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BenQ Details CineHome HT2050A 1080p Projector[teaser]A new Full HD projector has been revealed.[/teaser] BenQ has announced its latest CineHome Series projector. The new Full HD HT2050A serves as a successor to the award-winning HT2050. "Just because a space is small doesn't mean viewers should lose any part of the cinematic experience," said Jeffrey Hsieh, business manager at BenQ America Corp. "The BenQ CineHome HT2050A was engineered to provide a big-screen experience in small to medium media spaces for movie enthusiasts. From a captivating picture to immersive audio, video game modes, and installation flexibility, the HT2050A is a great choice for any home theater or entertainment room." The HT2050A offers support for full HD 1080p resolution. In addition, the device uses a 6X speed RGBRGB color wheel to achieve >96% Rec. 709 color gamut coverage. Likewise, the unit features BenQ's CinematicColor technology to deliver more refined color reproduction. A 10W CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 speaker is integrated as well, along with two digital HDMI ports (HDMIx1, HDMI/MHLx1) for connecting external devices like a Google Chromecast, Roku or Amazon FireTV. In addition, the HDMI/MHL port also allows users to stream full HD content from any MHL-enabled smartphone or tablet. 3D playback support is also offered and the projector offers a low 16.67ms input lag and a special Game Mod. Here's a full rundown of key specs and features per BenQ: - New 10W stereo speakers with BenQ CinemaMaster Audio+ 2 - Short-Throw Projection (100''@8.2ft) - Vertical lens shift with 1.3X big zoom for easy installation - Advanced Game Mode and low input lag for ultra-smooth gaming BenQ's HT2050A is available now for an MSRP of $749. Source: BenQPosted Mon Feb 5, 2018 at 07:30 AM PST by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Limited Time Discounts on Klipsch Speakers[teaser]Select Klipsch gear is now on sale.[/teaser] As part of a special promotion, Klipsch is currently offering deals on select speakers, subwoofers, and sound bars. Here's a full rundown of the currently discounted products: Klipsch R-26F Floorstanding Speaker Plus Free $100 Netflix Gift Card - $259 (Limited Time Offer: 02/04/18 - 02/10/18) Klipsch R-25C Center Channel Speaker - $189 (Limited Time Offer: 02/04/18 - 02/10/18) Klipsch Reference R-10SW 10" 300w Powered Subwoofer - $229 (Limited Time Offer: 02/04/18 - 02/10/18) Klipsch R-15PM Powered Monitor Pair - $299 (Limited Time Offer: 02/04/18 - 02/10/18) Klipsch Reference Series R-4B 2.1 Channel Sound Bar - $190 (While Supplies Last) Klipsch R-10B Bluetooth Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer - $280 (While Supplies Last) These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Feb 5, 2018 at 06:30 AM PST by: -
This Week in Gear: Apple Launches HomePod Pre-Orders, YouTube TV Expands to Roku & Apple TV, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including the launch of pre-orders for the HomePod, and new device support for YouTube TV.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering the launch of the Apple HomePod speaker, new support for YouTube TV via the Apple TV and Roku devices, and the reveal of several new color options for the LG G6 and Q6 smartphones. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Apple Launches Pre-Orders for HomePod Speaker Following a previous delay, Apple has finally launched pre-orders for its HomePod wireless home speaker. The device offers support for Apple Music, voice control, home assistant functions, and advanced audio quality features. Units are expected to be available for pickup or delivery on February 9 for an MSRP of $349. "Apple reinvented portable music with iPod and now HomePod will reinvent how we enjoy music wirelessly throughout our homes," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "HomePod packs powerful speaker technology, Siri intelligence and wireless access to the entire Apple Music library into a beautiful speaker that is less than 7 inches tall, can rock most any room with distortion free music and be a helpful assistant around your home." The HomePod measures just under 7-inches tall and uses a custom array of seven horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own custom amplifier, along with a high-excursion woofer with custom amplifier. Under the hood, the speaker is powered by Apple's A8 chip providing bass management through real-time software modeling