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The Popcorn Hour C-200 media streamer makes its way into the wild
It looks like Popcorn Hour's C-200 media streamer is making its way into end-users' hands, so prepare yourself for a flurry of reviews. Our friend Brent over at GeekTonic should be jumping into the fray soon, and has kicked things off with a preview. Yeah, the C-200 is bigger than its sibling A-100, but it brings so much to the table that we'd say Popcorn Hour has packed in just as much -- if not more -- goodness per cubic inch. With space available for a hard and/or Blu-ray drive, wired and wireless networking, and USB ports to round out the input connectivity, the C-200 then adds a smorgasbord of codec support just to make sure your bits will survive the translation back into entertainment. With the "it plays anything" kind of capability the C-200 is promising, we've got a feeling that a positive review or two might be the only thing standing between us and a $300 dent in our credit cards. [Via ZatzNotFunny]
1080p Android demo'd, set-top boxes prepare for a new master
It is done. MIPS Technologies has demonstrated its enhanced implementation of Android running in 1080p via extended libraries to support hardware graphics acceleration and decoding on Sigma Designs hardware, a portent of set-top boxes yet to come. Of course, without any video or pictures or video of the blessed event (ISB Corp's previous OMAP based effort is pictured above) it's hard to tell why Android coming to TV is such a great idea, if its cousin widgets are any indication, there's a chance of being high on pre-release hype but low on desirability once it reaches the market. Still, the Open Embedded Software Foundation pledges to continue on shoehorning Android into devices beyond the mobile handset, but if it's shut down by a band of torch wielding villagers demanding the monster be put down, don't say we didn't warn you.[Via SlashGear & LinuxforDevices]
Popcorn Hour C-200 launch nearly upon us, preorders start tomorrow
As you may have noticed, the new Popcorn Hour C-200 media box didn't quite make its anticipated July launch, but the company now says that as of 12 a.m. PST August 27, pre-orders will open allowing the willing faithful to put in a request for the first batch, anticipated to ship September 3 or thereabouts. Don't remember the June announcement? The $299 Sigma powered box takes HDD, Blu-ray discs, USB or network inputs of nearly any video or audio codec available and brings them to your living room. Since then, pics and video of the units guts and interface have leaked out on the forums, check after the break or beyond the read link for a better look.[Via MediaSmartServer.net]
MIPS Technologies showing off Android with an HD facelift August 27
Sure, Google may see ChromeOS as its operating system of the future on PCs, but we just can't help ourselves every time Android makes a special appearance in an off-the-cellphone production, with its next performance scheduled for August 27 when MIPS Technologies will demo a version made for high definition displays. EE Times sees Sigma Designs as a hardware partner, mentioning it has already shown a Blu-ray player prototype running the OS. Of course, there's already options like the BLOBbox (in Europe) if an open software platform set-top is your desire -- and according to our poll results, it just might be -- but we'll see if an upgraded mobile OS has the chops to go in the living room later this month.[Via Android Community]
PopcornHour's latest C-200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready
The followup to the popular PopcornHour media streamer series has finally been announced, and the list of features makes it look worth the wait. Revealed in a post on the Networked Media Tank forums the C-200 contains an upgraded Sigma SMP8643 667 Mhz processor, HDMI 1.3 out, two SATA slots, a drive bay for mounting your own HDD, DVD or even Blu-ray drive (requires internal HDD or 1GB USB stick) and supports a list of networking standards, codecs and containers far too long to recount here. At first glance, only DivX jumps out as missing from the list, have a look at the forum posting and let us know if you spot. Of course, there's already a video unboxing available, seen after the break (along with the copied list of specs) or check out the full Google translated early hands on impressions from HomeTheater.co.il. The most pressing questions of when will these be available and for how much, will have to be answered at another time.[Via HomeTheater.co.il & Geek Tonic]
ASUS to introduce O!Play media player at Computex
Wait, what's this? ASUS diving head first into the HD media streamer game? Based on images and details acquired by Hardware, we'd say chances are looking pretty good. Reportedly, the aforementioned outfit will showcase its very own media player at Computex next week in Taiwan, and our expectations are already fairly lofty. The O!Play (codename HDP-R1) is said to be a fair bit quicker than competing models, and the file compatibility list is also worthy of laud. Port wise, this one's packing eSATA, USB, HDMI, stereo audio jacks, optical digital audio, Ethernet and an AC port. If all goes well, we could see this little bugger in European stores by July, with a price tag pegged at €119 ($168). Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if that price nets you an internal HDD, but we'll find out for sure soon enough.[Via The Inquirer]
