JVC D-ILA projector on overdrive

If you thought the original JVC DLA-HD1's 15,000:1 native contrast was a godsend for inky blacks, wait till you check out the upcoming HD100. Scheduled for an early release in December, the refined S$10,999 (US$7,828.47) model ups the ante with twice the performance at an eye-popping 30,000:1 rating. That's unadulterated black levels without employing the common workaround of a dynamic iris system which cuts down light output in a bid to jazz up contrast.

This puts the D-ILA- or LCoS derivative-based home theater projector right on top of the full-HD roundup, complete with dual HDMI 1.3 terminals and judder-free 1080p24 input handling capability. We sure hope the Japanese company could also improve on the sharpness level of its predecessor, which tends to deliver a more film-like picture quality rather than the razor-sharp clarity we've come to expect from modern ultra-high-resolution beamers.

40GB PS3 gets a new soccer theme

We've good and bad news for you soccer fanatics awaiting the upcoming PS3 installation of Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008. The highly anticipated game will finally be launched on November 22 in Singapore. Having said that, the only way for you to cart one home is to purchase a S$655 (US$466.19) 40GB PS3 bundle.

While our Sony contact was unable to comment on the actual savings, we were reassured that there is in fact some discount thrown in for the package. A goodie bag comprising Winning Eleven 2008 collectibles such as a towel, whistle phone strap and calendars will be included as part of the deal, too.

We're still awaiting further information and will update this article in the event of fresh updates. Stay tuned.

From Matrix to the living room, sans head plugs

The last time we saw a set-up like this, we were trying to figure out how to spell Nebuchadnezzar without much luck. But this takes the concept behind the "G-Tech Neber" to an entirely new level, out of the clinical category and into the living room.

Despite its Pottery Barn-inspired name, the "Maya Single" media apparatus impressively features an architecturally designed chair with strategically positioned 60-watt speakers, subwoofer, and 32- or 26-inch screen perched precariously by a metal arm hanging overhead, all accented with natural wood trim, according to T3. The sound system definitely puts it ahead of the similarly inclined "Alternative Computer Control System" but, for pure technological appointments, it still falls short of the "Aura."

Still, the Maya is one sweet ride. The only major drawback, so far as we can tell, is that it doesn't fully recline.

Via Crave CNET

Sit on the ride of your life in your living room

Take on motion sickness with a dose of mechanized upholstery.

If you've always envied those simulation rides at the fun fair, here's your chance to own a lifetime's worth of rides. D-Box's X3me and Quest chairs are leather recliners with built-in actuators that pull you into the onscreen action by rocking you around in sync with the movie's movement and sound.

A D-Box ride works with a D-Box decoder box or a PC that sits between your media player and D-Box chair. First, D-Box engineers code the motions in a particular movie into a series of motion controls that can be read by the decoder box and subsequently translated to the chair's hydraulics (actuators). These motion codes are constantly updated on the D-Box site as new movies are released. What this means is that only movies which have been coded by D-Box will work with the chair.

Capable of up to 2Gs of acceleration and 100 movements per second, it might be a good idea to keep some bags around you lest all that throwing around induces your gag reflex.
Read more »

ISSE 2007 for your Hi-Fi and home theater fix

The International Sound & Sight Exhibition over at Le Meridien Singapore hotel is back again this year! It may be small next to an international affair like the CEDIA Expo. But if you're game for some of the best names in the A/V industry here, this is your best chance to catch their products all under the same roof. The confirmed participants range from usual brands such as Pioneer, LG, Denon, Onkyo and Yamaha to premium solutions providers like McIntosh, Lexicon and Linn.

Some of the above vendors are also using this exhibition as a platform to debut some of their latest offerings. Some confirmed sightings include the Onkyo DV-HD805 HD-DVD player, BenQ W20000 DLP and JVC DLA-HD100 LCoS home theater projectors. The latter is a must-see for its brilliant 30,000:1 native contrast, probably the highest among consumer-grade models and a follow-up to JVC's widely popular DLA-HD1.

This Singapore exhibition will run from November 16 to 18, 11am to 7pm, with an entry fee of S$12 (US$8.54) inclusive of a free demo disc.

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