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NaviGadget: Garmin announced the eTrex Vista H – a low-cost handheld GPS receiver plus navigator.

eTrex Vista H – like we mentioned – is an entry level unit but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. It has a high sensitivity receiver that can get satellite fix under even dense tree canopy.

It includes an electronic compass and barometric altimeter as well which can be quite important if you’re outdoors a lot. eTrex Vista H also features USB interface which will give you access to a whopping 24MB of internal memory – allowing you to add detailed topo maps.

Also announced by Garmin was the eTrex Legend H – another low-cost handheld GPS receiver plus navigator. eTrex Legend H also has a high sensitivity receiver (which you can see near the top of the unit – white square box) that can get satellite fix under dense tree canopy or deep canyons.

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Video Imaging DesignLine: Japanese electronics maker Panasonic said it aims to boost sales of flatscreen TVs by 50 percent, joining rival LG Electronics Inc in setting bold growth targets in a slowing market.

The world’s largest plasma TV maker said last Friday it aims to sell 15.5 million plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs in the year starting in April, up from estimated 2008/09 sales of 10.3 million as it increases product line-ups and expandS sales channels.

The target, set in tandem with plans to cut investments on two new flat-screen TV plants, would put Panasonic well ahead of estimated market growth if achieved.

It echoed ambitious projections earlier on Friday from LG, which said it aims to raise its LCD TV sales, where it ranks third in the world, by 50 percent to 18 million sets this year and its plasma TV sales by 7 to 25 percent to between 3 and 3.5 million.

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Trusted Reviews: Thought the introduction of DRM free music and the seemingly huge sales of iTunes, Amazon MP3 and the like were finally making an impression on piracy? Don’t be daft…

A report from industry body the IFPI has declared that while “music companies embrace new revenue models, offering consumers more choice” 95 per cent of music downloads remain unauthorised with no payment to artists and producers. More ominously/predictably, the IFPI also calls for 2009 to be the year ISPs team up with the music industry to fight this.

“The recorded music industry is reinventing itself and its business models,” explained IFPI chairman and chef executive John Kennedy. “Music companies have changed their whole approach to doing business, reshaped their operations and responded to the dramatic transformation in the way music is distributed and consumed.”

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Video Business: The worst recession in decades took its toll on U.S. home entertainment spending in 2008, as it did on virtually every consumer goods category.

Although not proving recession-proof, the home entertainment industry did show some resilience, with consumer spending on rentals and purchases of DVD and Blu-ray Disc falling a relatively moderate 5.7%.

Consumer purchases on both formats slid 8.5% to $14.1 billion, with Blu-ray’s exponential sales growth unable to fully counterbalance slippage of more than 10% in DVD sales.

Blu-ray sales represented about $750 million in 2008, according to studio estimates.

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HD News: Amongst a huge range of LCD TV’s for 2009, LG’s high end LH9500 gets wireless streaming capability and LED backlighting.

LG use a brand new AV box to stream wireless content to their new screen while the Korean manufacturer says that LED backlighting contributes to a claimed 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

The 55in LH9500 comes in at an svelte like 24.8mm and is incredibly stylish even for LG who have recently employed a Milan based studio for the look of some their flat panel TV’s.

Also featuring HD DivX, the LH9500 lets you view HD movies via USB. Elsewhere there is TruMotion 200 Hz, Intelligent Sensor for picture optimisation and energy saving, ISFccc Calibration capability along with 4 HDMI inputs.

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Tech Digest: Sony added the DB-BT101s to its online catalogue.

These rather attractive phones are wireless, and connect via Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, so they’ll happily work alongside a bluetooth laptop, PDA, mobile phone or MP3 player.

Those are the all the details we’ve got right now, but they do look lovely, so here’s hoping they’ll get some sort of Western release, along with some tangible specs, in the near future.

Sony also debuted the MDR-EX36SC in-ear headphones. What’s notable about them though, is their protective case, which can double as an external speaker for you to plug whatever sound source you like into.

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TechRadar: GPS technology will nudged aside in the years ahead, as hybrid location systems using Wi-Fi and Cell-ID take over, according to analysts ABI Research. The high-tech consultancy estimates that assisted GPS Cell-ID and Wi-Fi-based technologies will make up a quarter of all positioning systems by 2014.

