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The Helios H2000: your $99 upscaling multiformat DVD player
Those familiar with the Helios name probably haven't forgotten the uber-cheap H4000 that landed late last year, but the firm has outdone itself once again by slipping under that oh-so-magical $100 price point with the H2000. This slim multiformat player can not only upscale your standard DVDs to 1080i, but MPEG2/4, DivX, and even XviD files can also be upconverted for your viewing pleasure via component, HDMI, or VGA. Moreover, this device also outputs unprocessed 480i / 576i signals via the HDMI port if you're sending it to an external video scaler, and while we're sure you may be willing to give your first second born for all these niceties, Helios Labs will only be asking for $99 when it arrives next month.
Engadget HD giveaways: NeoDigits Helios X3000
What, you didn't think the only thing we cared about on Engadget HD is HDTVs, right? In addition to the Philips 42PF9631D 42-inch plasma we're currently giving away, we thought we'd hook someone up with a NeoDigits Helios X3000 networked upscaling DVD player. This thing does it all: up to 1080p playing back DviX (HD), XviD (HD), WMV, VC-1 (WMV-HD), MPEG-1/2/4, and all your favorite audio formats over your wired or 802.11g wireless network. We're also throwing in a PowerSquid black Surge3000 for the winner to make sure you've got enough juice and plugs for your console, HDTV, etc., courtesy of our pals at Flexity. You'll have until Thursday the 20th to enter; we'll pick somebody at random who tells us in the comments which their preferred method of media streaming is currently. Of course, they too will have to follow the other rules: You may enter other Engadget contests, however... You may only enter this contest once; if you enter more than once on this particular contest post you'll be automatically disqualified and barred from all future giveaways. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You may enter future Engadget relaunch giveaway contests though! You can only win once. (If you win and then try to go for a second prize during our relaunch giveaways, you'll be automatically disqualified, etc.) Contest is open to everybody worldwide! (This is a US unit, however.) You will be shipped your Helios when all the contests are up, so sit tight! Good luck, and be sure you've entered our other contests, as well! The final Nikon S7c digital camera! Fourth shot at a Zune Win a VidaBox SLIM for the best Halloween costume! Seriously, you can win a Philips 42PF9631D 42-inch plasma Win yourself a Slingbox PRO Xbox 360 Premium Pack here!
NeoDigits announces the HELIOS H4000 HD Upscaling DVD player
With all the fuss over HD optical discs, sometimes we forget that there are some nice low cost solutions to tide our HD cravings over till the next-gen format players drop in price. NeoDigits' latest offering into the crowded market of DVD upscalers -- the widely versatile H4000 -- is a great example. This player not only supports DVD, SVCD, VCD, CD, HDCD, MP3, WMA, MPEG 4, and DivX but also allows users to output nearly any resolution over its three high-def outputs. Say for instance a person wants to output 1080p over component, this player can do that (just like its older brother) or perhaps a higher-end A/V owner wants to output the signal to an external video processor at 480i via HDMI, that's kosher too. All in all there are eleven different resolutions the H4000 can output over the composite, S-Vid, component, HDMI and VGA jacks. We hear ya if the whole HD DVD/Blu-ray battle is just to scary right now to jump feet first into at least a $500 investment, but maybe the $169 tag on the H4000 will be a tad easier to swallow when the player is released on October 17.
