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HD Streaming for EVE Fanfest now on sale
Are you a big fan of EVE Online? Do you want to go to EVE Fanfest but can't fit a trip to Iceland into your budget? Do you have a spare PLEX sitting around? Are you thinking about marzipan? Because right now you can buy a high-definition stream of the entire Fanfest from CCP Games for $19.95 or one PLEX, whichever works better for you. (The marzipan thing you'll have to sort out on your own.) Buying the stream gets you access to three days of high-definition coverage, the pre-convention livestream from developers, your choice of one of four industrial ship skins, subscriber-only giveaways, and a digital version of the Fanfest shirt for 2014. Sound good to you? Then head on over and drop your money! Or you can just watch the festivities streamed for free on Twitch, but you'll have to put up with normal definition footage, like an animal.
Cisco hangs up on Umi 'Personal Telepresence' flop
A whole separate box and remote just for video chat? For as much as $600, plus a $10 per month subscription (HDTV and broadband not included)? It was always doubtful whether the Umi telepresence kit would catch on, but now Cisco has crushed those doubts by quietly crushing both the 1080p and cheaper 720p versions of the product. No press release or announcement; just a disembodied voice at the end of a technical support line advising callers that the product is "under evaluation," and a behind-the-scenes nudge to Business Insider that it really has been discontinued. It's not yet clear what will happen to the monthly service for existing customers, but if it gets disrupted then Cisco will surely have to come clean. Heck, for $600 we'd expect a personalized hi-def video apology.
Another alleged HTC Vigor leak: HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core, Beats Audio (update: more pics)
We know the high-end HTC Vigor exists, but we're still in the dark about its precise specs -- not least because a previous 'leak' turned out to be double Dutch. Now an Italian dude by the name of Fabio Mele reckons he's gotten hold of Verizon's ROM for the Vigor and extracted a ton of information, including tutorial videos (which yielded the render above) and key hardware credentials. And they're some credentials: a 4.3-inch screen with 720 lines of LG-rivalling HD craziness, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB RAM and an 8MP rear camera. The reported ROM also contains HTC's much-hyped Beats Audio software, which we've experimented with on the Un-American Sensation XE. We're taking all this with a pinch of salt if you don't mind, Signor Mele, but we want to believe you, we really do. [Thanks, Giuseppe] Update: That elusive Vigor tutorial vid has popped up online and shows the handset from all angles, including what lies beneath its battery cover (hint: it's a SIM slot for what we presume to be LTE access). Check it out after the break. Update 2: And now some real photos of the Vigor have shown up online, too. Check out a couple after the break, and get the full spread over at Android Central.
Creative Live! inPerson HD webcam does onboard processing, doesn't milk your CPU
When Logitech and Microsoft released a bunch of HD webcams last year, Skype refused to certify them for use with its HD video calling service. (That's not to say these webcams won't work with Skype HD -- it's that Skype won't guarantee that they'll work well.) And why this resounding slap in the face? Because Skype will only certify HD webcams that come with onboard video processing and therefore run even on tardy old machines. And that is precisely why Creative has followed the lead of other manufacturers like FaceVsion and Freetalk in including a built-in H.264 encoder with its latest offering, maintaining judder-free video and a chill-axed CPU. The webcam also has more flexible autofocus and a "quad mic" system, which together should allow users to sit as far as 10 feet away and still be seen and heard clearly. The only problem? A $150 price tag that's significantly more than the competition and only slightly easier to face than your cousin's acne condition at 720p. If you're still keen though, check out the PR after the break.
Safretti's back with Double Vision hanging HDTV / fireplace combo
Nothing quite says "the holidays" like warming up to an artificial fire in a spacious, well-appointed apartment while watching a DVD of generic snow-filled landscapes. Unless you're in our family, in which case "the holidays" is more about drunken egg nog brawls and recrimination. Either way, it looks like the kids at Safretti have improved their hanging, portable fireplaces the only way, really, that it could be improved upon: by adding an HD LCD TV to the mix. We're not sure what the Netherlands-based company is charging for this, but seeing as how this purveyor of ultra-expensive home furnishings doesn't even have an office in the states (the closest is in Mexico, and the one in Liechtenstein refuses to answer our emails) we're pretty sure you can't afford it anyways. It comes in two sizes, featuring either a 37-inch or 47-inch TV. Get a closer look after the break.
