Hasta La Gadget!

We’d already heard during a UK preview show that Philips’ Euro-only Cinema 21:9 HDTV would be priced around £3,000 when it launched sometime this Spring, but now we’ve got some more official details to share (and only half of it is good). So, the good news — we’re told that this behemoth will start shipping “as soon as June.” The bad? The 56-inch ultra-widescreen panel will run you €4,000 ($5,045). Don’t bother turning your head, that’s just your wallet over in the corner wailing.

[Via Register Hardware]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Philips gives Cinema 21:9 HDTV a price and release date originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s Friday, which means it’s time to do your happy dance. So you’re too embarrassed to get up in your cubicle and dance like a fool? That’s OK, celebrate with these exciting bargains. Here are Gearlog’s deals for Friday, February 20:

1. Sellout.woot is offering the Philips SA3025 Gear 2GB Media Player for just $19.99 today. The media player normally runs for $59.99. The 2GB player provides up to 12 hours of music, as well as FM radio with 20 presets. The deal ends today, or while supplies last.

2. Get the Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 video-editing and disc-authoring application for $39.99 today only. Amazon is taking of 55 percent from the original price of $89.49. The software makes it easy to share movies on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, and even mobile devices.

3. Today only, get the V7 Series D22W12 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor for $149.99. That’s $50 less than the original price. The screen has a 1680 x 1050 resolution and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. Check it out, the offer ends today.

While they may not have an particularly desirable impact on your image, wireless Bluetooth headsets are convenient, and their continually dwindling size gives us the hope that some day you could wear one without anyone noticing. But, smaller size equals smaller buttons, an issue Philips is looking to dodge entirely with its latest stereo Bluetooth headset, the Tapster. It relies on touch inputs, not moving ones (other than a wee power button), meaning you’ll be able to administer a gentle stroke to adjust volume or a light tap to answer a call. It all sounds quite intuitive and convenient — providing of course the thing doesn’t start dialing when someone bumps into you on the subway. No word on price, but if all goes well you could be pairing these over Bluetooth 2.1+EDR A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, and HFP by the end of the year.

[Via Shiny Shiny]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Philips Tapster stereo Bluetooth headset loves your voice, needs your touch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick, while your boss isn’t looking! Check out Gearlog’s deals for Wednesday, February 18:

1. Listen to your tunes on a tight budget with the Sandisk 2GB Sansa C250. It’s just $15.99 from eCOST.com. The MP3 player is normally $99.99, so this is quite a steal. The deal ends tomorrow at 2 p.m.

2. Buy.com is selling the Kingston 8GB Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Card for only $14.99. You’re saving 80 percent off the original price of $76, and you can get it with free shipping. The offer’s ending is unknown.

3. Get the Philips SoundBar DVD Home Theater with Ambisound for just $229.99 from sellout.woot.com. The speaker system normally ranges in price from $389 to $599. Not only does the theater system have speakers, but it also plays DVDs in a hidden compartment.

In the world of low-end DAPs, it’s incredibly tough to find anything worth its salt. Believe it or not, Philips’ GoGear Spark is a so-called “diamond in the rough,” with reviewers at CNET noting that the respectable feature set and skimpy price tag ($49 for 2GB; $59 for 4GB) made it a good bet for those scouting a simplistic player for the gym. Specs wise, the 1.5-inch OLED display and “squeezable edges” make for a unique package, and unlike most bite-sized DAPs, navigating this one proved to be doable, if not enjoyable. We’re personally a bit more upset by its limited format support (MP3 and WMA only) than these critics, but again, this probably isn’t going to be your primary / only music player. Finally, the stellar sound quality and impressive 27 hour battery life really put the cherry on top, with the Spark netting a 3.5 out of 5 star rating.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Philips GoGear Spark gets reviewed: a diamond in the rough originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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