Shane Sturgeon

Panasonic Announces Pricing & Availability For Its 2013 Blu-ray Disc™ Player Lineup

Panasonic has unveiled pricing for its 2013 Blu-ray Disc player lineup, spanning six models from $79.99 to $349.99, with the flagship DMP-BDT330 at $199.99 offering built-in 4K upscaling and Miracast display mirroring for Android 4.2 or higher devices. Select 3D-capable models include a 192kHz/32-bit audio DAC, twin HDMI ports, and 2D-to-3D conversion, while all but the entry-level BD79 feature built-in Wi-Fi. Buyers can choose a player matched to their budget and feature needs, from basic IP VOD access on 2D models to the full VIERA Connect IPTV platform on 3D-capable units.

April 9, 2013

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3DTV Cable HD Sports

Cox Communications brings Masters Golf Tournament to customers in 3D on ESPN 3D

Cox Communications launched ESPN 3D channel 896 for Cox Advanced TV Plus customers in Virginia, delivering stereoscopic Masters Golf Tournament coverage from April 11-14, 2013 using 6-9 dedicated cameras with 3D-specific graphics and commentary. Viewers require a 3D-compatible television manufactured March 2010 or later, Cox HD service, and an HD/DVR Trio receiver with HDMI output to access the channel. Customers without 3D hardware can still watch full Masters coverage on standard ESPN, making the 3D tier an optional upgrade rather than a replacement broadcast.

April 9, 2013

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Home Theater 4K Ultra HD

Sony Announces Price And Availability Of Its New XBR 4K Ultra HD LED TVs

Sony's XBR-55X900A and XBR-65X900A 4K Ultra HD LED TVs, priced at $4,999 and $6,999 respectively, deliver a native 3840x2160 resolution with a dual-chip 4K X-Reality PRO upscaling engine and a 65-watt front-facing magnetic fluid speaker system. The sets are paired with the FMP-X1 4K Media Player ($699), bundled with 10 true 4K feature films, and a forthcoming fee-based 4K video distribution service launching in fall 2013. Buyers also receive three 'Mastered in 4K' Blu-ray discs, making this a reasonably complete 4K ecosystem for early adopters willing to invest at launch pricing.

April 7, 2013

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Sports Market Trends & Analysis

WD® Introduces Versatile Media Player For Streaming Fans

WD TV Play is a $69.99 Wi-Fi-enabled media player that supports Full-HD 1080p video streaming via wireless or Ethernet connections, launching in February 2013. The device runs an app-based interface with one-touch remote access to services including Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, Spotify, and Pandora, while also supporting DLNA-based local media playback from networked storage and USB devices. Budget-conscious consumers gain smart-TV functionality without purchasing a new television, making it a practical entry point for home media streaming.

February 12, 2013

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One in Five Owners Bought an HDTV to Watch the Super Bowl, According to CEA Study

A CEA Sports and Technology Study V found that 22 percent of U.S. HDTV owners purchased their sets specifically to watch the Super Bowl, making it the single biggest sporting event driver of TV sales. Of the 70 percent of online U.S. adults planning to follow the game, 53 percent intended to watch live in high-definition, while 10 percent planned to engage via social media. CEA projections for 2013 forecast 3D-capable TV sales rising 39 percent to 5.7 million units and internet-connected displays reaching 12.3 million units, signaling that sports viewership is a meaningful catalyst for consumer electronics adoption.

January 31, 2013

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Sharp Introduces New Series of Ultra-Large LED Displays for the Large-Format Digital Signage Market

Sharp's new PN-R Series professional LED displays target indoor digital signage in 60", 70", and 90" class formats, with the flagship PN-R903 delivering a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio via full-array LED backlighting with Local Dimming Technology and 700 cd/m2 brightness across all models. The 90" PN-R903 stands 6'8" tall in portrait orientation, making it capable of replacing a 2x2 46" panel video wall with significantly reduced wiring and calibration demands. Connectivity includes DisplayPort and an interface expansion board, while edge-lit variants suit LEED-compliant installations requiring lower energy consumption.

January 28, 2013

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Samsung and Verizon Release Current FiOS TV App; Now featuring 75 Channels for a New Level of Entertainment Anywhere in the Home

Verizon's FiOS TV app on Samsung's Smart Hub platform has expanded to 75 live channels and over 25,000 FlexView on-demand titles, accessible on compatible 2011 and 2012 Samsung Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray players. The app requires no set-top box and supports parental PIN controls, closed captioning, and purchase authorization for on-demand rentals. FiOS TV subscribers who also hold a FiOS Internet subscription can stream channels including HBO, CNN, and Disney directly on their Samsung devices, eliminating the need for additional hardware in secondary rooms.

January 28, 2013

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3DTV Home Theater Projection HD

Consumer Reports: Latest TV Sets Are Bigger, Better, Smarter, And Cheaper

Consumer Reports' ratings of 140-plus LCD and plasma TVs highlight strong performers from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony, while flagging below-average picture and sound quality in budget sets from brands like Coby, Haier, and TCL. Key buying considerations include screen size relative to viewing distance (at least 40 inches for 6-to-8-foot seating), 1080p versus 720p resolution trade-offs, and plasma versus LED-backlit LCD performance. Smart TV features such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, built-in Wi-Fi, and app markets are now mainstream, making February and March the optimal window to buy top-rated 2012 models at reduced prices.

January 24, 2013

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Home Theater 4K Ultra HD

Toshiba Unveils Second Generation UltraHD TV Series

Toshiba's L9300 Series 4K Ultra HD TVs, powered by the proprietary CEVO 4K Quad+Dual Core Processor, deliver four times the resolution of 1080p full HD and include Resolution Restoration technology to upscale sub-4K content to near-UltraHD quality. The lineup spans 58-, 65-, and 84-inch class screens with ClearScan 240Hz refresh rate and advanced Cloud TV features including DLNA, Miracast, and WiDi connectivity. Buyers considering a premium home theater upgrade in 2013 will find this second-generation platform a technically substantive step beyond standard 1080p displays.

January 11, 2013

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OLED TVs

LG Shows Its First OLED TV With Curved Screen

LG unveiled the EA9800, the industry's first curved-screen OLED TV, at CES 2013, featuring a 55-inch panel with proprietary WRGB Four-Color Pixel technology that adds a white sub-pixel to the conventional RGB setup for enhanced color output. The curved design keeps the entire screen surface equidistant from the viewer's eyes, reducing edge distortion, while the self-emissive OLED panel delivers an infinite contrast ratio augmented by an HDR algorithm for maximum color separation. Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic construction reduces weight further, making this a notable benchmark for display design and picture performance in premium home theater.

Haier unveiled its 2013 television lineup at CES, featuring Roku Ready HDTVs compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick, which connects via the MHL port and streams content over household Wi-Fi. Select models include a 2.1 channel built-in audio solution, and the Encore+ series bundles the Roku Streaming Stick directly with the set. For consumers, this means out-of-the-box access to streaming movies, music, and games without additional hardware purchases or complex setup.

January 10, 2013

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4K Ultra HD Smart TVs

VIZIO Reveals Expanded 2013 HDTV Collection Adding Ultra HD and Enhanced Smart TVs to Already Award-Winning All-LED HDTV Line-Up

VIZIO unveiled its 2013 HDTV lineup at CES, anchored by the M-Series Razor LED Smart TVs featuring 240Hz refresh rates, ultra-slim bezels, and sizes ranging from 32 to 80 inches priced from $399.99 to $4,499.99. The flagship XVT-Series introduces VIZIO's first Ultra HD (4K2K) sets at 55, 65, and 70 inches, delivering four times the resolution of Full HD 1080p with Theater 3D. Buyers across all tiers gain access to VIZIO Internet Apps, Wi-Fi Direct remotes, and advanced local dimming, making high-end display technology more accessible at mainstream price points.

January 10, 2013

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Epson Debuts Ultra Bright HD 2D/3D Projector Under $900

Epson's PowerLite Home Cinema 750HD is a 3LCD projector delivering 3,000 lumens of both color and white brightness at 720p resolution, with active shutter 3D support priced at $899. The projector features Bright 3D Drive Technology, RF 3D glasses with a three-minute quick charge lasting up to 40 hours, and an E-TORL lamp rated for up to 5,000 hours of life. For buyers seeking a versatile home theater solution, its broad out-of-the-box compatibility with Blu-ray players, game consoles, and cable boxes eliminates the need for a separate format converter.

January 9, 2013

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3DTV 4K Ultra HD

Glasses-free 3D Ready For Primetime As Ultra-D Debuts 4K Displays At International Winter Consumer Electronics Show Central Hall Booth #8225

Stream TV Networks debuted its Ultra-D 2160p glasses-free 3D display technology at CES 2013, showcasing 31.5-inch and 60-inch 4K panels alongside the SeeCube real-time conversion set-top box, which converts 2D and glasses-based 3D content to glasses-free 3D at resolutions up to true 2160p. A proprietary optical system exploits inter-image disparity to produce output resolution exceeding the source material. Consumers can feed virtually any content source - including Blu-ray, cable, and streaming services - into the system without requiring dedicated 3D glasses or restricted viewing angles.

January 9, 2013

Bulletins

4K Ultra HD

LG To Expand Ultra HD TV Lineup For 2013

LG announced an expanded Ultra HD TV lineup for 2013, adding 55- and 65-inch class models to complement its existing 84-inch class panel, all delivering 3840x2160 resolution at over 8 million pixels - four times the pixel count of Full HD. The sets feature the Triple XD Engine processor, Resolution Upscaler Plus for upscaling lower-quality content, Intel WiDi wireless connectivity, CINEMA 3D with 3D Sound Zooming, and a 2.2 audio system with two 10W speakers and two 15W woofers. Consumers gain a broader range of screen size options with a consistent feature set, though native 4K content remains limited pending broadcast standard development.

January 4, 2013

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3DTV Smart TVs Market Trends & Analysis

Consumers Seek, Embrace Built-In Features in HDTVs, CEA Study Finds

A CEA study on advanced HDTV features reveals that over one in five U.S. adults owns a smart app-enabled HDTV, with 90 percent actively using built-in apps and 61 percent streaming video content directly through their televisions. On the 3D front, unit sales of 3DTVs are projected to reach 5.6 million in 2012, representing 18 percent of total TV sales, and 42 percent of 3DTV owners watch five or more hours of 3D content weekly. For buyers planning a new HDTV purchase, built-in Wi-Fi and Internet browsing rank just below audio and video quality as top purchase factors.

January 4, 2013

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OLED TVs

LG Begins Rollout Of Eagerly Anticipated OLED TV

LG launched the world's first commercially available OLED TV in January 2013, with the 55-inch WRGB model (55EM9700) priced at approximately $10,000 and measuring just 4 millimeters thin. The set uses a Four-Color Pixel system adding a white sub-pixel to the standard RGB arrangement, delivering an infinite contrast ratio regardless of ambient brightness or viewing angle. Consumers considering next-generation display technology can expect a product that had already earned CES 2012 Best of Show and multiple international design awards before reaching retail shelves.

January 2, 2013

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Home Theater Projection HD Smart TVs

LG Announces Cinematic 100-inch Class Laser TV

LG's HECTO is a 100-inch class Laser TV that uses an Ultra Short Throw projection unit positioned just 22 inches from the screen, delivering Full HD 1080p resolution with a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The laser-based illumination system is rated for up to 25,000 hours of operation, roughly five times the lifespan of conventional mercury-based lamps. For home theater enthusiasts, this combination of near-wall placement flexibility, Smart TV features including WiDi and Miracast, and a built-in digital tuner makes large-format projection far more practical than traditional ceiling-mounted systems.

December 30, 2012

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Smart TVs

LG Expands Google TV Line-Up For 2013

LG is expanding its Google TV lineup to seven models across five screen sizes for 2013, spanning two series (GA7900 and GA6400) with screen sizes ranging from 42 to 60 inches, powered by an embedded dual-core CPU. The redesigned Magic Qwerty Remote adds natural language voice search capable of browsing over 100,000 movies and TV episodes, while FPR-based CINEMA 3D and the OnLive cloud gaming app come pre-installed. Consumers gain a notably streamlined experience through the updated Home Dashboard and Wi-Fi device pairing, reducing the need for manual navigation across both broadcast and internet content.

December 24, 2012

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Home Theater HD Media Centers Streaming HD

Kaleidescape Offers Industry's First Internet Delivery Of Movies That Match Quality And Extra Content Of Blu-ray Discs And DVDs

July 26, 2012

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3DTV OTA HD & Antennas Sports

NBC Olympics & Panasonic Announce Nearly 80 Percent Of U.S. TV Households Will Receive High-Definition 3D Broadcast Feed Of The London 2012 Olympic Games

NBC Olympics and Panasonic are delivering the first-ever 3D broadcast of the Olympic Games to nearly 80 percent of U.S. TV households, with approximately 242 hours of Full HD 3D content distributed across major cable, satellite, and telco providers including Comcast, DirecTV, and Verizon. Captured using Panasonic's twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder systems, the next-day-delay programming covers 12 hours daily and spans events from gymnastics to track and field. Viewers with compatible 3D televisions can relive Olympic highlights in a format previously unavailable for the Games.

July 20, 2012

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Smart TVs

Samsung Unveils Amazing New 75-Inch Flagship TV

Samsung's 75-inch ES9000 LED Smart 3D TV launches at $9,999 with a 0.31-inch curved bezel, dual-core processor, Micro Dimming Ultimate technology, and Sound Share Bluetooth audio connectivity to compatible Samsung audio systems. The announcement also introduces a gesture-controlled Angry Birds app for Smart Interaction-enabled TVs, requiring no physical controller, available as a free download on 2012 LED 7500 and above and Plasma 8000 models. Buyers considering a premium large-screen upgrade will want to weigh the ES9000's full Smart TV feature suite, including voice, gesture, and face recognition controls, against its premium price point.

July 19, 2012

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3DTV Standards

CEA Announces Five New Standards, Including Accessibility, 3D Video

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has released five new standards covering areas from accessibility to 3D video, including CEA-2038 for infrared-synchronized active 3D eyewear that allows seamless switching between 2D and 3D content and supports dual-viewer gaming scenarios. The package also includes ANSI/CEA-2041 defining a round tactile nib for visually impaired remote control users, CEA-2042.1-A establishing wireless charging terminology, and CEA-TR-1, a home illumination study linking ambient light levels to TV brightness requirements and energy consumption. Designers and engineers can use these standards to build more interoperable, accessible, and energy-efficient consumer electronics products.

July 9, 2012

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VIZIO Announces Availability of XVT Series Cinemawide™ 21:9 Aspect Ratio HDTV, the First Ultra-Widescreen HDTV of its kind in the U.S.

VIZIO's XVT Series Cinemawide (model XVT3D580CM) is a 58-inch, 21:9 ultra-widescreen LED Smart TV featuring a 2560x1080p resolution panel that eliminates the black bars common when viewing 2.35:1 aspect ratio Hollywood films on standard 16:9 displays. The set incorporates Theater 3D technology rated up to two times brighter than conventional 3DTVs, Smart Dimming for contrast enhancement, SRS StudioSound HD, and built-in Wi-Fi with Bluetooth keyboard remote. Priced at $2,499 introductory MSRP and available exclusively on VIZIO.com, it offers a practical solution for home theater enthusiasts seeking a cinema-accurate viewing experience without compromising picture resolution.

June 28, 2012

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New Pioneer Blu-ray 3D Player Brings More Entertainment into the Home

The Pioneer BDP-150 is a Blu-ray 3D player featuring a 192 kHz/24-bit audio DAC, HDMI 1080p/24 Hz output with 36-bit Deep Color, and support for DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. The player is DLNA certified with DMR capability, enabling content to be pushed directly from compatible smartphones, and supports up to 16 file formats including MKV, MP4, and FLAC via USB or home network. Priced at $179.99, it also integrates streaming services such as Netflix, Pandora, and YouTube, making it a versatile hub for both local and network-based home theater content.

June 28, 2012

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VIZIO Launches The VIZIO Co-Star™ With Google TV Giving Users The Power To Turn Any HDTV Into The Ultimate Smart TV

The VIZIO Co-Star is a $99.99 stream player running Google TV that connects to any HDTV and supports 1080p Full HD, 3D output, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, DLNA media sharing, and Google Chrome with Adobe Flash and HTML5. It uniquely integrates with existing cable or satellite boxes, enabling picture-in-picture browsing and app access without interrupting live TV, and is the first stream player to include OnLive cloud gaming. A universal Bluetooth touchpad remote with full QWERTY keyboard consolidates control of the entire home entertainment setup.

June 26, 2012

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Smart TVs

Sony's Next Generation Set-top Box With Google TV™ Arrives July 22

Sony's NSZ-GS7 Internet Player with Google TV launched at $199 on July 22, 2012, marking Sony's first deployment of the Google TV platform outside the United States, beginning with the UK. The device features a backlit QWERTY Bluetooth remote with a three-axis motion sensor and touchpad, while the companion NSZ-GP9 Blu-ray Disc player ($299) adds voice search and access to thousands of Android apps via Google Play. Both products target home entertainment convergence by combining broadcast TV integration with Chrome browser access and YouTube streaming.

June 26, 2012

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Standards Market Trends & Analysis

NETGEAR Launches NeoTV Pro HD Streaming Player With Wireless Display

The NETGEAR NeoTV Pro HD Streaming Player (NTV200S) is the first streaming media player to integrate Intel Wireless Display (WiDi), enabling users to mirror content from a WiDi-compatible laptop directly to a TV at up to 1080p resolution. The device also features built-in 300 Mbps Wi-Fi and supports services including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, and YouTube, with a companion remote app available for iOS and Android. At $69.99, the NeoTV Pro offers a practical path for viewers who want full Internet access on a television screen, not just curated streaming channels.

June 8, 2012

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4K Ultra HD Standards

CEA Paves the Way for 4K; New Working Group Tackles Next Era of High-Definition TV

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) launched a dedicated 4K Working Group in June 2012 to establish a formal definition of 4K display technology, which offers higher resolution than existing 1080p HDTV standards and was prominently featured at the 2012 International CES. The group brings together manufacturers, content providers, and retailers - including representatives from Mitsubishi Electric, ESPN, and LG Electronics - to address content delivery, standardization, and consumer education. CEA research indicates that 51 percent of near-term TV buyers prioritize improved picture quality, signaling strong market readiness for next-generation display adoption.

June 8, 2012

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LCD TVs OLED TVs

Samsung Spotlighting Remarkable New Display Technologies at Display Week 2012

Samsung showcased roughly 20 display technologies at SID Display Week 2012, headlined by a 55-inch 3D OLED TV panel with a dual-view feature that delivers two simultaneous FHD (1920x1080) images via shutter glasses, and a 4.8-inch OCTA touch-integrated AMOLED panel measuring just 1.92mm thick, 32 percent thinner than comparable LCDs. The lineup also included a 10.1-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) LCD tablet panel and a 27-inch QHD PLS monitor covering 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space. These advances signal meaningful progress toward slimmer mobile devices and high-fidelity displays without requiring costly additional hardware.

June 4, 2012

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Consumers View Video Via More Platforms, But HDTVs Most Popular, CEA Study Finds

A CEA study of U.S. adults online finds HDTVs remain the dominant video viewing device, used by 66 percent of respondents, while laptops (62 percent) and smartphones (33 percent) are gaining ground. Consumers average 3.2 hours of video per day across platforms, and among those planning a TV purchase within 12 months, 21 percent intend to buy an OLED display and 24 percent a 3DTV. Multitasking during TV viewing is widespread, particularly among 18- to 24-year-olds at 85 percent, signaling a shift in how younger audiences engage with video content.

Paramount Home Media Distribution announced the Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection, bringing all four films to Blu-ray Disc for the first time in a single set scheduled for fall 2012 release. The collection promises the highest possible high-definition picture and audio presentation alongside a curated selection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes, and new bonus content. For fans, this represents the definitive home video upgrade for the franchise, consolidating the complete series with premium A/V quality in one package.

February 29, 2012

Bulletins

SENSIO and Samsung Electronics Reach a Patent License Agreement over SENSIO® S2D Switch

January 10, 2012

Bulletins

HD Camcorders 4K Ultra HD

James Bond Celebrates Fifty Incredible Years with Golden Anniversary Blu-Ray Collection BOND 50

MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced BOND 50, a 22-film Blu-ray box set marking the first time all James Bond films are available in high definition in a single collection, with nine titles making their Blu-ray debut. The set includes more than 130 hours of bonus features, some exclusive, and was unveiled at CES 2012 during a Directors' Panel in the Panasonic Booth. For fans, this release offers the most complete high-definition Bond library available ahead of the then-upcoming Skyfall theatrical release.

January 10, 2012

Bulletins

JVC Unveils World's First Handheld 4K Camcorder

JVC's GY-HMQ10 claims the title of world's first handheld 4K camcorder, capturing real-time 3840x2160 footage at 24p, 50p, or 60p via the proprietary Falconbrid LSI chip paired with a 1/2-inch, 8.3-megapixel CMOS imager. The camera records up to two hours of 4K video using an H.264 codec at up to 144 Mbps onto standard SDHC/SDXC cards, and outputs live 4K via four HDMI terminals with virtually no latency. Priced at $4,995, it brings full real-time 4K acquisition to a portable form factor previously unavailable outside high-end cinema rigs.

Panasonic's 2012 Smart VIERA Plasma HDTV lineup spans 17 models from 42 to 65 inches, anchored by NeoPlasma Black 2500 technology with 24,576 steps of gradation and 6,220,800 pixel cells of full local dimming on flagship VT50 and GT50 series. New 27-gram Bluetooth rechargeable 3D glasses, cloud-based VIERA Connect IPTV with unlimited apps, built-in Wi-Fi, and THX certification in both 2D and 3D modes round out the platform. Buyers gain a genuinely expanded smart TV ecosystem alongside measurably improved contrast and eco-friendly mercury- and lead-free panels rated for 100,000 hours.

January 9, 2012

Bulletins

3DTV Sports Programming

Panasonic & NBC Sports Group Partner to Distribute London 2012 Olympic Games in 3D in the U.S.

Panasonic and NBC Sports Group announced a partnership to deliver the London 2012 Olympic Games in 3D to nearly 100 percent of U.S. multichannel distributors, marking the first 3D Olympic broadcast in the country. Olympic Broadcasting Services will produce more than 200 hours of 3D coverage using Panasonic's AG-3DP1, a P2HD professional twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder, with distribution routed through the Comcast Media Center. Viewers with compatible 3D displays will gain access to Full HD 3D coverage of events including gymnastics, diving, swimming, and both Opening and Closing Ceremonies on a next-day delay basis.

January 9, 2012

Bulletins

3DTV Smart TVs

Toshiba Announces Its Most Advanced 3D Smart TV Series For 2012

Toshiba's 2012 L7200 and L6200 Smart TV series debut a 1GHz dual-core ARM-based CQ Engine processor paired with passive 3D technology, Full HD 1080p panels, and ClearScan refresh rates of 240Hz and 120Hz respectively. The lineup integrates built-in Wi-Fi, DLNA-based MediaShare, and the ePortal interface featuring Rovi-powered program metadata for unified content discovery across live TV, streaming, and home networks. Practically, users gain Android tablet remote control via TRAC, bezel-less Aero design, and Audyssey Premium Suite audio, making these sets a notable step toward whole-home media integration.

DISH Network's Hopper HD DVR pairs with small Joey set-top boxes to deliver a whole-home HD DVR system capable of recording up to six programs simultaneously, backed by a 2TB hard drive offering up to 250 hours of HD storage. The system runs on a 750 MHz Broadcom processor, distributes signals via MoCA over existing coaxial cable, and includes PrimeTime Anytime, which auto-records all primetime content from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC for eight days. Households with up to four TVs gain full DVR control in every room without additional main units, making it a practical upgrade for multi-room viewing.

January 9, 2012

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OLED TVs Manufacturing Events & Trade Shows

LG Display to Showcase Very Latest in Display Technology at CES 2012

LG Display's CES 2012 private exhibit centers on a 55-inch OLED TV panel using White OLED with an Oxide backplane, delivering a contrast ratio exceeding 100,000:1 and a panel thickness of just 5mm. Alongside it, an 84-inch Ultra Definition display with a 3840x2160 resolution offers four times the sharpness of full HD, while a 4.5-inch AH-IPS panel hits 329ppi for smart devices. Taken together, these announcements signal a concrete shift toward commercially viable large-format OLED and ultra-high-resolution displays entering the consumer market.

January 9, 2012

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OLED TVs Events & Trade Shows

LG Electronics Takes Historic Step Forward With Ultra-Thin 55-inch Class OLED HDTV

LG's 55-inch class OLED HDTV (model 55EM9600), unveiled at CES 2012, delivers a contrast ratio exceeding 100,000,000:1 and a pixel response time under 0.1 microseconds, performance figures that conventional LED/LCD panels cannot match. The set measures just 4mm thin and weighs 7.5kg, making wall mounting practical without bulky support structures. LG's TRIPLE XD Engine adds Dynamic Color Enhancer, Contrast Optimizer, and Resolution Upscaler processing on top of the OLED panel's native capabilities, offering a compelling look at where large-screen home display technology was heading.

January 2, 2012

Bulletins

3DTV 4K Ultra HD

LG Ultra Definition 3D TV Combines Immersive 3D Experience, Superior Display Quality

LG's 84-inch Ultra Definition 3D TV, unveiled at CES 2012, delivers 8 million pixels at four times the resolution of Full HD panels using passive CINEMA 3D technology with a slim Cinema Screen bezel. The set integrates a 2D-to-3D conversion engine, 3D Depth Control, and a Smart TV platform with over 1,200 apps accessible via a Magic Remote supporting Voice Recognition and gesture controls. For home theater enthusiasts, this combination of UD resolution and passive 3D means sharper, more comfortable large-screen viewing without the flicker associated with active shutter glasses.

December 29, 2011

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OLED TVs Manufacturing

LG Display Announces World's Largest OLED TV Panel 55" Panel to Advance Popularization of OLED TV Market

LG Display unveiled the world's first 55-inch OLED TV panel in December 2011, leveraging Oxide TFT backplane technology and White OLED (WOLED) architecture to overcome the size and cost barriers that had previously confined AM OLED to smaller displays. The panel delivers a contrast ratio exceeding 100,000:1, a reaction velocity over 1000 times faster than liquid crystal, and a profile thinner than 5mm. For consumers, this signals a credible path toward large-screen OLED TVs with lower power consumption and wider color gamut than conventional LCD panels.

December 26, 2011

Bulletins

IPTV OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

3M-Commissioned Research Shows Consumers Value Wide-Angle Viewing on Their LCD TVs

A CBS Vision study commissioned by 3M, surveying nearly 600 consumers over four weeks, found that 84 percent view their LCD TVs from multiple angles, yet 44 percent were initially unaware of off-axis picture quality degradation. Once exposed to a direct side-by-side comparison, 88 percent preferred the display with superior wide-angle luminance, and 83 percent of males aged 55 and older indicated willingness to pay an average of $200 more for that performance. For buyers evaluating LCD TVs, wide-angle luminance is a measurable factor worth assessing before purchase, particularly in multi-viewer living room setups.