LaCie's LaCinema Classic Bridge media player: just add storage
LaCie's back with another addition to its steadily growing LaCinema family. The Classic Bridge ships for $99, including an HDMI cable and that iconic blue light, yet forgoes the hard drive -- perfect for all you crazy kids who already have plenty in the way of storage, but still need a way to get your media files onto the TV screen. Either install your 3.5-inch SATA HDD (FAT32 only, folks) or plug in an external USB drive, and you'll be watching re-runs of B. J. and the Bear in no time. Supports "flawless" 1080p HD resolution and all of the formats you depend on for your pop-culture fix, including: MPEG4, MP3, JPEG, and HD-JPEG. Not yet available for purchase, but in the meantime feel free to check this bad boy out in the gallery below.
Samsung's NV24HD 10.2 megapixel shooter reviewed, deemed passable
At first glance, there were definitely some things we liked about Samsung's 10.2 megapixel NV24HD: the UI's touch-sensitive buttons (as opposed to a crowded touchscreen), the 2.5-inch AMOLED display looks great (even in direct sunlight) and the camera shoots generous 720p, 30fps video. Now the folks at PC Magazine have had a chance to give the thing a more in-depth going over, and for the most part they seem to think the camera isn't half bad. They say the $349 point-and-shoot works well enough in perfect conditions (outdoors on a sunny day), but cite "weak indoor shots," heavier than average barrel distortion on the telephoto lens, and a bit of pincushion distortion on the wide angle lens as reasons you might want to give this camera a pass. If you're still interested, you can expect the usual features: face detection, image stabilization and scene settings, and an optional cradle ($79.99) offers and HDMI connection to your HDTV (plus a tiny remote). Interested? Sure you are! Hit the read link for the complete review and sexy, sexy slideshow.
Call of Duty 4 not HD: only 600p, claim pixel counters [update]
The pixel counters strike again! Having already conquered Halo 3 by proving the flagship shooter was 80 pixels below HD (defined here as at least 1280x720), the Beyond 3D forum members are now claiming Call of Duty 4 is only 600p (1024x600 resolution = 614,400 pixels) for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions - that's 120 pixels 307,200 pixels that have gone AWOL.The Beyond 3D posters have proven their dedication to pixel counting before with Halo 3, but since we haven't counted ourselves or seen the visual proof prevalent during Halo-gate, we're welcome to be proven wrong. Update: The tryptophan is starting to affect our ability to calculate. The difference between 600p and 720p (1280x720 = 921,600) is 307,200 pixels - which happens to be the exact number of pixels contained within 640x480 resolution.[Via X3F]
Reggie: MS and Sony are hobos, living in cardboard boxes
Well, not exactly, but imagination can be fun!No, Reggie in fact thinks that his company's competitors have boxed themselves in this generation. Why? Because they chose to invest heavily into cutting-edge technology. The decision to go with photo-realistic, HD graphics is going to be bad for them in the long run, Reggie thinks. Sony and Microsoft have "gone down the path with building expensive machines that they lose money on. They've gone down the path with games that are hard to develop," he adds. And, if you want to look at sheer profit-per-console, then Reggie is right. And, if you want to look at total consoles sold, then Reggie is right again. Microsoft and Sony have yet to turn a profit on their divisions, while Nintendo has been enjoying the cash money for quite some time now.But, he makes a valid point: if Microsoft and Sony are already producing crazy, high-end graphics for their games, where will they go from here? Nintendo has innovated how games are played without the need to produce these expensive visuals and been incredibly successful.
Report: Blu-ray/HD DVD war to end in 18 months
It's probably fair to say we're all tired of hi-def movies coming on two formats, and we just can't wait until this silly war is over. Thankfully, the end is in sight, according to Forrester Research, which released a report stating it believes the high-def movie format war will finally end in 18 months with Sony's Blu-ray eventually coming out on top. However, Forrester Research analyst J.P. Gownder said Sony still has some work to go before it can be crowned, beginning with cutting prices. "Blu-ray needs to offer a viable hardware model at the $250 price point by Christmas 2007," he said. "Failure to alter strategy would open up Blu-ray to a possible upset defeat at the hands of HD DVD."Although Paramount's defection to the HD DVD camp certainly was a blow to Blu-ray, companies have been ramping up support of Sony's movie format, both with increased movie support and shelf space. Either way, we just hope it comes to an end long before their prognostication.