The Global Positioning System was originally developed for use by the American military and gives great results in open terrain. Indoors or in crowded cities, however, getting an accurate fix can be difficult or even impossible. Assisted GPS and Cell-ID systems (using the position of mobile phone towers) and Wi-Fi locators like SkyHook are already filling the gaps in GPS coverage, and more technologies are coming online all the time.

ABI Research predicts the rise of motion sensors, TV broadcast and proximity technologies such as Bluetooth, NFC and RFID, as manufacturers seek the lowest-cost solution to offer location-based services.

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GPS Business News: In the a new report by IMS Research, “Worldwide Market for GPS/GNSS in Portable Devices”, the GPS market is forecast to increase by over $200 million between 2008 and 2009.

IMS Research Analyst, Tom Arran, states “2008 was the breakout year for GPS in mobile phones. In 2009 GPS will begin to penetrate into a range of vertical markets, such as cameras, laptops, UMPCs, sporting equipment and first responder radios. This will help to drive shipment growth of over 25% year on year”.

“OEMs in these markets can use GPS to differentiate their product, while also drive new service revenue streams. Furthermore, location is emerging as a key component of future offerings from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, Intel, Mozilla and Ericsson.

Despite a significant increase in revenue in 2009, IMS Research believes that the best is yet to come. Arran goes on to say “2009 will not be booming year for GPS in portable devices. Looking beyond the current economic turbulence, IMS Research is forecasting the overall market for GPS to demonstrate a 21.2% CAGR between 2008 and 2013″.

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Trusted Reviews: We’ve already mourned the death (perhaps a little pre-humously) of SACD and now the time has come to observe a minutes silence for another format – LaserDisc.

Pioneer has called it quits on the format, as it was the last manufacturer left still making players.

To this point Pioneer was still making three models of LaserDisc player, the DVL-919, DVK-900 and DVL-K88. Stats fans might be interested to know that apparently the company sold 9.5 million LaserDisc players itself, of the 16.8 million total shipped.

To put that number in a little perspective, HD DVD managed in the one million units sold region, though that format only lasted a couple of years, not decades like LaserDisc.

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Engadget: While not high definition like the company’s most recent projectors, Sanyo’s PLC-XF71 manages to compensate with 10,000 lumens for some serious brightness.

By comparison, the recently-unveiled PDG-DHT100JL sports 6,500 lumens and its PLV-1080HD just 1,200.

Beyond that, it’s got a 1024 x 768 picture and a 3000:1 contrast ratio.

The inputs provided are RGB (D-Sub-15), Pb/Cb, Pr/Cr (BNCx5) and S-Video. DVI-D and other input configurations are available with optional accessories. An USB service port is provided, along with a RS-232 communications port for use with external control systems.

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Stuff.tv: Philips has just unveiled their new Cinema 21:9 TV. The name itself is a bit of a give away.

The new LCD is the world’s first cinema–proportioned TV, and Philips will be hoping it will kickstart a revolution in HD tellies.

It essentially means that when you crack open that Blu–Ray of Quantum of Solace in a few weeks, it won’t have those pesky black bars at the top or bottom of the screen. Instead the picture will fill the whole TV.

The new screen measures 56in and will pack in the same Ambilight tech found in Philips’ top–end TVs.

It’s all set for an official UK release on 29 January.

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Electricpig: CES might be over for another year, but there are still new gadgets launching: Navman has just outed three new ultra thin satnavs, the Spirit S200 Regional, S200 Europe and S300T, and they’re all packing Bluetooth.

All of the new 4.3inch Spirit series boast Navman’s lovely touchscreen Glide Touch interface and ClearView so you know while lane to get the car in, with continent wide maps on the S200 Europe and S300T.

For those on two feet instead of four wheels, there’s also a 2D pedestrian mode with building outlines so you don’t miss that all important alley, and because they’re only 13.5mm thick, they’re not a chore to carry around.

The Bluetooth is useful for more than hands free calls too – it’s to connect to the internet via your phone, so you can find your nearest Nandos through Navman’s Live Local search. The S300T even uses it to get live traffic updates and intelligent re-routing.

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