Deeper blacks for Mitsubishi's HC6000

Another second generation 1080p home theater projector is heading to Asia. This time round, it is the replacement model for the well-received Mitsubishi HC5000 3LCD light cannon. The upcoming HC6000 has an improved auto iris which enhances dynamic contrast to 13,000:1. You will still get an enthusiast-grade HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) video processor, though the 1080p-ready DVI port will be replaced with an analog PC-equivalent.

Other juicy bits include dual HDMI terminals compatible with judder-free 1080p24 signals and a relatively powerful 1.6x motorized zoom. The latter enables a 100-inch projection image from a short 3.1m throw distance. This zoom feature, when coupled with its lens shift functions, simplifies installation especially in tight living quarters. Exact launch details of the HC6000 are not available at press time but it is expected to be released in Singapore from November.

Bose finally endorses HDMI

After sidelining this now de facto digital A/V interface for years, Boss has finally relented with two new HDMI-enabled products. The Lifestyle V20 and V30-series home theater systems feature a hideaway media console outfitted with two HDMI inputs and a single output. Both 5.1-channel kits also perform automatic HD video scaling up to 1080p and are loaded with a DVD player plus its proprietary ADAPTiQ sound calibration system.

The V20 is priced at US$1,999, while the higher-end V30 with Jewel Cube speakers is going for US$2,999. We are still awaiting confirmation on the products' local pricing and availability.

Via Audioholics

More auxiliary functions for Sony PS3

With a powerful but power-hungry onboard Cell processor, it seems like Sony has had quite a free hand implementing a whole host of new functions for its PlayStation 3. Months back, we heard news of possible digital video-recording capability for the gaming console. Now there are fresh rumors of plans to turn it into a settop box to deliver IPTV service in Korea. A collaboration between Sony and KT (formerly known as Korean Telecom), the service could launch as early as November, though both companies are tight-lipped about the full details.

On a separate note, Sony Pictures vice president of Advanced Technologies Don Eklund had hinted at a possible PS3 firmware upgrade which enables Blu-ray interactivity. If this materializes, the console could well be the first Blu-ray player in the market to support his enhanced capability. Even better, with the S$559 (US$405.10) 40GB model on the horizon, there are more reasons to jump on the HD bandwagon.

Via Engadget and High-Def Digest

Panasonic rolls out Blu-ray trio

Panasonic has caught up with its Japanese compatriot Sharp by introducing three Blu-ray and hard drive combo Hi-vision recorders. At the top of the echelon is a 1TB DMR-BW900 capable of recording up to a whopping 381 hours of HD broadcasts. To enable this feat, the new entries are all equipped with advanced MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 in addition to the usual MPEG-2 encoder. The former is the same compression technology found in Blu-ray and HD-DVD products.

Besides a pair of hi-def broadcast tuners, there are HDMI version 1.3 Deep Color and Blu-ray interactivity supports. The higher-end DMR-BW900 and 500GB DMR-BW800 also output judder-free 1080p24 which put both on par with full-featured Blu-ray players in the market. These, together the 250GB DMR-BW700, will be launched in Japan from November 1. There's no news of an Asia launch.

Watch and then pay for Cable TV

If a fixed monthly cable subscription is a big no-no in your opinion, Singapore StarHub has a new proposition for you. The triple-play service provider's prepaid HubStation FlexiWatch TV service combines the flexibility of daily subscription with an extensive program lineup. Seven channels are available, including popular Chinese movies and dramas, priced from S$3.21 (US$2.33) to S$5.35 (US$3.88). Each will also be bundled with three complimentary Basic Group channels, capped at six per subscriber.

Still unconvinced? Just purchase a S$599.20 (US$434.23) HubStation and register with StarHub to enjoy a free one-week trial for one FlexiWatch and three Basic Group channels of your choice. To purchase programs, simply dial 1633 for customer service or pay via credit card through the HubStation TV Portal. Minimal subscription of three consecutive days and up to 30 per purchase apply.

More details here.

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