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JVC's 4K camcorder inches closer to reality, getting smaller all the time
This most definitely isn't the first 4K camcorder to leak out of JVC's stable, but it sure feels like the company is getting further from fantasy and closer to reality. At CES last week, the outfit's latest prototype was as small as we've ever seen, with that object shown here being capable of logging clips at 3840 x 2160 pixels. It's just barely bigger than the 1080p models already on store shelves, and it's equipped with new internal processors that are over twice as fast as the silicon used in the firm's current lineup. Sadly, we're no closer to learning a release date or price, but the results shown down in the source link have us all kinds of hopeful for something within the next dozen months. Right, JVC?
JVC shows off prototype 50-inch 21:9 full HD 3D TV, says it could hit US later this year
When the Philips' 56-inch 21:9 3D TV was released in Europe with no US ship date in sight, darkness fell over our home theater world. Then, Vizio announced its own 21:9 3D TV and we knew it was all going to be ok. They say when it rains it pours though, and now it's looking like JVC will release its own 50-inch 21:9 full HD 3D TV in the US sometime in the third quarter of 2011. Other details are scarce, but JVC's talkative CES booth attendant also mentioned the TV might be sold in varying sizes and might feature internet connectivity. The possibility of internet connectivity was also supported by a few screens teasing an integrated information bar, which appeared on the left-hand side of the screen without blocking HD content. Needless to say, we'll be keeping a close eye on this TV as more news emerges, and in the meantime bide our time dreaming of the ultra-wide CinemaScope-style movies we could be viewing in late 2011. Oh and if you're curious that's JVC's newly-announced TH-BC3 soundbar positioned right below it carrying a sweet paper iPhone 4. %Gallery-113369%
JVC announces ACR-equipped TH-BC3 sound bar
Sound bars are nothing revolutionary, but JVC's newly announced TH-BC3 packs a few features worth mentioning. At the top of the list is the inclusion of an HDMI 1.4 enabled ARC (Audio Return Channel), which allows for simplified wiring since audio can travel in both directions through the HDMI cable. Additional connectivity options include one analog input and two digital audio inputs (optical and coaxial) plus a subwoofer pre-out. A slick push-open iPod / iPhone dock is another nice edition especially when combined with a composite video output. In terms of more general specs, the device features 30 watts per channel, a built-in FM tuner, and SRS StudioSound HD which is basically a branded complication of SRS TruSurround HD and SRS TruVolume. SRS TruVolume is designed to eliminate volume changes when switching sources while TruSurround HD can convert up to 6.1 channels of audio for playback over two speakers. JVC says the speaker will be available in February for $249. If that's above your budget, the TH-BC1 is essentially the same product minus the ARC and iPod dock and will be available this month for $149.
JVC announces the GS-TD1 full HD 3D consumer camcorder, we go hands on
2011 is shaping up to be the year consumer-grade 3D camcorders take off. Now JVC is in the mix with its new GS-TD1 full HD 3D camcorder which it touts as a world first. Thanks to twin 3D HD GT lenses, two 3.32 megapixel CMOS sensors and a newly announced Falconbrid 3D image chip, the device can record both left and right streams of 1920 x 1080i simultaneously. It also features 5x zoom and 64GB of flash memory that can be expanded via an SD card slot. Besides the full HD mode, the camera supports the more common side-by-side format AVCHD 3D as well as AVCHD 2D. For better in-field review, the device packs a 3.5-inch glasses free 3D touch panel screen. Outside of 3D video, the camera is additionally equipped to record so-called 3D sound using BIPHONIC sound processing. Pricing is pegged at just under $2,000 and is expected to be available for purchase this March. For the full details check out the PR after the break. %Gallery-113043%
JVC introduces SP-A230 and SP-A1M: portable speakers for portable players
We'd tell you these things are probably too easy to lose, but it probably matters not -- after all, you've already been suckered into buying one based on how insanely janky / adorable it is. JVC has just introduced the SP-A230 and SP-A1M portable speakers, with the former being shown above. That guy is a bar-styled stereo unit with a pair of 30mm drivers, a brain-melting 160mW x 2 of power and a 3.5mm auxiliary cable for connecting to any 'ole PMP. The A1M ships with a single 30mm driver and relies on a pair of AAA batteries, compared with a pair of AA batteries necessary on the larger A230. Pricing remains elusive, but you can expect 'em in a variety of colors this November... well, in Japan at least.