and other advanced audio functions, including a new spatial awareness feature. With spatial awareness, the HomePod is able to sense its position in a room -- whether it’s in a corner, on a table or in a bookshelf -- and then optimize its audio output for that location. To help achieve this, the device is also able to detect and separate center vocals, direct energy (instrumentation), and ambient audio (like backing vocals and reverb) within a music track, and then beam each piece directionally and blend them together specifically for the room's unique dynamics. In addition, the speaker also includes a six-microphone array with advanced echo cancellation for Siri voice control and home assistant functions, allowing users to ask questions and access podcasts, news, weather, traffic, sports, reminders, timers, messages, and more. Finally, the HomePod has been designed for use with an Apple Music subscription for access to over 40 million songs. With that said, it should be noted that the speaker is only set to be compatible with other Apple products, and requires an iPhone 5s or later, iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation), iPad Air or later, iPad mini 2 or later, or iPod touch (6th generation) running iOS 11.2.5 or later. The Apple HomePod ($349) is now available for pre-order in White or Space Gray models for a February 9 launch. Source: Apple YouTube TV App Arrives on Roku & Apple TV Google has announced expanded availability for its YouTube TV live streaming app. As part of the expansion, the platform is now available on the Apple TV (4th generation), Apple TV 4K, and a variety of Roku devices, including: all Roku TVs, Roku Ultra, Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Streaming Stick (3800x, 3600x), Roku Express/Express+ (3910x, 3900x, 3710x, 3700x), Roku Premiere+, Roku Premiere, Roku 4, Roku 3 (4200x, 4230x), and Roku 2 (4210x). YouTube TV costs $35 per month and offers access to more than 40 live streaming networks, regional sports channels, and cable stations, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, ESPN, Fox News, MSNBC, USA, Syfy, FX, Disney Channel, Sprout, E!, Bravo, and more. Likewise, the platform also includes an unlimited Cloud DVR feature, allowing users to record as many shows as they want at the same time with no storage limitations. Each recording will be available across supported playback devices and will be stored for nine months. In addition, the internet TV service provides access to YouTube Red original series and movies as well, along with the option to add Showtime or Fox Soccer Plus to the channel lineup for an extra fee. In addition to new support for Apple TV (4th generation), Apple TV 4K, and Roku products, the service is also available through Android and iOS mobile devices, computers, Google Chromecast, Chromecast built-in TVs, the NVIDIA SHIELD, Sony smart TVs, Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X consoles, and smart TV models from LG and Samsung. Sources: YouTube TV (Twitter), Roku LG Announces New Color Options for G6 & Q6 Smartphones LG has announced plans to release new color options for its G6 and Q6 smartphones. The new colors for the G6 will include Moroccan Blue, Lavender Violet and Raspberry Rose. Likewise, the Q6 will also be available in the new Moroccan Blue and Lavender Violet models. "LG is focusing on producing smartphones that are both high quality and emotionally expressive," said Park Hee-wook, vice president and head of product planning for LG Electronics’ Mobile Communications Company. "We want customers to be able to express their distinct personalities through LG’s unique and diverse range of color options." The G6 features a 5.7-inch QHD+ FullVision display with a resolution of 2880 x 1440. In addition, the screen uses an 18:9 screen aspect ratio for a more immersive experience -- a first for a smartphone. Likewise, the device has been designed for single-handed ease of use. HDR10 and Dolby Vision support have been integrated as well, allowing for high dynamic range playback from streaming services like Amazon and Netflix. Meanwhile, the Q6 features a 5.5-inch FHD+ FullVision display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The new color lineup is set to launch this month in Korea before expanding to more markets in the coming months. Source: LGPosted Sat Feb 3, 2018 at 06:00 PM PST by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'Mute,' 'Jack Ryan,' 'Castle Rock,' and More[teaser]Check out the latest crop of trailers for upcoming streaming movies and shows.