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Eyes-on Whiteman Technology's Delta DVR, plus more hardware details
Did the recent revelation of the Delta DVR, with its six tuners, AMD silicon running Windows Media Center embedded and 3TB HDD have you viewing your current DVR with disdain? Well, stop reading now, because we got to speak with the man who created the Delta DVR, Ryan Whiteman, and found there's even more to like about his potential TiVo killer. Read on after the break for the full scoop.
Eyes-on Brytewerks Model One high-def projector and HTPC combo
Back in January, we got our first glimpse of BryteWerks' Model One projector, albeit in render form only. Well, today at DEMO, we finally saw the thing in person and uncovered a bit more info about its innards. It still pumps out 11,000 lumens and throws images on the wall in 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it turns out to have a range of Intel silicon at its disposal: everything from a humble 1.6GHz Atom up to a 3.6GHZ Core i7. There are also multiple storage options, as the Model One comes with an Intel 320 SSD (60 or 120GB) -- where the OS resides to ensure super fast boot times -- and up to a 2TB HDD, so you have plenty of room for all your media. Speaking of the OS, it turns out the projector/HTPC has two: a customized version of XBMC and Windows 7, plus a custom GUI (currently in development) to make calibrating the projector dead simple. Because the projector's 1200-watt metal halide bulb generates so much heat, the internal chassis is built of aluminum and houses the components into four individually cooled chambers. That way, all the PC parts can stay cool on the bottom even while the projector's running full bore. We got to see a hand-built prototype in person, and the Model One strikes an imposing, if elegant figure. It's roughly a foot and a half square cube, with a black brushed metal exterior devoid of any branding or other ornamentation, save for the silver ring around the lens. The power, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and four RCA connections are situated in the black plastic feet to keep cord clutter to a minimum, and the lens up front is magnetically attached to make swapping it out a simple affair. We got to speak with its creator, Justin Evans, about the genesis of the device, and he informed us that he's but a humble filmmaker who's trying to help out independent theaters, film festivals, filmmakers, and consumers. His goal was to create a projector that's both easy to use and cheap as chips (comparatively speaking) to enable film editing on the big screen and make high quality movie projection available to the masses. Given that the Model One is set to start shipping in six to eight weeks at an asking price of $2999, we'd say he's hit the mark -- assuming the image quality is as good as he says it is, and the build quality of the production model's up to snuff, of course. Here's hoping we get to see the thing in action sometime soon.
Samsung's vacuum tube driven speaker lineup gets priced for US, available this spring (update)
It's no secret that Samsung's been teasing a major interest in premium audio since CES, blending digitally powered speakers with vacuum tube pre-amplifiers. We didn't get a chance to check the systems out in Vegas, but today the company's spilling the details regarding US pricing on a trio of systems, all of which will be available in the spring. The star of the show is the $800 DA-E750 Audio Dock, featuring the rear-mounted dual dock for Galaxy (charging only) and iOS devices we first saw last month. Clad in a polished wood case (available in black or cherry), the 2.1 stereo system pumps out up to 100 watts of power through its glass fiber speakers and tweeters. As an added touch, its JJ Electronics 12AU7 tubes (the same you could use for guitar amps) are sunken in from its top under glass, allowing for clear view of their glow. Best of all, aside from the requisite USB and 3.5mm inputs, the DA-870 works wirelessly with Samsung's AllShare Play, AirPlay and Bluetooth 3.0 w/ aptX.Moving past the HiFi category, Samsung's also priced a duo of surround sound systems aimed at the home theater market. To start, there's the $1,000 HT-E6730W Blu-ray 3D 7.1 home theater system and its $800 5.1 sibling, the HT-E6500W Blu-ray 3D -- both of which feature the same tube pre-amp and similar wireless capabilities as the DA-E750. Notably, the E6730W features a tiltable top speaker on each of its stereo towers, allowing for a more personalized output depending on your room. Furthermore, if you happen to have a DA-E750, too, you'll be able to stream the audio via Bluetooth if you find yourself far away from your television. There's no exact date on when you'll be able snag any of them, but Samsung notes that the 5.1 system is currently shipping.Update: You'll find a press release with all the drool-inducing details after the break.
