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Panasonic will, eventually, at some point, launch its first 3D home theater projector
It's time for Infocomm 2011 which means a slew of new projectors (sadly, most are destined for boardrooms and auditoriums), and Panasonic is finally ready to announce its projectors will included in its 3D push. Unfortunately, there's no actual projector to speak of yet so all this news can do is get the world ready for a successor to 2009's PT-AE4000 (pictured above). Plasmas and LCDs are nice, but when you need a big image -- and can't afford a 152-inch display -- only a projector will do. If it follows the trend we should be hearing more in September, just in time for CEDIA, but for now the only details are that it's 3D and will be released this year.
Ask Engadget: best sub-$100 5.1 surround sound system?
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 Greg, who needs 5.1 surround sound in the worst, most inexpensive way. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm looking for a budget 5.1 surround sound system to set myself up with a rudimentary home theatre. I've got a Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U TV, and while the picture's fine, the internal speakers are a bit lacking. I know that almost any sound system, no matter how cheap, will probably be an improvement, so I'm focusing more on saving money than getting mind-blowing audio. Value is the name of the game. Can you give me any good leads? Thanks!" Five years ago, $100 wouldn't get you much in the surround sound world, but today? Today, it's all you need. Toss your assistance in comments below!
Orb Audio modular stereo speaker systems review
Hey, do you like things that sound good? That's funny, we do too. In a world jam-packed with mass-produced, perfectly adequate home-theater-in-a-box solutions, it can be really hard to differentiate between speaker solutions for your computer, TV, or stereo system. It takes a lot for small-scale, high-quality systems to stand out and justify their costs, especially when entire surround kits can be had for under a hundred bucks. But like that song said that one time, you can't put a price tag on love. Orb Audio's eponymously constructed speakers are little works of art that you can rearrange to suit your taste, budget, and decor -- but are they a good solution for you? It's a good question! Read on to find out just how the Orb family might or might not be the best decision you've ever made. %Gallery-123746%
Ask Engadget HD: When is it better to let a custom installer do all the work?
As much as we love drilling holes, running cables and troubleshooting issues in search of the perfect home theater, there's a certain point where it makes sense to call in a professional to do the job instead. Today our question comes from Casey, who is trying to figure out where to draw that line: "I finally have the house, the rooms and the resources to get the theater room I've been dreaming about with everything separated in its own closet, HTPC, in-wall speakers, tie-ins to home automation and maybe some multiroom streaming if I get around to it. After over a year of "work" all there is to show for it is some shelving in the closet, HDMI and power cables run to nowhere, my old stereo still in place and the Xbox 360, satellite receiver and Blu-ray player in a heap underneath the TV. My wife would like to have the room back at some point and is suggesting we just call someone and have them set it up since I don't have the time. I'm still not sure it won't cost too much to bring in a pro and let them have all the fun do all the work, plus I want the satisfaction of doing it myself but I'm running out of time. What should I do, and where can I look for a good installer that won't rip me off at $1,000 per cable?" There you have it, obviously Casey has a plan in his head of what he wants, but getting there is tricky. If you've thought about handing the job over to a custom installer let us know in the comments what pushed you to eventually do it, or dig in and get the job done yourself. [Picture above belongs to pchin] Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Veho's Mimi all-in-one HTPC controller attempts to be a gamepad, looks overwhelming
So you've done it. You've bought a top-of-the line computer and turned your once-scary basement into the home theater of your dreams. But, since the HTPC is well, a computer, you're probably still using the age-old mouse and keyboard combo. Veho, a company that once claimed to have the world's smallest camcorder, recently announced a device called the "Mimi wifi Keyboard & Air Mouse with game controller." A long name indeed, but suitable considering the number of buttons found on this Xbox 360 gamepad lookalike. It's got everything you'd expect in an all-in-one computer-controlling unit -- including a motion sensor to control the mouse, separate buttons for left- and right-clicking and a range of around 33 feet. The controller is compatible with both Windows and Mac via a USB dongle, but the customizable buttons will only work on a Microsoft machine. If you're ready to take computing and gaming, along with your dignity, to a whole new level, hit up the source link to drop around 150 bones (£90) for this hybrid gadget.
