When two popular names in the LCD TV industry come together, you don’t want to be among the players in the same market. The venture is bound to pose problems and will surely be something that could dominate the market. This is of course with reference to the reported joint venture by Sony Corporation and Sharp in an effort to produce and sell very large LCD panels starting next year.
Sony will be pumping $105 million into Sharp Display Products in an effort to create a share split of 66-percent Sharp and 34-percent Sony. The deal is expected to be finalized by March 10th of next year. 32” LCD screens are the ones being leaked as their main product, something that should be beneficial for consumers but a threat to the other players in the LCD TV market.
Cabling has been a critical part in the delivery of quality audio and to make sure that connections are done properly in preparation for the shift towards v1.4 hardware, NXG Technology launches its new v1.4 capable HDMI cables which add Ethernet connectivity and return audio path to existing HDMI formats.
These cables are forecasted to be the “future-proof” of delivering competent and improved video and audio speed for people setting up their home entertainment systems. The said v1.4 capable HDMI cables are now available and should be great alternative as v1.4 capable hardware are expected to come out by 2010.
It seems that Indian home theater enthusiasts have one more projector option to choose from as Epson has recently announced that their EB-825 has hit India’s shores.
Epson’s EB-825 projector will feature a 1024 x 768 resolution, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and 3000 ANSI lumens. Additionally it will have 2 RGB ports and S-Video, composite and USB connections. One of the main selling points Epson is touting about this projector, however, is that it features a lamp that can run for 6000 hours before needing to be changed.
You’ll be able to pick the EB-825 projector now through Epson for around $1,620.
In a recent announcement, Microsoft has said that their Windows 7 Media Center Edition will be getting built-in compatibility with Netflix Watch Instantly.
If you’re not familiar with this service it essentially allows you to stream Netflix movies with little to no wait time. Of course, this feature was included with Windows Vista all the way back in May but only now this announcement comes out about Windows 7.
Furthermore, Windows 7’s version of Netflix Watch Instantly will feature a full touchscreen interface for you luxurious folk out there.
HP has recently updated their online store to make way for the 27-inch 2709m HD monitor.
This monitor is perfect for those looking for an HDTV alternative as it features a full 1080p (1920×1080) resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 30,000:1 contrast ratio and a 5ms response time. Additionally, HP will throw in 2W integrated speakers and VGA, DVI-D and HDMI inputs.
Of course, it’s $499.99 price point might make it hard to justify as a cheap HDTV alternative.
If you’re looking to get your iPod’s content onto your TV hasslefree, Onyko may have a solution for you, pictured above is this ND-S1 iPod dock.
This dock will reportedly feature digital audio output, composite oupot and support for audio playback. Additionally, Onyko will throw in a USB port for iTunes connection.
Now, you’d think with an iPod touch docked in the above picture this thing would also be compatible with Apple’s iPhone, right? Wrong, the dock is only compatible with the iPod touch, classic and nano. What gives?
AAXA has launched a new pico projector for you guys so now you can choose between AAXA’s older P1 pocket projector and the fresh P2 version. The P2 is a LcoS-based pico projector will offer you SVGA resolution, 33 lumen LED brightness, 1GB of memory, microSD support, a built-in battery capable of 35 minutes of continuous projection, VGA input and a mini USB socket. The P2 is now available for pre-order for $349 but you’d better think twice before getting it. Maybe a better update waiting around the corner.
Eizo has a totally new LCD monitor for you so if you’re looking for a new 24-inch display then you have to absolutely check out the FlexScan S2433W-H monitor. Besides that extraordinary WUXGA resolution you’ll also get a 16ms response time, a DVI-D (HDCP) port, a DisplayPort and a coverage rate of 96% of Adobe’s RGB. The display will be available in Japan for around $1,000 starting with September 1.
Is it surprising to find LG Electronics overtaking erstwhile electronics manufacturing giant Sony Corp? At least for the first half of 2009, LG Electronics has made some headway with its aggressive push on various LCD TV launches, leading to its record breaking run and thus becoming the world’s second-largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays (LCD) TV.
The sales figures don’t lie but you just have to look at the products launched from the previous months. There is no doubt that LG Electronics has released a variety of TV solutions under the LCD niche that have led towards the customer preference. Sony Corp. for its part has been unveiling its own share of LCD TVs, but not as many compared to LG Electronics which is obviously enjoying its finest year yet despite the economic blues.
For the record, LG electronics has sold 6.74 million units of LCD TVs globally compared to Sony Corporation’s 6.54 million units. That measly .2 million difference was all LG Electronics (12.6%) needed to jump to the number 2 spot as far as market share is concerned. Sony fell to third spot (11.4%) in the market share which is being dominated by Samsung Electronics (19.9%) as of late.
Recently, at the annual Summer Line Show of LG Electronics, the company unveiled its latest LCD (SL80 series) and LED (SL90 series) HDTVs. Both the HDTVs feature a single edge-to-edge glass panel over an ultra-slim bezel, creating a sophisticated look that turns heads, no matter if the TV is on or off.
To achieve dramatically thin profile and deliver superior picture quality for compelling visual experience, the SL80 series make use of slim CCFL technology with TruMotion 240Hz. The SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick and is available in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes. The SL80 will be available in August, 2009 for $1,599.95, $1,899.95 and $2,799.95 respectively.
On the other hand, to provide enhanced picture quality and energy efficiency, the SL90 utilizes LED display technology. The SL90 series will be released by the end of this year and will be available in 42- and 47-inch class screen sizes. The prices will be announced later.