Pioneer launches its 2012 VSX AV receivers lineup, available now starting at $249
We've seen Pioneer stuff its VSX line with 3D and Bluetooth goodness in the past; now, the Japanese outfit is unveiling its 2012 AV receivers portfolio in an attempt to widen its offerings. Starting with the lower-end models, the VSX-522 and VSX-822 are both packing 5.1 surround audio, while the main difference between the two is the lack of AirPlay and Bluetooth on the former. If you are, however, looking to go the premium route, you can snag the VSX-1022 or the top of the line Pioneer VSX-1122 , which will get you 7.1 sound, DLNA, as well as 1080p upscaling. All good for your ears? Ready up your wallet, as you'll have to drop anywhere from $249 to $599 if you want to add one of these to your setup. %Gallery-150872%
Panasonic prices its 2012 home theater and audio offerings
Panasonic just outed the availability for its 2012 HDTVs, so it's no surprise the company would roll out its home theater and audio component pricing as well. Remember those high-end home theater 3D Blu-ray players that made their debut at CES packing WiFi, DLNA and Viera Connect? Well, if you want to pick them up when they go on sale in April, the SC-BTT490 will set you back $500, while the SC-BTT195 and 190 models will cost $400 and $300, respectively. Meanwhile, the micro sound systems we saw in Vegas also got priced -- the elegant SC-AP01 packing AirPlay debuts in June for $170, while its hockey puck-sized and Bluetooth-powered cousin, the SC-MC07, can be had for $70 a month later. Panny's also letting loose a trio of HTB series home theater systems ranging from $230 - $400 that offer Bluetooth for streaming music from your phone and wireless subwoofers to cut down on living room cord clutter. Don't believe us? Well, head on past the break to get your fill of model numbers, price points and feature sets straight from the horse's mouth.
Onkyo debuts new entry level receivers, HTIBs for 2012
For 2012, Onkyo is expanding its lineup with four new entry level receivers and two HTIB all-in-one packages. The receivers all pack the brand new InstaPrevue (PiP preview of each HDMI source with fast switching) and MHL, while the three networked models are the first with access to MP3tunes cloud stored songs, as well as a number of other services including Spotify. The top of the line TX-NR616 ($699, April, pictured above) packs the most power and rocks a THX Select2 Plus stamp of quality and, along with the step down TX-NR515 ($599, March) has Qdeo video processing that scale video up to 4K res and output audio on 7.2 channels. On the HTIBs, the 7.1 HT-S5500 ($649, March) and 5.1 HT-S3500 bring all the usual features wrapped around a new "Wide Range Amplifier Technology" that it claims reduces signal noise while still pumping up the power through discrete output-stage components. The full list of specs, prices and shipping windows are in the press releases after the break, hit the source links for a few more pictures.
Bowers and Wilkins refreshes M-1 speaker and PV1D subwoofer, new Mini Theater bundles coming soon
B&W will soon have something new for every corner of your media consumption shrine. The six-year-old M-1 compact monitor is getting improved drivers, offering "enhanced full-range performance," while the PV1D subwoofer benefits from a more complete redesign. It now boasts the same digital platform as the flagship DB1, a new OLED display and other fresh specs including a dynamic EQ circuit and a low 7.5Hz cut off. The only component of the Mini Theater range that'll keep its old guts is the ASW608 subwoofer, which is now available in matte white to match that option with the M-1s. Look to spend $250 on each monitor, $1,700 on the PV1D and $500 on the ASW608, but check the press release first for more details and bundle options. Availability starts "early 2012."
Live from Sony's CES 2012 press conference
It's prime time and Sony is ready to shine as always, ready to show off its latest flood of consumer products for us, and you. Check after the break for our up-to-the-minute liveblog of every TV, camera or other device that's been flown into Las Vegas for our perusal.