Elgato and OWC hawk upgraded Mac Mini HTPC bundles: Blu-ray burner, 12TB, TV tuner
Simmer down, son -- neither Elgato nor Other World Computing are actually shoving 12TB of hard drive space within a 2010 Mac Mini, but if you order one of their new bundles, you'll definitely end up with as much. OWC is now selling pre-pimped Mac Mini machines, complete with bolstered storage options, an internal Blu-ray burner, Elgato's EyeTV Hybrid tuner (or HD DVR), more RAM than usual and an Apple Remote. The company plans to offer both the 2.4GHz and 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo systems, and it swears up and down that the machine will arrive preconfigured and ready to rock your home theater. The addition of a Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 4-bay storage solution enables you to keep even a vast library of digital content nearby, but there's no telling how much the outfit will charge for such a luxury. Hit the source link if you're scrounging for details, but don't expect pricing or an order button just yet. Update: So, it seems that OWC isn't actually selling new Mac Minis itself, but will upgrade your own if you send it in. We'd like to take this opportunity to now recommend that OWC actually sell upgraded Mac Minis itself.
Poll: How many remotes are you using?
We've asked for your input on what's the best universal remote out there, but now we want to know just how many of you are actually using yours. Of course, in some setups, there's always one pesky component or two that might still stick out, or maybe you just let them all pile up and grab which one's needed at the time. So let us know in the poll how many remotes it takes to change the channel, play a DVD, set the sound and dim the lights in your setup and give us a hint on how you arrived to that setup in the comments. %Poll-59075%
IOGEAR GW3DKIT wireless 3D media kit banishes your components to the closet
We went hands-on with IOGEAR's wireless HD system last year at CES, and now we've managed to do the same with a prototype of the boutique brand's new GW3DKIT 3D wireless streamer. The kit consists of a 3D transmitter and receiver that each feature four HDMI inputs as well as one component, composite, VGA, and USB input. Each box also features one HDMI and USB output. Together the system is designed to stream full 1080p 60Hz HD video / 5.1 audio along with 3D content over WiFi (802.11n) from as far as 100 feet away with supposedly little latency or wireless interference. IOGEAR says to expect the system sometime in Q1 of 2011, and no official pricing is available yet, but we've been told it would be around $499 by IOGEAR's CES booth staff. If everything performs as advertised, it sounds like a great solution for you home theater minimalists out there who prefer components out of sight. We'll reserve official judgment though until we can go eyes-on with some extended tested. For more information, be sure to check out the full PR after the break.
UnityRemote brings a universal, customizable remote to iOS devices
Ever since Apple killed the Griffin IR remote on the original iPod I've been wanting to consolidate my iPod with a home theater remote. The iPhone seems perfect for this; with an infinitely variable canvas available, you could theoretically do anything with your remote. The trouble is getting an IR signal to your components. The UnityRemote from Gear4 solves this problem by connecting your iPhone to a small cylindrical IR beamer via Bluetooth. We didn't get much of a chance to try it ourselves, but the demo was mighty impressive. I should note that Gear4 is not new to this game -- they created an RF-based remote for iPods several years ago but it never took off. iOS devices, however, are much better suited to remotes. While you have the usual raft of buttons and shortcuts (you can add buttons to your favorite stations with station icons) plus the ability to teach the device your oddball remote codes, the really compelling piece in my mind was the ability to use gestures. You can flick your finger up in the gestures screen to increase volume, much like FlickTunes does on your iPhone or iPod touch. The UnityRemote works on iPad as well, which means you can have a really big remote in your living room. The app is free, but the UnityRemote hardware will set you back $99. Considering Harmony remotes can cost $200 or more, that's still a pretty good deal if you have a lot of components or you're a control freak.