JVC intros new entry level D-ILA projector plus several 3D models
Even outside of its budget busting $175k 4K projector, even JVC's "consumer" lineup of D-ILA projectors have remained outside the price range of most, but that changes with the DLA-HD250 line (pictured), which brings its LCoS technology home for less than $3,000. Its more typical $5k and up crowd will want to cast an eye towards the other projectors announced today at CEDIA 2010, most of which include 3D capability with IR synced active shutter glasses and preset 3D profiles to match whatever screen you happen to already be using. The lamp and optical technology has also been reworked for 2010 to provide plenty of brightness when you're watching 3D and up to a 100,000:1 native contrast ratio, and the more expensive models have even more settings for color management. Specs and pricing information are in the press releases after the break.%Gallery-103117%
JVC's EX-S1 'wood cone' mini stereo boasts iPod dock, soul soothing vibe
Hard to pinpoint what it is exactly about JVC's Wood Cone range of products, but the mere sight of 'em just makes a good 82.4 percent of life's problems disappear. Trust us, we looked it up. The outfit's latest is a new mini stereo that's just about perfect for college dorm rooms or studio apartments, particularly if the dweller happens to own an iPod or iPhone. As with just about every other compact boombox on the market today, this one too has an integrated iDevice dock on top, though there's a standard CD tray, USB port and auxiliary input in order to fetch tunes from a plethora of sources. It's available in four luscious colors over in the Land of the Rising Sun, but you'll be left to guess as to a price. Something tells us it'll be just a wee bit higher than whatever you're expecting.
JVC intros Picsio GC-WP10 and GC-FM2 1080p pocket camcorders
JVC's been a mainstay in the handheld camcorder realm, but along with Sony, Kodak, Sanyo, Samsung and just about every other consumer electronics company in operation today, it's recently decided to hop onboard the pocket camcorder bandwagon. Today, the firm is introducing a diminutive duo in the Picsio GC-WP10 and GC-FM2, both of which are capable of logging 1,920 x 1,080/30fps clips. There's also inbuilt image stabilization, an HDMI output, a 3-inch rear touchscreen, compatibility with EyeFi's WiFi-enabled SD cards and a time-lapse recording feature for speeding things up on the fly. The WP10 steps it up a notch by being encased in a waterproof enclosure, though the omission of an optical zoomer puts somewhat of a damper on things. The FM2 boasts a pop-out USB plug and the both of 'em tout an SD / SDHC / SDXC card slot; the WP10 also adds an MP3 audio recorder for good measure. Check the FM2 early next month for $179.95 and the WP10 in late September for $20 more, but be sure to visit that More Coverage link first for a translated review.
JVC intros HD Everio GZ-HM1 video camera
JVC's already rolled out a handful of new Everio camcorders this year, and it's just now refreshed the top of the line with its new HD Everio GZ-HM1 video camera. This one will naturally give you full 1080p video recording (along with 10-megapixel still images), and you'll get some reasonably high-end features all around, including a Konica Minolta lens with a 10x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, 64GB of internal storage, an SDHC card slot for further expansion, a mic input and headphone output, and a full range of manual controls. Head on past the break for a video overview courtesy of JVC, and look for the camera itself to be availability immediately for $1,199.95.
