No doubt, we liked Samsung's 10 megapixel NV24HD camera with 720p video. But we loves us some Panasonic DMC-FX500. It shoots 720p video and 10 megapixel stills just like its Korean competitor only with a 5x, 25-mm wide-angle Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens instead of the 24-mm 3.6x zoomer found on the Sammy. Oh, and it brings a bigger 3.0-inch touchscreen too. With the unit already making its way out the door in the US for about $400, we're just waiting to hear about the image quality before grabbing one for ourselves. Reviews please, somebody... Bueller? Video hands-on after the break.

If Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FX500 skipped out on PMA in order to get fitted with a touchscreen LCD monitor and HD recording capabilities, we'd say it was certainly a smart move. This well-spec'd shooter sports a pocket-friendly design, a 10.1-megapixel sensor, a 25-millimeter ultra-wide-angle lens, 3-inch touchscreen, 5x optical zoom and a swank movie mode capable of logging clips at 1,280 x 720 at 30fps. For those worried about said feature chewing through their SD / SDHC card (or the 50MB of built-in memory), WVGA (848 x 480) and VGA (640 x 480) video modes are available as well. You'll also find such niceties as optical image stabilization, red-eye correction, face detection and Auto Focus tracking for good measure. Drooling yet? Chew on the choice of black or silver and get your $399.95 ready to drop come May.

[Via PCMag]

Rounding out this morning's new Bravias is the diminutive M1 series. The 20-inch ¥110,000 ( $1,020) and 16-inch ¥90,000 ($835) LCDs match 1366x768 screens with 1,200:1 or 1,800:1 (respectively) contrast ratios, Bravia Engine 2 image processing, 24p True Cinema 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, plus VOD and DLNA connectivity. Coming in various combinations of bezel colors, expect these HDTVs in the background of your favorite J-pop vids beginning March 25. Still waiting for price/date info on the U.S. Bravia's Sony announced at CES? So are we.

[Via Impress]

CES 2008 brought us plenty of gimmicky 3D-related gadgetry, a bit that was respectable, and apparently, the TDVisor-HD. Nearly three weeks after the show concluded, TDVision Systems has just now gotten around to tossing out a press release boasting about how much fun was had by folks stopping by and checking out the "world's first portable, all digital, high-def 3D visualization system." Unfortunately, we're left to ponder on precisely what this thing is, but as best we can tell, it's yet another Virtual Boy-esque device, 'cept this one does 720p (and 3D). Per usual, a price and release date are conveniently absent, but considering that we can't even recall the last time we wore anything with "visor" in the product name (well, besides that one time...), we suppose it'll be alright.

There aren't many industries more fun to follow then LCDs, not only do they get better and better every year, but they get cheaper and cheaper too. Now the number one two HDTV producer in the US has a whole new line that ranges from a 22-inch and goes all the way up to 52-inches -- and everything in between. Unlike most of the Vizio line, the Evolution series has a flat black finish and includes a 6-foot HDMI cable and the sought after "Deluxe Size Cleaning Cloth." The 42-inch, 47-inch and 52-inch models have four HDMI inputs on the back -- the rest of the line has two -- and are 1080p. The 32-inch and 37-inch are 720p, and curiously the 22-inch has a resolution of 1680x1050, which probably makes it a good candidate to pull double duty as a computer display. The prices and availability varies, but the entire line will be available at a warehouse near you in 2008.

• VO22L $459.99 March '08
  
• VO32L $699.99 March '08
  
• VO37L $899.99 March '08
  
• VO42LF $1,299.99 April '08
  
• VO47LF $1,799.99 Jan. '08
  
• VO52LF $2,499.99 July '08

[Update: Seems the VO47LF may retail for $1,599.99 instead of $1,799.99, but the press release and Vizio website contain conflicting prices.]

At a glance, it's easy to mistake the Maxian E900T for other members of the Maxian family, such as the E900DIC or D900 Neo. Let's face it -- this company has some fundamental problems when it comes to differentiating between models. The latest entry into the lineup comes in the form of a wild, do-it-all PMP -- one which incorporates audio and video playback, a DMB receiver, GPS navigation, and an always-handy dictionary into one delicious package. The Windows CE-based system boasts an 800 x 480 4.3-inch touchscreen, a 30GB or 60GB hard drive, support for WMV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DiVX / XviD, H.264, WMA, AAC, MP3, and OGG formats (amongst others), plus the aforementioned DMB compatibility. The E900T is capable of outputting 720p HD video, sports Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, and includes Burr-Brown audio circuitry which it outputs via S/PDIF. When you slap this thing into its carmount, it also becomes a full featured GPS navigator, taking advantage of the GPS receiver in the cradle to provide turn-by-turn directions and other navigation functions you know and love, like locating Wendy's (in Korea, at least). No word on when, or if, this will be available in the States, but it couldn't hurt to write some letters of encouragement.

[Via Navigadget]

High-end manufacturer Runco is headed for the great outdoors with a 42-inch LCD panel that's ruggedized and weatherproofed for use outside the home. The 1366 x 768-native WP-42HD flat panel sports a cabinet design to minimize exposure to the elements, and has a "Winter Mode" to allow it to operate down to -4° F -- low enough to want to watch it through the window instead of beside it. As is usual for Runco, the set includes RS-232 automation, a custom high-gloss bezel, and a $8,995 price tag to match, leaving us to wonder if we can instead pick up eight Vizio sets and just replace one every winter.

