Tech Digest: Top-end audio manufacturer Harman Kardon has just announced the “most powerful” amplifier that the company has ever produced, as well as a matching CD player, for those of you still trading in plastic discs.

I could happily regurgitate the press release about how the amplifier’s power is achieved with its “EzSet/EQ room optimisation”, but all you really need to know is that it sounds lovely.

The CD player sounds similarly lovely, thanks to a built-in digital sound processor, and linear smoothing to stop jitters.

amplifier EzSet/EQ room optimisation harman kardon HD990 CD player HK990

AVRev.com: In-Stat has released a report predicting increased proliferation of Wi-Fi, driven by consumer electronics devices usually found in the living room. 

Wi-Fi is already commanding the mobile device and home network markets, and In-Stat sees the signs for a transition to the living room. 

Game consoles are already experiencing an attach rate of 80%, and DTVs will likely be another major factor in increasing the presence of Wi-Fi.

The largest sector of the market that is Wi-Fi enabled is still mobile devices, however. Notebook PCs, portable media players and cell phones/smart phones will sell hundreds of million Wi-Fi capable units by 2012.

consumer electronics Wi Fi

Techradar: Teufel has announced a range of six new multimedia speaker sets and a new Decoderstation.

The German direct sellers are hoping to convince UK shoppers that they should upgrade their home cinema or add some quality to their PC/Mac set ups with the ‘Concept’ range of speakers and a follow – up to their popular Decoderstation.

The Teufel Concept C 2.1 sets offer up to 150 watt audio output and a choice between either a small or large speaker with a small subwoofer.

The Concept C 200 range consists of CE10 Satellite Speakers and an 8in 80 Watt Subwoofer, with the C200 offering CE 20 Satellite Speakers and a 150 Watt 8in Subwoofer.

There are four different concept E ranges, and last but not least is the Decoderstation 5, which is designed to compliment the Concept range.

C 2.1 C 200 CE10 concept Decoderstation multimedia speaker sets Teufel

Electronista: Logitech announced its Squeezebox network music players will now offer the Napster subscription music service. Via their wired or wireless home networks, users will have access to Napster’s roughly 7 million-song online library as long as they have active memberships.

The service is available both for models with Internet radio support as well as simple network music playback.

The streaming extends both to manual album, artist and song selection as well as fully dynamic playlists thanks to the Napster Automix feature. Users can also make their own playlists, or tune to one of more than 50 pre-supplied channels divided by genre. There are also thousands of existing playlists to choose from.

Logitech Napster Squeezebox

Home Cinema Choice: Samsung has been named the world’s biggest TV brand for the third year running. In a ranking of the world’s biggest players based on 2008 sales data, market analyst DisplaySearch has placed Samsung clearly at the top of the pile.

The South Korean giant sold 21 million LCD TVs in 2008, giving it a 21.9 per cent market share. The company is now some way in front of second placed Sony, which commands a 13.1 per cent of the market. LG Electronics comes in third with 11.2 per cent, Panasonic fourth (8.2 per cent) and Sharp fifth (7.4 per cent).

However, the cash looks likely to drain from the market during 2009. Quixel Research says that while the flatscreen market grew 14 per cent in 2008, its value is decreasing fast. ‘The numbers foreshadow a tough future as far as LCD TV revenues are concerned,’ says Quixel’s Tamaryn Pratt.

lcd tv LG Electronics panasonic Quixel Research Samsung sharp Sony

AVReview: Israel’s top-spec AV manufacturer HDi has created a range of BitTorrent-enabled Blu-ray players replete with superb file support and specs.

The range consists of several players including the HD Center, Dune BD Prime and HD Base, all of which deliver Full HD 1080p and video support for everything from DivX, XVid and WMV9 to H.264 and MKV files.

The range is also BD Live compliant for all your interactivity needs and sports a built-in BitTorrent client, with the potential for sharing (legally downloaded) HD content via the onboard Wi-Fi.

There’s room to insert a hard drive to store all your files and there are two eSATA ports as well - perfect for the AV enthusiast who watches Blu-ray yet likes to download from the net as well.

BitTorrent HDi Dune Blu ray Player