December 15, 2011

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Industry's First Integrated Wireless Receiver Gives U-verse TV Customers More Freedom to Easily Watch TV Anywhere, in Any Room in the Home

AT&T's U-verse TV Wireless Receiver, manufactured by Cisco, is the first fully-integrated wireless receiver offered by any TV provider, delivering live SD and HD content plus full Total Home DVR functionality over in-home Wi-Fi from a residential gateway access point. Priced at a one-time $49 fee plus $7 per month, the receiver requires only a power outlet and TV connection, eliminating the need for rewiring or dedicated outlet installation. This means customers can place a TV in virtually any room, including kitchens, patios, or guest rooms, without scheduling a technician for outlet work.

October 25, 2011

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Satellite HD Cable HD

Verizon Adds E! HD to FiOS TV Channel Lineup

Verizon FiOS TV has added E! HD on Channel 696, expanding its lineup to more than 140 HD channels across an all-digital package of over 540 total channels. The HD feed delivers E! Entertainment programming including reality series and live events at full high-definition quality, while V CAST extends viewing to mobile devices. Subscribers who previously watched E! in standard definition on Channel 196 can now access the same content at higher resolution without additional equipment changes.

October 24, 2011

Bulletins

Home Theater 3DTV LED TVs

Netflix to Launch Service in the UK and Ireland for Streaming Movies and TV Shows in Early 2012

Netflix announced its planned expansion to the United Kingdom and Ireland in early 2012, bringing its $7.99/month unlimited streaming subscription to a new market after launching in Canada in 2010 and 43 Latin American and Caribbean countries in September 2011. The service supports over 700 compatible devices, including Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Blu-ray players, and mobile platforms such as iPhone and iPad. UK and Ireland consumers can expect on-demand access to TV shows and movies across a broad range of internet-connected hardware, though pricing and content details were not yet confirmed at announcement.

Direct Brands Inc., parent company of Columbia House and serving over 8 million U.S. members across 24 multi-platform businesses, launched the first Blu-ray-specific club under the Columbia House division on July 1, 2011. The club offers an introductory promotion of 2 Blu-ray disc selections at $5.99 each for members who enroll during the July kick-off period. Consumers committed to the Blu-ray format gain access to a dedicated catalog and club membership benefits tailored exclusively to high-definition physical media.

July 1, 2011

Bulletins

VIZIO Brings Theater 3D™ Technology to All with a Full Lineup of Bright, Flicker-Free 3D HDTVs Including Three 21:9 Cinemawide HDTV Models

VIZIO's Theater 3D lineup spans 11 passive circular-polarized LCD HDTVs across E, M, and XVT Series in 32" to 65" screen sizes, delivering up to 2x the brightness and significantly reduced crosstalk compared to active shutter LCD TVs. Three 21:9 Cinemawide models with a 2.37:1 aspect ratio allow CinemaScope films to fill the screen without black bars, while XVT Series models feature Full Array TruLED backlighting with over 160 Smart Dimming zones for a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Buyers gain lightweight, battery-free glasses and broad 3D format compatibility including Frame Packing, Side-by-Side, and SENSIO HiFi 3D sources.

June 22, 2011

Bulletins

LCD TVs LED TVs

Samsung Expands Its LED/LCD Leadership at InfoComm 2011 with the Introduction of Four New Product Lines

Samsung unveiled four new LED/LCD commercial display lines at InfoComm 2011, spanning the HE, ME, UE, and UD Series, with panel refresh rates reaching 240Hz on the UE Series and bezel-to-bezel widths as narrow as 5.5mm on the mission-critical UD55A videowall display. All four lines use LED backlighting to deliver 5000:1 native contrast ratios and 30-50 percent lower power consumption compared to conventional CCFL-backlit LCD displays. Organizations evaluating digital signage or videowall deployments will find a tiered range of options, from lobby-grade moderate-use screens to 24/7-rated direct-lit panels, each with 1920x1080 resolution and MagicInfo Lite content management.

June 15, 2011

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3DTV Streaming HD Smart TVs

Samsung Launches 3D On Demand Streaming Service in the U.S. – Delivering Spectacular 3D Content at Any Time

Samsung has launched 'Explore 3D,' a free on-demand 3D streaming app accessible via its SmartHub interface on all 2010 and 2011 LED and Plasma Smart 3D TVs, offering trailers from DreamWorks Animation, music videos, and full-length TV shows from WealthTV. The service is powered by Rovi Corporation's cloud-based metadata and RoxioNow platform, with paid feature films and documentaries planned for later in 2011. Samsung's Active 3D Technology delivers full 1080p resolution per eye, meaning viewers get a genuine Full HD image to each eye rather than a split or reduced-resolution picture.

May 24, 2011

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Samsung Demonstrates PenTile RGBCW Multiprimary LCD with 2D RGB Local Dimming Backlight for Ultra-Low Power Next-Gen HDTVs

Samsung and Nouvoyance demonstrated a PenTile RGBCW multiprimary LCD at SID Display Week 2011 that combines frame sequential color, a five-primary color filter array (red, green, blue, cyan, and white), and a 2D RGB local dimming backlight to achieve approximately 25 percent of the power consumption of legacy LCD TV technology. The 15.1-inch 816x490 prototype uses clear white subpixels to transmit backlight primaries per zone, nearly eliminating color breakup while expanding color gamut. For consumers, this approach could enable large-screen HDTVs with dramatically reduced energy draw without sacrificing image quality.

May 12, 2011

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3DTV Cable HD OTA HD & Antennas

VUDU Launches Browser-Based Streaming of Expansive Content Library on VUDU.com

VUDU has launched browser-based streaming directly on VUDU.com, enabling users to rent or buy content without additional hardware or software and watch across more than 300 VUDU-enabled CE devices. The service delivers content in HDX 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound, matching same-day DVD and Blu-ray release windows. Practically, this means viewers can start a movie in a browser and seamlessly resume playback on a compatible HDTV, Blu-ray player, or PlayStation 3.

Panasonic and Verizon demonstrated Full HD 3D video streaming over Verizon's all-fiber-optic FiOS network at CES 2011, delivering 1080p resolution 3D content at bit rates up to 18 Mbps - double the rate used by most cable providers. Unlike competing approaches that reduce 3D image resolution by half, this solution preserves the complete 1080p picture by streaming to a Panasonic Blu-ray 3D player via co-developed network and software enhancements. For consumers, this signals that full-resolution 3D content delivery could extend beyond Blu-ray Disc media to premium fiber-optic TV services.

January 7, 2011

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Penthouse Announces the World's First 3D Channel

Penthouse has announced the launch of what it claims is the world's first dedicated 3D adult entertainment channel, featuring original programming shot in native high definition and 3D. The PENTHOUSE 3D Channel is expected to be available to system operators in Q2 2011, complementing an existing HD channel lineup spanning over 30 platforms across more than 15 countries. For viewers, this represents an early commercial deployment of 3D broadcast content at a time when consumer 3D technology was still gaining mainstream traction.

January 7, 2011

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3DTV LED TVs

Toshiba Enhances 3D Accessibility With Multiple 3D TV Technologies

Toshiba's 2011 3D LED TV lineup centers on its proprietary CEVO Engine, which powers three core technologies: TriVector 2D-to-3D conversion, 3D Resolution+ upconversion for non-native full HD formats, and a 3D Cross Talk Canceller for active shutter models. The flagship UL610 Cinema Series delivers 1920x1080p Full HD 3D with a 480Hz ClearScan panel and Fine Local Dimming, while the passive TL515 Series offers 240Hz ClearScan and polarized glasses for lower-cost, extended viewing sessions. Toshiba also plans to debut glasses-free 3D TV in 56- and 65-inch sizes at CES 2011, signaling a near-term shift toward autostereoscopic display options for consumers.

January 6, 2011

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Mobile HD Streaming HD

Hauppauge Introduces a New Way to Watch Live TV on an Apple iPad or iPhone

Hauppauge's Broadway is a standalone live TV streaming box that uses an H.264 video compressor to transcode clear QAM digital cable, ATSC over-the-air, and analog TV signals for playback on Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. Compatible with 802.11g and 802.11n wireless routers, it streams live TV over a home WiFi network or across the Internet to any Apple device worldwide. Priced at $199, Broadway eliminates the need for a PC - unlike Hauppauge's existing WinTV Extend software - making remote live TV access straightforward for iOS users.

January 6, 2011

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3DTV HD Camcorders

JVC Full HD 3D Consumer Camcorder is World's First

JVC's GS-TD1 is the world's first consumer camcorder to record 3D video in Full HD, using dual 3.32-megapixel CMOS sensors and a proprietary high-speed imaging engine that simultaneously processes two 1920x1080i streams via the new LR Independent Format. The camcorder also supports Side-by-Side AVCHD (3D) and standard AVCHD (2D) modes, and includes a glasses-free 3.5-inch 3D touch panel LCD for on-the-spot playback monitoring. Priced at $1,999.95 and launching in March 2011, it represents a practical entry point for consumers seeking native Full HD 3D capture without professional-grade equipment.

January 6, 2011

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3DTV LED TVs

LG Electronics Sets New Standard in HDTV Design With 'NANO FULL LED' HDTV Series

LG's NANO FULL LED series (LW9500 and LW7700) uses a proprietary thin-film light dispersion layer combined with a full LED array to deliver more uniform brightness than conventional edge-lit sets, with the LW9500 featuring TruMotion 480Hz and the LW7700 at 240Hz for near-blur-free motion. The 55- and 60-inch models include 288 local dimming blocks via Micro Pixel Control, and both series are pending THX 2D and 3D Display Certification after passing more than 400 laboratory tests. Buyers gain active shutter 3D, DLNA connectivity, and LG SmartTV app access in a slim INFINIA bezel design.

January 6, 2011

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3DTV Plasma TVs Smart TVs

LG's New 'Super LED' Line Raises Bar for High-Tech, High-Performance Monitors

LG's SUPER LED monitor lineup, debuted at CES 2011, includes the E2290V with a 7.2mm slim profile, 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 2ms response time, and Full HD 1080p resolution. The IPS236V adds 178-degree wide-angle viewing via In Plane Switching technology with 6 Axis Color Control, while the E2341V series introduces SUPER+ Resolution upscaling powered by LG's Image Clear Engine using a single-frame algorithm. The series also claims up to 40 percent better energy efficiency than standard LCD units, making these monitors a practical consideration for both creative professionals and general consumers.

January 6, 2011

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January 5, 2011

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Home Theater 3DTV LCD TVs

VIZIO Unveils Ultra-Widescreen 21:9 Cinemawide HDTV LED LCDs for the Ultimate Cinematic Experience

VIZIO's Cinemawide HDTV lineup introduces a 21:9 aspect ratio (2.37:1) with 2,560 x 1,080 resolution, enabling native playback of 2.35:1 CinemaScope films without black bars on 50-, 58-, and 71-inch LED LCD models. The 50- and 58-inch Edge Lit Razor LED variants feature 32-zone Smart Dimming with a 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, while all three models include Theater 3D passive circular polarization technology and dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi with VIZIO Internet Apps. Viewers gain a practical split-screen benefit: a full 16:9 HD image alongside app browsing simultaneously, without sacrificing resolution on either side.

January 5, 2011

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Hulu Plus™ Subscription Service and BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® Now Available on VIZIO Internet Apps™ Adding More Entertainment Freedom to the Industry's Award-Winning Connected CE Platform

VIZIO expanded its Internet Apps (VIA) connected CE platform in January 2011 with the addition of Hulu Plus at $7.99 per month and BLOCKBUSTER On Demand with rental prices starting at $2.99, deployable via automatic over-the-air updates to existing VIA-enabled HDTVs. The platform, built on 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi, spans VIZIO's E, M, and XVT Series HDTVs from 22-inch to 65-inch class, with upcoming additions including OnLive cloud gaming, Skype HD 720p video chat at 30fps, and VUDU 3D streaming with HDX 1080p and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. Consumers with compatible VIZIO sets gain access to this expanding content ecosystem without a separate set-top box or PC.

January 5, 2011

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Toshiba Unveils CAMILEO S30 Compact HD Digital Camcorder

Toshiba's CAMILEO S30 is a full HD camcorder measuring three-fourths of an inch thin and weighing 4.2 ounces, capable of recording 1080p, 720p, and 480p video with digital image stabilization across all modes. The device pairs a 16X digital zoom and 8-megapixel still camera with a 3-inch touch screen LCD, and supports SDXC cards up to 64GB for an estimated 10 hours of 1080p footage. At $179.99 MSRP, it targets consumers seeking a smartphone-sized camcorder with direct HDMI output and one-touch social media uploading.

January 5, 2011

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HDMI Home Theater

IOGEAR Wireless 3D Media Kit Streams a Tidal Wave of Content

The IOGEAR Wireless 3D Media Kit (GW3DKIT) wirelessly transmits Full HD 1080p 60Hz video, 3D content, and 5.1-channel audio up to 100 feet using an integrated private 802.11n Wi-Fi network, supporting up to six connected A/V sources including Blu-ray players, DVRs, and computers. The kit streams to as many as four simultaneous wireless receivers, enabling multi-room setups without line-of-sight constraints, while a USB port extends keyboard and mouse control to a home theater PC within the same 100-foot radius. Consumers looking to distribute 3D or HD content across multiple displays without running cables will find this a practical, driver-free solution.

January 4, 2011

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Samsung Innovation Makes Capturing Video Easier Than Ever with the Practical and Affordable Full HD HMX-Q10 Camcorder

Samsung's HMX-Q10 is a full HD camcorder featuring a 5MP BSI CMOS sensor with twice the light sensitivity of standard CMOS sensors, capturing 1920x1080/60i video with OIS Duo optical image stabilization for steady footage even while moving. The device introduces the world's first Switch Grip technology, using a G-magnetic sensor to auto-rotate the 2.7-inch LCD display based on how the camcorder is held, accommodating left- or right-handed users. Priced at $299 and available February 2011, it also doubles as a 4.9MP still camera, making it a practical all-in-one option for everyday video capture.

January 3, 2011

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3DTV Blu-ray

The Walt Disney Studios Unveils Stellar 2011 Blu-ray 3D™ Release Slate

Walt Disney Studios announced a commitment to release at least 15 films on Blu-ray 3D in 2011, including day-and-date 3D releases of TRON: LEGACY and TANGLED alongside 3D debuts of classic animated titles THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Each disc features thematically linked 3D menus and 3D coming-attractions previews, extending the format beyond the film itself. Combined with three 2010 titles already available, Disney's Blu-ray 3D home catalog will reach nearly 20 titles, giving early adopters of 3D display hardware a substantial content library.

January 3, 2011

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VIZIO Announces Full Line of Theater 3D™ HDTVs in Sizes Ranging from 22 to 71 inches - Brighter, Flicker-Free 3D with Superior Performance for Everyone

VIZIO's Theater 3D HDTV lineup uses circular polarized 3D filters to deliver a picture up to 2x brighter and with significantly reduced crosstalk compared to Active Shutter LCD TVs, spanning 22 to 71 inches across E, M, and XVT series. Top-tier XVT models feature Full Array TruLED backlighting with over 120 Smart Dimming zones and refresh rates up to 480Hz SPS, while built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi enables the VIA connected platform. Battery-free passive glasses compatible with most commercial theaters lower the cost of outfitting an entire household for 3D viewing.

January 3, 2011

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GEAR4 Takes Control With New UnityRemote™

GEAR4's UnityRemote converts any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad into a universal remote control by pairing a Bluetooth receiver with five infrared transmitters that broadcast commands in 360 degrees to any IR-equipped device. Compatible with iPhone 3G through 4 and iPod touch 2G/3G, the $99 accessory works alongside a free App Store application and requires no physical connection to the iOS device. Users can program multi-device 'actions' and custom layouts, making it practical to control an entire home theater setup from a single screen.

JVC has introduced four home theater projectors - the DLA-RS60, DLA-RS50, DLA-X9, and DLA-X7 - earning the world's first THX 3D Display Certification after passing more than 400 laboratory tests covering color accuracy, cross-talk, and video processing. The flagship DLA-RS60 and DLA-X9 deliver a 100,000:1 native contrast ratio, 1,300 ANSI lumens, and 120Hz Clear Motion Drive with frame interpolation, while all four models feature dual HDMI 1.4a ports supporting frame-packed Blu-ray 3D. Home theater enthusiasts gain a rigorously validated 3D and 2D viewing experience with professional ISF and THX calibration modes built in.

November 9, 2010

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NETGEAR Introduces 3DHD Wireless Technology for Sending High-Definition Video to Home Theaters Without the Expense and Hassle of New Wiring

NETGEAR's 3DHD Wireless Home Theater Networking Kit (WNHDB3004) uses 4x4 MIMO, dynamic digital beam forming, and Space Time Block Coding (STBC) to deliver jitter-free 1080p video streams wirelessly across homes up to 5,000 square feet. The system supports two simultaneous HD streams required for 3DHD content while minimizing packet loss through redundant multi-path data transmission. Priced at $259 for a two-adapter kit, it offers a plug-and-play alternative to running Ethernet cables through walls for connecting home theater equipment.

November 8, 2010

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Oakley Releases World's First Optically Correct 3D Glasses

Oakley's OAKLEY 3D GASCAN, priced at $120, introduces the company's proprietary HDO-3D technology to address optical deficiencies in conventional 3D glasses, including refractive power errors, optical astigmatism, and prismatic distortion. The lenses are engineered to virtually eliminate crosstalk between left- and right-eye images while maintaining clarity across a wide curved field of view through passive polarization compatibility. Consumers gain a single pair of glasses usable across most commercial cinemas and compatible home 3D systems that share the same passive polarization standard.

November 8, 2010

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Blu-ray Disc™ Honored with Emmy® Award for Technology and Engineering

Panasonic, Philips, Sony, and TDK received the 62nd Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for developing blue laser optical systems that enabled full HD content distribution on consumer optical discs, with Sony achieving the world's first HD recording on 20GB optical media using a blue-violet laser in the late 1990s. Since Blu-ray's 2006 launch, over 1.4 billion pre-recorded discs and 50 million players and recorders have been produced, alongside support for Dual Layer 50GB discs and advanced audio-video codecs. For consumers, this recognition underscores the format's proven role in delivering full HDTV-quality playback and HD broadcast recording at home.

November 1, 2010

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3DTV LCD TVs Plasma TVs

Consumer Reports: First-Ever Rankings of 3D Performance Show Plasmas Offer More Realistic Images Than LCDs

Consumer Reports evaluated 14 3D TV models using in-house 3D test patterns, 3D Blu-ray movies, and recorded 3D sports broadcasts, finding that plasma TVs outperform LCDs primarily due to lower crosstalk (ghosting). Panasonic plasma sets ranked highest for 3D picture quality, while Sony LCD TVs showed minimal ghosting only when the viewer's head remained perfectly level, with severe ghosting appearing at even slight tilts. Prospective buyers should weigh limited 3D content availability, active-shutter glasses costs, and potential eyestrain before committing to a purchase.

November 1, 2010

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Home Theater HD Audio Streaming HD

Yamaha Aventage BD-A1000 High Performance, 3D-Ready Blu-ray Disc Player Adds a New Dimension to Home Theater Entertainment

The Yamaha AVENTAGE BD-A1000 is a universal Blu-ray Disc player featuring 1080p/24Hz-compatible HDMI output, full HD Audio decoding, and 7.1 multi-channel analog output driven by four 2-channel DACs. The unit supports BD-Live, BonusView, AVCHD, and internet streaming from Netflix, Blockbuster, and YouTube, along with dual USB ports for multimedia playback. Priced at $699.95 and Control4 certified, it is engineered for seamless one-button integration with Yamaha AVENTAGE AV receivers, making it a practical centerpiece for a high-performance home theater system.

November 1, 2010

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Netflix Taps Dolby for High-Definition Audio

Netflix has selected Dolby Digital Plus to deliver 5.1-channel surround sound for streamed movies and TV shows, with the PlayStation 3 serving as the first supported device beginning October 18, 2010. Dolby Digital Plus supports up to 7.1 channels of premium audio and maintains backward compatibility with existing Dolby Digital 5.1-channel home theater systems. Subscribers with compatible devices can now experience studio-intended surround sound from Netflix streams without additional hardware beyond what they already own.

October 15, 2010

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Star Wars In 3D!

Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox announced a stereoscopic 3D conversion of the live-action Star Wars Saga, with Industrial Light & Magic supervising the technically demanding post-production process. Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is targeted for a 2012 theatrical release, with ILM Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll emphasizing that quality stereo conversion requires significant time and both aesthetic and technical precision. For fans, this means revisiting iconic sequences such as the Death Star trench run with a fully immersive depth presentation rather than native 3D capture.

September 29, 2010

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Billionaire Alki David Launches First Internet Based True HD Television Service in the United States

FilmOn.com launched its U.S. virtual cable service in 2010, delivering live HD television over standard broadband at under 1 Mb per second with Dolby 5.1 stereo sound, offering over 30 channels including CBS, ABC, NBC, and international feeds. The HDi Player is available as a free download for PC and mobile devices, including Android and iPhone, with a $9.95 monthly subscription for full access. Cord-cutters gain a browser-based alternative to traditional cable, complete with DVR functionality and an electronic program guide.

Samsung's CEDIA Expo 2010 showcase featured its LED 9000 Series 3D HDTV, measuring just 0.31 inches thin with Real 240Hz Clear Motion, 1080p resolution, and HDMI 1.4 support alongside a built-in 2D-to-3D conversion processor. Complementing the display lineup, the HT-C9950W home theater system delivers 1400 watts through a 7.1 channel configuration, while the BD-C8000 portable Blu-ray player pairs a 10.1-inch screen with built-in Wi-Fi and HDMI 1.4a for 3D playback. Custom installers evaluating scalable home cinema builds will find a tightly integrated ecosystem spanning receivers, sound bars, and Internet-connected displays across multiple price points.

September 23, 2010

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Roku Introduces New Line of HD Streaming Players Starting at $59.99

Roku launched three new streaming players in 2010, ranging from the entry-level HD model at $59.99 with 720p output and built-in Ethernet, to the top-tier XDS at $99.99 featuring dual-band Wireless-N, 1080p HDMI output, optical audio, component video, and a USB port for local media playback. Both XD and XDS models introduce an Instant Replay button that skips back in 7-second increments without rebuffering, a feature previously confined to DVR hardware. Buyers seeking affordable access to Netflix, Amazon VOD, and over 85 streaming channels gain a capable living-room device at a 40% price reduction from Roku's original $100 player.

Onkyo's BD-SP808 Blu-ray player integrates BLOCKBUSTER On Demand, joining a catalog of more than 85 consumer electronics devices supporting the streaming rental service. The player features a High Quality Video Scaler and full Blu-ray Disc playback, while the on-demand service allows title access concurrent with DVD and Blu-ray release dates and requires no monthly subscription fee. For consumers, this means browsing, previewing trailers, and renting new releases directly from the player without a separate streaming subscription.

August 31, 2010

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NETGEAR® Launches NeoTV(TM) HD Media Players - Flagship Products in New AV Series Make It Simple to Play Any Content on HDTVs

NETGEAR's NeoTV 350 HD and NeoTV 550 Ultimate HD Media Players support 1080p output, Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, and connect to local USB storage, DLNA/UPnP home media servers, and internet sources. The NeoTV 550 adds an eSATA port for faster transfers and Blu-ray disc support via external drives, while both models offer optional wireless connectivity through the WNCE2001 Universal Wi-Fi Adapter. Consumers who struggle with connecting home theater devices to broadband networks gain a single-box solution that bridges local media libraries and online content on any HDTV.

August 31, 2010

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DLP TVs Projection HD 4K Ultra HD

Onkyo Introduces Flagship THX-Certified AV Component Separates

Onkyo's PR-SC5508 is a THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified 9.2-channel AV preamp/processor featuring HDMI 1.4a, HQV Reon-VX video processing, Audyssey MultEQ XT 32, and eight HDMI inputs, paired with the PA-MC5500 nine-channel amplifier rated at 150 watts per channel with 22,000 uF storage capacitors and a three-stage inverted Darlington circuit. The BD-SP808 Blu-ray player rounds out the trio with Marvel Qdeo video scaling, DLNA 1.5 certification, and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Together these separates offer a complete high-end home theater chain priced from $599 to $2,199, giving enthusiasts a THX-certified upgrade path beyond traditional AV receivers.

August 30, 2010

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Christie Previews 4K at IBC

Christie's new Solaria Series CP4230 projector marks the world's first demo of a DLP Cinema solution in 4K, featuring Texas Instruments' enhanced 4K DLP Cinema chip and designed to meet Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) specifications. Built on a foundation of over 14,000 digital cinema installations, the CP4230 includes Christie Brilliant3D technology for high-performance 3D and a '15 minutes to 4K' upgrade path for existing systems. Pricing is anticipated at 35% above 2K projector costs, making it a concrete consideration for exhibitors planning long-term digital cinema investments.

August 30, 2010

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Samsung Expands Monitor Line-up with 90 and 30 Series Monitors with HDTV Tuners for High Performance at Work and Home

Samsung's 30 and 90 series multi-function monitors combine a Full HD 1920x1080 computer display with a built-in HDTV tuner, ranging from 21.5 to 24 inches with 5ms response times and dual HDMI inputs for connecting cable boxes, game consoles, and Blu-ray players. The 90 series LED model (FX2490HD) adds a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Dolby Digital Plus audio with 5W stereo speakers, while consuming up to 40 percent less energy than non-LED displays. Picture-in-Picture support lets users run PC tasks and watch live TV simultaneously on a single screen, eliminating the need for a separate television.

August 26, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV DLP TVs

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America's Nationwide 3D Experience Tour Brings Largest, Most Immersive Lineup of 3D TVs to Cities Across America

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America is launching a nationwide 3D Experience Tour, showcasing its 2010 lineup of DLP Home Cinema Televisions in a 995 sq. ft. mobile showroom, with screen sizes ranging up to 82 inches. The flagship LaserVue TV uses laser-based display technology to deliver approximately double the color spectrum of conventional TVs while consuming 50 percent less energy than EnergyStar requirements. The tour also features the Unisen Immersive Sound LED TV series, which integrates up to 18 speakers with algorithmic delay processing to produce 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound without separate audio components, giving consumers a hands-on benchmark for evaluating home theater performance.

August 26, 2010

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3DTV Sports Programming

First Ever 3D Broadcasts of US Open Spearheaded by Panasonic and CBS Sports

Panasonic and CBS Sports partnered with the USTA to deliver the first-ever 3D broadcasts of the US Open, using six dual-camera rigs, two dedicated 3D production trucks, and Panasonic's professional Full HD 3D camcorder for court-level capture. The matches were distributed exclusively via DirecTV channel 103 ('n|3D Powered by Panasonic'), requiring viewers to have 3D televisions, 3D eyewear, and a DirecTV subscription. Panasonic also introduced its first consumer camcorder capable of recording full 1080p HD video in AVCHD, marking a notable expansion of its 3D and HD product lineup.

