20
Jul
2012
Übergizmo: Sony just outed three new wireless speakers with the SA-NS310, SA-NS410 and SA-NS510. They are all built to receive an audio stream over WiFi, including over Apple’s Airplay with you want to stream from an iOS device (there’s an app too) or from iTunes. Android users are not left in the cold and a streaming app is available for them as well (that would be unfortunate since Sony makes its own Android XPERIA phones). (more…)
18
Nov
2011
23
Sep
2011
04
Mar
2011
Engadget: Of course, it’s not all about new TVs, as Panasonic also took the opportunity today to bust out MSRPs for a slew of other home theater products. As it mentioned at CES, the connected features of its 2011 Blu-ray players are taking center stage, with Skype access through Viera Cast, while they also claim to feature the industry’s fastest playback, measuring at half the booting and loading time of the 2010 lineup. One other key feature is the ability to use an iPhone as a WiFi connected remote and load movies, music or pictures onto the phone then play them on the HDTV. The top of the line DMP-BDT310 should arrive in May while the rest are already making their way to store shelves.
26
Nov
2010
Engadget: The possibilities teased in 2009 by Wi-Fi Direct have probably kept Bluetooth up at night, and we’re sure the commencement of device certification last month hasn’t helped, either. Now the LG BD960 has emerged as the first Blu-ray player on the Wi-Fi Direct certification list, hinting direct P2P communication in our home theaters among WiFi devices (without the need for a routing middleman) could soon go from fiction to fact. Unfortunately, mum’s still the word on shipping and pricing. The mere chance however that the player could stream content to any other WiFi-equipped device — Direct certified or not — is a big enough deal to give our dedicated media streamers Defarge-like glances already. Particularly, if the BD960 comes packed with features similar its suspected predecessor the LG-BD390, which can stream both Netflix, Vudu, and DLNA network content, as well as play DivX HD 1080p content. Until more details surface though, we’ll simply have to keep reminding our poor Galaxy S that it isn’t destined to be alone in this cold, cruel world forever.
10
Sep
2010
Newlaunches.com: You can now carry your 3D Blu-ray player around since it’s gone all slim and sexy. What’s awesome is that it doesn’t have to be one of the high-flying models that we’ve been reviewing from Sony and Toshiba and the likes. Sharp have gotten the whole thing stuffed into a slimmer, sleeker body that packs WiFi and BD-Live content support as well. It works fine with both 3D and 2D content, has a USB slot in the front, connects to your external drives, flushes them out in full glory via the “Pure Mode”, cool LED indicator lights and a very cool and glossy body.
The Sharp BD-HP905 can be expected before Christmas. I guess that’s a nicer way of using the word ‘November’.
03
Sep
2010
Gizmodo: Those crunched for space (and keen on looks) might consider Panasonic’s SC-BFT800, a wall-mountable, all-in-one Blu-ray affair. Packing speakers, 3D Blu-ray playback, WiFi connectivity, and iPod support into one bar, the unit also offers virtual 7.2 support with wireless subwoofer.
Panasonic recently announced the release of a slim and wall-mountable FULL HD 3D Blu-ray DiscTM Home Cinema System with a built-in FULL HD 3D Blu-ray DiscTM player to the market. The system is equipped with advanced image technologies, like the PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus and Full HD Upsampling, that have proven hugely popular with Panasonic Blu-ray DiscTM players. These technologies reproduce the ultimate in 3D images, rendering them extremely faithful to the original movies. 3D movie featurs allow users to experience powerful, dynamic worlds that they have never before encountered, such as exciting leaping effects and enhanced depth, lustre and texture.
Advanced sound technologies complement the true-to-life 3D images of the FULL HD 3D Home Cinema System. The wireless Kelton Subwoofer’s powerful deep bass sounds further enhance 3D film enjoyment, while sounds are distinctively produced by a Clear-Mode Dialog that makes dialogue seem to come from the centre of the screen. In addition, the Virtual 7.1-channel Surround function reproduces dynamic surround sounds that further enhance the enjoyment of watching 3D films.