I-O Data updates AVeL LinkPlayer with HDMI
It seems that a new networked DVD player cum media extender pops up nearly every day around here -- just recently, we saw models from Omisys and NeoDigits -- and now I-O Data has released yet another model called the AVeL LinkPlayer AV-LS300DW. Also available without WiFi as the AV-LS300D (but what fun is that?), the 300DW is a follow up to the AVLP2/DVDG that the company released almost two years ago, supporting the same MPEG-1/2, DivX, XviD, WMV9, MP3, AAC, WMA, and Ogg files as its predecessor. What makes the new model different is an HDCP-capable HDMI output, which brings in the possibility of streaming HD content as well as upconverting your DVDs to 720p or 1080i. You can pick up the wired version for $294 or the wireless model for around $30 more -- if you live in Japan, that is.[Via Akihabara News]
NeoDigits' Helios X3000 and X5000 HD network media players
NeoDigits, who recently brought us that Helios HVD2085 upscaling DVD player, is back with another set of gear under the Helios brand also designed to help you get the most out of your HDTV. Like models we've already seen from SnaZio and Aircord, the upcoming 1080p-capable X3000 and X5000 HD network media players are able to stream a slew of formats from PC to TV, including MPEG-1/2/4, DivX and DivX HD, XviD HD, WMV 9/HD, WMA, MP3, AAC, Ogg, JPEG, PNG, and BMP -- and just in case those aren't enough to satisfy your media jones, you also get an upconverting DVD drive capable of reading both DVD+R and DVD-R discs along with MP3 CDs. Connectivity to your PC comes via the Ethernet port or built-in 802.11g, and you can hook up your home theater gear using HDMI, DVI, component, S-video, or composite video outputs along with analog, optical, or digital coax audio jacks. Available this month, the X3000 will go for $400 while the X5000 (pictured), which throws in a Burr-Brown low-noise Op Amp, 24bit Wolfson DAC, gold-plated RCA jacks, and a few other enhancements, will be priced at $600.
NeoDigits set to launch their X-Line of HD Network Media Players
NeoDigits is ready to launch another 1080p up-scaling DVD player. Remember that first one we reviewed a month ago, but these have some cool features that cannot be found in a normal DVD players. Like the name implies, they allow you to stream media over your home network to 'em. There is two different models in this new line and they both have some great features standard. Like...built-in Ethernet and 802.11g, HDMI, analog 5.1 and optical outputs. The higher end X5000 player has a different brushed metal front and utilizes audiophile grade amps, capacitors, and power supply. The only thing with these media players though is they tend not to support a lot of formats, but this one seems to support almost everything; including WM9HD, DivX HD and even allows for iTunes sharing. No word on pricing or availability, but we'll keep you updated.
NeoDigits' Helios HVD2085 upscaling DVD player reviewed
Matt Burns has a thorough review of the NeoDigits' Helios HVD2085 upscaling DVD player (also known as the NeuNeo HVD2085) over at our sister blog HDBeat, and not only does he train his own experienced eye on the unit's video performance, he actually goes so far as to set up a single blind test at one of the big box retailers pitting the Helios against the store's top traditional player. In his private testing, Matt finds that the component and HDMI-equipped Helios delivers a superior picture quality compared to a standard Sony DVP-NS725P progressive scan unit (although, as he admits, it's not an apples-to-apples comparison), most notably in how it is able to smooth the picture -- but it doesn't really live up its advertised claim of improving a movie's resolution. He also digs the Hitachi-inspired remote, clean and intuitive menus, and plethora of connectivity options, although the construction here sounds a bit flimsy. At least in terms of pure picture quality, the big box customers were in total agreement with Matt; they overwhelmingly chose the $250 Helios over the almost-$300 Harmon Kardon DVD 22 in the random sampling, citing both its superior color and sharpness.
NeoDigits launches new line of DVD players - HELIOS
The world of up-scaling DVD players is a young one and still has room to go. NeoDigits is a leading online supplier of DVD players and they are launching a new line of DVD players under the name of HELIOS. Leading the way is their first model, the HVD2085.When you informed you about the cheap Samsung, many of you asked about up-scaling over component; well this boy has it. But the HVD2085 takes it up a notch and does all the way up to 1080p over component and HDMI. But it does not stop there. The unit has digital and analog 5.1 outputs and even a VGA connection. We can keep going and telling you about the NTSC and PAL modes along with an autoplay feature that bypasses all the trailers and menues but all you care about is the picture right? NeoDigits was kind enough to provide us with a review unit and we will have a complete review up next week. If you cannot wait, the DVD player is available right now for $199 on their website.
