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Windows 10 has a $15 DVD player app that you shouldn't buy
Microsoft may have inadvertently made a good case for embracing movie downloads and streams. The company has released an official DVD Player app that lets you play old-school disc-based movies in Windows 10. Sounds convenient, right? It is, but there's one big problem: it's $15. Yes, if you got your Windows 10 upgrade for free, it'll cost you more to play that dusty copy of Armageddon in DVD Player than it did to get an entire operating system.
Toshiba's Regza SD-P100WP does TV, DVDs and doesn't mind a bit of water
Other manufacturers may be jumping off DVD bandwagon, but Toshiba's still got some love for the format -- not to mention the waning days of summer. The Regza SD-P100WP is more than just a portable DVD player, of course -- for one thing, the gadget's got a 1024 x 600 display, for watching your stories on the go. There's also a built-in TV tuner and wireless LAN, so you can watch content recorded on network-connected Toshiba TVs and Blu-Ray players. Oh, and then there's the IPX7-level waterproofing, for when you absolutely need to catch up on old seasons of Breaking Bad on the beach. The SD-P100WP has an SD slot for playing music, looking at pictures and the like, and should give you about eight hours of DVD-watching on a charge.
Samsung finishes initial Chinese factory audits, plans long-term solutions to labor woes
Samsung faced some serious allegations surrounding the plants of its Chinese contractor HEG Electronics earlier this month, including potentially dire accusations that HEG was employing child labor. The Korean firm promised audits to set the record straight, and we're seeing the first fruits of those inspections today. The results were decidedly mixed. While there weren't any underage workers when Samsung visited, it did find HEG staff working excessive overtime, some unsafe practices and a system that punished late workers with fines. Samsung's response will go beyond just asking HEG to shape up, though: it plans to finish auditing all 105 of its exclusive Chinese contractors by the end of September, determine whether inspections of non-exclusive contractors are needed and set up a long-term audit schedule past 2013 that includes tougher requirements. While there's no certainty that the reforms will lead to the intended results, we're glad to hear that Samsung wants to turn things around at such a rapid pace.
Samsung accused of, denies employing child labor through Chinese contractor
Despite improvements, working conditions are still a sore point in China -- and China Labor Watch wants to emphasize that no company is exempt from scrutiny. The rights advocacy group claims that, on top of pushing mandatory overtime and poor overall conditions, Samsung contractor HEG Electronics has allegedly been employing at least seven underage workers at a Huizhou plant making phones and DVD players. Not surprisingly, Samsung has been quick to defend itself, asserting that it found "no irregularities" in two separate inspections this year and that it plans a third as a response to the new accusations. Who's telling the truth is still up in the air, although China Labor Watch is taking aim only after going undercover; it's long been suspected that contractors whitewash their labor practices when they see corporate inspectors coming from a mile away. If there's any substance to the allegations, Samsung may be the next tech giant taking action to mend a bruised public image.
Panasonic prices 2012 Blu-ray lineup, high-end units due in May
Panasonic has officially priced-out its 2012 Blu-ray player lineup announced back at CES, and it includes no fewer than six boxes (and price-points) for you to choose from. Four of the new players -- ranging in price from $150 to $350 -- are capable of playing your favorite Blu-ray flicks in 3D and come with Panasonic's Viera Connect service, which provides access to online content from Amazon, Hulu and Netflix and a host of applications including Facebook, Skype and Twitter. The 2D models -- which range from $90 to $120 -- aren't left out in the cold when it comes to connectivity, and include IP VOD support for streaming web-content. What's more, the entire 2012 lineup is DLNA-enabled, can be controlled via a smartphone app and, with the exception of the DMP-BD77, has WiFi built-in. Four of the six units are available for purchase immediately, but you're going to have to wait until May if you're interested in the two higher-end models. Mosey on past the break to view the full press release.
Wii U will not play DVDs or Blu-ray, Iwata says
Planning to replace that aging Blu-ray player with a Wii U? Not so fast. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata says the gaming console won't play DVD or Blu-ray discs, due to patent licensing fees. Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities. The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray, such that it didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies. So there you have it. Iwata doesn't want to hand over a bag of cash for baby Blu's "bag of hurt." By the time the Wii U hits store shelves in 2012, we may be buying Blu-ray players just for their Netflix capabilities, so here's to hoping the console at least carries over that functionality from its predecessor.
Mitsubishi Blu-ray players have BDXL, 3D support, and a two-faced remote
We don't want to slight these three new Blu-ray players from Mitsubishi -- they've got all the latest features that the kids are clamoring for, like 3D Blu-ray, BDXL, AVCREC, and VOD support. However, sometimes accessories are the most fascinating part of a product, as seems the case with this dual-faced remote -- not entirely unlike the ones we've seen from Samsung and Boxee. One side controls the TV and the other does the DVR, while a built-in sensor lets the system know which side you're using. The DVR-BZ450, DVR-BZ350, and DVR-BZ250 are pretty much identical, save for internal storage, which ranges from 500GB to 2TB. All are due out in Japan on May 31st -- no word on when the rest of the world will be able to get our hands on the latest technology for losing two remotes at the same time.