[/teaser] Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu have released new trailers and info for several of their upcoming titles, including Fred Armisen: Standup For Drummers, The Ritual, When We First Met, The Trader, Irreplaceable You, Mute, GRAND PRIX Driver, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Hard Sun, and Castle Rock. Fred Armisen: Standup For Drummers (Netflix, February 6) - Comedian, actor, writer, musician and SNL alum Fred Armisen brings his comedic observations, musician impressions, and drum skills to his Original Stand-Up comedy special, Fred Armisen: Standup for Drummers. In the one-hour special, Armisen explores a variety of topics including his inability to truly understand jazz, the subtle differences in American accents from around the country, why great photography is overrated, and of course, his love of being a drummer. The Ritual (Netflix, February 9) - Reuniting after the tragic death of their best mate, four old friends from university set out to hike through the Scandinavian wilderness. But a wrong turn leads them into the dark and mysterious forests of Norse legend, where an ancient evil still exists and stalks them at every turn. When We First Met (Netflix, February 9) - Noah (Adam Devine) spends the perfect first night with Avery, the girl of his dreams, but gets relegated to the friend zone. He spends the next three years wondering what went wrong - until he gets the unexpected chance to travel back in time and alter that night - and his fate - over and over again. Will Noah ever get it right? The Trader (Netflix, February 9) - In this Netflix original documentary short, Gela sells secondhand clothes and household items from the back of his minibus while travelling the Eastern European country, Georgia in search of spuds. Money is meaningless in this market—potatoes are lucre. Young and old peer into his truck, their eyes lighting up at the sight of modern conveniences like sponges and lint brushes. It’s a riddle that pits rural value against urban valuation, dirt versus gold. Irreplaceable You (Netflix, February 16) - Newly engaged Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) have been the love of each other's lives since childhood. But when the future they envisioned together takes a tragic turn, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Mute (Netflix, February 23) - Berlin, the future, but close enough to feel familiar: In this loud, often brutal city, Leo (Alexander Skarsgård) – unable to speak from a childhood accident – searches for his missing girlfriend, the love of his life, his salvation, through dark streets, frenzied plazas, and the full spectrum of the cities shadow-dwellers. As he seeks answers, Leo finds himself mixed up with Cactus Bill (Paul Rudd) and Duck (Justin Theroux), a pair of irreverent US army surgeons on a mission all their own. This soulful sci-fi journey from filmmaker Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code, Warcraft) imagines a world of strange currencies in which echoes of love and humanity are still worth listening to. GRAND PRIX Driver (Amazon Prime Video, February 9) - Goes inside the secretive world of Formula 1 by offering never-before-granted access to the inner workings of McLaren. After three tough years, McLaren is hopeful that this is the year the team will be back on the podium, and they have promoted rookie driver Stoffel Vandoorne alongside two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to work towards this goal. Narrated by Michael Douglas. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime Video, August 2018) - When CIA analyst Jack Ryan stumbles upon a suspicious series of bank transfers his search for answers pulls him from the safety of his desk job and catapults him into a deadly game of cat and mouse throughout Europe and the Middle East, with a rising terrorist figurehead preparing for a massive attack against the US and her allies. Hard Sun (Hulu, March 7) - Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn play detectives Robert Hicks and Elaine Renko, partners and enemies, who seek to enforce the law and protect their loved ones in a world that every day slips closer to certain destruction. Robert Hicks (Sturgess) is a family man and a great, committed officer. He’s also profoundly corrupt. Elaine Renko (Deyn) is a difficult and damaged, but an utterly incorruptible officer. Thus, the two cops stand on different ends of the social and moral