JVC ships Bluetooth-packin', geotagging Everio GZ-HM550 camcorder
Ah, springtime. Ain't it beautiful? So beautiful, in fact, that you're apt to want to capture the flowers blooming and the kids playing around you, which is probably why JVC finally decided to ship the Everio GZ-HM550 that it announced back at CES. As far as handheld camcorders go, it's one of the better specced models on the market, touting a 10.6 megapixel CMOS sensor, 32GB of inbuilt storage, an SD / SDHC expansion slot, an integrated Bluetooth module (for controlling the camera's play, zoom and record functions via cellphone) and geotagging support when used with a compatible BT phone. Oh, and users can even sync up a Bluetooth headset in order to monitor the recorded sound or input voice recordings. You'll also get 1080p recording, a 16x zoom and the ability to snag 9 megapixel stills, all for the low, low price of $799.95. Go ahead -- step your YouTube game way up.
JVC trots out Everio GZ-HM340 HD camcorder with 16GB of internal storage
Too busy to deal with 8mm, DVDs or VHS tapes? Who isn't, right? JVC is looking to erase the tragic memories of converting your home videos to a format that someone could use by introducing the newest member of the Everio camcorder family: the GZ-HM340. Stocked with 16GB of internal Flash memory, a 20x optical Konica Minolta zoom lens, 1.37 megapixel CMOS sensor, image stabilization, one-touch upload to YouTube, face detection and an SD / SDHC expansion slot, this bad boy is set to land later in the month for a nickle under $500. Here's hoping it captures to something other than AVCHD, but our gut tells us this might be one dream that doesn't come true.
3D stole the show at CES 2010
Not sure why we've been putting this off, but we'll just come right out and say it: there's no doubt that this was the year for 3D at CES. We walked the show floor for countless hours and can tell you that just about everyone was showing something related to 3D at their booths. Most of these demos required a bit of a wait to experience them (thanks, hype), and everywhere you went people were talking about 3D. Granted, not all of that talk was positive, but it was talk nonetheless. Whether or not the technology will be seen in history as a success in the market place is obviously still up in the air, and much like a finely crafted episode of Lost, 3D at CES this year was littered with more questions than answers. %Gallery-82768%
JVC unveils a wide array of ominous iPod docks
For those about to dock, JVC has plenty iPod / iPhone sound systems coming out this year. First off, the company has unloaded a pair of shelf systems with dual iPod docks that each sport a USB port for mass storage playback and the requisite audio input, video output, CD player, and AM/FM receiver. Either get the UX-F3 (60 watts) for $200 when it comes out in May, or drop $400 for the 230 watt NX-D2 with Sound Turbo for "wall-shaking, bone shattering, low frequency performance." (Woah!) For nano fans, the SP-A130 is a compact powered speaker available in the four iPod nano 5G colors. Get yours in March for $29.95. If you spend a lot of time in bed (or wakin' up), the new RD-N1 ($130) CD player/tuner/iPod dock is one-piece tuner / CD player /clock radio with front facing audio input. Available in April. If you want to save a few bucks, the RA-P1 eschews the CD player and is priced for $60. Available in April. Last but certainly not least, the JVC Kaboom! is an iPod dock / boombox with USB for external media playback, CD player (with WMA and MP3 playback), FM tuner, and front audio input. Available this month for $300. PR after the break.
JVC busts out GZ-HM1 HD camcorder, lots of other video capturing devices
JVC's jumping in on the CES fun today with a whole slew of new camcorders, with the GZ-HM1 HD Everio leading the pack. This 1080p shooter offers up better-than-usual low light performance and camera-shake compensation. There's a 10.62 megapixel CMOS sensor within, though we imagine the $1,199.95 price tag will stun those who aren't looking for something fancy when it ships in March. The February-bound GZ-HM550 capture 1080p while offering up a 16x zoom, 32GB of internal flash memory, an SD / SDHC card slot, Bluetooth (for geotagging, naturally) and a $799.95 price tag. In case that guy is still too rich for your blood, JVC's offering up no fewer than eight other guys that range from $229.95 to $649.95, all of which should be out by next month. Peek those sources below if you're on the hunt for the nitty-gritty details.
Samsung, JVC pick RealD tech for their new 3D LCD televisions
A part of 3D's assault on the home theater this year is a battle over which glasses technology each manufacturer will choose, and after locking up Sony RealD has announced its tech is coming alongside new displays from JVC and Samsung. While JVC's 3D LCDs will use circular polarized passive glasses (like the ones you've probably worn at the movies) Samsung is promising to work on both active shutter LCD and passive eyewear models -- no word yet on any Gucci tie-ins, but it's still early.