Kaleidescape releases Cinema One DVD movie server, appeals to the toddler film buff set
Despite the legal hoopla related to its DVD ripping practices, Kaleidescape is still releasing high-end media servers designed to save the rich (and now their spawn) from the hassle of opening a movie box. The Cinema One is its latest and most affordable creation to date, but still costs a hefty $4,999. For the most part, the server is just a cheaper replacement to 2009's Mini System, that can store up to 225 DVDs or 2,500 CDs for instant access. It also sports the same hassle-free setup, but adds a new wrinkle in the form of kid-friendly features. Specifically, a junior remote is included in addition to the standard version, which triggers a simplified system UI anytime it's used. While we're all for toddlers being able to watch their favorite content too, at this price we'd have rather seen support for Blu-rays and dare we say Netflix streaming. Then again, we aren't in the best position to judge the value of a digital babysitter. For more shots of the kiddo UI and remote check out the gallery below, otherwise read the full PR after the break. %Gallery-109199%
LG's FB614M micro stereo plays DVDs, streams tunes, fits nicely in your pal's spaceship
We've seen our fair share of funky micro stereos over the years, but LG's latest just might be the most bodacious yet. Curvaceous and compact, the FB614M all-in-one system is ready for every DVD and CD you could toss at it, and streaming jams from your phone or PMP won't be an issue so long as your device is equipped with a little-known protocol by the name of Bluetooth. Naturally, there's an iDevice dock up top as well as a touch sensitive control dial, and the inbuilt USB ensures that most every other player is well taken care of, too. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to wattage and sound quality, but South Koreans can find out themselves later this week for ₩299,000 ($257).
Audiovox rolls out FLO TV-equipped DFL01 portable DVD player
FLO TV may not be the runaway success that Qualcomm hoped it would be, but it's been pushing into one new area after the next as of late, and you can now add portable DVD players to that list -- Audiovox has just rolled out the first such device with its DFL01 player. It was actually announced way back at CES in January, but is now available to order for $199, which will get you a 7-inch widescreen display, three months of free FLO TV service (it'll run you $14.99 a month after that) and, of course, a built-in DVD player. Somewhat curiously, it seems that HSN is the only retailer actually shipping the device right now, but it's said to be "coming soon" to Best Buy as well.
Ask TUAW: Power adapters, Windows 7, iWork refresh, and more
Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about MacBook power adapters, Windows 7 in Boot Camp and virtualization in general, resetting the Mac Setup Assistant, the next iWork refresh, and more. As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Leave your questions for next week in the comments section at the end of this post. When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify), or if it's an iPhone-related question, which iPhone version and OS version you have.
LG's Infinia HDTV, Skype-enabled set and Mobile DTV-lovin' DVD player hands-on
LG's 6.9mm HDTV stole the show, but a bevy of the company's other new wares were on display (and in action) at its press conference. The Mobile DTV-enabled DVD player was actually streaming live television via the temporary tower established here in Vegas, and the video quality was surprisingly good with no perceived lag or pixelation. We also witnessed a live Skype call, and while the quality was subpar due to the awful WiFi connection, the user interface and actual usability seemed satisfactory. Finally, the smattering of Infinia LCDs were downright dazzling, but given the competition, it'll still be tough for these to break through in a world full of me-too sets. Have a peek below, won't you? %Gallery-81730%
LG goes nouveau nostalgic with first US Mobile DTV devices
LG just announced its first commercial products for the fledgling US Mobile DTV standard approved in October. First up is what appears to be a DTV-ified LG Lotus clamshell -- a phone first introduced in 2008 but now capable of extracting digital TV from the aether with an assist from that telescoping antenna. Also set for a CES launch is that DP570MH portable DVD player that lets viewers watch up to 4-hours of ATSC-approved Mobile DTV broadcasts before heading back for a charge. LG's also promising more ATSC Mobile DTV devices from Dell (laptops), Kenwood, and others including in-car receivers all using LG's LG2160A ATSC-M/H tuner chip. Still, mobile antennas and DVD players... how can something so new feel so retro?
ClearPlay introduces first content filtering 1080p upscaling DVD player
ClearPlay -- remember those guys? You know, the outfit who garnered all sorts of attention years ago by having their content filtering DVD players yanked from store shelves, only to be vindicated by Congress itself? Amazingly enough, these cats are still hanging around, and they've just pushed out their first filtering DVD player to upscale content to 1080p over HDMI. As expected, the $99.95 deck still sports the same filtering technology that gives dutiful parents the ability to block objectionable content based on customizable settings, but now you can rest easy knowing that any slip-up in blocking a steamy bedroom scene will be viewed by your impressionable youngster in glorious high-definition. Huzzah.
