March 28, 2011

Sony NX720, HX820 and HX929 3D TVs up for pre-order on Amazon

Sony's 2011 3D TV line up isn't available on store shelves quite yet but over on Amazon.com, pricing is available. The new HDTVs will be available in 3 different series': NX720, HX820 and HX929.

The highest end HX929 series will include the 46" XBR-46HX929
(May 2011), 55" XBR-55HX929 and 65" XBR-65HX929 (August 2011) costing $2, 999, $3, 799 and as of yet unknown, respectively. Features include a full array LED backlit display, 800 Hz MotionFlow XR frame interpolation, X-Reality Pro image processing, built-in Wi-Fi, USB/HDD storage and recording, webcam and a couple pairs of 3D glasses.

The step down HX820 series includes the 46" KDL-46HX820 and the 55" KDL-55HX820 which in turn include edge lit LED backlighting, OptiContrast panels, X-Reality Pro image processing, 480 Hz MotionFlow XR frame interpolation, and the web connected features of the HX929 series. The 46" and 55" inch models are priced at $2, 599 and $3, 399, respectively.

Finally, the "entry-level" 46" KDL-46NX720 , 55" KDL-55NX720 and 60" KDL-60NX720 will be priced at $2, 099, $2, 899 and $3, 499, respectively. Features include edge lit LED backlighting with active shutter paneling, X-Reality Pro image processing, 240 Hz MotionFlow XR, integrated Wi-Fi and a webcam.

All the sets are up for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Via 3D Display Info

March 28, 2011

Sony NX720, HX820 and HX929 3D TVs up for pre-order on Amazon

Sony's 2011 3D TV line up isn't available on store shelves quite yet but over on Amazon.com, pricing is available. The new HDTVs will be available in 3 different series': NX720, HX820 and HX929.

The highest end HX929 series will include the 46" XBR-46HX929 ">46" XBR-46HX929 (May 2011), 55" XBR-55HX929 " and 65" XBR-65HX929 (August 2011) costing $2, 999, $3, 799 and as of yet unknown, respectively. Features include a full array LED backlit display, 800 Hz MotionFlow XR frame interpolation, X-Reality Pro image processing, built-in Wi-Fi, USB/HDD storage and recording, webcam and a couple pairs of 3D glasses.

The step down HX820 series includes the 46" KDL-46HX820 ">46" KDL-46HX820 and the 55" KDL-55HX820 ">55" KDL-55HX820 which in turn include edge lit LED backlighting, OptiContrast panels, X-Reality Pro image processing, 480 Hz MotionFlow XR frame interpolation, and the web connected features of the HX929 series. The 46" and 55" inch models are priced at $2, 599 and $3, 399, respectively.

Finally, the "entry-level" 46" KDL-46NX720 ">46" KDL-46NX720, 55" KDL-55NX720 ">55" KDL-55NX720 and 60" KDL-60NX720 ">60" KDL-60NX720 will be priced at $2, 099, $2, 899 and $3, 499, respectively. Features include edge lit LED backlighting with active shutter paneling, X-Reality Pro image processing, 240 Hz MotionFlow XR, integrated Wi-Fi and a webcam.

All the sets are up for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Via 3D Display Info

March 25, 2011

Buffalo outs quad-layer BDXL burner

Buffalo has coughed out a new external BDXL burner, making quad-layer optical burning a little more mainstream. The US$275 BRXL-PC6U2-BK burner requires a single USB 2.0 connection functions though a second is required for 4x writing speeds. Hitting shelves this week in Japan, the burner requires BR-R XL discs which will set you back $50 or $60 each. Wow!