Sharp's new XV-Z30000 HD DLP projector puts 3D video on the wall of your choosing
Sharp's putting out a plethora of new devices at CES, and among them is an addition to its existing 3D DLP projectors called the XV-Z30000. It's a 1600-lumen 3D projector that throws a 1080p image on whichever wall you point it at, and keeps the quality up thanks to a 50,000:1 contrast ratio. Connectivity comes courtesy of dual HDMI inputs and its got home automation control compatibility from all the big players along with LAN control as well. The XV-Z30000 comes with two sets of 3D glasses, and will be available for $5,000 in March 2012.
LG home theater system adds vertical speakers for 9.1 surround sound
While 3D video is already running rampant throughout the latest HDTVs, another new bullet point feature is 3D sound, and naturally LG's newest home theater systems have it. LG will have four new home theater systems on display this week at CES, but the first one it's showing off is the BH9420PW, which uses "3D Sound Zooming" to match the positioning of sounds with 3D video being displayed on one of LG's TVs. It achieves this thanks to four upright speakers added to the traditional 5.1 layout and algorithm that detects depth of effects being watched in 3D. According to LG, this makes for a wider sweet spot than usual, but as always we'll let our ears be the judge. There's a few more details in the press release after the break along with a couple more pictures to tide you over until the press conference kicks off at 11AM ET, January 9th.
BryteWerks Model One combines HTPC and 16:10 HD projector for $2,449
With countless digital projectors ranging in quality from the bottom-shelf drug store stocking stuffer to the six-figure top-of-the-line behemoth, getting your foot in the door as a manufacturer is a near-impossible endeavor. Unless you've designed something like this -- the Model One, from BryteWerks. We've only had a peek at the ultra-sleek glossy black renders at this point, but we're holding out hope that this cube looks as fantastic in person as it does in the gallery below. Inside, you'll find a 16:10 widescreen 1920 x 1200 projector with a brightness of 6,000-11,000 lumens, depending on configuration. There's also a built-in home theater PC, complete with an Intel Core i3 to i7 CPU, Blu-ray drive and storage options that include a 2TB HDD or 500GB SSD. The system can be controlled using the embedded 720p 8.9-inch touchscreen, or remotely using a keyboard and mouse or an Android or iOS app. There's no word on release date just yet, but Model One pricing ranges from $2,449 to $5,999. Hit up the source link to place your order after the site goes live on January 9th.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: HDTV and home theater
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. For a crowd-pleasing holiday gift, it's hard to do better than a TV (or something that plays on or plugs into a TV), so naturally we're here to help you out once again. Of course, this is an ever-changing industry segment, but we've got you covered -- regardless of whether you need a flat panel or a projector. If you're out shopping for someone that has (or wants to) cut the cable, or someone that has every channel, there's something for you. Of course, we'd also recommend keeping a close eye on the tablet and gaming categories too, but companies like Roku, Samsung and Ceton are making sure you have all kinds of options dedicated purely to video. Give them a look after the break.
Ask Engadget: what's the best sub-$1,000 HTIB setup?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Dave, who just so happens to be in the midst of a new PC build. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hey all! What is the best 'home theater in a box,' with connectivity for my component-out Wii, HDMI-out media box and optical-out TV? Room for plenty of future additions would be awesome. Wireless would be a plus, and of course, it needs to have at least respectable sound quality. Thanks!" So, HTIB junkies -- what's the box rocking your socks at the moment? Drop your best advice in comments below!
Bose's CineMate 1 SR and Lifestyle 135 soundbar systems are slim, sleek, not particularly cheap
Bose is offering up two new soundbar systems for folks with a few extra bucks in their bank accounts. The Lifestyle 135 is a single speaker system with a soundbar that can either be laid on a flat surface or mounted on a wall. The system also features a control console with six HMDI inputs, an iPod dock, AM/FM radio, a wireless Acoustimass module and a universal remote, all for $2,500. The 1 SR features only the soundbar, remote and Acoustimass for $1,500. Info on both systems can be found in the source link below. [Thanks, Anders]
Christie offers 4K upgrade kit for 2K projector that you couldn't afford to begin with
For the eight millionaires who've been watching the pre-release of Killer Elite on their in-home Christie CP2230, we've got exemplary news for you: your already-amazing image quality is about to get even better. The same projector that was chosen to reside in the Academy Theater at Lighthouse International in New York City -- and the same one that remains mysteriously devoid of an MSRP across the world wide web -- now has a similarly sticker-less upgrade kit to consider. The Christie 4K upgrade package includes an entire 4K light engine assembly (replete with a trio of 1.38-inch TI 4K DMDs), an integrator rod assembly and an upgrade label. Yeah, a label. It's like that. Hit the source links for the requisite phone numbers, or better yet, just forward the whole thing to your butler.
