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Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10: nearly the world's lightest Full HD camcorders
"World's Lightest*," says so right in the Panasonic press release. What's that? It's a qualified statement? Oh we see it now, it's the world's lightest Full-HD AVCHD camcorder. Well, that'll make Sanyo's lawyers happy. Anyway, the new Pannys bring SD/SDHC card support, touch-screen control, intelligent auto scene selection and AF tracking along with Panasonic's optical image stabilization to keep the shake under control while zooming in at a 16x optical max. The TM10 differs from the SD10 in that it records to 40GB of internal storage before automatically switching to SDHC/SD cards of up to 32GB. The cameras also feature a 3 second Pre-Rec function that continuously pre-records content into an internal buffer which is then added to the beginning of the clip as soon as you hit record -- never miss a goal again. Pricing in the UK is set at £529.99 for the HDC-TM10 and £499.99 for the HDC-SD10 with June availability.[Via Pocket-lint]
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Samsung's HMX-H106 Full HD camcorder with 64GB SSD takes first peek at retail
Here's one that might trigger an electrical pulse across the synapses, Samsung's HMX-H106. This tiny Full HD camcorder with a 64GB SSD tooling about its inanimate innards has been quietly preparing for May launch ever since its reveal back in January at CES. That's enough storage for an impressive 12 hours of 1920 x 1080 pixel video with further expansion by SD/SDHC card. Word has it that it launched this morning in its hometown Korea and is set for a May 22nd Stateside launch according Amazon.com. 900 bucks for a H.264 camcorder with an optical image stabilized Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens touting a 10x zoom and 37mm wide-angle focal length -- is that new baby worth it?Read -- Korea launchRead -- Amazon May 22nd pre-order
Renesas's 1080p-decoding processor coming soon to a cell phone near you
Plenty of modern cell phones have HD-quality screens on them, but few can manage any sort of high-definition video content at a respectable frame rate. That's set to change with the release of the Renesas SH7370, a chip we first got wind of back in December with its promise to offer 1080p video at 30fps in a package small (and efficient) enough to be included in a handset. The first units are now shipping to manufacturers, and while the size has increased (it's about 1cm square vs. the 6.4 x 6.5mm package previously discussed) it's still impressively small given its functionality: 1080p H.264 video decoding and encoding along with on-chip Dolby Digital 5.1-channel output. Overkill? Maybe for now, but you might change your mind when the first head-mountable satellite speakers with subwoofer seat cushions hit retail.
LG's new W53 SMART monitors pack more intelligence per pixel
Just when we thought the desktop monitor market couldn't get any more staid, LG comes along and spices it up a little bit. The new W53 SMART Monitors series includes a few "smart" additions like ambient light detection for Auto Brightness adjustment (like some laptops have), a Cinema Mode for blacking out the rest of the screen when video is playing, a timer to remind you to take breaks (like right now, for instance... you feel yourself getting very sleepy...) and a proximity sensor to activate the monitor controls when your hand approaches the display, and hide them when you're not tweaking anything. Sizes range from 18.5- to 27-inches, and the models 21.5-inch and up do 1920 x 1080p Full HD at 16:9. The displays also offer contrast ratios up to 50,000:1, and 2ms response times. The lineup should hit worldwide this month.[Via Engadget Spanish]
Sony HDR-TG5 makes world's smallest Full HD camcorder smaller, adds GPS
The problem with Sony's previous world's smallest pistol-grip Full HD camcorder -- the HDR-TG1 aka, the TG3E -- wasn't size, it was usability. So we're happy to hear that Sony's TG5 counts a tweaked UI among its updates. And although Sony doesn't say in the press release, the TG5's touch-panel looks far more sensitive (capacitive maybe?) than that of the previous generation's finger bender. The other improvements are GPS to geotag your media (assuming your software supports it), Navteq maps, improved image processing, smile shutter technology, and 16GB of built-in storage (up from 8GB) all riding inside a slightly smaller and lighter chassis. Other specs remain unchanged: 1920 x 1080 AVCHD video, 2.7-inch touchscreen display, and a 10x optically stabilized zoom exposing a 2.4 megapixel CMOS sensor. Expensive? Oh most definitely: $1,000 starting in May. Check the video after the break.[Via CNET]
Sanyo's Xacti technology tapped for Full HD VCC-HDN1 surveillance camera
The unforgettable words of Rockwell have never been truer, and now, those watching you will have one more opportunity to do so in high-definition. Sanyo has just delivered its VCC-HDN1 network surveillance camera, and interestingly enough, it utilizes the same technology that's currently used in its line of Xacti HD camcorders. Predictably, the device has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 along with a 10x optical zoom and other specifications "comparable to those of the camcorder." Sanyo's offering these up to parking garage owners, governments, spy agencies and all sorts of people with false names for upwards of $3,200 apiece. So much for that birthmark not being noticeable on CCTV, huh?
