Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Thomson's 5.3-inch X-view 2 brings its dual-SIM capabilities, Android 4.0 to la France]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/thomson-x-view-2-smartphone-in-france/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/thomson-x-view-2-smartphone-in-france/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/thomson-x-view-2-smartphone-in-france/#comments Thomson's 5.3-inch X-view 2 brings its dual-SIM capabilities, Android 4.0 to la France

Last we heard, Thomsom had its PoMMeS IPTV tablet land at the rigorous FCC offices -- oh, and how could we forget that perky V888 slider from a few years back. Fast forward to today, and the company's clearly adapted to the "new" times, now introducing its 5.3-inch, dual-SIM X-view 2 smartphone in France. The phablet-styled device boasts a qHD, 960 x 540 display alongside an undisclosed single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, a 2500mAh battery to get you through the days and, as we're finally becoming accustomed to seeing, a flavor of Android 4.0. Thomson notes the X-view 2 will hit French shelves later this summer, though there's no word yet on how much cash you'll have to unleash in order to grab one of these for yourself.

Continue reading Thomson's 5.3-inch X-view 2 brings its dual-SIM capabilities, Android 4.0 to la France

Thomson's 5.3-inch X-view 2 brings its dual-SIM capabilities, Android 4.0 to la France originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5.3-inchAndroid 4.0Android Ice Cream SandwichAndroid ICSAndroid4.0AndroidIceCreamSandwichAndroidIcsdual simdual-simDualSimfranceIce Cream SandwichIceCreamSandwichicsmobilepostminiphabletsmartphonethomsonthomson francethomson x-view 2ThomsonFranceThomsonX-view2x-viewx-view 2X-view2Tue, 29 May 2012 14:18:00 EST<![CDATA[DirecTV announces positive Q4 results; no word on new HD channels, DirecTiVo or 24/7 ESPN 3D]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/directv-announces-record-q4-results-no-word-on-new-hd-channels/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/directv-announces-record-q4-results-no-word-on-new-hd-channels/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/directv-announces-record-q4-results-no-word-on-new-hd-channels/#comments While its cable competition deals with fears of cord cutting and losing customers DirecTV's Q4 results reveal it's continuing to add subscribers, growing by 289,000 in the US alone and even more in Latin America. Of course, good news for investors doesn't necessarily mean anything for customers, as news on any new HD channels and the much-anticipated DirecTiVo were notable in their absence. However, our friends at ZatzNotFunny points out both a tweet by the official DirecTV account suggesting the DVR could be delayed (again & again & again) to the second half of the year, and a forum post on DBSTalk that pictures what might be the final hardware and suggests it could end up shipping with the classic TiVo interface. One more interesting note? DirecTV hasn't picked up the 24/7 feed of ESPN 3D, opting to keep it live events only for now for unknown reasons, according to Explore 3DTV.

DirecTV announces positive Q4 results; no word on new HD channels, DirecTiVo or 24/7 ESPN 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>directivodirectvdvrearningsgrowthhdinvestorsq4subscriberstechnicolorthomsontivoWed, 23 Feb 2011 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/23/tivo-technicolor-cut-a-deal-to-push-dvrs-internationally/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/23/tivo-technicolor-cut-a-deal-to-push-dvrs-internationally/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/23/tivo-technicolor-cut-a-deal-to-push-dvrs-internationally/#comments Don't expect TiVo's international ambitions to stop with Virgin Media, as it's announced a deal with Technicolor (formerly Thomson) to develop "an advanced, TiVo-ready, high definition PVR set-top box" (sounds like Premiere to us, but one can never be sure.) Technicolor is putting TiVo's software on its DSI803 box (pictured above) designed to meet European Low Power Code of Conduct standards, with dual tuners and a minimum 320GB hard drive. Between that and an earlier deal with Conax it expects to be able to offer the combined product to operators worldwide, but there's no word yet on who will be first to bite.

Continue reading TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally

TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 May 2010 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conaxdsi803dvreuropehdhd dvrHdDvrsatellitetechnicolorthomsontivoSun, 23 May 2010 10:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson PoMMeS IPTV tablet hits the FCC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/thomson-pommes-iptv-tablet-hits-the-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/thomson-pommes-iptv-tablet-hits-the-fcc/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/thomson-pommes-iptv-tablet-hits-the-fcc/#comments
A tablet with the name "pommes" turning up courtesy of the FCC a day before a certain, possibly tablet-related event? Yeah, it's not even close to what you think, but it is something: Thomson's new PoMMeS tablet. Somewhat uniquely, this device is apparently designed primarily for IPTV streaming, although you'll also get a front-mounted webcam for video calls, and at least some basic web browsing capabilities (it's still not clear what this thing runs on). Complete specs are also a bit light at the moment, but this one does apparently pack an 8-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen display, and includes a dock that will also conveniently prop up the device for easy viewing. No indication of a price or release date, of course, but there's plenty more pictures (including a look inside) at the link below.