Sigma DP2 gets reviewed but not respected
With the Sigma DP2 now officially on sale it's time for the in-depth reviewers to have their say, and Photo Review is first at bat to weigh in with its opinion of the $699 compact, a shooter that doesn't exactly hit a home run. Sigma's latest is a pocketable camera that can take fantastic shots when properly used, but is frustrating to use, requires plenty of manual tweaking, and sends you wading through a mire of confusing menus to make those tweaks. Beyond that its low-light image quality disappointed, its LCD doesn't compare to those on cheaper compacts, there's no AF assist lamp, and of course there's that significant admission price. Overall, it sounds like the sort of camera many Sigma fans will appreciate -- and the sort that won't do much to extend the brand's appeal.[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]
14-megapixel Sigma DP2 camera now officially available
A few retailers went ahead and put the Sigma DP2 up for pre-order back in March, but it looks like the camera is now finally officially available to own in the UK -- and, judging from some of those aforementioned retailers, at a few places in the US as well. Those in the UK can expect to pay £599.99 for the camera, which updates the DP1 with a new 41mm f/2.8 lens and Sigma's improved TRUE II processing engine, while folks in the US will apparently have to pay $699 retail (although at least some places still seem to be listing the $649 pre-order price). Interestingly, Sigma will also apparently be offering the older DP1 alongside the DP2 for the time being, although it's not clear how long it'll continue to do so.
Adobe Flash platform for HDTVs & connected devices on display at NAB
The plan is to get Flash from every computer to every television screen, and Adobe's ready to take the next step this week at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas. Broadcom, Comcast, STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors, and Sigma Designs join Intel as set-top box makers with chipsets ready to stream widgets and HD video to connected televisions, while content is on the way from Netflix, New York Times, Disney and Atlantic Records. Of course, Yahoo's widgets and Microsoft Silverlight aim to turn up the interactivity and streaming video to TVs and handhelds as well, though Adobe seems content to share with Yahoo! if need be -- Vizio's Connected HDTV demo and Intel's CE 3100 support both -- expect the blades to come out when Flash enabled hardware comes to market in the second half of this year.[Via Venture Beat]
Sigma Motorworks developing EV based on Ford Mustang
With Tesla struggling to make ends meet -- let alone become a thriving, profitable automaker during a time when all people want are non-gas-powered vehicles -- we have to say that Sigma Motorworks has its work cut out for it here. According to head of operations Matias Gorfinkiel, the Sigma GTE is "a test bed for a commercial high performance sports model that [it] will bring to market by early 2010." Autoblog reports that most of the vehicle is based on Ford's storied Mustang, with its front and rear differentials coming directly from Ford and the GTE cockpit ripped straight from an older model Pony car. If all goes well (which isn't likely, honestly), it'll provide around 100 miles per charge and could hit upwards of 145 miles per hour; of course, finding the funding to put this thing together is another matter entirely, so don't go placing a pre-order via some Nigerian-based sister site just yet.[Image courtesy of AutoblogGreen]
Sigma DP2 up for pre-order, retailing for $649
Amazon and B&H have pre-order pages up for the hotly-anticipated Sigma DP2, and both conveniently list the camera at $649 -- well, convenient for your information gathering needs, not necessarily for your wallet. B&H expects a May availability, while Amazon is going with a typically vague "1-2 months." Maybe they both can be right.[Via DigitalCameraInfo]Read - B&HRead - Amazon
Sigma DP2 finally takes some pictures, doesn't disappoint
Sigma has been doling out bits and pieces of information about its new DP2 camera since last fall, but it's just now letting folks use it to actually take some pictures and, judging from LetsGoDigital's results, it doesn't look to disappoint. Of course, the camera is still in pre-production form, but LetsGoDigital certainly seems to be plenty impressed with its abilities so far, with the "Super Multi-Layer Coating" on the lens helping to reduce lens flare, while the 41mm f/2.8 lens and 14-megapixel FOVEON X3 image sensor combine to deliver some great depth of field. Hit up the link below for some full-size sample images, plus another hands-on look at the camera itself.