Samsung goes cubic with HT-D7100 Blu-ray home theater system, HW-D550 soundbar
Digging the cube-like stature of Samsung's new BD-D7000 3D Blu-ray player, but on the hunt for a more complete package? Have a gander at the GT-D7100, an all-in-one Blu-ray home theater system that's shaped more like a box and less like... well, conventional home cinema systems. There's 2D-to-3D upconversion, a 2.1 channel sound system (with 110 watts of power), inbuilt WiFi, support for Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio and support for Samsung Apps / Hub. If you're looking for something more traditional, the HT-D6730W is a 7.1 channel surround system, complete with a WiFi-enabled 3D Blu-ray deck, wireless rear speakers, a pair of tower speakers, 1330 total watts of power and a wideband amplifier, two HDMI inputs and an iPod / iPhone dock cradle. In related news, the HW-D7000 Blu-ray AV receiver is being introduced, and it's being described as the world's first 7.1 channel AVR with an integrated 3D Blu-ray player. You'll get four HDMI sockets, HDMI-CEC (Anynet), inbuilt WiFi, a Smart Hub (including internet radio) and a 120 watt x 7 channel amplifier. Finally, the HW-D550 soundbar measures 46-inches in length and offers 2.1 channel audio, 310 watts of power, a wireless subwoofer and a pair of HDMI connectors. Pricing information remains to be seen, but as with Samsung's other CES introductions, these too will be on sale in 1H 2011. %Gallery-112485%
Philips CES 2011 HD lineup: 4000 / 5000 / 6000 series LCDs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems
Consider yourself an HD junkie? You're in for a treat. A feast of treats, actually. Philips has just let loose a veritable smorgasbord of new HD kit at CES this morning, from LCD HDTVs to Blu-ray decks to complete home theater systems. Here's what you need to know: The 4000 LED series of HDTVs are available in 40 (40PFL4706), 46 (46PFL4706) and 55 (55PFL4706) inch sizes, these mid-range sets include MediaConnect and NetTV for getting your PC to play nice on your TV (sans wires, at that), with the latter also providing easy access to Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster and FilmFresh. These will ship by May for prices of $749, $999 and $1499 in order of mention. For those who couldn't care less about MediaConnect of NetTV, a 19-inch, 22-inch and 32-inch version will be available this month for $199.99, $249.99 and $449.99, respectively. Moving up a bit, the 5000 LCD series will ship in 40 (40PFL5706), 46 (46PFL5706) and 55 (55PFL5706) inch sizes, with these boasting the same basic functionality as the 4000 series but gaining a Pixel Precise HD engine and 120Hz de-jitter support. Look for these in the April / May time frame for $679, $899 and $1099. Looking to take one more step towards high-end? The LED 6000 series is where's it at, improving upon the other two lines by adding... 3D. Naturally. Check the 40PFL6706 (40-inch), 46PFL6706 (46-inch) and 55PFL6706 (55-inch) models this September for $999, $1299 and $1699 in order of mention. If you're looking to outfit your room with a full-on home theater system, Philips is revealing five new setups today, three of which have 3D support baked right in. The whole lot includes a Blu-ray deck and support for MediaConnect / NetTV, with the more expensive sets boasting wireless rear speakers and DLNA streaming. They'll be shipping from February to May for $269.99 to $449.99. Closing things out are the company's five new Blu-ray decks, with the $169.99 (BDP3506), $199.99 (BDP5506) and $219.99 (BDP7506) models supporting 3D Blu-ray. The 7506 also gets MediaConnect and NetTV, with the whole range shipping between next month and April. Check out the full releases, each chock full of details, right after the break. Oh, and sink your retinas into the gallery below while you're at it. %Gallery-112527%
Beta Beat: Kylo Browser featuring 10-foot interface
Kylo is a free browser you use from your couch that embraces the 10-foot UI philosophy. The idea is that buttons, menus and text are larger than when viewed at your desk. This aids in usability when sitting farther away from the display, as would be the case in a living room environment. It is powered by Mozilla -- which may or may not be a feature depending on your opinion -- and is easy to navigate with little visual clutter. In addition to standard Web browsing, Kylo offers a host of online video options, including YouTube, Netflix and many network offerings. The most notable source that appears to be absent is Hulu; if you browse the Kylo forums you'll find there are workarounds to this, but your mileage may vary. The experience is definitely more pleasurable than using Firefox in full-screen mode. The only issue I really have with Kylo is that, even though it is free, there is an occasional advertisement for its companion product, the Loop. The ads don't seem to be too intrusive, but that could change in the future. If you've got a Mac that you hook up to your TV for online video duty or just general Web surfing from the couch, then Kylo seems to be a real winner. Do you have any other suggestions for couch computing? We'd love to hear from you in the comments about how you're getting the most out of the 10-foot experience with your Mac.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: HDTVs and home theater
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand 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. A brand new HDTV is a gift that can get plenty of use throughout the year, but it's also one of the more expensive items on Santa's list. If you're shopping for the home theater enthusiast who has everything, there's always room in the cabinet for another streamer or demo disc. From 3DTV to network connected to throwback disc-based media, there's a lot of new options on deck for the 2010 holiday season - let's see if we can narrow the list a bit and make sure your gift scores a ten out of ten even if your budget is more like a two.