Thomson PoMMeS IPTV tablet hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fcchandheldiptviptv tabletIptvTabletpommestablettechnicolorthomsom pommesThomsomPommesthomsonTue, 26 Jan 2010 11:46:00 EST<![CDATA[RVU Alliance gets Motorola, Pace, Thomson and others to dream the multiroom dream]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/rvu-alliance-gets-motorola-pace-thomson-and-others-to-dream-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/rvu-alliance-gets-motorola-pace-thomson-and-others-to-dream-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/04/rvu-alliance-gets-motorola-pace-thomson-and-others-to-dream-th/#comments
Chalk up a few more for the multiroom crowd, as the RVU Alliance (get familiar) has added some power names from the set-top box market to its roster as "Promoter" members. The new additions appear to set things up for compatible solutions from your cable or satellite provider arriving sooner rather than later, capable of streaming video and interfaces from set-tops to any screen in the house. Names like Motorola, Pace and Thomson have probably already graced your entertainment rack, while lesser known additions include Entropic Communications, maker of hardware for home entertainment networking, JetHead, focused on creating RVU client software, and set-top manufacturer NXP. Is hoping for a big splash at CES too much? We think not.

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RVU Alliance gets Motorola, Pace, Thomson and others to dream the multiroom dream originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdmotorolamultiroomnxpotherspacervurvu allianceRvuAllianceste top boxSteTopBoxthomsonWed, 04 Nov 2009 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson developing tru2way hardware]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/11/thomson-developing-tru2way-hardware/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/11/thomson-developing-tru2way-hardware/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/11/thomson-developing-tru2way-hardware/#comments
In a CES surprisingly slim on new tru2way information, Thomson's revealed that it's working on a new set-top box for cable operators. Until it gets through CableLabs certification, what's on display is an OCAP / MoCa (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) set-top box running enable TV widget software pulling news info from the Internet to a TV. Further down the line a triple tuner tru2way DVR is expected, but not until 2010 so patience will clearly be key.

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Thomson developing tru2way hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecesces 09Ces09hdinternetmocaocapothersthomsontru2waySun, 11 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[KBRO opens up the HD window for Taiwan cable viewers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/09/kbro-opens-up-the-hd-window-for-taiwan-cable-viewers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/09/kbro-opens-up-the-hd-window-for-taiwan-cable-viewers/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/09/kbro-opens-up-the-hd-window-for-taiwan-cable-viewers/#commentsMaybe we're off base here, but it seems to us Taiwan could use a serious high-def infusion. Thankfully, KBRO -- a top cable operator in the country -- has looked to Thomson in order to deliver HD content via MPEG-4 to its loyal customers. There's no mention of exactly how many high-definition stations will be delivered, but we don't suspect that it made this kind of investment without some pretty lofty goals. Now, all we can hope is that everyone else vying for business nearby follows suit.

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KBRO opens up the HD window for Taiwan cable viewers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cableglobalhdKBROmpeg-4new contentnewcontentTaiwanThomsonTue, 09 Dec 2008 03:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson's ViBE encoders enable 50% faster HD channel changing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/30/thomsons-vibe-encoders-enable-50-faster-hd-channel-changing/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/30/thomsons-vibe-encoders-enable-50-faster-hd-channel-changing/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/30/thomsons-vibe-encoders-enable-50-faster-hd-channel-changing/#commentsLook, 1.9 seconds to change the channel is way, way too long people -- we all know that. Thankfully, the bright engineers at Thomson realize it too, and that's why they've cranked out some seriously awesome advances to their ViBE encoders. The new "fast zapping solutions" enable 50% faster high-definition channel changing, and the secret is in the fancy simultaneous compression that most users won't even notice. In essence, it allows the STB to "quickly decode and display a low resolution version of the channel and transition to displaying the full HD resolution version without disrupting viewing," and if all goes well, we could see this become the de facto way of channel surfing by 2009. Gnarly, dudes.

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Thomson's ViBE encoders enable 50% faster HD channel changing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>channel changechannel changingChannelChangeChannelChangingencodersfasthdindustryset-top-boxspeedstbthomsonViBESun, 30 Nov 2008 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Technicolor establishes first BDA-approved Blu-ray Disc testing facility in US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/04/technicolor-establishes-first-bda-approved-blu-ray-disc-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/04/technicolor-establishes-first-bda-approved-blu-ray-disc-testing/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/04/technicolor-establishes-first-bda-approved-blu-ray-disc-testing/#comments
We haven't seen too many BD fiascoes of late, and Thomson's Technicolor is out to make sure it stays that way. As of this week, it has established the very first BDA-approved Blu-ray Disc testing facility in the United States, which promises to provide a place for advanced BD-Live / BD-Java testing before titles are publicly released. There's no specific word as to what studios it'll be stamping seals of approval / disapproval for, so we'll just assume anyone who feels like ponying up for its services can apply.

