jDome's immersive wrap-around gaming!

Looks like I just lost my bragging rights for gaming on a 100-inch screen. Someone has patented a 180-degree gaming system dubbed jDome which delivers a one-of-a-kind wraparound visual experience. Interestingly, it works pretty much like a rear projection screen and relies on a front projector to recreate the Omnimax-like effects. One of these will easily set you back by a whopping US$6,000, though its inventor John Nilsson apparently spent only around US$125 to US$200 to patent and develop the product.

We're just wondering whether anyone would like to give this a go using a white brolly instead. How's that for an inexpensive and somewhat practical alternative? Works great on rainy days, too!

Via Ubergizmo | Photo credit: jDome

Six reasons you shouldn't use the PS3 as your Blu-ray player

OK, before the angry fanboy comments roll in, let's get this out of the way: the PlayStation 3 is the best Blu-ray player on the market right now. It sits at the top of our best Blu-ray players list, we consistently use it as the reference that we judge other Blu-ray players against, and it's the only player on the market right now that supports Blu-ray Profile 2.0 and onboard decoding for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. And it will always be the only Blu-ray player that streams media, has a browser, and plays PS3 games. Virtually everyone looking to buy a Blu-ray player should go with the PS3 right now.

However, with that in mind, there are a few legitimate reasons why someone wouldn't want to use a PlayStation 3 as his main Blu-ray player. Let's check them out.

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
Sony decided not to include an IR receptor on the PlayStation 3, and home theater fans have been complaining ever since. The lack of an IR receptor means that the PlayStation 3 won't work with universal remote controls, so you'll have to use the PS3 controller or the separate PS3 BD remote to control it. It's definitely a pain for anyone who is used to activity-based macros such as "Watch TV" and "Watch Blu-ray" to control their home theater.
Read more »

"Self-cleaning" Sanyo projectors

Sanyo has just recently announced two new "self-cleaning" portable multimedia projectors. The 3,100 lumens LP-XC55 and 2,600 lumens LP-XC50 incorporate the Japanese company's new Active Maintenance Filter or AMF system. This minimizes maintenance hassles by rejuvenating the projectors' inbuilt dust filtration mechanism with automated air filter replacement. It also preempted the notorious dust blob problem which commonly plagued LCD projectors.

Pricing-wise, the LP-XC55 and LP-XC50 will be launched in Japan from July for USS$3,522 and US$3,016, respectively. As for whether these make it out to the rest of Asia remains to be seen.

Via Fareastgizmos | Photo credit: Sanyo

JVC, Kenwood officially hook up

Victor and Kenwood said Monday that they plan to become one company by October 1 this year.

The two Japanese audio equipment makers will combine to form JVC Kenwood Holdings, which will be based in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Victor, a subsidiary of electronics giant Matsushita, is best known for its JVC brand. Under the agreement, Kenwood Chairman Haruho Kawahara will become the holding company's chairman, while Victor President Kunihiko Sato will become the new company's president.

It came in fits and starts, but the two have finally settled on a merger agreement. It was first discussed last year, and since then the two have agreed to develop future car and home audio systems together.

The new business will focus on car electronics, home electronics, and professional wireless systems, and will also explore new product segments. The two companies are combining in hopes of reducing costs and scaling their distribution in the already-crowded Japanese consumer electronics market. For the same reason, Victor said last month it would no longer make flat-panel TVs for the Japanese market.

Via Crave CNET

44.7mm and 600,000:1 contrast LG Scarlet

There're definitely more--or in this case, less--to LG's Scarlet TV than meets the eye. Just when we were lamenting on the watered-down Asian models launched in Singapore, the Korean chaebol has rolled out an even slimmer Scarlet Super Slim with a 42-inch screen and 44.7mm-thick bezel. According to AVING, this LCD TV sports an amazingly high 600,000:1 dynamic contrast and the original CES 2008 specifications. Notably, a 120Hz frame rate-doubling technology and four HDMI inputs.

This will retail for 2.5 million won or around US$2,400--sweet Korean model not included.

Via Aving.net | Photo credit: Aving.net

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