11
Sep
2006
The JBL On Tour plus, a compact sound system for amongst others portable game devices, has been reviewed by PC Mag.
Category: Home Entertainment Systems
08
Sep
2006
VNUNet: Consumer electronics sales are booming in western Europe – consumers have spent some 18 per cent more in the first half of 2006 than in the same period last year, according to a new report on consumer spending from GfK.
The sector is benefiting from consumers investing more money in expensive and higher value consumer electronics products. GfK is predicting that Europeans will have spent €44bn by the end of the year.
In western Europe, 61 per cent of total sales in the industry during the first half of 2006 were generated in the UK, Germany and France. The greatest proportion, 25 per cent, was attributable to the UK.
This was followed by the German market with a share of 19 per cent and France with 17 per cent. The remainder is spread across seven other western European countries in which GfK collects data.
Sweden tops the growth charts with sales up 23 per cent compared to the first half of 2005. Sales were up year-on-year by 20 per cent in France and 18 per cent in the UK.
TVs are the strongest growth driver in consumer electronics and sales are up 35 per cent on the first half of 2005. The main reason is consumers increasingly turning away from traditional CRT sets and switching to flat-screen LCD or plasma models.
Sales of LCD TVs were up 125 per cent. TVs with 32in screens and over were particularly popular, with one in three consumers buying a set of this size.
01
Sep
2006
Tech Digest & various sources: It’s the world’s largest consumer electronics show – and it will be open from today until 6th September. Here are some highlights from the manufacturers:
Philips: they’ll be announcing a new Skype VoIP phone, a new Windows XP Media Center for the living room with 250GB hard drive and Blu-Ray (again the product was first shown last year). See www.ifa.philips.com for more.
Pioneer: their latest line-up in Plasma, AV Receivers, DVD players and Sat Nav systems, plus a few surpises. Expect samples of their Blu-ray player, the BDP-HD1, their new 60-inch Plasma TV – the PDP-607XD and a new HDMI DVD Recorder DVR-940H with huge 500GB hard disk. See Pioneer’s news release for more.
LG: plan to launch new TVs with built in DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) following the success of the 43-inch plasma model launched in May. Apparently LG has shifted two million handsets of its ‘hero product’, the chocolate phone, but no news on a successor yet.
Samsung: Among the new products will be the company’s Blu-Ray DVD players which are due to go on sale before the end of the year. Also showing off an LCD TV that uses LEDs as a backlighting source.
Grundig: Now part of the Alba Group, Grundig is showing off a pair of wireless stereo speakers which according to the blurb ‘have the potential to be design icons’.
Thomson: Unveiling a completely wireless (2.4GHz) system for linking up various devices in the home, including DVD player, set top box and TV screen.
Yamaha: The company plans to launch two new Sound Projector models (a single speaker mounted below the TV screen which replaces five or more surround speakers).
Daewoo: An interesting sounding GPS system with built in DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) system so you can listen to the radio and watch TV whilst navigating.
31
Aug
2006
TechDigest: Bang & Olufsen has launched the world’s first TV with in-built DAB radio.
The BeoCenter 6-23, is a 23-inch flat-screen LCD, high-definition TV with a DAB radio. It promises a 180-degree viewing angle and a DVI input.
Retailing at around £3,000 (€4,450), you can also choose from six grille and frame colours.
28
Aug
2006
Pioneer has released a new 5.1 surround sound system designed for exclusive use with the Xbox 360 – it even shares the look of the games console.
The HTP-GS1 has a total output of 600W, a sub-receiver, 5 satellite speakers, separate display and a remote that pretty much lets you control both systems.
Source: Exclusive Surround Sound System for Xbox 360: HTP-GS1 [Pioneer]
23
Aug
2006
Engadget: They record on hard disk drive, DVD or VHS – and also feature an SD card player.
Due to hit the shelves in October, the high-end model – the DMR-XW40V – has a 400GB hard disk, and includes an “SD Music” function that lets you rip CDs, and transfer them to SD easily.
The DMR-XP20V sports a 250GB HDD – but its SD slot just allows playback.
22
Aug
2006
Akihabar News: Amex has announced that their ‘world-first’ Blu-ray disc recorder – the M505-BDR – will debut at IFA in Berlin, ready for European distribution.