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Technicolor establishes first BDA-approved Blu-ray Disc testing facility in US originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdbdablu rayblu-rayblurayhdtechnicolortesttestingthomsonususaSat, 04 Oct 2008 01:53:00 EST<![CDATA[France 2 getting new $3.1 million HD studio in Paris]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/14/france-2-getting-new-3-1-million-hd-studio-in-paris/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/14/france-2-getting-new-3-1-million-hd-studio-in-paris/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/14/france-2-getting-new-3-1-million-hd-studio-in-paris/#commentsThough quite a bit of broadcast news is flowing from the States right about now, Thomson is out boasting of its involvement with France 2's forthcoming HD upgrades. The "first public television broadcaster" in France has indeed chosen Thomson to construct a new high-definition facility (studio and control room) in Paris, which will set the network back a cool $3.1 million. Reportedly, the new France 2 HD project will include system design, installation, staff training and around the clock customer service. Among the new equipment is a pair of Kayak HD video production switchers and a Trinix HD router -- both of which should be well-oiled and ready to rock when the studio goes on-air by late August.

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France 2 getting new $3.1 million HD studio in Paris originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadcastbroadcastingexpansionFranceFrance 2France2globalhdhd studioHdStudionew contentnewcontentproductionThomsonMon, 14 Apr 2008 15:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson launches HD AVC encoding tools for Blu-ray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/thomson-launches-hd-avc-encoding-tools-for-blu-ray/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/thomson-launches-hd-avc-encoding-tools-for-blu-ray/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/thomson-launches-hd-avc-encoding-tools-for-blu-ray/#commentsThomson's Tiger AVC encoder that it has been using in house for the last couple of years, is now available for sale to interested Blu-ray (and HD DVD) compression and authoring facilities. Including Thomson's film grain adjustment technology among other parts of a "secret sauce" Thomson says results in better looking MPEG-4 / h.264 encoded movies. Packaged as the Nexcode HD AVC Encoder, its a full hardware and software solution built to scale to business requirements. No word on who exactly will use this technology, but as long as our HDM is artifact-free, we're not too concerned how it got that way.

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Thomson launches HD AVC encoding tools for Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authoringavcblu rayblu-rayblurayencodingfilm grainfilm grain technologyFilmGrainFilmGrainTechnologyh.264hdhd dvdhddvdmpeg-4thomsonThu, 28 Feb 2008 13:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson intros 9211 HD CMOS image sensor with Full HD resolution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/19/thomson-intros-9211-hd-cmos-image-sensor-with-full-hd-resolution/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/19/thomson-intros-9211-hd-cmos-image-sensor-with-full-hd-resolution/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/19/thomson-intros-9211-hd-cmos-image-sensor-with-full-hd-resolution/#commentsNot that you'll see one of these in your next digicam or anything, but Thomson's latest HD CMOS image sensor could still make the world you watch a lot clearer in due time. The 9211 is currently aimed at industrial applications such as machine vision, medical imaging and high-end video surveillance, and even offers up the ability to capture pixels in progressive or interlaced formats. As expected, this device features a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and on-chip dual 12-bit A/D converters, but who knows how long it will be before your every step in a Las Vegas casino is logged in 1080p.

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Thomson intros 9211 HD CMOS image sensor with Full HD resolution originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmoshdhd cmosHdCmosimage sensorImageSensorother hardwareotherhardwareothersThomsonThomson 9211Thomson9211Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:41:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's latest DECT 6.0 phones feature dedicated GOOG-411 button]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/ges-latest-dect-6-0-phones-feature-dedicated-goog-411-button/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/ges-latest-dect-6-0-phones-feature-dedicated-goog-411-button/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/ges-latest-dect-6-0-phones-feature-dedicated-goog-411-button/#comments
We've certainly seen some fairly interesting dedicated handset buttons before, but it's hard to argue with the functionality of a standalone GOOG-411 key. Apparently, Thomson has teamed up with Google to integrate the "first ever one-touch, auto-dial GOOG-411 button" into over a dozen of its GE-branded DECT 6.0 phones. In case you've been chilling under a stone of late, GOOG-411 is the search giant's "free, voice-activated, business directory assistance service," and it will be within reach on a slew of April-bound home phones. For more details on specific models as well as pricing information, head on down to the read link.