Data shows Blu-ray leading high-def disc battle
Ever since two of the major console manufacturers picked sides in the high-definition movie disc war, gamers everywhere have taken an unnatural interest in the home video market. High-Def Digest has unearthed some new, detailed data on this battle from a recently leaked Sony report (PDF ZIP link). As of March 18, the cumulative sales numbers show Blu-ray (844,000 total units) holding a slight edge over HD-DVD (708,600 units) in the United States. These overall numbers are less interesting than the historical trend, though -- HD-DVD sales were strong through the end of 2006 but have fallen well below rising Blu-ray sales in 2007. Could the slow growth in PS3-equipped homes finally be having some effects on the movie market?Worldwide dominance for Sony's new format isn't settled yet, though. Next Gen reports that a growing number of independent studios in Europe have decided to back HD-DVD to the exclusion of Blu-Ray. So if you like European art house flicks, the choice is clear.Read - Sony Report Reveals First Look at Absolute Blu-ray and HD DVD Disc Sales FiguresRead - HD-DVD Winning the European Race
Blu-ray Arrives for the Mac, Where's HD-DVD
As you probably know there's a format war going on right now to be the high-definition successor to DVD between Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Like many computer makers, Apple has thrown their lot in with Blu-ray, primarily because of its higher disc capacity (at least in each format's initial form), but has yet to ship a Mac with a Blu-ray drive. Fortunately, MCE is now offering an internal EIDE Blu-ray recordable drive for the Mac Pro or Power Mac G5 that supports both single-layer 25GB and dual-layer 50GB discs (as well as a variety of DVD and CD formats).The future (well, unless HD-DVD wins) is yours today for only $699.00 and they even throw in a copy of Toast 8 Titanium so you can actually use the drive. Hopefully, a HD-DVD drive option will also be forthcoming, even if it's just for playing movies. It has been reported that the Mac can actually detect the XBox 360's USB external HD-DVD drive as a mere DVD drive, but no software yet exists to allow it to read HD-DVDs.[Via Macworld]
Analyst: Xbox 360 makes HD-DVD format to beat
The hi-def movie battle between HD-DVD and Blu-ray is now officially in full swing, and many are no doubt unsure of which format will eventually become dominant. But for Ron Enderle of the Enderle Group, the end result is simple: "HD-DVD wins because of the Xbox 360."Enderle points to brisk sales of the Xbox 360's $200 HD-DVD drive as a big reason why "there may be as many as ten times more HD DVD players than Blu-ray players in the market by the end of the year." HD-DVD's lower cost, along with support from computer makers like HP and better compatibility with old TVs also help the format's chances, Enderle argues. As for Blu-ray, Enderle thinks the format that was supposed to be buoyed by the PS3 has ironically led to crippling early delays and shortages for Sony's system.While it's still a bit early to declare a victor in this modern day BetaMax vs. VHS battle, the buzz meter seems to be tilting decidedly towards HD-DVD at this point. Whether the needle will be tilting the same way in a few months is anyone's guess.Previously: Blu-ray will beat HD-DVD[Thanks matthew]
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]
Hitachi's Ultravision HLT79: a 32-inch 1080p LCD TV for $2200
Remember that mega-spec'd and rock-bottom priced 42-inch hunk-o-plasma Hitachi announced earlier this month? Consider it a trend 'cause Hitachi is now saying that they'll be pushing out four new 1080p LCD displays with 120Hz refresh and their Black Frame Insertion picture enhancement technology for less than $3000. Yeah, that ain't no typo -- p as in progressive for less than the five-large similarly sized sets pull today. The Ultravision HLT79 family will spawn a $2200, 32-incher and $2700, 37-inch model while the HLX99 Director's series will offer some additional features and image tuning in the $2500, 32-incher and $3000, 37-inch panel. All models are expected to ship in November, just in time for the holidays. With prices in freefall, the argument over whether you can see any difference between 1080i and 1080p (or even 720p) in sets this small just doesn't seem to matter anymore, eh? And yeah, that 32-incher ensures Hitachi's rule as the world's smallest 1080p display.
