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Dodge's 2FA security update for muscle cars will slow thieves to a crawl
A security PIN for Dodge's performance vehicles stops anyone else from speeding away -- even if they have a key.
Switched On: Toshiba and the Blu-ray Trojan Horse
Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. The Blu-ray Disc Association has positioned Toshiba joining its membership as the epilogue in the company's once pitched battle for high-definition disc domination. It could, however, merely be a new chapter in the broader story of home entertainment as it uses the players not only to fill some product-line gaps but takes advantage of their connectivity to move to a future beyond any disc standard. Back when it was tending to its fresh format war wounds, Toshiba did not always see this potential. After it exited-- and effectively ended-- the HD DVD market, the March 3, 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal ran an interview with Toshiba chief executive Atsutoshi Nishida that detailed ambitious plans for avoiding Blu-ray. On the low end, Toshiba would improve DVD playback to seek near-parity with Blu-ray quality at lower cost. That idea was productized in Toshiba's XDE DVD players and televisions. XDE was met with mixed reviews, however, and the plummeting prices of Blu-ray hardware last holiday season cut its viability short. Flirting with connectivity on the high-end, Nishida noted that it was now possible to bridge PCs and televisions better, and that he wanted to put "even more energy" into video downloading. He may have been considering Toshiba's Qosmio multimedia powerhouse notebooks as an engine for driving high-definition content to the television. However, the long-lingering idea of bridging the PC and television, while indeed becoming easier technologically, still simply isn't worth the effort for most consumers. At CES 2009 as Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, Samsung, LG and Vizio showed off connected televisions, Toshiba didn't announce any broadband content partnerships for its premium Regza line of TVs.
Toshiba's REGZA 52XV545U reviewed: she's a beauty
Given that Toshiba's 46XV545U was harshed on pretty seriously by CNET a month ago, we weren't expecting much when going into Electronic House's review of the 52-inch Cinema Series REGZA 52XV545U. Contrary to popular belief, this set was said to be fairly awesome, with it producing "realistic color with precise picture detail and resolution free from visible artifacts." Critics even went so far as to say that its picture quality was "well above par," with both OTA HD broadcasts and DISH Network signals looking as sharp as ever. Potentially most unexpected was the praise given to the Super Resolution upscaling technology, which managed to produce "some of the best viewable images from regular cable fare" that reviewers had seen. Bottom line? You should probably give this one a look in person -- it's too tough to tell what your eyes will see.
Toshiba's 46XV545U LCD HDTV reviewed: internal upscaling is a joke
Sympathizers were outraged that skeptics (read: us) didn't believe that Toshiba's Super Resolution Technology was anything worth writing home over, and hey, we hate to say we told you so. The outfit's 46XV545U was recently reviewed over at CNET, and critics found the internal upscaling technology to be more of a gimmick than anything. Sure, it artificially sharpened some SD content for the better, but all in all, the SRT system fell under the "bad," not the "good." Overall, the set offered up a decidedly decent experience from top to bottom, yielding a "Good" rating and three out of five stars. In other words, take your dollars elsewhere -- competition is fierce, and you're in no place to settle for less than the best in any given price range.
Broadcom plots CES strategy: Super resolution upconversion, DLNA and more
Not stopping with Blu-ray hardware, Broadcom's got a even more display related tech to show off in Las Vegas next month. First up is its entry into the super resolution upconversion arena, promising to upscale standard definition or Internet streaming (a bit less relevant now that YouTube, Facebook and everyone else is going HD) to 1080p high definition resolutions. We'll be waiting to put it to the test against the best from Toshiba, Hitachi, and who ever else wants a piece. Also on deck is a DLNA connected home demo, showing what could happen when your cell, HDTV, set-top box and PC all talk to each other and shift media seamlessly between platforms (but probably won't.) Slightly less exciting is the promise of a 120Hz digital TV platform with integrated CableCARD and Internet support based on technology aquired from AMD earlier this year.Read - Broadcom to Demonstrate Super Resolution Technology at CES 2009, Enabling High Quality Viewing of Low Resolution Media ContentRead - Broadcom to Showcase a DLNA®-Enabled Connected Home at CES 2009Read - Broadcom Integrates Technologies and Resources from Its AMD Digital Television Business Acquisition
Toshiba's 1080p REGZA ZV series LCD HDTVs get priced and dated
Ready for some Resolution+ in your LCD HDTV? Yeah? Then get ready for Toshiba's REGZA ZV series, which is gearing up to take the UK by storm and completely change the way you see SD content. Okay, so maybe that's a touch overblown, but the upscaling sets are slated to launch in the UK on November 29th. The 42-inch 42ZV555D will sell for £899.99 ($1,419), while the 46-inch 46ZV555D will go for £1199.99 ($1,893), and both will make your collection of HD footage immensely envious.[Via Pocket-lint]
Toshiba rolls out its SRT Regza TVs in Japan
Even if Toshiba's Super Resolution Technology (SRT) upscaling TVs get a dubious eye here at EHD, Tosh is blanketing the globe with its SRT-enabled sets. Mirroring the CEDIA and IFA announcements, a total of eight models across three lines are being lined up for Japanese shores over the next few months (all currently without pricing): 52-, 46- and 42-inch ZH7000; 46-, 42- and 37-inch Z7000; and 46- and 40-inch FH7000. SRT is no longer just for DVDs, it's also getting top billing as a fix-up for Japan's 1440x1080 terrestrial video. Okay, we're not big on SRT, but the optional hard drive recording for the ZH7000 and FH7000 is something we'd like to see here in the US -- but we just know what will cross the ocean will have SRT onboard with no HDD recording option in sight. [Image courtesy Impress]
Hands-on with Toshiba's SRT REGZA HDTVs (and other old crap)
Man, what a toll the loss of HD DVD has taken on Toshiba. Judging by the vast expanse of floor space at Tosh's booth not covered with people (seriously, look for anyone in the gallery below) and the inclusion of CES-announced DVD / VHS recorders (yes, really) as premiere products, we'd say the outfit is still hurting from the outcome of the format war. In all honesty, we felt kind of sad sashaying through its installation while reading slogans like "See everything in HD (even the non-HD stuff)." We even viewed the Super Resolution Technology demonstration with an open mind, and while there's certainly a mild difference with SRT, these sets hardly make SD signals into high-def. Grab a tissue and wander through the gallery below. %Gallery-31197%
Toshiba's Super Resolution-infused REGZA HDTVs get US prices / release dates
Toshiba got official with its new RV / XV REGZA families last week at IFA, but now Tosh is debuting 'em along with a smattering of other lines at CEDIA. The main news here is the US pricing and availability, but if you care to get neck-deep in marketing hoopla, we'd be happy to oblige. The company is trumpeting its Super Resolution Technology (now available in the REGZA RV535 and XV545), which purportedly uses a "proprietary processing system" to "improve image sharpness, brightness and color, [thereby] enhancing standard movies, TV shows, camcorder movies and most video games to near HD quality." For details on how much he AV500, RV525, AV502, RV535 and XV545 sets will cost here in America, head on past the break.[Image courtesy of TWICE]
