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Sling Media's new SlingCatcher
Although Sling Media's first CES announcements aren't until Sunday night, thanks to GigaOm we have a few details of Sling's latest product: the SlingCatcher. This is another device designed to bring more media to your TV; not only will it allow you to view content from your Slingbox like you can with your PC, but it also will allow you to view whatever is on your PCs screen, on your boob tube. The box is about half the size of a Slingbox Tuner and includes S-Video, Component, HDMI and a couple USB ports. It also includes a hard drive -- a first for Sling -- this will allow you to eventually buy content from Sling, although they haven't announced any deals with content providers just yet. Also, the device doesn't include WiFi, but it is capable, making it the first Sling product with wireless connectivity. We'll keep you updated as we learn more and of course a few pics when we get 'em.Update: According to Dave Zatz the SlingCatcher will be released mid-2007 with a MSRP of less than $200. Contrary to our earlier reports the device will include Integrated WiFi and an optional Hard Drive.Read Sling to Debut PC-to-TV Box at CES [GigaOM]Read SlingCatcher Is Real! [Zatznotfunny.com]
Microsoft shows off Ana, says no HD DVD in Xbox 360... ever
Microsoft recently had the guys from Ars Technica over to show how the Xbox 360 compares to the PlayStation 3 on one of Sony's own 1080p Bravias, and of course didn't find much difference except in cases where scaling came into play. They looked at the 360's hardware scaler, Ana, which means while it may lack the advanced digital A/V output of the PS3, it will allow every HDTV owner to play games in HD resolutions over component or VGA. Also of note was their response to questions about possibly putting an HD DVD drive in the console, the answer was a firm no, and even referred to the company's own format of choice as a potential "next Betamax". The lack of HDMI may be resolved soon, but with the high def war still very much in flux don't look for Microsoft to put all of its eggs in the HD DVD basket just yet.
Broadcom announces HD cablemodem-on-a-chip
Broadcom has announced a single-chip solution for DOCSIS cable modems that will combine the usual data and video with high-definition decoding for MPEG-4 AVC, VC1, and MPEG-2 formats. The chip also supports Dolby Digital , MP3, and AAC audio. It is intended for manufacturers to use in building cable modems that have a single integrated chipset with both the video and data decoding built in.This should open the door for both built-in PVR functionality, as well as allowing for possible IPTV use. The modem could download content directly from the internet using the data services and then decode any of the new compression formats used in Blu-ray and HD DVD.Manufacturers are quickly moving to embrace these newer codecs for compressing video over cable and the internet (and satellite), and it's good to see it becoming commoditized to the point where it's being built into a single chip. Will we see the cable companies get into FiOS-like content delivery soon?
AMIMON to showcase WHDI on Sanyo's wireless HD projector at CES
Okay, so we had a sneaking suspicion that this whole "uncompressed streaming of high definition video sans wires" was a bit too good to come true at CES 2006, but once again AMIMON is promising to showcase its WHDI (wireless high definition interface) at next week's Vegas extravaganza. Providing a little backbone to the claim is Sanyo, which is slated to showcase the "world's first wireless HD projector" using AMIMON's technology. The demo will utilize a yet-to-be-named Sanyo PJ and will reportedly beam unadulterated imagery via an "802.11a/n RFIC chipset" from an HD DVD player without the help of wires, and the quality should look exactly the same as if you were using a DVI / HDMI cable. Current developer platforms allow connections from any device outputting in HDMI, component, S-Video, composite, or VGA, and WDHI operates in a "5GHz unlicensed band" which enables video streaming "of up to 3Gbps" from 100 feet away. Sure, even today this still sounds mildly unbelievable, but if both firms keep their word, we'll be seeing just how truthful these bold claims are in a matter of days.
