Touch-and-control Logitech Harmony

There is still a long way to go before HDMI-Consumer-Electronics-Control interoperability takes off prime time. So for the time being, you can either juggle between a battery of remotes or settle with one of those talented universal controllers. The latest trickling into the Asian market is the Logitech Harmony 1000. This is the Swiss company's current flagship model and its pilot touchscreen offering.

The Harmony 1000 puts you in complete control of your home theater, lighting system and household appliances with its large 3.5-inch color touch screen and customizable user interface. Easy on the eyes, they complement its customary activity-based controls and comprehensive online infrared code database to ensure a no-fuss one-touch operation.

On-the-fly multiple room control is now also supported with an optional radio frequency wireless extender, while the bundled charging dock and integrated Lithium-ion battery serves up roughly a week's worth of power. The Logitech Harmony is now available in Singapore at Tangs Technobay for S$899 (US$591.45). Logitech has indicated no immediate plans to launch the product in the rest of Asia.
More info here

Samsung ups the ante with two new HD players

It's going to be an interesting Christmas this year, HD-wise. We just received insider news that two more Samsung high-def players will be heading our way in Q4 2007. And forget about the latest BD-P1200 as we will be getting a stepped-up BD-P1400 instead! But what got us really excited was confirmation on the impending arrival of its dual-format BD-UP5000. This is a full-featured universal disc player that plays back both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats and their interactive technologies. Pricing and specifications were unfortunately not available at press time.

On a separate note, the recent debut of the second-generation Toshiba HD-E1 HD-DVD player has prompted a deep price revision for Samsung's BD-P1000 Blu-ray player, from a cutthroat S$1,999 (US$1,315.13) down to a reasonable S$999 (US$657.24) tag. But even at this pricing, it still pales in comparison to the Sony PlayStation 3 which delivers videophile-grade 24Hz 1080p visuals and wireless multimedia streaming capability.

So what other next-gen players are in the pipeline? From the HD-DVD camp, we will probably be getting a souped-up 1080p model by end of the year. As for Blu-ray, expect another possible market revolt when Sony launches its highly affordable US$599 BDP-S300 some time in Q4. That leaves vendors such as Pioneer, Panasonic and LG sitting on the fence without firm indication of a possible Asian entry for 2007.

Ultra-bling Ambilight TV

Some say diamonds are a girl's best friend, while countries go to war (watch Blood Diamond) supplying them. If you are into the bling factor of these precious stones, remember to drop by Courts Tampines megastore for a sneak peek of Philips' Diamond FlatTV. Developed to commemorate its millionth Ambilight flat panel, this one-of-a-kind 42-incher features a stunning 2,250 diamond-encrusted frame.

To coincide with its Singapore appearance from June 15 to 24, a diamond set worth S$3,000 (US$1,973.68) will be given out in a lucky draw for any Ambilight TV purchased during the showcase. As for the price for this glittery affair? US$220,000 is a ballpark figure, though the proceeds will be going to charity instead. That will be after an auction at the end of its world tour which will include New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand. For those with deep pockets, no further details of the auction were available at press time.

More images of the Diamond FlatTV:

More info here

Sony A/V receiver goes hi-def

Heads up, home theater fanatics. Another next-gen A/V receiver is heading our way to Asia. This time we have Sony making its pilot entry with the STR-DA5300ES. As we understand from its regional product manager, this will be the only high-def surround sound-ready A/V receiver in its Asia 2007 lineup. Expectations are running high for the 5300, being a member of the premium ES family with a long established lineage.

While its full specifications are sketchy with only confirmed uncompressed multichannel audio (Linear PCM) support, we believe the 5300 will almost certainly ship with 1080p input and HDMI switching capabilities. HDMI version 1.3 is also a given, taking into consideration the above-mentioned onboard sound decoding. There is also a vague mention of a lower-end STR-DA3300 slated for release in the same month but no further details.

The pricing of both Sony A/V receivers was not available at press time.

The ups and downs of MediaCorp HDTV service

There's good and bad news on the upcoming Singapore free-to-air HD broadcast. At today's Samsung IDTV roundtable session, MediaCorp indicated that it has no concrete plans on an official launch. Having just concluded its year-long trial, the company is now looking to iron out the kinks and analyze feedback.

On the brighter side, native HD programs will still be aired during this interim period. These include the Samsung-sponsored Hollywood blockbuster Crime Scene Investigation and local production Lifeline 2. It's unclear how long these programs will run but its spokesperson has indicated that sponsorship is a key driver for a further lineup.

While it's still too early to assess the impact of the latest development on Samsung's integrated HD tuner proposition, we believe most will find the regular M8 a more attractive option. That said, if you have decided to take the plunge, rest assured your investment is somewhat protected with the IDTV's onboard software upgradeability.

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