We don't know if it's really the world's "first true indoor high-definition LED scoreboard" or not, but even if it's a close second, the quartet of new screens at the Verizon Center are getting pretty glowing early reviews. Mitsubishi Electric and ANC Sports Enterprises teamed up to install the four center-hung, 25-foot by 14-foot Diamond Vision systems at the home of the Washington Capitals, along with over 1,000 linear feet of LED fascia to display scrolling info. At only 1,280 by 736 pixels, none of these screens is going to make the most out of your favorite Blu-ray flick, but they do make the arena a perfect venue for your next LAN party.

[Photo courtesy of Flickr member Jessfir]

Sanyo's back with another Xacti solid state camcorder with this, their DMX-HD700. That's "HD" as in high-def, "7" as in 720p instead of the 1080i recording action found in their DMX-HD1000. On sale starting October 19th, the "world's smallest and lightest 720p" camcorder records MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video and 7.1 megapixel stills to SD/SDHC cards. It's also loaded with the ability to track up to 12-faces, a 2.7-inch LCD, and ISO 3200 sensitivity. Expect to drop an estimated ¥70,000 (about $609) or so for the privilege.

[Via Impress]

Aiptek certainly knows a thing or two about atypically cheap pocket camcorders, so it's not all that shocking to find that the company's latest has landed for just $169.99 -- quite a bit cheaper than the $280 iteration we saw earlier this year. The five-megapixel A-HD 720P High Definition Camcorder promises to record 720p video at 30fps and offers up AC / USB charging options, a 4x digital zoom, red eye reduction, component output, a 2.4-inch swivel screen, 6-measly-megabytes of internal storage, an SD expansion slot, and the ability to take stills, too. Granted, we wouldn't have high hopes for the quality here, but it's hard to argue with a price tag that low.

Those looking for a single projector that fits the bill for movie watching and game playing need to look Panasonic's way, as the firm's PT-AX200U HD projector claims to cut the response time down a full third from its prior models. This sucka touts a 1,280 x 720 native resolution, a 220-W UHM lamp and optical unit that generate 2,000 lumens of brightness, 6,000:1 contrast ratio, twin HDMI ports, the firm's own Light Harmonizer 2 image technology, and the ability to customize and save "eight settings for games or movies, making it easy to view the content as you wish." Reportedly, the PJ should be landing sometime in October in a pearl white motif, but pricing details have yet to be divulged.

Making good on a promise made earlier this year, Sony has apparently made available a duo of cheaper, smaller LCDs to discount retailer Target as it attempts to cater to a different sect of customers. Reportedly, the 26- and 32-inch 720p Bravias won't be available in Target B&M locations until next month, but both sets are showing up on Target's website right now. Also, we should see a similar infiltration into Wal-Mart and possibly a few other big box retailers in the coming months, but those looking to snag a Sony LCD on the (comparatively) cheap can head on over to Target's virtual storefront and procure the 32-inch KDL32ML130 for $899.99 or the slightly smaller KDL26ML130 for a Benjamin less.

[Via CNET]
Read - Sony's 32-inch KDL32ML130
Read - Sony's 26-inch KDL26ML130

Samsung is adding more midrange options to its overseas Bordeaux lineup, with new LCDs in 23-, 32- and 40-inch sizes. These 720p (1366x768) HDTVs feature 8ms response times, 8,000:1 contrast ratio and 550 cd/m2 brightness on the two larger screens, while the 23-inch is limited to a 4,000:1 contrast and 450cd/m2 brightness rating. The smallest LCD eschews the slick black finish that seems standard for the line, but for just 69,800 yen ($581 U.S.), we'll overlook it. The 40-inch LN40R81B (above) will cost 168,00 yen ($1,398 U.S.) and the 32-inch 99,800 yen ($830 U.S.) when all three are released on the 27th. More photos after the break.

Home cinema newbies can collectively rejoice, as even Epson has stepped up to the plate and is offering a high-end HTIB of its own. The Ensemble Home Cinema System provides "everything" (even patience?) you need to turn your den into a theater worth being proud of, and includes your choice of a 1080p or 720p Epson projector, 100-inch motorized screen, a 5.1 Atlantic Technology surround system, ten-inch subwoofer with built-in amplifier, AV controller with twin HDMI inputs and an upconverting DVD player, and a pre-programmed universal remote that takes the fun frustration out of establishing a one-button setup. Interestingly, Epson claims that the entire installation can be completed in a mere four hours, so if you're inches away from tearing your hair (or walls) out, simmer down and hand over your $4,999 (720p) to $6,999 (1080p) to handle HT the easy way.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Samsung has dropped its "Holidays in July" bomb on the good people of Earth, and within that treasure trove are a few little gems, like the company's new Blu-ray duo, the BD-P2400, and kid sister BD-P1400. Both players feature Blu-ray playback at native HD resolution (1080p / 1080i / 720p), handle HD video at 1920 x 1080, and up-convert standard DVDs to 1080p via HDMI. The BD-P2400 also utilizes Samsung's "Hollywood Quality Video", which rocks some proprietary de-interlacing that makes Pirates of the Caribbean look really, really real. The player's audio does the regular rounds with stereo and 5.1, coaxial and optical digital outs, and Dolby Digital Plus with DTS HD and MP3 playback.; for video you get HDMI, component, S-Video and composite outs. The BD-P2400 will be available in October for $649, and the BD-P1400 in September for $549.