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Canon unveils HR10: its first AVCHD camcorder
Granted, Sony and Panasonic got into the AVCHD game quite some time ago, but you won't catch us griping about more competition. The relatively small HR10 sports a CMOS sensor, Digic DVII processor, optical image stabilization, a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, HDMI / component outputs, USB 2.0, and a miniSD slot for saving 3.1-megapixel stills. Additionally, the unit touts Full HD capability, a 10x optical zoom lens, and instant AF, and users can record directly to three-inch DVD-R / DVD-RW discs in a variety of bitrates. Notably, the DVD camcorder won't come bundled with any sort of video editing software, but it will be hitting store shelves for those still interested this August for $1,199.[Via CamcorderInfo]
Sharp's AQUOS DV-ACV52 HD DVR handles DVD, HDV, and VHS
Sharp's HD DVR lineup has been steadily (albeit quietly) growing for a few years now, and while the company did loose five new offerings in the AQUOS DVR arena earlier this year, the multi-faceted DV-ACV52 has the stage all to itself now. Besides packing a built-in digital TV tuner, 250GB hard drive, and HDMI outputs, this convergence device allows playback and dubbing on a variety of formats including VHS, DVD, or DV / HDV via the i.Link FireWire connector. Other niceties include composite / S-Video outs, optical audio output, and the ability to record one OTA broadcast to the HDD while another goes straight to VHS / DVD. Sadly, we don't envision this Japanese-bound unit ever gracing US shores, but it will be making smiles across the sea next month for around $925.[Via MediaMentalism]
Panasonic's HDC-SD3 and HDC-DX3 bring the H.264
You know that pair of Panasonic 3CCD AVCHD camcorders recently announced for the US? Yeah, the HDC-SD1 and HDC-DX1. Well, you might want to give a tug on your wallet reins cowboy 'cause Panny just announced their HDC-SD3 and HDC-DX3 (pictured) HD camcorders. Besides bringing new desktop software to the show, these 1080i (1920 x 1080 now achieved without any tricks) recorders are fully H.264 capable for superior image quality. Like the pair before them, the SD3 and DX3 are feature identical except for the fact that the SD3 records to SDHC cards (4GB card in the box) while the DX3 records to 8-cm DVDs. Expect both cams to pop in Japan on April 25th: the HDC-SD3 should go for ¥150,000 ($1,269) while the HDC-DX3 will demand a tad less at ¥140,000 or about $1,185 by the time they arrive in the US after a few month lag. Check a picture of the SD3 after the break.
Panasonic's two 3CCD HD camcoders announced for US
Finally joining a party already attended by big names such as Sony, Canon, and Sanyo, Panasonic has announced that its first two consumer HD camcorders -- which we initially spotted back in November -- are set for an impending US release. Since you all have memories like a steel trap, we're sure you'll recall that both the HDC-SD1 (pictured) and HDC-DX1 share almost exactly the same feature set -- 1080i video capture, 2.1 megapixel stills, 12x optical zoom with optical image stabilization, five built-in mics, and those three image sensors -- with the only difference being that the former records to SDHC cards while the latter writes to dual-layer DVDs. Best of all -- and unlike their Japanese counterparts -- both the SD1 and DX1 will be priced exactly the same: $1,300 when they hit shelves in the next few days.
ViewSonic's PJ258D projector with iPod dock reviewed
As iPods gradually find their way into the hands of every man, woman, and child the world over, manufacturers are finding it more and more economically viable to produce relatively expensive home theater equipment focused solely on the owners of the popular little DAP. Case in point is ViewSonic, which followed up its iPod-friendly ViewDock monitors with the PJ258D, claimed to be the first projector with a built-in dock for your 5G 'Pod. With a resolution of just 1024 x 768, this $1,300 machine is obviously not the best choice for displaying your 1080p content, but according to Laptop magazine, it does an admirable job displaying the iPod's VGA output on a 5-foot+ screen. Also getting high marks was the unit's brightness, which measured 2265 ANSI lumens -- even though its only rated at 2000 lumens out of the box. Less impressive are the controls and connections: buttons are small and hard to see, the included presentation remote won't connect to your notebook for PowerPoints, and the dearth of inputs means that you'll either need a switcher or another projector altogether if your rack is packed with gear. Still, despite these and a few other issues (most notably heat output and fan noise), the PJ258D earned itself 3.5 out of 5 stars, making it seem like the perfect choice for partiers on the go who don't need to wake up the next day and give a presentation at work.
