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The 2011 lineup of Sony Bravia HDTVs is quite extensive with a total fo 27 models spanning nine lines. All but the five most inexpensive models feature internet streaming services while 16 of the higher end models being 3D capable. Most of the great streaming services we’ve come to expect are there, but in addition you can now watch Time Warner Cable VOD without a set-top-box as well. A few of the lines are compatible with a special Sony 720p camera (CMU-BR100) for use with Skype, while others feature Gorilla Glass. The XBR-HX929 Series sits at the top with a new local dimming technology called Intelligent Peak LED Backlight, and is also one of the lines that supports the new Media Remote application for iPhone, iPod Touch or Android, which includes full remote capabilities as well as a keyboard. The 929s will be available in April in 46, 55 and 65-inches, with the others hitting the street sometime between February and May.

Continue reading Sony’s 2011 Bravia lineup includes 27 new HDTVs

Sony’s 2011 Bravia lineup includes 27 new HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s blowing it out here at CES, partciularly on the HD front. There’s a boatload of new content to disgest, so we’ll take you through it all step-by-step below:

• For starters, Panasonic is dishing out seven new plasma HDTVs, six new LED LCDs and five new standard LCD HDTVs. For the 2011 model year, Panny’s introducing the VT30 series, GT30 and ST30 lines, and two of the LED LCDs are joining its array of Full HD 3D TVs. Naturally, the biggest addition to the new sets is the Viera Connect system, but the Easy IPTV functionality is another boon.
• For those who’ve got a Viera Cast-enabled BD deck, Panny’s adding Skype voice and video calling. The addition of Skype to Panasonic’s new DMP-BDT310, DMP-BDT210, and DMP-BDT110 VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Disc Players allows consumers to make Skype voice and video calls on virtually any HDTV using a Skype-compatible camera.
• As for new Blu-ray and DVD players? There’s a near-limitless flow of them, with the DMP-B200 (8.9-inch display) and DVD-LS92 (9-inch) portable players serving the road warriors. The DMP-BDT210 3D Blu-ray deck is now holding down the top spot in the company’s at-home range, and if you’re still down with DVD, you’ll find a load of new options with USB ports for loading up additional media.
• The company is also debuting the April-bound SC-HTB520 soundbar, meant to match up with flat-panels that are 42-inches or larger, and it’s also throwing in a wireless, down-firing subwoofer.
• Finally, Panny’s introducing 3D video conferencing (HDVC), which may or may not make your weekly boardroom meetings entirely more tolerable.

Head on down to the source for more, but don’t expect to find much in the way of price and availability.

Panasonic’s CES 2011 HD lineup: Blu-ray players, 3D video conferencing, HDTVs, audio gear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If this is the direction high-power smartphones are going, we like what we’re seeing. Though the software’s still a bit raw (there’s no Android Market, for example), the Droid Bionics on display here at Motorola’s CES event this evening look and feel pretty blazingly fast. A spokesman we chatted with said that Motorola is actually doing some manner of software optimization (and yes, it’ll launch with 2.2) to take advantage of the two cores out of the box, so it’s a promising start — as Jha says, it’s “2GHz of processing power.” We hope that’s true in practice!

Physically, the phone feels smooth in the same way a Droid 2 does, though a bit lighter — good news considering the LTE hardware and big display, but not entirely surprising when you take into account the lack of a sliding QWERTY keyboard. The patterned battery cover looks textured, but it’s actually quite smooth with a slight soft touch treatment. The screen looks great — in particular, the viewing angle looked superb, though all phone displays have a tendency to look a little better in this sexy lighting since they can’t wash out as easily. Follow the break for video!

Continue reading Motorola Droid Bionic hands-on

Motorola Droid Bionic hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As the connected TV battle continues to heat up, Panasonic is arming its Viera platform by bringing in allies. Dubbed Viera Connect, it builds on the old Viera Cast system by opening up the SDK to developers, and increasing the audience by opening up access to its middleware and market for other device manufacturers. Falling somewhere between Samsung’s more closed Samsung Apps experience and the Google TV approach, Panasonic’s 2011 TVs and Blu-ray players will come out of the gate with apps like MLB.tv., Hulu Plus, NBA Gametime, Asphalt 5, Tetris and more. Even videogame peripheral manufacturer Thrustmaster is getting in the mix with two wireless gamepads. Check the press release for all the details and new apps for this year.

Continue reading Panasonic opens up Viera Connect apps to other manufacturers, SDK to devs & gets Hulu Plus

Panasonic opens up Viera Connect apps to other manufacturers, SDK to devs & gets Hulu Plus originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile and LG have decided not to sit still in the shadow of Motorola and Verizon’s high-powered 4G Honeycomb tablet partnership and have just announced their intention to introduce the T-Mobile G-Slate. Few details are known at present other than those headline-grabbing 4G (or pseudo-4G) capabilities and Android 3.0 operating system. This is probably the exact same tablet that LG is hosting an event for tomorrow. Jump past the break for some video conferencing, browser, and e-reading demos in awesome, fluid, streamable video. Hey, even if you don’t care for either T-Mobile or LG, this is a pretty nice exposition of the Honeycomb interface.

Continue reading T-Mobile G-Slate announced: 4G, Android 3.0, made by LG

T-Mobile G-Slate announced: 4G, Android 3.0, made by LG originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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