Sony's new internet TV box, projector and Blu-ray player make an appearance at IFA
They didn't earn highlights during Sony's IFA 2011 keynote, but it did slip out a few more pieces of home theater hardware that are more likely to end up in your living room than its outlandish 3D helmet. The SMP-N200 replaces the earlier Netbox that debuted last year with a refreshed design and support for HD and 3D. Unsurprisingly, this Blu-ray player (without the Blu-ray) also supports DLNA "throwing" of content, making it a natural Apple TV-style tie-in for the Tablet S and Tablet P once they launch. Moving on, the VPL-VW95ES is a proper replacement for last year's VPL-VW90ES that we'll probably get more properly acquainted with later this week at CEDIA. For 2011 it's been refreshed with 3D conversion capabilities, an integrated 3D emitter to sync the glasses and the ability to set and memorize different lens positions to switch seamlessly between 16:9 and ultrawidescreen projecting. Finally, the BDP-S185 Blu-ray player was announced, with compact size and power consumption that Sony claims is 47 percent less than the previous year's models as its most notable features. All should start shipping in October, no specific word on pricing yet.
Vizio tablet now shipping nationwide, priced at $300
Well friends, if you've been waiting to get your hands on the 8-inch Vizio tab (and don't live near a Costco), your time has come. The company announced today that its slate has begun shipping to retailers nationwide including Sam's, Walmart and Amazon. The Android tablet is now priced at $299, a $30 drop from our last retail sighting -- and just in time to entice those of you heading back to school in search of a new piece of tech to play with during that history lecture. Or perhaps you just want to kick it like Blake Griffin... don't worry, we won't judge you. Besides, what else do you need for your dorm room other than an integrated universal remote to queue up all those Lord of the Rings marathons?
Panasonic's PT-AE7000 is its first 3D home theater projector, arrives in September for $3,499
Panasonic is finally ready to show off its first 3D projector, the PT-AE7000. This LCD beamer is a followup to the PT-AE4000 that debuted back in '09 and while some of the new features are for 3D -- 480Hz transparent LCD panels, integrated IR transmitter to sync the glasses and adjustable settings to tweak the picture at different viewing distances -- it also claims an improved 2D pedigree with a 200 watt lamp, claimed 300,000:1 contrast ratio and 2,000 lumens of brightness. With an MSRP of $3,499 it appears set to continue Panasonic's well-regarded line of midrange home theater projectors, check after the break for the press release with all of the specs.
