Walmart Featuring Black Friday 3 Weeks Early: Expected HDTV Deal
Walmart looks to be pulling a fast one this Friday when 5 products will be featured at Black Friday-like prices, a full three weeks before Black Friday. One product is confirmed to be a $348 Acer laptop and the other four products are to remain secret until Thursday when they will be featured on the Walmart website, although they won't be available for purchase until the next day. The sale starts Friday at 8 AM on the dot. It'll be interesting to see if there are any leaks on the web tonight, but I'm sure with the anticipated popularity of HDTV's this holiday season, a TV deal will be featured. We'll keep you updated.
Steals And Deals: Save $1800 On The Pioneer PDP-6070HD 60" PureVision Plasma HDTV
This is an absolutely ridiculous deal! Save $1800 off the list price of $4800 for the Pioneer PDP-6070HD 60" PureVision Plasma HDTV and pay only $2999.99! Amazing. The PDP-6070HD features full 1080p resolution, state-of-the-art deep encased cell structure, 10-bit video processing, and a wide viewing angle resulting in an absolutely incredible picture quality, deep blacks, and improved brightness. The model also features a fully integrated media receiver and a wide variety of inputs including 3 HDMI. If you're looking for a bigger, wider screen this deal can't be beaten!
Back at the Consumer Electronics show in January, Microsoft said they would have XBox 360 IPTV functionality in the hands of consumers by the end of 2007. It's looking that may not happen. Originally anticipated to be included with the upcoming fall 360 update, IPTV is the one feature that Microsoft has just announced would not be included with the update. The 360 IPTV will be delivered via a special version of Microsoft's Mediaroom software which will be available to service providers by year end. After that, it's really up to the service providers when the IPTV service will be available to consumers.
Rumors have been flying lately after an Xbox 360 console being serviced somehow revealed some of the the features of the IPTV including onscreen chat while viewing live TV, recorded television, and on-demand movies. Microsoft has stated that the leak is unrelated to the fall update.
All in all, the 360 TV service is obviously in the works and looks to be coming soon. By the end of 2007, probably not. Check out screenshots of the leak below.
Steals And Deals: Mitsubishi HC1500 720p DLP Home Theater Projector
For all of you DLP projector fans out there, here is a sweet deal for you! The Mitsubishi HC1500 is selling right now for $867.76, a huge $627 off the list price of $1495! That's a full 42% off, and what's more, if you order today it will be shipped for free and you'll have it by tomorrow. The HC1500 boasts 720p resolution, 1600 ANSI lumens, a 2500:1 contrast ratio, and TI DDP3020 Dark Chip 2 technology with Brilliant Color. Depending on the size of your room, the HC1500 can project images from 40" to 275" diagonally with a crisp, clear picture. Can't get a much better projector deal than this!
Hands-On Review Of Samsung LN-T4081F LED-Backlit 40" LCD TV
HD Guru has an exclusive first review of Samsung's LN-T4081F LED-backlit LCD TV. Measuring in a 40" and priced at $2999.99, the T4081 provides the "highest LCD panel motion resolution ever measured, accurate color and the best black levels and dynamic rated contrast ratio (would you believe 500,000:1) of any flat panel". The guru recommends this set as a definite buy.
Sharp To Release Hybrid LCD Sets: The Aquos P Series
Sharp will be releasing the Aquos P hybrid LCD series November 22 in Japan. The hybrids are designed to either be used for high-def television viewing or as a computer monitor. To be released in 22", 26" and 32" sets, all three sizes feature full 1080p HD resolution through either DVI, VGA, or one of the two available HDMI inputs. An interesting feature is the picture-in-picture mode which lets the user keep tabs on a TV show while using the the computer! One difference between the models is the contrast ratio which varies from 1200:1 to 2000:1 from the smallest to largest set respectively. This is definitely a product I could use. Sit and blog while watching the newest CSI episode...that's the life!