August 26, 2010

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Satellite HD OTA HD & Antennas

Sony Launches New 3D BRAVIA TVs Just in Time for Kickoff

Sony's BRAVIA NX810 series brings 3D Full HD 1080p television to three screen sizes (46, 55, and 60 inches), featuring DynamicEdge LED backlighting with local dimming and MotionflowPRO 240Hz motion processing for smooth, high-contrast images even in bright rooms. Built-in Wi-Fi connects viewers to the BRAVIA Internet Platform and the Qriocity streaming service, expanding content options beyond broadcast. Buyers also receive two free Blu-ray 3D titles and a PlayStation Network voucher for stereoscopic 3D PS3 gaming, making the package a practical entry point into the 3D home entertainment ecosystem.

August 26, 2010

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HD Audio

Denon Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary With Debut of Special Edition Product Collection

Denon's limited-edition A100 Anniversary Collection marks the company's centennial with seven components, including the DCD-A100 CD/SACD player featuring 32-bit/192 kHz DA converters and Advanced AL32 Processing, and the AVR-A100 9.2-channel A/V receiver with DENON Link 4th HDMI Clock Control. The collection also spans a direct-drive turntable, universal Blu-ray player with Multi-layer Chassis Structure for vibration resistance, integrated amplifier, cartridge, and over-ear headphones, each priced between $499 and $2,499. Every component ships with a five-year warranty and a signed certificate of authenticity, making these a tangible investment for serious home audio enthusiasts.

August 24, 2010

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DISH Network Adds AMC HD to Industry-Leading HD Lineup

DISH Network launched AMC HD on channel 130, becoming the first and only satellite TV provider in the United States to carry the network in high definition. AMC HD is included at no extra cost for subscribers on the America's Top 200 package and above, as well as DishLATINO DOS with HD and higher tiers. Viewers can now watch original series such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Rubicon in HD, alongside AMC's film library, on a provider that claims the most national HD channels and local HD coverage across 170 markets.

Samsung's UN65C8000, a 65-inch Full HD 3D LED TV priced at $5,999.99, launches as the world's largest 3D LED TV for home use, featuring a Real 240Hz refresh rate, 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and built-in 3D processor. The expanded lineup also includes three 3D-capable Plasma HDTVs with 600Hz Subfield Motion, starting at $1,099.99, making immersive 3D more accessible across price points. Exclusive Blu-ray 3D content partnerships with DreamWorks Animation, IMAX, and Giant Screen Films give Samsung TV owners a ready library of 3D titles to justify the investment.

August 11, 2010

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Home Theater HD Media Centers

EPIX and Netflix Announce Exclusive Internet-Only Deal to Instantly Stream EPIX Movies to Netflix Members

Netflix and EPIX have struck an exclusive Internet-only streaming agreement, set to begin September 1, giving Netflix members instant access to new releases and library titles from Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM. EPIX will make films available to Netflix 90 days after their premium pay TV debuts, a notable shift from the traditional model where pay TV rights are locked up for as long as nine years post-theatrical release. For Netflix's then-15-million-member base, the deal expands an already growing catalog accessible across devices including Xbox 360, PS3, Roku, and TiVo.

August 10, 2010

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World's first multi-stream, multi-room wireless HDTV system

ProVision Communications is set to demonstrate the AXAR2010, a quad-channel wireless HD video system capable of simultaneously streaming four independent 1080p channels over a standard 5GHz 802.11n network to multiple rooms. The system supports fast channel hopping and interactive TV guide operation, and can be integrated into set-top boxes, HDTVs, and residential gateways via an IP licensing model. For households, this means watching four different HD sources - live broadcasts, Blu-ray, and PVR recordings - concurrently on any screen throughout the home.

August 9, 2010

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HD DVR Satellite HD

DISH Network Introduces World's First DVR Scheduler App Optimized for the Apple iPad

DISH Network launched DISH Remote Access, a free iPad-optimized app that serves as the first DVR scheduler from a TV service provider specifically designed for Apple's tablet. The app supports full DVR management across multiple receivers, including the ViP 922 with built-in Sling technology, covering nine days of program browsing, recording conflict resolution, and library management. Subscribers can also use the iPad as a virtual remote control, enabling channel changes, guide navigation, and playback controls including fast forward, rewind, and pause.

August 6, 2010

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Hauppauge Introduces High Definition Video Recorder Support for Windows Media Center

Hauppauge's HD PVR, a $199 high definition personal video recorder, now integrates with Windows Media Center via a free software update, enabling recording of premium cable and satellite HD content through component video at resolutions up to 1080i with 5.1 channel audio via optical connections. The device uses an IR blaster to automate channel changes on set top boxes, allowing the Windows Media Center electronic program guide to schedule recordings without manual intervention. Users of Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional can now build HD libraries of premium subscription content that was previously inaccessible to Windows Media Center.

August 6, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV HD Receivers

SANYO Takes Underwater Full HD Video to a Whole New Level

July 27, 2010

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Onkyo Debuts the World's First 3D-Ready & THX Certified Integrated Home Theater System

Onkyo's HT-S9300THX is the world's first home theater system to earn both THX I/S Plus certification and 3D-Ready status, featuring four HDMI 1.4a inputs, 1080p upscaling via Faroudja DCDi Cinema processing, and a 12-inch subwoofer with THX-developed dual-woofer front speakers. The receiver integrates lossless Dolby and DTS HD audio decoding, Audyssey 2EQ room correction, and THX Loudness Plus volume management for consistent surround impact at low listening levels. Priced at $1,099, this all-in-one package targets movie fans and gamers seeking certified multichannel performance without assembling separate components.

July 22, 2010

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DRM

Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem Unveils UltraViolet™ Brand

DECE LLC, a consortium of nearly 60 member companies, launched the UltraViolet brand in 2010 as a cloud-based digital rights locker system enabling consumers to purchase, store, and stream digital movies and TV shows across connected TVs, PCs, game consoles, smartphones, and tablets. The platform relies on a cloud-based UltraViolet Account with a Digital Rights Locker, and incorporates Adobe Flash Access for secure content distribution and DRM interoperability across participating retailers and device manufacturers. For consumers, this means buying a title once and accessing it on any compatible device regardless of which store or platform was used for the original purchase.

July 20, 2010

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Satellite HD Cable HD

Verizon Adds Two New HD Channels to FiOS TV Lineup: Nat Geo WILD HD and Investigation Discovery HD

Verizon FiOS TV expands its HD lineup to up to 142 channels with the addition of Nat Geo WILD HD (channel 632) and Investigation Discovery HD (channel 623), both now available across all FiOS markets. The service also offers more than 3,300 HD video-on-demand titles monthly and over 565 all-digital channels total, delivered over Verizon's fiber-optic network. Subscribers gain access to two highly requested content categories - nature and wildlife programming alongside fact-based investigative content - without requiring any additional hardware changes.

July 19, 2010

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Netflix To Launch Canadian Service for Streaming Movies and TV Episodes Later This Year

Netflix, then a 13-million-member subscription service priced at $8.99 per month, announced its first international expansion into Canada for fall 2010, offering a streaming-only tier for TVs and computers. Compatible devices at launch included Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii, select Blu-ray players, Internet TVs, Roku, TiVo, and Apple iPad. Canadian subscribers would gain access to unlimited on-demand content without due dates or late fees, though French language support was planned for a later phase.

DISH Network launched EchoStar XV on a Proton/Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, placing the Space Systems/Loral-built satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit after a nine-hour, 13-minute mission before its final position at 61.5 degrees West Longitude at roughly 22,000 miles altitude. The satellite is intended to expand DISH Network's HD channel lineup, which already exceeds 200 national HD channels and covers locals in 156 markets. Subscribers stand to gain additional HD channels at no extra cost under the company's ongoing 'HD Free For Life' promotion.

July 12, 2010

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3DTV Satellite HD Sports

DIRECTV, Major League Baseball and FOX Sports to Deliver Historic National 3D Broadcast of the 2010 All-Star Game

DIRECTV, in partnership with Major League Baseball and FOX Sports, will broadcast the 2010 MLB All-Star Game in 3D exclusively on channel n3D powered by Panasonic (Channel 103), marking the first national 3D broadcast of an MLB game. The production deploys nine dedicated cameras from a separate FOX Sports crew, and requires viewers to have an HD 3D TV set and 3D glasses to access the telecast. This milestone extends DIRECTV's growing 3D content portfolio, which already includes ESPN 3D World Cup coverage and the first 3D NASCAR broadcast, signaling a broader push toward 3D as a mainstream home viewing format.

July 12, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV Blu-ray

Onkyo Adds Two 3D-Ready HTiBs with 1080p Video Upscaling and Included Dock for iPod/iPhone

Onkyo's HT-S6300 and HT-S7300 are 3D-ready home theater in a box systems featuring four HDMI 1.4a inputs, 1080p upscaling via the Faroudja DCDi Cinema processor, and lossless Dolby and DTS high-definition audio decoding. Both systems include seven amplifier channels rated at 130 watts each into 6 ohms, Audyssey 2EQ room correction, and Dolby ProLogic IIz height channel processing. Priced at $749 and $899 respectively, these packages offer a compelling combination of 3D video compatibility and advanced audio processing without requiring separate component purchases.

July 7, 2010

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Sony Elevates the Standard for 3D Home Theater With New ES AV Receivers and Blu-ray 3D Player

Sony's new Elevated Standard (ES) AV receiver lineup, including the flagship STR-DA5600ES with 130 watts x7 at 0.09% THD and six HDMI 1.4 inputs, targets custom home theater installers with control-over-IP integration for platforms such as Crestron, Control4, and AMX. The accompanying BDP-S1700ES Blu-ray 3D player adds built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio decoding at a $400 price point. Installers and enthusiasts gain a tightly integrated 3D ecosystem with multi-room distribution, DLNA networking, and iPhone-based remote control across all models.

July 6, 2010

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Streaming HD Home Theater Blu-ray

BLOCKBUSTER On Demand® Now Available on the Latest Philips Blu-ray Players

Philips Blu-ray models 5320 and 7320, distributed by P&F under exclusive North American license, now integrate BLOCKBUSTER On Demand directly on-device, giving viewers same-day access to new releases matching DVD and Blu-ray street dates. The service delivers on-screen browsing, ratings, trailers, and full movie details without requiring a monthly subscription fee. For consumers, this means instant rental access to a library of over 125,000 titles from the television interface, eliminating the need for a separate streaming device or store visit.

July 6, 2010

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3DTV Programming Satellite HD

DIRECTV and Panasonic Launch Nation's First Suite of 3D Channels

DIRECTV and Panasonic launched three dedicated 3D channels in July 2010, including n3D powered by Panasonic on channel 103, available at no additional cost to existing DIRECTV HD customers following a free software upgrade. The channel lineup spans live sports such as the FOX Sports 2010 MLB All-Star Game broadcast exclusively in 3D, IMAX titles via DIRECTV Cinema 3D on channel 104, and FIFA World Cup replays on channel 105, all requiring a compatible Full HD 3D display and active-shutter glasses. Viewers already subscribed to DIRECTV HD can access this content without a separate subscription, making early adoption of home 3D viewing more accessible.

July 1, 2010

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Home Theater Satellite HD

XStreamHD(TM) Signs Long-Term Satellite Service Agreement With EchoStar Satellite Services to Support Its Groundbreaking High Definition (HD) Entertainment Service

XStreamHD has signed a long-term satellite capacity agreement with EchoStar Satellite Services, utilizing the AMC-16 satellite at 85 degrees west longitude to deliver 1080p Full HD video with up to 7.1 channels of lossless audio directly to homes across North America. The service uses Fixed Service Satellite (FSS) capacity and a patent-pending Pre-Fetched Entertainment (PFE) technology that automatically populates a subscriber's XStreamHD Media Server with personalized movie titles. For consumers, this means cinema-quality playback comparable to physical media without manual downloads, streamed on demand throughout the home.

June 30, 2010

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Onkyo Announces Top-of-the-Line Network Receivers with Flagship Features and Performance

Onkyo's TX-NR5008 and TX-NR3008 are THX Ultra2 Plus certified 9.2-channel A/V receivers featuring eight HDMI 1.4a inputs with 3D video and Audio Return Channel support, HQV-Reon VX 1080p upscaling, and Burr-Brown DACs for multi-channel audio processing. Both units are DLNA 1.5 certified, support Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DSD Direct playback, and stream internet radio via services including Pandora and Rhapsody. Priced at $2,099 and $2,699 respectively, these receivers offer a practical all-in-one solution for audiophiles building a high-performance, network-connected home theater.

June 30, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV DLP TVs

Blu-ray Disc Association Approves Final BDXL™ Format Specifications

The Blu-ray Disc Association has finalized the BDXL specification, introducing multi-layer recordable discs with triple-layer 100GB rewritable and write-once configurations, plus a quadruple-layer 128GB write-once format. Licensing applications are now open to manufacturers, enabling production of both discs and compatible hardware. Targeting broadcasting, medical, and document imaging sectors with heavy archiving demands, BDXL-capable recorders will also maintain backward compatibility with existing 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray formats, making the transition practical for hardware developers.

June 25, 2010

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Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Adds New 75-Inch LaserVue TV to Bolster Industry's Broadest Line of 60-Inch-and-Larger 3D TVs Available Today

Mitsubishi's 75-inch LaserVue TV (Model L75-A91, $5,999) introduces a first-ever Cinema Color mode and StreamTV internet media, while operating at approximately 128 watts and exceeding Energy Star qualifications by over 50 percent. The accompanying 3D Starter Pack (3DC-1000) includes active shutter eyewear, a 3D emitter, and a 3D Adapter supporting HDMI 1.4a signal formats including side-by-side, top-bottom, and frame-packing. Buyers seeking large-screen 3D home theater will find this laser-driven display offers a practical path to cinema-grade color and energy efficiency at 75 inches.

June 25, 2010

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Home Theater Blu-ray Streaming HD

All Starz Channels Now Offered in HD - New Starz In Black HD and Starz Cinema HD Channels Launched First on DIRECTV

DIRECTV has become the first affiliate to carry all Starz Entertainment premium channels in high definition, launching three new HD channels including Starz In Black HD, Starz Cinema HD, and Encore HD (East) simultaneously. The service now supports a capacity of more than 200 HD channels with Dolby 5.1 theater-quality sound, and the new Starz HD channels are included at no extra charge for Starz Super Pack subscribers with monthly HD access. Subscribers gain commercial-free HD access to exclusive titles and upcoming Starz Originals content without an additional fee.

June 25, 2010

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VIZIO Expands Internet Apps Product Line with New High Definition Blu-ray Players and HD Wireless Internet Routers to Enhance Your Home Theater Experience

VIZIO launched the XWR100 dual-band 802.11n wireless router and three new Blu-ray players, all centered on its VIA (VIZIO Internet Apps) platform for streaming on-demand HD content from services like VUDU, Netflix, and Pandora. The XWR100 operates simultaneously on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with QoS traffic prioritization for HD video, while the flagship VBR231 becomes the first dual-band 802.11n Blu-ray player on the market, supporting Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS HD audio over HDMI. Consumers building a home theater around streaming HD media will find the router-player ecosystem designed to reduce buffering and simplify setup, with the VBR231 priced at $199.99 and the XWR100 at $99.99.

June 25, 2010

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Buffalo Announces World's Fastest External Blu-ray Writer

Buffalo Technology's MediaStation BR3D-12U3 is an external USB 3.0 Blu-ray writer claiming the fastest available 12x Blu-ray write speed in an external form factor, with additional support for 16x DVD-R and 40x CD-R read/write rates. The drive connects via USB 3.0 or legacy USB 2.0 and ships with the CyberLink Media Suite, which includes PowerDVD with TrueTheater 3D HD, PowerDirector, and Power2Go for full Blu-ray 3D playback and authoring. Priced at $349.99, it offers a driver-free setup suited for users seeking high-speed optical disc writing, HD content playback, and periodic data archiving on PCs or notebooks.

June 15, 2010

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Paramount Home Entertainment and redbox Announce Multi-Year License Agreement

Paramount Home Entertainment has extended its revenue sharing license agreement with redbox, granting day-and-date access to DVD and Blu-ray titles across approximately 22,000 kiosk locations nationwide. The decision followed a 10-month analysis concluding that same-day rental availability had minimal impact on DVD sell-through sales, validating the trial agreement first signed in August 2009. For consumers, this means new Paramount releases are available to rent at redbox kiosks the same day they hit retail shelves, without delay.

June 15, 2010

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Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 Makes Global Debut with Dolby Surround 7.1

Dolby Surround 7.1 makes its global theatrical debut with Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3, delivering eight discrete audio channels including two new Back Surround zones that enable full 360-degree panning around the cinema environment. Both 2D and 3D formats of the film will carry the format across 12 languages in select chains spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, with Step Up 3D following in August. For moviegoers, the expanded surround configuration offers measurably improved directionality and audio definition compared to standard 5.1 cinema sound.

June 15, 2010

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Panasonic introduced three large-format Full HD 3D plasma displays at InfoComm, headlined by the TH-152UX1, a 152-inch panel with 4096 x 2160 (4K x 2K) resolution and a near-infinite contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 - roughly twice the tone gradation of prior models. The lineup also includes 103-inch and 85-inch 3D plasma variants priced at $65,000 and $45,000, all featuring a 30-bit Color Processing Engine and SLOT 2.0 interface compatibility with DVI and HD-SDI boards. Targeted at corporate, healthcare, and entertainment environments, these displays offer life-size 3D visualization that could meaningfully improve applications such as 3D CAD design review and medical imaging.

June 9, 2010

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Home Theater Blu-ray Streaming HD

The Magic and Wonder of Life at Sea Continues its Journey on Stunning High-Definition

Disneynature OCEANS arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) and 1-Disc DVD on October 19, 2010, delivering crystal-clear high-definition picture and theater-quality sound to showcase marine life filmed with state-of-the-art equipment, including creatures captured on film for the first time. Directed by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud using advanced cinematography technology, the release is paired with a conservation initiative through which purchases made between October 19 and 25 trigger contributions to The Nature Conservancy to expand a Bahamian marine protected area from 300,000 to over 1 million acres. For home theater enthusiasts, the Blu-ray format makes this visually demanding nature documentary a compelling format showcase.

June 9, 2010

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Toshiba's New Blu-ray(TM) Players Deliver Extreme Entertainment to Today's Home Theaters

Toshiba's BDX2500 and BDX2700 Blu-ray players deliver Full HD 1080p playback at 24fps alongside built-in decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio via 7.1-channel analog outputs or HDMI passthrough. Both models support Wi-Fi connectivity (built-in on the BDX2700, optional adapter on the BDX2500) for streaming Netflix, VUDU, Blockbuster On Demand, and Pandora, with VUDU offering true 1080p HD access to over 3,000 titles. Priced at $179.99 and $249.99 respectively, these players offer a practical all-in-one solution for consumers building a connected home theater without separate streaming hardware.

June 3, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV HD Receivers

Onkyo Debuts Three THX Certified, 3D-Ready, Network Receivers with Audio Streaming and Multi-Room Functionality

Onkyo's TX-NR708, TX-NR808, and TX-NR1008 are THX Select2 Plus certified A/V receivers featuring seven HDMI 1.4a inputs, 1080p upscaling via Faroudja DCDi Cinema, and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless codecs. The receivers include DLNA 1.5 certification, Ethernet-based streaming from Pandora, Rhapsody, and Slacker, plus compatibility with MP3, FLAC, WMA Lossless, and Ogg Vorbis formats. Multi-room audio distribution across up to three zones and Audyssey MultEQ room correction make these units practical centerpieces for whole-home theater setups, priced from $899 to $1,399.

Kaleidescape's new M500 and M300 Players, built on the proprietary M-Class architecture, introduce Blu-ray Disc support with 1080p/24fps video and bitstream pass-through of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The M500 copies Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CDs to a server for multi-zone playback, though studio compliance requires the source disc to remain present during Blu-ray playback. Priced at $3,995 and $2,495 respectively, these players integrate with an expanded Movie Guide of over 135,000 titles including 3,300 Blu-ray entries, making them a serious option for high-end home theater installations.

May 11, 2010

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Home Theater Standards Cable HD

THX Demonstrates First Metadata-Based System for Optimizing the Cable Viewing Experience

THX Media Director is a metadata-based system that delivers configuration data over cable networks to automatically adjust a subscriber's TV and home audio settings, including aspect ratio, color space, surround sound modes, and 2D/3D display switching. The technology integrates with existing cable infrastructure via firmware updates to installed set-top boxes, and uses Quantum Data's 980 HDMI Protocol Scope to verify accurate metadata transmission over HDMI. For consumers, this means home theater systems can self-configure to match the filmmaker's intent without manual adjustment across a wide range of cable programming.

May 11, 2010

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IPTV Cable HD Standards

AT&T U-verse TV Lineup Expands to Include Four New HD Channels

AT&T U-verse TV has added four HD channels - HLN HD, Discovery Kids HD, truTV HD, and Turner Classic Movies HD - bringing its total HD lineup to more than 130 channels across all U-verse markets. As the only 100 percent IPTV service offered by a national provider in the U.S., U-verse TV claims to exceed the HD channel counts of major local cable competitors in every market it serves. Subscribers with compatible packages gain access to these channels through their existing HD subscription, which requires a $10 monthly HD Technology Fee.

May 10, 2010

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Responding to the Remarkable Growth of Blu-Ray™ Hardware Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group Expands Its DVD to Blu-Ray Upgrade Program

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group has expanded its DVD2Blu upgrade program to 90 titles, allowing consumers to exchange physical DVDs for 1080p Blu-ray Disc versions starting at $4.95 plus shipping. The expansion follows a 125 percent year-over-year increase in Blu-ray hardware sales for Q1 2010, as reported by the Digital Entertainment Group. For new Blu-ray adopters, the mail-in program offers a cost-effective way to rebuild existing DVD libraries in high definition without repurchasing titles at full retail price.

RealD has released the Professional Stereo3D Calculator app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, priced at $299.99, designed to compute parallax values, interaxial separation, and optimal rig configurations for stereoscopic 3D film production. Developed in partnership with FrameForge Previz Studio, the app supports both Converged and Parallel shooting styles and includes a Stereo Solver mode that enforces maximum on-screen offset limits for far-object parallax. Filmmakers can use it on-set to configure any camera and lens combination in real time, reducing costly trial-and-error during 3D production.

April 26, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV Plasma TVs

AVATAR is the #1 Movie in North America -- This Time on Blu-ray and DVD

James Cameron's AVATAR set a new Blu-ray sales record by moving 2.7 million units in just four days, surpassing the previous record of 2.5 million units and contributing to a combined Blu-ray and DVD total exceeding 6.7 million units at launch. The release utilized the disc's full storage capacity to deliver maximum picture and sound quality, positioning it as a showcase for the format's capabilities. For consumers, the title's runaway success coincided with Blu-ray players outpacing DVD player sales at retail for the first time, signaling a meaningful shift in home video adoption.

April 26, 2010

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Home Theater 3DTV

Amazon.com Unveils "3D 101" Customer Education Center

Amazon launched its '3D 101' customer education center (amazon.com/3d) in 2010, consolidating buying guides, educational videos, and FAQs to help consumers navigate the full HD 3D ecosystem spanning 3D-capable HDTVs, Blu-ray players, active shutter glasses, gaming consoles, and monitors. A featured Samsung promotion bundled a free starter kit - including two pairs of active shutter glasses and the Blu-ray 3D title 'Monsters vs. Aliens' - with qualifying Samsung 3D HDTV and 3D Blu-ray player purchases. For consumers overwhelmed by 3D technology requirements, this centralized resource aimed to clarify exactly which components are needed to build a complete home 3D setup.

April 26, 2010

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Panasonic Announces Pricing and Availability of VIERA VT25 Series of Full HD 3D Plasma TVs

Panasonic's VIERA VT25 Series of Full HD 3D Plasma TVs launches in four screen sizes ranging from 50-inch to 65-inch class, with prices from $2,599.95 to $4,299.95, beginning the week of May 3, 2010. The displays use short-stroke phosphor technology paired with a 600Hz sub-field drive to deliver alternating 60-frames-per-second imagery to each eye via active shutter eyewear, achieving a native contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1. Buyers also gain access to VIERA CAST WiFi with Skype, Netflix, and Amazon Video on Demand, making these sets a combined 3D home theater and connected TV platform.

April 23, 2010

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Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox Forge Distribution Agreement

Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Redbox have settled their legal dispute and signed a long-term distribution agreement establishing a 28-day window before Universal DVD and Blu-ray titles become available at Redbox kiosks. The deal grants Redbox reduced product costs and guaranteed supply quantities, with Blu-ray access currently being tested in select markets across Redbox's 20,000-plus nationwide locations. For consumers, this means broader access to Universal titles at $1-per-night kiosks, though with a four-week delay following each film's street date.

April 22, 2010

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Twentieth Century Fox and Redbox Announce Distribution Agreement

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Redbox have signed a multi-year distribution agreement establishing a 28-day release window before Fox DVD and Blu-ray titles become available at Redbox kiosks. The deal also expands Redbox's access to Blu-ray discs, with a planned kiosk rollout scheduled for mid-2010, and the first title covered under the agreement is Avatar. For consumers, this means a four-week wait after street date before renting Fox titles from any of the 20,000-plus Redbox locations nationwide.

April 22, 2010

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Projection HD

SANYO Introduces New Wide XGA High-Brightness High Performance Projectors with a Variety of Functions

Sanyo's PLC-WM5500 and PLC-WM4500 series deliver Wide XGA resolution at 1280x800 in a 16:10 aspect ratio, with peak brightness reaching 5,500 ANSI lumens via a newly developed optical engine offering 40% greater optical efficiency than conventional designs. Both models include HDMI 1.3 Deep Color input, Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture dual-source display modes, and an Active Maintenance Filter rated to 10,000 hours. For large conference rooms and lecture halls, these features reduce the need for a second projector while supporting high-ambient-light environments at price points starting around $4,095.

April 20, 2010

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HD Camcorders OTA HD & Antennas

DIRECTV Continues To Deliver More Full Time HD Than Any Other Provider With The Addition Of Over 30 New HD Channels -Bringing DIRECTV's HD Lineup to More Than 160

DIRECTV announced the addition of over 30 new full-time HD channels beginning in May 2010, pushing its total HD lineup beyond 160 channels and extending its lead over rival DISH Network. The expansion includes notable additions such as ESPNU HD, MSNBC HD, Travel Channel HD, and Lifetime HD, alongside a planned June 2010 launch of 3D channels including ESPN 3D and N3D powered by Panasonic. Subscribers in 138 markets covering 92 percent of U.S. TV households also gain access to local HD programming, making this a meaningful upgrade for a broad base of customers.

April 20, 2010

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HD DVR Satellite HD

DISH Network Becomes First and Only TV Provider to Offer 200 National HD Channels

DISH Network claimed the milestone of 200 national HD channels in April 2010, adding EPIX HD, Turner Classic Movies HD, and six other networks to its lineup. The flagship ViP 922 SlingLoaded DVR supports this HD library with a 1 terabyte hard drive - twice the capacity of competing distributors' DVRs at the time - and integrated Sling technology for remote viewing on laptops and mobile devices. Subscribers seeking maximum HD channel access and place-shifting capability had a concrete hardware and service benchmark to evaluate against competing pay-TV providers.

