Recently in TV and Video Category

Kaleidescape has announced two new DVD players that integrate with their video/music servers and offer 1080p upconverting DVD playback as well as importing DVD to a networked Kaleidescape server.

The Kaleidescape 1080p Player is a 1U rack-mountable solution that matches the look and feel of the rest of the Kaleidescape product line, and the Kaleidescape 1080p mini Player is a smaller product designed for more visible use.

The Kaleidescape system isn;t for the average home user, but is very popular for distributed storage and playback of video and music in large houses and high-end boats.

via klunker

Sony has announced an additional investment of 22 billion Yen ($210m) towards production of medium to large OLEDs with a goal of having everything up and running during their 2009 fiscal year (which ends March 2010).

This put them on a schedule to begin selling OLEDs at the same time as Samsung.

Competition like this is good for the consumer and should hopefully result in lower prices for OLEDs.

via engadget

The LG 47LG60 47" 1080p Scarlet TV is the subject of a new review posted over at PC Magazine.

Here's what they thought of it:

"Part of LG's new "Scarlet" series of televisions, the 47LG60 LCD HDTV ($3,499.95 list) offers a blend of colorful modern style along with the finest picture quality I've seen from an LCD TV. The set's high-speed LCD technology proved adept at minimizing detail-destroying motion blur while maintaining good color quality at even the widest viewing angles. Videophiles will also appreciate the excellent HD video processor, as well as the best set of picture controls I've seen. Of course the TV isn't the least expensive 47-inch LCD TV around. Still, you'll be hard pressed to find another set that delivers this level of picture quality, which is why it earns our Editors' Choice. "

LG 47LG60 Scarlet TV Review at PC Mag

Hitachi has announced a new portable blu-ray burner designed to hook up to a HD camcorder.

The DZ-WR90 connects to your camcorder (and hopefully your PC but this isn't known yet) via an eSATA connector and allows you to burn whatever footage you select. There is no editing capabilities built-in though so we feel this is only usable for the most rudimentary backup of video for later processing and refining.

The drives burns at 2x speed which means it takes 90 minutes to burn the maximum of 3hrs of 1080p video onto a blu-ray disc, and it also supports DVD-R discs and double sided discs (if you flip them over manually).

No price has been announced yet and the Hitachi DZ-WR90 portable Blu-ray burner should be available for purchase sometime in July.

Hitachi DZ-WR90 portable Blu-ray burner via Slashgear

Tired of waiting for your Netflix movies to appear in the mailbox? well if you have a Netflix subscription over $9/month and $100 to spare you can how pickup a Netflix set-top box that streams movies directly to your PC.

What's the catch? no HD so far, not too many new releases, no built-in title search. If you can live with that then you get access to 10,000 movies titles (with more being added all the time) for no extra fee above what you're currently paying for your subscription.

Netflix player from Roku via BGR

JVC has announced a new lightweight camcorder designed to simplify creation and uploading of YouTube videos.

The GZ-MS100 weighs just 9.5oz (with 2hr duration battery) and measures only 2.2" x 2.7" x 4.4" but manages to pack in a 35x optical zoom and a 2.7" color LCD screen. MPEG-2 video and 2ch Dolby Digital sound are recorded to a SD card allowing the storage of up to 3hr 45mins of "TV Quality" video or 1hr 50mins of "DVD movie" quality on an 8GB card.

So what's the YouTube connection and how does that work? It seems simple: choose "upload" mode before taking a video and it saves an additional version of the video limited to 10 minutes and optimized for YouTube viewing. Once you are done connect the GZ-MS100 via a USB cable and then upload with just a few clicks.

This isn't a HD camcorder, but SD card storage, YouTube, and high-def don't go well together so no complaints there. The only thing it is really missing is WiFi so you could upload videos over you home network without needing to connect to a PC.

The JVC GZ-MS100 will be available in June for $349.99.

Some manufacturers release one new TV at a time, others release a single line of 4 or 5 TVs, not Sharp: they just announced a massive 22 new LCD TVs ranging from a little 26" GX5 up to a humongous 65" RX5.

Here's what we know of the specs:

"X5 Series: Available in 65", 52" and 46", with a contrast ratio of 3300:1 and a "living contrast" ratio of 1500:1, providing in total a stunning contrast ratio of 20000:1, and a brightness of 450cd/m2. Our TV is full HD with a new 120Hz panel and 12bit BDE image processor.

DS5 Series: Three full HD TVs, with sizes ranging from 32" to 42", it also features a 2000:1 contrast ratio and a 450cd/m2 brightness, without the 120Mhz panel."

A full press release should be out sometime soon but until then why not head over to Akihibara for a bunch of photos.

Twenty-two New Aquos LCD TVs from Sharp via Akihibara News

I have television envy. I thought we were doing well with a nice new 50" Toshiba LCD in the family room(that relegated our early adopter 45" Sharp Aquos LCD to the bedroom), but after seeing the new 82 inch offering from Samsung I feel so small and worthless.

I know size isn't everything but this beauty (I'm talking about the TV not the girl) packs a lot more than just 82" of screen: it is "Ultra Definition" which means 3840x2160 pixels (or 4x the pixels of a 1080p screen), has 120Hz technology, plus LED backlighting.

"Dear Santa, I've been a very good boy, for Christmas this year I would like......."