Keian intros KDVD850HDMI upscaling DVD player with DivX support
While we've seen quite a few luxurious upscaling DVD players come through for those still quietly sitting the fence as the Blu-ray / HD DVD war wages on, Keian's KDVD850HDMI offers up another reasonable substitute to full-fledged high definition discs, and throws in DivX support to boot. Aside from kicking plain ole DVDs up to 1080i via HDMI, playing back DivX files, and touting the admittedly strange dual microphone inputs for that karaoke flair, this unit also touts the ability to render picture-based slideshows and play back MP3 / WMA from USB thumb drives or flash memory cards (SD, MMC, MS, xD). Of course, you'll find the typical coaxial / optical digital audio outputs as well, and while this unit isn't apt to win any awards in the quality department, it should help your (presumably depleted) post-Christmas bank account out by demanding just ¥10,800 ($91).[Via Akihabara News]
Sony's PDW-70MD XDCAM HD recorder gets official
We'll admit, we too noticed the stark irony in Sony -- the firm at least somewhat responsible for recalling millions of potentially harmful batteries -- releasing a gizmo to benefit the medical field, but regardless, we can't deny the impressiveness of the PDW-70MD XDCAM HD recorder. While we caught wind of this thing awhile back, it's now getting official with a full list of specs and a hefty pricetag to boot. Taking high definition recording to a field that can genuinely benefit from more detailed captures, the device can "record and store up to two hours of MPEG2 video on a 23GB PFD-23 XDCAM disc" (wasn't this another failed attempt by Sony's proprietary format department?), which is sealed to help prevent scratches and "preserve data with minimal degradation for more than 50 years." Doctors can store HD video of medical procedures in crisp 1,440 x 1,080 resolution, view colored thumbnails of the footage on the 3.5-inch LCD monitor, and control the action with the bevy of front-mounted controls. Of course, the two biggest factors that prove the PDW-70MD is tailored for medical use is the inability to use a recordable format that the general public can acquire (and afford), and moreover, the $14,995 pricetag that only cash-generating hospitals are likely to glance over.[Via MedGadget]
Best Buy's $15,000 ConnectedLife.Home in a box
Sure, a fully connected house with the ability to control things like the TV, lights and thermostat remotely sounds great, but at the end of the day someone's got to hook all of that stuff up, and it's not going to be us. Best Buy recently announced its plans to step in with a $15,000 one-size-fits-all solution, including Media PC, Xbox 360, wireless cameras, light switches and other equipment. Dubbed ConnectedLife.Home, the package doesn't require new wiring, thanks to Corinex's AnyWire Powerline Ethernet technology. Best Buy doesn't install the lighting equipment and wiring, but once the high voltage bits are in, an installer comes to connect and configure your existing A/V setup, and then train you on how to use it. Whole home integration is a buzzword we can expect to see gain more steam at CES and beyond, but it remains to be seen if Best Buy can convince the mass market that this is a better option than paying the kid down the street $15 to flip the HD switch on their new Xbox 360.
Neosonik announces all-digital wireless home theater system
San Francisco-based Neosonik has announced what it claims to be the world's first fully digital wireless home theater system, with the gear set to make its official debut at CES next month. The core of the system is the wireless A/V controller (above), which will accommodate a variety of analog and digital A/V sources (including HDMI) and transmit 'em wirelessly at speeds up to 60 Mbps to the video receiver connected to your TV (check it out after the break) or, in the case of audio signals, to the digital wireless speakers that Neosonik's offering alongside the other gear. Supposedly, you'll get up to 200 feet of range from the system, even through walls, letting you pump sweet HD signals to multiple rooms in your house. Of course, none of this comes cheap, with prices expected to come in between $6,000 and $15,000 depending on the setup you go for.
