Victor
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Apple's Mac mini gets ruggedized, aluminum shell
While there's long since been ways to make your Mac mini even more portable, the vulnerability typically increases right along with the downsizing. VictorSystems is out to throw mobility to the wind in exchange for assurance that your precious mini can withstand just about anything the world throws at it. The company has conjured up an entire computer system, peripherals and all, that is based around a mini and its accessories being sheathed in "aircraft grade aluminum alloys made from wrought plates, extruded rails, and finned heat sinks." Attention to detail was crucial, as even the power supply, a flat-panel display, keyboard, speakers, printer, and mouse were also given the ruggedizing treatment for a lengthy stay in the Amazon wilderness (or similar). Unfortunately, the setup doesn't sport a pricetag due to the BTO nature of the company, but if you're interested in removing every ounce of sexiness from your machine in order to carry it through unthinkable circumstances, VictorSystems can apparently do it up.[Via Slashgear]
JVC-Victor's latest LCDs challenge your masculinity
Check it mouthless puss, JVC-Victor just released a series of new LCDs in Japan including this one in up to 37-inches of pink. Other than that triviality, there's not much to the new series: available in 20-, 26-, 32-, and 37-inch models, each set brings a terrestrial digital/analog tuner; HDMI, component, 2x S-Video, and 2x composite inputs and optical audio out; a 1366 x 768 resolution; GENEESA engine; and choice of pink, brown, beige, and silver enclosures. Now just you never mind about such trivialities as brightness, contrast ratio, and refresh rate, JVC fails to mention those in the specs... clearly the colors are the main selling point here. Hell, even the remote is pink. All should pop before April is up with prices ranging from about ¥240,000 ($2,046) on down to ¥110,000 ($938) for the 20-incher. [Via Impress]
JVC's latest 32, 37, and 42-inch 120HZ LCD TVs
JVC-Victor is bustin' out a refresh to their LCD line-up this morning with the introduction of new 32-inch (LT-32LC95), 37-inch (LT-37LC95), and 42-inch (LT-42LC95) LCD televisions with their fast 120 frames per second Clear Motion Drive technology. These 120Hz sets use image interpolation between frames to slap up a new image every 8.3-ms -- twice the rate of a standard 60Hz set -- for a smoother picture with significantly less ghosting. All models feature a 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, 500cd/m2 brightness, built-in terrestrial digital tuner, and a range of input/output terminals including 1x HDMI, 3x composite, 1x RGB, 2x Firewire, SD memory card slot with JPEG picture support, and Ethernet for access to the on-line EPG. Unfortunately, the contrast ratio isn't listed in the specs but we do have estimated prices: the LT-32LC95 and LT-37LC95 hit Japan in late February for ¥230,000 ($1,889) and ¥290,000 ($2,381), respectively with the 42-inch LT-42LC95 coming a bit later in March for ¥370,000 ($3,038) -- expensive if you consider Sharp's new 120Hz, 42-inch Aquos brings a full 1080p resolution and 3x HDMI for just $500 more. Click-on to see JVC's (simulated) 120Hz tech in action.[Via Impress]
JVC Victor's Alneo flash players get gapless playback and USB streaming
JVC Victor is giving a slight nudge in functionality and an overdue name-change to their XA-C series of flash audio players this morning. The XA-C51, XA-C110 and XA-C210 models known collectively as the Alneo series, bring 2GB, 1GB, and 512MB of memory respectively in your choice of black, silver, and white. As things go with JVC DAPs, these portable players support "high sound quality" playback of your MP3/WMA/WMA-DRM10/WAV/AAC files through the use of their K2 audio technology. Now, they also feature gapless playback and ability to stream music over USB when connected to their UX-DM8 micro component system. Presumably, that little trick avoids any degradation in sound quality when hooked up to the ol' headphone jack. Otherwise, we're still looking at the same 1.3-inch OLED display, line-in recording including the ability to record in WMA stereo via an external mic, an FM tuner, and about 20 hours of music playback. Oh, and they sweetened up the design by acing the F1 and F2 keys in favor of spelling out the word "Functions." Fantastic. Why not just arbitrarily slap on icons of a goat, chicken... or both? Dropping like it's hot (in Japan) next month for ¥30,000 ($248) for the 2GB model on down to a ridiculous ¥20,000 ($166) for a skimpy 512MBs. [Via Impress]