Panasonic's 65-inch TH-65PV500B plasma TV reviewed
With the World Cup set to start in less than two weeks, it's time to extract the catheter, re-prioritize, and go big. Trusted Reviews just posted a giddy review of Panasonic's 65-inch Viera TH-65PV500B plasma TV calling it "one of the very few truly giant" sets designed for the "average Joe" with, uh 13 Gs to burn. This 1080i capable beast features HDMI (with HDCP) and component options for HD sources, a PC jack, and three SCARTs (2 x RGB), S-Video, and an SD slot. The 65PV500B also brings its own digital-tuner to the party with "all the bangs and whistles" you'd expect like a 7-day EPG with timer. But the picture's the thing boy, and this set delivers by slapping-up "outstanding" images by the standards of big plasmas with colors touting excellent vibrancy and subtlety. Blacks are "superbly dark" and pictures are "superbly free of video noise" even when sourced from upwardly scaled, standard definition feeds. After a review like this, you can just forget about that new kidney your doc's been droning-on about -- you need this TeeVee.
New Battle for Middle Earth II trailer available
This is for all those LOTR fans out there. Check out the Battle for Middle Earth II trailer (in HD) and see what will be hitting the Xbox 360 in the coming weeks. Gamers will be able to throw down over Xbox Live and challenge each other to battles. Hope you have that Orc-killing attitude ready.
Blu-ray is very important for gamers
This is what UK boss Ray Maguire has to say about it anyway. Many gamers may have been bemoaning the steep cost of the PS3 due to the Blu-ray component, but he comes at it from a different angle.With the huge requirements of the Cell processor come bigger requirements in the media on which games will need to be stored. This is why, according to Maguire, the Blu-ray discs are a must-have for next-gen games. Thanks to the 50GB of storage, people won't be having to change discs in the middle of loading (which is apparently what we'd have to do he says). While this is spot-on for more content, it means that developers are going to need to deliver on that proclamation for quantity and quality.By adopting this high definition medium, they hope to "legitimize" the HD era where it counts most: in your home.
AVCHD format will enable 8cm DVD-equipped HD camcorders
Sony and Panasonic-parent Matsushita have teamed up to develop an encoding format based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 that will enable future camcorders to capture HD footage directly to standard 8-centimeter DVDs. Called "AVCHD," the new format is able to handle numerous resolution/frame-rate combinations, including 480i at 60fps, 720p at 24, 50, or 60fps, and 1080p at 24fps (or 1080i for 50fps and 60fps configurations), and can encode audio in either 5.1 channel AC-3 or up to 7.1 channel Linear PCM. The advantages of this format over the current HDV scheme used with MiniDV cassettes aren't exactly clear -- although you are getting random scene access thanks to the nature of optical discs, recording time is cut down from around an hour with MiniDV to only 20 minutes at the AVCHD "average setting." Even worse, DVD players will require special software in order to read discs containing content encoded in the new format, and even then, they will obviously only play back at a maximum resolution of 480p.[Via PCWorld]
Sharp Internet AQUOS LCD TV and PC systems
Today Sharp loosed their new Internet AQUOS TV / PC combo systems. At the top end is the LD-37SP1 LCD and PC-AX50M mini-PC kit capable of pumping out (and recording) those Hi-Vision (Japanese high def) broadcast pixels onto a 37-inch LCD with 1200:1 contrast ratio, 6ms response, 176-degree viewing angle, and HDMI and HDCP DVI ports. A wireless (RF) keyboard and remote are perfect for getting all potato-like up on the couch. The PC manages to eke out 500GB of SATA disk for hi-def recordings and such, up to 1GB DDR2 RAM, a DVD combo drive, and SD and xD picture card slots with direct-to-card MPEG-4 recordings -- all powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo T2300 CPU and XP Home. The kit is also available with a 32-inch LCD (LD-32SP1) and PC sporting a terrestrial analog tuner and a 250GB disk (PC-AX50M) all of which you can mix-n-match to your heart’s desire. No doubt, we like the design, but these systems are kept out of the high-end game with their Intel graphics cards, LCD resolutions of just 1366 x 768, and lack of a Windows Media Center Edition install option. Expect these to hit shelves in Japan sometime in May for an undisclosed price.[Via Akihabara News]