Vizio Tablet tiptoes into retail, starting at Costco
We know it's been a long wait since CES, but after getting pawed at by both Blake Griffin and yours truly, the Vizio Tablet is starting to show up in stores right about on schedule. Frequent Engadget commenter DaHarder took a step away from the Disqus box and snagged this tablet at a local Costco store for $329 ($20 off the regular price), an achievement also unlocked by the folks at Mobileslate. According to their reports you may have to ask around to find out if the VTAB1008 is actually in stock but it may be lurking along with its $40 Accessories Kit, while it's already showing in stock on the Vizio online store. Impressions so far suggest a "budget" tablet experience above that of the flood of craptablets with decent hardware and battery life, but a software experience behind the top of the line slates due to the custom UI, small internal storage and RAM and slower single core Marvell CPU. Our review is yet to come, but if there's around three bills burning a hole in your pocket and you've just got to have an Android tablet with integrated IR blaster, we're not seeing too many other options available. [Thanks, DaHarder]
UnityRemote: another iOS universal remote worth checking out
We first spied the UnityRemote from Gear4 at CES in January. Gear4 has decided to go with a very simple device and app, and that's a good thing. Frankly, I don't get having social features in my TV remote (and yet I take Instagram photos of meals) or needing twenty different ways to visualize the TV guide, so UnityRemote leaves that cruft out. Unfortunately, UnityRemote leaves a couple of other things out as well, but that doesn't mean the remote isn't capable of meeting the needs of most users. Read on for full details. %Gallery-128362% Hardware The UnityRemote is a cylinder smaller than half a can of soda, largely made of black plastic with a small ring of chrome at the bottom. Unlike the Peel you do not have to point this in a specific direction, as Gear4 put the LEDs all around the unit. Three AA batteries fill up the majority of the UnityRemote hardware, with the weighted cover removable with a twist. While I don't like the odd arrangement of the batteries (it can be hard to get the final battery out), I'll give props to Gear4 for designing a compact and unobtrusive IR blaster. There's a power button just above a micro-USB port. The port is supposed to be for firmware updates, although there's part of me which wishes it was to recharge internal rechargeable batteries (but you use standard alkaline batteries). The UnityRemote power button (circle) and USB port The one gripe I have about the hardware is that the power button is a bit small, and sometimes it can be tricky to turn on the UnityRemote. I don't know if it was just my demo unit, but I had to press the power button for a second or two, then quickly launch the app to ensure the two were communicating. Not only that, but the button is small and can be hard to find if the room is dark. Another issue is that the LED to indicate the unit is powered on is opposite the power button, which means you have to pick it up and look at it to turn it on. It may seem like a little thing, but it would have been better if the power on were more visible (perhaps a blue LED instead) and the button to power on was on top of the unit and larger. After all, this will probably be sitting on your coffee table. The hardware also blinks the LED when it receives commands from the app. UnityRemote uses Bluetooth to connect to your iOS device, which means it'll power down after 2 hours by default. You can change this, but the app warns you not to tinker with some settings unless being advised by tech support. More on that in a bit. Let's look at the app itself. Software in use It's clear the people on the design team who designed the UnityRemote app are AV geeks. While the app eschews bells and whistles like social features and open-ended UI configuration, it does an incredibly good job of setting up the IR blaster and providing you with the controls you need for controlling your AV gear. The default configuration of buttons on the remote are a 3x3 grid, with additional buttons available on subsequent pages by swiping. There's also smaller buttons on top and bottom of this grid, help on the bottom and an on/off switch up top. These buttons are available on every 3x3 grid of buttons, which is great. The buttons included are completely logical, although you're able to add, delete and rearrange the buttons as you wish. You can't break out of the grid as you can with Griffin Technology's Beacon, but I found the 3x3 grid to be a great balance between size (on the iPhone) and number of functions on the screen. Gear4 made a great decision when they chose to make iPhone and iPad versions of the app. The iPad version isn't just a scaled-up app; it's actually got some improvements over the iPhone version thanks to the added real estate. For example, the Devices screen, which allows you to change which device you're controlling, appears as a small nav bar item on the iPhone but is a much larger button directly on the button grid screen. Plus, this larger button has easy access to preferences and other helpful tools which require a few more clicks on the smaller screen. The app even readjusts nicely when in portrait mode, a lovely touch. Speaking of touches, if you tap repeatedly on volume or channel buttons, a warning will pop up to tell you it's possible to hold the buttons down instead. You can turn this off immediately after seeing the dialog, or you can turn off all help dialogs in the settings. The UI isn't perfect, as backing up a screen requires the traditional tiny target of a menu item up top. There are "actions" you can set up, similar to macros, which can trigger