Sharp HN-IR1 beams cameraphone pics on your HDTV via IrSS
Sure, there's already a way to beam high-definition content onto your TV if you keep all of your media stored on your iPod, but for whimsical shooters that wield their cameraphone or IrSS-enabled digital camera most of the time, Sharp's kicking out a bantam liaison just for you. Designed to ideally operate with high-speed infrared devices, the HN-IR1 enables cellphones and other IrSS gizmos to transmit high-quality photos wirelessly, where it's then channeled onto your set at resolutions up to 1,920 x 1080. Of course, it'll automatically downscale if you aren't plugged into an HDTV, and interestingly enough, it purportedly interfaces with a few of Sharp's AQUOS HD recorders in order to burn your photos to HDD / DVD. The wee device checks in at just 3.1- x 2.8- x 1.1-inches, handles photos up to eight-megapixels, and boasts a maximum transmission rate of 4Mbps, and while no exhaustive list of compatible devices was noted, a good deal of NTT DoCoMo handsets should fit the bill. So if you never seem to have time to transfer your photos over to entertain the family with a big screen slideshow, those in Japan can snag the HN-IR1 in late April for ¥14,000 ($116).[Via Impress]
The Weather Channel HD to debut later this year
The Weather Channel finally set a timetable for the debut of its long-awaited high definition broadcast for the second half of this year. The 24 hour network says one of its biggest challenges is redoing all of the weather graphics for HDTV, while still looking good on 4x3 SDTV screens. The channel will be one of DirecTV's new stations, but also expects to hit cable networks very soon. Cable headends will have to upgrade their equipment to allow for HD inserts of localized weather broadcasts which should be deployed next year. If you're a fan of those "live from the hurricane" shots, the Weather Channel plans to convert those gradually, along with all of its studio-based shows making the change to 1080i by mid-2008.
Discovery HD's Sunrise Earth: Viewers Choice Edition
We don't get out much, so Discovery HD Theater's Sunrise Earth is one of the best ways to connect with the outside world. The show makes it easy to wake up at 7 a.m. and catch a sunrise over a stunning vista instead of an annoying clouded-over glare reflected on an LCD monitor. This year, they've decided to let viewers submit suggestions on what locations to shoot. If you think the world must see sun come up in 1080i over one particular spot that only you know about, check out MyPerfectSunriseEarth.com for info on how to submit it, for a list that will be whittled to 20 locations. Those 20 will be narrowed down to five by a viewer vote, and someone will win a trip to one of them to shoot their own sunrise alongside the show's producer.[Via PR Web]
Canon's iVIS HV20 HD camcorder gets real
Well howdy HV20, we've been expecting you. Not too much of a surprise to find Canon's high-def iVIS HV20 camcorder loosed after the inadvertent appearance on Circuit City's web site the other day. Instead of an upright form factor like Canon's HV10, they've gone long-and-lean this time which should help bring a bit more stability to your videos. As we hoped, low light shooting has indeed been improved from a 5 to 3 lux sensitivity at 1/30 second shutter speed or from 0.3 to 0.2 lux at 1/2 second shutter speed. Everything else is just like we heard on this HDV 1080i MiniDV recorder: 2.96 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, miniSD slot and new HDMI out, accessory shoe, and jacks for your headphones and mic. The HV20 is expected to hit Japan sometime in March, priced at about ¥140,000 ($1,154) to go head-to-head with Sony's HDR-HC7. No guarantees mind you, but we expect this to come west before summer.Update: As Zandr notes in the comments, the HV20 hits US stores in April for $1099.[Via Impress]
PS3 scaling functionality unearthed