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GE's latest DECT 6.0 phones feature dedicated GOOG-411 button originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>411CESces 2008Ces2008DECTDECT 6.0Dect6.0directory assistanceDirectoryAssistanceGEgoog-411googleinformationphonetelephoneTHOMSONThu, 03 Jan 2008 17:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson leaves consumer electronics altogether]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/thomson-having-sold-rca-leaves-consumer-electronics-altogether/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/thomson-having-sold-rca-leaves-consumer-electronics-altogether/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/thomson-having-sold-rca-leaves-consumer-electronics-altogether/#commentsIt's a sad day indeed for Thomson fanboys worldwide, as the storied French corporation has announced plans to exit the consumer electronics industry altogether in an effort to refocus its resources on B2B digital video services. Following completion of the sale of its remaining non-European AV businesses to Audiovox on December 31st (which, as you'll recall, already bought the RCA brand and accessories division), Thomson will no longer have a presence on domestic or foreign retail shelves, and will also be short €30 million ($42.5 million) as a result of yesterday's announcement to shutter its AVA Europe operations. So here's to you, Thomson: we can't honestly say that we ever got into any of your various products, but as with any other departing member of our loving CE family, you'll be missed.

Update: After speaking with a Thomson rep, it seems inaccurate to state that the company is getting out of consumer electronics altogether, when in fact they do continue to sell home telephones. Therefore, please note that this is just an exit from the company's various A / V businesses.

[Via generationmp3]

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Thomson leaves consumer electronics altogether originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exitsrcathomsonThu, 18 Oct 2007 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson offers up V888 slider PMP]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/thomson-offers-up-v888-slider-pmp/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/thomson-offers-up-v888-slider-pmp/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/thomson-offers-up-v888-slider-pmp/#comments
Although Thomson's V888 isn't apt to make any calls, it sure slides with the best of 'em. This interestingly designed portable media player maximizes screen space by relocating the full gamut of controls beneath the display, and with all that space for buttons, we're delighted to see a control pad layout for playing any built-in games. Additionally, this unit packs a four-inch display, supports MPEG1/2/4, DivX, MP3, WAV, WMA, ASF, DAT, MOV and a host of other formats, includes an image / text viewer, and even does video out. You'll also find a removable battery, voice recording capabilities, and an SD expansion slot for loading up media. No word on pricing or availability at the moment, but click on for a few more snapshots of this unique device.

[Via PMPToday]

Continue reading Thomson offers up V888 slider PMP

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Thomson offers up V888 slider PMP originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-onedo-it-allpmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideosliderthomsontmsv888Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson touts A1 media player as "world's smallest"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/thomson-touts-a1-media-player-as-worlds-smallest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/thomson-touts-a1-media-player-as-worlds-smallest/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/06/thomson-touts-a1-media-player-as-worlds-smallest/#comments
Tired of bulky media players? Hate having to lug around your iPod Nano? Well, welcome to the Thomson A1, a tiny PMP that the company claims is the "world's smallest," (which of course we recommend you take with multiple grains of salt). Truth be told, it is rather petite, clocking in at just 3-inches and weighing only 87 grams. Somehow, they managed to slap on a 16:9 display and cram 4GB or 8GB capacity into the little guy, and of course it plays all your favorites, like MP3, WMA, WAV, and AVI, plus it rocks an FM tuner. The only real question is this; what are those colored "nubs" in the photo, and what exactly are they doing? The A1 will hit China first, going for around $106 for the 4GB and $120 for the 8GB, but no word on when or if we'll see this Stateside.

[Via Tech Digest]

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Thomson touts A1 media player as "world's smallest" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a1media playerMediaPlayermp3 playerMp3Playerpmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideothomsonwidescreenworld's smallestWorld'sSmallestMon, 06 Aug 2007 13:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson gets experimental with TV and radio-enhanced VoIP phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/thomson-gets-experimental-with-tv-and-radio-enhanced-voip-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/thomson-gets-experimental-with-tv-and-radio-enhanced-voip-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/thomson-gets-experimental-with-tv-and-radio-enhanced-voip-phones/#commentsThe words "Thomson" and "experimental" don't usually see much of each other, but the company is exploring a few new angles for its burgeoning VoIP lineup, and seems to have come up with a couple of interesting hybrids. The T2700 is a DECT phone with a fancy looking base station and a few hidden qualities. In addition to the usual VoIP duties, the phone can become a stereo loudspeaker for internet radio, and boasts of "HD sound" with enhanced bass and treble over your usual phone audio quality. Next up is an unnamed device (pictured) that seems positioned to compete with Nokia's N800, including an 800 x 480 touchscreen, internet browsing and a USB webcam for videoconferencing, with the main thrust of IPTV over WiFi or the use of a digital TV tuner via USB. Thomson is also sending its GE InfoLink RSS reader phone to Europe and announcing a video watermarking chip for set-top boxes. Unfortunately, we don't have the greatest pics of either of these phone devices, but we'll keep an eye out.