Sigma DP2 gets real with its bad self
We saw the Sigma DP2 poking around in preproduction form last month, but the update to the DP1 just had itself a little announcement down PMA way. The new model has a faster f/2.8 lens on top of a 14 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor and 20 percent faster image processor, along with a revised control layout and slightly lighter body. Interestingly, max ISO has been dropped to 1600 from the 3200 we saw in the prepro models -- too bad, night owls. No word on pricing or availability just yet, we'll let you know when we find out. [Via Akihabara News]
Sigma DP2 shows itself in pre-production form
Sigma hasn't had a whole lot to say about its DP1 follow-up, the DP2, since it announced it last fall, but it looks to have pulled out all, or most of the stops for the Focus on Imaging trade show in Birmingham this week, where it has a fully functional pre-production model on hand. As you can see above, the camera doesn't stray very far at all from the straightforwardness of the DP1 in terms of appearance, but the folks at SigmaUser did find quite a few less immediately noticeable differences once they got to check it out up close, including an improved grip and larger thumb rest area, a new startup / shutdown screen, an improved menu system and, ISO settings right up to 3200, among other promised improvements. Hit up the read link below for a closer look.[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]
Sigma intros Blu-ray-optimized media processor, pledges support for Adobe Flash Lite
Not, you're not having some awful case of déjà vu, Sigma Designs is indeed outing a new Blu-ray-optimized chip here at CES. The new SMP8642 media processor was designed from the ground-up for "mainstream Blu-ray players," and coupled with the firm's Profile 2.0 software suite, it supposedly provides a high performance interactive experience. Not quite sure if that translates to "quicker than usual," but we'll take whatever improvements we can get. In related news, it also announced today that it will integrate Adobe Flash Lite software into its SoC solutions for next-gen televisions and web services. So, what's it mean? It could mean that future set-top-boxes with this mojo within could have all new access to online content, which is obviously a huge theme (along with 3D) at this year's show. For all the details, well, you know where to head. Read - SMP8642 media processor Read - Adobe Flash Lite Read - Other CES announcements from Sigma
Sigma acquires Feveon, maker of the X3 image sensor
Foveon (developer of the X3 image sensor for digital cameras) has just announced that they have been acquired by Sigma, the Tokyo-based camera and lens company. According to the press release, Foveon -- whose image sensors are already being used in Sigma's entire digital camera line -- will remain in San Jose, continuing to "evolve and improve the X3 sensor technology." Congratulations, you crazy kids! And best of luck to you. We mean it.
Sigma Designs unveils its latest SOC for Blu-ray players
Although you may not have heard of Sigma Designs, if you own any High-def gear, some it probably uses a Sigma chip for the heavy lifting. At CEATEC this week Sigma was showing off its SMP8644 SOC which promises to make the next generation of Blu-ray players load discs faster and perform better when rendering all that BD-J interactive content. And although it wasn't mentioned, we'd be willing to bet that the new chip can do all of this while at the same being cheaper then its older brothers.
Sigma's DP2 compact with DSLR-sized sensor gets even better
While the update from the SD14 to the SD15 was rather sad, just about any tweak to the bar-raising DP1 compact with 13.8- x 20.7-mm Foveon X3 sensor is reason to get excited. So listen up, Sigma just announced the DP2 -- same 14 megapixel X3 CMOS sensor only now coupled with Sigma's improved True II image processor and 24.2-mm F2.8 glass equivalent to 41-mm on a 35-mm SLR. No pricing or ship date announced.[Thanks, David Z.]
Sigma's SD15 DSLR: an SD14 with improved image processing and little else
What's one better than a Sigma SD14? Why the SD15, of course. Sigma's SD15 DSLR starts with the same 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image sensor found in the unimpressive SD14 (and compact DP1 for that matter) but ratchets-up the specs with a new True II image processor and 3-inch LCD. A worthwhile update to be sure but trivial by comparison to what Nikon and Canon have announced in recent weeks. Distracted by all the DP1 R&D were we Sigma?
NEC shrinks Blu-ray hardware further, aims for half of the market by 2011
With its latest EMMA3P Blu-ray SoC just launched, NEC is already looking to the future with its next generation EMMA3PF chip, that takes all the features of its most recent hardware, and adds the hardware to control the Blu-ray drive itself into a single processor (as pictured above). These chips will start sample shipments in September, and are expected to continue to drive Blu-ray player prices down. Staying a step ahead of the competition like Panasonic, Broadcom and Sigma is key since the company hopes to double its sales of Blu-ray hardware in the next two years, owning 40% of the market by March 2009, and half in March 2011. Cheaper players with full functionality? Sign us up.Read - ImpressRead - Reuters