Warning: a truly awful pun awaits you at the end of this post.In updating the software development kit for PS3 developers, Sony has enabled scaling functionality that was previously thought to be non-existent in the base hardware. An interesting and rather technical article at Beyond3D explains how Sony has enabled developers to combat the image downscaling issues that has been known to affect owners of certain HD televisions. If you recall, the PS3 had previously been unable to upscale resolutions (like the Xbox 360's Ana chip) from 720p to display on 1080i-only televisions, instead downscaling images to a less impressive 480p.Though Sony's solution is far from complete, Beyond3D notes that the latest SDK implements hardware accelerated horizontal scaling. It's still up to developers to take the feature all the way, but the enhancement already decreases the memory footprint left by less elegant upscaling techniques. It might appear that a secret piece of hardware is slowly being "unlocked" here, but a more likely explanation is simply that Sony is slowly but surely tweaking their development software (and the way it utilizes the existing PS3 hardware) to enable proper scaling functionality in lieu of an obvious and dedicated scaler chip. It will likely become mandatory for upcoming games to support this new hardware scaling solution; older games like Resistance may eventually see a patch implementing better scaling. More information will surface as tech sites analyze and contribute to this report, but it's nonetheless reassuring to see Sony being mindful of the problem and taking action to brush off that chip on their solder.[Thanks, Jonah.]
Compro U2700 hybrid HDTV tuner gets Vista certified
Yeah, we can already see that the onslaught of "Vista certified" devices will not be a pretty sight, but until Microsoft's newest OS becomes the norm, we guess that coveted sticker is you're only assurance that the gizmo you just purchased will actually work when you get home. Compro's latest HDTV tuner goes above and beyond the typical USB stick variety, as it bulks up a bit in size but also packs a bit more punch than similar alternatives. The U2700 hybrid DVB-T tuner connects to your PC via USB 2.0 and grabs free OTA HDTV transmissions as well as SD broadcasts, provides all the time-shifting / recording / scheduling capabilities we've come to expect, and boasts the unusual ability to "watch up to five digital 1080i streams simultaneously," although four of those must be pre-recorded. Of course, you'll need at least 3GHz of horsepower under the hood to create your own quilt of TV shows, and we doubt this feature is incredibly useful, but it's interesting nonetheless. Furthermore, you'll find an IR remote along with the ComproDTV 3 / Ulead software which allows you to time up recordings, capture still frames, handle straight-to-disc burning, and essentially turn your PC into a portable PVR. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on pricing or availability, but we'll bet they try to beat everyone else to the punch and have this sitting as close as possible to those spiffy Vista boxes real soon.[Via EverythingUSB]
De-interlacing and scaling the most important buying factors?
While the whole "1080i vs. 1080p" debate could likely go on for a good decade or so, having that oh-so-coveted "Full HD" logo slapped on your set evidently isn't the answer to all your HD problems, at least if you watch a good percentage of cable / satellite-provided content. A rather informative writeup / rant over at HD1080i lends a bit more insight into the ongoing discussion of when 1080p differs from 1080i, and goes on to explain that many incorrectly processed images cause quite a bit of dissatisfaction when it comes to quality, and oftentimes, it's not even your fault. Sure, folks outputting 1080p from an HD DVD or Blu-ray player get the benefit of seeing a progressive, pre-cleaned-up image, which basically removes all the hard work from your TV's internal scaler; however, for those watching a processed episode of TNT HD's Charmed, for instance, could witness a bit of "interlacing crop errors when de-interlacing is not done properly," rather than just a correctly rendered motion blur. Essentially, this fellow attempts to convince us that 1080p is an important matter, and it's great to have it there "when you need it," even though it's not likely that we see 1080p content coming through our cable STB anytime soon. So be sure and hit the read link to take a gander at yet another perspective, because a bit more research never hurt anyone, eh?