Read - Thomson VoIP phones
Read - Thomson watermark chip

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Thomson gets experimental with TV and radio-enhanced VoIP phones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dectphonesportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideot2007thomsonvoipMon, 19 Mar 2007 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[RCA announces Small Wonder EZ201 MPEG-4 digital camcorder]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/rca-announces-small-wonder-ez201-mpeg-4-digital-camcorder/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/rca-announces-small-wonder-ez201-mpeg-4-digital-camcorder/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/rca-announces-small-wonder-ez201-mpeg-4-digital-camcorder/#commentsThomson has announced plans to introduce RCA's Small Wonder EZ201, a solid state storage based MPEG-4 digital camcorder that will sell for the relatively affordable price of $129, sometime later this Spring. The camcorder is similar to a lot of solid state camcorders in that it features an SD card slot: we'll take the failure to mention the specific amount of built-in storage as a clumsy hint to potential buyers that they should bring their own storage if they want to get the most out of the camera. Unfortunately, in their efforts to keep costs down, RCA didn't include a rechargeable battery: instead, you'll have to feed the EZ201 2 AA batteries at a time, which will only keep it going for a pitiful 2 hours tops. Externally, the device looks to be not much larger than a pack of cards, and has a 1.5-inch, 180 degree swivel LCD display. The Small Wonder can also be plugged directly into televisions, and can transfer its MPEG-4 files to a PC without software. Later on this year RCA also plans to release what it calls the Memory Maker, a DVD dock and recording system for the EZ201 that lets users burn footage onto a DVD without the use of a PC.

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RCA announces Small Wonder EZ201 MPEG-4 digital camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESEZ201MPEG-4RCAThomsonSun, 07 Jan 2007 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Audiovox buys out Thomson's accessory biz, including RCA brand]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/audiovox-buys-out-thomsons-accessory-biz-including-rca-brand/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/audiovox-buys-out-thomsons-accessory-biz-including-rca-brand/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/audiovox-buys-out-thomsons-accessory-biz-including-rca-brand/#comments
It hasn't been all glimmer and glam for RCA of late, with the ancient consumer electronics brand lagging behind innovators in the field, being mostly relegated to cheap also-rans. But there's hope for that once-great purveyor of radios: Audiovox just snapped up the rights to RCA-branded accessories from Thomson to the tune of $50 million, which hopefully means a mild cred boost for the brand. We really couldn't have said it better than Patrick Lavelle, President and CEO of Audiovox: "We believe the acquisition of this business will enhance both our top and bottom line performance and create powerful marketing synergies for our organization." Gotta love those powerful marketing synergies. The acquisition includes 115 employees in North America and Asia, and Thomson also threw in Recoton, Spikemaster, Ambico and Discwasher brands for use on any products and the Jensen, Advent, Acoustic Research and Road Gear brands for accessory products. Audiovox expects the acquisition to pay off in over $150 million of sales in 2007.

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Audiovox buys out Thomson's accessory biz, including RCA brand originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionaudiovoxrcathomsonThu, 21 Dec 2006 14:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson's mysterious Black Diamond PMP goes public]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/thomsons-mysterious-black-diamond-pmp-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/thomsons-mysterious-black-diamond-pmp-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/16/thomsons-mysterious-black-diamond-pmp-goes-public/#commentsThink your black iPod nano attracted fingerprints and got scratched too easily? Keeping the same sleek black / blue glow motif showcased on Thomson's PMP2008, the mysterious new Black Diamond PMP (a.k.a. the EH308) should truly wear your touch on its enclosure. While the flashy homepage doesn't give us a completely satisfactory look at the unit itself, we do know that it'll pack 8GB of internal capacity, rock a 1.8-inch OLED screen, and feature "tactile controls." Furthermore, it'll come with a rechargeable Li-ion cell rated for 15 hours, USB 2.0 connectivity, a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, and the ability to display photos as well as play back audio (formats unspecified) and video (WMV / MPEG4). Curiously, Thomson also boasts about its ability to "manage podcast and web audio formats," as well as confirming its compatibility with "secure downloadable music formats" such as WMA-DRM. Expect this dark device to hit store shelves any day now, and at around $300, it's just a tad cheaper than that other Black Diamond floating around out there.

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Thomson's mysterious Black Diamond PMP goes public originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black diamondBlackDiamonddapmpeg4mysteryoledpmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideosceniumthomsonwmvThu, 16 Nov 2006 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[RCA's Lyra X3030 portable media player reviewed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/24/rcas-lyra-x3030-portable-media-player-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/24/rcas-lyra-x3030-portable-media-player-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/24/rcas-lyra-x3030-portable-media-player-reviewed/#commentsJust a few months back we saw RCA's Lyra X3000 get some well-deserved praise, and now the folks over at CNET are putting its successor through its respective paces. The X3030 sports most of the same specs and attributes as its aging sibling, but touts 30GB of internal storage (up from 20GB) and "adds protected Windows Media Video support and DivX certification." Reviewers found a good bit to love on the PVP, as they extolled its broad range of supported formats and "Apple-esque" scroll wheel, as well as admiring the "healthy set of accessories" that made scheduling recordings a breeze. The main digs came from the "tricky interface," the lack of a widescreen display (like that found on the lower-priced, albeit less accesorized, Archos 604), and the "decent" video quality that fell short of "some competitors." It was also noted that while the 4.5-hours of realized battery life while watching video was commendable, the 8.5-hours achieved while listening solely to audio was indeed lackluster. Nevertheless, the crew found enough niceties to slap a "7 out of 10" rating on the X3030, and closed by dubbing the X3030 "a solid video playback and recording device, despite its poorly designed menu interface."