Press Release below.

Samsung 82 inch LCD at I4U (via Mr. Gadget)

Sharp has announced two new "professional" TVs, the 46" TL-M4600 and the 52" TL-M5200.

Both offer a 1080p (1920x1080 pixel) screen, a new thin cabinet design, ethernet. HDMI, and a built in web browser.

These TVs are designed for business presentation not watching American Idol.

Full press release follows:

HDMI is a great way of transferring a video signal but like any cable the signal degrades over distance and as HDMI is a digital signal it is either strong enough to get though 100% or you get nothing.

At first glance the Powered HDMI From Visionware seems like a good product until you realize it is only 5m long - the cheapest quality $5 HDMI cable should conform to HDMI 1.3 category 1 which means it will get a signal through 5m, no amplification needed.

Just like monster cable and all the other overpriced "gold plated" or "proprietary silicone core" cables the $400 Powered HDMI cable from Visionware is no better than a $5 cable.

If you need to go further than 5m then look for a higher quality 24awg copper HDMI which should get you 12m, a fibre optic or ethernet extender cable that could get up to 50m (for 1080p signals), or alternatively wait a couple of years unitl more TV are out that send the signal wirelessly.

Powered HDMI From Visionware (via uberreview)

Sanyo has introduced two new projectors in Japan: the LP-XC50 and the LP-XC55.

Both have the new AMF ("Active Maintenance Filter") system that reduces filter changes and prevents dust entering the projector, a solid security bar allowing the use of 11mm wire, 7-watt speaker, 1024x768 resolution, and DVI interface.

The LX-XC50 has 2600 lumens brightness and costs around $3000, while the LX-XC50 adds 500 more lumens for $500 more.

Sanyo LP-XC50 and LP-XC55 Projectors via about projectors

TiVo's VP of product marketing, Jim Denney, mentioned in an article on TV Week that TiVo and Amazon will announce HD "in the not too distant future."

HD has always lagged behind on PVRs so it's good to see some more availability in this area.

Amazon Unbox on Tivo at Crave

Not much info on this or even a photo of a prototype so here's the press release:

Tokyo, May 9, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Sumitomo Chemical Co. <4005> said Friday that in 2009, it plans to launch the production and sales of large-screen organic electroluminescence display panels for use in televisions of 40 inches or larger.

Sumitomo Chemical is developing so-called macromolecule-type organic EL panels. Because these can be produced through an ink-jet printing process, it is possible to lower production costs and make large displays, a company spokesman said.

source

It looks like those LCD price cuts we told you about recently are starting to happen.

According to a post on AVS forum Samsung just dropped the price of all their 550 series LCD TVs by $200.

Sony already promised price cuts so keep your eyes peeled for more price cuts across the board.

Samsung LCD Price Cuts via gizmodo

Equinux has introduced a hybrid USB television receiver that contains two tuners - one for analog signals and one for digital, allowing users to watch and record all their favorite programs.

The Tubestick comes with interesting software that allows you to chat with other people watching the same show as you and to transfer recorded shows to an ipod or iphone.

Obviously it isn't as good as a full dedicated media pc but for $129 it's a good way to watch TV wherever you go.

source

Trusted Reviews has reviewed the $900 JVC Everio GZ-HD6 HD (1080p) camcorder with 120GB hard drive.

Here's what they thought of it:

"Next to the latest flash memory camcorders, JVC's Everio GZ-HD6EK feels rather portly. But its ten hours of high quality video storage still can't be matched by any format other than similarly equipped hard disk-based camcorders. Unfortunately, you pay quite a premium for this, and the 60GB GZ-HD5EK isn't that much cheaper either. Despite the HD6's good image quality and comprehensive features, there are now cheaper, lighter options with equal or better capabilities - in particular, Canon's HF10."

source

Pioneer has announced their 2008 US lineup of Kuro Plasma TVs.

The focus is on deeper black levels, 5x deeper than last years models plus they have software that monitors room conditions and automatically makes adjustments.

There aren't many hard details in the press release, butthey are 3.7" thick, they will start arriving in June, are all 1080p, and will start with a 50" for $4000 and a 60" for $5500.

Press release:

Asus has announced a little USB TV tuner/receiver that they claim is plug and play (or should that be plug and watch) on any xp or vista pc.

The My Cinema U3100 mini automatically launches TV viewing software and doesn't need any external power source, getting all it's juice through the PCs powered USB2 slot.

The press release makes it sound like the second coming, but I think we will wait for a few reviews to get a better idea of it's capabilities.

(via fareastgizmos)

Pioneer's second blu-ray announcement of the day is the Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD.

It's basic features are the same as the Pioneer BDP-51FD we covered earlier: blu-ray profile 1.1, 1080p/24 output, onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio, 7.1 analog output, and wolfson digital audio converters.

The Elite adds gold plated connectors, aluminum front panel, touch sensitive buttons, and $200 for a total price tag of $800.

We are still not impressed.

Pioneer has announced their least expensive blu-ray player to date.

The $600 Pioneer BDP-51FD will be out this summer features blu-ray profile 1.1, 1080p/24 output, onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio, 7.1 analog output, and wolfson digital audio converters.

Overall those specs aren't very impressive and the lack of blu-ray 2.0 support is a real deal-killer for us.