Time Warner Cable launched on-demand 3D highlights of the Masters Golf Tournament starting April 9, 2010, accessible to subscribers with a 3D TV and an HD set-top box featuring HDMI output. The service ran through April 30, with private 3D viewing events hosted in Charlotte, San Diego, and New York City. For the roughly 14 million TWC subscribers, this represented an early real-world test of 3D TV delivery infrastructure ahead of a broader rollout across the cable operator's footprint.

April 6, 2010

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Mobile HD Streaming HD

Envivio Delivers Stunning Live and On Demand HD Video to New Apple iPad

Envivio's 4Caster C4(2) encoding and transcoding platform now supports Apple iPad delivery of live and on-demand HD video at up to 720p resolution over Wi-Fi and 3G networks. The platform ingests up to eight IP, four analog, or four SDI channel sources, encoding simultaneously in multiple profiles using H264 Extreme compression to enable Apple's adaptive streaming, which adjusts picture quality dynamically as network bandwidth fluctuates. Operators already using the 4Caster C4(2) on Silver or Gold support plans can activate iPad support through a firmware upgrade, with no hardware replacement required.

April 5, 2010

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JVC to Introduce GY-HM790 ProHD Camcorder at NAB 2010

JVC's GY-HM790 ProHD shoulder-mount camcorder records 1920x1080 footage at up to 35 Mbps in HQ mode to non-proprietary SDHC Class 6 or 10 cards, using a dual-slot tapeless workflow compatible with Apple Final Cut Pro and Sony XDCAM EX pipelines. An optional ASI output module delivers a direct BNC connection to satellite uplink or microwave transmitters, eliminating external interface boxes for live HD field reporting. The camera's modular design also supports multicore or fiber studio integration with built-in genlock and time code I/O, making it a flexible option for both ENG and multi-camera broadcast environments.

April 5, 2010

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Home Theater HD Audio HDMI

New Yamaha '3D-Ready' Home-Theater-in-a-Box Systems Offer HD Audio, Far-Reaching HD Source Connectivity

Yamaha's five new HTIB systems, ranging from the 5.1-channel YHT-393 at $399.95 to the 7.1-channel YHT-893 at $849.95 (730W total power), bring high-end features to the all-in-one segment, including 1080p-compatible HDMI repeaters (4-in/1-out) with 3D support and Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs across all channels. The flagship YHT-893 adds full HD Audio decoding (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio) and HDMI Audio Return Channel support, capabilities typically reserved for separate AV components. Buyers gain a practical shortcut to a fully configured surround sound setup with broad connectivity for Blu-ray players, game consoles, and portable devices.

April 5, 2010

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Yamaha Unveils Line of 3D-Ready AV Receivers for HD and Next Generation Entertainment Experiences

Yamaha's new 3D-ready AV receiver lineup includes the 7-channel RX-V567 (90W x 7, $479.95), the 5-channel RX-V467 (105W x 5, $379.95), and the RX-V367 (100W x 5, $249.95), all featuring four 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, Deep Color (30/36-bit), and Cinema DSP audio processing. The RX-V567 and RX-V467 add full HD audio decoding via Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, Audio Return Channel over HDMI, and YPAO automatic room calibration, while the RX-V567 further includes analog-to-HDMI 1080p video upscaling. Buyers integrating early 3D televisions or Blu-ray players will find broad source compatibility and automatic Audio/Video sync correction across all three models.

April 5, 2010

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Blu-ray Disc Association Announces Additional Format Enhancements

The Blu-ray Disc Association has announced two new format specifications: BDXL, offering write-once capacity up to 128GB and rewritable capability at 100GB via three to four recordable layers, and IH-BD, combining a 25GB BD-ROM layer with a 25GB BD-RE layer on a single disc. BDXL targets commercial archiving in broadcasting, medical, and document imaging sectors as a replacement for magnetic media, while IH-BD enables consumers to pair published content with personal data on one volume. Both formats require newly designed hardware, though future devices can retain backward compatibility with existing 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray Discs.

DISH Network launched EchoStar XIV, built by Space Systems/Loral and delivered via an International Launch Services Proton/Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, expanding its satellite constellation to 15 - the largest fleet in the industry. The satellite will operate at 119 degrees West longitude at 22,000 miles altitude, supporting DISH Network's existing lineup of more than 160 HD channels across 152 local markets. The addition positions DISH to extend its HD offering to well over 200 channels, with direct implications for subscribers seeking broader high-definition programming access.

March 20, 2010

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Bluetooth-Enabled JVC HD Everio Camera Now Available

The JVC GZ-HM550 is a Full HD camcorder featuring a 1/2.3-inch 10.62-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, built-in Bluetooth, and 32GB internal flash memory, priced at $799.95. Bluetooth connectivity enables smartphone remote control, GPS geo-tagging via Google Earth integration, and Bluetooth headset audio monitoring, while high-speed recording supports up to 600fps for ultra-slow-motion playback and Motor Drive Shooting at 15fps. Consumers gain a compact HD camera with versatile wireless control and direct sharing to YouTube, iTunes, and DVD through the bundled Everio MediaBrowser software.

March 19, 2010

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Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Announces AVATAR Blu-Ray Disc and DVD Global Release Dates

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment confirmed the global Blu-ray Disc and DVD release of James Cameron's AVATAR beginning April 22, 2010, timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The film, which grossed over $2.6 billion worldwide at the box office, arrives on Blu-ray with high-definition picture and audio optimized for home viewing. Consumers across more than 15 countries receive staggered release dates spanning April 21 through May 6, making this one of the most coordinated physical media rollouts of the era.

March 2, 2010

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CBS and Sony Electronics Unveil New 3D Consumer Research Center

Sony Electronics and CBS have launched 'The Sony 3D Experience,' a dedicated consumer research and screening facility housed within the expanded CBS Television City center at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, supported by RealD's 3D filters and eyewear. The facility features two zones covering 3D theatrical and home entertainment, with hands-on demonstrations of 3D-compatible HDTVs, PlayStation 3 systems, and upcoming Blu-ray 3D players, while CBS applies bio-metric research techniques including eye tracking and NeuroFocus brain scanning across a pool of over 1.1 million annual visitors. For content and technology providers, the center offers continuous consumer feedback to shape how 3D programming is developed and delivered both in-home and in theaters.

March 2, 2010

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Logitech Adds to Award-Winning Harmony Remote Line

Logitech expanded its Harmony remote lineup with the Harmony 600 and Harmony 650, both capable of replacing up to five remotes and controlling devices via one-click activity buttons after a software-guided online setup. The 600 features a monochrome backlit display, while the 650 upgrades to a color screen with channel icons for direct one-click tuning, priced at $79.99 and $99.99 respectively. Both remotes draw from a database of over 250,000 IR-compatible devices across more than 5,000 brands, making them broadly compatible with existing and future home-entertainment setups.

March 2, 2010

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Pioneer 5.1 Channel A/V Receivers Deliver Expanded iPhone Experience to the Home Theater

Pioneer's VSX-520-K and VSX-820-K are 5.1 channel A/V receivers featuring HDMI 1.4 for Blu-ray 3D compatibility and wireless Bluetooth audio streaming via the optional AS-BT100 adaptor ($99), enabling playback from smartphones, iPod Touch, and PCs without a wired connection. The VSX-820-K adds 'Works with iPhone' certification, Dolby ProLogic IIz height-channel decoding, and Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration (MCACC) for room-optimized audio. Buyers seeking a 3D-ready home theater with flexible device connectivity and automated room correction will find these receivers a practical upgrade path ahead of their March 2010 retail availability.

March 1, 2010

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Three-Tuner Moxi(R) HD DVR Now Available for Standalone Purchase

The three-tuner Moxi HD DVR from ARRIS, priced at $599 as a standalone unit, supports simultaneous recording of three channels while playing back a fourth, with up to 75 hours of native HD storage expandable to 6.5 terabytes via eSATA. The device integrates Internet services including Netflix, Hulu, and Rhapsody, and supports multi-room distribution through the Moxi Mate player. Notably, it carries no monthly DVR service fees, which meaningfully reduces long-term ownership costs compared to subscription-based alternatives.

March 1, 2010

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3DTV Satellite HD

SES WORLD SKIES to Host Extensive 3D TV Tests

SES WORLD SKIES is launching a spring 2010 end-to-end 3D TV test platform spanning eight major components, from content production and encoding to headend reception and display, using its teleports in Vernon Valley, New Jersey and Manassas, Virginia for uplinking and delivery. The initiative leverages advancements in encoding, encryption, modulation, and compression to validate stereoscopic 3D TV distribution over existing satellite infrastructure in the U.S. Broadcasters, cable operators, TV makers, and 3D glasses manufacturers can identify compatibility issues firsthand before committing to large-scale commercial rollout.

March 1, 2010

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DLP TVs Projection HD 4K Ultra HD

NETGEAR Supercharges Home Theater Experience With New Class of WiFi Products to Support Internet-Enabled Set-top Boxes, TVs, Blu-ray Players and Gaming Consoles

NETGEAR announced two wireless networking accessories targeting home theater setups: the High-Performance Wireless-N HD Home Theater Kit (WNHDB3004), which uses 4x4 MIMO antenna processing and IEEE 802.11a/n 5GHz to sustain throughput exceeding 40 Mbps 99.9 percent of the time for simultaneous 1080p HD streams, and the Universal WiFi Internet Adapter (WNCE2001), delivering up to 300 Mbps Wireless-N performance through a USB-powered compact form factor. Together, these products allow consumers to wirelessly connect IPTV set-top boxes, game consoles, and Blu-ray players without running Ethernet cables or purchasing device-specific WiFi adapters.

March 1, 2010

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Blu-ray Home Theater

Sony's STR-DN1010 is the company's first A/V receiver with HDMI 1.4 3D pass-through technology, delivering 7.1 channels at 110 watts per channel and supporting Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. The receiver also upscales analog sources to 1080p via HDMI and extends audio wirelessly to up to 10 additional rooms using Sony's S-AIR technology. Three additional models - the STR-DH810, STR-DH710, and STR-DH510 - round out the lineup at price points from $230 to $400, giving home theater builders a range of connectivity and channel options.

February 18, 2010

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OTA HD & Antennas

JVC Introduces Premium 'G Series' Broadcast Monitors with Improved Picture Quality, Dual-Link HD/SD-SDI Inputs

JVC's Verite G Series professional LCD monitors, the 17-inch DT-V17G1Z and 24-inch DT-V24G1Z, support 3G and dual-link HD/SD-SDI inputs at 1080p/60 4:4:4 with 10-bit processing and less than one frame of latency. Built-in tools include a waveform monitor, vectorscope, 12-channel audio meter with peak-hold, and EIA-608/708 closed captioning support via HD-SDI. Broadcast engineers and post-production professionals gain a precise measurement instrument alongside a high-accuracy display, with the 24-inch model offering native 1920x1080 resolution at an MSRP of $4,995.

February 16, 2010

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Christie First to Ship and Install 'Series 2' DLP Cinema Projectors

Christie has begun full production and worldwide installation of the Christie CP2220, the first Series 2 DLP Cinema projector built on Texas Instruments' next-generation DLP Cinema chip and designed to meet all DCI specifications. The CP2220 is 4K-ready and upgradeable, featuring Christie Brilliant3D technology, while resellers cite measurable energy and lamp savings over competing LCOS-based systems across a ten-year operational period. For exhibitors weighing long-term infrastructure investment, the Solaria series offers a practical path to 4K without replacing existing hardware.

February 16, 2010

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Plasma TVs

Panasonic To Provide 152-Inch Plasma Display for NBC's Studio Coverage of the Vancouver Winter Games

Panasonic's 152-inch Plasma Display Panel, the world's largest plasma display, was deployed in NBC's broadcast studio for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games coverage from February 12-28. The panel delivers 8.84 million pixels at a 2,160 x 4,096 resolution (2K x 4K), exceeding the 1080p HD specification by more than four times, with a viewing area of 11.2 feet wide by 5.9 feet tall. For broadcast professionals and viewers, this deployment illustrates how ultra-large-format plasma technology can elevate live sports production with high-fidelity, fast-motion image rendering at scale.

February 12, 2010

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3DTV Home Theater

Panasonic Opens Full HD 3D Theatre At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Live Site

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3DTV Blu-ray

Panasonic First Out of the Gate with Blu-ray 3D™ Authoring Facility

Panasonic has launched what it claims is the industry's first end-to-end Blu-ray 3D encoding and authoring facility at Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in Universal City, leveraging MPEG-4 MVC (Multiview Video Coding) compression technology aligned with Blu-ray Disc Association standards. The Advanced Authoring Center offers studios full-service 3D image processing, interactive programming, menu and subtitle authoring, and disc certification, with commercially available Blu-ray 3D titles targeted for Spring 2010. Filmmakers and studios seeking early-stage guidance on 3D disc production now have access to a facility with pre-standardization research experience.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Netflix announced a 28-day release window agreement for new DVD and Blu-ray titles, with Warner Bros. citing that 75 percent of sell-through sales occur within the first four weeks as justification for the delay. In exchange, Netflix secured a renewed and expanded streaming license for Warner Bros. catalog and direct-to-video content, along with reduced product costs and improved unit availability after the window. For Netflix subscribers, this means broader instant-streaming options alongside continued access to physical disc rentals through a growing ecosystem of compatible devices including Xbox 360, PS3, TiVo, and Roku.

January 6, 2010

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LaCie Introduces LaCinema Mini HD: Full HD WiFi Media Center in a DVD-Sized Footprint

LaCie's LaCinema Mini HD is a compact 1080p media center featuring built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and DLNA support, capable of playing MKV, AVC, and DivX files via HDMI on widescreen TVs. The 500GB device connects to home networks through wireless or Ethernet and can stream content from PCs, Macs, or NAS devices without additional software setup. Priced at $299.99, it offers a portable, all-in-one solution for users who want full HD playback across multiple locations without dedicated home theater hardware.

January 6, 2010

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Smart TVs LCD TVs LED TVs

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Expands Relationship with VUDU, Adds VUDU Apps to All Models in its New Line of Internet-enabled HDTVs

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America is integrating VUDU Apps across its full 2010 lineup of Internet-enabled HDTVs, giving owners access to more than 100 apps including streaming services, news, and VUDU Movies with HDX 1080p video paired with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound. The platform uses a cloud architecture that eliminates the need to download or install software updates, keeping the app catalog current automatically. For consumers, this means a broad range of Internet entertainment services - from Pandora to The New York Times - accessible directly on Mitsubishi televisions without additional hardware.

January 6, 2010

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LG Electronics Redefines Home Entertainment Expectations With Broad Line of Stunning, Slim LED and LCD HDTVs

LG's 2010 INFINIA LED LCD HDTV lineup, anchored by the LE9500 series, introduces Full LED Slim technology with local dimming across up to 240 addressable segments and a cabinet depth of just 0.92 inches, achieving THX Display Certification - a distinction LG claims as the only LCD TV manufacturer to hold in the U.S. market. The flagship LE9500 also supports TruMotion 480Hz for reduced motion blur and is LG's first 3D-ready model available stateside. Buyers gain wireless Full HD 1080p transmission up to 98 feet via an optional Wireless Media Hub, plus integrated NetCast access to Netflix, Skype, VUDU, and YouTube without a PC.

January 6, 2010

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Satellite HD OTA HD & Antennas

NETGEAR Expands Family of Award-Winning Digital Media Players With Introduction of Digital Entertainer Express

The NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Express (EVA9100), priced at $229 MSRP, is a network-connected digital media player capable of streaming M2TS via pre-buffering and delivering Blu-ray-quality video up to 1080p over home networks to HDTVs. It supports MP3, multichannel WAV, and FLAC audio formats, includes dual USB ports, and connects via Ethernet, optional Wi-Fi USB adapter, or powerline networking. Internet content access through PlayOn software enables streaming from Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Video On Demand, making it a versatile living room hub for both local and online media.

January 6, 2010

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3DTV Projection HD

Skype announced 720p HD video calling at 1280x720 resolution and up to 30 frames per second for Windows PCs, requiring a 1.8 GHz dual-core processor and at least 1 Mbps symmetrical broadband. The company also revealed partnerships with LG and Panasonic to embed Skype software into Internet-connected HDTVs, with both manufacturers offering dedicated HD webcams optimized for couch-distance use. These developments mean users can conduct high-definition video calls from a living room television without expensive third-party software, with both TV lines expected in mid-2010.

January 5, 2010

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3DTV LED TVs

Datacolor and Portrait Displays unveiled the Spyder3HDMI at CES 2010, a TV calibration system that uses an HDMI connection to automatically calibrate display color without requiring a separate computer or manual OSD adjustments. The calibration software and step-by-step instructions are embedded directly into the TV's operating environment, targeting any digital TV and supporting OEM/ODM customization to match each manufacturer's OSD. Properly calibrated displays not only deliver more accurate color reproduction but also reduce energy consumption, making professional-grade calibration accessible to everyday consumers.

January 5, 2010

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Sony and FIFA have partnered to produce up to 25 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in stereoscopic 3D, using Sony's professional 3D cameras in a broadcast first. Sony plans to extend 3D compatibility across its consumer lineup, including BRAVIA LCD TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, VAIO computers, and PlayStation 3, with the Blu-ray Disc 3D specification still under BDA review at the time of announcement. Fans worldwide can experience the content at FIFA Fan Fest public viewing events in 7 cities and through a Sony Pictures Home Entertainment official 3D film release.

December 3, 2009

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Boeing Ships High-Definition Broadcasting Satellite DIRECTV 12 to Launch Site

Boeing shipped the DIRECTV 12 satellite to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a December 2009 launch aboard an International Launch Services Proton/Breeze M rocket. The Ka-band satellite, the 11th Boeing has built for DIRECTV, will increase the provider's HD capacity by 50 percent and, combined with DIRECTV 10 and 11, enable delivery of 200 national and 1,500 local HDTV channels across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. For DIRECTV's 18.4 million subscribers, this translates to a substantially expanded high-definition programming lineup.

December 1, 2009

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Market Trends & Analysis

NuVision has introduced the Lucidium NVU32FX5 and NVU37FX5, 32-inch and 37-inch 1080p CCFL-backlit LCD HDTVs featuring FX5 120Hz processing that repeats each 24fps film frame five times to achieve a native 120fps output without corrective mathematical algorithms. Both sets include HDMI 1.3 inputs supporting 10.2 Gbps bandwidth for a 10-bit color space of 1.07 billion colors, plus 5ms panel response times and a Game Mode that reduces processing latency. Priced from $1,249, these sets target home cinema enthusiasts seeking premium motion handling and deep color reproduction in smaller screen formats.

November 16, 2009

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Cable HD

Motorola Unveils New All-Digital, High-Definition Set-Top for Cable Operators

Motorola's DCX700 is an all-digital, high-definition set-top box featuring a single 1 GHz tuner with support for both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC services, HDMI output, and Dolby Digital Plus audio. The optional MoCA home networking interface enables the DCX700-M variant to function as a multi-room DVR client, accessing content from compatible devices across the home. Cable operators gain a cost-effective, low-profile unit with flexible conditional access options - CableCARD or embedded MediaCipher - that can scale to advanced services without hardware replacement.

The SANYO PLC-XF1000 is a dual-lamp XGA projector rated at 12,000 lumens, the highest brightness available for 100V AC projectors, powered by the proprietary QuaDrive optical engine that adds a fourth color control device to conventional 3LCD systems to regulate yellow light output and prevent color washout at high luminosity. Two 330-watt NSHA lamps achieve a 4000:1 contrast ratio using an inorganic panel and three-mirror combining technology, matching the output of previous four-lamp designs. Targeted at large venues and digital signage installations, the PLC-XF1000 also features an Active Maintenance Filter rated for approximately 11,000 hours between cartridge replacements, significantly reducing field servicing costs.

October 21, 2009

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OTA HD & Antennas Satellite HD Cable HD

Starz Entertainment Announces Five More Channels Going Hi-Def

Starz Entertainment announced plans to launch five additional HD channels in early-to-mid 2010, bringing its total HD channel and feed count to eleven, including Starz In Black HD, Starz Cinema HD, IndiePlex HD, RetroPlex HD, and a West Coast Encore HD feed. All HD offerings are delivered to affiliates in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, providing up to 5.1 discrete channels of digital audio. Subscribers of cable, satellite, and Telco providers stand to gain a significantly expanded HD on-demand and linear programming slate from a service already reaching roughly 49 million combined Starz and Encore subscribers.

October 21, 2009

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HDMI Home Theater

Philips Sets Flat-Panel TVs Free with U.S. Launch of Wireless HDTV Link

Philips has launched the Wireless HDTV Link (SWW1800/27) in the U.S., a device that transmits uncompressed 1080p HD signals wirelessly over distances up to 75 feet without signal loss or degradation. The unit supports four AV connections, including two HDMI and two component video inputs, enabling users to connect Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and gaming consoles to a display without physical cables. Priced at $799 MSRP, it offers a practical alternative to costly in-wall custom installation, particularly in spaces with concrete or masonry walls.

October 21, 2009

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Home Theater Blu-ray Streaming HD

Best Buy and Netflix Announce Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies Over the Internet Via Latest Models of Insignia Blu-ray Disc Players

Insignia, Best Buy's exclusive brand, launched two Netflix-ready Blu-ray Disc Players in 2009: the NS-WBRDVD ($249.99) with built-in Wi-Fi and the NS-BRDVD3 ($179.99) with Ethernet connectivity. Both ENERGY STAR-certified players support Dolby TrueHD audio and DVD upconversion, while enabling Netflix members on unlimited plans to stream thousands of titles directly to their televisions. Shoppers seeking a combined Blu-ray and streaming solution at accessible price points had two clearly differentiated connectivity options to consider.

October 20, 2009

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OTA HD & Antennas Streaming HD

NewTek Unveils Miniature Live TV High Definition Production Vehicle on Cross-Country Tour

NewTek's TriCaster XD300 HD portable live production system takes center stage in a cross-country tour spanning 10 U.S. cities from October 27 to November 17, 2009, housed inside a customized MINI Cooper claimed to be among the world's first HD broadcast and streaming production vehicles of its kind. The compact studio integrates live switching, full HD streaming, virtual sets, multi-channel slow motion replay via 3PLAY, and a three-camera ISO recorder into a single small-footprint package. For production professionals and event organizers, this tour demonstrates that network-quality HD live production no longer requires a full-size broadcast truck.

October 16, 2009

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Mobile HD DTV Transition Standards

With Standard Adopted, Broadcasters Poised to Bring Mobile DTV to American Consumers

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has formally adopted a Mobile DTV broadcast standard, enabling U.S. broadcasters to transmit digital television services over existing 6MHz channels to mobile phones, laptops, and in-car screens without disrupting current HD and multicast broadcasts. The Open Mobile Video Coalition, representing over 800 stations, demonstrated live reception on a moving bus in Washington, D.C., with some 70 member stations planning rollouts in 2009. Consumers stand to gain free, over-the-air mobile TV with features including live emergency alerts, datacasting, clip casting, and push video-on-demand.

October 16, 2009

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Streaming HD Smart TVs Home Theater

Samsung and Blockbuster Roll Out Blockbuster On Demand(R) Services Starting Today

Samsung and Blockbuster launched BLOCKBUSTER On Demand in October 2009, enabling video-on-demand rentals ($2.99-$3.99) and purchases ($7.99-$19.99) directly on select Samsung Series 650 and above LCD/Plasma HDTVs, Series 7000 and above LED HDTVs, and Blu-ray players including the BD-P1600, BD-P3600, and BD-P4600 via firmware upgrade. The service integrates with Samsung's Internet@TV platform and supports cross-device playback across multiple Blockbuster-enabled Samsung products within the home. Consumers gain on-screen browsing, trailers, and ratings without requiring a PC-managed queue, streamlining the rental experience.

October 14, 2009

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Codecs & Compression

Telairity BE8500 Hot-Switchable HD/SD H.264 Encoder Introduced at HD World

The Telairity BE8500 is a 1-RU H.264/AVC encoder that hot-switches between HD/SDI and SD/SDI sources without powering down, auto-sensing the incoming signal format for virtually instantaneous switchover. Powered by the proprietary TVP2000 video processor at 50 billion operations per second, it delivers encode latencies as low as 150ms and supports both the low-latency Series 7000 and 500Kbps low-bit-rate Series 9000 configurations. Broadcasters running mixed HD and SD workflows in mobile production trucks, OB vans, or IPTV deployments can consolidate both encoding needs into a single cost-effective unit.

October 14, 2009

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Flip Video Introduces Next Generation Flip MinoHD

The second-generation Flip MinoHD camcorder records 1280x720 HD video with 8 GB of built-in memory for up to two hours of footage, doubling the capacity of its predecessor. The updated device features a 2-inch transflective anti-glare screen at 960x240 pixels, HDMI output for direct TV connection, and touch-sensitive controls on a brushed metal body priced at $229.99. The bundled FlipShare software now supports direct uploads to Facebook alongside YouTube and MySpace, streamlining the path from capture to social sharing.

October 14, 2009

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Home Theater Projection HD

Samsung's Latest Ultra-Slim LED Monitor Offers HD Quality Picture

Samsung's SyncMaster XL2370 is a 23-inch LED edge-lit monitor delivering 1920x1080 resolution with a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 2ms response time, priced at $299. The LED backlight consumes up to 33% less power than traditional CCFL backlights, drawing only 26 watts, while eliminating hazardous materials such as mercury and lead. Users who watch Blu-ray content or play games in 1080p will benefit from the combination of fast pixel response and wide color output in a profile measuring just 3/4 inch thick.

October 8, 2009

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DIRECTV has expanded its interactive weather applications to The Weather Channel HD, bringing features like 'Local on the 8s' (delivered six times per hour at consistent intervals) and 'Local On Demand' to HD subscribers, following nearly 1 billion household impressions generated on the standard-definition version in under a year. The 'Local On Demand' application provides ZIP code-specific forecasts, radar maps, and weather alerts for over 40,000 U.S. locations, accessible without interrupting live HD programming. Subscribers with a networked DIRECTV Plus HD DVR or R22 DVR also gain access to more than 5,000 on-demand titles, including 1080p movies, at no additional charge.

October 6, 2009

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SiBEAM's Second Generation Chipsets Accelerate WirelessHD Market Adoption

SiBEAM unveiled its second generation 60GHz WirelessHD chipsets at CEATEC Japan 2009, built on a 65nm CMOS process and capable of delivering 4Gbps over-the-air lossless 1080p Full HD video. The new SB9220/SB9221 network processors and SB9210/SB9211 RF chipsets add 3D video support, integrated HDMI and LVDS, and eliminate active cooling requirements while operating without interference to 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi systems. For CE manufacturers, the reduced size and cost make these chipsets viable for slim DTV panels, Blu-ray players, and notebook PCs targeting mass-market deployment.