Sonos job opening signals entry into wireless home theater audio?
Well now Sonos, what's this? A job opening for a Senior Product Manager to help the company "re-invent home theater sound for the digital age." More specifically, the position will be responsible for leading "new product creation teams." Hard to say for sure, but sophisticated wireless audio for home theaters certainly sounds like a safe refuge now that Marantz, Denon, JBL, iHome, B&W, and countless others will soon be competing with Sonos' whole-home distributed audio solutions just as soon as Apple's new AirPlay technology can gain traction. Besides, just picture a fully synchronized wireless 7.1 channel surround speaker system that requires just a few minutes to setup and works as robustly as Sonos' other streaming audio gear. We imagine that it wouldn't take too many tweaks to Sonos' existing software and hardware (you can already convert two S5 all-in-one speakers into a more powerful stereo pair) to pull it off. And anyone who's ever tried to cleanly wire a home theater for multichannel sound will surely understand why the prospects of going wireless have us more than a little intrigued.
Cabasse's high-fashion L'Ocean speakers rock the catwalk, your wallet
Those operating sans a keen sense of style would probably take half a glance at Cabasse's L'Océan speakers (shown here on the right) and assume that they're one in the same with the company's La Sphére. Sure enough, the former also falls into the outfit's Artis line of speakers, but there's a slightly different combination of angles going on beneath the orb. The boutique audio firm has just revealed these three-way coaxial drive units, and they're purportedly capable of hitting 117dB without a hint of distortion. Of course, they weigh 176 pounds and stand just under four feet high, and considering the 2,250 total watts of digital amplification, we'd say they're probably built for a TMZ-certified house party. The company's gearing up to launch these in Q2 2011, but with a €80,000 ($105,900) list price, we're assuming it'll take a little more than seven month to save up for a set.
Philips Pronto lineup of universal remote controllers to be discontinued
If you're a home theater or home automation buff then you're certainly familiar with Philips' Pronto lineup of remote controls. Unfortunately, Philips has decided to discontinue its Pronto business after failing to find a buyer. Here's the official quote: "In December 2009, Philips announced the intention to relocate some of its existing remote control activities in Leuven, Belgium to Asia. At the same time, the intention was communicated to investigate alternative strategic options for the Pronto business, as this activity no longer fits with the Philips strategy. Following thorough research, no suitable partner was found for the acquisition of these activities. As such, Philips confirms today that it will discontinue the Pronto product line and related activities." Logitech, the playing field is all yours.
