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News From CES 2009: LG BD-Player shouts "Networking, Baby! Networking!"[teaser]LG hopes to top its first of its kind networked BD player, by introducing two new networked Blu-ray machines.[/teaser] After offering consumers the BD300, the world's first BD player to instantly stream Netflix content, LG electronics has now debuted two new machines at CES 2009 in Las Vegas. The BD370 and the BD390 raise the bar, with expanded content options and wireless connectivity. In addition to Netflix, LG's alliances with CinemaNow and YouTube offer viewers a broad range on content options in addition to the HD quality offered by Blu-ray. Best of all, the online content can be streamed directly from the internet without the need of a personal computer. “With LG, consumers do not have to compromise flexible entertainment options for exceptional sound and picture quality,” said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing and strategy. "Our new network Blu-ray disc players and home theater systems allow consumers to personalize their entertainment experience.”Posted Thu Jan 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
News From CES 2009: Samsung thinks "skinny."[teaser]Just like Oprah, Samsung has one goal in mind for 2009, to slim down with some low profile HDTV and Blu-ray player offerings.[/teaser] First up among its CES 2009 unveilings is the Samsung Series 8 Plasma HDTV, which the company says is the world’s slimmest 1080p resolution plasma set to feature a built-in ATSC tuner. At just over one inch in depth, the TV features a luxurious design, with a chrome like translucent surface, high dynamic contrast ratio, and Ultra FilterBright technology to minimize glare and maximize contrast. The sets are also equipped with the Internet@TV – Content Service platform to bring web content to the television using the Yahoo! Widget Engine. Users can use this feature to browse videos, share photos, and interact with their friends and family members. The displays are also wireless DLNA-compliant. Samsung is taking bold steps forward with its 2009 plasma line-up,” said Steve Panosian, director of Visual Display Marketing at Samsung. “By combining superior picture quality, energy efficiency and networking options with the latest audio-visual technologies, the Series 8 and 6 plasmas are sure to become the model of excellence in plasma HDTVs.” Just as exciting is the HT-BD8200 Blu-ray Home Theater Sound Bar, which Samsung calls the first of its kind to incorporate Blu-ray technology. The self-contained, wall-mountable unit is only 2.6 inches deep, features a fully integrated Blu-ray player with Full HD 1080p playback, virtual 5.1-channel surround sound, a wireless subwoofer, Samsung's "Smart Volume" technology, and is capable of seamless playback of video, photos, and music from, mobile phones, and digital cameras, using the built-in USB port or Bluetooth. The player is also capable of wireless networking, BD-Live, Netflix streaming, and Pandora music playback.Posted Thu Jan 8, 2009 at 11:45 AM PST by: -
News From CES 2009: Sharp Announces First LCD TV with Built-In BD Player[teaser]Sharp is focusing its energy on the High-Def LCD and Blu-ray markets with a series of TV announcements and the first LCD TV with a built in Blu-ray player.[/teaser] “Sharp continues to show why we are an LCD leader. But we’re also introducing several new products that complete the home theater experience," said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. Some of the highlights of the products introduced this week at CES 2009 in Las Vegas include two new widescreen LCD TV lineups, an 82" 1080p LCD option, and what it calls the world’s first LCD TV with a built-in Blu-ray player. First up are the E77U and E67U model lineups of AQUOS LCD TVs. According to the company's press release, the E77 models feature the new 10-bit Superlucent Advanced Super View (ASV) panels, which allow for brighter, crisper pictures with reduced haze and reflections. The units also make use of enhanced technology for 120 Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a dejudder feature to eliminates background motion artifacts on BD movies. The units also feature a 176 degree viewing radius, five HDMI inputs (yowsers!), two component inputs, and a dedicated PC input. As for the E67 models, they also make use of the ASV technology, while offering four HDMI inputs (still not too shabby), 24p input capability, and two component video inputs. All units are capable of 1080p video resolution. In addition to these offerings, Sharp is also proudly touting its new 82" class LCD display. Finally, the company has announced the AQUOS HDTV BD Series, the first high-definition series with a built-in Blu-ray player. Available in 52 inch, 42 inch, 37 inch, and 32 inch screen sizes, the unit take advantage of AVS panel technology, while incorporating stylish new design specifications, and a convenient swivel stand. You can find out much, much more about each of these units by checking out the company's press release here.Posted Thu Jan 8, 2009 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
News From CES 2009: Panasonic Focused on High-Def[teaser]As CES gets into full swing, some of the biggest early news is coming from Panasonic, with the company making some exciting announcements regarding HDTVs and Blu-ray.[/teaser] First up, Panasonic has announced the debut of its first 3D Full HD Plasma Home Theater System (3D FHD) which incorporates a 103-inch Plasma HDTV and a Panasonic Blu-ray player. According to a company press release, the system takes advantage of Blu-ray's increased bandwidth and resolution to provide two different images, one for each eye. Wearing special active shutter glasses, viewers are able to experience 3D movies in full surround sound, while taking in dual images captured, recorded, and displayed throughout in full HD quality. “This goes well beyond conventional 3D” said Bob Perry, Executive VP of Panasonic. “Plasma is currently the only TV capable of delivering a 3D Full HD experience due in great part to its ability to refresh at a speed which enables multiple image display without loss of resolution." He says Panasonic is "fully committed to making [3D Home Theater] a reality, and soon." In other news, the company is also debuting some new super thin Plasma and LCD HDTVs, which use technology that has been dubbed NeoPDP and NeoLCD, respectively. The NeoPDP technology has been utilized in two different plasma displays. A highly efficient 42-inch plasma model that uses 1/3 the energy of the company's 2007 model (the TH-42PZ750SK), and an ultra-thin 50-inch plasma display that provides 1080 lines of resolution in a unit that's only 8.8 mm thick. The NeoLCD technology has been utilized in LCD displays in order to provide high moving picture resolution with a wide viewing angle. The technology also promises dramatically improved image contrast while consuming only 90 kWh per year (roughly half that of the 2008 model (the TH-37LZ85). Finally, there has been much talk of Panasonic's DMP-B15, which is being touted as the first portable Blu-ray player. The player, which features an 8.9-inch WSVGA LCD screen, internet accessibility, and BD Live functionality, is capable of displaying images in full 1080p. The player will go on sale in May.Posted Thu Jan 8, 2009 at 10:15 AM PST by: -