Samsung unveiled the world's fastest DVD burner today, the Super-WriteMaster™ SH-S203N, featuring 16X dual layer recording and LightScribe™ technology. The model is a 20X Serial ATA (SATA) DVD burner that supports all CD/DVD discs including DVD-RAM. It can back-up a whopping 8.4 GB of data or video to a disc and offers a 30-40% improvement in recording time for dual layer drives. The Lightscribe technology allows users to add labels, designs, and photos onto CD or DVD discs by either creating their own designs or selecting from pre-designed labels included with the burner. The SH-S203N also includes Speed Adjustment Technology, Tilt Actuator Compensation, Double Optimum Power Control, Buffer Under Run Error, and the Automatic Ball Balancing System. The burner will be shipping across the US and retailing for $79.99.
JVC recently wowed the world with their 110 inch LCD set at the IFA in Berlin, but they just keep getting bigger. The Japanese company Shinoda announced at a press conference in Kobe, Japan on Friday that by the end of 2008 they will release a 142 plasma panel using "plasma tube array" technology. Manufacturers will have to install the display panels into their own sets and as of yet there are no customers, but just imagine a screen measuring 12 feet from corner to corner sitting in your living room! Not many details yet and no pictures, but the display will feature a high-def resolution of 720p, a contrast ratio of 10000:1 and most likely be priced in the six figures!
Steals And Deals: Save $450 On A Sharp Aquos LC32D62U 32" 1080p LCD HDTV
Save $450 today on a Sharp Aquos LC32D62U 32" 1080p LCD HDTV. Not bad, 1080p under a $1000. Pay only $949 as compared to the usual $1399.99 list price. The Sharp Aquos not only features full 1080p HD resolution, but also a 10000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a lightning fast 6ms response time, and dual 1080p HDMI terminals. The LC32D62U utilizes the next generation of Sharp's proprietary Advanced Super View/Black TFT Panel with multi-pixel technology meaning enhanced blacks and prime picture quality. Amazing deal, take advantage of it!
Hulu Debuts: Mostly Positive Reviews, Still Alot Of Skeptics
NBC/Fox's Hulu video platform has just been released in private beta today, but some early product reviews are in. Most reviews are positive, but Silicon Valley Insider's Henry Blodget gives us a few pointers to remember before we make our final decision regarding Hulu's future success. Most of the positive reviews so far are just based on the ability for the user to watch TV and movies; however, Hulu owns none of this content. Nor do they have exclusive rights to the majority of the content, meaning it can also be found elsewhere. Hulu only gets 20-30% of overall platform revenues as they are responsible for their own overhead costs such as that of streaming video. If they involve a distribution partner at any point, the 20-30% will likely be halved. Because content is not exclusive, Hulu will not become a destination site and will likely have to involve a distribution partner at some point. As I write this, a just-released New York Times article states that the company already has five: Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, MySpace, and Comcast. Even though NBC pulled their content from YouTube in support of Hulu, rumor is YouTube will probably be Hulu's primary distribution partner and their largest driver of site traffic. Does that mean that YouTube will demand more than half of the 20-30% of platform revenues for their part in Hulu's traffic? One thing that we do know for sure is that Hulu content is absolutely plastered with advertising. Hopefully the advertisers see some success out of this controversial product.
Sears Black Friday Deals: 32" LCD Breaks $600, Unknown Toshiba Model HD DVD Player For $169.99! Is It The HD-A2?
