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HitachiDZ-GX


Hitachi’s new DZ-GX3100E Camcorder was previewed at the IFA in Berlin. Utilizing what they refer to as “Movie Master Technology”, this DVD Cam with a 1.3 Megapixel CCD records straight onto DVD disk and SD Memory Card. Using a USB 2.0, you can connect it to your PC to download your videos.
More features:

  • Utilizes 8cm DVD-RAM/-R/-RW/+RW Disc Media
  • 1 Second Quick Start Function
  • True 16:9 Wide Screen Recording
  • High Quality MPEG2 Video Recording
  • SD Multimedia Card Slot
  • Digital Stereo Sound
  • Recording Time:   - 36 mins (Extra Fine Quality Mode)   - 60 mins (Fine Quality Mode)   - 120 mins (Standard Quality Mode)
  • 2.7” Colour TFT LCD Monitor Screen
  • Digital Still Photo Mode: Stores 1998 Digital Still Images
  • Recording Mode: Moving (MPEG2) / Still (JPEG) / Audio (Digital Stereo)
  • Disc can be used to playback on most DVD Players & DVD-ROM Drives
  • Photo Capture Function The DX has a MSRP of £349.99 (~$659). Check with Hitachi for U.S. availability date. I’m ready for my close-up now, Mr. DeMille.

    Read More | Hitachi Product Page

    Gallery: Hitachi Introduces DZ-GX3100E Camcorder


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On September 1, ATI announced that they would be releasing the newest addition to their line of HDTV processors, the Xilleon 260.  The new 260 is the successor to the current 240 chip which has received much praise and success.  The 260 is the first system-on-a-chip that supports full HD for worldwide DTV (digital television) standards including Europe, Japan, Korea and North America. Advanced features include HD deinterlacing, 3D comb filter, dynamic contrast, noise reduction, sharpness, and color control to deliver top quality end-to-end performance. Xilleon 260 also offers a full audio subsystem for home theater applications.

The Xilleon 260 is currently being distributed in samples to its customers, and will likely be in use in set-top boxes within the next year.  With the big push from TV manufacturers starting to release almost every model of display in full HD capacity, it’s only a matter of time before people will be looking for set-top boxes with the Xilleon 260 logo.

Read More | ATI

Gallery: ATI Xilleon 260 HDTV Processor


Nakamichi IN-DV7We have more news from Berlin’s IFA. Nakamichi introduces the IN-DV7, a DVD/TV/Tuner that they claim will “revolutionize your in-car entertainment experience”. The IN-DV7 has a 7”, 16:9 Wide-screen as well as a built in 4-channel MOSFET amp.

Other features include:

  • Active Matrix LCD Panel
  • Full Automatic Motorized TFT LCD Flip-out/up
  • Touch Screen Control
  • DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW compatible
  • VCD, SVCD, DVD media Formats
  • MP3 Direct track Access
  • 60 Sec ESP

At an MSRP of $1699, the IN-DV7 could be the perfect solution to those long LA freeway commutes, but couldn’t they just have named it Fred?

 

Read More | Nakamichi via IFA

Gallery: Nakamichi Unveils IN-DV7


samsungGee Sung Choi, President of Samsung Digital Media Business Electronics, delivered the opening address “The Next Step in the Digital Renaissance – Creating Rich Digital Experiences” at Berlin’s IFA 2006 consumer electronics exhibition this past Friday.

“By displaying Samsung’s products matched to European furniture and interiors, customers can really feel the experience of the newest designs of digital products,” Choi said.

An amazing array of products will be displayed at the IFA, including a full HD 1080p LCD TV, the first Blu-ray disc player for the European Market, a new concept MP3 player, and an extensive array of products for mobile TV. In addition, the company also is exhibiting 70” full-high-definition LCD panels, 82” digital information displays (DIDs) and other cutting-edge products.

Read More | Samsung Press Release

Gallery: Samsung Unveils New Product Line at IFA


Blue Ray

LG has launched three cute new models of Blu-Ray devices including a Player, fully functional Blu-Ray PC and a PC recording drive.

The Full HD Blu-Ray player will perfectly compliment their recently released line of LCD panel displays that support full 1080p at sizes up 55 inches. 