JVC HD GZ-HD7 1080i camcorder to hit in April
While we've been pining for more details on that JVC HD camcorder for the last few months, those folks in Japan have finally come through with some info that American consumers can sink their teeth into. Enter the Everio GZ-HD7 -- while its name isn't the easiest to say, its features are definitely something to behold. The GZ-HD7 shoots and records full HD images (1920 x 1080i) via a trio of CCDs (one each for red, green and blue). Further, it's loaded up with a 60GB hard drive that can store what JVC claims is up to five hours of full 1080i video shot with that sweet FUJINON lens. And like we spotted at CEATEC, there's an HDMI port, along with other connectivity options that include USB and FireWire. Sadly though, you'll still have to wait a little bit before you can take the GZ-HD7 home to meet your family -- and at $1,800, she ain't no cheap date.
Norcent readies new plasmas / LCD HDTV for CES
While it seems we really only hear from Norcent when CES is approaching, the California-based outfit is kicking it up a notch this year as well, as it plans to showcase a duo of new plasmas and a flagship LCD HDTV as well. Both PDPs will feature integrated ATSC / NTSC tuners, HDMI, component / S-Video / composite, VGA, 160-degree viewing angle, SRS-enhanced stereo speakers, and a "3D digital comb filter" for color processing. Additionally, the 50-inch PT-5045HD plasma will sport a 1,366 x 768 resolution, 1,000 cd/m2, and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, while the 42-inch PT-4246HD gets stuck with a 1,024 x 768 resolution and 8,000:1 contrast ratio, but picks up a Clear-QAM tuner and a 1,200 cd/m2 brightness rating. Over on the LCD side, the 37-inch VION LT-3790 one ups the LT-3725 we saw just recently by touting a larger panel, 1,366 x 768 resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 176-degree viewing angle, built-in ATSC / NTSC (Clear-QAM) tuners, HDMI, component / S-Video / composite inputs, VGA, and the same SRS-enabled speakers as on the plasmas. For those interested in picking one up, the PT-4246HD is on the streets right now for a very reasonable $1,199.99, while the 50-inch flavor will land next month for $1,899.99, and the $1,199.99 VION LCD will hit stores sometime Q2 2007.Read - Norcent's 42- and 50-inch Plasma displaysRead - Norcent's 37-inch VION LCD HDTV
Microtek unveils four new HD plasmas
While Microtek may not be the first name that comes to mind when you're thinking about plasma displays, the firm has four new PDP monitors ready to hit the market, all with decent specs and (fairly) reasonable pricing. Handling the low-end is the 42-inch MHP1-HDI, which sports a WXGA resolution, 1,300 cd/m2 brightness, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, built-in ATSC / NTSC hybrid tuner, HDMI, dual 10-watt stereo speakers, silver casing, and the company's own "Digital Color Transient Improvement (CTI) edge smoothing technology." The 50-inch version, dubbed P50TX1A, offers up just 1,000 cd/m2 brightness and an 8,000:1 contrast ratio, but otherwise remains identical to its slightly smaller sibling. For those who just insist on buying a set encased in black, the 42-inch Cineon CP42HA and 50-inch CP50HA just so happen to rock the exact same specifications as their silver-clad brethren, but will cost you a good bit more (sound familiar?) for the caliginous luxury. Microtek claims all four units are available now, and if you can manage to locate one, it'll run you $1,499 for the MHP1-HDI (and $100 more for the CP42HA), or $1,999 for the P50TX1A (add $200 for the CP50HA).Read - Microtek's MHP1-HDI and P50TX1A displaysRead - Microtek's Cineon CP42HA and CP50HA displays
Silicon Optix Reon-VX powers 1080p in Toshiba's HD-XA2 HD DVD player
While Toshiba's latest HD DVD player, the HD-XA2, should finally be shipping today, Silicon Optix has dropped more details on its Reon-VX chip that enables 1080p output. As mentioned previously, instead of outputting 1080i, the HQV chip deinterlaces the 1080i signal within the player itself using per-pixel motion-adaptive deinterlacing to ensure that what gets to the screen is free of jaggies and artifacting. A digital 1080i signal to a 1080p display should be able to be deinterlaced within the TV with no loss of picture quality, but since not all TVs are capable of the task without losing some visual information in the process, this solution should provide the highest, most consistent picture quality available. This same deinterlacing technology -- combined with the enhanced 297MHz video DAC and additional picture quality settings -- is used to enhance SD material, such as SD extras and regular DVDs. All this sounds great in theory, but we have to get the actual hardware in our hands to see if it stands up to the 1080p24 capable Sony BDP-S1 and Pioneer BDP-HD1.