The Sears Black Friday deals are out. Here they are:
Hitachi 42" 720p Plasma HDTV - $599.99 Olevia 52" LCD HDTV - $1,299.99 Sharp 42" LCD HDTV - $799.99 Sharp 46" LCD HDTV - $899.99 Panasonic 56" LCD TV - $1199.99
Panasonic DVD Camcorder With 32X Optical - $199.99
Panasonic Hybrid Camcorder - $449.99
Samsung DVD Camcorder - $199.99
Sandisk 1GB SD Card - $9.99
Select DVDs - $4.99
Sharp 19" LCD TV With DVD Player - $299.99 Sharp Aquos 46" LCD HDTV - $999.99
Singing Machine Deluxe Portable Karaoke System - $49.99
Singing Machine Monitor/Music Video Camera - $79.99
Sony 40" W-Series 1080p LCD HDTV With 3 HDMI Inputs - $1999.99 Sony 800 Watt Home Theater System - $149.99
Sony 8" Portable DVD Player - $179.99
Sony Camcorder - $999.99
Sony Cyber-Shot 5.8 Megapixel Digital Camera - $89.99 Sony DVD Direct MC5 Multi-Function DVD Recorder - $199.99
Sony DVD Handycam Camcorder - $349.99
Sony Fox Or Paramount DVDs - $8.99
Sony Superlight In The Ear Headphones - 50% Off
Sony Wireless Headphones - $29.99 Sylvania 42" Full 1080p LCD HDTV - $899.99
Three Pack Value Games - $8.99 Toshiba HD DVD Player - $169.99
Venturer 19" LCD TV - $199.99 Visio 32" LCD HDTV - $598.00
Zenith Dual DVD VCR Player 57807 - $39.99
Notice the 32" LCD's look to be under $600 this black Friday and I'm curious if the Toshiba HD DVD player for $169.99 is the HD-A2 that has just broken the $200 barrier at Circuit City and Walmart.
Update: It looks like the unknown Toshiba HD DVD model is actually the higher-end HD-A3 for $169.99. Great deal!
Steals And Deals: Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player For $197.99 At Circuit City
News that Walmart was set to sell an HD DVD player for under $200 was great, but now Circuit City has jumped on the bandwagon and is featuring the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for only $197.99! It gets better though. With your purchase you get 5 free HD DVD's! With this kind of price competition going on, sock some money away for Black Friday because it's beginning to look like there'll be some downright unbelievable deals!
This is one of the most amazing home theater installations I've ever seen. Robb Report's 2007 Installation Of The Year, found in an Austin, Texas home needs three electrical panels just for the media center! Entry into the theater moves you through two bronze doors with cast figures of lions. All of the fabrics found in the theater are hand-screened and hand-embroidered, sconces were cast from original antiques and even the carpet was hand-made. The gilding is composed of 24-karat gold and sound moves through 24 12 inch subwoofers, CAT/MBX speakers and amplifiers. The style of the room is based on early 20th century Parisian opera houses, and the crimson coloration and wood finish were designed to reduce brightness and light reflection. The picture, on an 8 foot screen, is provided by a Runco MBX-1 projector, commercial-grade that can cast images up to 40 feet wide.
The massive main equipment cabinet is cooled by 24000 BTUs of air conditioning, audio cables were cut to their precise lengths, and all RCA connectors were hand-soldered. In total, there are 38 audio zones in this home theater with the cheapest speakers costing $2000. Even the pivots the bronze doors swing on took a year to produce and cost $6000. In the end, the project took about 5 years and cost about $3.4 million. Wow!
Steals And Deals: Xbox Pro Bundle Featuring 2 Games For $350
In case you're looking to buy an Xbox 360 for Christmas, you may like to know that an Xbox Pro Bundle is appearing for $350 including 2 games: Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. So far the deal has been spotted in one Best Buy and numerous GameStops around the US. With the Xbox 360 still often priced at $350 as a stand-alone product, you may want to wait until this deal shows up at an electronics retailer near you.
How To Become A More Effective Thinker By Watching TV
I have to admit I'm a big fan of productivity blogs. One of my favorites is the Ririan Project where I found an article entitled "8 Little-Known Ways to Think More Effectively". One of those ways is to learn how to do two things at once. This is where you TV lovers come in, especially if you own two. Check out below how you can be a more effective thinker by watching TV courtesy of the Ririan Project!
"One of the simplest ways to learn how to do two things at once without dividing your attention is to put two TVs next to each other, switch them to different channels, and try to listen to both at once. See how much information you can swallow from each and try not to miss a thing.
