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JVC announces HD Everio GZ-HM400 video camera

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Cameras, HDTV,

JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 video camera

is up to more camera tricks with the new HD Everio GZ-HM400.  This camera has 32GB of internal memory and can record to an SD/SDHC card.  It features a 10.3 megapixel CMOS sensor for nine-megapixel stills and 1080p video.  It also has a One Touch Upload to YouTube and an export function to download stills and videos to an iTunes Library.  It is available now at a price of $999.95, but Amazon has them for $896.44, a 10% savings.

Read More | Virtual Press Office

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BenQ Goes Green with LED-backlit V2400 and V220 Eco

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Design, Displays, Peripherals,

BenQ Goes Green with V2400 and V220 Eco


It’s good to know that major electronics makers have realized that it makes more sense to “go green” than to avoid it. BenQ, for example, has recently created two new V Series monitors that are meant to be eco-friendly. The 24-inch V2400 Eco and 21.5-inch V2200 Eco have dynamic contrast ratios of 5,000,000:1, and are LED-backlit 1080p panels. The monitors are made from 28 percent recycled plastic. They also reduce power by 30 percent in eco mode, and 36 percent overall. These displays are available in China in a week, but we expect them to arrive stateside soon enough. 

Read More | BenQ

Kodak Zi8 HD pocket camcorder: External mic jack, 1080p, $179

Posted by Mark Rollins Categories: Cameras, Handhelds, HDTV, Portable Audio / Video,

Kodak Zi8 HD ultra-portable camcorder

I had a chance to use the Zi6 to cover CES, and I thought it was a great little HD video recorder. Good things can always get better, and Kodak has improved the Zi6 in many ways, and the end result is the Kodak Zi8. The Kodak Zi8 still has:

  • A swing out USB arm, but now it’s flexible
  • Removable batteries, now a lithium-ion battery that can be charged in or out of the camera
  • SD card slot - so you can bring extra cards and keep on shooting
  • 2.5-inch color LCD

Now, tack on these new Zi8 features, and you’ll see what all the fuss is about:

  • External Microphone Jack
  • Full HD 1080p video capture
  • Built-in electronic image stabilization
  • 5MP still capture
  • Improved low light performance
  • Smart face-tracking technology

Yeah, that external mic jack caught us by surprise as well. Very nice. The Kodak Zi8 will be available in September in red, blue, and black, and you can pre-order it on Amazon for $179. 

Read More | Kodak

Hands-on with the August 11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Features, Microsoft, Reviews, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace,

Xbox Avatar Accessories

This morning, hooked us up with an early preview of the next Dashboard Update. We were able to get a look at the new features (which no longer require a PC,) the Avatar Marketplace, Game Ratings, Games on Demand, and more. While more coveted features like Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune Marketplace won’t be landing until the fall, the update is still a solid one. Here are our thoughts on the next update, which lands on your Xbox 360 on August 11 (or sooner if you apply for early access!)

Click to continue reading Hands-on with the August 11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update

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Microsoft SIlverlight 3 now available, takes aim at Flash, HD streaming

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Internet, Microsoft, Software, Video Games,

Microsoft Silverlight 3Microsoft 3 is live, and you can go ahead and update your browsers now over at Microsoft’s Silverlight page. Silverlight 3.0.40624.0 weighs in at 4.7MB, and works with Internet Explorer, Firefox 2 and 3, and Safari 3 and 4. Here’s a look at some of the major new features:

  • Media: GPU hardware acceleration, new codec support (H.264, AAC, MPEG-4), raw bitstream Audio/Video API, and improved logging for media analytics
  • Graphics: GPU Acceleration and hardware compositing, perspective 3D, bitmap and pixel API, pixel shader effects, and Deep Zoom improvements
  • Application development: Deep linking, navigation and SEO, improved text quality, multi-touch support, 60+ controls available, and library caching support
  • Data-binding improvements, validation error templates, server data push improvements, binary XML networking support, and multi-tier REST data support

Also, remember that Xbox 360 Instant-on 1080p stuff? That’s all powered by Silverlight 3 as well (yes, Silverlight is coming to your Xbox 360 dashboard.) It’s a solid upgrade, and the installation is pretty much immediate if you are on any sort of respectable broadband connection. Definitely worth a look, and you can bet that Microsoft will be pushing hard for a few big Silverlight exclusives, like they did with the Beijing Olympics.


Test Out Instant-On 1080p Streaming Now

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Internet, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace,

Xbox Zune Tile

As we all know Marketplace is coming to the Xbox 360. Through the magic of Microsoft Silverlight, instant-on 1080p content will be available when the Marketplace comes to the Xbox 360; but did you know that you could check out the 1080p streaming now? All that you need are a compatible web browser with Microsoft Silverlight installed. As you’ll see in the demo, you can play around with the bit-rate to see exactly how the technology will work, and compensate for changes in your Internet speed. Check it out and let us know what you think, is this enough to replace Blu-Ray in your life?

Read More | Experience Smooth Streaming

Reminder: Enter our LG Scarlet HDTV giveaway

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment,

LG Scarlet HDTV

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up, as our HDTV giveaway ends this week! In case you missed it, we are giving away a 52-inch LG Scarlet Series HDTV, in conjunction with ExpoTV.

Interested in entering? It’s easy - check out the contest rules, and submit your entry (you can enter as many times as you like.) The giveaway ends on May 8th at 11:59 PM EDT. Good luck!

Read More | Enter HDTV Giveaway

VIZIO busts out $200 VBR100 Blu-ray player at CES 2009

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2009, HDTV, Home Entertainment,

VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player close

So, you know how VIZIO was working on switching from being a discount player to wanting to be seen more as a high end manufacturer? Well, looks like they are looking to merge those two together with their VBR100 deck, which they announced today at . Here’s a look at the features of this 2-inch thick Blu-ray player:

  • Video outputs: HDMI (1.3), component, and composite
  • Audio outputs: 7.1 channel analog audio, coax and optical digital audio, and analog stereo (RCA)
  • Dimensions: 17 X 11 X 2”
  • Includes Remote Control (Oh rly??)

In addition, when watching a standard DVD, you can set the player to upconvert to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p, and it has on-board Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA decoders, and that can be output from the unit’s 7.1 analog outputs. You can pick this one up in April for $199.99.

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This weeks Newegg coupons and deals: Toshiba 1080p LCD

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Storage,

Back with this weeks deals

As always, you can find other non-expiring Newegg promo codes and deals on our forums.


Netflix charging $1 per month premium for Blu-ray

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Internet, Movies,

Netflix price increase

has been charging new members a $1 monthly fee, in addition to the price of their standard monthly rate, for the pleasure of renting discs, while those who have been members of the service for a long while have had no such increase to deal with. Well, as of November 5th, Netflix will make the $1 fee mandatory for all members. If you don’t want to rent Blu-ray discs, you are fine, no change in price - but if you, like us, are all about the 1080p, lossless surround sound goodness, then I think you’ll find that paying one extra dollar isn’t really so bad. Seriously, it could have been a lot worse.

Read More | Netflix Blog

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