October 5, 2009

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Satellite HD Sports Programming

DISH Network(R) Announces Free Preview of CBS College Sports Network

DISH Network is offering a free preview of CBS College Sports Network on Ch. 152 in standard and high definition from Oct. 7 to Oct. 14, 2009, timed to the channel's Armed Forces Appreciation Week. The preview includes a Saturday triple-header of service academy football games, and the network carries 50 live college football games across Conference USA and Mountain West Conference for the 2009 season. Subscribers can retain access by adding the channel through the Classic Silver 200 package at $37.99 per month for 12 months.

October 5, 2009

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Blu-ray Home Theater OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

Akamai Unveils the Akamai HD Network

Akamai Technologies launched the Akamai HD Network in 2009, a streaming platform built on a globally distributed EdgePlatform of more than 50,000 servers spanning 70 countries and over 900 networks, designed to deliver HD video at broadcast-level audience scale. The platform supports adaptive bitrate streaming with sub-second time-shifting responses across Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, and iPhone playback environments, dynamically adjusting to available bandwidth to minimize buffering. Content providers and broadcasters can now reach millions of simultaneous HD viewers online without sacrificing the interactivity or quality associated with traditional television delivery.

September 29, 2009

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Samsung Instinct HD from Sprint Adds High Definition Camera and Camcorder, HDTV Capabilities and Opera Mobile Web Browser

Samsung Instinct HD launches on Sprint's EVDO Rev. A 3G network with a 5-megapixel camera and camcorder capable of HD-quality video output via a TV-out connection to external HD-capable displays, though the handset itself does not render HD video natively. The device also ships with a full Opera Mobile 9.7 browser, WiFi, an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, proximity sensor with haptic feedback, and Bluetooth 2.0. Priced at $249.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate on a two-year agreement, the Instinct HD offers a practical upgrade path for users seeking richer multimedia and browsing capabilities on a carrier-subsidized smartphone.

September 24, 2009

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Home Theater PC (HTPC)

A 2009 Zogby International poll of 800 California voters found that 57 percent opposed the California Energy Commission's proposed regulation on television electricity usage, which would have banned 25 percent of current big-screen LCD and plasma TV models and 100 percent of plasma TVs larger than 60 inches. A Resolution Economics study estimated the regulation would cost California $50 million annually in lost tax revenues and eliminate 4,600 jobs. Small business owners and the Consumer Electronics Association argued that market-based programs like ENERGY STAR already drive efficiency gains without restricting consumer choice or stifling emerging technologies such as 3D-HDTV.

September 15, 2009

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Corel® WinDVD® Pro 2010 Delivers the Ultimate Blu-ray and DVD Playback Experience on the PC

Corel WinDVD Pro 2010 is a Blu-ray and DVD playback application supporting 1080p output, BD-Live interactivity, and audio formats including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The release introduces GPU-based SD-to-HD upscaling via Trimension All2HD technology, CPU and GPU optimizations for faster playback, and battery life improvements on Windows Vista and Windows 7. Users gain hands-on control through Windows Touch integration, making this a technically broad upgrade for home theater PC setups.

September 15, 2009

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Politics & Policy Satellite HD

DIRECTV and DISH Network Urge Michigan Legislators to Reject Discriminatory Satellite-Only Tax

DIRECTV and DISH Network jointly opposed a proposed 5% sales tax targeting satellite TV subscribers in Michigan, arguing the measure would financially penalize approximately 1 million households for choosing satellite over cable. The companies contend that cable franchise fees, paid for use of public rights-of-way, are not equivalent to taxes and do not justify singling out satellite providers, whose infrastructure operates entirely in orbit without disrupting ground-level infrastructure. Rural Michigan residents with no cable access would face the sharpest impact, effectively paying a penalty based on geography.

September 15, 2009

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Seagate's New FreeAgent Theater+(TM) HD Media Player Enhances the Enjoyment of Digital Home Movies and Photos

Seagate's FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player delivers 1080p HDMI video output with Dolby Digital and DTS 2.0 + Digital Out surround sound, using a proprietary docking system designed for FreeAgent Go portable drives. The device supports a broad codec library including H.264, MKV, VC-1, and MPEG-4 formats, plus an Ethernet port for network streaming and an optional 802.11n wireless adapter expected in October for $69.99. Priced at $149.99 as a standalone unit, it offers a straightforward path to playing PC-stored media on an HDTV without manual cable management.

September 15, 2009

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Home Theater Projection HD

JVC Launches New HD Everio Memory Camera For Video Enthusiasts

The JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 is a Full HD camcorder built around a 1/2.33-inch 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, capable of recording 1920x1080 video at 24 Mbps in AVCHD UXP mode and capturing nine-megapixel stills without interpolation. High-speed recording reaches up to 600fps for slow-motion playback, and a dual-prism optical image stabilizer corrects shake across the full zoom range. Priced at $999.95, the GZ-HM400 targets video enthusiasts who need broadcast-quality image capture with hands-on manual controls in a single portable device.

September 15, 2009

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Samsung Electronics Offers New Addition to Home Theater Projector Lineup

Samsung's A600 Home Theater Projector delivers Full HD 1080p resolution via a DLP optical engine with 1,000 ANSI Lumens brightness and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, priced at an estimated $1,795. The projector supports dual HDMI inputs, component, composite, and S-Video connectivity, and includes built-in color presets for HDTV, SMPTE-C, and EBU broadcast standards. With a 1.99 short throw lens ratio and up to 4,000 hours of lamp life in eco mode, the A600 offers a practical entry point into full HD home theater projection without sacrificing color accuracy.

September 11, 2009

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Standards IPTV OTA HD & Antennas

Motorola Launches Advanced Multi-Format Encoding Platform for 1080P Content

Motorola's SE-6000 is a multi-format video encoding platform supporting both MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 SD and HD encoding and transcoding, with forward-looking design for 1080P/50Hz and 1080P/60Hz resolutions. The platform accepts baseband and pre-compressed streams for satellite, cable, and IPTV applications, while also targeting emerging services such as 3D television and multi-stream output. Operators can simultaneously deliver MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 from a single unit, easing the transition away from legacy infrastructure without abandoning existing subscriber bases.

September 11, 2009

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Home Theater Blu-ray HD Receivers

Pioneer Showcases the World's First THX Certified Blu-ray Disc Player

Pioneer's Elite BDP-09FD became the world's first THX certified Blu-ray Disc player, joining a lineup that also includes THX Select2 certified Elite EX Series in-wall speakers featuring Coherent Source Transducer (CST) driver technology for improved off-axis performance. The Elite A/V receivers, including the SC-25 and SC-27, use ICEPower Class D amplification and hold THX Ultra2 Plus certification, with Pioneer claiming over 100 THX certified receiver models worldwide. Together, these three certified product categories allow home theater buyers to assemble a fully THX validated system verified to match studio reference performance levels.

September 10, 2009

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Home Theater LCD TVs

Samsung Announces New Addition to the LCD TV Line Up at CEDIA EXPO 2009

Samsung unveiled the 65-inch LN65B650 LCD 650 Series TV at CEDIA EXPO 2009, featuring a CCFL backlit 1080p panel with Auto Motion Plus 120Hz frame interpolation, a 4ms response time, and a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, priced at $5,999.99 with a September 2009 availability. The set includes four HDMI 1.3 inputs, DLNA certification, USB 2.0 media playback with MPEG4 and DivX support, and Energy Star v3.0 compliance. Samsung also showcased Blu-ray players with Netflix, Pandora, and YouTube streaming, giving custom installers and enthusiasts a broad ecosystem of networked home theater options to consider.

September 10, 2009

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DLP TVs Home Theater Projection HD

Vivitek Adds New 1080p Projector to Home Theater Line-Up

The Vivitek H5080 is a native 1080p (1920x1080) DLP home theater projector delivering 1200 lumens of brightness and a 25,000:1 contrast ratio, powered by Texas Instruments DarkChip3 and BrilliantColor technologies alongside a Pixelworks DNX Motion Engine for reduced motion blur. The projector supports three HDMI v1.3 inputs, manual vertical and horizontal lens shift, interchangeable short-throw (1.33-1.79:1) and long-throw (2.22-4.43:1) lens options, and operates at a whisper-quiet 27dB. Priced at $2,999 MSRP, it targets enthusiasts seeking professional-grade image performance in a home theater setup.

September 10, 2009

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Pioneer Demonstrates Entertainment Tap Networking Project

Pioneer unveiled 'Project ET' at CEDIA EXPO 2009, a network entertainment concept player featuring one terabyte of hard disk storage, built-in Blu-ray/DVD/CD playback, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi connectivity within a single set-top device. The platform integrates DLNA-compliant home networking with access to services including YouTube, Netflix, and Picasa, alongside Control4 IQ and Zigbee 2-way remote control for whole-home automation. For consumers, this means managing personal media libraries, online content, and home theater controls from a unified interface without requiring separate devices.

September 10, 2009

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Home Theater Streaming HD Blu-ray

LG Electronics Broadens Home Entertainment Options With Two New Wireless HDTV Series

LG Electronics unveiled two wireless LCD HDTV series at CEDIA EXPO 2009, highlighted by the 55LHX, a sub-one-inch-thick LED-backlit model with THX Display Certification, TruMotion 240Hz, and a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Both the 55LHX and LH85 series transmit uncompressed Full HD 1080p wirelessly via a media box up to 30 feet, eliminating cable clutter while supporting ISFccc 10-point grayscale calibration for precision picture tuning. Custom installers gain genuine placement flexibility, and both series carry Energy Star 3.0 compliance for reduced power consumption.

Sony's XBR10-series BRAVIA LCD HDTVs introduce edge-lit LED backlighting with a contrast ratio exceeding 1,000,000:1 and full 1080p wireless HD transmission from a separate media box to the display. The panels run at 1920x1080 with Motionflow 240Hz technology, which interpolates three new frames to quadruple the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs. Priced at $4,500 to $5,000 for 46- and 52-inch models, these sets also include DLNA compliance, four HDMI inputs, and built-in BRAVIA Internet Video access, making them a notable option for home theater setups that prioritize clean cable management.

September 9, 2009

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LG Electronics Adds VUDU HD Movie Service to Wireless 'NetCast' Network Blu-ray Disc Player

LG's BD390 Wireless Network Blu-ray Player gains VUDU streaming access via a free firmware upgrade, adding over 2,200 HD titles to its NetCast Entertainment Access platform alongside Netflix, YouTube, and Roxio CinemaNow. VUDU's HDX format delivers Full HD 1080p video with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound, and the BD390 also features 1080p upscaling for standard DVDs via HDMI and 1GB of built-in memory for BD Live. For buyers of the $399 player, this update meaningfully expands on-demand HD content without requiring additional hardware or monthly subscription fees.

September 9, 2009

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Sony's HDR-CX520V and HDR-CX500V Handycam camcorders capture full 1920x1080 HD video on 64GB and 32GB internal flash memory respectively, offering up to 25 hours of recording in LP mode alongside a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor delivering roughly twice the low-light sensitivity of Sony's front-illuminated designs at F2.0. The camcorders also feature 3-Way Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode, correcting vertical, horizontal, and lateral-roll shake through combined optical and electronic stabilization. Built-in GPS with NAVTEQ maps, Dolby Digital 5.1-channel audio, and direct AVCHD-to-DVD down-conversion via an optional USB writer make these capable all-in-one solutions for mobile HD videographers.

July 7, 2009

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Sony Introduces New DVDirect With Smaller Body and Larger LCD Display

Sony's VRD-MC6 DVDirect recorder transfers AVCHD video at native 1080i HD resolution directly to DVD without a computer, and its body is nearly 60 percent smaller than its predecessor while featuring a 2.7-inch color LCD. The device supports multiple inputs including i.LINK/FireWire/IEEE-1394 and USB, records up to 95 minutes of AVCHD or six hours of standard-definition video on a 4.7GB DVD+R disc, and plays back AVCHD content on Blu-ray players and PS3 systems. For users looking to archive camcorder footage or digitize old tapes, this standalone solution eliminates the need for a PC entirely.

July 7, 2009

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HD Audio HD Receivers Home Theater

New Pioneer Elite A/V Receivers Produce High Resolution Multi-Channel Sound Quality That Brings Cinematic Entertainment into the Home

Pioneer's Elite SC-25 and SC-27 A/V receivers deploy a Direct Energy HD Class D amplifier with ICEPower technology, making the SC-27 the first Class D design to achieve both THX Ultra2 Plus and AIR Studios monitor certifications. The SC-27 further incorporates a Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit sampling rate converter for ultra-wide dynamic range and advanced jitter reduction, while all four new models support uncompressed Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. Buyers gain practical benefits including PQLS Multi-Channel jitter-free audio transmission via HDMI, iPhone/iPod plug-and-play connectivity, and Rhapsody streaming access directly from the receiver.

July 1, 2009

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Home Theater HD Receivers

Integra Debuts Pair of Mid-Priced AV Receivers for Custom Installations

Integra's DTR-30.1 and DTR-20.1 are 7.2- and 5.2-channel AV receivers delivering 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms, with HDMI 1.3a supporting 1080p, Deep Color, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio. The DTR-30.1 is the first Integra receiver to incorporate Dolby ProLogic IIz for three-dimensional surround ambience, and includes Faroudja DCDi Edge upscaling to 1080i. Custom installers gain bi-directional RS-232 and Ethernet control ports, three 12-volt triggers, Audyssey 2EQ room calibration, and Powered Zone 2 capability, making these units practical choices for integrated home automation deployments at $600 and $800 respectively.

June 30, 2009

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Hannspree Introduces a New 25-inch 1080p Full HD LCD Television

Hannspree North America launched the 25-inch ST251MKB, a 1080p Full HD LCD television priced at $399.99 MSRP, featuring a 2ms response time, 10,000:1 X-Contrast ratio, and dual HDMI inputs alongside ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM tuners. The set supports the full range of HD and analog formats from 480i through 1080p, making it compatible with virtually any A/V source including Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and over-the-air antennas. Its compact form factor and VGA input also position it as a viable large-format computer monitor for space-constrained environments.

Microsoft integrated Netflix streaming into Windows Media Center, giving Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users instant access to more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes powered by Microsoft Silverlight. The feature supports queue management, Netflix recommendation lists, and compatibility with any Windows Media Center-compatible remote control. Alongside existing Xbox 360 Netflix access via Xbox LIVE Gold Membership, this integration positions Windows Media Center as a consolidated entertainment hub, reducing the need to navigate separate web services for on-demand content.

May 20, 2009

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January 7, 2009

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Streaming HD Smart TVs OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

Netflix Announces Partnership With VIZIO to Instantly Stream Movies to New High Definition TVs

Netflix announced a partnership with VIZIO at CES 2009 to integrate direct streaming into VIZIO's new 'Connected HDTV' platform, featuring built-in wired and wireless networking for plug-and-play setup without an external device. The integration gives subscribers access to Netflix's catalog of over 12,000 instantly streamable titles via a single button on a customized remote, starting at $8.99 per month. This marks Netflix's second direct-to-TV deal in three days, signaling a broader push to embed streaming natively into HDTVs rather than relying on set-top boxes.

January 7, 2009

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Haier America Offers Most Extensive New Electronics Product Launch in 10 Year History

Haier America's CES 2009 showcase introduced its most expansive product lineup to date, highlighted by the HL47XT1 and HL42XT1 LCD HDTVs featuring full 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and four HDMI inputs. The portable electronics expansion included over 30 new products, among them Rhapsody-compatible touchscreen media players and an 8-inch Wi-Fi digital frame with 2GB of onboard memory. Consumers looking to upgrade home theater or portable audio setups will find a wide range of options spanning multiple price points and form factors.

January 7, 2009

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VIZIO announced a new line of branded accessories at CES 2009, including the VES800 Surge Protector with 8 EMI/RFI filtered outlets and a 1875-watt resettable circuit breaker, VMAX HDMI 1.3 cables built from 99.99% oxygen-free copper with 24K gold-plated connectors, and the VHFE100 Fiber Optic HDMI Extender capable of transmitting HDCP-compliant signals up to 100 meters. The lineup also includes UL/VESA certified wall mounts supporting panels from 13 to 60 inches with up to 180 lbs capacity. Consumers building a complete home theater around VIZIO displays can now source compatible, manufacturer-backed accessories ranging from $29.99 to $199.99 directly from the brand.

January 7, 2009

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VIZIO Offers Complete Line of Energy Efficient LCD HDTVs

VIZIO unveiled seven EcoHD LCD HDTVs at CES 2009, with models ranging from 19 to 32 inches that exceed Energy Star 3.0 requirements by up to 25%, and smaller 19-inch and 22-inch units consuming less power than a standard 60-watt light bulb. The lineup supports 720p and 1080i signals with dual HDMI inputs, while 32-inch models feature a 50,000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio and the more advanced SRS TruSurround HD audio processing. Consumers seeking energy savings without sacrificing display or audio performance can choose from models priced between $249.99 and $449.99.

January 7, 2009

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Blu-ray Home Theater HDMI

TiVo Transforms the TV World Once Again by Offering a New Way to Search & Discover Content

TiVo unveiled a redesigned TiVo Search feature with a full high definition interface, delivered via broadband to Series3, TiVo HD, and HD XL subscribers at no additional charge. The search engine indexes content from linear TV alongside broadband sources including Amazon Video on Demand and YouTube, surfaces results from any word in a program title, and automatically recommends HD channels and episodes when scheduling recordings. For users, this means faster content discovery across hundreds of channels and thousands of broadband options without navigating deep into individual program listings.

January 7, 2009

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DTV Transition

Macrovision's Guide Daily to Be Deployed in SANYO's Digital TVs

Macrovision's Guide Daily, a lightweight interactive program guide (IPG) delivering 24 hours of over-the-air program listings without requiring a phone connection, will be integrated into SANYO's flat panel digital TV value line sold through Walmart. The guide includes full program descriptions, ratings, and HD icons for antenna, cable, and satellite services, with listings data arriving via an over-the-air signal. For consumers, this means a no-setup program navigation experience on an entry-level flat panel TV that also includes a USB Photo Viewer.

January 7, 2009

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Memorex® Blu-ray Disc Player, HDMI Cables and Soundbar

Memorex launched three home theatre products at CES 2009, headlined by the MVBD-2520 Blu-ray Disc player featuring Profile 2.0/BD-Live Ethernet connectivity, full HD 1080p output at 24p/60p, and Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD audio decoding, all priced under $200. The SimpleSurround SoundBar pairs a slot-loading DVD player with SRS TruSurround XT and TruBass processing in a 2.1-channel design, while HDMI cables with 24k gold-plated connectors support transfer speeds up to 20GB per second. Consumers seeking a complete HD home theatre setup can assemble these components without the premium pricing typically associated with high-definition audio and video equipment.

January 7, 2009

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LCD TVs LED TVs

VIZIO Expands Flagship XVT Series of HDTVs

VIZIO's expanded XVT Series introduces five new HDTVs at CES 2009, headlined by the 55-inch VF551XVT, an LED LCD panel with a 1,000,000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio, local dimming, and 240Hz refresh rate with Scanning Backlight. The 42-inch SV421XVT and 47-inch SV471XVT also feature 240Hz with VIZIO Smooth Motion II technology, while 32-inch and 37-inch models offer 120Hz at 2.5-inch depth. All models include USB multimedia playback supporting H.264, MPEG-2, and WMV9, meaning buyers can watch 1080p content directly from a thumb drive without additional hardware.

January 7, 2009

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VIZIO Introduces High Style Line of Full HD 1080p and 120Hz LCD HDTV Series With JAVA Color HDTV Collection

VIZIO launched the VL and VT Series Full HD 1080p LCD HDTVs at CES 2009, featuring 120Hz Smooth Motion II technology that doubles the refresh rate of standard 60Hz panels to reduce motion blur in fast-action content. All six models carry a 50,000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio, multiple HDMI 1.3 inputs, and SRS Labs audio processing, with select models adding USB multimedia playback supporting MPEG-2, H.264, and WMV9 formats. Pricing ranges from $599.99 for the 32-inch VL320M to $1,099.99 for the 47-inch flagship models, making 120Hz Full HD performance accessible at mainstream retail price points.

January 7, 2009

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Events & Trade Shows

VIZIO announced Black Friday 2008 price cuts across its LCD and plasma HDTV lineup, with models ranging from a 19-inch HD LCD at $199.99 to a 42-inch Full HD 1080p LCD at $698.00, all featuring multiple HDMI inputs and free lifetime technical support. Select 32-inch and larger units include a 1-year in-home warranty, and the 32-inch Full HD 1080p VOJ32LF was available at Sears for $559.99. Shoppers seeking a capable flat panel HDTV at a competitive price point had multiple retailer options including Costco, Walmart, Sam's Club, and Sears during the holiday weekend.

November 27, 2008

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Panasonic Brings Back Open Access to Its Exclusive VIERA HDTV Concierge Service for Holiday Shopping Season and Leading Up to the Digital Transition

Panasonic is reopening its normally exclusive VIERA Concierge toll-free service (1-888-777-1170) to all consumers from November 25, 2008 through February 17, 2009, timed to coincide with the U.S. digital television transition deadline. The program connects callers with live HDTV specialists trained on both Plasma and LCD flat panel technologies, and the Chesapeake, VA call center administering the service holds a Purdue University 'Center of Excellence' certification, ranking it in the top 10 percent of 20,000 North American call centers. Shoppers uncertain about which flat panel format suits their viewing environment can use this free resource to get unbiased, expert guidance before purchasing.

November 25, 2008

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DTV Transition Market Trends & Analysis Satellite HD

Sherwood Ships Affordable Advanced Blu-Ray DVD Player

Sherwood America's BDP-5003 is an entry-level Blu-ray player priced at $299.95 that supports 1080p video output at 60 Hz or 24 Hz and includes built-in decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio HD lossless audio formats via HDMI 1.3. The player also handles BD Bonus View (Profile 1.1) and upscales standard DVDs, covering a broad range of disc formats. Consumers seeking an affordable path to high-definition video and lossless audio without sacrificing format compatibility now have a viable option from a brand with over 50 years in the industry.

November 24, 2008

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Consumers Continue to Buy HDTV Sets at Strong Rate, But Many Pass On HD Service

A Frank N. Magid Associates study of U.S. HDTV owners finds that 41 percent of households that purchased a new set in the past year have not arranged HD programming service from a cable or satellite provider, despite 32 percent of all U.S. households now owning at least one HDTV set. Key barriers include cost skepticism (41 percent deem HD service fees not worthwhile) and a widespread misconception that the February 2009 digital broadcast transition would automatically deliver HD cable programming. Providers stand to gain roughly 4.5 percent of TV households as new HD subscribers if they address these gaps before and after the transition deadline.

November 24, 2008

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HDMI

Gefen Announces Availability of 1:5 HDMI v1.3 Splitter for Simultaneous HDTV

Gefen's 1:5 Splitter for HDMI v1.3 distributes a single HDMI source to five simultaneous displays, supporting HDCP-compliant video up to 1080p full HD with deep color and multi-channel audio in Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio formats with lip-sync. The unit includes CEC pass-through compliance and ships with a six-foot HDMI cable for plug-and-play installation. Installers can cascade multiple units for larger signal distributions, making this a practical option for digital signage, staging, and corporate AV environments.

November 24, 2008

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Deals

Walmart Confirms Black Friday Deals, Including $128 Blu-ray Player

Walmart's 2008 Black Friday event spans three days, headlined by a Magnavox Blu-ray disc player at $128 available in stores from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. on November 28. Thanksgiving Day online specials at Walmart.com include a Motorola Bluetooth Headset for under $20, with free shipping via the Site to Store program. Shoppers can also leverage Walmart's Ad Match guarantee to secure the lowest local competitor prices on identical products, making it a practical multi-channel savings opportunity.

November 24, 2008

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Home Theater PC (HTPC)Home Theater HD Media Centers

VUDU Debuts Most Advanced On-Demand Box Ever

The VUDU XL2 is a 1U rack-mountable Internet movie player targeting professional home theater installations, offering 1080p HDX streaming with TruFilm technology and a 1-terabyte internal drive capable of storing over 500 films locally. The unit supports 1080i HD output over component, IP and IR control for integration with high-end home automation systems, and provides access to a library of more than 10,000 on-demand titles. Priced at $1,299 and available exclusively through over 1,000 VUDU-certified custom installers, it is a purpose-built solution for discerning home theater enthusiasts who require both quality and rack-system compatibility.

November 18, 2008

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Blu-ray HD Camcorders

Hitachi Launches New Web Site For Its Blu-Ray DZ-BD10HA Just in Time for the Holiday Season

The Hitachi DZ-BD10HA is a Blu-ray hybrid camcorder featuring a 7-megapixel CMOS sensor with 4.67 effective megapixels for HD video and a built-in 30GB HDD, priced at $1,099 MAP. The camcorder supports three recording formats simultaneously - Blu-ray Disc, HDD, and SDHC - with one-touch dubbing that transfers footage directly to Blu-ray without a computer. Hitachi launched a dedicated direct-sales microsite at www.hitachibd.com to give consumers a convenient purchase option ahead of the 2008 holiday season.

November 17, 2008

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NETGEAR's Award-Winning Powerline Adapters for HD and Multimedia Streaming Now Available

NETGEAR has launched two powerline adapter kits delivering up to 200 Mbps over existing home electrical wiring, with the HomePlug AV-based XAVB101 priced at $149.99 and the UPA-certified HDXB111 at $169.99. Both kits include integrated Quality of Service (QoS) for HD video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP, while the HDXB111 adds a noise-filtered pass-through AC outlet to preserve wall socket availability. Consumers in wireless dead zones can use either kit to extend reliable broadband to set-top boxes, game consoles, and networked storage without running new cabling.

November 17, 2008

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Cable HD

Comcast Announces More Than 1,000 HD Choices Available - the Most HD Content Anytime, Anywhere (well, almost)

Comcast South Florida has expanded its HD On Demand library to more than 1,000 choices, a five-fold increase from the prior year and up from just 12 channels when the service launched in January 2004. The lineup includes over 200 HD movies, nearly 300 television series, and hundreds of music offerings, with nationwide On Demand usage exceeding 300 million selections per month. Subscribers gain flexible viewing with pause, rewind, and fast-forward controls, making a broad range of premium HD content accessible on their own schedule.

November 14, 2008

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Shuttle Introduces a New Media Centre Mini-PC Platform to Meet High Definition Requirements

The Shuttle XPC Barebone SG45H7 is a Mini-PC platform built on the Intel G45 Express chipset, featuring the integrated GMA X4500HD graphics engine with Intel Clear-Video technology for smooth 1080p HD playback. It supports up to 16GB of DDR2 memory across four banks, a PCI-E 2.0 slot for dual-slot discrete graphics cards, and a full connectivity suite including HDMI, eSATA, optical SPDIF, and Gigabit LAN. Powered by an 80 PLUS-certified 300W supply, this compact system targets home theater and media center builds where quiet, efficient operation matters.

November 13, 2008

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Samsung Introducing Brightest Outdoor Display - A 2000nit 70-inch LCD Panel

Samsung's 70-inch TFT-LCD digital signage panel achieves 2000nit peak brightness, making it one-third brighter than the previous 1500nit benchmark and four times brighter than a typical LCD TV. Local dimming LED backlighting enables a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 200,000:1, while Full-HD 1080p resolution and a 178-degree viewing angle round out the spec sheet. Outdoor advertisers and public venues gain a display capable of performing in direct sunlight while scaling brightness down to conventional HDTV levels at night.

