Mar 15

NVIDIA’s 3DTV Play finally solves the HDMI 1.4 gap for 3D Vision

Posted in: 3d tv, blu-ray, NVIDIA, Today's Chili

In case you hadn’t noticed, there was some trouble brewing in the NVIDIA camp. After ages of reigning atop the land of stereoscopic 3D playback on the PC, NVIDIA is finally being confronted with a real, bona fide standard for 3D, with zero GPUs capable of meeting it. The current NVIDIA 3D Vision-compatible cards pump out the necessary pixels over DisplayPort or dual DVI plugs, while the official spec for 3D TVs is an HDMI 1.4 plug that accepts data from both frames at once. We were in doubt there for a moment, but it turns out NVIDIA’s cards upgrade to 1.4 just fine, and all 3D Vision customers will be getting this as a free upgrade later this spring. NVIDIA will also be offering this 3DTV Play software in a standalone version for $40 to folks who don’t want to bother with NVIDIA’s 3D Vision stuff at all (with HDMI 1.4 you can just use the stereoscopic glasses that come with your fancy new 3D TV, no need for NVIDIA’s setup). NVIDIA is naturally hitting all the high points of the 1.4 spec, with 1080p24, 720p60 (the official gaming spec), and 720p50. The cards will also support 3D Blu-ray. So, just about time to splurge big on that home theater PC? We don’t know… is it just us, or does that guy and his couch look a little lonely?

NVIDIA’s 3DTV Play finally solves the HDMI 1.4 gap for 3D Vision originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 15

Philips BDP5010 Blu-ray / Divx player drops below $70 at Target

Posted in: blu-ray, deal, philips, sale, Today's Chili

Believe it: $70 at Target takes home a new Philips (eh hem, Funai) BDP5010 Blu-ray player that once sold for as much as $250. Hell, it’s listed for $139.99 right now on Target’s online storefront. If you do manage to track one down in a real life Target store then you’ll be getting DivX support, a SDHC card reader, BD Live, and HDMI CEC convenience. While a quick search returns a bevy of mixed reviews (image quality is only so-so), really, for $69.98 you really can’t complain if you’re looking to finally make the jump to 1080p physical media.

[Thanks, Keith B.]

Philips BDP5010 Blu-ray / Divx player drops below $70 at Target originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 09

Will Samsungs 3D Blu-ray Players Actually Play 3D? Probably

Posted in: blu-ray, samsung, Today's Chili

blu-ray-logo.jpgWill Samsung’s 3D Blu-ray players actually play 3D discs?

That’s the question that arose Tuesday morning before Samsung announced its torrential downpour of TVs, several of them with 3D technology. Samsung also mixed in a BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player, and answered the question of whether or not 2D source material can be rendered into simulated 3D (it can, according to HDTV analyst Zach Honig, but it doesn’t look all that great).

The problem: the Blu-ray Disc Association hasn’t quite finalized its 3D specification,
theoretically meaning that the Samsung BD-C6900 3D
Blu-ray player might not play a 3D Blu-ray disc.

It’s a possibility, albeit a very very slim one. Here’s why:

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Mar 09

Samsung puts price tags on its next receivers, soundbars and Blu-ray HTIB systems

Posted in: audio, blu-ray, samsung, Today's Chili

There’s more than just HDTVs on the way from Samsung this year, it’s also picked today to reveal the price and ship dates for its Samsung Apps-equipped Blu-ray HTIB systems (HT-C7530W pictured above and all due in March or April) and HDMI 1.4-equipped 3D passthrough compatible receivers. Even though the cool kids are already on to HDMI 1.4a, that should be good enough to pass through 3D video and handle audio all in one cable so if you’re planning a whole home theater revamp before Avatar comes home in 3D (whenever that is) you’ll probably want to grab one with the feature. Other than the 7.1 channel HW-C770BS for $549 shipping this month, there’s also a $499 HW-C900 model with multi-zone and video upscaling features for $499, though when it will arrive is still TBD.

Samsung puts price tags on its next receivers, soundbars and Blu-ray HTIB systems originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 09

Samsung 3D Starter Kit gets 3DTV and Blu-ray buyers started

Posted in: blu-ray, hands-on, samsung, Today's Chili

Planning on buying one of those fresh Samsung 3D HDTVs and Blu-ray players now that they are available? Well, the good news from Samsung’s press conference is that you’ll get a free 3D Starter Kit if you decide to fork over the cash for them both. Included are two pairs of active shutter glasses (available separately for $150) and the 3D Blu-ray version of Monsters vs. Aliens, which is exclusive to Samsung for the time being. And speaking of new 3D titles, DreamWorks’ own Jeffrey Katzenberg took stage to announce that Shrek will be coming soon. We’re not sure how we feel about these super expensive sets, but the hands-on pictures of the kit do seem to make spending plus $2,000 for that new Sammy 3DTV and Blu-ray player a bit more enticing.