Via EngadgetHD

February 16, 2011

Sony outs Trimaster OLED monitors for big bucks

I remember the excitement that surrounded Sony's XEL-1 OLED TV a few years back. Since then, OLED applications in television have been relatively quiet. Today though, Sony has announced a couple of new OLED monitors aimed not at the consumer couch potato market, but TV and movie production companies. Available in 25-inch (BVM-E250) and 17-inch (BVM-E170) display sizes, the TRIMASTER EL OLED master monitors features 1080p resolution, HDMI, Ethernet, DisplayPort, SD-SDI, 3G-SDI and HD-SDI ports, and an aluminum body. Both models will be available July 1 in Japan with converted prices of $16, 000 for the 17-inch model and $29, 000 for the 25-inch model. Ouch!

Via CrunchGear

February 15, 2011

Epson's ES1000 mobile projector screen

A fairly common occurrence when it comes to the use of business projectors is the act of using a wall as a projection screen. Sure, projectors are small enough to lug around in a car or on a plane these days, but screens really aren't known to be portable.

Epson is looking to fix this with the release of its ES1000 Ultra Portable Tabletop Projection Screen. Weighing only 6.5 pounds and measuring a compact 34.5 inches when closed, the ES1000 fits easily pretty well anywhere including in overhead luggage bins.

It is designed to open in about 30 seconds, measures 50 inches diagonally and accommodates both standard 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 aspect ratios.

The ES1000 is now available from Epson's website (currently out of stock) for $129.99 which includes free ground shipping.

Via Slashgear

February 2, 2011

Toshiba D-BW500 combines Blu-ray and VHS for $860

Do you remember the term VHS? No, me neither. But apparently Toshiba does. This morning the company announced the D-BW500, a combination VHS, DVD and Blu-ray player with a 320 GB hard drive crammed into its shell.

The unit allows users to copy old VHS movies onto Blu-ray, DVD or the disc drive and includes REGZA link, an SHDC card slot for JPEG and AVCHD viewing, a USB port and a double digital TV tuner.

The Toshiba D-BW500 will ship in Japan within the next few days for the bargain price (cough, cough!) of US$860.

Via CrunchGear

Roku now supports USB plug and play

Roku has released official support for USB-stored media playback on its XD|S model and its discontinued HD - XR model . This means that you'll now be able to plug in a USB drive directly into your Roku player and play back a variety of file formats including MKV, MP4, MOV, WMV/ASF, MP3, AAC, JPG and PNG files.

There aren't official release notes available right now but it is known that the USB media player support will require firmware version 2.9, build 1529 to work correctly.

Via Zatz Not Funny!

January 31, 2011

TVSnob monthly roundup for January 2011

Blu-ray

Amazon's Lovefilm on all UK Samsung Blu-ray players
Japan REALLY loves 3D home theater hardware
Image Constraint Token to wreck Blu-ray HD over analog
Philips outs piles of 3D/HD toys at CES 2011

Deal of the Day

Best Buy turns HDTV upgrading into a money-making activity with Buy Back program

Gaming Systems

Nintendo launching glasses-free 3D DS next month

HDTV

Academy Award winner Walter Murch says 3D a no go
Philips outs piles of 3D/HD toys at CES 2011

Home Theater A/V

Philips outs piles of 3D/HD toys at CES 2011

LCD TV

Philips outs piles of 3D/HD toys at CES 2011

Projectors

Sanyo brings interactivity to projection with the PLC WL-2503
Epson outs 4 new projectors for your teacher

Web TV

Amazon's Lovefilm on all UK Samsung Blu-ray players
Amazon buys Lovefilm in strategic move against Apple, Netflix

Amazon's Lovefilm on all UK Samsung Blu-ray players

The UK's Lovefilm may have recently been acquired by online retail giant Amazon, but that hasn't slowed the former's forward progress down in any way.

Samsung has announced today that it will include Lovefilm movie streaming by way of application on all of its UK Blu-ray players. The app will be activated by a Lovefilm subscription of £5.99 or above and give customers access to thousands of movies via Samsung's Internet@TV service.

Via The Register

January 24, 2011

Academy Award winner Walter Murch says 3D a no go

Academy Award-winning film editor and sound designer Walte