A joint MEASAT and Euroconsult study of 25 PayTV operators across 15 Asia-Pacific markets, collectively serving over 24 million subscribers, found that 75% planned to launch HDTV offerings by end of 2008. Newer platforms are leading the rollout to differentiate from established competitors, while a majority of operators expect HDTV to increase ARPU or profits independently. The primary barrier to adoption is a shortage of local and international HD content, which operators identified as the single most critical obstacle to sector growth.

June 17, 2008

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DTV Transition

Dolby Laboratories has released a free downloadable guide, HD Essentials, aimed at helping consumers navigate the transition to high-definition home theater ahead of the FCC-mandated all-digital broadcast deadline of February 17, 2009. A Consumer Electronics Association study (2006) found that quality audio measurably improves perceived picture quality, reinforcing the case for surround sound systems ranging from single sound-bar solutions to full 5.1 and 7.1 speaker configurations. Readers building or upgrading a home theater will find practical guidance on pairing an HDTV display with a compatible surround sound receiver and speaker setup.

High Fidelity HDTV Inc., Canada's leading all-HD broadcaster operating four dedicated HD channels, has signed an exclusive programming agreement with Smithsonian Networks to distribute Smithsonian Channel HD content across its Oasis HD, Equator HD, and Treasure HD channels. Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, produces original documentaries and short-subject films spanning wildlife, technology, history, and culture. Canadian HD viewers will gain access to this non-fiction HD programming slate within weeks of the deal's announcement.

May 22, 2008

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May 1, 2008

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DISH Network launched three new high-definition channels in April 2008 - CNN HD (ch. 200 HD), SCI FI HD (ch. 122 HD), and USA HD (ch. 105 HD) - as part of its push toward 100 national HD channels and 100 local HD markets by year-end. The flagship ViP722 dual-tuner HD DVR supports simultaneous HD and SD output to separate rooms, with recording capacity of up to 55 hours of HD or 350 hours of SD content. Subscribers on AT100 and Essentials HD or higher packages gain immediate access to the new channels, making the upgrade path straightforward for existing customers.

April 18, 2008

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NASA to Broadcast Earth Views in High Definition Television

NASA Television will air its first-ever HD broadcast of Earth imagery captured by astronauts aboard past space shuttle and International Space Station missions, with the special hour-long program scheduled to run repeatedly from April 18 to 22, 2008. The Monday and Tuesday broadcasts will include scientific commentary from Dr. Justin Wilkinson of NASA's Crew Earth Observations Office, while the Friday airing features a silent version of the footage. Viewers interested in receiving the broadcast in high definition can find technical downlink and streaming details at nasa.gov/ntv.

April 17, 2008

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IPTV Streaming HD

EdgeStream Delivers High Definition Video Streaming for Everyone

EdgeStream has launched a Video Content Delivery Network (VCDN) powered by its patented Internet Congestion Tunnel Through (ICTT) and Continuous Route Optimization (CROS) technologies, enabling HD video streaming over the public Internet without re-buffering or quality degradation. The multi-source platform breaks video into data segments distributed and reassembled from multiple sources, allowing error-free transport through high-latency and congested network conditions. For operators and content owners, this means delivering broadcast-quality HD streams to global broadband audiences at pricing intended to compete with cable, satellite, and telco TV providers.

April 17, 2008

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Universal Unveils Inaugural Slate of Film and TV Offerings Coming to Blu-ray(TM) Disc Day and Date With DVD

Universal Studios Home Entertainment announced its inaugural Blu-ray disc lineup, releasing titles day and date with DVD starting July 22, 2008, with 'Heroes: Season Two' serving as the studio's first global Blu-ray event release on August 26, 2008. The slate includes five major summer 2008 theatrical titles - THE INCREDIBLE HULK, Wanted, Hellboy II, Mamma Mia!, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - alongside catalog titles such as American Gangster and Knocked Up. For consumers, this commitment signals reliable high-definition availability of Universal's biggest releases at standard DVD launch windows.

April 17, 2008

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HD Camcorders OTA HD & Antennas

A Comparison of Movie Download Services

This comparison of early internet movie download services evaluates Amazon Unbox, Apple TV, DishONLINE, Microsoft Xbox 360, and VUDU across usability, audio/video quality, selection, and cost. VUDU stands out by delivering 1080p/24 H.264 High Profile HD content via peer-to-peer distribution requiring only a 4 Mbps connection, while Apple TV tops out at 720p/24 and Xbox 360 HD downloads proved impractically slow in testing. For consumers choosing between these platforms, the gap in video quality and download speed is significant enough to meaningfully affect the viewing experience.

April 17, 2008

Articles

HD Media Centers

HP Announces Industry's First Integration of HDTVs and Media Center Extender

HP MediaSmart TVs became the first Internet-connected HDTVs to integrate Microsoft's Media Center Extender, enabling Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate PCs to stream pictures, music, and video directly to a 1080p LCD display over wired or wireless networks including dual-band draft 802.11n. The TVs feature three HDMI ports, UPnP/DLNA support, and compatibility with formats including XVID, WMV, AVI, WMA Pro, and AAC. For consumers, this eliminates the need to physically connect a PC to the TV while providing access to on-demand services such as CinemaNow, Starz, and over 100 hours of MSN Internet TV content.

April 17, 2008

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Iomega Announces New Media Xporter Drive for Use With Today's Popular Game Consoles

Iomega's Media Xporter Drive is a 160GB, USB 2.0-powered 2.5-inch portable hard drive designed for cross-platform compatibility with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, connecting via a USB 2.0 Y-cable without requiring an external power supply. The drive natively supports MP3, MPEG-4, and JPEG formats, and bundles Prism Video Converter MX software to transcode QuickTime, AVI, and VOB files into console-compatible MPEG-4. Priced at $119.95, it lets users play personal media libraries through HDMI-connected consoles at up to 1080p without a PC or dedicated media adapter.

April 17, 2008

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Standards IPTV Cable HD

DISH Network has expanded its local HD broadcast coverage to 43 markets, adding Cleveland, Milwaukee, Richmond, and Tampa, now reaching more than 58 percent of U.S. TV households. Customers requiring HD access must upgrade to a compatible receiver such as the ViP722, a dual-tuner HD DVR capable of recording up to 55 hours of HD or 350 hours of standard definition content while simultaneously serving two rooms. This expansion moves DISH Network closer to its stated goal of 100 local HD markets by end of 2008, directly increasing HD availability for subscribers in these newly added regions.

April 14, 2008

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CBS to Present 'SURVIVOR' in High Definition for the First Time Using Sony's XDCAM HD Technology

CBS will shoot the 17th season of 'SURVIVOR' in high definition using Sony's XDCAM HD Professional Disc system, replacing the Digital Betacam equipment used since the show's premiere. The optical disc-based workflow offers random access and editing flexibility that suits reality TV's unscripted, fast-moving production demands. For viewers, the upgrade from SD to HD resolution means a more immersive experience of the show's remote locations and natural environments.

April 14, 2008

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April 1, 2008

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LG Electronics' Stylish New LCD Monitors Now Available

LG Electronics has launched three new LCD monitor series (W52, W00, and L7W) featuring 10,000:1 Digital Fine Contrast Technology and the proprietary f-ENGINE picture-enhancing chip, now available at major U.S. retailers. The lineup spans 19- to 30-inch class displays, with response times as low as 2ms and Full HD 1080p support on the 26- and 30-inch W00 models priced up to $1,399.95. Consumers working in graphics, video editing, or gaming will find practical value in the ez Zooming feature and Wide Color Gamut Technology across the range.

March 31, 2008

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Sports Programming Satellite HD

ESPNEWS HD To Debut March 30

ESPNEWS HD launched March 30, 2008, introducing a 16x9 high-definition studio with a redesigned 'HD Sideline' graphic that wraps around the top, left, and bottom of the screen to deliver real-time scores, stats, and headshots alongside full HD video. The debut coincided with ESPN HD's fifth anniversary, with ESPN HD reaching nearly 17 million subscribers and ESPN2 HD surpassing 12 million. Sports fans gain a dedicated all-sports news channel in HD with information density not available on its standard-definition counterpart.

March 30, 2008

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Sports Satellite HD OTA HD & Antennas

Sub-$1,000 Blu-ray Laptop Now Available from Dell

Dell's Inspiron 1525 brings Blu-ray disc playback to a sub-$1,000 laptop, starting at $879 with a 15.4-inch 720p wide-aspect display and HDMI output for connection to HDTVs. The system uses Broadcom Media PC technology with a dedicated mini-card accelerator to enable HD video playback on integrated graphics hardware, and an optional Blu-ray burner supports discs holding up to 50 GB versus 8.5 GB on standard DVDs. Buyers seeking an affordable entry into high-definition home video now have a portable option that doubles as a high-capacity backup solution.

March 28, 2008

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DISH Network Launches NESN HD

DISH Network has added the New England Sports Network (NESN) in high definition to its lineup, available on channel 434 HD for subscribers to the America's Top 100 Plus or higher programming packages. NESN is noted as the first regional sports network to originate every game and studio show in HD, and DISH now carries 22 HD Regional Sports Networks total. Subscribers with the dual-tuner ViP722 dishDVR can pause, rewind, and record live HD broadcasts, giving Red Sox and Bruins fans full DVR control over game coverage.

March 27, 2008

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Gaming Home Theater PC (HTPC)

High Performance AMD Phenom™ X4 Processors Lead the Charge to HD Desktop Gaming and Video

AMD launched four Phenom X4 quad-core desktop processors in 2008, ranging from the 9550 at 2.2GHz to the flagship 9850 Black Edition at 2.5GHz, all featuring HyperTransport 3.0 and Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 technology. Paired with AMD 790 series chipsets on the 'Spider' enthusiast platform, these CPUs support up to four ATI Radeon HD 3800 series graphics cards simultaneously. For users targeting HD video playback and multi-threaded gaming workloads, the Black Edition's unlocked Clock Multiplier Control offers additional headroom for performance tuning.

March 27, 2008

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Blu-ray Market Trends & Analysis Standards

29 Million Blu-ray Homes Expected This Year

Strategy Analytics forecasts 29.4 million homes worldwide will own a Blu-ray device by end of 2008, following HD-DVD's withdrawal from the format war. Sony's PS3 is projected to drive the majority of 2008's 18.8 million unit sales, with stand-alone players accounting for only 4 million units until consoles cede dominance after 2009. By 2012, annual BD device sales are expected to reach 57.4 million units across 132 million homes, signaling a significant commercial opportunity for both hardware vendors and content owners.

March 26, 2008

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GalleryPlayer Inks Deal with Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America to Embed HD Art and Photography in 2008 Flat Screen Models

GalleryPlayer has partnered with Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America to embed its proprietary rights-management technology into 2008 Mitsubishi HDTV models, enabling playback of full HD 1080p fine art and photographic images from partners including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and National Geographic. The integration spans both 1080p DLP and 1080p LCD Flat Panel HDTV lines, with a co-branded website allowing owners to download and manage content directly. For consumers, this means access to a library of over 45 licensed content partners directly through their television without additional hardware.

March 24, 2008

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Blu-ray HD DVD

March 3, 2008

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HD DVD Deals

A Special Deal on Sunrise Earth HD DVD Set

Discovery Channel's Sunrise Earth HD DVD set features 12 Season 1 episodes plus a bonus Secrets of the Sun episode across 4 discs totaling 11 hours and 55 minutes of high-definition content. The limited-time discount, paired with free shipping, mirrors a concurrent deal on the Planet Earth HD DVD set, which spans 11 episodes with multilingual subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. HD DVD owners should act quickly given uncertain stock levels, as both sets represent a rare opportunity to acquire premium nature programming at a reduced price.

The Discovery Channel's Planet Earth HD DVD set, a multi-episode natural history series more than five years in the making, is available at a discounted price of $29.95 for HD DVD owners through the Discovery Channel Store. The 11-episode set includes behind-the-scenes content covering the equipment and technology used in production, plus subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. HD DVD collectors looking to expand their high-definition library should act quickly, as stock at this price point may be limited.

February 24, 2008

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Home Theater HD DVD Blu-ray

Onkyo Will Discontinue the Development and Production of HD DVD Players

Onkyo Corporation is discontinuing development and production of HD DVD players following Toshiba's February 19, 2008 announcement to exit the HD DVD business, which cut off Onkyo's supply of core components. Having sold approximately 2,000 units across select markets, Onkyo will maintain full after-sales support for existing owners while pivoting to Blu-ray-compatible home theater products. The company's parallel Blu-ray R&D program positions it to continue delivering high-definition audio and video solutions without significant disruption to its product roadmap.

February 21, 2008

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Showdown: Apple TV vs. VUDU

Apple TV and VUDU compete as hardware-based HD movie rental platforms, with Apple TV capped at 720p/24fps source resolution versus VUDU's 1080p/24fps H.264 High Profile encoding for HD content. VUDU's peer-to-peer delivery enables near-instant playback on a 4 Mbps connection, while Apple TV requires roughly 15 minutes before a downloaded HD title can begin. Buyers prioritizing lower entry cost and HD rental pricing will favor Apple TV at $229, while those seeking better resolution, a 5,000-plus title library, and instant access will find VUDU the stronger choice.

February 21, 2008

Columns

JVC's GZ-HD6 and GZ-HD5 hard disk camcorders deliver 1920x1080 Full HD recording via a FUJINON HD lens and progressive scan 3CCD imaging system, while outputting 1080p at 60 frames per second over HDMI 1.3 with x.v.Color. The GZ-HD6 offers up to 10 hours of Full HD recording on its 120GB internal drive, and both models are 45 percent smaller than JVC's previous flagship HD camcorder. Buyers gain a capable manual control set including focus assist and zebra exposure tools, making these compact camcorders viable for more demanding shooting scenarios.

January 30, 2008

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Survey Shows the HD Experience Is a Key Factor for Fans Deciding How and Where to Watch the Super Bowl

Travel Channel Launches Travel Channel HD(TM) Simulcast Nationwide

Travel Channel launched Travel Channel HD, a high-definition simulcast now available to cable, satellite, and telco providers nationwide, with over one year of programming already filmed in HD. A Frank N. Magid Associates survey of 746 adults conducted in fall 2007 ranked Travel Channel as the most anticipated new HD cable network among current HD subscribers, with 70 percent of HD VOD users expressing interest in Travel Channel HD VOD content. Viewers already subscribed to HD services can expect the full lineup of popular series delivered in native HD, alongside expanded HD VOD availability.

January 14, 2008

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HD DVD Standards

Toshiba Deploys New HD DVD Marketing Initiatives Based on Strong Fourth Quarter Unit Sales

Toshiba's HD DVD players, led by the entry-level HD-A3 at a new MSRP of $149.99, claimed approximately 50 percent market share in the next-generation DVD category and over 80 percent of next-generation notebook DVD drives in Q4 2007. The players support 1080p output at 24 frames per second, HDMI-based DVD upconversion to near-HD quality, and Web-enabled network features via a dedicated Ethernet port, with firmware versions mandated by the DVD Forum specification. Consumers considering an upgrade to high-definition playback will find the combination of backward-compatible DVD upconversion and online streaming capabilities relevant to evaluating the format's practical value.

January 14, 2008

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Hauppauge Demonstrates New Affordable High Definition Video Recorder for PCs

Hauppauge's HD PVR is a USB-connected personal video recorder that captures high definition content from cable or satellite set-top boxes via component (YPbPr) cables, encoding footage in real time using an on-board H.264 AVC hardware encoder. The device also supports AVCHD output compatible with Blu-ray players, fitting roughly 2 hours of HD content onto a standard 4.7 GB DVD. Priced at $249 and targeting a Q1 2008 release, it includes an IR blaster for scheduled recordings, making hands-free HD capture practical for everyday PC users.

January 11, 2008

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Standards

December 19, 2007

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VUDU Offers Free Boxes to Customers Who Purchase Select AQUOS 1080p High Definition LCD TVs Through Vudu.com

VUDU is bundling a free streaming box with purchases of Sharp AQUOS 1080p LCD TVs (42 inches or larger) through January 5, 2008, giving new owners immediate access to thousands of movie and TV titles on a pay-per-view basis. The service debuted same-day HD digital purchases alongside Blu-ray and HD DVD retail releases, and up-scales non-native content to a quality comparable to 1080i/1080p24. For buyers of large-screen displays, this promotion delivers a ready-made HD content pipeline without a subscription commitment.

December 19, 2007

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Market Trends & Analysis HD DVD Blu-ray

VUDU: The Future of High Definition Movie Downloads

The VUDU set-top box ($399) delivers video downloads directly to your television via a peer-to-peer distribution system, supporting 1080p/24 output over HDMI v1.1 with MPEG-4 variable bitrate encoding averaging 2 Mbit/s for SD content and full 1080p sourcing for HD titles. Audio is encoded in Dolby Digital Plus but output is capped at Dolby Digital 5.1, and the 100-hour onboard storage (50 hours HD) can be expanded via two USB ports in a future firmware update. For cord-cutters evaluating digital alternatives to physical media, VUDU offers the most complete download experience available in late 2007, though limited HD title availability and the absence of advanced audio formats keep it from fully replacing HD DVD or Blu-ray.

December 18, 2007

Testing Grounds

Satellite HD Cable HD

THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER transitions to high-definition broadcast on December 17, 2007, adding 260 annual hours of HD programming to PBS output and requiring WETA to build a new control room, HD-optimized set, and install new cameras and digital editing equipment. The standard-definition feed will be down-converted from HD and delivered in letterbox format until the national digital television conversion in February 2009. Viewers with HD televisions will gain improved video resolution and higher-quality audio, while PBS projects a full HD service transition by that same February 2009 deadline.

December 11, 2007

Bulletins

HDTV Intenders to Significantly Impact High-Def DVD Battle

Research from The Diffusion Group, based on surveys of 1,500 and 2,000 U.S. adult internet users conducted in October and November 2007, reveals that among HDTV Intenders likely to buy a high-def DVD player, 43% prefer HD DVD versus 27% for Blu-ray. These prospective buyers skew younger, lower-income, and more price-sensitive than current HDTV early adopters, suggesting the mainstream wave favors HD DVD. For consumers tracking the format war, this data implies that price-driven mass-market adoption could be a decisive factor in determining which format ultimately wins.

December 10, 2007

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Home Theater HD DVD Blu-ray

LG's 2nd Generation 'Super Blu' High-Definition Disc Player Now Available

LG's second-generation Super Blu Player (BH200, $999) is the only disc player capable of handling both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats, offering access to 50-70 percent more high-definition movie titles than any single-format player. The unit outputs up to 1080p via HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color, includes BD Profile 1.1 readiness for future Picture-in-Picture Blu-ray discs, and employs Marvell's Qdeo video processing for per-pixel motion-adaptive 3D de-interlacing and artifact reduction. For home theater buyers navigating the format war, this dual-format player eliminates the need for multiple devices while future-proofing against evolving disc standards.

Texas Instruments' DA7xx (Aureus) audio DSPs have become the first embedded implementation approved for DTS-HD Master Audio at 192 kHz, supporting eight channels of lossless audio that is bit-for-bit identical to the original source. The 32/64-bit floating-point single-chip solution also holds full certification for Dolby TrueHD, making it the only processor approved for both HD audio formats found on HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. For consumers, this means AVR manufacturers including Marantz, Onkyo, and Yamaha can deliver complete next-generation HD audio decoding in cost-effective home theater receivers.

October 31, 2007

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Nielsen Releases High Definition TV (HDTV) Household Estimates

Nielsen's November 2007 HDTV household estimates reveal that 13.7% of U.S. TV households (approximately 15.5 million) are HD Capable, while 11.3% are HD Receivable, meaning they actively receive at least one HD network or station. Los Angeles leads HD Capable penetration at 20.4%, and New York tops HD Receivable penetration at 17.5%, with notable demographic gaps showing African-American households at 8.1% HD Capable versus 10.4% for Hispanic or Latino households. These figures, collected via Nielsen's in-home metered samples and updated quarterly, offer broadcasters and advertisers a concrete baseline for gauging real-world HD adoption across 210 local DMAs.

October 30, 2007

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IPTV Satellite HD Cable HD

Panasonic Introduces Next-Generation Blu-Ray Disc™ Player

Panasonic's DMP-BD30 Blu-ray Disc player, priced at $499.95, launched in 2007 as the first player to implement Final Standard Profile, enabling Picture-in-Picture and Audio Mixing capabilities alongside HDMI 1.3B with 12-bit Deep Color support for 4,096 step gradation. The player also delivers 1080/24p native playback, eliminating 3:2 pulldown conversion for smoother motion, and includes an SD Memory Card slot supporting AVCHD 1080p output and JPEG upscaling to 1920x1080. Buyers gain a notably future-ready feature set for the era, with EZ-Sync HDAVI Control simplifying multi-component Panasonic home theater operation.

October 30, 2007

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LED TVs Satellite HD

The DIRECTV HD Starship Puts the 'High' in High-Def with the World's Largest LED Screen in the Sky

DIRECTV deployed the HD Starship blimp over Fenway Park for the 2007 MLB World Series, featuring a 70x30-foot airborne LED video screen with 33,600 total pixels, making it the largest airborne LED display ever built and one of only two such systems worldwide. The 178-foot blimp also carried an HD aerial camera system providing live footage for Fox Sports broadcasts. For sports fans, this dual-purpose platform delivered both high-definition aerial coverage and a visible promotion of DIRECTV's lineup of more than 70 national HD channels.

October 24, 2007

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EchoStar Unveils ViP-TV, One of the Most Comprehensive IPTV Transport Platforms On the Market

EchoStar FSS Corporation launched ViP-TV, a wholesale MPEG-4 IP-encapsulated video transport platform delivered via high-powered Ku-band satellite with capacity for over 300 channels, including 40 channels of HD programming and local broadcast coverage across more than 165 designated market areas. The turn-key service targets Telco, rural cable, and municipal operators, offering tiered programming packages spanning Spanish-language, international, and movie content in over 10 languages. Operators can deploy a complete end-to-end solution incorporating EchoStar's ViP-series set-top box technology without building independent satellite infrastructure.

October 23, 2007

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Limelight Networks Unveils High-Definition Content Delivery for the Internet

Limelight Networks launched LimelightHD, a content delivery network service supporting 720p and 1080p resolution video delivered across more than 700 broadband access networks worldwide, bypassing congested public Internet infrastructure to reach last-mile connections. The service supports Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Silverlight, Windows Media, and Move Media Player formats, enabling delivery to televisions, game consoles, and PCs. Partners including Fox Interactive Media, Brightcove, and Rajshri.com plan to use LimelightHD to distribute HD movies, TV shows, and original programming, making broadcast-quality streaming a practical option for large-scale online video distribution.

October 23, 2007

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WD(R) Delivers Hundreds More Hours to High Definition TiVo(R) DVRs

WD's My DVR Expander, a 500 GB eSATA external hard drive verified compatible with TiVo HD and TiVo Series3 DVRs, delivers up to 300 hours of standard-definition or 60 hours of high-definition recording capacity at an MSRP of $199.99. The drive also supports broadband content from TiVoCast partners, including Amazon Unbox downloads, and is certified compatible with Scientific Atlanta 8300 Series DVRs. For consumers managing growing HD libraries, this plug-and-play expansion eliminates the need to delete recordings to free space.

DIRECTV launched 72 national HD channels in October 2007, surpassing all competing television providers and targeting up to 100 HD channels by year-end, with a planned DIRECTV 11 satellite launch to eventually support 150 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD and digital channels. Subscribers access HD content for a $9.99 monthly fee, with an optional HD EXTRA PACK at $4.99 per month covering HDNet, Universal HD, and MGM HD among others. For households already owning or considering an HDTV, this expansion represented a significant jump in available HD content across sports, entertainment, and premium cable networks.

October 15, 2007

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Amazon.com Unveils "High-Def 101" Customer Knowledge Center for High-Definition Shoppers

Amazon launched its High-Def 101 knowledge center in October 2007, targeting consumers navigating a fragmented HD marketplace that included competing formats such as Blu-ray and HD DVD, alongside HDTVs, surround sound systems, and HD game consoles. The site offered a terminology dictionary, consumer-friendly configuration guides, and community forums staffed by home theater professionals. For shoppers facing falling next-generation disc player prices and expanding HD content from pay-TV providers and studios, the resource aimed to simplify purchasing decisions across a complex, interconnected product ecosystem.

Clear Channel Spectacolor launched the 'Spectacolor HD' digital billboard in Times Square, featuring a 1984x2016 pixel LED display capable of rendering HD content exceeding the 1080p broadcast standard without compression. The billboard integrates CNN live HD news streams, a dedicated audio channel accessible via toll-free mobile dial-in, Bluetooth content downloads, SMS short code interactivity, and Times Square's first free public WiFi hotspot. Advertisers gain a multi-channel engagement platform that turns passersby's mobile phones into interactive remote controls, enabling real-time brand feedback in one of the world's highest-traffic public spaces.

October 2, 2007

Bulletins

Cable HD Sports

SPEED Goes High-Def, Starting with 100 Hours of NASCAR Coverage from 50th Anniversary of Daytona 500

SPEED channel announced its transition to High Definition broadcasting, launching February 7, 2008 with 100 hours of NASCAR HD coverage from Daytona Speedweeks, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Daytona 500. All new SPEED programming was commissioned in true 16:9 HD format starting mid-2007, with remote HD production facilities planned for full deployment across the 2008 season. Viewers in the network's 77 million North American households can expect HD versions of flagship NASCAR programs alongside lifestyle series such as PINKS and Super Bikes.

October 1, 2007

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Home Theater HD DVD Blu-ray

Sling Media Launches Exciting New Addition to Slingbox Family

The Slingbox SOLO is a place-shifting device priced at $179.99 that accepts both standard definition and high definition inputs via component, S-Video, or composite connectors, and delivers full VGA resolution streaming at up to 8Mbps on a local network. It supports standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:9) video formats and includes integrated looping outputs for each input. Consumers can use it to watch and control home cable, satellite, or DVR content on PCs, Macs, and smartphones from virtually any Internet-connected location.

Acer, ranked the world's No. 4 PC vendor, has joined the North American HD DVD Promotional Group as HD DVD drives hold a 70% share of the notebook PC market worldwide according to Techno Systems Research data. The HD DVD format, approved by the DVD Forum with over 220 member organizations, targets high-capacity, high-definition optical disc playback as a post-DVD standard. For consumers, Acer's membership signals broader availability of HD DVD-enabled notebook PCs across the market.

September 6, 2007

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LG Electronics Demonstrates Comprehensive Suite of Home Theater Solutions at CEDIA 2007

LG Electronics unveiled its second-generation dual-format Super Blu Player (BH200) at CEDIA 2007, supporting both Blu-ray and HD DVD playback with 1080p HDMI 1.3 Deep Color output and a $999 suggested retail price. The company also expanded its LCD lineup with the 120Hz TruMotion-equipped Opus series in 42, 47, and 52-inch sizes, alongside a new 50-inch Full HD 1080p plasma (50PY3D) featuring three HDMI inputs and RS-232 control. Custom installers gain flexible integration options across all product lines through discrete IR codes, RS-232 control, and expert calibration modes.