Aperion's Zona wireless bookshelf surround system frees up your sound studio
Aperion Audio's Home Audio Link is already enabling content speaker owners to enjoy the spoils of wireless, but if you're in the market for a set of bookshelf speakers, the outfit's Zona system might just fit the bill. Essentially, these monitors combine high-end audio fidelity with the aforementioned 2.4GHz wireless technology, allowing owners to plug a transceiver into a USB source up to 150 feet away and shoot all sorts of sine waves over to their two speakers. Of course, we wouldn't recommend these to casual listeners given the $499 asking price, but at least that gets you a pair of 20-watt Class D amplifiers, 4.5-inch woven fiberglass woofers, 1-inch soft dome silk tweeters and a feeling of pride that simply cannot be described in mere words. Or so we're told.%Gallery-106199%
NVIDIA launches sub-$80 GeForce GT 430 for single-slot cooler enthusiasts
The graphics card that doesn't require a fridge-sized cooler is turning into something of a rarity nowadays, but we doubt the market for quiet, efficient, and halfway-decent GPUs is ever going to disappear completely. NVIDIA is fleshing out its Fermi family today with a creature that aspires to such epithets, the 96 CUDA core-equipped GT 430. It's a patently humble GPU, as indicated by its $79.99 typical price, 49W TDP, 5.7-inch board length, and single-slot cooler design. Mind you, while those are typically considered positives, they do limit gaming performance quite significantly, with the GT 430 getting roundly beaten by ATI's (sob!) AMD's similarly priced Radeon HD 5670. So what niche is left for this card? Well, it's an upgrade over integrated graphics and it gets you on the 3D bandwagon, but on the whole we're left scratching our voluminous craniums as to why anyone would dodge AMD's more accomplished hardware for NVIDIA's latest. Hit up the reviews below and form your own opinion, if our one doesn't suit your outfit today. Read - HardOCP Read - AnandTech Read - PC Perspective Read - Hot Hardware Read - Legit Reviews Read - Hexus%Gallery-104721%
Ask Engadget HD: Setting up IR repeaters?
As your home theater setup grows, for many a problem is moving components out of line of sight, and still being able to control them. While for a few a Bluetooth or other RF technology takes care of remote control issues, the majority of devices still rely on IR control, and making that work is what our friend Keith is trying to figure out: "Hopefully you can help me out. My father in-law had a custom entertainment cabinet made that has no windows. Obviously in order to work the components, the doors have to be open. He currently has a Comcast DVR and Blu-Ray player (Magnavox), all connected to a 60" LG LCD TV; which he would like to control with the doors shut. Naturally he is looking at me to solve his problem. Never having set up a I.R. repeater, I've done a little research on the good ol' web. I was surprised to find a range of products and prices to be able to set this up. Secondly, some look easy and some look complicated. I need help. What is the best, fairly cheapest, and easiest way to set up a repeater for the components listed? Do I have to buy 2 repeaters to be able to control both components or do they make one that branches off." We've talked about setting up IR blasters before and how to shift your components to an out of the way cabinet or similar, but for this specific request we're wondering what you're relying on to keep those little bursts of light headed in the right direction. As usual, drop any recommendations in the comments. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Dell whips out 23-inch Inspiron One all-in-one and Zino HD
It's been awhile since we've heard from Dell on the home entertainment front, but don't you worry, the guys in Round Rock have been right on top of it. First up is the brand new Zino HD home theater PC, which like we'd heard is being updated with an AMD quad-core Phenom II processor that's more than capable of pumping out full HD to your HDTV. In typical Dell spirit there's tons of configuration options, including one for 1GB of ATI discrete graphics, a Blu-ray drive, and up to a terabyte of storage. For $299, we're a bit giddy about this little one considering it packs more power than any of those Ion nettops and it comes with a wireless keyboard and IR remote control. If a large touchscreen all-in-one is more your thing, the Inspiron One can be configured with similar parts -- an AMD Athlon II X4 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450, Blu-ray, and up to 1TB are all on the list. To us, the real appeal of this one is its 1920x1080 resolution, 23-inch display, which produced some pretty stunning HD playback when we saw it in action last month. Dell's put a lot of energy into its new Stage touch interface, which consists of different tiled applications. It's actually more than eye candy as we're betting those Netflix and CinemaNow tiles will see plenty of tapping. The One starts at $799 and will be available this coming weekend -- but before you yank out the wallet, we'd suggest flipping through the galleries below and hitting the break for a read of the press release. %Gallery-103008% %Gallery-103009%
