Ifa2008
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Logitech Squeezebox Boom hits the stage
It's been a month since we first caught a glimpse of the sharp-looking Logitech Squeezebox Boom, but the wireless network speakers are official today, coming in at a list price of $299. Yeah, it's basically a standard-issue Squeezebox with a built-in amp and speakers, but that's a pretty solid idea, especially since we're guessing the 24-bit Burr Brown D/A converter and bi-amped 3-inch woofers and 3/4-inch tweeters will offer up some decent sound. Everything else is regular Squeezebox kit -- 802.11g WiFi, SqueezeNetwork, optical and S/PDIF out, VFD display, 10/100Base-T Ethernet -- so if you're looking to expand your system, this is probably a pretty solid way of getting it done. Expect to see this one on shelves next month. One more pic after the break.
New Sony Walkmans surface at IFA booth
Sony's IFA press event isn't for another couple of hours, but we managed to sneak these shots of Sony's minor refresh to its Walkman lineup. Everything is looking nice and sleek, and the screens on the S-series players we saw that were on looked sharp and bright, but we're still waiting to see the fruit of Stringer's talk last year about not suffering at the hands of Apple as badly in portable video as they did with portable audio -- these Walkmans just aren't doing it. Stand by for official news as we get it.%Gallery-30639%
iPhone 3G vs. Sony's 40-inch ZX1 LCD television... Fight!
We knew Sony's new 40-inch Bravia Edge LED ZX1 was thin, 9.9-mm thin in fact (at least at the top section). But man, we didn't expect it to make the iPhone 3G slipping around the insides of our pockets look like such a chubster. Plenty more to see in the gallery below.%Gallery-30640%
Eyes-on with LG's NB41 Blu-ray NAS
Sure, it's just network attached storage, but somehow, someway, LG's dressed its NB41 Blu-ray burnin'' NAS with just enough sex, just enough appeal to coax this helpless editor into risking security's ire just to grab a few pre-IFA snaps. It's bigger than we expected -- mini-tower PC big -- but we guess those four 1TB disks need plenty of ventilation. Just check that reflection in the mirror for a sense of scale. %Gallery-30599%
LG injects 7000-series HDTVs with Bluetooth at IFA
Even though it's in nearly every phone available, only a few flat panels with integrated wireless networking have surfaced so far, and now LG's packing Bluetooth into its already highly anticipated "infinite black" PG7000 plasma and Scarlet LG7000 LCD models. Pricetags are still in the air, but LG says these flatscreens will hit worldwide starting with Europe in September.
Garmin's new nvi 7x5 and 2x5 navigators live and in person
We got a brief glimpse at Garmin's new nüvi navigators, the 7x5 Series and 2x5 Series. Since we weren't on the road, the 755T treated us to 3D views of the IFA building we were chilling at, spinning at a blistering 10 fps. The Lane Assist also does what it says on the box, giving you a crystal clear look at your next merge. The 265T was considerably less dramatic, and both units show a considerable amount of boredom on the industrial design front. Garmin clearly knows what it's about when it comes to navigation devices, but we could use a bit more spice with those maps to keep us coming back.%Gallery-30598%
Garmin's Nuvifone teases its way through another trade show
Oh, Nuvifone, how you disappoint us. Over here at IFA we just managed to get a Garmin rep to whip out his Nuvifone prototype for a quick look, but sadly, almost a year after the device was first announced, there really wasn't anything new to see. We still aren't allowed to take video of the interface, or really see much of the phone other than the home screen, and when the rep tried to show us how the Nuvifone kicks the iPhone's ass in navigation, the Nuvi promptly crashed -- so at least those two have that in common. Not that we should be surprised, Garmin mentioned last month that the phone had been delayed into 2009, but we're quickly running out of patience, as well as any scrap of remaining hope for this thing to actually matter when it does arrive. Peep the gallery for a little bit of iPhone 3G versus action.%Gallery-30595%
IFA Berlin: yeah, we're here
Come now, you didn't think we'd let something like IFA pass by without shipping a few editors off to Berlin did you? We're on the ground and taking names in the best ninja gear we could sew with $5 worth of felt and tin foil. But hey, it's not the costume that keeps you coming back, it's the content. So stay tuned.
Netlogic BDP810 Blu-ray player details peek out
News about a new Blu-ray player from Swedish firm Netlogic has crept out of the shadow of the IFA show, so let's see what this new BDP810 model is bringing to the party. Our Swedish isn't so good, but luckily what few details are to be had are spelled out on the shec sheet in English. Pretty standard Blu-ray player stuff here with the addition of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA support, though we're not sure if that means decoding is onboard or if the bits must be sent out of the player. Also, no mention is made of ethernet connectivity, so we're going to file the BDP810 as a Profile 1.1 unit for now. But the one spec we'd really like to see is sadly missing -- price. With an October launch, there's plenty of time to sort this all out, but we're hoping for the entry-level end of the Blu-ray player market to open up.Read - Netlogic IFA pageRead - Netlogic BDP810 spec sheet [jpeg link]
Samsung prepping YP-Q1 PMP for IFA
It's not officially announced yet, but Samsung's expected to announce the YP-Q1 PMP at IFA this week. The vertically-oriented player will come in 4, 8 and 16GB varieties with a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, support for MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg, FLAC, MPEG4 and WMV, and an FM RDS radio. No word on pricing yet, but does anyone else think it's funny that Samsung will now have two entirely different slow-selling Q1s?