Samsung's SP-A800B is a 1080p DLP home theater projector featuring a native 1920x1080 resolution, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 95% aperture ratio, and a 16-microsecond response time. Developed in collaboration with Joe Kane Productions, it supports 24fps film mode and selectable color spaces for SMPTE-C, HDTV, and EBU broadcast formats, matching the gamma response of studio-grade monitors. Home theater enthusiasts gain a commercially calibrated picture quality at home, with near-silent 25dB fan operation preserving the cinematic experience.

September 6, 2007

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Home Theater Projection HD

Panasonic Launches New Full High Definition LCD Home Theater Projector

Panasonic's PT-AE2000U is a 1080p native resolution (1,920 x 1,080) LCD home theater projector delivering 1,500 lumens brightness and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, paired with 16-bit digital signal processing and three HDMI 1.3 inputs with xvYCC support. The projector features a Detail Clarity Processor analyzing frames in three dimensions, C2Fine D7 full-HD LCD panels with inorganic alignment layers, and a Cinema Color Management system capable of correcting approximately 1,070,000,000 colors. Home theater enthusiasts gain professional-grade calibration tools - including a waveform monitor and Split Adjust mode - previously found only on production equipment.

September 6, 2007

Bulletins

Satellite HD Sports Programming

DISH Network, the Leader in College Sports, Adds Big Ten Network

DISH Network (EchoStar, Nasdaq: DISH) launched the Big Ten Network on Channel 439 for subscribers on America's Top 100 and higher packages, with an HD simulcast on Channel 9467 set to follow the following week. At launch, DISH offered 39 national HD channels including NFL Network HD and ESPN HD, plus HD local channels covering more than 50 percent of U.S. households, serving its 13.585 million subscribers. Customers gain access to two HD college football games that weekend and a free six-month DishHD trial with eligible new subscriptions, including an award-winning HD DVR featuring a 10-second skip-back replay function.

CNN HD launched on September 1, 2007, as the first U.S.-based 24-hour news network to broadcast in high definition, delivering a programming lineup identical to the standard-definition CNN/U.S. channel. The rollout includes HD-equipped field crews with cameras, laptop editors, and a mobile CNN Election Express production unit, alongside studio upgrades across New York facilities. Viewers gain access to flagship programs such as Anderson Cooper 360 and major events including presidential debates in full HD.

September 4, 2007

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Sanyo Introduces World's Smallest and Lightest Full HD (1920 X 1080) Digital Camcorder

The Sanyo Xacti HD1000, weighing just 9.5 ounces with a volume of 16.6 cubic inches, was positioned as the world's smallest and lightest Full HD camcorder at launch, recording 1920x1080 video using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression onto SD/SDHC cards with up to 85 minutes of 1080i footage on an 8GB card. A newly developed single-chip image processing engine handles Full HD data at just 4.2 watts, while a 10x optical f/1.8-2.5 lens and HDMI docking station round out the feature set. For consumers, the tapeless design enables two-second startup and direct playback on HDTVs without a PC, making high-definition capture genuinely portable.

August 30, 2007

Bulletins

Home Theater HD DVD

Venturer HD DVD Player to Ship in Time for 2007 Holiday Sales

Venturer Electronics is entering the North American HD DVD market with the SHD7000, a player featuring 1080i video output, HDMI connectivity, and Dolby TrueHD audio decoding described as virtually equivalent to the studio master. Ethernet connectivity enables access to bonus content from movie studio web servers, and the unit also upconverts standard DVDs to near-HD quality over HDMI. Positioned as one of the lowest-priced entry-level HD DVD players, the SHD7000 offers consumers a budget-accessible path to high-definition playback ahead of the 2007 holiday season.

Verbatim and parent company Mitsubishi Kagaku Media announced the world's first Mini Blu-ray BD-R/RE discs, measuring 3 inches (8cm) in diameter with a 7.5GB capacity that supports approximately one hour of continuous 1920x1080i high-definition video recording. The discs feature MKM's proprietary recording layers, precision stamper molding, and a hard-coat finish with anti-static and anti-scratch properties. Camcorder users gain a practical advantage over hard disk alternatives by recording directly to swappable discs, eliminating the need to transfer footage to a computer.

August 2, 2007

Bulletins

Blu-ray HD Camcorders

Hitachi Unveils the World's First<sup>1</sup> Blu-ray Disc Camcorder

Hitachi introduced the world's first Blu-ray Disc camcorder in August 2007, with two models capable of recording 1920x1080 full high-definition video onto an 8cm BD, which holds five times the capacity of an 8cm DVD. The flagship DZ-BD7H pairs a BD drive with a 30GB HDD for up to four hours of full HD recording, while both models use a 5.3 megapixel progressive CMOS sensor and the proprietary 'Picture Master Full HD' signal processor. Consumers gain a self-contained workflow for shooting and archiving full HD footage without requiring external dubbing equipment.

August 2, 2007

Bulletins

HDMI HD Audio Home Theater

Target to Feature Sony Blu-ray Disc Player

Sony's BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc player was set to arrive at Target stores in October 2007 as the exclusive high-definition home video product featured during the holiday season, joining the already available PlayStation 3 as a Blu-ray-capable device on Target shelves. The retail partnership included a dedicated holiday endcap display alongside an expanded selection of Blu-ray movie titles from multiple Hollywood studios. For consumers still undecided between competing HD formats, Target's endorsement of Blu-ray as its sole featured HD video platform represented a meaningful signal about the format's retail momentum.

July 26, 2007

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HD DVD Gaming

Hit Movies, Blockbuster TV Shows, and a Price Drop on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

The HD DVD Promotional Group announced at Comic-Con 2007 a price reduction on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player to $179, bundled with five free HD DVD titles via mail-in offer, positioning it as the most affordable high-definition optical drive available. Key title launches include Heroes: Season 1 on a seven-disc set for $99.98 featuring web-enabled interactivity, and STAR TREK: The Original Series on a 10-disc HD DVD/DVD combo set with remastered HD audio and video for $199.00. These releases highlight HD DVD's exclusive web-connectivity features and format-specific interactive content, giving buyers tangible added value over standard high-definition alternatives.

July 26, 2007

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Sony Elevates Standard of Home Theater with New ES Receivers

Sony's new ES-line A/V receivers (STR-DA5300ES, STR-DA4300ES, STR-DA3300ES) deliver 7.1-channel audio with full support for Dolby TrueHD, dts HD Master Audio, and eight-channel linear PCM, targeting Blu-ray Disc home theater setups. The flagship STR-DA5300ES offers a 120-watt amplifier (8 ohms, 0.09% THD), six HDMI inputs with Deep Color and x.v.Color support, and Faroudja DCDi Cinema video upscaling to 1080p via HDMI. Priced from $1,000 to $1,700, these receivers also integrate iPod access and optional Bluetooth or Wi-Fi streaming through Sony's Digital Media Port, making them practical hubs for both high-definition and everyday digital audio.

July 24, 2007

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The New TiVo HD DVR - $299.99

The TiVo HD DVR launches at $299.99, a significant drop from the Series3's $799.99 price point, offering dual CableCARD slots for simultaneous recording of two HD channels while supporting up to 20 hours of HD or 180 hours of standard-definition storage. The unit is Digital Cable Ready, compatible with digital cable, analog cable, and ATSC antenna signals, and connects via built-in Ethernet and USB ports for broadband features including Amazon Unbox downloads and TiVoCast. For consumers already invested in HDTV hardware, this positions TiVo HD as a direct cable box replacement with expanded content access at a substantially lower cost of entry.

July 24, 2007

Bulletins

JVC Announces New 3CCD High Definition Hard Disk Drive Camcorder

JVC's HD Everio GZ-HD3 is a palm-sized 3-CCD camcorder recording 1440x1080i HD video to a built-in 60GB hard drive, with a maximum bit rate of 30Mbps in XP mode and up to seven hours of recording in SP mode. The camera is 27 percent smaller than its predecessor, the GZ-HD7, and weighs just 1.5 lbs, while offering HDMI and component outputs alongside i.LINK and USB connectivity. Priced at approximately $1,300 and launching in September 2007, it targets consumers seeking accessible HD recording without the limitations of tape or removable disc formats.

July 19, 2007

Bulletins

HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth

The North American HD DVD Promotional Group reported a 37 percent increase in HD DVD hardware sales from Q1 to Q2 2007, alongside a 183 percent quarterly surge in dedicated CE player sales after prices dropped to $299 MSRP. During the same period, Blu-ray hardware sales declined 27 percent, according to NPD and Nielsen Netratings data. For consumers weighing format options, the price gap and a near-1,000 title library by year-end make HD DVD an increasingly practical choice over its high-definition rival.

July 17, 2007

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DLP TVs Home Theater Projection HD

DISH Network Expands Nation's Largest HD Package

DISH Network is expanding its DishHD package with 8 new HD Regional Sports Networks launching July 11, 2007, bringing its total HD RSN lineup to 17 channels, plus 7 additional national HD channels including Animal Planet HD, TLC HD, and History HD set for August 15. The ViP622 DVR, offered free to qualifying new customers, supports multi-room HD playback and includes a 30-second commercial skip feature. Subscribers to America's Top 100 Plus with DishHD gain access to over 200 hours per day of HD content, making this a notable expansion for sports and entertainment viewers.

July 10, 2007

Bulletins

InFocus Launches First 1080p DLP® Home Theater Projector

The InFocus Play Big IN82 is a single-chip DLP home theater projector delivering native 1080p resolution with a 4000:1 contrast ratio boosted to 12000:1 via an iris mechanism, powered by Texas Instruments DarkChip3 technology. At 1,500 Max ANSI lumens and equipped with Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processing and HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color support for 1.07 billion colors, it targets performance well above typical home theater projectors. Priced at $5,499 and available through exclusive resellers, it offers ISF Day and Night presets that allow installers to lock in calibrated settings for real-world viewing conditions.

July 10, 2007

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Sony Introduces New 80GB Playstation3 (PS3); Announces New Price on Current 60GB Model

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced an 80GB PlayStation 3 model launching in August 2007 at $599 USD, bundled with the online racing title MotorStorm supporting up to 12 simultaneous online players, while the existing 60GB model received a $100 price cut to $499. Both configurations share the same core hardware platform, including the Cell Broadband Engine processor, Blu-ray Disc player, 1080p output, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The price reduction and expanded storage option signal Sony's push to broaden the PS3 user base ahead of a holiday lineup exceeding 120 new software titles.

July 10, 2007

Bulletins

DIRECTV 10 Launch A Giant Leap for HD

The DIRECTV 10 satellite, a Boeing-built 702 model, launched July 6, 2007 aboard a Proton Breeze M vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome and entered a geosynchronous transfer orbit at 22,300 miles above the equator. Positioned at 103 degrees West longitude, the satellite's spot beam transponder payload is designed to deliver up to 100 national HD channels and expand local HD service to 75 markets by year-end. Combined with the planned DIRECTV 11 launch in 2008, the two satellites will support over 150 national HD channels and more than 1,500 local HD channels for subscribers.

July 7, 2007

Bulletins

Home Theater Plasma TVs

Panasonic's TH-42PZ700U becomes the industry's first 1080p 42-inch plasma HDTV, featuring a native 1920x1080 resolution, two HDMI inputs, and an SD card slot, priced at $2,499.95 with retail availability beginning early July 2007. The set joins Panasonic's 700 Series lineup spanning 42 to 103 inches, all noted for deep blacks and high contrast ratios. Buyers gain access to the Plasma Concierge support program, including loaner units during repairs and priority service scheduling.

June 20, 2007

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HDMI Home Theater

Onkyo Professional Debuts its First Multichannel Surround Processor

The Onkyo Professional PR-SC885P is a THX-Ultra2 Certified 7.1-channel A/V surround processor featuring HDMI 1.3a switching with 1080p and Deep-Color support, Silicon Optix Reon-VX HQV video processing, and internal decoding for Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio via three Texas Instruments 32-bit DSP chips with Burr Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs. The unit also supports Audyssey Multi-EQ room correction using up to eight measurement positions, Neural-THX Surround decoding, and professional XLR balanced pre-outs. Priced at $1,800 and targeting commercial installations, it integrates with AMX and Crestron control systems via Ethernet and RS-232, making it a technically comprehensive option for large-scale professional deployments.

June 18, 2007

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SAMSUNG Introduces 70" Full-HD LCD TV with Local Dimming Technology

Samsung's 70-inch Full-HD LCD TV, announced in June 2007 as the largest commercially available LCD TV at the time, replaces conventional CCFL backlighting with an LED array featuring local dimming technology that achieves a dynamic contrast ratio of 500,000:1. By shutting off LEDs in dark image areas, the display cuts power consumption by up to 50%, while LED scanning addresses ghosting and flicker common in large-screen LCD panels. For buyers, this combination of extreme contrast performance and reduced energy draw represented a meaningful step forward in large-format home display technology.

June 14, 2007

Bulletins

DIRECTV to Offer 11 HBO/Cinemax Channels in HD

DIRECTV announced plans to launch 11 HBO and Cinemax channels in full-time HD beginning September 2007, adding feeds such as HBO West, HBO Latino, HBO Signature, Cinemax East, and MoreMax to its existing HD lineup. The expansion is tied to the July 2007 launch of the D10 satellite, which, combined with a second satellite launching in early 2008, will give DIRECTV capacity for up to 150 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD and digital channels. Subscribers already receiving these channels in standard-definition will gain access to HD versions without switching providers.

June 13, 2007

Bulletins

DirecTV - The March to 100 National High Definition Channels

DirecTV's 2007 push to deliver 100 national HD channels is enabled by the launch of satellites DirecTV 10 and 11, which support a new transmission protocol and the more efficient MPEG-4/AVC codec to maximize available bandwidth. Of the 100 promised channels, roughly 70 to 80 are expected to be year-round offerings, with NFL Sunday Ticket multi-feed channels and East/West network simulcasts counting toward the total. Subscribers can expect no price increase beyond the existing $9.99 HD package fee, though final channel quality and the full lineup remain to be confirmed at launch.

June 11, 2007

Articles

Satellite HD Cable HD OTA HD & Antennas

Sony Adds Nine Models to BRAVIA(R) Flat-Panel LCD Line

Sony expanded its BRAVIA flat-panel LCD HDTV lineup with nine new models across the XBR5, XBR4, and W3000 series, all featuring 1920x1080 full HD resolution and 10-bit panels, with select XBR models adding Motionflow 120Hz technology that doubles displayed frames to reduce motion judder. The W3000 series incorporates WCG-CCFL backlighting with 10-bit processing capable of 64 times the color expression of 8-bit panels, while all models support the BRAVIA Internet Video Link module requiring a 3 Mbps broadband connection for streaming content. Buyers considering the XBR4 or XBR5 lines gain HDMI-CEC integration via BRAVIA Theatre Sync and 1080/24p True Cinema support, making these sets a practical upgrade for both home theater and streaming use.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America launched nine 1080p DLP HDTVs across three series (733, 734, and 833 Diamond), each featuring the proprietary 6-Color Light Engine that generates yellow, cyan, and magenta directly rather than mixing RGB primaries, delivering up to 80 percent more color than standard HDTV. All models include three rear HDMI 1.3 inputs with SimplayHD certification, while the top-tier 833 Diamond series adds Smooth120Hz motion processing and IEEE1394 connectivity. Buyers prioritizing large-screen home theater will find meaningful differences between tiers, from baseline color performance to full dynamic contrast and motion blur reduction in the premium Diamond models.

May 14, 2007

Bulletins

Starz Entertainment announced plans to expand its HD channel lineup from one to four channels, adding East Coast feeds of Starz Comedy, Starz Edge, and Starz Kids & Family, with a target launch by end of Summer 2007. The company cited research indicating that HD set owners subscribing to cable and satellite rank among the highest ARPU customers, and that demand for HD premium movie content exceeds even sports programming. For subscribers, the expansion means access to first-run Hollywood titles such as 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' and 'Cars' in full HD across a broader range of channel formats.

May 1, 2007

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HD DVD Home Theater

Digital Video Essentials (DVE) HD DVD Now Available

Joe Kane Productions has released 'Digital Video Essentials HD DVD,' a dual-sided calibration disc featuring VC-1 encoded 1080p and 720p test materials on one side and standard definition NTSC/PAL content on the other, priced at $34.95. The disc marks the first use of 720p in the HD DVD format and introduces 6.1 channel Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD calibration content, with test patterns including Reverse Gray Ramps, Shallow Ramps, and Colored Ramps generated natively in HD. Home theater owners can use this reference tool to properly calibrate displays without relying on converted test materials, ensuring accurate setup for both HD and SD sources.

April 26, 2007

Bulletins

Home Theater HDMI HD Audio

Onkyo to Release HDMI 1.3a Receiver in May for $599

The Onkyo TX-SR605 is a 7-channel, 90-watts-per-channel A/V receiver featuring two HDMI v1.3a inputs and onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio, making it one of the first receivers to handle lossless multichannel audio from Blu-ray and HD-DVD sources. It also introduces Onkyo's RIHD protocol for HDMI-based system control, Faroudja DCDi de-interlacing, and Audyssey 2EQ automatic speaker calibration. Priced at $599, it offers a practical all-in-one upgrade path for home theater enthusiasts transitioning to HD disc formats and modern displays.

April 25, 2007

Bulletins

Sports Programming

Sony's BRAVIA 3LCD VPL-AW15 and VPL-AW10 front projectors deliver 1280x720 progressive resolution with a 165-watt Ultra High Pressure Lamp producing 1,100 lumens, targeting home theater setups starting at around $1,000. The step-up VPL-AW15 adds Advanced Iris 2 with a High Contrast Plate for a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 12,000:1, lens shift via the ARC-F lens, and HDMI input supporting 1080/24p downscaled to native 720p for cinema-style motion reproduction. Buyers seeking large-screen HD gaming or movie viewing on a budget will find these projectors offer meaningful performance differentiation between the two tiers.

March 28, 2007

Bulletins

Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite

Microsoft's Xbox 360 Elite adds a 120GB detachable hard drive and an HDMI port supporting up to 1080p HD video with multichannel surround sound, distinguishing it from earlier Xbox 360 models. Priced at $479.99, the console also features a premium black finish, a wireless controller with a 30-foot range and 30-hour battery life on two AA batteries, and bundled Xbox Live memberships. The HDMI output and expanded storage make it a more capable option for users who prioritize high-definition content and digital media libraries.

March 28, 2007

Bulletins

Apple HDTV Coming to Your Living Room

Apple TV, announced at Macworld San Francisco in January 2007 and priced at $299, is a media streaming device featuring a 40GB hard drive, 720p HD output, and AirPort 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity. It connects to widescreen TVs via HDMI or component video and can auto-sync with one computer while streaming from up to five others. Users gain access to over 250 movies and 350 TV shows through iTunes, bringing their digital media library directly to a home entertainment system without physical media.

January 10, 2007

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Toshiba Takes HD DVD to the Next Level With 51GB HD DVD-ROM Disc

Toshiba announced a triple-layer HD DVD-ROM disc with a 51GB capacity, achieved by increasing each layer's storage from 15GB to 17GB through advances in recording pit minimization. The disc retains the standard dual 0.6mm bonded structure shared across DVD and HD DVD formats, enabling volume manufacturing at minimal cost increase. At a sampling rate of 17 Mbps, the disc holds up to 7 hours of high-definition video, meaningfully expanding content options for high-end HD DVD releases pending DVD Forum approval.

January 9, 2007

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DIRECTV to Offer 100 National HD Channels in 2007

DIRECTV announced plans to launch 100 national HD channels in 2007, backed by the deployment of two new satellites (DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11) that will expand total capacity to over 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels. The service already covers local HD broadcast channels in 49 cities, reaching more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households. With 40 million homes projected to have HD-capable TVs that year, subscribers would gain access to three times more HD programming than any competing multi-channel distributor.

January 8, 2007

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HD DVR Satellite HD

DISH Network Offers Free High Definition DVR

DISH Network's ViP622 DVR, the first HD DVR in the satellite industry offered at no upfront cost to new subscribers, supports dual-room HD output and includes a true 30-second commercial skip feature - capabilities that earned it CNET's Editor's Choice and best-in-class DVR ranking. Starting February 1, 2007, new customers can receive the unit free through the Digital Home Advantage Program, with access to 30 national HD channels available for an additional $20 per month. For viewers considering an HD upgrade, this promotion removes the hardware cost barrier that previously made HD DVR adoption prohibitive.

January 8, 2007

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Buena Vista (Disney) Announces Release Slate for Blu-ray

Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment has announced an extensive 2007 Blu-ray Disc release slate spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, with most titles utilizing dual-layer 50GB discs to maximize encode quality and bonus content capacity. The lineup includes major titles such as Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and Crimson Tide, with single-layer discs holding 25GB and double-layer discs reaching 50GB of storage. Consumers in all three regions can expect staggered releases beginning March 2007, with several titles receiving simultaneous worldwide rollouts.

January 8, 2007

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HD DVD Home Theater

Onkyo to Launch HD DVD Player in 2007

Onkyo announced plans to enter the HD DVD market in North America with its first HD DVD player, a format supporting Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD 5.1 channel audio processing. The player would leverage HDMI for single-cable transfer of video, audio, and control signals, with companion AV receivers also in development. For consumers investing in large-screen HDTVs, this represented a potential high-definition home theater solution from a recognized AV brand, though specific specs and launch timing were not yet disclosed.

January 8, 2007

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Fox and MGM Titles Slated for Blu-ray for First-Half of 2007

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced a slate of over 40 Fox and MGM titles for Blu-ray Disc release in the first half of 2007, with dual-layer 50 GB discs and BD-Java interactivity featured prominently across multiple titles. The studio claims Blu-ray outsold HD DVD by 20 percent the week of December 24, 2006, projecting a 3.5-to-1 sales ratio by end of Q1 2007, though the editorial questions whether PS3-driven purchase spikes are being used to inflate trend projections. Consumers evaluating format adoption should weigh these figures carefully, as the methodology behind the proprietary Fox Research chart remains unverified.

January 8, 2007

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HD Media Centers

AMD Announces HD Digital Cable Tuner for PCs

AMD's ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner, announced January 8, 2007, is the industry's first CableLabs-certified DTV receiver for Windows Vista, enabling PCs to receive premium HD digital cable channels such as HD ESPN and HD HBO. Powered by AMD Avivo image processing technology, the device integrates with Windows Vista Media Center and supports live viewing, recording, and streaming to Xbox 360 where permitted by content providers. Scheduled for availability starting January 30, 2007 through OEM partners, it positions the media center PC as a direct competitor to standalone consumer electronics devices for full HD cable content access.

January 8, 2007

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Home Theater LCD TVs

Sharp Announces 108-inch LCD TV, Blu-ray Player, and More

Sharp debuted the world's largest LCD TV at CES 2007, a 108-inch Full HD 1080p prototype built on eighth-generation glass substrates from its Kameyama Plant No. 2, alongside a new AQUOS D92U series offering a 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 4ms pixel response time, and 120Hz frame rate conversion. The lineup also introduced DLP front projectors including the XV-Z20000, featuring a native 1920x1080 resolution, 12,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1000 ANSI lumens output. Buyers evaluating large-screen HDTVs in early 2007 would find the D92U series available in sizes up to 65 inches with three HDMI inputs and full 1080p compatibility across Blu-ray and other sources.

January 8, 2007

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Projection HD

ViewSonic Showcases the Latest in Display Products and Previews Technologies for the Future at CES 2007

ViewSonic debuted over a dozen display products at CES 2007, highlighted by the industry's first fully-featured multifunction high-definition DLP projector with an integrated iPod dock and two true 1080p HDTVs in the NextVision 61 Series, including the 46-inch N4661w. The company also previewed future technologies such as wireless HDMI video capability and 3D desktop displays. Consumers gain practical options across multiple price points, from Windows Vista-certified widescreen desktop LCDs to compact 20-inch HDTVs suited for smaller spaces.

January 8, 2007

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Warner Brothers to Release Matrix Franchise, Harry Potter Films and Oceans 11/12 on HD DVD in 2007

Warner Home Video announced its 2007 HD DVD slate at CES, highlighting The Departed on HD DVD Combo for $39.99 SRP on February 13, alongside planned releases of The Matrix franchise, all Harry Potter films, and Oceans 11 and 12. WHV held six of the top 10 selling HD DVD titles for 2006, with Superman Returns at number one, and had released 53 titles since the format launched in April 2006. Consumers can expect resolution six times higher than standard definition DVD, plus enhanced interactivity features accessible without interrupting playback.

January 8, 2007

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Home Theater HD Media Centers

Samsung Announces Next Generation Blu-ray Player: BD-P1200

Samsung's second-generation Blu-ray player, the BD-P1200, features an HQV processor for true 1080i-to-1080p de-interlacing and supports 7.1-channel Dolby Digital Plus audio via HDMI, along with 192KHz LPCM and H.264 decoding. The player handles Blu-ray's 50GB dual-layer capacity and up to 50 Mbps data transfer rate, a significant leap over standard DVD's 10.08 Mbps ceiling. Consumers gain backward compatibility with existing DVDs and CDs, making the BD-P1200 a practical upgrade path for households transitioning to high-definition home theater.

January 7, 2007

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Plasma TVs

Panasonic Debuts Next Generation Big Screen 1080p High Definition Plasma TV's And Shows Prototype 42-Inch 1080p

Panasonic expanded its 2007 plasma TV lineup with new 50-inch and 58-inch 1080p models (TH-50PZ700U and TH-58PZ700U) featuring 1920x1080 resolution, built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, and HDMI inputs with EZ-Sync, complementing the existing 65-inch and 103-inch 1080p panels. A prototype 42-inch 1080p plasma was also unveiled at CES 2007, while two new PDP factories in Amagasaki, Japan target an 11.5 million-unit production schedule for 2008. Consumers gain practical benefits including SD Memory Card photo viewing and the new Plasma Concierge service program for pre- and post-purchase support.

January 7, 2007

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Home Theater HD DVD

Toshiba Announces Mid-range 1080p HD DVD Player

Toshiba expanded its HD DVD lineup at CES 2007 with the HD-A20, a mid-range player priced at $599.99 supporting 1920x1080p output via HDMI, joining the entry-level HD-A2 and flagship HD-XA2. The HD-XA2 further distinguishes itself with Deep Color output via HDMI 1.3a and a 297MHz/12-bit Video DAC with 4x oversampling, while all three models support Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and backward compatibility with standard DVD and CD. Consumers evaluating next-generation disc players will find a tiered lineup with mandatory networking and persistent storage built into the HD DVD standard, enabling downloadable content directly to the player.

January 7, 2007

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Blu-ray HD DVD

LG Electronics Launches Industry's First Dual-Format High-Definition Disc Player

LG Electronics unveiled the BH100 'Super Multi Blue' player at CES 2007, the first consumer disc player capable of playing both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, with Full HD 1080p output and standard DVD upconversion to 1080i. The unit supports a broad codec suite including H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2 video and Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD audio, with HDMI output and discrete 5.1-channel analog audio. Priced at $1,199 and targeting Q1 2007, the player offered a practical hedge for consumers unwilling to commit to either format during the high-definition disc format war.