Bongiovi Acoustics unveils miracle DSP chip for car audio
If there were ever a time where we'd need to hear it before we believed it, this would be it. Tony Bongiovi, an audio engineer who's been around the block a time or two (read: he worked with Hendrix), has finally crafted the miracle chip he's been missing for decades. Dubbed the Digital Power Station (DPS, not to be confused with DSP), the microchip is described as a "very sophisticated equalizer," and while it was originally "the size of a refrigerator," he looked to Glenn Zelniker, a specialist in digital signal processing, to program a wee chip to do the same thing. The result is a dynamically programmed microchip based on an off-the-shelf DSP from Freescale Semiconductor, which is housed in special headunits (like JVC's KD-S100) and has more than "120 points of adjustment" to tune the tunes to fill each vehicle perfectly. Reportedly, the chip even turns factory speakers into high-fidelity drivers, as it calculates the dimensions of the vehicle and the abilities of the cones while outputting the audio. The JVC unit will cost "between $700 and $1,000 installed," since you'll have to schedule an appointment with your service department to get the correct software installed for your make and model, but we'd suggest a trial listen before you plunk down your one large.[Via PhysOrg]
Latest Xbox 360 update causing problems for some
While Xbox 360 users with 1080p displays enthusiastically greeted last week's dashboard update, it seems some folks are finding that the update is causing more problems than it fixes, with reports of random crashes, bricked consoles, and various display issues filling the forums on the official Xbox site, among other sites. From the looks of it, the majority of problems appear to be coming from those using VGA connections and resolutions less than 1080p, though there seems to be no limit to those affected. Amending his initial post on the update, which also saw a flurry of complaints from disgruntled 360 users in the comments section, Microsoft's Major Nelson says that the company is aware of the problems and that they are investigating it, although there's no indication when a fix for the fix will be available. [Thanks, Segadc]
PS3 to get upscaled DVDs, 1080p/24, SACD
Ok, so the PlayStation 3 wasn't exactly the most flexible high def device out of the gate; despite Sony's claims, DVDs aren't upscaled, there's no component out, and from what we've heard, even though its HDMI 1.3 output technically supports 1080p/24 (for the uninitiated, that's 24fps to match a film master print), we understand it's not yet playable as such. (Note: we've yet to try 1080p/24, as we don't have any media mastered thusly.) However, this could change according to a translated Impress interview of Sony PS3 A/V developers. Obviously something is bound to be lost in translation, but if the text reads correctly then the PS3 will not only be getting better software SACD support, but it'll also get user-selectable internal YCrCb image processing (instead of RGB -- although we've yet to hear of component output plans), 1080p/24 support, and will finally allow for DVD upscaling as well. We have no idea exactly when this will happen (or why this wasn't made clearer to us US-dwelling videophiles) but apparently Kutaragi-san and the gang are on the case -- godspeed, PS3 team.[Thanks, David] Update: we printed the PS3 would be getting SACD support. Supposedly it's already got that, but future version will have better sound and dynamic range. So there! Read - Impress (new audio support) Read - Impress (new video support) Read - Beyond3D translation
Xbox rolls out 1080p / VGA fix
Everybody who had problems with the 1080p support on their Xbox 360 with the fall update rollout, we have good news. According to the Major, Microsoft is now rolling out updates for improved 1080p and VGA supports (as well as some performance fixes for wired headsets on wireless controllers). Get it while it's hot (i.e. log on to Xbox Live, let it do its thing).[Thanks, Manh]
DirecTV to unveil SAT-GO
We don't yet know much, but it looks like DirecTV is getting ready to unveil a rather clunky looking 70s-brown-and-beige-fabulous portable receiver called the SAT-GO (or maybe that's SATGO, either way). Stay tuned for more details.[Thanks, Tom]
Sony retracts 1080i fix statement, leaving customers in lurch
All you owners of HDTVs that can only do 1080i, we've got some bad news for you. Sony Computer Entertainment America's head honcho of Corporate communications, David Karraker, apparently retracted -- or at least backtracked -- on Sony's previous statements about the increasingly infamous 1080i issue (the one that won't let PS3s play games at 1080i on HDTVs that don't support 720p). According to GameDaily, Sony cannot actually confirm this issue can be fixed via a firmware patch (although they're not denying it, either), and that they are "looking into the issue and haven't stated any actions that will be taken regarding it."[Thanks, Matt]
Xbox Live Video Marketplace downloads stalled by glitches