Renesas aims to bring 1080p playback to your next cellphone
Believe it or not, this is far from the first we've heard of bringing high-def video to cellphones, and it's not even the first application to dabble in mobile 1080p. Still, we'll take all the innovation we can get in this space, and when the real Touch HD ever arrives, we'll be ready and waiting with Full HD capabilities. Announced at ISSCC 2009 in San Francisco, Renesas Technology is showing off an application processor that enables handsets to process 1,920 x 1,080 resolution video at 30 frames-per-second; the processor's core has a maximum operating frequency of 500MHz and supports MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video formats. There's no telling when the 6.4- x 6.5-millimeter chip will be available en masse, but we need the HTCs of the world to get us a 1080p phone and a retina implant or two to read 0.2-size fonts before it even matters.
Acer's 24-inch P244Wbmii LCD monitor touts 1080p panel, twin HDMI inputs
Further blurring the line between an LCD computer monitor and a bedroom HDTV is Acer, as its P244Wbmii boasts not only a 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) panel but also a pair of HDMI inputs. The 24-inch (TN) display features a 2-millisecond response time, 300 cd / m2 brightness, 20,000:1 contrast ratio and a VGA port for PC purists. Mum's the word on a price or availability, but all signs point to a Japanese first / only release.[Via Impress]
Ericsson: 20 megapixel cellphones shooting Full HD video in 4 years
It's tough to predict the future, especially with cutbacks to R&D budgets in the face of a global economic slowdown. Still, it's always nice to see a forward-looking corporate-slide related to mobile handsets from the taller, blonder half of that Sony Ericsson partnership. LTE and fast CPUs are certainly no surprise, nor is that 1,024 x 768 XGA screen resolution that Japan's superphones are already bumping up against. The most compelling vision is that of the embedded camera sensors: 12-20 megapixels capable of recording Full HD video by 2012. Adding more fuel to firey speculation that handsets are about to find themselves embroiled in a megapixel war. Fine by us, just as long the optics and image processing are there to support such a resolution. Even though 12-20 megapixels seems high compared to the 5-8 megapixel cell phones we see today, those numbers are entirely within reason when you recall that Samsung hit 10 megapixels in Korea two years ago. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised in the least to find Ericsson's mythical device on the market well prior to 2012. Combined, these features certainly make for a tantalizing glimpse at the wireless handset future.
Samsung drops jaws with 40-inch 1080p OLED display
Anyone who figured OLED would go the way of SED has another thing comin', and Samsung's got the prototype to prove it. Over at the OLED-heavy FPD International 2008 show, Samsung is showcasing the biggest panel (of this nature) that its pilot line can even create: a 40-inch Full HD OLED display. 1,920 x 1,080 pixels of delicious OLED goodness, mixed with a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, a color gamut of 107% NTSC, a luminance of 200cd/m2 and a thickness of just 8.9-millimeters. Judging by first hand reports, the actual quality wasn't top-notch, but we're willing to forgive the early glitches in hopes of a better tomorrow. Hit the read link for one more look.[Via OLED-Display]
DIRECTV2PC actually goes live, for real this time
Heads-up, DirecTV users. That DIRECTV2PC software that you've been waiting so anxiously for is finally available for download. Like, for real this time. Just as a refresher, the CyberLink software enables PC users to stream HD recordings from their DirecTV Plus HD DVR receiver to a connected computer in the home, and if that sounds like something you'd be interested in, may we encourage you to hit the read link and follow the steps to downloading. Oddly enough, the direct URL to CyberLink's site only seems to work when you connect through DirecTV's site, but we're hoping a fix is in the works.[Thanks, Albert]
Asus outdoes itself with new 24, 25.5-inch displays
Asus is ritzing up its LCD inventory with four new high-end displays this month -- the VK266H and VW266H at 25.5 inches (beating out the manufacturer's current top end) and the VK246H and VW246H at good ol' 24 inches. They all feature the company's new Splendid Video Intelligence Technology, run at at 1,920 x 1,200, and have a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, which is a significant improvement over the current Asus flagship's 3,000:1, but the max brightness is a bit lower. Why two at each size, you ask? Actual specs are identical across the board, but the VK266H and the VK246H have built-in webcams, while the VW266H and VW246H don't -- unfortunately, pricing info is not yet available, so there's no telling how much extra you'll be paying to record cringe-worthy YouTube diaries.[Via PCLaunches; thanks, Vinit]
DIRECTV2PC launches in beta form, brings HD recordings to your local PC
It's no HDPC-20 PC tuner, but it is a new way for DirecTV subscribers to enjoy content. As of now, the DIRECTV2PC beta has been opened, giving mettlesome souls the ability to stream HD recordings from their DirecTV Plus HD DVR receiver to a connected PC in the home. Unfortunately, this isn't a Slingbox-type application, as the programming can only be slung within your local (read: home) network, but thankfully, high-def recordings are transmitted as high-def. You'll need a potent PC to play things back smoothly, and you can watch shows on your PC while live or recorded shows are being viewed on the TV. Have any of you given this a go? If so, drop in your initial impressions below.[Via SatelliteGuys, thanks Vanbrothers]Update: Seems the link still isn't working -- c'mon DirecTV, what gives?