Once you’re able to do this well, you can use the TVs to learn how to resist distractions. So, instead of trying to take in everything from both TVs, concentrate on one programme and ignore the other. It’ll be hard at first, but be determined. When you think you’ve mastered it, lower the volume on the set you’re watching and raise it on the one you’re not. If it doesn’t drive you crazy first, this technique is guaranteed to teach you how to pay attention effectively".
DaweVision's BabelTV launches November 6. The set-top box device allows users to watch and listen to all Freeview TV and radio stations combined with personal video recording and internet access capabilities. Basically, the simple-to-use device can be plugged into a Freeview aerial and broadband connection enabling TiVo-like control over television programming, access to internet TV, and even allows you to shop online! Any internet-related process like storing photos, managing emails, downloading mp3's, even making Skype calls can be done through the box. And since it's managed remotely by a Babel technical team, no tech know-how is required to operate it. Enviro-conscious consumers will be happy to know that the Babel box only consumes 15 watts of power rather than the typical 60 watts of most set-top boxes and whopping 150 watts for a computer. The boxes will be made available November 6 at the BabelTV website for 295 pounds. Oh, and by the way, Freeview is a UK-based signal provider which means no Babel TV for us North Americans. Interesting news nonetheless.
Car Buffs: Panasonic Debuts In-Dash Blu-ray Player
For all of you car enthusiasts out there, and for all of you parents out there who are tired of screaming children in the backseat, you may be interested at the in-dash Panasonic Blu-ray player that just debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Car Show. The player supports all of the typical Blu-ray features including BD-Java playback, simply connects to an LCD screen in your vehicle via an HDMI cable. Simple as that. Other than these details though, there isn't much else to report. So far no release date, price, or model number has been announced.
Apparently the king of HD DVD, Toshiba, has launched a new portable DVD player. The SD-P120DT features a 12" screen, digital TV tuner, HDMI at either 720p or 1080i resolution, and a just plain cool design. The player is also compatible with DivX, MP3, and WMA files. This would make a great Christmas gift for someone, but we're pretty sure with availability limited to Japan at the moment, you better save some money for shipping.
Steals And Deals: Save $455 On A TiVo Series 3 HD DVR
Save a huge $455 on the TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder today. Regularly priced at $800, this TiVo is now $544.99 and comes with a $200 mail-in rebate bringing the price down to only $344.99. Wow! That's not all though. If you purchase this TiVo today, shipping to your home is free. This is the world's first THX-certified DVR, has a recording capacity of 300 hours or 25-35 hours of high-def, and allows you to record two digital channels at once, even while watching a pre-recorded show! Works good, looks good...get up with the times and get one today!
Wish you had a TV lift but don't have the money to blow buying one? Good news for you then, because we've found a DIY guide to making a TV lift for about $500 and it only takes 3 hours. If you have a dresser you can use, it'll be even cheaper!
Coming Soon: $198 Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player At Wal-mart
It seems Toshiba will be releasing a sub-$200 HD-A2 HD DVD player to be sold in Wal-mart stores. Although the unit is not set to be sold until November 3rd, the picture above seems to be confirmation. Not alot of details yet other than each store is to get 18 units and the item is "non-replenishable" meaning that the low-cost unit could be a one-time special offer. If it is, make sure you're at Wal-mart early on the 3rd, as the HD-A2 will probably move fast!
Steals And Deals: Samsung FPT5084 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV
Save a whopping $800 today on the Samsung FPT5084 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV paying only $2199.99 as compared to the usual $3000 price tag! The FPT5084 features full 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, a 15000:1 dynamic contrast ration, and 18-bit color processing resulting in deep blacks, white whites, and impressive color and sharpness. Enjoy a wide-viewing angle that'll give you a crisp picture no matter where you are in the room and how bright your environment is while at the same time being blown away by theater-quality sound from the FPT5084's SRS TruSurround XT system and 10-watt per channel audio amplifier. Also featuring a game mode and 3 HDMI connections, the FPT5084 is your best buy for all your hi-def video and gaming needs!