spectrum and also seriously distrust one other – and for good reason. But they must somehow learn to work together if they’re going to survive until the end of the world. Castle Rock (Hulu, Summer 2018) - A psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse, Castle Rock combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of King’s best-loved works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and light, played out on a few square miles of Maine woodland. The fictional Maine town of Castle Rock has figured prominently in King’s literary career: Cujo, The Dark Half, IT and Needful Things, as well as novella The Body and numerous short stories such as Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption are either set there or contain references to Castle Rock. Castle Rock is an original suspense/thriller — a first-of-its-kind reimagining that explores the themes and worlds uniting the entire King canon, while brushing up against some of his most iconic and beloved stories. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials ($6 limited time promotional price now available). In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Amazon (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube)Posted Fri Feb 2, 2018 at 01:30 PM PST by: -
Integra Reveals New 9.2-Channel AV Receiver & New 4K HDBaseT Receiver[teaser]The company has announced two additional AV products for its 2018 lineup.[/teaser] Integra has detailed two more 4K HDBaseT products. The collection includes the DRX-7.1 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver ($2,400) and the HDB-RX1 4K HDBaseT Receiver ($400). The DRX-7.1 is a 9.2-channel THX Certified Select AV receiver rated for 140W per channel at 8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 channels driven, FTC. The device includes built-in support for up to a 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 Dolby Atmos or DTS:X speaker configuration. Likewise, the unit features 11.2 multi-channel pre-outs to enable up to a 7.2.4 object-based speaker setup with an additional 2-channel amp. HDCP 2.2, 4K / 60Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), WCG (Wide Color Gamut), extended (sYCC601, Adobe RGB, Adobe YYC601), and BT.2020 video pass-through is integrated as well. In addition, the receiver offers support for DTS Play-Fi, Chromecast built-in and Google Assistant Voice Control, and FlareConnect. Finally, Enhanced HDBaseT LAN Connectivity is implemented as well for HDCP 2.2-compliant 4K / 60 Hz / 4:4:4 video transmission and POC (Power Over Cable) in conjunction with an optional HDB-RX1 HDBaseT Receiver (detailed below), IR and RS-232C Control. Meanwhile, the HDB-RX1 is a 4K HDBaseT Receiver that enables the transmission of 4K / 60Hz / 4:4:4 video (including HDR10 and Dolby Vision) at a full 18GB per second from a compatible Integra AV component with a new-generation HDBaseT LAN and HDCP 2.2-compliant HDMI output. Likewise, the unit also features backwards compatibility with previous generation Integra AV components for up to 4K 4:2:2 transmissions. In addition, the device includes support for RS-232 and IR Control pass-through, along with the ability to carry POC (Power Over Cable) and IP Control. Integra's DRX-7.1 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver ($2,400) and HDB-RX1 4K HDBaseT Receiver ($400) are both set to start shipping in March, joining the previously announced HDBaseT-enabled DRC-R1.1 11.2-Channel Network AV Controller ($2,500) and DRX-R1.1 11.2-Channel Network AV Receiver ($3,300). Source: IntegraPosted Fri Feb 2, 2018 at 05:30 AM PST by: -
DTS Play-Fi Adds Whole-Home TV Audio Streaming Feature[teaser]Select Play-Fi products can now download the update.[/teaser] DTS has announced the launch of a new Whole-Home TV Audio Streaming feature for its DTS Play-Fi platform. The update allows customers to stream audio from any connected source (like a TV) to other DTS Play-Fi speakers in the home ecosystem. "We are excited to add whole-home TV audio streaming to the DTS Play-Fi ecosystem, allowing consumers to broadcast audio from their TV to other speakers without an echo or compromised video synchronization," said Dannie Lau, general manager, DTS Play-Fi, at Xperi. “Whether you’re hosting a Big Game watch party, or just listening to your favorite show while cooking, DTS Play-Fi provides a no-compromise whole-home experience for TV listening. Additional DTS Play-Fi partners will incorporate the technology into their DTS Play-Fi enabled