The first 3D TV Channel will be available in the UK sometime next year so 3D lovers will be able to enjoy lots of 3D shows straight from their homes. Sure they will need 3D glasses and 3D capable TVs but what’s important here is that you’ll get 3D content every day from BSkyB. The channel will bring your movies, sports and other custom shows. We have no specific date so far so you have plenty of time to get ready to watch 3D TV every day.
Music producers, professional and amateurs alike, can look forward to better sound mixing and enhancements as P5Audio.com releases new Hip Hop loop sets that should aid them in perking up their sounds the way that most hip hop and rap artists do with their music today.
The package comes with over 296 individual loops that should provide them with all their needs as far as trying to copy the music of artists like Dr. Dre, The Alchemist and Scott Storch. It seems that for bands and musicians who want to deliver captivating sound with effects, this is the add-on you may be looking for.
Here is what you will get with it:
Features 26 hip hop beats - in the styles of Dr. Dre, The Alchemist, Scott Storch and more - all multi-tracked out for mixing and beat making ease.
The Doctor Rehab Hip Hop Loops Set features signature P5Audio drum sounds.
Features live guitar recorded through Avalon and Neve pre-amps, and captured through Apogee A to D converts.
Each loopset is a full beat that can be mapped out for artists to record over - Producers can also chop the elements and create hundreds of new sounds for their beat making arsenal.
Loops are available in both 24 bit and 16 Bit WAV, REX and Apple Loop formats.
The Doctor Rehab Hip Hop Construction Loop Sets is now available for download at P5Audio.com http://www.p5audio.com/
For all the mixers out there, there is a new digital media player you can use to create mixes and modified sounds thanks to these new digital audio workstations from MAGIX. Set to be released by MAGIX are the Samplitude 11 and the Sequioa 11 digital audio workstations. MAGIX has commissioned Music Marketing to help them in their distribution efforts.
The release of these two new music software will certainly be a big boost towards the efforts of the musicians and engineers who are tasked to come up with enhanced and quality sound creations in digital format. The new software releases should be a great benefit for musicians, new songwriters, producers, recording and mastering studios, educators, and game developers.
The MAGIX suite of tools truly offers a complete solution for audio and MIDI recording, editing, mixing, mastering & CD burning.
Looking for a LED TV? Well Samsung has launched its first series of LED-backlit LCD with local dimming. You can choose between two models so far, the 46-inch version and the 55-inch version. These LED TVs will be available in September for $3,600 and $4,500 respectively.
The 8500 Series will offer you white LEDs with local dimming, 1080p output, Yahoo widget engine for streaming video, 7,000,000:1 contrast ratio, a 2ms response time, Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation and an Ultra Clear Panel meant to enhance your TV-watching experience.
Rarely would people be aware that inside most electronic equipment, the connections which currently make use of copper can easily break down and carry limited capacities. And while people have been used to this trend, it looks like larger capacity and better conductors are on its way as Graphene nannoribbons are slowly making its way to improve chip connections, complementing the growing demand and requirements of advanced electronic equipment coming out today.
And the result is of course longer life span for these connectors and added performance which should be able to handle the brunt of loads on devices which are getting complex and powerful. Electromigration is a phenomenon that causes transport of material, especially at high current density. In on-chip interconnects, this eventually leads to a break in the wire, which results in chip failure.
So once the graphene technology comes out, expect better performance and longer life spans for your electronic devices. This is certainly something that should be a bright note for people who invest heavily on electronic devices and equipment and long for better life span and performance from them.
Eastman Kodak Company recently unveiled the next-generation Kodak Theatre HD player that adds new and improved capabilities to the HDTV. The player will allow you enjoy videos in HD via a set-top box.
With the Kodak Theatre HD player you can use your HDTV to wirelessly view pictures, music and videos stored on your PC, stream YouTube videos to your HDTV, check out hundreds of online videos through Net Video and wirelessly send as well as receive photos with Kodak’s Picture Mail feature. The Collage view feature of the player will let you view pictures by random, from the same date, or through the years. In addition, you can also check out the latest pictures and videos instantly by just inserting a memory card or USB storage device or by plugging in your digital camera.
The Kodak Theatre HD player is available for US $199.99 (MSRP) on various online sites such as Kodak.com, Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Buy.com.
Sonic Solutions has announced that its CinemaNow service will be offered to you in full 1080p. That’s right, you’ll be able to enjoy some of your favorite titles in “Blu-ray Disc resolution”. Sonic will bring buffer-free playback to its new Cinema Adaptive HD encoding and delivery system. So if you’ve gotten used to buying Blu-ray discs or to downloading only HD content you might want to quit all that and focus on CinemaNow in the near future. As long as you have an Ethernet connection available and a decent home theater setup you’re good to go!
Sonic will be working with Widevine for the adaptive HD streaming so we’ll be looking forward to see how everything works out!
Portability and new style is what JVC aims to bring with the launch of these new Black Series foldable headphones coming in two models: HA-M750 and HA-S650. Both are compatible and designed for the latest portable devices.
Both Black series headphones are foldable over-the-head models finished in glossy and flat black. Through the use of large driver units with carbon compound diaphragms, these headphones achieve superior bass reproduction, while the rigid carbon housing ensures optimal sound clarity because of its anti-resonance properties.
The JVC Black series headphones, the HA-M750 and HA-S650, will be available in August for $79.95 and $69.95, respectively.