2342 and 26” VT2642 feature 10,000:1 contrast ratios, a 5ms response time and high resolutions. Prices on the smaller models range from $299 up to $449. Source: Press ReleasePosted Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Epson Reveals New Line of Home Projectors[teaser]Epson hopes to capture a piece of the market with a new pair of 3LCD projectors. [/teaser] Home projectors are becoming an affordable alternative for home theater enthusiasts, and Epson wants some of that action. Announcing their new Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB projectors yesterday, Epson’s senior product manager Marge Ang said “These new models take advantage of Epson's latest technology to offer consumers the highest-performing 1080p solutions available at their respective price point.” The Epson Home Cinema 8100, the more value based of the two projectors, features double the contrast ratio of previous models, 36,000:1. The increase in contrast can be attributed to an 1,800 lumen brightness and a new Dynamic Iris system which allows light to be adjusted on a frame by frame basis. At a higher, but as of yet unannounced, price point, the Home Cinema 8500 UB is the higher end of the two models, and boasts an impressive 200,000:1 maximum contrast ratio. Geared towards the higher end consumer, the 8500 UB takes advantage of Epson’s own UltraBlack technology as well as a dual layered iris. Using 12-bit 3LCD driver technology and a Silicon Optix HQV Reon-VX processor, the Home Cinema 8500UB will be available in November through authorized Epson dealers. Source: Press ReleasePosted Wed Sep 16, 2009 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
AT&T’s U-Verse is Expanding[teaser]Now available, AT&T’s U-Verse upgrade includes multiview and media streaming apps. In a very welcome update to their offerings, AT&T’s U-Verse offers new functionality with no extra charge. [/teaser] While there are several new features, one of the most notable is U-Verse TV Multiview, a picture in picture solution that allows viewers to watch up to four channels at a time. U-Verse customers will be able to select which of these is the audio source and main picture. Multiview specific channels are available as well, and simplify finding the stations you want. U-Verse subscribers will also be happy to note the addition of a media streaming service. While it does have the ability to show slideshows and play music stored on a PC, the lack of video playback makes this a much less exciting prospect. Jeff Weber, VP of video services at AT&T feels that adding new features to their product is the way forward. “We offer numerous apps on U-verse TV today, standard with every package, and we're adding more all the time,” he states. ”It's another reason why customers choose and rave about U-verse TV. Source: ReutersPosted Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Streaming Video Featured on Sharp’s Aquos Blu-ray Player[teaser]Retailing at $379, Sharp’s BD-HP52U features Deep Color, BD-Live, and a streaming video service yet to be announced. [/teaser] There’s a bit of mystery around the details of Sharp’s BD-HP52U. The latest Blu-ray player announced by the company, the HP52U is touted as having a great many features including premium streaming video. However, the “premium streaming video provider” is yet to be announced. The BD-HP52U isn’t a bad BD player on its own, featuring 1080/24p output and x.v. color. The player also supports Deep Color for a superior color quality. From an audio standpoint the BD-HP52U is fairly capable as well, featuring HQ Audio Circuits that deliver 7.1 channel sound through HDMI. The player supports HD audio formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio as well as Dolby Digital Plus. The player launches in October and has, as of now, no announced streaming service. Sharp is quick to mention that they will be naming a service by the end of the month. Source: Press ReleasePosted Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Yamaha Unveils a Pair of BD Players[teaser]Yamaha’s new BD-S1900 and BD-S1065 offer top shelf features, but lack streaming services. [/teaser] Boasting high quality picture and sound, Yamaha’s new players are set to impress. They feature 192kHz/24-bit Audio DACs, and support Deep Color. BD Live capable and offering support for high definition audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, the BD-S1900 and BD-S1065 have everything that a high quality Blu-ray player should have, and little else. Surprisingly absent is the now expected addition of streaming services. Yamaha’s new players don’t do Netflix, Last.fm, Pandora, or even YouTube. They do however, provide excellent playback of Blu-ray discs at 1080p/24Hz. Yamaha’s players are priced at $599.95 for the BD-S1065 and $699.95 for the BD-S1900 – which includes a RS-232C port. Source: YamahaPosted Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
LG’s Ultra Slim Local Dimming Wireless LCD[teaser]Adding to an already impressive assortment of wireless LCDs at CEDIA, LG’s LH series is now officially available in the US. [/teaser] Sneaking in cheaper than Sony’s comparable wireless display offerings, and with local dimming, rather than edge lighting is LG’s newest offering, the 55LHX. Boasting THX Display Certification and at less than one inch thick, the LHX is an impressive display. The 55LHX features a reported contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 and incorporates TruMotion 240Hz technology. LG says the 55LHX will be available “soon” and will retail for $4,799. At a lower price, but lacking in LED backlighting, is the LH85 series. The LH85 series features LG’s 24p Real Cinema technology, and an 80,000:1 contrast ratio. Shipping this fall at $3,199 for a 55” display and $2,399 for a 47” screen, the LH85 line may stand to be the more competitive of the two during the upcoming holiday season. Source: LGvia PR NewswirePosted Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