The LG XPION X600 desktop PC will include a Super Multi Blue Blu-Ray writer (GBW-H10N) and boasts a Pentium D945 3.4GHz processor, a 320GB hard disk, 1GB of DDR2 memory and an NVidia GeForce 7900GT for smooth full HD playback.  The writer, which will also be sold separately, will burn up to 25GB and be the first drive to support 4x Blu-Ray recording to Blu-Ray recordable disks and 2x to rewritable media.

No price or release has been disclosed, but I expect an expensive price point, and as for a release date, I predict by the end of the year.

Read More | Akihabara News

Gallery: LG Announces New Blu-Ray Devices


FHPTVFujitso Hitachi Plasma (FHP) announced today that they will begin production of a new 60” HD and HD-Ready (1280x1080) TV. The HD model features a brightness of 1000cd/m2 for a contrast ratio of 5000:1, while the HD-Ready version boasts a brightness of 1300cd/m2 for a contrast ratio of 10000:1. Sales are slated to begin March of 2007.

Read More | Akihabara News

Gallery: FHP to Produce New 60” HD and HD Ready Models


plextorPX-B900A Just in time for the holidays, Plextor announced today that their PX-B900A Blu-Ray Disc drive will be released to distributors in North and South America this October. This new multi-function drive promises to support the next generation of optical storage data technology.

The PX-B900A can burn more than 9 hours of HD video (about 23 hours of SD) on a dual-layered 50 GB disc. Compatible with Windows software, it works with write speeds DVD-RAM, Dual Layer DVD, Double Layer DVD, DVD±R/RW, and CD-R/RW. The drive comes bundled with a rewritable 25GB BD-RE media disc and software WinDVD BD, Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus, DVD Movie factory, BurnNow, Data-Add, and BD-DiscRecorder. Also included in this package is a 1-year full warranty and unlimited toll-free tech support.

As an early fan of Plextor, I am hoping that Santa is passing out lots of these, because at an MSRP of $999.99, it’s more than a tad over my budget.

Read More | Plextor Corporation

Gallery: Plextor PX-B900A Blu-Ray Disc Drive


Samsung 70

Samsung unveiled the world’s largest LCD panel, a mere 70”, at the International Meeting on Information Displays (IMID) on August 23, in Daegu, Korea. For now, this gives Samsung the second place seat in largest panel displays to Panasonic’s monstrous 103” TH-103PZ600U plasma display which will be available this holiday season on a Built-to-Order basis costing a cool $70k + tax.

The new Samsung display is not only big, but includes all of the latest and greatest technologies that only Samsung can bring to an LCD panel. It is capable of producing Full HD, or up to 1080p at 120Hz refresh rate giving you just over 8ms refreshes as compared to 17ms on a conventional display running at 60Hz. Additionally, the panel produces these hi-res images at a brilliant 2000:1 contrast ratio. Put this all together and you get today’s clearest scenes, from fast moving action to slow mushy romance. Additionally, the entire room can enjoy this 70” of clarity due to the 180° of viewing angle offered by the display.

The official release date and price of the Samsung 70” displays is not yet released, but don’t expect to see these puppies at your local Best Buy until at least next summer likely carrying a price tag somewhere in the neighborhood of a new Civic.

Read More | Samsung

Gallery: 70” Samsung LCD HDTV Unveiling


HD DVD 2.0

HD DVD firmware is scheduled to be moving to version 2.0 sometime today. If you have your HD DVD player connected to the Internet, be prepared for the automatic download that will bring you support f or 24-bit/96kHz discrete audio with TrueHD 5.1 sound, something that Blu-Ray players still lack. We must say, we are impressed with the speed at which features are being added to the HD DVD players, as the 2.0 firmware upgrade is the fourth one to be pushed out in just as many months. Of course, there is also something to be said for launching a product that is feature-complete to begin with, but we won’t go there.

Read More | HD Beat

Gallery: HD DVD 2.0 Firmware Ready For Release


Vizio Gallevia GV42LHDTVV, Inc yesterday unveiled two new 42” HDTVs. The more interesting of the two is the Vizio Gallevia GV42LHDTV, available in the United States at Costco for $1,599.99.

The Vizio Gallevia GV42LHDTV offers a wide array of features, including 1366 x 768 native resolution, 178° x 178° viewing angles, 1600:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 8ms response rates, an integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner, two HDMI inputs, detachable speakers and stand an an enhanced backlit IR remote control.

Read More | V Press Release

Gallery: V Rolls Out New Vizio 42” HDTVs


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