The unit appears to have absolutely everything: it plays Blu-ray software titles via a native 1080p HDMI output. It also up-converts conventional DVDs to 1080p through the HDMI digital interface and is backwards compatible, playing both standard DVDs and CDs in addition to supporting all DVD formats including, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD+R.
Additionally, AMEX DIGITAL has included a dual Hybrid digital TV turner with PIP (Picture in Picture) Function and wireless WiFi b/g, 100/1000Mb network, Fire Wire IEEE1394, S/P DIF in/out interface that supports all the major formats source from internet and HD-DV Cam, the native high definition resolution contained in 2-megapixel and larger digital still pictures can be fully rendered on a high definition television via slide show functionality built into the M505-BDR.
Retail price is expected to be between 1,500 and 2,000 Euros.
16
Aug
2006
Press Release: Pioneer announces their winning EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) products.
Three of their products received the title as Europe’s best:
- PDP-5000EX: Best HD-Component Screen
- AVIC-HD1BT: Best Navi-Media System
- DEH-P88RS: Best Mobile Audio Head Unit
31
Jul
2006
Pioneer announces 2 new AV receivers in the mid-high range. Both the VSX-AX4ASi and the VSX-AX2AS offer advanced HDMI connectivity, are THX Select2 certified, and include direct digital support for iPod Photo.
They’re equipped with four and three HDMI inputs respectively, fully capable of handling 1080p video signals. Both receivers use an advanced video scaler chipset with DCDi by Faroudja technology and feature flicker-free interlaced to progressive conversion options.
The multi-channel receivers provide additional THX listening modes for enhanced playback of a variety of entertainment content, including movies, music or games and guarantee the best possible sound, according to Pioneer.
The two new AV receivers will be available at the end of September. For more information on costs and availability, contact your local Pioneer office or distributor.
21
Jul
2006
We found out our digital home isn’t going to happen tomorrow. But that doesn’t keep us from dreaming. Presenting the Plasma Screen Interior Walls!
Watch different programs on each wall of the room. Or stretch out one program to cover multiple walls (Metal Gear Solid 3!), with a viewing angle of 140 degrees.
This and other nifty devices were made up for the TV-series Eureka. We know it’s fake, and yet. All you geniuses at Samsung, LG.Philips, Pioneer, Sony and Panasonic: c’mon, we know you can do it!
(source: planetgadget.be)
19
Jul
2006
Your own fully digital home in which music and video is streamed between devices? It’s not going to happen within the next 10 to 20 years.
So says John MacFarlane, CEO of Sonos. “Video takes up too much bandwidth to be delivered over current wireless networks. The next wi-fi standard is not ready for the mass market yet.” He added: “TV works. Streaming video does not work successfully right now.”
Our Jetsons fantasy has just been mothballed…
(source: BBC News)
11
Jul
2006
The new president of Matsushita Electric Industrial, 60-year old Fumio Ohtsubo, said in his inauguration speech in Japanthat he hopes to boost the annual sales of Panasonic’s plasma screens by a massive 70 percent, to one trillion yen; as well as increase revenue from semiconductor chips to 650 billion yen a year; boost revenue from its car electronics division to one trillion yen (from 690 billion in the last fiscal year) and home appliances to 3 trillion yen (from 2.5 trillion yen).
Ohtsubo replaces Kunio Nakamura, now chairman of the board, who won kudos for the way he has reversed the company’s perilous finances, from a record loss of nearly 200 billion yen in 2002 to a 400 billion yen profit in 2005.
It’s all part of a change of focus away from restructuring. “My mission as president,” he says, “is to make a phase change toward growth. Unless we achieve higher levels of success in flat TVs, car electronics, home appliance and semiconductor businesses where our strength already lies, we can not evolve into a globally excellent company.” A business plan and timetable to achieve this growth will be presented in January 2008.
Ohtsubo also said he’s aiming for a 5 per cent operating profit margin in the financial year ending March 2007, doubling to 10 percent by 2010. “If we can meet this operating margin target, we can be seen as a globally excellent company,” he proclaimed.
Source: AV zombie