Diamond Multimedia offers up HDTV100 portable USB TV tuner
Although these miniscule USB TV tuners have long been available overseas, we're thrilled to see Diamond Multimedia bringing the tiny OTA tuning love here to the States. The firm's HDTV100 sports an attractively small thumb drive-like enclosure, is powered entirely by USB, and features both ATSC and analog tuners within. Aside from supporting EPG, allowing you to schedule recordings and simultaneously playback a stored show while capturing another, it also comes with a "video capture dongle" to grab content from sources other than your trusty TV antenna. Best of all, Diamond's wee gem can be snapped up for just $99, which should give American travelers yearning for a little TV action while on the go little to frown upon.
Keian intros KDVD850HDMI upscaling DVD player with DivX support
While we've seen quite a few luxurious upscaling DVD players come through for those still quietly sitting the fence as the Blu-ray / HD DVD war wages on, Keian's KDVD850HDMI offers up another reasonable substitute to full-fledged high definition discs, and throws in DivX support to boot. Aside from kicking plain ole DVDs up to 1080i via HDMI, playing back DivX files, and touting the admittedly strange dual microphone inputs for that karaoke flair, this unit also touts the ability to render picture-based slideshows and play back MP3 / WMA from USB thumb drives or flash memory cards (SD, MMC, MS, xD). Of course, you'll find the typical coaxial / optical digital audio outputs as well, and while this unit isn't apt to win any awards in the quality department, it should help your (presumably depleted) post-Christmas bank account out by demanding just ¥10,800 ($91).[Via Akihabara News]
Snappy updates HAVA software, adds 1080i and 720p support
Snappy's HAVA is a bit of a dark horse in the remote TV viewing world, being overshadowed by Slingbox and all. But nonetheless, it soldiers on, sending your favorite programs out over your home network and then out over the great series of tubes. However, that little box just got a nice upgrade -- on Monday, Snappy Multimedia released a software update for the HAVA, version 1.6. This version will support 1080i, 720p, and 480p/576p inputs, and supports 16:9 aspect ratio for HD content. Further, the HAVA will now automatically detect the input resolution and adjust accordingly. Among the issues that this new software fixes is resolving incorrect video scaling and the ever-annoying "wireless configuration problems." We're constantly annoyed by our own "various problems" with our WiFi routers, so if Snappy wanted to share their insight with Netgear / Linksys / D-Link, we'd be much obliged.
Roxio's DVDit Pro HD authors Blu-ray / DVD
Now that Blu-ray burners are (finally) hitting PCs, and that uber-expensive media is (finally) available if you look hard enough, we're sure those folks shooting in drool-worthy 1080i / 1080p need an authoring program to finalize their work. While Roxio already released its Toast software with BD support, the firm has now thrown down a revamped version of DVDit Pro HD, built to author and output media to DVD or Blu-ray writeables. Boasting pre-constructed menus, features, and slideshows, the software can handle (and output) 720p, 1080i, and / or 1080p content. Of course, if you're not much on the cookie-cutter approach, Roxio provides the tools to build your own scenarios from scratch. So if you've already thrown down for a built-in Blu-ray burner, have stacks of BD-Rs waiting to be used, and have hours of HD content awaiting production, what's another $499.99 to get this application, right?[Via DVGuru]