a series of events. You may wish to turn the TV and Blu-ray on at once, and switch inputs. Of course, beyond the control of any remote hardware is the ability to communicate both ways with a component. So Unity makes its best guess based on your setup (some TVs have discrete codes for input, but my Sony did not, so I chose not to switch inputs). The UnityRemote does a good job during setup to compensate for the limitations of IR technology, but it isn't magical. Another way to control the remote is via gestures, largely limited to swiping up, down, to the sides or tapping the center of the screen. As with everything else, you can assign these as you wish from all supported commands for your component. I didn't really like the gestures, but after my experience with the Peel, I can see how they might appeal to those who don't want to tap buttons on their remote while watching TV. The defaults made sense, with up/down being volume, and left/right being changing channels (for a TV, obviously). I encountered what could be a bug, however, when I tried to mute my TV by tapping in the center and my TV didn't mute. I found very few bugs in the app overall, however, with one glaring issue of a debug menu that came up during Setup Assistant (see it in the gallery). Weird, but not a showstopper. In any event, Mute works fine in button mode. Overall I found the experience of using the UnityRemote quite excellent. It successfully mimicked a physical remote while providing gestures and customization one might only find in a software-driven remote like those from Harmony. Perhaps the biggest glitch is in pairing the remote with your iOS device. To switch between devices (be it iPod touch, iPhone or iPad) you'll have to basically turn off Bluetooth on one device, then connect from another. The app doesn't handle this gracefully at all -- you'll have to drop into your device's settings and do this manually. Still, it's unlikely you'll switch device control frequently. If you aren't paired with the hardware, you can enter demo mode and either pretend to use the app, or learn where things are and customize to your heart's delight. The software supports multiple hardware units, but you'll again have to go through the clunky Bluetooth association process. Setup and settings There's an outstanding setup process for the UnityRemote, Bluetooth notwithstanding. You can activate the setup assistant at any time, but on first run you'll walk through setup anyway. First you'll choose a brand, then the type of component, then answer a series of yes/no questions. When you set up a component you're given 6 buttons to test -- and these happen to be the most frequently used functions for your component. After adding the component to your list it adds a default layout for that component and proceeds to see if that component has distinct codes for things that could toggle. On and off buttons, you see, could either be one code or two -- this makes it much easier to run those actions (macros) I mentioned earlier. To determine whether items like on/off are distinct codes, the setup walks you through toggling the switch (in first run it'll be on/off) several times and asking whether it is in one condition or another. This was where I encountered a debugging dialog about an unhanded exception, but I was able to click Continue and didn't worry about it. No doubt it's a minor bug, but one that would probably confuse the average user on first run. You can then add more devices, going through the same process many times until you run out of things to control. Once you've added a few devices you will answer more yes/no questions to setup some basic actions, like powering up your DVR and TV when you want to "watch TV." As for further settings, in the Configuration menu there's an Advanced section which allows you to trigger sounds during taps, set up auto-connect (which makes the UnityRemote automatically turn itself on during certain hours -- a handy touch for frequent couch potatoes), toggle help, show errors, prevent the iPhone from locking, and share your setup with other iOS devices. That last one is great because once you setup one device, you can easily transfer those settings to another iOS device using Wi-Fi. Under an About menu you'll find version numbers for the app, application library, all the hardware details (firmware, etc.), the battery status of the IR blaster (which worked well, unlike the Peel) and a fantastic Admin panel with dozens of tweaks the app warns you are ill advised without a tech support person's help. In this screen, however, you're able to change battery consumption and tweak bursts for proper operation. This is also the panel where you can tell the hardware how long it waits to shut itself off, and as previously mentioned it is set to 2 hours by default. The extensive admin panel From configuration you can also open a support ticket with Gear4 or view the full manual, a welcome touch in any app. Conclusion If you want a largely no muss, no fuss straightforward iOS-controlled IR remote for your components, the UnityRemote is exactly that. It costs just under 100 dollars, (you can buy it on Apple's store here), which makes it competitive with physical universal remotes from makers like Harmony. While it isn't perfect, it certainly does the job and does it well. There are lots of customization options, provided you're OK with a basic grid layout, but there are also gestures you can use. With the one caveat of turning the unit on being somewhat of a pain, I would say this is a great universal remote for the casual user as well as hardcore couch potatoes (also known as home entertainment enthusiasts). Tomorrow I'll take a look at Griffin's Beacon, a device that attempts to go head-to-head with the UnityRemote as a dedicated universal remote.
