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LG LH-85 Series Wireless HDTVs

LG LH-85 HDTVLG is displaying an LH-85 series of wireless LCD TVs at the . The HDTVs include the 47-inch 47LH85 and the 55-inch 55LH85 with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 60gHz radio and multi-element antenna array. It also features its 10 point IRE system, color management, and a new picture wizard for calibrating the TVs. The new series should be available in May. Contact LG for more information and price range.

Read More | cnet

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Video: Microsoft Songsmith first look

Our pal Robert Scoble was able to get an early look at the new Microsoft Songsmith software, and we were impressed enough that we wanted to give you guys a look at the video. Songsmith allows you to make music, that you sing to, by generating musical accompaniment to match a singer’s voice. You sing into your mic, and the software creates the backing music for you to make you sound good. It’s not just for novices either, as you can play instruments into Somgsmith for capturing, and it includes an intelligent scratchpad to allow it to work with new melodies. Kind of hard to explain, so really, check out the video. You can download a free trial at the Songsmith page as well.

Read More | Songsmith

Windows 7 beta goes public January 9th

Windows 7 beta

During the kickoff keynote that marks the start , Steve Ballmer announced that beta is available starting today for TechNet and MSDN subscribers. Nothing too exciting there for the average Joe, we know, which is why we were excited when he also mentioned that the beta would also be publicly available beginning this Friday, January 9th. You’ll be able to grab either the 32-bit version, or the 64-bit version of the Windows 7 beta software if you are one of the first 2.5 million people to hit the download button. You just need to head to the Windows 7 product page to do so. Just be aware that the beta software will expire on August 1, 2009.

As part of the release, Microsoft was also happy to note that Windows Live Essentials, “a free suite of communications and sharing applications that make it easy for people to communicate, share and keep their online lives in sync and in one place with one login,” is now also available on a worldwide scale.


Netflix streaming hits VIZIO Connected HDTV [UPDATED]

Vizio Connected HDTV Netflix is launching a new platform that they’re calling “Conneced HDTV,” and with it comes confirmation of the second direct-to-TV partnership. VIZIO’s Connected HDTV platform is designed to compliment traditional television viewing. You just connect the television to your home network, and if there’s nothing good on, you can go into Netflix, and I am sure there will be other services (YouTube? Hulu?) that you’ll be able to pull up as well. This is a trend we are definitely liking, let’s eliminate set-top boxes while providing more viewing options for the consumer.

EDIT: Okay, we just got more details on this. Aside from Netflix, the VIZIO Connected HDTV platform also brings Amazon Video on Demand, Pandora, Flickr, Blockbuster OnDemand, Rhapsody, Adobe Flash content, games from Accedo Broadband, and the Yahoo! widget engine. Very, very interesting!

Read More | MarketWatch

Sharp build Blu-ray players into BD-series Aquos LCD HDTV line

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2009, HDTV, Home Entertainment,

Sharp AQUOS BD blu-ray lcd

is aiming to help eliminate at least one set-top box from your rack with their BD-series Aquos LCD HDTVs, which come with a player packed in to the television unit, announced today at . If interested, you can pick one up later this month in 32-, 37-, or 42-inch flavors, or if you need something larger, next month the 46- and 52-inch models drop. These also bost the Superlucent ASV panel technology which means less glare in the end, and a brighter picture. It also does 24p through HDMI, in case you have an old HD DVD player you have lying around that you want to use (since the included Blu-ray technology doesn’t use up an HDMI port.) QAM and ATSC tuners along with RS-232C inputs round this one out. Full release after the break.

Click to continue reading Sharp build Blu-ray players into BD-series Aquos LCD HDTV line


RCA announces EZ209HD, their slimmest Small Wonder camcorder ever

RCA EZ209HD

We are loving just how prevalent small HD cams are becoming, and the EZ209HD looks to be an impressive unit when it comes to that category. This is the company’s slimmest and “sexiest” (their word, not mine) Small Wonder camcorder ever, and captures high definition video while sporting a 2-inch display. Even better, though, unlike some of the other handheld HD flash camcorders we’ve seen, the EZ209HD even has an HDMI port, so you can plug directly into a television to watch your home movies. The rechargeable battery lasts for two hours, which is also nice, and the camera even supports a 60fps Sports Mode for fast action. Once your recordings are done, you can easily upload them to YouTube and Box.net. You’ll be able to get your hands on an RCA EZ209HD by the end of this quarter, and it’ll sell for $119.99.

Full press release available after the break, which includes details on the EZ207 as well.

Click to continue reading RCA announces EZ209HD, their slimmest Small Wonder camcorder ever


VIZIO busts out $200 VBR100 Blu-ray player at CES 2009

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2009, HDTV, Home Entertainment,

VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player close

So, you know how VIZIO was working on switching from being a discount player to wanting to be seen more as a high end manufacturer? Well, looks like they are looking to merge those two together with their VBR100 deck, which they announced today at . Here’s a look at the features of this 2-inch thick Blu-ray player:

  • Video outputs: HDMI (1.3), component, and composite
  • Audio outputs: 7.1 channel analog audio, coax and optical digital audio, and analog stereo (RCA)
  • Dimensions: 17 X 11 X 2”
  • Includes Remote Control (Oh rly??)

In addition, when watching a standard DVD, you can set the player to upconvert to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p, and it has on-board Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA decoders, and that can be output from the unit’s 7.1 analog outputs. You can pick this one up in April for $199.99.

Gallery:


Toshiba to integrate Media Center Extender technology into HDTVs

REGZA media center toshibaHey, it’s time, and that means we are getting slammed with news from all ends. Toshiba, happy to get in on that party, has just announced that they’ll be integrating Media Center Extender technology directly into their REGZA line of HDTVs, and that they are even working on a standalone device that you can integrate into your home theater setup as well to get the same functionality. I guess this is the most we can expect from the company whose HD DVD technology lost out to in a major way. We’ve got the full release for you after the break.

Click to continue reading Toshiba to integrate Media Center Extender technology into HDTVs


LG LED-lit LCD TV

LG LCD TV

The Korean company LG will be displaying an even thinner LED-backlit LCD TV at the upcoming CES 2009. It has a thickness of 24.8mm, which is slightly smaller than an inch. The TV has a 2,000,000:1 ratio and the company’s 240Hz TrueMotion Drive technology. It has already won an Innovation Award in the display category. There is no availability date or price revealed but that’s okay, in our cramped quarters, we still want one!

Read More | electronista

CES is coming up, find us at CntrStg

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES,

CntrStgThat time of year is approaching yet again - you know, the one where thousands pick up a week-long sickness, you are achey, cranky, and also excited by the atmosphere and all that is going on around you? No, I’m not talking about winter, I’m talking about . This year, thankfully, we are looking forward to a much more laid back style, without sacrificing the up-to-the-minute coverage, since we will be hanging out at CntrStg during the event, which is basically going to be a BlogHaus done right. If you’ve never been to CES, and just come here for the coverage, then all you need to know is that we will be even more equipped to hit you with all the important CES news. If you are curious, you can learn more about the happenings of CntrStg on their Twitter page.


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