Warner Bros. will swap your antiquated DVDs for Blu-ray Discs (for a price)
In the spirit of such programs as Cash for Guns and, more recently, Cash for Clunkers, Warner Bros. has begun its "DVD2BLU" program, offering owners of its films in the antiquated DVD (a.k.a. drink coaster) format to exchange them for their proper Blu-ray Disc equivalents for a charge of $7.95 to $9.95 per film. The program's site currently lists 50 titles, with a limit of 25 disc swaps per household. You may recall that, earlier this year, Warner Bros. launched a similar program -- RED2BLU -- to let consumers exchange their HD-DVD copies of the studio's films for Blu-ray Disc versions. That's still going, and currently offers a catalog of 125 flicks to choose from with an "upgrade fee" of $4.95 per title. Yes, Warner Bros. really released (at least) 125 movies on HD-DVD. And no, we don't know what it was thinking. [Via Blu-ray.com]
Toshiba announces new and improved XDE600KE DVD player
Toshiba may have finally bitten the bullet and announced a Blu-ray player, but it's not about to give up on the XDE DVD upscaling technology borne out of the format war, and it's now rolled out its latest XDE player alongside its Blu counterpart to balance things out a bit. As with the previous XD-E500 model, the new XDE600KE player promises to upscale your DVDs to full 1080p with noticeably better results than a standard upscaler, and give you all the features you'd expect from a non-bargain priced DVD player, including a full complement of outputs, and Toshiba's own Regza Link technology for all your Regza needs. Also new to this model is a USB port, which will let you view pictures, play MP3s and, yes, even DivX movies. No word on a price just yet, but Toshiba says it'll be available sometime this fall -- in Europe, at least. Head on past the break for a few more pics.
Walmart expands Durabrand DVD player recall to 4.2 million
You know what they say about getting what you pay for? Well, the adage has turned out to be truer than normal in this case. Walmart, which sold some uber-cheap (like, $18 - $29 cheap) Durabrand DVD players in the US and the UK, recently issued a recall in the US for 1.5 million of the units due to 12 reported cases of overheating. The malfunctions caused various degrees of property damage, but no injuries, and now, as a result of several more reported cases of the same issue, the recall has been upped to cover 4.2 million devices. The recall, which originally covered only the silver units sold, has now been expanded to cover both the pink and purple DVD players which were sold between January 2006 and July 2009 exclusively at Walmart stores in the US and Walmart-owned ASDA stores in the UK -- Wallmart reached out to let us know that the players sold in the UK were actually a different spec, and thus not a part of the recall. Seriously, this just leaves us wondering: how many of these bad boys did they sell?
Walmart recalls 1.5 million flammable Durabrand DVD players
Remember those amazingly cheap doovde players Walmart was so proud of a couple years back? Well, they ain't so amazing anymore, unless that's what you'd call a device capable of spontaneously bursting into flames. Sold between January 2006 and July 2009 exclusively at Walmart stores in the US and ASDA supermarkets in the UK, the explosive Durabrand units are being called back due to 12 reported instances of overheating, including five that caused fires. You have to love the irony of skimping on a doovde player purchase, only to pay for it later with "enhanced" insurance premiums. We reached out to Walmart for comment, but they didn't know what a doovde was. Nevertheless, we captured the conversation after the break. Update: While we haven't yet got clear confirmation that ASDA is following suit, we'd be very surprised to not see the product pulled and returns honored in the UK in the same fashion as in the US. [Via CNN Money; Thanks, Keith]
Keepin' it real fake, part CCX: "iPozh" DVD player lacks Apple's style, but does the lack of Blu-ray support right
Copying Apple's style and fruit logo (this time it's a pear) is nothing new, but other than the packaging and no Blu-ray support, this Russian-born "iPozh" multi-region DVD player, found at reportedly one of the biggest electronic retail chains in Moscow, seems fit to look as generic and "un-Apple" as aesthetically possible. Still, if you're wandering through a store and you get caught in the vicious stare of that poster, you might fork over the 4,490 rubles (US $139) for fear of the gentleman on the right otherwise emerging from the poster and following you with his gaze for months to come. Look for this to hit outside of Russia sometime in... ah, who are we kidding? Enjoy the pics from afar, and in case you're wondering, that phrase on the blue poster translates to "time for you to play!" [Thanks, Michael and Mitch]
Philips announces US availability for 2009 home entertainment line (with hands-on!)
Philips may be dodging the North American sector with its flashiest of products, but it's still showing the Yanks in attendance a little love on the home entertainment front. Today in a meeting in NYC, the outfit revealed US pricing and availability for its entire 2009 family, most of which was quietly introduced in January. Starting things off are the 6000 and 7000 Series of HDTVs, which just so happen to pick right up where the previous models left off in 2008. The 6000 Series will arrive in 32-, 42- and 47-inch flavors for $799, $1,399 and $1,699, respectively, while the 7000 Series goes 42-, 47- and 52-inch for $1,499, $1,799 and $2,299, also respectively. While checking these very sets out, we noticed that the factory settings left the colors a bit blown out and overly sharp -- though, this practice is far too common in HDTV companies anyway. Nothing like wowing those Best Buy shoppers at first, only to sear their retinas at home, right? All kidding aside, the panels looked superb, and the A-B comparison mode made tweaking the settings a breeze. Hop on past the break for the rest of the details, and give our gallery a glance for a closer look at the whole lot.