JVC gets tubular with XS-SR3 iPod speaker dock
Not that we haven't seen an elongated iPod sound system before, but we've definitely yet to see one as totally bodacious as this. JVC has just slung out its XS-SR3 iPod speaker dock, which -- like B&W's Zeppelin Mini -- can hold your iPhone / iPod vertically or horizontally. JVC claims this little trick better enables users to view videos in widescreen form, while the 5-watts of power are sure to blow your skin back when cranked to 11. Other specs include a bundled remote and two audio inputs (one analog, one digital), and if you're even mildly interested, you can check it out later this month for $149.95. %Gallery-80419%
JVC intros cord-free TH-BA3 and TH-BS7 soundbar audio systems
JVC's never been much on using wires to hook up its home theater systems, and for those not looking for mind-blowing 7.1 surround, these soon-available wireless soundbar setups might just satisfy your aural cravings without forcing you to run ungodly lengths of cabling around your den. The TS-BA3 ($549.95) is a dual wireless soundbar system that consists of a 280-watt amplifier, 5.1-channel surround rig (including a soundbar, wireless subwoofer and wireless rear speaker kit) and built-in surround decoding. You'll also find a single analog input, two optical digital inputs and support for Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby ProLogic II surround signals. The TH-BS7 ($599.95) is engineered to mount alongside flat-panel HDTVs, with a 1.4-inch tall, ultrathin soundbar, an even slimmer wall-mountable amplifier / control unit and a wireless subwoofer. This one's packing 180-watts of teeth-rattling oomph and promises 4.1 sound with minimal consumption of floor space. Hop on past the break for the full release and detailed specifications. %Gallery-80245%
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras
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. Whether you want them to or not, there's a good chance you've got a family member or two (or more) that feel compelled to capture every single moment on video, including those times when all you're doing is sitting around watching previously recorded memories. That's just an inevitably we face each and every family gathering, and if you must endure, might as well get them the best possible fidelity, right? Then again, maybe you are that memory-capturing individual -- in either case, we think we've got a few suggestions to maximize your holiday enjoyment. %Gallery-80100%
JVC's Everio GZ-HD620 crams 1080p sensor and 120GB storage into world's smallest HDD camcorder
It's been a continual process of evolution with JVC's Everio line, each iteration getting more pixels and smaller bodies, and the latest entry is the best combination yet. It's the GZ-HD620, a full 1080p-recording camcorder (courtesy of a 1920 x 1080 backside illuminated CMOS sensor) that also sports a 120GB HDD in a package that weighs just 270g. Footage is shot through a 30x optical zoom lens and can also be written to a microSDHC card, though that internal storage will be good for 11 hours of footage at the maximum bit rate (24Mbps), and a vacation-encompassing 50 hours at the minimum (5Mbps). The cam is said to be shipping tomorrow in Japan at a price somewhere north of ¥100,000, which should equate to a few hundred over the $1,000 mark whenever it hits the Territories.
JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11
Sub-$200 Blu-ray players certainly aren't new -- heck, some guys have been doing it since the year 2008 -- but you'll never catch us kvetching about a little more competition. JVC has today introduced (in the briefest way possible, might we add) its newest Blu-ray player just ten months after deciding to play the BD game here in the States. The ultrathin (and "now available") XV-BP11 should slide into just about any AV rack, bringing Blu-ray / DVD playback, AVCHD support, HDMI 1.3, a USB socket and compatibility with a slew of audio formats. Curiously enough, the outfit doesn't bother to mention if this thing is Profile 2.0, but we're guessing (read: hoping) that it wouldn't do something as ludicrous as charge two bills for a Profile 1.1 deck in late 2009. Then again, we've seen zanier things go down... Update: Ouch -- this thing is only Profile 1.1. Dud. [Thanks, Aaron!]