products this year, giving consumers even more flexibility when selecting their home theater products." With Whole-Home TV Audio Streaming, users can now send audio from a connected video source to supported DTS Play-Fi speakers, synchronizing the speakers to each other and to the video through lip-synch accurate and echo-free multi-room playback. The update is now available to download for free on the following Play-Fi devices: Klipsch Gate receiverKlipsch PowerGate amplifierKlipsch RSB-8 sound barKlipsch RSB-14 sound barKlipsch RW-1 speakerKlipsch The Capitol Three speakerKlipsch The Three speakerMcIntosh MB50 streaming audio playerOnkyo Smart Speaker G3Paradigm PW LINK pre-amplifierPhorus PS10 speakerPioneer Elite Smart Speaker F4Polk S6 speaker And beyond the new TV streaming feature, DTS Play-Fit tech enables customers to wirelessly play high quality lossless music from smartphones and tablets over an existing Wi-Fi network throughout the home. The tech can synchronize playback of a single source to multiple speakers; can stream different sources to different speakers simultaneously from the same mobile device; and can support individual music streams to separate speakers from different devices at the same time. Likewise, Play-Fi is not brand exclusive. This means that Play-Fi audio products from different manufacturers can actually work together seamlessly. Source: DTSPosted Thu Feb 1, 2018 at 05:00 AM PST by: -
Integra Announces New 11.2-Channel AV Components[teaser]Two new AV devices have been revealed.[/teaser] Integra has announced the latest additions to its reference-grade Research Series of AV components. The upcoming collection includes the DRC-R1.1 11.2-Channel Network AV Controller ($2,500) and the DRX-R1.1 11.2-Channel Network AV Receiver ($3,300). The DRC-R1.1 is a THX Certified Ultra 11.2-Channel AV Preamp with copper screws used to lock modular circuitry blocks, a double-skinned insulated frame, floating circuit boards, and gold-plated 11.2-channel balanced XLR audio pre-outs. In addition, the device uses 32-bit SHARC DSPs (x3), independent differential audio DACs for Stereo Front L / R (384 kHz / 32-bit AK4490) and Surround (768 kHz / 32-bit AK4458), and separate DACs for Zone 2 for HDMI IN 1-5, SPDIF (PCM), NET, and USB sources, and Zone 3 for NET and USB Sources. Meanwhile, the DRX-R1.1 is a THX Certified Select 11.2-Channel AV Receiver rated for 140W per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 channels driven, FTC). In addition, the device shares the same design concept as the DRC-R1.1, along with a custom shielded power supply and shielded amplification. Both units include support for up to 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos or DTS:X systems, along with multi-zone processing, Chromecast built-in with Google Assistant, and DTS Play-Fi. Likewise, the components offer 4K / 60 Hz passthrough with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), WCG (Wide Color Gamut), extended (sYCC601, Adobe RGB, Adobe YYC601), and BT.2020. In addition, both models feature 4K HDBaseT circuitry to enable 4K/60fps/ 4:4:4/UHD/HDR-10/Dolby Vision transmissions from up to 100 meters away over Cat 5/6/7 wiring. Integra's DRC-R1.1 11.2-Channel Network AV Controller ($2,500) and DRX-R1.1 11.2-Channel Network AV Receiver ($3,300) are both set to hit the market in March. Source: IntegraPosted Wed Jan 31, 2018 at 07:35 AM PST by: -
Everything Coming to iTunes in February 2018[teaser]Several new digital titles will hit the iTunes library in February.[/teaser] Apple has revealed its upcoming lineup of iTunes movies and TV shows for February 2018. The collection will include films like Darkest Hour, Coco, Thor: Ragnarok, Murder on the Orient Express, The Disaster Artist, and Justice League. And beyond the film itself, the iTunes copy of Justice League will also feature exclusive extras, including six comprehensive videos introducing the viewers to the DC characters and their roots in the comics. In addition, film fans looking for an easy way to check out this year's Oscar-nominated movies all in one place can now head to iTunes.com/Oscars for a listing of all the titles available for purchase or pre-order. Meanwhile, iTunes is also currently the exclusive home of the Oscar nominated short documentary Knife Skills. The film will remain an exclusive on iTunes through February 5. Here's a full rundown of all the upcoming February iTunes titles per Apple: Movies 2/2 - Tragedy Girls 2/6 - Brimstone and Glory 2/6 - Daddy’s