Techdigest: Sony have today announced the release of two new sets of wireless headphones, the MDR-RF4000K and the MDR-RF810RK.

The MDR-RF4000K sets have been designed to complement the look of Sony’s new “Monolithic” range of Bravia TVs. They feature a small charging dock which the headphones can be folded and tucked away into for storing, as well as a wireless range of 30 metres. 40mm long-stoke drivers provide a frequency response range of 12Hz to 22000kHz.

The black headphones will deliver 7 hours of music between charges, while popping in a single AAA battery will provide you with 10 hours of audio if you cant get to a wall socket. Closed-cap headphones allow for top-notch sound isolation, while there’s also an adjustable headband for maximum comfort.

The MDR-RF810RK sets are a little lighter at 220 grams. They have a generous wireless range of 100 metres away from the base station, though that’s likely only to benefit those with MTV Cribs-sized houses. Like the MDR-RF4000K, it features a 40mm driver, but a smaller frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The rechargeable battery will last for 13 hours per charge, whilst an AAA battery will this time provide as much as 28 hours of audio playback.

Though no pricing details have yet been revealed, you’ll be able to pick up the new Sony wireless headphone range in April.

headphones Sony wireless

Japan Corporate News: Sony Corp. has pulled the plug in Japan on sales of a next-generation flat TV due to sluggish demand, a setback for a product the company had trumpeted as a sign of its revival as an innovator.

Sony had stopped production of ultra-thin TVs using organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology for Japan, just a little over 2 years since it launched its first set. It will keep selling the TVs in overseas markets.

OLED displays use organic, or carbon-containing compounds that emit light when electricity is applied. They produce crisp images and do not need backlighting, making them slimmer and more energy-efficient than LCDs.

lcd oled Sony tv

Engadget: Hope you’re ready to see the make believe world in a new dimension ’cause Samsung’s first Full HD 3D set is now shipping Stateside. Amazon shows a pair of 55-inch UN55C7000 TVs with 3D 240Hz motion technology in stock with a $3,299.99 price tag and free delivery.

Yeah, that’s a day earlier than expected but we doubt anyone’s complaining. Remember, you’ll still have to drop another $150 or so on the shutter glasses if you ever plan to flip the switch from 2D to 3D mode; something you might want to do when actual 3D content starts to arrive.

Update: Looks like Sears is shipping now as well, including the 46-inch UN46C7000 little brother for $2,600.

3D TV Samsung

Electronista: The HDMI organization has made the 3D portion of its 1.4 available spec for public download.

HDMI spec v1.4 was completed in June 2009, but was only available to companies that had signed an HDMI Adopter Agreement.

The announcement on Wednesday makes the new standards accessible to all other content producers and manufacturers. The group also stated that an update to the specification, dubbed 1.4a, will be released in the near future, possibly to address a mandatory 3D broadcast format.

The group had announced in December 2009 that HDMI v1.4 would add support for 3D content without the broadcast component. HDMI v1.4 establishes protocols for several 3D display technologies including frame, line, or field alternative methods; side by side display modes, and 2D plus depth methods.

It also includes data for the first time and supplies a 100Mbps Ethernet connection as well as two-way audio signals.

3d hdmi hdmi1.4

CNet: Sony has announced that its new line-up of Blu-ray products will go 3D with a firmware update this year.

Sony announced a line-up of 3D home cinema products at CES in January, including the Bravia LX and HX 3D TVs.

The range of products to go 3D includes the BDV-E670W, BDV-E870, and BDV-IZ1000W. We’ve contacted Sony for a full list of which products will get the update, and when.

The big question is whether an update will be available for the PlayStation 3. The 3D Blu-ray spec was only finalised in December, so manufacturers are wasting no time. Other 3D Blu-ray players coming soon include the Samsung BD-C6900 and Panasonic DMP-BDD300.

All well and good, but what are you going to watch? Monsters vs Aliens looks set to be the first 3D Blu-ray release, with Avatar no doubt close behind. James Cameron has hinted that a 2D release will come first, followed by a 3D release towards the end of the year, if there is enough uptake of the technology. Disney is weighing in with A Christmas Carol at the end of the year.

3d Sony

Engadget: Over the last several months complaints that Panasonic’s plasma HDTVs experience sudden adverse changes in their black levels after a certain number of viewing hours have been piling up in an AVSForum thread, and now that behavior has been confirmed, though not very well explained, in a response the company sent to CNET today:
“In order to achieve the optimal picture performance throughout the life of the set, Panasonic Viera plasma HDTVs incorporate an automatic control which adjusts an internal driving voltage at predetermined intervals of operational hours.

As a result of this automatic voltage adjustment, background brightness will increase from its initial value … The newest Viera plasma HDTVs incorporate an improved automatic control which applies the voltage adjustments in smaller increments. This results in a more gradual change in the Black Level over time.
Especially considering many buyers purchased their televisions specifically for those deep black levels, you can see why a TV suddenly going Sammy Sosa overnight would be upsetting.

One of the reigning theories in the thread indicated by poster & calibrator D-Nice has been that this is by design, but a flaw in the settings caused the large jumps (around double the brightness, as measured by several owners light meters) instead of a much more subtle change. So what now for owners or potential buyers?

Without more details about what is going on and whether or not anything can be done about it, like CNET’s David Katzmeier, it’s hard to see how we can continue to recommend these HDTVs for purchase without knowing what they will do months or years down the line.

The ball is in Panasonic’s court now, a speedy response could do a lot to assuage the concerns of current and potential owners.

panasonic plasma