Hasta La Gadget!

There’s a new king atop Sony’s line of ES projectors: the VPL-VW1000ES. Presented at CEDIA this afternoon, it bypasses all the beamers Sony’s delivered for home use so far — including the recent VPL-HW30AES and VPL-VW95ES models — by featuring a stunning 4K resolution, four times that of standard HD projectors based on an all new SXRD panel. Scheduled to go on sale this December it also claims a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness that allows it to project on screens of sizes up to 200-inches. Whether or not you can scrape together the ducats for a 4K projector this Christmas, there are other options for home theater nuts in the form of two new receivers for the ES line that will also be available. The STR-DA5700ES and STR-DA3700ES will ship in November but more than their hardware specs, they feature a new onscreen UI that’s supposed to be easier to use. The only device at the presentation with a pricetag was the HMZ-T1 3D viewer we tried out at IFA last week, which has been announced for the US in November with a price “around” $799. Expect more in person pics in a moment, meanwhile the press releases after the break have all the information currently available.

Update: Now with more pictures. During the presentation Sony showed a 4K clip from its upcoming Spiderman flick on a VPL-VW1000ES that looked every bit as beautiful as you might imagine. Also in the gallery is a shot of the new “activity based UI” for the receivers that looks at least something like the graphical upgrade the XMB has always needed. You’ll also spy one more device, the funky new SA-NS500 Network Speaker. It’s a portable sound blaster with 6 hours of battery life and AirPlay compatibility for $399, shipping in November.

Continue reading Sony announces a 4K projector for the home, prices HMZ-T1 3D head mounted display in the US

Sony announces a 4K projector for the home, prices HMZ-T1 3D head mounted display in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It seems most have never learned to truly appreciate a DVR, instead thinking of it merely as a tape-less VCR. If you’re like us, you love your DVR, but wait with bated breath for the next — that might be the great one. So it was with great anticipation that we ran the new FiOS HD DVR update (1.9) through its paces. Arguably the biggest update since Verizon released a DVR, it was instantly adored by those lucky enough to have access to it, thanks to its external storage support, enhanced multi-room functionality and slick new 16×9 HD user interface. But does it meet our expectations? And can it compete with the likes of a TiVo or Windows Media Center DVR? Well, you’ll just have to click through yourself for those answers.

Continue reading Verizon FiOS HD DVR review (1.9)

Verizon FiOS HD DVR review (1.9) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When TiVo announced its first quad tuner DVR, the Premiere Q, fans were devastated to learn it would only be available via cable operators, and that it featured a smallish 500GB hard drive. Fortunately, the company has rectified both of those issues by announcing the TiVo Premiere Elite, a quad tuner Series 4 DVR with 2TB of storage built that will be available through TiVo.com, Best Buy’s Magnolia stores and authorized home theater installers. There’s no word yet on price or an exact release date, as all of this is still pending a waiver from the FCC allowing TiVo to sell the box without any OTA or analog cable tuners, making this a digital cable (or Verizon FiOS) only experience. It’s also THX Certified and most of the press release is dedicated to focusing on the high end nature of the hardware TiVo is unleashing. Also unmentioned so far is any retail edition of the TiVo Preview multiroom extender box, but we should get some hands-on time with this quad tuner edition very shortly during CEDIA 2011. For now, just check out the press release, included after the break, and for our European readers Engadget Spanish has you covered on the launch of the TiVo Premiere for ONO in Spain.

Update: The official TiVo.com/elite page is live, and reveals the price as $499 “with service”, $499 additional for a lifetime subscription. [Thanks @PhilipSaad]

Continue reading TiVo Premiere Elite will bring quad tuners, 2TB storage to retail this year

TiVo Premiere Elite will bring quad tuners, 2TB storage to retail this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix promised our friends in Central and South America would soon be able to enjoy the pleasures of Watch Instantly. Starting today with Brazil, and with 43 other Latin American countries to follow before September 12th, the pioneering streaming video service is making good on that promise. Customers in the land of Carnival can enjoy a free one-month trial, after which a subscription will run BR$14.99 a month. The roll out will be staggered over the coming days, with most areas getting a price point equivalent to $7.99 in American currency and some having both English and Spanish language options. For more details check out the PR after the break and the chart above.

[Thanks, Nicolas]

Continue reading Netflix lands in Brazil, 43 other Latin American countries within the week

Netflix lands in Brazil, 43 other Latin American countries within the week originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Challenging Sony’s PlayStation 3D display, LG’s new LW980T “Dual Play” TV lets Xbox users see two different views on the same screen — ditching the standard split gaming view. Spotted this week at IFA, the technology requires a pair of snazzy all-right / all-left passive specs and a compatible 3D Xbox game to get two different 2D perspectives on one TV. Compared to Sony’s $499, 24-inch active-shutter offering, the 47-inch and 55-inch passive ‘tubes are significantly larger and more expensive, rumored to retail for £1799 (or $2915) and £2499 (or $4050), respectively. According to sources, this feature will join LG’s lineup of Cinema 3D displays sometime in September — offering gaming as well as LG’s SmartTV and 3D movie support. Hey gamers, since we’re not splitting up anymore, is it safe to say we can stay “in a relationship” on Facebook?

LG’s ‘Dual Play’ TVs let gamers share a single screen, different perspective originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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