Engadget Exclusive: Yahoo introducing consumer electronics line?

Major scoopage (we think): No official confirmation on this, but a well-placed inside source tells us that Yahoo! will be branching out in a big way soon with a line of consumer electronics which should be announced sometime within the next two weeks. The initial line up is supposedly a portable DVD player, two LCD televisions, and a home theater in a box system. Like most of these kinds of releases (assuming this is for real), they're really just slapping their logo on products built by somebody else (in this case, it's supposedly Diamond Electronics). This is either a really big deal or someone just went to a lot of trouble to try and dupe us—regardless, everything looked like it checked out, and it was too good to not pass along. Make sure you click to see pics and product descriptions.

UPDATE: Dear skeptics, Yahoo! has just confirmed that this is for real.

Yahoo!�s all-in-one Home Theater System comes with a progressive scan DVD player that can also play back DivX (we like, we like) video files and a 5.1 channel Dolby digital surround sound receiver and speakers. This one is set to retail for $300 (flat screen not included).



The Yahoo! Micro DVD player is just 9 inches wide, weighs about a pound, and also plays CDs and MP3CDs. Should have a retail price of $100.


Lastly, two new LCD TVs, a 17-inch model that should go for $800 and a 30-inch model that will go for $3,000. Both come with stereo speakers, though neither appears to be HDTV-ready or remotely attractive.

[rob @ Aug 20th 2009 11:53PM]

holy crap, its 20 friggin dollars. just buy it.

[Berk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

not convinced, kinda strikes me as reneders/shop jobs, something feels wrong.

and they make me want to eat my own eyes out.

[Sean Bonner @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

the logos look totally photoshoped, not that that means anything but still.

[Marty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Condider that Yahoo might become an interface to your media, then the Yahoo! Enabled media devices might be the play - not selling them, rather making Yahoo! a feature of the device.


My name is Marty, and I approved this message.

[a @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Who believes this stuff? As Sean said, that logo looks totally photoshopped. I mean, look at the focus of the different products; there's like 5 different focus points on the image with all the components together :(

Also, take a look at the light sourcing in the same image. The TV and DVD player appear to have light coming in from the left of the camera, while the speakers and sub appear to have light coming in from the right of the camera. Yeah, it could be that the light is coming down from the middle of all these objects, but judging by the shading, I'd say not.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I've contacted three people at Yahoo! who are high up in the company and are good friends of mine. All three have never heard of it, but they say that they might not have heard about it. Which is strange... I mean, this is a huge thing and to have three top Yahoo contacts not know about it is strange.

It is going to be interesting to see if this turns out to be real.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Check out this two jobs from Yahoo's site:
http://www01.rmx.scd.yahoo.com/pljb/global_jsp/applicant/DisplayJob/JobDetails.jsp?display=1&pljbHome=/yahoo/yahoo_jobs/applicant/index.jsp&id=796

http://www01.rmx.scd.yahoo.com/pljb/global_jsp/applicant/DisplayJob/JobDetails.jsp?display=1&pljbHome=/yahoo/yahoo_jobs/applicant/index.jsp&id=796

Ready to Shape the Future?

Yahoo! has already changed the way users think about where their PC can take them. Now we?re going beyond the PC to become a vital presence in the digital home, and we need a Visual Designer to take us there in style. If you?re ready to create compelling visual branding and engaging interfaces for dynamic new products, this may be the challenge you?re looking for.

The Visual Designer for Yahoo! Living Room will play a pivotal role in developing the visual expression of these products and services. He or she will translate UI design requirements into online visual user interfaces, and create and document visual design standards to ensure consistent visual presentation of Yahoo! Living Room.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor?s degree and at least three years? experience in design production.. This experience should reflect a solid understanding of user-centered design principles. We also require demonstrated ability to implement conceptual designs, including effective use of typography, color theory and layout for product identification and branding. The Visual Designer should also have working knowledge of TV-based software and understand the design parameters of STB-based technologies. Experience with iTV design is especially valuable.

The candidate?s design skills should be complemented by expert-level proficiency in graphic applications and mastery of major web graphics tools, including HTML, CSS, and Flash. It?s also essential that the Visual Designer stay ahead of current design trends. And a technical background or an above-average understanding of technology is a definite plus.

The Visual Designer must be detail-oriented, yet able to multi-task and manage time well. Since collaboration is key to the Yahoo! design process, we?re looking for someone who works well alone and in a group, a team player with strong interpersonal skills.

If you?d like to help us design the future, we?d like to hear from you. Please submit at least three samples that demonstrate your work experience, along with a description of your role in designing each of them.

[Katherine @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

You can see a small Yahoo! DVD player in the JCPenney Christmas catalog.

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I wonder if the Yahoo brand will entice people to buy a pricey LCD screen? If someone like Dell does it, I'm buying - but not Yahoo. Yahoo is just in it for the buck, Dell has their reputation as an electronics retailer at stake.

BTW, I saw some Yahoo branded keyboards last month and wow were they every crappy...

[Eric Baillargeon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Nobody remember the Yahoo digital Camera Flop ?
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Tiger_Yahoo_Digital_Camera__5653604

[TheZodiac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

They will be offering programming and TiVo like service to shows people can sign up for in their account on line.. OEMs will use that tech in the TVs.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

.... this is the old one I think:

http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/linux/kbd/yahoo912.jpg

[Rod K @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

Somehow I expect that LCD TV to start waddling across the table top like Huey, Dewey and Louie from the movie Silent Running.

[daron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

gai in their earning statements say that it has received the first PO in 17" and 30" LCDs. check it out. it is for real imho

[Carlos Ju?z @ Dec 19th 2005 12:04AM]

I�m living in Mexico City; I bought an LCD Yahoo 17'' Flat Screen, I think it�s a nice and original product, design is fantastic, It works perfectly: I�m completly agree with people who said "It�s strange to see "Yahoo!" as a logo in any electronic product but I think that the most important thing when you buy a product is how good does it work and not how famous is the logo or the trade mark that it show.
Anyway, thank�s for read these lines, I�m learning english; greetings from Mexico City!!!