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RCA's Lyra X3030 portable media player reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lyrapmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideopvprcareviewreviewedthomsonx3030Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson's 1GB PMP251 goes horizontal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/27/thomsons-1gb-pmp251-goes-horizontal/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/27/thomsons-1gb-pmp251-goes-horizontal/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/27/thomsons-1gb-pmp251-goes-horizontal/#comments Alright folks, if some off-the-wall PMP manufacturer can get this whole horizontal, white, touch-sensitive, movie playing, video-out touting thing down pat, then what's taking Apple so long? Regardless of Steve's insistence on rehashing the 5G iPod in its latest refresh, Thomson is going for broke with its 1GB PMP251. Sporting the same ultra-thin design and video-out we saw on the PMP2008, Thomson has shifted the plane by tossing in a horizontal layout, a 320 x 240 LCD, MPEG / JPEG support, PAL / NTSC video output, musical support for MP3, WAV, and WMA files, line-in recording capability, and USB 2.0; it even boasts a few PDA-like functions such as a calendar, address book, and oddly enough, an electronic dictionary. So if you're tired of waiting for a widescreen 6G iPod, and don't mind giving up 29 gigs or so, you can snag the PMP251 for CNY1,380 ($174).

[Via DAPReview]

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Thomson's 1GB PMP251 goes horizontal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChinaChineseDAPPMPPMP251portable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoThomsonThomson DAPThomsonDapWed, 27 Sep 2006 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson and Skype to release GE 28300EE2 VoIP phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/thomson-and-skype-to-release-ge-28300ee2-voip-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/thomson-and-skype-to-release-ge-28300ee2-voip-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/thomson-and-skype-to-release-ge-28300ee2-voip-phone/#commentsYou know something's gone mainstream when corporate giants like Thomson and GE get involved, and these two are presumably validating the internet calling craze by teaming up with Skype to release a GE-branded VoIP / conventional landline phone. The GE 28300EE2 isn't too much different than the other computer-free units we've seen, and sports the DECT 6.0 protocol as well as a color LCD screen to view Skype messages and traditional caller ID data. Aside from handling both VoIP and landline duties, the device sports speakerphone, conference calling, a 100-name address book, and 10 hours talk / 120 hours standby time. GE throws in two (conservatively styled) handsets to get you started, but since six units are supported, you can snag a few more to prevent having to move a muscle to communicate with your entire household. You can get your VoIP on with the GE 28300EE2 "sometime this fall" for $149.99.

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Thomson and Skype to release GE 28300EE2 VoIP phone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DECTGEinternet callingInternetCallingSkypeThomsonVoIPThu, 21 Sep 2006 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson's 1GB PMP2008 DAP hits China, lookin' fit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/thomsons-1gb-pmp2008-dap-hits-china-lookin-fit/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/thomsons-1gb-pmp2008-dap-hits-china-lookin-fit/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/thomsons-1gb-pmp2008-dap-hits-china-lookin-fit/#comments It's pretty hit or miss with these guys, but this new PMP2008 from Thomson looks like one of their hits. We can't imagine the player is too terribly exciting to use, and specs like USB 1.1 don't do much to inspire confidence, but they do seem to have managed to build a skinny flash DAP with at least a modicum of sex appeal. The unit, which is out now in China, sports 1GB of flash memory, a 2-inch screen and a surprising video-out port. However, we're most impressed by the player's 10mm (0.4-inch) thickness, though a sketchy 640 x 240 screen res stat might have that beat if it proves true. Unfortunately, we don't have a word on price, and don't really expect this one to hit our shores, but we can always admire from afar.

[Via dapreview]

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Thomson's 1GB PMP2008 DAP hits China, lookin' fit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thomson (or if you're a Yank like us, RCA) has found its way into the handheld GPS market, and is poised to release two new models in the fall. The GPS 420 (pictured), which is designed primarily for in-car use, will drop (in Europe, of course) this September or October, loaded with a 4.2-inch 16:9 touch screen and carrying a €500 price tag. The pedestrian-oriented GPS 280 will boast a 2.8-inch screen that can be oriented horizontally or vertically, and should be available sometime in November for a semi-affordable €400. Other hard specs on these SiRFStarIII-based devices are few and far between, but judging by the picture in the source link we assume video (DMB anyone?) and audio playback will find their way into the mix as well. We'll keep you posted when we get more info, unless we get sidetracked daydreaming about Archos' upcoming antenna-packed GPS powerhouse. 