JVC's 24-inch DR-V24L1D: for professional HD production
It's not every day we see a 24-inch LCD demanding a cool ¥555,000 (about $4,677) but JVC's DR-V24L1D is no ordinary monitor. This 24-incher is meant for those working on HD video content and thus features a 1920x1080 resolution with 10-bit advanced image processing, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 178-degree viewing angle, and inputs including HDCP-enabled DVI-D, component, composite and two high end HD/SD auto-switching SDIs (serial digital interfaces). Also announced is the DE-V20L1D which shares the specs of his big bro only with a 20-inch, 1680x1050 panel and 800:1 contrast ratio for a more frugal ¥400,000 (about $3,402). You'll see the 24-incher drop first in December, with the 20-incher set to hit Japan in late January. [Via Impress]
More on JVC's high-definition Everio camcorder
We just babelfished a bit more information out of Japan this morning on JVC's new high definition Everio camcorder. JVC confirms that their hi-def HDD cam will feature a trio of 1/5-inch CCDs like their GZ-MG505 camera and will shoot 16:9 at 1080i like we had assumed. So if you need to shoot in 1080p and can afford it, well, you'll just have look elsewhere. The new Everio will also be the first to slap on a FUJINON lens presumed to bring a 10x optical zoom judging by the print 'round the ring. We expect to see some working prototypes on display at CREATEC Japan where more information will surely roll. [Via Impress]
Newest JVC Victor 1080p 52-inch D-ILA -- HD-52MH700
Check out this JVC's newest 1080p D-ILA based rear-projection HDTV. Before you get all excited, this unit is for their Victor line, which isn't available here in the States. It's still a great TV though and is powered their LCoS variant called D-ILA which can produce everyones favorite resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. The set is ran by JVC's GENESSA chip that claims to be great at scaling and noise reduction. Most people should be happy with the array of inputs on the guy that includes two HDMI ports, one component, three S-Video, four composites, one VGA, two i.LINK and even the rare center channel input. The set doesn't seem to shabby and our friends across the Pacific should really enjoy the set and the 500,000 Yen ($4,348 USD) price.
JVC Victor's newest 32-inch LCD -- LT32-LC85
JVC might not had as much fan-fair with their newest LCD as Sharp did, but that doesn't diminish the quality of product. Truthfully though, it isn't a huge release and there isn't anything out of the ordinary here. The 250,000 Yen ($2179) unit packs a 1366 x 768 resolution with JVC's GENESSA processors that claims to be great at scaling. The set isn't shy with connectivity options though with dual 1394, one HDMI, one component, two S-Video, three composite, RGB, optical out and lastly, a SD card slot. We still don't know if JVC America is going to carry this model but it will be for sale sometime in September in Japan.[Via Impress]
JVC Victor busts out line of colorful boring DAPs
What's a budget-class device manufacturer to do when they can't be bothered with making their line of MP3 players interesting through the tired methods of design and feature inclusion? JVC Victor has answered that age-old question by dressing up their new XA-F112 (top) and XA-F52 (bottom) in all sorts of snazzy colors and calling it a day. The prices aren't anything notable, with the 1GB F112 going for around 17,000 Yen ($147) and the 512MB F52 managing 13,000 Yen ($113). The players support MP3, WMA and PlaysForSure, along with voice and line-in recording, and feature a mere organic EL display, yet manage to be almost an inch thick. But if no-holds-barred design isn't your thing or the risky color schemes are catching your eye, you should be able to pick one of these up this September in Japan.
JVC Victor includes 46-inch 1080p among three new HD LCDs
Nothing like a good bit of 1080p to get us going in the morning, and JVC delivers today with their new line of Victor LCDs. The 26-inch LT-26LC80 and the 37-inch LT-37LC85 both sport the more pedestrian 1366 x 768, with at least the 37LC85 pulling down some nice 8ms response times. That's about as technical as they get on the specs, but the LT-46LH800 has the one we want to hear: full 1920 x 1080 resolution. Otherwise victor seems mainly enamoured with the "Maxx Bass" output of the 46LH800, but we did manage to see dual HDMI ports on it, along with the usual connectivity offerings. The 46 and 37-inch displays should be available in May, with the 26-incher following in June.[Via Akihabara]