The SC-BFT800 also features great networking like VIERA CAST which brings a variety of streaming services including YouTubeTM Videos into the living room. Wireless LAN capability4 eliminates the need to connect a LAN cable, so the system can be installed without the need for any complicated wires. Users can watch 2D images (JPEG) and movies (AVCHD/MPEG2)5 from digital cameras and camcorders via the integrated SD card slot and USB port, as well as 3D video content recorded by the Panasonic camcorder HDC-SDT750. With these and other features, the SC-BFT800 provides exciting entertainment for family and friends.
The SC-BFT800 also features a sliding front door that lets the use set Blu-ray Discs/ DVDs/CDs into the main unit by opening it from the right, and an iPod/iPhone by opening it from the left. The sophisticated, stylish, slim body makes the design an ideal match for a VIERA TV, while enhancing any room interior. Panasonic also addresses important environmental issues in its production system. For example, a single chip LSI called UniPhier is used for image signal processing. Unification of this LSI helps to lower power consumption and achieve a more compact design while also decreasing the burden on the environment by using limited natural resources more efficiently.
This Panasonic Blu-ray DiscTM Home Cinema System has taken a large step ahead in image and sound quality, networking, easy operation, and environmental consideration, to provide even greater AV enjoyment.
26
Mar
2010
Navigadget: According to an analysis firm in Sweden the number of GPS enabled handsets shipped worldwide increased 92% in 2009 to 150 million. If it continues with its 39% compound annual growth rate this number will be up to 770 million in 2014.
The articles acknowledges that almost all smartphones have GPS feature standard and the same is about to happen to even low-cost smartphones. It also says that feature devices will be able to analyze signals from GPS, Glonass, and Galileo at the same time but this still won’t be able to provide a reliable location info when indoors. To circumvent the problem measurements from cellular networks, and WiFi signals will have to be used together. Read more…
07
Jan
2010
Electronista: Samsung on Wednesday unveiled its 2010 lineup of four Blu-ray players along with new Blu-ray Home Theater systems.
The flagship Blu-Ray player includes the BD-C6900 that features built-in 3D playback and supports the new 3D Blu-ray standard, while the BD-C7500 offers what Samsung claims is the slimmest Blu-ray player in a new “nature-inspired” contemporary form factor; the BD-C6500 combines performance and speed along with affordability and the entry-level BD-C5500 delivers an eco design.
All of its players support Internet@TV, providing access to a wide range of online content.
The ultraslim BD-C7500 weighs is a mere 1.1 inches and has a “nature-inspired” wood design coated with jewel-like gloss that is designed to be wall-mounted, placed on a 25-degree angle stand or placed flat.
According to the company, the BD-C7500 features improved disc load and boot up times, while the 1080p playback reproduces movie images at 24 fps without need for up-conversion.
The BD-C6900 boasts support for 3D content and enhanced with multi-channel HD surround sound; it is compatible with the company’s new line-up of 3D HDTVs and recently ratified 3D Blu-ray standard.
The BD-C6900 features a slim design and a transparent cover that allows the consumer to see the disk spin as it plays. The step-up BD-C6500 offers fast 15-second disc load and 15-second boot-up time as well as features enhanced Blu-ray disc playback using Samsung’s Adaptive Servo Technology (AST). All of this is packaged in a slim and sleek design.
The entry-level BD-C5500 has improved energy efficiency by using new technologies such as loader duty control, low voltage spindle motor, and analog video detect — all of which contribute to a reduced power consumption of 13W during disc playback and just 0.1W in stand-by mode.
The company also claimed that the players are all compliant to the more stringent EnergyStar 4.0 guidelines and said that all models from the step-up BD-C6500 and above include built-in Wi-Fi support and an expanded selection of content and applications.
Finally, the affordable BD-C5500 is Wi-Fi ready — through a separate purchase of Wi-Fi USB dongle — and allows consumers to surf the content of DLNA devices or Internet@TV.
Samsung also unveiled its next-generation Blu-ray Home Theater Systems that feature new amplifier, DLNA connectivity and BD Live Profile 2.0 support: the HT-C6730W, the HT-C7530W and the HT-C6500.