January 7, 2007

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NETGEAR® and BitTorrent™ Collaborate to Deliver High-Definition Movies and TV Shows to HDTVs

The NETGEAR Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) is a set-top media receiver debuting at CES 2007 that outputs video up to 1080p via HDMI and delivers full digital surround sound through a TOSLINK optical audio port. NETGEAR and BitTorrent announced a collaboration to stream HD movies and TV shows from BitTorrent's forthcoming online marketplace, leveraging a peer-assisted delivery platform that accounts for nearly 40 percent of global Internet traffic. For home-theater users, this partnership promises a direct pipeline from a licensed HD content library to their HDTV without requiring a PC as an intermediary.

January 7, 2007

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HD Camcorders Projection HD Home Theater

JVC Announces 2007 Line of New Digital Entertainment Products

JVC unveiled its 2007 product lineup at CES, headlined by the DLA-HD1 front projector featuring a 15,000:1 native contrast ratio achieved without an iris mechanism, and two Slim HD-ILA rear projection HDTVs in 58- and 65-inch sizes with cabinet depths as shallow as 10.7 inches enabled by a new optical engine using a concave mirror. The HD Everio GZ-HD7 camcorder records up to five hours of 1920x1080i video onto a built-in 60GB hard drive, eliminating removable media. Consumers evaluating home theater or camcorder upgrades will find this lineup notable for its combination of high-performance display technology and practical recording convenience.

January 7, 2007

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LCD TVs Events & Trade Shows

LG.Philips LCD Showcases Cutting-Edge Suite of LCDs at CES 2007

LG.Philips LCD presented a broad portfolio of TFT-LCD panels at CES 2007, headlined by its 100-inch flagship panel and a full lineup of Full HD (1920x1080) HDTV panels spanning 37 to 52 inches with dynamic contrast ratios of 5,000:1 and brightness exceeding 500 cd/m2. The showcase also featured a Low-Power Technology Zone where a 42-inch panel achieved 30 percent lower power consumption, and OLED panels with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and 0.01ms response time. Consumers and display buyers gain a clear picture of near-term panel capabilities across TV, mobile, automotive, and desktop segments.

January 7, 2007

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HD DVD Home Theater PC (HTPC)

CES 2007 Predictions

Ahead of CES 2007, this set of predictions covers a broad range of consumer electronics developments, including HDMI 1.3 adoption by receiver manufacturers such as Denon and Yamaha, expanded 1080p display lineups, and a potential second-generation Xbox 360 with HDMI output before studios activate Image Constraint Token (ICT) restrictions on component video. Additional forecasts target HD DVD studio additions, a Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player announcement, and wireless HD video transmission over the then-unratified 802.11n standard. Readers tracking home theater upgrades will find the HDMI 1.3 and ICT timeline discussion particularly relevant to near-term buying decisions.

January 5, 2007

Articles

Toshiba Unveils World's First Desktop HD DVD Writer

Toshiba's SD-H903A is the world's first half-height HD DVD writer for desktop PCs, featuring a Serial ATA interface, an 8MB buffer, and support for dual-layer HD DVD-R discs offering 30GB of storage capacity per disc. The drive integrates a blue-violet laser diode and supports legacy CD and DVD formats alongside HD DVD-ROM playback at 2.4x read speed. For content creators and home users, this means high-definition video editing, archiving, and up to eight hours of HD content on a single dual-layer disc within a standard single-bay desktop form factor.

January 5, 2007

Bulletins

Dell Announces Blu-ray-enabled Notebook

Dell introduced Blu-ray Disc support on the XPS M1710 consumer notebook, offering read/write capability across CD, DVD, and Blu-ray media with up to 50GB single-disc capacity - more than five times that of a dual-layer DVD. The system pairs an Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 (2.33GHz) processor with an NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX GPU and supports 48 Mbps playback at up to 1080p resolution with 7.1 channels of uncompressed surround sound. Starting at $3,699, this configuration positions the M1710 as a high-definition home entertainment hub capable of both content playback and large-scale data archiving.

December 11, 2006

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DirecTV Activates HD Local Channels in Green Bay, Wisc., Greensboro, N.C., Grand Rapids, Mich., and Providence, R.I.

DIRECTV expanded its local HD channel rollout to four new markets - Green Bay, Greensboro, Grand Rapids, and Providence - bringing its total to 49 cities covering more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households. The expansion uses H20 HD receivers or the HR20 DIRECTV Plus HD DVR, with existing HD customers able to upgrade for $99 per receiver. DIRECTV projects the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD channels and 150 national HD channels by 2007, making this a significant milestone for subscribers seeking high-resolution local broadcast coverage.

November 27, 2006

Bulletins

High Definition Video on Demand Coming From Dish Network & Lionsgate

DISH Network's DISH On Demand and Pay-Per-View platform, accessible on receivers including the ViP622 DVR, has added Lionsgate Entertainment's catalog of over 7,800 titles, with HD content available on Channel 9467. The agreement expands VOD options for DISH's 12.755 million subscribers, covering standard and high-definition Pay-Per-View ordering via remote, phone, or web. For viewers, this means on-demand access to Lionsgate films with full DVR controls including pause, fast forward, and rewind.

November 7, 2006

Bulletins

HD TV Shows and Movies Coming to Your Xbox 360

Microsoft announced Xbox 360 as the first gaming console to deliver standard and HD TV shows and movies via digital distribution over the Internet, launching November 22, 2006 with over 1,000 hours of content from partners including CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. The service, accessible through Xbox Live Marketplace with a free Silver membership and broadband connection, supports both download-to-own TV episodes and movie rentals in HD. Gamers can watch purchased episodes repeatedly, making this a notable shift toward integrated gaming and on-demand entertainment in the living room.

November 7, 2006

Bulletins

HD Audio Home Theater Standards

Podcasting in High Definition

A curated guide to HD-focused podcasts available through iTunes covers both informational shows and video podcasts shot at 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolutions, with downloads sized accordingly for full-quality playback. Standouts include MacBreak, produced in 1080p, and mariposaHD, distributed at the full 1920x1080 pixel resolution of the 1080i standard. For viewers hungry for HD content beyond their local provider, these free feeds offer a practical way to access high-resolution video and stay current on HDTV news and reviews.

November 2, 2006

Articles

Home Theater Standards

WirelessHD Standard Coming in Spring 2007

WirelessHD, a special interest group formed by LG, Panasonic, NEC, Samsung, SiBEAM, Sony, and Toshiba, is developing a wireless high-definition digital interface specification using the unlicensed 60 GHz frequency band to deliver multi-gigabit uncompressed HD video, audio, and data transmission. The specification, targeting completion in Spring 2007, incorporates smart antenna technology to address 60 GHz line-of-sight constraints and is designed to replace wired alternatives such as HDMI and DVI. Consumers stand to benefit from cable-free connectivity across HDTVs, HD disc players, game consoles, and portable devices, with In-Stat projecting the high-speed digital A/V interface market to grow from 60 million to 495 million units by 2009.

October 31, 2006

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First Products with HDMI 1.3 Features Hit the Market

HDMI 1.3 more than doubles the bandwidth of its predecessor and introduces Deep Color support at 10-bit, 12-bit, and 16-bit depths, enabling billions of colors and eliminating on-screen banding that plagued 8-bit displays. The specification also adds lossless audio formats including Dolby TrueHD, which supports up to 18 Mbps at 24-bit/192kHz sampling frequency across eight channels. Early adopters can expect HDMI 1.3 in the PlayStation 3 and Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player by late 2006, with broader HDTV and receiver support rolling out through 2007.

October 27, 2006

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Market Trends & Analysis HD DVD Blu-ray

Fall 2006 HDTV Study Results

The Fall 2006 HDTV Study surveyed 1,281 respondents from August through October 2006, revealing that LCD displays were nearly twice as prevalent as Plasma among owners, and that HD DVD held only a marginal ~4% preference over Blu-ray at a time when Samsung Blu-ray players were experiencing significant quality issues. One in four respondents planned to purchase an HDTV within six months, with LCD again dominating intended purchases at more than twice the rate of Plasma, while LCoS technology showed signs of gaining ground aided by Sony's SXRD lineup. For consumers navigating the format war, the data suggests most were willing to wait for a clear winner rather than risk another costly format commitment.

October 27, 2006

Articles

EA Announces 30 Games in Development for PLAYSTATION 3

Electronic Arts announced more than 30 titles in development for the PlayStation 3, with eight to ten games planned for release by late March 2007, including Madden NFL 07, Need for Speed Carbon, and Fight Night Round 3 shipping December 12. The lineup is built to exploit the PS3's Cell processor and Blu-ray disc capacity, with titles like Need for Speed Carbon explicitly leveraging Blu-ray's high throughput to stream complex open-world environments. Gamers can expect SIXAXIS motion-sensor integration across multiple franchises, from golf swing spin control in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 to defensive hit mechanics in Madden NFL 07.

October 20, 2006

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DirecTV Adds Eighteen More Local HD Markets

DIRECTV is expanding local HD broadcast coverage to 67 markets by end of 2006, reaching approximately 74 percent of U.S. TV households, with ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC available at no additional charge to TOTAL CHOICE subscribers. The HR20 HD DVR supports up to 50 hours of recording using the MPEG4 transmission standard, and the planned 2007 launches of satellites DIRECTV 10 and 11 will enable delivery of more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels plus 150 national HD channels. Consumers in newly added markets can access local HD content by upgrading to the H20 receiver or HR20 DVR, with rebate and upgrade pricing available.

October 10, 2006

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Politics & Policy DTV Transition

Instant Media Introduces Integrated Commerce Engine into High-Definition Internet TV Platform

Instant Media version 1.2 adds an integrated commerce engine to its patent-pending HD Internet TV platform, enabling users to purchase, rent, or subscribe to premium content via download-to-own, download-to-rent, and recurring monthly subscription models. The platform supports over 550 channels and leverages caching technology for high-definition broadband video delivery, with automatic disk space detection and cache management built into the updated interface. Content providers gain access to a network of more than 1,200 affiliate marketing partners, giving studios direct control over how their content is distributed and monetized.

October 9, 2006

Bulletins

HDTV Magazine, Affinity Marketing & The HDTV Expo Make Comments to the NTIA Regarding the Digital Transition & Coupon Program

Three companies, HDTV Magazine, Affinity Marketing, and The HDTV Expo, submitted joint comments to the NTIA proposing a two-year, 30-to-50-city public awareness campaign ahead of the February 18, 2009 analog-to-digital broadcast cutoff deadline. Their proposal addresses the estimated 23 million U.S. households relying exclusively on analog TV by combining consumer education events with administration of the government-subsidized digital-to-analog converter box coupon program. For consumers, the initiative would provide hands-on exposure to HDTV products and practical guidance on navigating the federally mandated transition.

October 4, 2006

Bulletins

Sling Media to Release New Slingbox Supporting HDTV Input

Sling Media announced three new Slingbox models in September 2006, with the flagship Slingbox PRO accepting HD component video input via the optional $49.99 HD Connect accessory while streaming at up to 400% improved performance over the original unit. Although the PRO accepts HD input, output streams are not true HD but do support 16:9 widescreen and improved bit-rates, eliminating the need for manual down-conversion before streaming. Consumers with HD set-top boxes, DVRs, or multiple A/V sources can now integrate place-shifting into their existing setups without signal degradation workarounds.

September 28, 2006

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DIRECTV Activates HD Local Channel Service in Austin, Texas, Cincinnati and Las Vegas

DIRECTV expanded its local HD broadcast channel service to Austin, Cincinnati, and Las Vegas in September 2006, bringing its HD local coverage to 42 cities representing 62 percent of U.S. TV households. The rollout supports the HR20 HDDVR receiver, which records up to 50 hours of MPEG4 content, alongside the H20 HD receiver, with existing customers able to upgrade for $99 per receiver. This expansion positions subscribers in newly added markets to receive both standard and HD local signals at no additional monthly charge, with a full national HD buildout targeting over 1,500 local HD channels by 2007.

September 28, 2006

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Home Theater Gaming

Microsoft Announces Xbox HD DVD Player Availability for U.S.

Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player at its X06 event, priced at $199.99 in North America and launching in mid-November 2006, bundled with Peter Jackson's King Kong on HD DVD and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote. The add-on delivers up to six times higher resolution than standard DVD, and a fall 2006 console update enables native 1080p output across all Xbox 360 consoles. With over 150 HD DVD titles available by the holidays, the peripheral offers a relatively affordable entry point into high-definition home theater without requiring a standalone player.

September 27, 2006

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Standards Satellite HD

DirecTV Ramping-up to Roll-out Hundreds of HD Channels Next Year

DIRECTV has opened a 74,000-square-foot technical call center in Missoula, Montana, with capacity for up to 1,000 support agents, timed to coincide with a major expansion of HD channel capacity planned for 2007. The company's DIRECTV Plus HD DVR supports up to 200 hours of standard-definition or 50 hours of MPEG4 HD recording, and delivers the first HD interactive content through NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan. For subscribers, this infrastructure investment signals broader access to local and national HD channels and more responsive technical support as DIRECTV scales its advanced services.

September 25, 2006

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LCD TVs DLP TVs Home Theater

Samsung Announces Plans to Make Running Line Production Change to BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc Players

Samsung's BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc player is receiving a running line production improvement beginning the last week of October 2006, adding BD-Java title compatibility and a modified noise filter reduction circuit for a sharper picture. A free firmware upgrade delivering both changes will be available via Samsung.com download or disc request, ensuring existing owners are not left behind. All BD-P1000 units sold since the U.S. spring launch remain compatible with upcoming dual-layer 50GB BD-ROM releases.

September 14, 2006

Bulletins

Home Theater HD DVD

Toshiba Announces Introduction of 2nd Generation HD DVD Players

Toshiba unveiled its second-generation HD DVD players at CEDIA Expo 2006, with the flagship HD-XA2 supporting 1080p (1920x1080) output via HDMI 1.3, a 12-bit video DAC, and 4x oversampling at 297 MHz, priced at $999.99. The more affordable HD-A2, at $499.99, tops out at 1080i with HDMI 1.2a, while both models cut load times roughly in half compared to first-generation units. Buyers choosing the HD-XA2 gain access to Deep Color support and doubled HDMI bandwidth, making it the more future-proof option for high-end home theater setups.

September 14, 2006

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Sharp Showcases High-Definition Dominance with a ''Full HD'' Product Lineup at CEDIA

Sharp unveiled its full HD product lineup at CEDIA 2006, anchored by new AQUOS 1080p LCD TVs in 42-, 46-, and 52-inch sizes produced at the world's first Generation 8 LCD factory, Kameyama No. 2, featuring 4-wavelength backlighting and dual HDMI inputs compatible with 1080p Blu-ray signals. The lineup also includes the flagship XV-Z20000 DLP front projector, which uses a single 0.95-inch DMD chip at native 1920x1080 resolution and carries an MSRP of $11,999.99. Consumers gain access to six 1080p screen sizes from a single manufacturer, spanning flat-panel and front-projection formats, making Sharp a broad option for full HD home theater builds.

September 14, 2006

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Sony Increases Flat-Panel Lead With 52-inch Full HD 1080p Bravia LCD Models

Sony announced its largest BRAVIA LCD televisions at CEDIA 2006, the 52-inch KDL-52XBR2 and KDL-52XBR3, featuring native 1920x1080 panels with three HDMI 1080p-capable inputs and a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 7,000:1 via the Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) technology. The BRAVIA Engine Pro incorporates DRC-MFv2.5 processing to up-convert standard-definition and HD signals to 1080p, while WCG-CCFL backlighting extends the color gamut beyond conventional displays. Priced at $6,500 to $6,800 and shipping in November 2006, these sets represented a significant investment for early adopters seeking full HD performance at large screen sizes.

Panasonic's TH-103PF9UK, the world's largest plasma display at 103 inches, delivers full 1080p resolution at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels with a 5,000:1 contrast ratio and 16-bit color reproduction across 4,096 equivalent gradation steps. NBC Universal became the first commercial customer to deploy two units on the set of 'Football Night in America' at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, alongside four 50-inch TH-50PH9UK panels. Priced at $69,999.95 and available in November 2006, the display supports multiple signal formats and a flexible plug-in terminal board architecture suited for professional broadcast environments.

August 31, 2006

Bulletins

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Announces Its First Blu-ray Disc Releases

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced its first eight Blu-ray Disc titles for November 2006 release, encoded with AVC (MPEG-4) compression and DTS HD Lossless Master Audio, with single-layer discs holding 25GB and dual-layer discs holding 50GB of data. Titles such as 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' and 'Speed' leverage BD-J (Java-based) interactivity, offering features like 99-bookmark support, multi-category scene search indexes, and in-disc games. For early adopters and PlayStation 3 purchasers, this slate signals Fox's commitment to high-definition packaged media with richer bonus content than standard DVD releases.

August 31, 2006

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Plasma TVs Market Trends & Analysis

Sharp Introduces New Aquos Models Produced at World's First 8th Generation LCD Plant

Sharp's new 46-inch (LC-46D62U) and 52-inch (LC-52D62U) AQUOS LCD TVs are the first panels produced at the Kameyama No. 2 facility, the world's first 8th generation LCD factory, featuring full 1920x1080 resolution, a native contrast ratio of 2000:1, and a 4ms pixel response time. The 8th generation motherglass substrates are roughly 1.3 times larger than 7th generation, yielding eight 46-inch panels per sheet and cutting production lead times in half. Dual HDMI inputs with 1080p compatibility and competitive pricing make these sets a practical step forward for large-screen home theater buyers.

August 31, 2006

Bulletins

Blu-ray HD DVD

Warner Home Video to Release Record Ten High Definition Media Titles September 26

Warner Home Video is releasing 10 high definition titles simultaneously on September 26, 2006, split across both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats, each priced at $28.99 SRP and delivering resolution six times higher than standard definition DVD. The lineup spans decades of film, from the 1938 classic 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' restored via Warner's patented Ultra-Resolution process to 'Terminator 3' featuring an In-Movie Experience with director commentary. Consumers gain full bonus feature parity with standard definition releases plus enhanced interactivity through seamless menu navigation without interrupting playback.

August 30, 2006

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42" HD Overtakes 42" ED Worldwide

DisplaySearch Q2 2006 data shows 42-43 inch HD plasma TVs captured a 43% share of plasma shipments, up from 36%, surpassing 42 inch ED models for the first time as the price gap between HD and ED sets narrowed from $881 to $666. HD plasma's share of total worldwide plasma TV shipments jumped from 56% to 70% in a single quarter, driven by HD prices falling at twice the rate of ED prices. For consumers, this shift signals that HD-compatible plasma TVs were becoming a more accessible and practical choice over their ED counterparts.

August 24, 2006

Bulletins

OTA Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

ATI Serves Up New Technology To Watch Sports And New Fall TV Programs On PCs In High Definition

ATI Technologies launched the TV Wonder 650 and TV Wonder 200 PC tuner cards in August 2006, with the flagship TV Wonder 650 priced at $129 and featuring the Theater 650 Pro chip for free over-the-air HDTV reception, hardware MPEG-2 encoding, and support for DivX, H.264, MPEG-4, and WMV9 recording formats. The Theater 650 chip includes a motion-adaptive 3D comb filter and noise reduction, offloading intensive PVR processing from the host CPU. Both cards are paired with the new Catalyst Media Center software, enabling features like MulTView dual-tuner recording and time-shifted live TV on Windows XP Media Center Edition and the forthcoming Windows Vista.

August 21, 2006

Bulletins

Samsung Electronics Develops First 70-inch LCD TV Panel; Features Full HDTV Specifications

Samsung Electronics announced the first 70-inch TFT-LCD panel for consumer TVs, surpassing the then-largest 65-inch LCD screens with full 1080p resolution, a 180-degree conical viewing angle, and a 120Hz refresh rate double that of conventional Full HD panels. The panel also delivers 600 nits of brightness, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, and sub-8ms response time. For consumers, the 120Hz signal processing means fast-moving content is rendered with significantly greater clarity, positioning this display as a direct competitor to plasma and projection TV technologies.

August 21, 2006

Bulletins

Standards Home Theater HD Audio

Food Network HD Now Available on DISH Network

DISH Network expanded its national HD channel lineup to 30 channels in August 2006, adding Food Network HD on channel 9462 as the first national pay-TV provider to carry it. The DishHD Bronze package, priced at $29.99 for 10 months, delivers more than 200 hours of daily HD content, giving DISH Network twice the national HD channels of most competitors. Subscribers gain access to Food Network programming from hosts like Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis in high definition, with new customers also eligible for free DVR or HD receiver upgrades.

August 18, 2006

Bulletins

HD DVD vs. Blu-ray: And the Winner is ... No One

HD DVD and Blu-ray were locked in a closely contested format war as of mid-2006, with HD DVD holding a two-month market lead and a roughly 50% price advantage over Blu-ray players, while Blu-ray countered with a 50GB dual-layer capacity edge and broader PC industry backing from Apple, Dell, HP, and Sony. Microsoft's $200 Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on and Sony's PS3 launch on November 17th were positioned as key adoption drivers for their respective formats. Consumers waiting for a clear winner faced an indefinite wait, with combo players from Korean manufacturers emerging as the most practical near-term resolution.

August 16, 2006

Articles

New Sanyo High-Definition Digital Media Camera

The SANYO Xacti HD1a is a compact high-definition digital media camera capable of recording 720p video and 5.1 megapixel stills to standard SD cards, priced at $699.99 MSRP. A new 'Web-SHQ' mode captures 320x240 video at 30fps optimized for MPEG-4 portable players such as the video iPod, while a 16:9 still mode delivers 3.8 megapixel widescreen images. At 8.3 ounces with a 10x optical zoom and 21 minutes of HD footage per gigabyte, the HD1a offers a practical all-in-one solution for users wanting high-definition capture in a pocketable form factor.

HDMI 1.3 more than doubles the previous specification's single-link bandwidth from 4.95 Gbps to 10.2 Gbps, while adding support for Deep Color at 30-bit, 36-bit, and 48-bit depths and the xvYCC color space, which covers 1.8 times more colors than existing HDTV signals. The update also introduces automatic lip sync, a new mini connector for portable devices, and lossless audio formats including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. For consumers, these changes mean HDTVs can display billions of colors with smoother gradations, eliminating color banding while maintaining full backward compatibility with existing HDMI products.

June 23, 2006

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Toshiba's RD-A1 Hard Disk Recorder with HD DVD is World's First

Toshiba's RD-A1 is the world's first digital hard disk recorder combining a 1TB hard disk with a recordable HD DVD drive, capable of storing up to 130 hours of HD broadcasts and archiving up to 230 minutes of HD content onto a 30GB dual-layer HD DVD-R disc. The unit supports 1080p output via HDMI using an Anchor Bay Technologies scaler, and decodes next-generation audio formats including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD with analog 5.1ch output. Buyers gain a single device that handles HD recording, legacy DVD upconversion, and DLNA-based home network streaming to compatible Toshiba displays and PCs.

June 22, 2006

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Satellite HD OTA HD & Antennas

DISH Network Expands HD Lineup to 29 Channels

DISH Network expanded its high-definition lineup to 29 national HD channels in June 2006, adding HGTV HD, NFL Network HD, National Geographic Channel HD, and Starz HDTV via MPEG-4 receivers, claiming nearly three times the HD channel count of the average cable provider. The HD DVR receiver lease fee was reduced from $299.99 to $199.99, and new subscribers to DishHD Bronze or higher could save up to $200 through combined promotional offers. Consumers evaluating pay-TV options at the time would find this expansion relevant for both content variety and hardware affordability.

June 9, 2006

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DirecTV Announces 14 New Markets for Local HDTV

DIRECTV announced 14 new markets for local HD programming, expanding its coverage to 50 major metropolitan areas and more than 65 percent of U.S. TV households by Q3 2006. The rollout requires the H20 HD receiver paired with a five-orbital-location satellite dish, with new customers eligible for a $100 mail-in rebate. The planned 2007 launches of DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 satellites will enable delivery of over 1,500 local HD and digital channels plus 150 national HD channels, pushing near-universal household coverage.

May 2, 2006

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DirecTV Activates HD Local Channel Service in Eight Additional Markets

DIRECTV expanded its local HD channel delivery via satellite to eight additional markets including Minneapolis, Sacramento, and Pittsburgh, bringing its total to 20 cities and covering more than 58 percent of U.S. television households. The rollout is part of a broader 2007 target to deliver over 1,500 local HD channels and 150-plus national HD channels, with customers currently accessing more than 900 hours of HD programming weekly. New and existing non-HD subscribers can enable local HD reception by purchasing the H20 HD receiver, with a $200 mail-in rebate available to offset the cost.

April 20, 2006

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Electrophysics Provides the World's First High Definition Night Vision Solution

The AstroScope 9350BRAC-Z1U is a Gen III image intensifier adapter engineered specifically for the Sony HVR-Z1U HD camcorder, capable of transforming scenes below 10-4 lux into sharp, full-frame high-resolution imagery with no vignetting. The unit connects via the lens filter thread and 1/4" x 20 tripod mount, and supports C-mount, Nikon, and Canon SLR objective lenses. Videographers working in broadcast, law enforcement, or military contexts can now capture high-definition night vision footage without specialized training or complex setup.

April 18, 2006

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DISH Network Launches Local TV Stations in High Definition in Kansas City

DISH Network launched HD local TV channels via satellite in Kansas City and 30 surrounding counties, delivering ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX affiliates in high definition for the first time by satellite in that market. The DishHD package offers more than 1,700 hours of HD programming weekly across 23-plus channels, including 15 exclusive VOOM HD channels and newly added ESPN2 HD and Universal HD, priced at $49.99 per month. For Kansas City households with HDTV sets but no HD subscription, this provides a direct satellite alternative to local cable for accessing HD network programming.

March 13, 2006

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Blu-ray Home Theater

Blu-ray Primer

Blu-ray Disc stores up to 27GB per layer using a 405nm blue-violet laser, compared to HD DVD's 15GB and standard DVD's 4.7GB, with the laser head's closer proximity to the recording medium enabling smaller pits and greater data density. Early hardware such as the Samsung BD-1000 supports 192KHz LPCM, Dolby Digital Plus, and HDMI output at 720p or 1080i, while BD burners like the Samsung SH-B022A offer dual-layer 50GB recording at 2x (9MB/s). Consumers considering the format should weigh a roughly 50% price premium over standard DVDs against the improved capacity and audio-video performance.

March 8, 2006

Testing Grounds

DISH Network Launches Local TV Stations in High Definition via Satellite in Seven Cities

DISH Network expanded its local HD channel availability via satellite to seven additional cities, bringing its total to 12 markets and targeting coverage of more than 50 percent of U.S. TV households by year end. The DishHD packages deliver over 1,700 hours of HD programming weekly across 23-plus channels, including 15 exclusive commercial-free VOOM HD channels, at $49.99 per month. Subscribers gain access to a lineup that reportedly offers nearly twice as many national HD channels as the average cable provider, making it a competitive option for early HD adopters.

March 6, 2006

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