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Fashionistas squeak with excitement as the ‘cool’ lists are unleashed

Original post by Mike Slocombe

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Altec Lansing sure came out fighting today, with it not only debuting a brand new logo, but a bundle of new speakers and iPod docks that sport the new branding. The most stand-out, by far, are the Expressionist Bass speakers pictured above, which are a full ten inches high and include built-in 4-inch subwoofers and two 1.5-inch drivers apiece. Look for them to set you back $130 when they’re released next month in both black and white versions. On the slightly less intimidating front, Altec Lansing has the $40 Orbit MP3 iM237 single-speaker unit, which runs on three AAA batteries, and a pair of new inMotion iPod speaker systems: the inMotion Moondance GLOW and the inMotion MAX, the former of which even includes a special “snooze remote.” Look for those to run you $200 and $180, respectively — pics after the break.

Continue reading Altec Lansing rolls out new look, speakers aplenty

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Original post by Donald Melanson

Set your alarms and kiss the kids goodbye, CERN will be providing a live webcast of the Large Hadron Collider’s “First Beam” maiden voyage on Wednesday. Let us know how it goes, we’ll be holed-up inside grandpa’s bombshelter with our canned turnips and 10th anniversary Heaven’s Gate Nikes — remember, two-knocks if it’s safe else we’ll assume you’re a robot.

[Thanks, Rui]

Read — Webcast starting Wed, Sep10 at 09:00 CEST (calculated globally)
Read — Satellite broadcast

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

For the most part, Runco stays pretty quiet in the consumer realm… until CEDIA rolls around. Once again, the high-end AV company is firing on all cylinders in Denver, announcing seven new 1080p LCD / plasma displays including its largest LCD to date, the 70-inch Crystal Series CX-70DHD (pictured). Along with the new panels, the outfit is unveiling its exclusive OPAL (Optical Path Alignment) technology on select models which “delivers extreme glare reduction and enhanced contrast for high ambient light environments.” The aforesaid 70-incher (shipping mid-October for $34,995) actually comes bundled with an external DHD video controller / processor, which incorporates Runco’s Vivix II tech to “enhance all digital and NTSC content to near high-definition quality.” We’ll admit, that sounds an awful lot like something Toshiba’s got going on just a few booths over, but make of it what you will. For details on the other half dozen sets, hop on past the break.

Continue reading Runco lets it all hang out, intros seven new 1080p LCDs / plasmas at CEDIA

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Man, what a toll the loss of HD DVD has taken on Toshiba. Judging by the vast expanse of floor space at Tosh’s booth not covered with people (seriously, look for anyone in the gallery below) and the inclusion of CES-announced DVD / VHS recorders (yes, really) as premiere products, we’d say the outfit is still hurting from the outcome of the format war. In all honesty, we felt kind of sad sashaying through its installation while reading slogans like “See everything in HD (even the non-HD stuff).” We even viewed the Super Resolution Technology demonstration with an open mind, and while there’s certainly a mild difference with SRT, these sets hardly make SD signals into high-def. Grab a tissue and wander through the gallery at Engadget HD.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sony’s thunder on these sets was already felt over in Berlin, but there’s nothing quite like official verbiage saying that a 9.9-millimeter thick HDTV (and one with 240Hz technology) will be coming to the good ‘ole US of A. Alongside Blu-ray HTIBs and a pricey new BD deck, Sony’s also formally introducing the 52-inch BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 and 40-inch BRAVIA KLV-40ZX1M here at CEDIA. The former features the eye-testing Motionflow 240Hz frame rate tech, which promises to deliver “exceptional motion detail in movies, sports and video games.” It also boasts the outfit’s BRAVIA Engine 2, an 80,000:1 contrast ratio and compatibility with BRAVIA Link expansion modules. As for Mr. Thin, it features a 1080p panel, an edge-lit wide color gamut LED backlight, a single HDMI input and support for Sony’s BRAVIA Wireless Link. Both sets should ship in December for undisclosed prices, but you can read up on the full array of specifications just after the break.

Continue reading Sony debuts 240Hz KDL-52XBR7 / 9.9mm KLV-40ZX1M LCD HDTVs for USers

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Haven’t had your fill of Sharp LCD HDTVs yet? Fret not, as said outfit is taking the wraps off of two more families at the Colorado Convention Center. The D65U / D85U LCD HDTVs all pack 1080p panels and range between 42- and 52-inches in size. The D65U line comes with five HDMI inputs, a six-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angles and a dedicated PC input to boot. The D85U steps it up by offering 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a four-millisecond response time. The sets will be in stores this fall (think October / November) for $1,599.99 and up. Per usual, the full releases are waiting after the break.

Continue reading AQUOS D65U / D85U LCD HDTVs get uncovered at CEDIA

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Though making a limited run of LCD HDTVs seems like a curious choice, Sharp is unleashing two of ‘em (again) today in Denver. The 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S and 65-inch LC-65XS1U-S both sport newly-developed 10-bit Advanced Super View (ASV) LCD panels and feature native 1080p resolutions, AQUOS Net capabilities, an RGB-LED backlight system and a dynamic contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1. You’ll also find a super thin integrated sound system powered by a 1-bit digital amplifier, and the entire set is just one-inch thick at its thinnest part. Of note, these units come bundled with a separate AVC system set-top-box for handling inputs, though WHDI was unfortunately left out. Catch the pair this October for currently undisclosed prices, and peep the full release just after the cut.