Listen up lonelygirl15 fans. Starting tomorrow and going throughout the weekend, extended episodes of LG15 will air on the front page of MySpaceTV and the lonelygirl15 website at 10 AM PST each day. The show's producers will air a recap video of the phenomenally successful August season finale to go along with the final episode. Rock band "Something For Rockets" will also be debuting their new single "Beautiful Life" during the broadcast.
Designed by Phillip Schnizer, the Flatlift Diamond TV lift features 25 handpolished layers with 50 carats of diamond dust sprinkled in. The drawers are automated, and in the top middle of the stand is a Flatlift Pop Up Platinum TV lift. The lift can withdraw the TV into the stand and a glossy wood plate covers the top. On the right side of the stand is a Flatlift Hi-Fi Bar lift that can conceal all your accessories such as HD DVD player, sound system, and set-top box. Also, the backside and base of the stand contains LED lights of which you can change the colors. Of course, the best part of this awesome TV lift is the fact that it only costs $142000! Only!
Wired Magazine conducted a test of the 47" Olevia 747i LCD TV and determined it may be worth trading your child in for one. The TV's video-processing chip fixed up the worst videos tested on it, the design is killer, and the functionality from a user's point of view is a piece of cake. This is an HDTV that's actually pretty simple to figure out. A sheet of glass covers the LCD panel protecting it, the sound was deemed to be excellent and the remote can control up to 7 different aspects of your home theater system from your DVD player to your set-top box. This baby sells for $2499 and Wired gave it a final score of 9 out of 10!
CNET TV- a review of MySpaceTV's new original series, "Roommates".
Gizmodo-Netflix considers distributing movies via game consoles and set-top boxes.
NewTeeVee-online animated video startup, JibJab Media, raises $3 million.
CNET News-new information on Samsung's new HD DVD/Blu-ray combo player and the cancellation of the new Blu-ray playing BD-P2400.
Scobleizer-check out this excellent video discussing the future of home entertainment.
AT&T exec Mark Collins says mobile video isn't taking off because the economics of it do not yet work. All the big US cellular carriers are looking at how to monetize mobile video, but there is not yet an intersection between the price customers are willing to pay and the costs of bringing the content to mobile phones. Especially when alot of the content can be found elsewhere for low-cost or in alot of cases, absolutely free. Collins also stated that mobile video is the antithesis of American consumer behavior at the moment, where the bigger the HDTV, the better.
What type of content would you want to see on mobile phones and how much would you pay for it? Leave your answers in the comments.
The FCC has leaked some details regarding Sling Media's new Slingcatcher. The box features analog, digital, and HDMI audio connections as well as composite, component, and HDMI connections for video. It comes with an ethernet slot to hook up to your network and also 2 USB slots apparently because Sling Media will soon release a USB wireless adapter so the Slingcatcher can connect to your network sans wires. Leaked specs also show an amazing flexibility in the new media streamer with support for WMV, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264 and XviD video in a wide range of file formats.
Steals And Deals: Samsung LNT4065F 40" 1080p LCD TV
Today you'll save $610 or 31% on this LCD paying only $1389 compared to the usual $2000 price tag. The Samsung LNT features full 1080p resolution, 15000:1 contrast ration, and 5 different input slots including 3 HDMI. It also features an 8 ms response time for a smooth picture and built-in speakers. So if you're looking for a mid-size LCD that displays rich blacks, beautiful textures, and smooth motion even during the fastest scenes, the Samsung LNT4065F is for you!
Blu-ray Vs HD DVD: Blu-ray Sales Ahead Nearly 2 To 1
The numbers are in for the the Blu-ray/HD DVD battle in the first 9 months of 2007 and so far it's been a blow out for Blu-ray. With 2.6 million units sold between January 1 and September 30, Blu-ray comfortably outsold HD DVD players by a margin of almost 2 to 1. Even though HD DVD players only sold in the number of 1.4 million for the same period, supporters in the HD DVD camp believe the battle will begin to even out before the end of the year with the help of newly-released titles such as Transformers that have web-enabled features. The 18 month exclusivity deal signed by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation to solely distribute their next-generation discs in HD DVD format should play a role as well. A huge factor in the success of Blu-ray has been the popularity of the Playstation 3 game console which supports the format, but in general experts say consumer confusion regarding the two different formats has decreased sales for both. That's one reason why we will probably see increased sales in dual format players that support both Blu-ray and HD DVD. LG already markets the dual players and Samsung should have a model hitting store shelves sometime during the holiday shopping season.