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Thomson's GPS 280 and 420 portable sat-navs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jul 2006 06:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>280420gpsnavigationrcasat-navthomsonWed, 12 Jul 2006 06:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson's film grain for HD DVD: if you can't play it, fake it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomsons-film-grain-for-hd-dvd-if-you-cant-play-it-fake-it/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomsons-film-grain-for-hd-dvd-if-you-cant-play-it-fake-it/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomsons-film-grain-for-hd-dvd-if-you-cant-play-it-fake-it/#comments With all this crazy money being spent on rolling out new standards like HD DVD and Blu-ray, you'd think at least they'd be able to manage that 1080p res they're soaking you for, right? Well, sort of. HD DVD runs at about 10-15Mbps, compared to SD-res bitrates of around 8-10Mbps. That means a whole lot of compression is going on, and some of that film grain that you're paying for with such high resolutions is getting lost in the process. Now Thomson is stepping in with a solution to reintroduce that grain, by simulating it in the actual player as a visual effect on the image. Sounds pretty cheesy to us, since the whole point of seeing film grain is for the subtle nuance of it, not for the mere effect of distorted picture. It does sound like they have some algorithm in place to pickup the actual patterns of noise during compression, so that the final representation has at least a semblance to the original, but it sounds like true film grain purists are going to have to stick with movie theaters for their fix for now.

[Via HD Beat]

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Thomson's film grain for HD DVD: if you can't play it, fake it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pfilm grainFilmGrainhd dvdHdDvdhdtvthomsonThu, 06 Jul 2006 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson announces three DAPs and a PMP for Europe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomson-announces-three-daps-and-a-pmp-for-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomson-announces-three-daps-and-a-pmp-for-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomson-announces-three-daps-and-a-pmp-for-europe/#commentsRCA-parent Thomson announced three new MP3 players for the European market today, along with a 30GB PMP called the X3030E, which should look quite familiar because it's just a re-badge of the Lyra X3030 that we covered a few months back. First up is the 6GB EH306, also known as the Black Diamond, which is a nano-like device sporting a 1.5-inch color OLED display, MP3, WMA, WMV, and MPEG-4 file support, fifteen hours of battery life, and that old standby, the FM tuner -- all for around $320 when it hits stores in October. Next we have the Lyra EM2600 (pictured), a 512MB or 1GB flash-based model which is basically a color version of the RD2312 we spotted at CES 2005, and which will cost $100 or $126 depending on capacity. Bringing up the rear is arguably the hottest model of all, a little waif of a DAP known as the EM2802. With this one you're getting the same color screen and codecs as the EH306, but in a much smaller package and in capacities of either 1GB or 2GB -- which will go for $165 and $216, respectively, upon their November launch. You've already seen the EM2600; now keep reading to check out all the other upcoming devices...

Continue reading Thomson announces three DAPs and a PMP for Europe

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Thomson announces three DAPs and a PMP for Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dapeh306em2600em2802lyramp3pmpportable audioportable videoPortableAudioportablevideorcard2312sceniumthomsonx3030x3030eThu, 06 Jul 2006 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Thomson's new Film Grain Technology for HD DVD endorsed by SMPTE [Update 2]]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomsons-new-film-grain-technology-approved-for-hd-dvd-finally/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomsons-new-film-grain-technology-approved-for-hd-dvd-finally/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/thomsons-new-film-grain-technology-approved-for-hd-dvd-finally/#commentsClick for larger example of film grainThomson announced last night that their Film Grain Technology for MPEG-4 has (finally) been approved for mandatory inclusion in HD DVD products. We say finally because they've been showing this off since 2004, and it was originally not approved by the DVD Forum for mandatory inclusion back in February 2005. No word on what has changed between then and now, or exactly when the Steering Committee met and approved it, but it's in there now (See below). Currently this technology is only included for use with the h.264 codec, although they indicate it could be added to support other compression solutions, like VC-1 for example.They remove all trace of film grain before the movie is compressed, then the player recreates the effect during playback. Beyond just adding a different visual feel, they claim this will also enhance compression and lower necessary bitrates for high definition content further. This AVS Forum thread provides much useful information on the effect of film grain and Thomson's technology.

Continue reading Thomson's new Film Grain Technology for HD DVD endorsed by SMPTE [Update 2]

