New FireWire (i.Link) standard earns HD badge

There's another new data and A/V interface standard on the horizon and it promises a four-time speed boost over its predecessor. At 3.2Gbs, the FireWire S3200 specification is supposed to be fast enough to handle the rigors of HD, capable of recording high-resolution video in digital with added copy protection. It also carries sufficient electrical power to run hard disc drives and other portable storage. Though promising on paper, its application in home entertainment is still largely limited to DVRs, camcorders and a handful of high-end audio players. That said, Firewire is almost a given on computers and laptops.

As an added bonus, S3200-ready hardware is supposed to be backward compatible with the older FireWire formats. This specification is slated for ratification in January 2008 though no official dates have been set for actual product roll out at press time.

Via Cine Now | Photo credit: Monster Cable

Samsung's upcoming Duo HD player to feature HQV?

A Samsung representative at the CES booth revealed that the company is planning to introduce another Duo HD (Blu-ray and HD-DVD compatible) player some time next autumn/winter. It will be called the BD-UP6500, making it possibly the first Duo HD player under the 6000 series. The Duo HD models announced so far--BD-UP5000 and BD-UP5500--belong to the 5000 series.

One of the key feature enhancements that can be found on the 6000 series players, according to the Samsung rep, is the inclusion of the HQV processor. HQV or Hollywood Quality Video is a high-definition video processor developed by semiconductor firm Silicon Optix to help improve video playback quality on an HD display. The BD-UP5000 and recently announced BD-UP5500 do not come with an onboard HQV processor.

Note: The image shown is the Samsung BD-UP5500 Duo HD player.

Microvision Pico: Extreme-mobile projector?

We initially wanted to label these as ultra-mobile projectors, but at mere fraction of its regular counterparts, the Microvision Pico is more like an extreme miniature concoction quite unlike anything in the market. The color visual technology behind Pico can be applied either as an accessory projector (referred to as PicoP) or embedded directly into mobile devices. In addition, its low-power consumption allows power to be drawn directly off the video source such as a handheld or portable media player. This makes it a truly "any place, any time" micro beamer for the future. As to whether this projection concept is viable, only time will tell.

Click for larger images:



Via Engadget | Photo credit: Microvision

Arcam's DVD player, for a king's ransom

Good news for those hard-working city types who've just received their massive yearly bonuses. But they won't be able to waste it all on champagne and fast cars--they'll need to spend a few grand pimping out their trendy loft apartment living rooms. Enter the Arcam Solo Movie 2.1, a high-end upscaling DVD player and audio system for people with more than a few quid to spend.

It would be easy to mock the price (1,500 pounds, or about US$2,960), because it's a shedload more than most people would spend on even a high-end HD-DVD or Blu-ray player--heck, it's more than most people spend on a TV--but that would be to miss the point somewhat. The strength of the 2.1 is that it does DVD playback brilliantly, but also manages to produce good quality stereo audio. Generally, an audiophile would turn their nose up at using a DVD player for music, but the Arcam should keep all but the extremely picky very happy.

Like its 5.1-channel big brother, the 2.1 can upscale your DVDs to 1080i, a useful feature for those with large DVD collections and an HD screen. It won't perform miracles, but it will get the very best out of every DVD in your collection. The 2.1 sound is designed to produce clear dialogue, and deep rich bass and realistic effects. Pop in a copy of Michael Bay's ridiculous Armageddon and you'll feel every explosion--but dialog won't be drowned out, despite the over-zealous bass Bay put on the film.

You also get a ton of extra features, including DVD-Audio and SACD support, for fans of high-definition music. You also get a DAB/FM tuner, and it can even act as an alarm clock.

We won't pretend the Arcam Solo Movie 2.1 is suitable for everyone, but if you want a high-end system-in-a-box, we don't think you can find much better. Of course, speakers aren't included, so you'll need to factor in a nice set of those too.

Via Crave UK

Panasonic's 150-inch plasma TV part of Japan's push at CES

Japan Inc. will put on the hard sell at the Consumer Electronics Show next week.

Panasonic is expected to unveil a 150-inch plasma television during a keynote speech Monday by Toshihiro Sakamoto, president of the Panasonic Audio Visual Networks Company. (Matsushita Electric goes by Panasonic in the US) Sakamoto, a new speaker to the CES keynote circuit, is also expected to unveil a number of other products during his speech.

Rival Hitachi, meanwhile, will show off a series of ultraslim LCD TVs that have yet to be exhibited in the US. The 32-inch TVs, shown first at Ceatec outside of Tokyo last October, measure 19mm wide. These TVs are expected to come out in 2009. In the meantime, Hitachi plans to release a series of 35mm-wide TVs in 2008. Several Executives from Hitachi, which is making a push to expand market share in the US, will also attend the show.

Sharp and JVC, which showed off similar slim LCDs at Ceatec, will likely bring them to CES for a US debut as well. Expect other slim TVs too. And, as usual, Sony will be there with a host of products and execs.

Back in 2004, traditional electronics manufacturers were besieged by competition from PC makers and small companies such as Westinghouse Digital entering their field. "Five or six years ago it was a peaceful marketplace, now people from the outside are coming in like hunting tribes," Hideki "Dick" Komiyama, then president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics, said in 2004. (Komiyama is now president of Sony Ericsson.)

The onslaught didn't turn out exactly as anticipated. Companies like Westinghouse and Vizio have succeeded, but Dell and Hewlett-Packard have not done as well as expected in electronics. Moreover, members of the old guard like Panasonic and Sharp are still standing and in some respects are becoming more aggressive in terms of pricing and product design.

Via CNET Crave

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