All three models introduce a new retro, no-grill speaker design and Samsung’s newly-introduced immersive Crystal Amplifier Pro technology, which it says ensures accurate sound reproduction and minimal noise interference. Samsung’s new Home Theater systems now have access to the same upgraded Internet@TV service, featuring Samsung Apps — its new service that provides an expanded selection of content and applications from content and service providers, such as Accedo Broadband, AccuWeather.com, The Associated Press, Blockbuster, Fashion TV, Netflix, Picasa, Pandora, Rovi, Travel Channel, Twitter, USA TODAY, and Vudu.
In addition, the HT-C6730W and HT-C6500 will have built-in WiFi connectivity while the HT-C7530W will support Wi-Fi through the included wireless dongle. Each of the new models feature Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) connectivity for sharing content with other electronic devices on the network..
The flagship 1330-watt HT-C6730W, designed for the ultimate home theater aficionado, offers 7.1-channel surround sound using a new built-in digital signal processor (DSP) that allows for more realistic vertical 3D surround sound experience. It also supports 1080p video playback (for both Blu-ray discs and standard DVDs), Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high-definition audio formats.
The system includes eight speakers; a wide center channel speaker, a large subwoofer, two tower speakers and four surround speakers, including wireless rear satellite speakers. It is available in a dark black, high gloss finish. Meanwhile, the 5.1-channel Samsung HT-C7530W offers a “nature-inspired” Touch of Color (ToC) design with a wood-grain texture; it is encased in a “luxurious” translucent material, according to the company.
It includes two tall satellite speakers, 2 wireless rear speakers, a center unit and an active subwoofer. The entry-level, but compact 1000-watt HT-C6500 is designed for smaller spaces and also features built-in Wi-Fi, 1GB of built-in storage, 5.1 channel surround sound and advanced auto sound calibration in a compact form factor.
15
Dec
2009
Electronista: Chevrolet today became the latest automaker in the US to add roving Internet access to its vehicles.
The Avalanche, Equinox, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and Traverse all now have an after-sale option of an Autonet router that provides a 1.5Mbps connection even at speed.
Like the Chrysler option, it accomplishes the feat by sharing a 3G link over a local Wi-Fi hotspot that shares the connection with passengers and those within a 150-foot radius.
Service costs $29 (€19) per month and requires a dealer install, but the router itself will cost $199 (€136) on a two-year contract if bought before the end of the year. It normally costs $399 (€272).
03
Mar
2009
Engadget: Sony has just come clean with the Profile 2.0 BDP-S360 and BDP-S560, the latter of which includes integrated WiFi for tapping into BD-Live content and downloading future firmware updates sans an Ethernet cable.
Also, the unit is fully DLNA-ready, handles DVD upscaling, bit-streams audio via HDMI, decodes Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio and plays nice with external media loaded up on a USB drive.
As predicted, the lower-end BDP-S360 is essentially the same player sans WiFi.
Moving on, we’ve got a new pair of 5.1-channel Blu-ray HTIB systems: the BDV-E300 and BDV-E500W. Both bundles include a BD-Live-capable (Profile 2.0) Blu-ray player, while the BDV-E500W sports integrated S-AIR wireless audio capabilities. In other words, your rear speakers will get their signal sans cabling, and those who opt for the BDV-E300 are getting a kit that’s S-AIR-ready, meaning that you can add modules in the future to get the same wireless support.
Both sets also include Sony’s Digital Media Port for controlling peripherals like Apple’s iPod and Sony’s own Walkman line, and the BRAVIA Sync technology ensures that HDMI-CEC lovers are taken care of.
18
Dec
2008
SlashGear: Parrot have teamed up with designer Philippe Starck to create a new set of wireless speakers.
Called Zikmu, the speakers incorporate an iPod/iPhone dock together with WiFi and Bluetooth.
The latter is used both to stream audio from mobile devices such as cellphones using A2DP, and to connect the two speaker columns themselves together.
Zikmu uses NXT flat panel technology, rather than traditional speaker cones, and as such doesn’t create a so-called “sweet spot” for the music.
As well as playing music locally from your PMP, they can also stream it across a WiFi network.