Continue reading Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S / LC-65XS1U-S AQUOS LCD HDTVs loosed by Sharp

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Barely a month after Mitsubishi launched its iSP 149 series of LCD HDTVs, the company is trotting out three new lineups over in Japan. The higher-end MZW series includes the 46-inch LCD-46MZW200 (¥400,000; $3,643) and 40-inch LCD-40MZW200 (¥300,000; $2,732), both of which pack a 1080p 10-bit Diamond panel, 120Hz technology and an October 21st release date. For those with tighter spaces (and smaller budgets), the MX / MXW series spans from 19- (¥100,000; $910) to 42-inches (¥280,000; $2,550), with the most expensive sets offering a Full HD display and the lesser ones topping out at 1,366 x 768. Oh, and it looks as if Funai won’t be the only one delivering a Blu-ray / LCD combo, as Mitsu’s already working up a concept. Peruse the links below for all the machine translated nitty-gritty.

[Via Impress]

Read - MZW series
Read - MX / MXW series
Read - Blu-ray / LCD combo concept

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Let’s be honest — it’s been quite awhile since Philips has been seen as a big-shot in the world of HDTVs. Evidently the company is aiming to change all that in just a few weeks, as a fresh rumor puts a stunning new set on display at IFA. Reportedly, the lightweight 42-inch Essence TV will boast a 38-millimeter depth and will be made for wall hanging. Regrettably, that’s all the details that have seeped out thus far, but we’ll be finding out just how much truth there is to all of this in a fortnight.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

When Westinghouse launched its 40-inch LCD HDTV / DVD combo unit earlier this year, we really began to think of just how nice it’d be to broaden Blu-ray’s appeal by shoving a drive into a new set for those looking for simplicity. Enter Funai — the company currently responsible for the lowest priced standalone BD deck on the market — which is reportedly aiming to loose an LCD HDTV with built-in Blu-ray player on the North American market next summer. The company typically brands its wares with names like Sylvania, Symphonic and Emerson, so we wouldn’t expect the highest-end stuff here. That said, we’re glad to see someone taking this very necessary step, even though you won’t catch us recommending ‘em to anyone but the technologically challenged. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

[Via CrunchGear]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Oh sure, Sharp’s doing the whole OLED thing because of societal pressures, but it’s no secret where its passion lies. The outfit best known for its AQUOS brand has just introduced a trio of newcomers aimed at those looking for an “entry-level” HDTV: the 42-inch LC-42SB45U, 46-inch LC-46SB54U and the 52-inch LC-52SB55U. Each of the LCD HDTVs boast a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution panel, glossy piano-black finish, a pair of component jacks, a dedicated PC input and built-in NTSC / ATSC / ClearQAM tuners to boot. As for HDMI sockets, you’ll find four on the big fellow, two on the 46-incher and three on the “little guy.” The pain? Try $2,299.99 for the LC-52SB55U (available now), $1,699.99 for the LC-46SB54U (also ready to snatch right away) and $1,399.99 for the September-bound LC-42SB45U.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Samsung treated us to a few new HDTV lineups just last week, but apparently one of the fresh families managed to slip through the cracks. The all new Series 6 — not to be confused with the widely available 650 Series — consists of the 40-inch LN40A630, 46-inch LN46A630, and the 52-inch LN52A630. Each set provides a 1080p panel, 120Hz technology, the outfit’s Touch of Color bezel design, three HDMI 1.3 ports and a USB socket for accessing digital photos and the like. Expect the trifecta to ship sometime next month for $1,699.99, $2,099.99, and $2,699.99, respectively.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Vizio made some waves recently with the introduction of two bargain-priced plasmas, but it could garner attention from a whole new sect of individuals next month. Reportedly, the outfit is gearing up to launch “its first monitor tailored for dedicated PC users” in late August, the 26-inch widescreen VMM monitor. We are told that it’ll boast HDMI inputs, reduced brightness and higher resolution “than typical IT displays,” but aside from that (and the $449 price tag), the rest remains a mystery. Also of note, the company is expected to debut an “eco-friendly” line of TVs this October, which are said to “operate with 35- to 45-percent less power than traditional LCD TVs of comparable size.” Way to keep us on the edge of our seats, Vizio.

[Via Electronista]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Vizio made some waves recently with the introduction of two bargain-priced plasmas, but it could garner attention from a whole new sect of individuals next month. Reportedly, the outfit is gearing up to launch “its first monitor tailored for dedicated PC users” in late August, the 26-inch widescreen VMM monitor. We are told that it’ll boast HDMI inputs, reduced brightness and higher resolution “than typical IT displays,” but aside from that (and the $449 price tag), the rest remains a mystery. Also of note, the company is expected to debut an “eco-friendly” line of TVs this October, which are said to “operate with 35- to 45-percent less power than traditional LCD TVs of comparable size.” Way to keep us on the edge of our seats, Vizio.

[Via Electronista]

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Original post by Darren Murph