Gallery: Samsung 3D Starter Kit hands-on

Samsung 3D Starter Kit gets 3DTV and Blu-ray buyers started originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 03

Latest round of LG, Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players begin retail invasion

Posted in: BestBuy, blu-ray, LG, Panasonic, retail, samsung, Today's Chili
We’ve already seen Sony’s newest Blu-ray players turn up at retail, and it looks like they’ve now been joined by LG, Panasonic and Samsung’s latest offerings. Those include the BD590, BD570 and BD550 from LG, the DMP-BD85 and DMP-BD65 from Panasonic, and a lone BD-C6500 from Samsung, although that’s just the first of more to come from the company. No surprises with the prices or specs, but you can check out a slew of in-the-wild shots at the link below, or head down to your local Best Buy (or other retailer) to see if you’re able to spot any of them first-hand yourself.

Latest round of LG, Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players begin retail invasion originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 03

Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow

Posted in: Android, blu-ray, slate, tablet, Today's Chili, ubuntu, YouTube
Ah, Ruslan Kogan — we can’t help but want to see this starry-eyed dreamer succeed, even if we still haven’t got our Android handset. According to Australia’s APC, the man’s gunning for the iPad market with an as yet unnamed tablet of his own. The goal? A full HD, ARM 600MHz-powered capacitive touchscreen device with 512MB RAM, 2GB storage, and an SDHC card for under $200 (presumably that’s Australian dollars, meaning about $180 US). Apparently the above prototype runs Windows, Android and Ubuntu, although Windows won’t be an option if — and we do mean if — this thing ever solidifies, due to production costs. As for that display, it’s tipped to be 800 x 480, the sting of which is taken out by the unit’s 1080p HDMI output. You say you’re not in the market for a slate? Kogan’s also said to be working on networked TVs (“probably by the end of the year”) and a Blu-ray player with WiFi and YouTube widgets. As for the aforementioned Agora handset? “[S]oon,” he says. “I can’t give a time frame on that, though. It’ll be as soon as we’re allowed to.” This is one mysterious man indeed. We can’t help but wonder when he’s going to get serious and tackle something big, like perpetual motion.

Update: We just realized that this is none other than SmartQ 7 MID first handled, oh, back in May!

Continue reading Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow

Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 27

HD DVD is Officially Discontinued by Toshiba

Posted in: blu-ray, Gadgets, Today's Chili

This article was written on February 19, 2008 by CyberNet.

blu-ray king We weren’t expecting the announcement from Toshiba for another week, but it’s official, HD DVD is now discontinued. In the press release from Toshiba, they stated that after reviewing their strategy for HD DVD, they decided to stop development, manufacturing, and marketing of HD DVD players and recorders. President and CEO of Toshiba was quoted in the announcement saying, “While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.” Next up? Not Blu-ray. For now they’ll be focusing on standard DVD players and recorders and have no intention of backing their former competitor.

Now here’s where things get a little tricky.  Toshiba says that their intention is to reduce shipments of the players and recorders to their retail channels and completely end shipment by the end of March 2008. This means that unknowing consumers who don’t keep up with the latest in the tech world could easily end up buying a HD DVD player, especially if stores put the players on clearance in the coming weeks. All of the major retailers are still selling them, of course, and unless Toshiba volunteers to reimburse the retailers for their inventory, they’ll probably do everything they can to sell as many as possible. On the bright side, those consumers would still be able to use the machine as a DVD player, and they’ll probably be able to get their hands on significantly reduced HD DVD movies.

Thanks for the tip CoryC

Source: Gizmodo

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Feb 19

Bang and Olufsen’s 55-inch BeoVision 7 collects a review, much love

Posted in: 1080p, blu-ray, review, Today's Chili

55.5 inches of 1080p goodness would draw attention in any case, but when they’re supplemented with local dimming of an LED-backlit display, 6ms response time, a stonking 4,000:1 static contrast ratio, and an integrated Blu-ray player… well, our cup runneth over with interest. The BeoVision 7-55 is just such a monstrous, no-compromise display, and it’s recently undergone a review over at Flatpanels HD. The reviewers were giddy with the versatile motorized stand and the Blu-ray player (which opens by you waving a hand in front of it), while describing the design and execution as “truly beautiful.” Picture quality is no worse, mind you, and epithets like “extraordinary” and “fantastic” were used to describe the experience of watching HD content on this panel. The same words can also be applied to the $18,700 MSRP, but at least the review is free and can be found at the source link below.

Bang and Olufsen’s 55-inch BeoVision 7 collects a review, much love originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 18

James Cameron sees Avatar on Blu-ray 3D in November, HDTV manufacturers mark their calendars

Posted in: blu-ray, Today's Chili

Fox has been slow to show its hand concerning the Avatar home video release schedule, but that didn’t stop director James Cameron from spilling assorted dates and SKUs in a Wall Street Journal interview. He’s pegged a standard DVD & Blu-ray release for April 22, with a special edition DVD and Blu-ray 3D version arriving in November. Considering how much electronics companies have invested in bringing 3D to market this year and specifically Panasonic’s push to make Avatar a box office smash the timing seems right on target. Whether you love the Na’vi just a little or far, far too much, budgeting for a 3D related Black Friday upgrade to go along with blue body paint for Halloween is seeming like a more sensible option every day.

Update: Fox has responded, simply stating that 3D is in the conceptual stage, and that Avatar will not be out on Blu-ray 3D in November. Should we believe them or the guy with an executive producer credit on Point Break… is that even a question?

James Cameron sees Avatar on Blu-ray 3D in November, HDTV manufacturers mark their calendars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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