Frys and Blockbuster Offer HD DVD Bargains[teaser]Reminiscent of the Ghost of Christmas Past, HD DVD deals continue to materialize almost a year after the end of the format war.[/teaser] In what looks to be a one day sale, Frys is offering a special on the XBOX 360 HD DVD player, that comes bundled with HD DVD box sets of Heroes: Season One and Battlestar Galactica: Season One. Meanwhile, Blockbuster is offering its collection of previously viewed HD DVD titles for $7.99 a piece. With over 350 titles to choose from, this offer could prove tempting for many high-def fans (Editor's Note - I for one am tempted! Then again, I still rummage through LaserDiscs at second hand stores and garage sales). If you're looking for a backup HD DVD add-on for your XBOX, or interested in nabbing some high-def titles that have yet to hit Blu-ray, these offers could be right up your alley.Posted Tue Dec 30, 2008 at 10:30 AM PST by: -
Special Delivery - Netflix Update Arrives for Samsung Blu-ray Players[teaser]Samsung has released a firmware update that will allow Netflix customers to stream movies through their Blu-ray players.[/teaser] As previously reported, Samsung and Netflix settled on an arrangement similar to that announced by LG Electronics which will allow owners to take advantage of Netflix's "Watch Instantly" service at no additional cost. After installing the update to their Samsung BD-P2550 and BD-P2500 players, Netflix account holders can visit the website to add standard definition movies and TV episodes to their instant queues. Those selections will then be available for viewing on their TVs via their Samsung players. For more information on Netflix streaming, visit the company website!Posted Fri Dec 5, 2008 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
XBOX Live Update To Debut Tomorrow[teaser]XBox 360 owners will see their high-def gaming systems in a whole new way when an updated user interface rolls out tomorrow, allowing access to Netflix streaming and a variety of other features.[/teaser] The new interface is the most drastic update to the system's visual presentation since its debut. In addition to swapping the current "blade" presentation for a system of rotating windows, other features include customizable avatars, enhanced community interaction features, and for Gold Members, the long awaited ability to stream Netflix content. "This is an important and exciting moment for Netflix and Xbox," said Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Kilgore. Netflix members can add movies and television episodes from the company's instant queue of more than 12,000 choices. Netflix claims that episodes can begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. At the moment, the program offers approximately 300 high-def choices, that play with standard definition audio. The company plans to increase that number in the future and add multi-channel audio. In order to access the Netflix streaming, users must have the XBox gold membership, in addition to a Netflix subscription.Posted Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 10:30 AM PST by: -
VUDU Claims the Biggest HD Library In Existence[teaser]VUDU issued a press release today claiming that the company now offers its customers the largest HD library out there.[/teaser] The company says they reached this milestone by adding approximately 150 HD titles a week throughout the month of October. The titles were added in the service's two high definition formats, instant-start HD and its top tier HDX format. Altogether, the company now offers a total library of more than 10,000 titles, with over 1,100 of those available in high definition. "This is only the beginning of our effort," said Edward Lichty, Executive Vice President of Content at VUDU. "We plan to maintain a leadership position in offering the best picture quality experience and the deepest library anywhere when it comes to HD." VUDU is one of several players in the HD streaming marketplace that includes AppleTV, XBox (soon Netflix via XBox live), and Playstation, among others.Posted Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 11:15 AM PST by: -
Samsung Announces Free Player Update For Netflix Streaming[teaser]Owners of the Samsung BD-P2550 and BD-P2500 Blu-ray players awoke this morning to some happy news. With a simple update, their players can now stream Netflix movies at no extra charge![/teaser] As announced by Reuters, the two companies have settled on an arrangement similar to that announced last month by LG Electronics which will allow owners to take advantage of Netflix's "Watch Instantly" service. Netflix account holders can visit the website to add standard definition movies and TV episodes to their instant queues. Those selections will then be available for viewing on their TVs via their Samsung players. For more information on Netflix streaming, visit the company website!Posted Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Best Buy Offers $100 Blu-ray Player, But There's A Twist[teaser]If you're looking to jump into the Blu-ray world, Best Buy's latest offer may aid you in your cause.[/teaser] Best Buy is putting some muscle behind its Blu-ray support. In addition to two double-page spreads touting Blu-ray titles in last weekend's newspaper inserts, the retailer has just rolled out an offer that's sure to pique the interest of anyone itching to dip their toe in the Blu-ray waters, particularly if they have kids. The retailer is currently selling the Insignia NS-BRDVD for $199, and, in a welcome twist, they're including a coupon book for $100 off on a selection of titles from Disney, Touchstone, and Miramax. No word on what those titles might be (if anyone picks one of these up, please email us the full details), but this does present an interesting opportunity. According to the player's specs, it supports a variety of disc formats, is capable of 1080p upconversion via HDMI, and of course, it plays Blu-ray movies in all their high definition glory. Built-in decoders support Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD, and Dolby TrueHD sound. Outputs include HDMI, stereo audio, composite video, component video, digital optical audio, and digital coaxial audio. And oh yeah, it comes with a remote. No details on how long this offer will last, but some of you may want to check it out now.Posted Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by:
