Belkin ScreenCast WiDi TV Adapter
Jun 27, 2011 Home Theater News
Belkin has unveiled a new product dedicated to Intel Wireless Display notebooks or personal computers. The Belkin ScreenCast TV adapter (F7D4501 model) will trasfer HD content wirelessly form your WiDi laptop to your HDTV. The Belkin ScreenCast comes with Full HD 1080p and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound support while also providing RCA composite and HDMI outputs for connectivity purposes.
Further more, the ScreenCast adapter from Belkin features dual-band WiFi to provide amazing sound and picture quality. The WiDi technology also comes with support for a second display that will enable users to work and watch TV at the same time.
The Belkin ScreenCast WiDi TV adapter will become available in mid-July for $129.99.
Tags: HDMI, HDTV adapter, WiDi technology
Spotify now available with Onkyo home theater receivers
Mar 29, 2011 A/V Receivers, Home Theater News
Onkyo has made a name for itself on the home theater market and nobody can deny that. It is a world renowned home theater receiver manufacturer, gathering a major fan base. The company has announced a partnership with Spotify to ensure its first place on the market.
Onkyo is the first company on the market at this time to offer access to the Spotify music service with its branded home theater A/V receivers. Spotify is premium membership music streaming service, which is now available in seven countries with Onkyo’s devices.
The Spotify music streaming service will stream music at 320Kbps bitrate using the Ogg Vorbis codec and is now available on the Onkyo TX-NR609 A/V receiver and very soon on all A/V receiver models from Onkyo.
Samsung’s 3D Video Streaming Service coming soon
Mar 20, 2011 3D, Home Theater News
Samsung is happy to announce that their new 3D Video Streaming Service is ready to go, and will soon be available with your Samsung 3D-enabled device. The project has been developed with the help of DreamWorks Animation and will deliver 3D content to US and EU users pretty soon. The 3D content has been an issue for a long time now. Even though companies release more and more 3D-enabled products, there’s still not enough 3D content available on the market yet.
Samsung’s 3D streaming service is available just in Korea right now, but the company has announced the service availability in both US and EU for later this year.
Sony showcases its Dual View HDTV
Feb 23, 2011 Home Theater News
Sony has recently showcased a HDTV protoype which lets two viewers enjoy two different programs on the same device. The technology called Dual View allows two users to view different images depending on where they are seated in the room.
Sony has showcased the new Dual View technology on a 55-inch BRAVIA set which allows two different users see their own perspective, without resorting to a split screen. Even though you won’t be able to split the audio, so one of the users will have to wear headphones, this Dual View HDTV has been introduced as a good gaming option and has been showcased with the new Killsone 3 on PS3.
The bad news is that the technology needs further improvement, because currently “it makes your eyes hurt” according to Sony’s spokesperson. Once this inconvenient is overcome the new Dual View technology might change the way we’re watching TV.
Tags: Dual View Technology
Sharp will showcase a Gigantic Video-Cube at ISE 2011
Feb 1, 2011 Home Theater News
If you happen to be in Amsterdam these days make sure you visit Sharp’s stand at the ISE 2011. The company has announced the display of an impressive video cube made up of 64 monitors. The outstanding display will create the illusion of a three-dimensional space where visitors will enjoy the Star Trek experience. There will be no more than 64 PN-V601 displays connected together by extremely narrow frames to create the 3D experience.
Sharp has also announced the PN-L601B series of LCD displays featuring LED backlight and touch-screen function to be announced at the ISE 2011.
Boxee Box now comes with Vudu after Firmware Update
Jan 24, 2011 Home Theater News
The Boxee Box has made an important step to complete its streaming media options by including Vudu with its latest firmware update. Vudu is a media streaming service dedicated to quality content over quantity. Vudu will enable users to access hogh-definition, quality content in 1080p resolution and 24 frames per second and also featuring Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound.
The Boxee Box firmware update will also bring improved searching features, media organizing as well as web browsing to offer a complete experience.
The Boxee Box people also make an important marketing move by letting users rent their product for one month for just $5.59. It’s expected to be an important step which will increase the number of Boxee Box users in the future months.
Tags: Boxee Box
CES 2011: VUDU announces 3D movies coming next week
Jan 5, 2011 3D, Home Theater News
The 3D industry is growing fast with companies announcing new releases at this year’s CES show in Las Vegas. However, the problem seems to be the lack of 3D content available. In comes VUDU, announcing at the CES 2011, that you will be able to find 3D movies in its media library starting next week.
VUDU has mentioned in its press release that the new 3D movie line-up in its library will be available in various resolutions and will not require more bandwidth than your average 2D movie.
VUDU hasn’t mentioned any 3D movie titles to become available nor about different pricing for the 3D movies in its library.
CES 2011: Samsung to introduce their new ultra-lightweight 3D glasses
Jan 3, 2011 3D, Home Theater News
Just a few days prior to the CES 2011 kick-off, Samsung announced their new ultra-lightweight 3D glasses, available with the company’s 2011 line of 3D TVs.
Samsung has decided to address a major issue, as many people have complained about the uncomfortable active 3D shutter glasses, available with 3D TV models up to now. Samsung joined forces with Silhouette to develop this ultra-lightweight pair of 3D glasses, weighing only 28g. The weight of Samsung’s glasses is a major selling point, but not the only one.
Samsung’s ultra-lightweight 3D glasses are able to detect 3D content automatically, believe it or not, and turn off on their own when 3D content is not available and recharge wirelessly.
Samsung’s also announces that their 3D glasses will fit both adults and children alike. The new design features a counter-weight at the back and a more comfortable nose-pad than your average active 3D shutter glasses.
We’ll be able to see Samsung’s new ultra-lightweight 3D glasses showcased at the CES 2011.
Tags: 3D glasses, 3D TV, CES 2011
CES 2011: Samsung to show off 4.5-inch AMOLED flexible display
Jan 2, 2011 Home Theater News
The latest CES 2011 rumor is that Samsung plans to show off a flexible, 4.5-inch AMOLED display. Samsung is not the only company working on flexible displays, but the company is the first one to show one off at a CES event.
We don’t know much about this display yet, except that this one will be in full color and won’t have e-ink.
We can’t help but wonder how it would behave as a slim HDTV display around 75 inches. Maybe we’ll see something like that next year.
Tags: CES 2011
LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader also comes to CES 2011
Dec 30, 2010 Home Theater News
These days it seems every piece of news is about LG and its line-up for the CES 2011 show in Las Vegas. This time, LG has announced in a press release, the presence of the ST600 Smart TV Upgrader box, which will enable users to transform their regular TVs into Smart TVs, according to Havis Kwon, CEO of LG.
This little box will allow users access to premium online content, a wide array of LG apps to choose from. as well as the Smart Share function with only an Ethernet connection. The ST600′s Smart Share function will allow users to transfer media wirelessly from DLNA-compatible devices in their home.
We’ll be able to see the ST600 Smart TV Upgrader in action at the 2011 CES show in Las Vegas. LG promises that its Smart TV box will be available for customers all over the world in the second quarter of 2011.