Itsy-bitsy Sony DAV HTIB

Loudspeakers just simply can't get any smaller than this. Measuring 45 x 55 x 40mm and tipping the scale at only 0.07kg, the Sony DAV-IS10's satellite speakers are easily one of the tiniest in the market. You should have little problem installing these which blend effortlessly into any home décor and tight quarters. We reckon you could even conceal the entire kit from your "financial controller". Least he or she gets touchy with yet another of your home A/V purchases.

Though compact in size, this HTIB is built top-down with the latest technological wizardry. For starters, DVD 1080i upscaling and consumer electronics control (a.k.a. Bravia Threater Sync) are catered via onboard HDMI. Software setup is also well taken care of with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. This guarantees customized configuration which takes into consideration, among others, room acoustics and varying speaker placements for optimized surround sound playback.

Wrapping it up is a proprietary Digital Media Port offering several upgrade options to suit different user needs. These include a Bluetooth adapter to stream music wirelessly from compatible devices such as a VAIO laptop and docking station to pipe audio directly from Sony's Walkman-series MP3 players. The Sony DAV-IS10 and USB dock are now available in Singapore at S$1,299 (US$935.34) and S$199 (US$143.29), respectively. Pricing and availability for the rest of Asia were not available at press time. More on the product here.

Flat panels to kill off rear-projection TV sales by 2011

Will rear-projection TV sales plunge to near zero within the next 48 months? That's what a new study from IDC Group claims. With ever larger plasma and (especially) LCD flat-panel HDTVs becoming ever more affordable, IDC sees sales of RPTV sets--those utilizing DLP and LCoS microdisplays--dropping to under 30,000 units by 2011. That's a dramatic drop from the peak of 3.51 million sold in 2004 (according to the CEA).

None of this is shocking news, of course--the trend toward flat panels has been increasingly irreversible as large plasmas and LCD screens continue to break key price-point barriers. For the consumer, however, it's the best news of all: LCD and plasma prices continue to drop, and even larger rear-pro TVs will approach fire-sale prices as they have their last hurrah.

Source: CNBC video interview--Becky Quick discusses the IDC report with Ruben Roy, Pacific Crest Securities semiconductor analyst, and Eric Haruki, IDC research director.

Darklite DVD Remote

If we didn't know better, we'd have mistakened this for a Samsung Bordeaux plus, thanks to its piano black finish, sleek lines and blue glow light. That said, Messiah Entertainment's Darklite DVD Remote is one cool stick. Primary DVD functions are accessed on the top of the remote, while secondary functions are on the slide-out. The receiver connects to the USB port on your PS3 as a charging dock. We dig the Darklite name, since it evokes a very Darth Vaderish feel. And apart from the fact that it's intended to complement the Sony PlayStation 3's glossy black looks, the glow ring adds eerie illumination and ambience to a darkened game room. Can't get cooler than this.

See all images below

Price: US$29.99
Availability: Due out September 25, 2007
Device: DVD remote control
Specs: Blu-ray and DVD-compatible, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery

Xbox 360 gets price revision

Microsoft is back to exert pressure on its Japanese rivals with yet another major announcement. Just weeks after releasing Asia launch details for its stepped-up Xbox 360 Elite, the Redmond company is back with a scheduled global price revision. Beginning August 9, the legacy 20GB Xbox 360 Pro will retail in Singapore for S$620 (US$446.43). The 7.4 percent savings will fit in nicely for accessories such as the S$49.90 (US$35.93) universal media remote and quick-charge kit.

Editors' note: Information for the rest of Asia was not available at press time, but its spokesperson has indicated that there will be a price revision for these countries. Check back this space for updates.

Also in the pipeline and scheduled for a 2007 release are Xbox 360 blockbuster titles, Halo 3, Lost Odyssey and Ninja Gaiden 2. That's besides other exclusives such as Bioshock, Project Gotham Racing 4 and Ace Combat 6: Fire of Liberation. This portfolio is projected to grow beyond 300 titles with global market penetration close to 40 countries by the end of the year.

Asia Xbox 360 Elite coming

Microsoft has officially announced the upcoming availability of its souped-up HD gaming console, the Xbox 360 Elite. Pitted squarely against the 60GB PlayStation 3, the new box will be going at an estimated S$799 (US$575.32) a piece. This is an interesting proposition which will give the Japanese's offerings a run for their money considering the Xbox's generous 120GB storage capacity and updated HDMI output.

Editors' note: The Microsoft Asia regional representative has indicated that the company has no immediate plans to revise the HD-DVD addon's pricing. There will also be a similar pre-order offered in Taiwan at NT$15,980 for an Elite bundled with a Sanyo electric shaver (hmm?) and copy of Blue Dragon. Now available at Taipei Computer Application Show 2007 from August 2 to 6 There were no further details on an Asia-wide launch at press time but this will be carried out progressively following the Singapore release.

The local package comprises a matt-black console, matching wireless controller, Xbox Live headset and HDMI cable. The accessories will also be sold separately, including a removable 120GB hard drive for owners of legacy models. Supplies are expected to reach Singapore retailers from August 13. If you can't wait to get your hands on one, head down to the World Cyber Games over at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre hall 602 to pre-order. This will be available only from today till the end of the week.

Still undecided? Check out the following cheat sheet.

	Xbox 360 Elite	PlayStation 3
Storage capacity	120GB	60GB
Wireless networking	Optional via USB	Onboard WiFi-G
HD movie playback	Optional via HD-DVD	Onboard Blu-ray
Dolby Digital Plus/True-HD/DTS-HD surround sound support	N/A	Yes
Bundled HDMI cable	Yes	N/A
Online gaming	Subscription-based	Free of charge
HD disc-based titles (figures based on website catalog)	94 (excluding Live Arcade titles)	17
CNET rating	8.5	8.8

On a separate note, we are awaiting updates on the launch details for Asia as well as the possible price revision for its HD-DVD addon.

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