Electronista-Western Digital releases new version of My DVR Expander hard drive certified for Tivo Series 3 and HD recorders.
Rapid TV News-Apple to release hi-def content on iTunes?
Treehugger-Hollywood huge polluter but making steps in the right direction.
Business Wire-new extreme sport video website, "Shred Or Die" launched; features Tony Hawk.
Register-Transformers sets first day HD DVD sales record.
Earth2Tech-check out emPivot, the "green" YouTube.
According to Colin McGranahan, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, the best HDTV deals this coming Black Friday will probably be in larger plasma sets. He has forecasted that plasma prices will be about 25% lower than a year ago, while LCD's will be about 15-19% lower. That means it will be likely you'll be able to find a plasma set in the 42" range for less than $600! There are expected to be possible supply shortages for brands such as Vizio and Olevea as people are flocking to their lower prices already. This will be seen especially in the 20-32" range. On the other hand, top manufacturers such as Sony and Samsung have been losing market share to their lower priced competitors this year and with excess supply, maybe we'll see some hot deals.
World's Thinnest Production LCD: Hitachi Wooo UT Series
Continuing the "thin is in" trend, Hitachi has announced the Wooo UT Series LCD TV's, that at 35 mm thin are the thinnest LCD's currently in production. One of the reasons Hitachi was ability to achieve such a remarkable level of thinness is externalizing the tuner. It accompanies the TV, but is located outside of the box. The external tuner features 3 HDMI inputs, an iVDR recorder, an Ethernet slot and an SD/MMC slot. The television itself has one HDMI input, two built-in 6 watt speakers, and a wide-viewing angle making for a pleasureful viewing experience. The series will come in three sizes of 32", 37" and 42". Costing $2011, $2886, and $3760 respectively, the 37" and 42" models feature full 1080p HD resolution and the 32" model features a pixel resolution of 1366 x 768. How thin will we go!? Maybe something like this...
Unfortunately, the model will only be released in Japan at the moment, but should hit the US next year. No word yet if the above prices will carry-over to the States, but we doubt it! Oh, and one more thing, the girl in the picture above is NOT included with the TV!
Steals And Deals: Sharp Aquos LC32D62U 32" 1080p LCD HDTV
Save $400 today on this 32", 1080p resolution LCD TV. Regularly priced at $1400, today you pay only $999 and that includes free shipping. The Sharp Aquos features 10000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and a blazing 6 ms response time meaning a clear, defect-free picture. The model's design allows for wide viewing angles, includes 2 HDMI inputs and 2 HD component video inputs. So if you're looking to break into the 32" market and want a breathtaking LCD experience with enhanced blacks and no defects, this model's for you!
Panasonic Releases PT-A200 HD Series Home Projectors
Panasonic has released two PT-A200 series home projectors. The PT-AX200E aims at the gaming market with a resolution of 720p, a quick response time of 5ms and optimized signal processing for game content. It's Light Harmonizer 2 technology senses ambient light levels and adjusts the picture so the picture display is crisp and clear in any lighting conditions. It also features 2000 lumen brightness, reduced noise amplification, and a 2x optical zoom lens. It's now available in Europe for $1499 Euros.
The second model, the PT-AE2000E features 1080p resolution and is aimed at the "home theater enthusiast" market. It features 1500 lumen brightness, a 16000:1 color contrast ratio, 16 bit processing and 3 HDMI inputs. The projector is available in Europe now although no pricing details have been revealed.
Happy Halloween From TVSnob!