Virtual mirror destroys all the fun you have trying on outfits
The always-imaginative gurus at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft never cease to amaze, and at this year's IFA, they're delivering once more. The so-called "virtual mirror" gives to-be garb buyers an accurate look at what different outfits look like on their person without requiring them to try a single thing on. Granted, shopaholics are apt to detest this thing, but anyone with better things to do than try on four sweaters to see which one makes them look fat should be completely in love. The concept here is far from new, as we've seen both virtual makeover machines and fitting room enhancers before. Still, Fraunhofer's dream of getting you suited up and out of the store in mere minutes is one we'd love to see come true. Just don't ditch the traditional stalls too soon -- we wouldn't want any kind of worldwide uprising.[Via Physorg, image courtesy of Flickr]
Sanyo's entry-level PLV-Z700 projector runs $1,995, shipping in October
After vaguely describing its new 1080p 3LCD-based PLV-Z700 projector as "entry-level", Sanyo's finally returned with a pricetag: $1,995. While that doesn't exactly spell "cheap" to most, good luck finding another full HD projector that matches these specs with an MSRP starting south of two grand. 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,200 ANSI lumens and a variable lens designed to adjust to smaller rooms adds up to the perfect solution for those who want more pixels but less price, expect to find out more when it hits the stage at IFA 2008 in Berlin August 29, followed by store shelves worldwide in October, closing out its run with full specs after the break.
Cowon makes with the O2 PMP and L3 nav unit for IFA
Cowon's sexy little S9 Curve PMP isn't the only device we'll see out of the company at IFA this year -- there's also the L3 nav unit and the O2 PMP. The O2 isn't quite as much of a beast as the S9, but it'll more than hold its own with a 4.3-inch touch screen, a T-DMB tuner, TV-out, and SD expansion, while the L3 nav has a 7-inch 800 x 480 touch screen, SiRF III GPS chip, hidden touch controls, a T-DMB tuner, and an FM transmitter. Well get a closer look at these when IFA starts later this week, but expect minor tweaks if these ever make it out of Korea. [Via CNET Asia] Read - L3Read - O2
LED-backlit Philips 42PFL9803 LCD HDTV breaks cover
We can't say for certain that this is the Essence TV we heard rumored last week, but we wouldn't be shocked one iota if it were. The Philips 42PFL9803, which has actually be around in at least name since earlier this summer, has just been granted an EISA award. The LED-backlit 42-inch HDTV reportedly features a 2,000,000:1 (dynamic) contrast ratio, the company's own LUX LED technology and a jaw-dropping €2,999.99 ($4,407) price tag. We're hearing it's on track for a September release, but hopefully IFA will confirm / deny.
Loewe to unveil ART SL series LCD HDTVs at IFA
We've already seen what Samsung plans on bringing to Berlin in just over a month, but a new duo from Loewe is lookin' mighty fine in its own right. There's not a whole lot being divulged prior to the expo's opening day, but we are told that a 42- and 47-inch ART SL LCD HDTV will be shown off to the public. Each set will reportedly boast a Full HD panel, 100Hz technology, built-in 250GB hard drive (optional) and an integrated DVB-T / DVB-C or DVB-S2 TV tuner. Each unit will be made available in glossy black or silver chrome, though we'll have to wait until August to get pricing / release information.
Becker readies Z100 Crocodile GPS system for IFA debut
Believe it or not, the Berlin-based IFA trade show is nearly upon us, and Becker is more than prepared. Reportedly, the Z100 Crocodile will be making the journey, complete with a 4.3-inch display, an SD card slot, European NAVTEQ maps, a SiRFstarIII GPS receiver and RDS-TMC support. Furthermore, the unit will sport an ultra-rugged exterior meant to handle nearly any jungle excursion you set out on. Expect to hear more (a price and release date would be just fine, Becker) when IFA commences late next month.[Via NaviGadget]
Samsung's IFA lineup of HDTVs emerges
Mmm, IFA. The Berlin-based trade show is drawing near, and Samsung isn't waiting around to tease us with what will be unveiled there. The company is already showcasing a number of swank flat-panels including the 7 Series (46-inch LE-46A780 and 40-inch LE-40A780), 9 Series (46-inch LE-46A950) and 7 Series plasma (50-inch PS-50A750). We're also noticing a number of HTIB systems along with a few other components we're sure to take interest in, but the whole German language thing is a bit of a barrier right now. Nevertheless, tap the (roughly) translated links below for specifications on the aforesaid HDTVs, and look for more details (read: information in English) to emerge as the expo approaches.Read - Samsung's IFA informationRead - 7 Series LCD HDTVsRead - 9 Series LCD HDTVsRead - 7 Series Plasma
Panasonic introduces HDMI cables with swiveling heads
Alright, so you're stocked up on locking HDMI cables, but what are you to do about those real tight situations where a traditional HDMI cable end simply sticks out too far? Panasonic to the rescue. As the pre-IFA news continues to trickle out, Panny has introduced a new HDMI cable with a swiveling head, one that can point up or down in order to work nicely in wall-mounted TV applications and the like. We are told to expect a 1.5- and 3-meter version this September, although pricing has yet to be revealed.[Via HDTV-Space, thanks Marcus]
Toshiba plans new LCD HDTVs for IFA, will include Resolution+ technology
Okay, so we really have no clue what's going on inside of Toshiba's labs, but one thing is for certain: it has upscaling on the brain. After hearing of an elusive super-resolution DVD player and seeing an all-too-curious new DVD logo, in flies word from Germany that the outfit is prepping an updated line of Picture Frame LCD HDTVs for release at IFA 2008. On the surface, there's not too much different about these REGZAs compared to any others, but internally, the newcomers are expected to tout Cell-based Resolution+ technology, which will upscale SD images in an attempt to make something (read: HD) out of nothing. Granted, Tosh has been talking up this stuff since CES, so it's not an entirely new concept, but we'll be interested to see if this has anything to do with those rumored DVD deck plans.[Via Big-Screen, danke Joel]