Home 2 2/6 - Same Kind of Different as Me 2/6 - Steve McQueen: American Icon 2/6 - The Man Who Invented Christmas 2/6 - Woody Woodpecker 2/6 - Darkest Hour 2/6 - The Star 2/6 - Take Every Wave 2/6 - Diverge 2/6 - LBJ 2/6 - My Friend Dahmer 2/6 - Take Every Wave 2/9 - Bomb City 2/9 - The Female Brain 2/13 - Coco 2/13 - Justice League (2017) - Exclusive iTunes Extras 2/13 - Blade of the Immortal 2/13 - Alpha Gateway 2/13 - Dealt 2/13 - Polaroid 2/20 - Thor: Ragnarok 2/20 - Murder on the Orient Express 2/20 - The Breadwinner 2/20 - The Disaster Artist 2/20 - Novitiate 2/27 - Call Me By Your Name 2/27 - Tickled 2/27 - Ferdinand TV *Full seasons in bold 2/2 A.P. Bio (First three episodes available now) 2/5 The Radical Story of Patty Hearst (Free Pre-Air Premiere) 2/5 Berlin Station Season 2 2/8 Marvel’s Runaways 2/8 Celebrity Big Brother 2/9 Impractical Jokers Vol. 12 2/12 Vice Season 5 2/13 Graves Season 2 2/13 American Dad Season 13 2/16 Paw Patrol Vol. 9 2/17 ZOMBIES (Disney Channel original movie) 2/22 Property Brothers Season 12 2/26 The Walking Dead Season 8B 2/27 McMafia 2/27 UnREAL Season 3 2/27 iZombie Season 4 2/27 Good Girls (Free Series Premiere) 2/27 Final Space 2/28 Shameless Season 8 Source: iTunesPosted Tue Jan 30, 2018 at 12:25 PM PST by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Up to 22% off Amazon Fire TV Devices[teaser]Select Fire TV products are now on sale![/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing deals, Amazon is running a sale on its new Fire TV streaming media player. Likewise, the company is offering discounted bundles that pair a Fire TV with an HD Antenna or a Fire TV Stick with an Echo Dot. Fire TV with 4K HDR Support - Currently $55 (21% off). Fire TV with 4K HDR Support & HD Antenna - Currently $70 (22% off). Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote & Echo Dot - Currently $70 (22% off). Amazon's new Fire TV offers access to a growing collection of channels, apps, and Alexa skills, including over 500,000 TV episodes and movies from services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Amazon Video, and more. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Amlogic Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and Mali450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of memory, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 8 GB of storage. The player also features a new compact dongle-like design that fits behind a user's TV. In addition, the unit includes support for up to 60fps 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio. These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Jan 29, 2018 at 05:30 AM PST by: -
This Week in Gear: MStar Adds DTS Virtual:X Tech, Amazon Announces Updates for Fire TV, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including new system-on-chips with DTS Virtual:X, updates for the Fire TV platform, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering the integration of DTS Virtual:X tech into MStar SOCs, new updates for the Fire TV, the addition of HDR and surround sound Netflix playback to the Razer Phone, and the launch of the Plex VR app for Daydream. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: MStar Integrates DTS Virtual:X Tech Into Smart TV SOCs Xperi has announced the integration of DTS Virtual:X technology into new smart TV system-on-chips from MStar. The deal will allow TV manufacturers to start implementing DTS Virtual:X into their upcoming models. "We are excited to partner with the number one TV SOC provider, MStar, to allow TV vendors to include DTS Virtual:X technology in their products through MStar’s SOC chipsets," said Joanna Skrdlant, general manager, home audio, Xperi. "DTS Virtual:X technology continues to be adopted by leading brands who wish to provide consumers an immersive sound experience through sound bars, A/V receivers, and now, TVs. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and working with TV OEM partners to deliver the DTS Virtual:X experience to consumers." DTS Virtual:X is a post-processing virtualization technology that can create an immersive audio experience without the need for ceiling speakers, upward firing drivers, or surround speakers. The process can support all input sources from stereo to a 7.1.4 layout, along with optimization for DTS codecs, including DTS:X. Likewise, the tech offers upmixing capabilities for legacy content. The first TVs with DTS Virtual:X tech are set to hit the market early this year. Source: DTS Amazon Updates Live TV Experience & Launches Single Sign-On Feature for Fire TV Apps Amazon has announced several updates and additions to its Fire TV platform, including a single sign-on option for select pay-TV apps and a new Live TV interface for supported channels. With single sign-on, users who own a Fire TV device can now use their authenticated pay-TV subscription information to sign into all supported apps at once without the need to log into each individual service. The feature works with an extensive list of TV providers, including AT&T U-Verse, Spectrum, DirecTV, Dish, and Verizon -- though Comcast Xfinity is not currently supported. Compatible apps include A&E, AMC, BBC, Hallmark , Bravo, CNNgo, Cooking Channel, DIY, E!, Food Network,Freeform, HGTV, History, Lifetime, Syfy, Telemundo, Travel Channel, Turner TCM, and USA. Likewise, support for TNT and TBS is expected to be added soon. Meanwhile, Amazon has also added a new "On Now" row and a "Channel Guide" to the Fire TV interface for live content. The "On Now" row on the homepage displays what live content is available to watch if you've subscribed to HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, or Cinemax through Amazon Channels. In addition, users can also now bring up a new "Channel Guide" by pressing the Options button on the Alexa Voice Remote while watching Live TV. The Guide displays your subscribed channels and all the future programming information for that day and the next two weeks. Finally, customers can ask Alexa to tune to a specific live channel as well by pressing the mic button on their voice remote or by speaking to a connected Echo product. Sources: Amazon Fire TV Blog, Engadget Netflix Adds HDR & Surround Sound Support for Razer Phone Razer has announced plans to add Netflix HDR10 and simulated Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound playback to its Razer Phone, making it the first smartphone to enable support for both features together. HDR10 is an advanced display and image mastering technology that offers expanded brightness to improve contrast between dark and light aspects of an image, bringing out deeper black levels and more realistic details in specular highlights -- like the sun reflecting off of an ocean -- in specially graded HDR material. Likewise, HDR10 content is typically graded with a wide color gamut as well, offering a greater range of colors than those found in the standard Rec. 709 gamut. In order to watch Netflix HDR programming, users will need to subscribe to the premium $14 per month Netflix plan. The Razer Phone features a 5.7-inch IGZO LCD 120 Hz UltraMotion display with a Quad HD resolution of 1440 x 2560 120 Hz and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) support. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with 8GB RAM and a 4,000 mAh battery running Android. 12MP dual cameras are integrated as well, and the unit includes stereo front-firing speakers with dual dedicated amps and Dolby Atmos technology. The Razer Phone is now available for an MSRP of $700. The Netflix HDR and 5.1 update is set to launch in the coming weeks via a software update. Sources: Razer, Engadget Plex Launches Daydream VR Support Plex has announced the arrival of Plex VR on the Daydream platform. The new app allows users to watch their Plex Media Server content in a virtual reality environment with their friends. In order to use the Plex VR app, users will need a Daydream-ready smartphone like the Google Pixel and a Google Daydream View headset. Once downloaded, the app offers support for watching Plex Media Server content on a virtual big screen with up to four friends in real time in one of three interactive environments: The Void, Loft Apartment, and Drive-In Theater. Once in the environment, each user's avatar will appear in the scene and the group can communicate via voice chat. In addition, customers can also watch local videos on their Android device, including 3D and 360/180 degree content. The Plex VR app is now available for Daydream devices via the Google Play app. VR streaming is free for all users, but the co-watching and Drive-In environment are exclusive to Plex Pass subscribers. Google's latest Daydream headset is on sale now for an MSRP of $99 in Fog, Charcoal and Coral color options. The upgraded 2017 model features new high-performance lenses for better image clarity and a wider field of view, along with a premium two-tone fabric to make the headset soft and light. Source: PlexPosted Sat Jan 27, 2018 at 05:15 PM PST by:
