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PS3 pulls a 180: v1.81 firmware to fix RGB color space settings
Sony just patched the patch for its PlayStation 3, releasing an update to fix a problem introduced in the most recent firmware update. A less-publicized feature of the 1.80 upgrade was the ability to select RGB full or limited output via HDMI, to improve picture quality when connected to certain HDTVs. However some noticed that even when set to full, it would sometimes revert to limited by itself, which is the sole issue fixed in version 1.81. Of course, whether or not this improves picture quality is still up for debate, and there are several forum threads discussing which setting will pass BTB (blacker than black) and WTW (whiter than white) information while playing DVDs and Blu-ray movies, and with which HDTVs. Of course we've been here before, with updates to the first gen Toshiba HD DVD players and Microsoft's adjustments to its Xbox 360 VGA cable settings. Got a PS3 and a 1080p set? Get the update, a test disc or two and let us know what works best. Read - PlayStation.Blog Read - AVS Forum
HDTV Listings for June 13, 2007
What we're watching: Creature Comforts, Traveler and Hidden Palms are all new tonight, along with the season finale of One Tree Hill.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for June 10, 2007
What we're watching: Even without Entourage we'll be watching HBO to see the season premiere of John from Cincinnati.Edit: Oh, yeah, and some show called The Sopranos is having its season finale, not that you may have heard of it or anything.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Anime classic Akira hits Xbox Live next week...in HD
Microsoft scored another debut of animated content moving to HD for the Xbox Live Marketplace, as it recently announced the anime classic Akira will headline the rollout of anime from distributors FUNimation and Geneon. Despite initial growing pains with slow downloads and that too-small hard drive that's so expensive to upgrade, Lions Gate recently revealed that its movies have been rented 150,000 times on the service and called it a "promising sign" for their library and digital delivery. Along with the anime, expect content from Logo and CMT to also hit the service starting Monday, although no word on what, if any, of that will be in HD. Read - More Content Coming on Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace US [Via Joystiq] Read - Xbox Live boosts Lions Gate revenues
HDTV Listings for June 8, 2007
What we're watching: We thought Standoff was cancelled, but it's on tonight, so we 'll take a look at that or Nicholas Cage in The Weatherman on Showtime.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Intel prepping hardware Blu-ray / HD DVD support for Santa Rosa
Intel's Santa Rosa mobile platform will get a high definition upgrade in the second half of this year when it integrates dedicated hardware decoding from Broadcom to support HD DVD and Blu-ray playback. The extra processing power will let notebooks keep running their Windows Vista Aero experience -- which currently takes a major hit -- while playing high-def discs without relying on more expensive GPUs from NVIDIA or ATI. We know Toshiba is going all HD DVD in its laptops later this year, and we won't be surprised to see more manufacturers throwing in blue laser options across the line. The manufacturer told Ars Technica that future upgrades to the Santa Rosa chipset should include driver updates later this year, and DirectX10 support in 2008.
AUO shows off its 65-inch 120Hz 1080p HDTV
AU Optotronics will be showing off Taiwan's first 65-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD, scheduled for release in the third quarter of this year, at Display Taiwan 2007 next week. Sharp has already displayed this technology and size in its Aquos line, but now that AUO has the capability of building 60-inch+ panels on its 6G production line, we can expect even more competition in the market for these massive HDTVs. Besides the 120Hz technology to reduce blurring, AUO's baby brings 4ms response time, 2000:1 contrast ratio and 10-bit color processing with 92% of the NTSC color gamut, in 42-, 46- and 65-inch sizes.
Super Hi-Vision creeps towards reality with latest breakthrough
Because 1080p and even Quad HD just aren't high-def enough, Japanese broadcaster NHK has announced new breakthoughs in it's Super Hi-Vision (formerly Ultra High Definition Video) technology. They've been showing it off periodically for the last several years, but the latest step towards living rooms is a single image sensor that for TV cameras that is capable of full SHV (7,680 x 4,320) resolution. Previous prototypes were limited to half that resolution, but now they're focusing on shrinking the equipment necessary to encode/decode the uncompressed 24Gbps SHV stream to 124Mbps from its current to fit in broadcaster headends and UHDTVs near you. While those pixels are nothing to sneeze at, we're still trying to figure out where to get speakers for the planned 22.2 channel audio.
Vizio barreling into Wal-marts everywhere
Relative newcomer Vizio has certainly done a bang-up job at taking the television market by storm, throwing down a sub-$1000 plasma and the first sub-$2000 1080p LCD, upsetting Sony with its pricing schemes, and making good impressions just about everywhere. Now the number-four flat-panel seller is truly heading for the mass market, with an announcement that Wal-mart will sell four new models of Vizio LCDs. The 720p sets include at least one HDMI input and integrated ATSC/QAM tuners. The VW26L, VW32L, VW37L, and VW42L panels will range from 26 to 42 inches, with the smallest starting at $448. Considering the retail giant's reach and inertia, it's going to be a tough year for competitors on the low-end of the flat-panel market. We feel for you: now pick us up some chips and paper towels with that 42-incher, will ya?
Sony constructs two sets of whole-house HD video distribution products
If you're inclined to go big and multi-room with audio and video, Sony has unveiled some distribution products for you at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, with two sets of high-definition video distribution products -- one for new construction, and one using existing Cat5 cabling. The NHS-3040 rack system is for new homes, and combines various Sony products for a whole-house distribution network: a home theater, XM Radio tuner, Blu-ray player, 400-disc DVD changer, and 80GB music storage and management server, along with support for 13 different audio/video zones. The NHS-2040 model drops you down to six zones, while the NHS-1040 removes the changer as well. For existing wiring, Sony offers up the CAV-CVS12ES HD switching system, which uses a single Cat5e per zone to route your video into up to 12 zones, and supports eight 1080p-capable component inputs. The system supports IR and RS-232 control, and pairs up with Sony's CAV-M1000 line of audio distro systems. As long as you're wiring up your house anyway, why not throw in Sony's WS-ADP4 doorbell intercom adapter with electronic door release, so you don't have to bother the butler to open the door for you while you're both in the third-floor bedroom watching Desperate Housewives in HD.Read - Sony NHS series distro systemRead - Sony CAV-CVS12ES Cat5e systemRead - WS-ADP4 doorbell intercom
Toshiba rolls out automotive HD DVD player, improved LCD panel
Toshiba has shown off some auto-related products at the Automotive Engineering Expo 2007, including a mobile HD DVD player and a fresh take on touch panels. The high-definition in-dash player is under co-development with Alpine, and is planned for a 2008 release. The LCD is an improvement on traditional touchscreen technology, with no film coating -- which traditionally reduces contrast ratio and brightness -- to handle the user input, instead bundling optical sensors alongside each pixel. These sensors can then detect the shadow of a press during the day, and the reflection of the backlight at night. Toshiba also plans to upgrade that tech to use infrared instead of day/night sensors. Who cares if you can't see the difference between 1080 and 720 on a 7-inch screen, we just want our mobile touchscreen HD now!
JVC Victor announces three new 120Hz 1080p LCDs
JVC is adding to the Victor line of LCDs with three new models, all of which include Clear Motion Drive 120Hz technology for the Full HD 1080p displays, and 10-bit panels for increased color reproduction capability. The LH805 series will also sport two HDMI 1.3 ports, JVC's 32-bit Genessa image processing chipset, and DLNA compatibility for home networking. The 47-inch LT-47LH805 will be available in late June, and the 42-inch and 37-inch LT42LH805 and LT-37LH805 will drop in early August, for an estimated price range of €2,140 to 2,840 ($2,800 to 3,800 US). Continue on for more pics of the panels.[Via Akihabara News]
Moser Baer develops 8x-capable Blu-ray Disc media
Indian manufacturing giant Moser Baer today announced development of 8x-capable Blu-ray Disc media, which would allow for a 2-hour movie to be recorded in under 15 minutes. This speed corresponds to around 3.3GB a minute, or 55MB a second, assuming a full dual-layer disc. Competing format HD DVD is working on 2x and 4x burning, although both camps are still held back by expensive hardware and media. Now all we need is 8x burner hardware to get started backing up all those Vista CableCARD recordings.[Thanks, Jagannath]
Fujitsu still going large with a pair of 55- and 63-inch plasmas
Fujitsu is still keeping it big, with revisions to its Plasmavision line of 55-inch and 63-inch plasma sets. The P55XHA51WSb and P63XHA51WSb have added a second HDMI input since last year's models, and boosted the contrast up to 3000:1, while keeping the remaining specs the same as before. On the bright side, prices have been lowered to £4,495 ($8,885 US) and £6,495 ($12,839 US), so if you're not turned off by the 720p resolution or the higher-than-normal pricing, grab these up.
HDTV Listings for May 18, 2007
What we're watching: We've got an NBA doubleheader on ESPN, with the Cavs and Spurs both trying to close out a series while the Nets and Suns fight to play another game. We'll check those out after Lord of War on Showtime.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
LG's GGW-H10N HD DVD / Blu-ray combo drive previewed
We can't deny feeling a little rush of excitement when we first learned that LG would be releasing an optical drive that could handle both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs -- like many fence-sitters, we see these combo units as an end run around the format war -- so obviously we were quite stoked to read ExtremeTech's initial thoughts on one of these devices (provided by HP in what was likely an upcoming Media Center). Bearing in mind that neither the review unit nor the drivers were finalized versions, it sounds like the GGW-H10N does indeed live up to its promise of reading nearly every disc format available as well as burning and Lightscribing Blu-ray media, DVDs, and CDs; however, Blu-ray write speeds were well below the claimed 2x in testing, and the lack of HD DVD-R/RW read support could prove to be a rather frequent annoyance unless it's rectified through a firmware update (or HD DVD pulls a Betamax). Bottom line: if you just can't wait any longer to jump into the game, this LG drive will give you most of the capabilities you're looking for -- but with a likely pricetag of $1,000 and more full-featured models probably right down the road, it would seem to pay off if you can just keep on waitin'...
NuVision ships Deep Black 1080p LCDs
Arizona manufacturer NuVision has begun shipping a pair of 1080p LCDs -- the 42-inch 42LCM1 and 47-inch 47LCM1 -- intended for custom installers and specialty retailers. The sets include those extra features and electronics that cater to high-end audiences, including NiDO image optimization and color processing, Crestron-certified RS-232 control with IR pass through for home automation, and 6ms response times. The 42LCM1 is available for $3,199, and the 47LCM1 can be had for $4,199 -- small prices to pay to "buy American."
HDTV Listings for April 29, 2007
What we're watching: With no Planet Earth, Discovery HD Theater is featuring Panic in the Ring of Fire once again tonight, but for slightly different looks of fear, we'll be watching the Mavericks at the Warriors later on TNT. The #1 seed is coming into Game 4 down 2-1 and facing a must-win game to have a good chance of advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for April 28, 2007
What we're watching: The NBA Playoffs continue, but we'll check out either The Hills Have Eyes on HBO or Cars on Starz-HD tonight.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
IGS's Rapsody N35 media player
IGS of Japan has released a hard drive-based media player that supports up to 1TB internal drives, and plays back various high-definition video and audio formats. Similar to the MediaGate line, the Rapsody N35 supports DivX and XviD, MPEG-1,2, and 4, and WMV HD at up to 1080 lines of resolution over DVI, component, or S-video outputs. The Rapsody also plays back OGG, MP3, and WMA audio over its digital coax and optical connectors. With the 10/100-speed Ethernet jack and included NDAS software, you can connect to remote computers on your network, and the local USB port allows for connecting devices directly. The N35 is available for 28,000 ¥, or $235 US.