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Thomson's new Film Grain Technology for HD DVD endorsed by SMPTE [Update 2] originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 05:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fgtfilm grainFilmGrainh.264hdhd dvdHdDvdhdtvhigh definitionHighDefinitionmpeg-4thomsontoshibaThu, 06 Jul 2006 05:40:00 EST<![CDATA[RCA releases H100 and H116 HDD-based DAPs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/rca-releases-h100-and-h116-hdd-based-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/rca-releases-h100-and-h116-hdd-based-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/rca-releases-h100-and-h116-hdd-based-daps/#commentsRCA's got a new pair of hard drive-based MP3 players for those folks still grieving over the death of the iPod mini, complete with 4GB and 6GB hard drives, black and white screens, and even a little bit of design flair in the form of chrome accents. The only real difference between the H100 (pictured) and H116 (available at Target as the H106), besides the size of their drives, is the fact that the more capacious H116 ships with a combination car charger/FM transmitter -- oh, and the non-touch-sensitive scroll wheel is black instead of green. Both models feature 1.5-inch displays with white on black text, 16-hour rechargeable batteries, PlaysForSure and Windows Media Player 11 compatibility, and Media Transfer Protocol (MTP support). You're certainly not getting a lot of extras here, but then again, you won't be paying much for these models either; $139 will score you the H106, while two more gigs and the car kit will set you back thirty bucks more.

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RCA releases H100 and H116 HDD-based DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gb6gbdapfm transmitterFmTransmitterh100h106h116hard driveHardDrivemp3mtpplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiorcathomsonTue, 27 Jun 2006 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft unveils unified communications platform]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/26/microsoft-unveils-unified-communications-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/26/microsoft-unveils-unified-communications-platform/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/26/microsoft-unveils-unified-communications-platform/#commentsMicrosoft has just announced a series of new products and upgrades to existing software which together will form a platform that promises to deliver unprecedented convergence among disparate communications technologies. Part of the "Office system 2007 wave of products," this combination of hardware and software will allow users to perform such tasks as checking their voicemail directly from Outlook or calling up an Exchange Server to have it email other participants of an impending meeting that they're going to be late. The move also sees Redmond making an even bigger push into Internet telephony in the form of the Office Communications Server 2007 package, which is a SIP-based platform that will allow seamless VoIP calling, videoconferencing, and instant messaging across a broad range of existing applications, services and devices, including the all-in-one Office Communicator 2007 -- available in desktop, web-based, and mobile flavors -- which just so happens to support voice, video, and chat as well. Finally, we'll see remote conferencing get a boost in the form of enhanced A/V capabilities and Office integration for Live Meeting, along with a new tool called RoundTable that employs a 360-degree camera for letting group web-conference participants view the entire remote team simultaneously. On the hardware side of things, Microsoft has partnered with HP and Motorola to provide support for the new platform, with HP delivering systems integration services and unspecified "enhanced products" and Moto throwing down compatible mobile devices and network equipment. While new versions of Exchange Server and Speech Server are on their way by the end of the year, the majority of the platform -- including IP desktop phones from Polycom, LG-Nortel, and Thomson to support the Office Communicator phone experience -- is not scheduled to roll out until sometime during Q2 of next year.

[Via The New York Times]

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Microsoft unveils unified communications platform originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communications server 2007CommunicationsServer2007convergencedesktopexchange serverExchangeServerhpinstant messagingInstantMessaginglaptoplg-nortellive meetingLiveMeetingmicrosoftmotorolaoffice 2007office communicator 2007Office2007OfficeCommunicator2007outlookphone experiencePhoneExperiencepolycomroundtablespeech serverSpeechServerthomsonvideoconferencingvoipwebconferencingMon, 26 Jun 2006 12:51:00 EST<![CDATA[RCA Lyra X3030 media player gets bump to 30GB]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/18/rca-lyra-x3030-media-player-gets-bump-to-30gb/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/18/rca-lyra-x3030-media-player-gets-bump-to-30gb/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/18/rca-lyra-x3030-media-player-gets-bump-to-30gb/#comments
It may be only a couple of weeks since we first started seeing reviews of Thomson/RCA's Lyra X3000 portable media player, but that hasn't stopped the company from announcing a successor, the X3030. Like the X3000, the X3030, due out in May, can handle WMA, PlaysforSure, Audible and DivX files, and has a 3.6-inch LCD display. In fact, the main difference between the two models appears to be a bump in hard disk size, from 20 to 30GB (gee, that must be why this is the X3030). RCA has kept the suggested retail price at the same $399 level as the X3000, so if you like the Lyra's specs and 20GB will do it for you, now might be a good time for you to grab an X3000 from a clearance bin.

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RCA Lyra X3030 media player gets bump to 30GB originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audibledivxlyramoviesplaysforsurepmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideorcathomsonwmax3000x3030Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft shows off IPTV plans, partners]]>http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/17/microsoft-shows/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/17/microsoft-shows/http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/17/microsoft-shows/#commentsAs the convergence race heats up, Microsoft is not sitting on the sidelines, as last week at the IBC show in Amsterdam they shed more light on their plans for IPTV devices with SBC, Intel, Motorola, Linksys and others.  Among the announcements made for NTSC markets were:
I don't think this nearly answers the question of where the Media Center Edition platform's future lies, but Microsoft is clearly doing everything they can to make sure they have their devices at the heart of your digital entertainment center of the future.

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Microsoft shows off IPTV plans, partners originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2005 20:33:19 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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