NEC intros three plasmas, 1080p PXT-50FHDP1 included
Not quite sure if NEC's three latest will ever be revealed outside of Australia, but we'll take a look if for no other reason than to appease those in Perth, Sydney and Darwin. Starting things off is the PXT-50FHDP1, a 50-inch 1080p plasma that packs a 100Hz refresh rate, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, multiple HDMI inputs, a built-in EPG and an integrated TV tuner. As for the other guys, we've got the 42-inch PXT42XD3 and 50-inch PXT50XD3, both of which arrive with their own HD tuner, three HDMI ports, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, RS-232 control ports and a 1,024 x 768 / 1,365 x 768 resolution, respectively. As for pricing? Try $3,499 for the Full HD fellow, $1,599 for the PXT4 and $2,199 for the PXT5.[Via ARN]
Panasonic bundles 103-inch plasma, Blu-ray player in 3D home theater package
Didn't see anything that particularly suited your fancy at CEDIA? Then feast your eyes on CEATEC. As the Japan-based trade show hastily approaches, out pops a mind-boggling new home theater package from Panasonic. The system will include one of its marvelous 103-inch plasma HDTVs, a Blu-ray player and at least one set of fancy 3D goggles. Hailed as a world's first in some form or fashion, the Full HD 3D package utilizes an undisclosed format "employed by major Hollywood film studios" to "distribute full HD images of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels to each eye via synchronized shutter glasses." Panny is hoping to promote the technology and possibly get a leg up on Samsung (our assumption) by impressing wealthy homeowners and members of the Blu-ray Disc Association. As expected, there's no mention of a price, but rest assured -- you'll be stuck choosing between this and a new BMW.[Via Impress]
Canon's 10 megapixel SX1 IS shoots Full HD too
No word on a US release but Canon announced its new SX1 IS for seemingly everyplace else. The camera carries over the looks of the SX10 IS while opting for a 10 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of shooting 4fps full resolution JPEG stills or Full HD, H.264 video at 30fps for up to 30 minutes at a time (SD for up to an hour). It packs a DIGIC 4 image processor, optical image stabilization, and same 20x wide-angle zoom like the SX10 but opts for HDMI output and a slightly larger, 2.8-inch LCD around back. Priced at £520 which will translate to a lot less than the US equivalent $927 should this camera ever ship Stateside. [Thanks, Meema S.]
Sanyo's Xacti 1010 gets the hands-on treatment
Sanyo's latest 1080i pocket camcorder (that'd be the Xacti 1010) was just sitting there all pretty like at IFA 2008, so our compadres over at Engadget Spanish took the liberty of posting up a gallery of hands-on shots. Not too many surprises in terms of design, but the demonstrative video of the super slow-mo mode is pretty trippy to say the least. Head on over and give it a look, won't you?
Philips' 8mm thin 32-inch LCD turns the screws on Sony
This morning you saw what a 9.9-mm thin LCD from Sony looks like. Now it's Philips' turn to drop jaw. Albeit just a concept compared to Sony's ZX1 soon to be production TV, this 8-mm thin, 32-inch LCD with LED backlighting is done with the engineering and now waits for the suits to bring it to market. Two thin strips of Philips' own LumiLEDs -- 30 on top and 30 on the bottom -- are the secret sauce to this thin, Full HD mixture. According to Philips' "Senior Scientist," Dr. Giovanni Cennini, this 8-mm design will scale to panel sizes of 42-inches and probably higher. Better yet, these are the same panels Philips already uses, no extra tweaking required. So it's your move corporate, we're all waiting.%Gallery-30663%
Sanyo's 52-inch 1080p CE52SR1 LCD sheds water
Oh sure, waterproof LCD TVs have been available for ages, but Sanyo's making the choice of which outdoor display to buy simple with the introduction of its CE52SR1. You see, unlike many alternatives, this waterproof set packs a 1080p Full HD panel, meaning that you can enjoy your Blu-ray films in full-res glory while slouched in a beach chair beside your pool. Furthermore, the display is daylight readable and features a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 1,500 cd/m2 brightness, 6.5-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angles, a slew of inputs and a frame constructed from marine grade anodized aluminum. Unfortunately, the summer in America will be long over before you can actually drop $13,995 in order to claim one, but October isn't too far out, now is it?
Sanyo's Xacti HD1010 1080i camcorder shoots 300fps slow-mo
In its battle with Sony for 1080i pistol grips, Sanyo just announced a minor, but notable update to its premium HD1000 Full HD MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 camcorder. The new HD1010 adds improved image processing and stabilization, new "face chaser" technology for stills and video, and amusing new 300fps slow-motion mode. Nothing compared to Casio's freakish EX-F1 but a nice novelty for shooting the kids' sporting adventures. Sanyo also tossed in a new 7fps continuous still shot mode which snags images at the sensor's maximum 4 megapixel resolution. A minor bump for sure but it makes for a compelling offering at the (relatively) low asking price of $800 when it hits the US in July (Japan, June 20th).Update: Akihabara News went hands-on in the video posted after the break.[Via Impress and Akihabara News]