The two biggest questions since Microsoft announced its Xbox Live Video Marketplace have been: 1. does anyone still has enough space on their Xbox 360's 20GB hard drive for movie downloads in high definition? and 2. does anyone -- even the guys at Redmond -- have enough bandwidth to feed the HDTVs of millions of Xbox Live subscribers? Since launching two days ago those questions have been answered with a yes and resounding no, respectively. Users have complained of slow downloads that time out, receiving different files than the ones they requested and being charged twice when trying to complete timed-out rental downloads. Major Nelson has chimed in on the issue, letting us know that the company is aware of the problem and will refund Microsoft Points to all those who call 1-800-4MYXBOX for assistance. Good luck with that, though, as at least one person was told there aren't any managers available to refund customers until after the holiday weekend. So while network engineers and management sleep off yesterday's turkey and camp out for cheap plasmas, you may want to hold off trying to download Clash of the Titans in 720p 'till things get straightened out.[Thanks, WiFiSpy]Read - My Xbox 360 video rental nightmareRead - Video Marketplace Status
DIY Nintendo Wii component cables
While finding a Wii system isn't out of the question this holiday season, getting your hands on component cables has been nearly impossible, with the connectors MIA at most retailers so far and occasionally sold out on Nintendo's own website. At times like these we must take matters into our own hands. We've made our own cables before but this time you'll have to follow the lead of the NFG forums, and MacGyver a connection together; since the composite cable included with the system doesn't have all the pins necessary, some clever modders have resorted to paper clip stand ins. We don't know how well this will work as a long term solution, but if you're waiting the long two weeks or so before the official cables hit store shelves this should definitely hit the spot.[Via Joystiq]
Xbox Live Video Marketplace goes live
Surprise, surprise, it's November 22nd (happy birthday Xbox 360!), and Microsoft has taken its new Xbox Live Video Marketplace live. The biggest mystery at this point was price, which turns out to be $2 for SD TV shows, $3 for HD, while movie rentals will run you $3 for SD and $6 for HD. This is all converted from the various, confusing MS Points involved in each purchase (80 Points = $1), which we're sure we'll all be well sick of after a couple months of using the Marketplace -- if not already. The current word on selection is 48 movies and 50 TV shows available for download, and we're sure that'll be growing -- though V for Vendetta is already available as a HD rental... what more could you want?[Thanks, TexRob]UPDATE: Joystiq has some more info and pics galore of the service. They clarified the pricing scheme as well: movies are divided into "New" and "Classic" releases, and priced at $6/$4 for the former, $4.50/$3 for the latter.
Sony begrudgingly promises fix for PS3 720p output issues
Apparently Sony's kicking off an early Thanksgiving break tomorrow, as they seem to be exhausting themselves today in preparation. After breaking the news that PSP Spots are US bound, floating the PSP 3.0 firmware out, and probably dealing with that massive invoice they just received from Thomas Menino and friends, the company is issuing a quasi-promise that the 1080i / 720p output problems plaguing some distraught PS3 owners will be fixed. Interestingly enough, Sony places a slightly unbelievable amount of blame on "antiquated HDTVs," as if having an HDTV that supports 720p is some sort of hidden requirement to operate a PlayStation 3. While we fully understand that most HDTV sets purchased today will indeed play nice with 720p signals, where's the love for folks who snagged those first generations sets produced by yours truly? According to Sony, a fix is on the way, but it doesn't sound like you'll be getting served with a smile.
Xbox 360 HDMI rumor rides again
What do you get the console that has everything for? An HD DVD player, some high-def movie downloads, maybe a new game or two. We're not so good at wrapping stuff, so we brought yet another Xbox 360 HDMI cable rumor on the eve of the one year anniversary of the console's launch in North America. These pictures claim to be from the back of an upcoming Lost Planet / Xbox 360 bundle package taken by the employee of a Japanese games shop. In various forum threads allegations of photoshop chicanery have arisen, although some commenters claim knowledge of a Microsoft statement that it's real, but merely a misprint. The 360 is no longer alone in the next-gen gaming market and HDMI is due at some point to keep up with the Jones' PlayStation 3. ICT and 1080p concerns notwithstanding, visions of DVD upconversion via HDMI are floating through our heads, particularly since the PS3 fell short on that bullet point.
Should HD gameplay replace gaming screenshots?
While we fully understand the need for in-game screen captures when dealing with printed media, the onset of HD gaming consoles has placed game developers in quite a predicament when it comes to accurately showing off their forthcoming titles. Particularly with Sony's Playstation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360, many of the 1080i / 1080p games require pixel shaders and particle effects to be on when the game is in motion, but snapping a still of said effects tends to yield less-than-attractive (and oftentimes misleading) results. Some producers are being forced to disable shaders and doctor photos up a bit before they hit the printing press to give a more truthful look at what the game actually looks like; forthermore, many are recommending high quality video clips be sent out in place of snapshots whenever possible to give a more realistic view of how the game looks in motion. While most game trailers and video reviews are offered in very compressed formats (the free ones, at least), bigger pipes and more demand could lead to 1080p content being more widespread in order to faithfully demonstrate certain titles, but until then we suppose hitting up a demo kiosk is our best bet.[Via Joystiq]
