Blu-ray
November 11, 2009
55-inch BeoVision 7 HDTV with built-in Blu-ray announced
Bang & Olufsen today launched the largest BeoVision 7 HDTV yet available -- 55 inches large. The set adds in 120 Hz motion refresh and a built-in Blu-ray player with digital surround sound. The new BeoVision 7 also features LED locally dimming backlighting, two three-way bass reflex speakers, six integrated 125W ICEpower amplifiers, a center speaker, and a motorized floor stand. The set can also be mounted. Color options available include natural aluminum, black, blue, dark grey and red and the price tag runs a high $18700.
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October 24, 2009
Black Friday deal rumor: $49 Blu-ray players
Will we see $49 Blu-ray players this Black Friday? Research firm NPD's director of industry analysis, Ross Rubin, thinks it's possible. Given the huge uptake in Blu-ray sales this year as prices continue to fall, he thinks if anything we'll definitely see a ton of $99 deals. And as opposed to last year, 2009's deals won't be from second-tier brands like Magnavox and Sylvania, but first-tier brands that ship web-connected models. What do you think? We'll we see a $49 Blu-ray player this Black Friday?
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October 15, 2009
Samsung home theater gear has has Blockbuster, Amazon On Demand movie streaming
Samsung and Blockbuster announced yesterday that Blockbuster OnDemand is now streaming to Samsung home theater products.
The agreement, originally announced in July, will enable owners of Samsung Series 650 and above LCD and plasma HDTVs, Samsung Series 7000 and above LED HDTVs, Samsung BDP-1600, BDP-3600, and BDP-4600 Blu-ray players, and Samsung HT-BD1250, HT-BD3252, HT-BD7200, and HT-BD8200 Blu-ray home theater systems to get instant access to thousands of Blockbuster's streaming video offerings. Movies will cost $2.99 to $3.99 to rent (like the TiVo), while purchases will range from $7.99 to $19.99. The service is available now through a firmware upgrade.
Also yesterday, Samsung announced an agreement with Amazon to stream Amazon Video On Demand content to its Series 650 LCD and plasma HDTVs and Series 7000 LED HDTVs. Over 50, 000 movies will be available, for rental or purchase, through a downloadable widget accessible through Internet@TV.
October 11, 2009
LG outs Mark Levinson-approved Blu-ray home theater system
LG announced the HB954SP Blu-ray home cinema system this past Thursday bringing Mark Levinson-approved audio to the masses. The 5.1-channel theater system features 1080p video playback, 1000 Watts of power and 5 oval-shaped pictures. The included Blu-ray player has an attractive design with a slide-out slot for an iPod Touch or iPhone, both of which can be controlled by remote control. The Blu-ray player is also Profile 2.0 so owners can access interactive film content on the web via the built-in Ethernet port. Full YouTube integration is also included if you're more of an amateur video fan. Other specs of note include standard-def video upscaling to 1080p, a pair of HDMI slots, a USB connection, and the LG Sound Gallery, enabling owners to access 7 sound controls to match the room ambiance. While LG hasn't released a price yet, the HB954SP Blu-ray home theater system is expected to arrive on retailers' shelves in November.
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September 29, 2009
Blu-ray notebooks to take off in 2H 2010?
We're beginning to see more and more Blu-ray notebooks appear on the scene as we near the end of 2009. But with netbooks with thin, lightweight form factors and even lighter price tags, being the big seller this year, not one company (Dell, Asus, Acer, Toshiba) has really pushed Blu-ray notebooks too hard through their respective marketing channels.
By the second half of 2010, thing could see a bit of a reversal, according to Taiwan-based optical device manufacturers sourced by Digitimes. While a typical Blu-ray drive costs about $100 right now (compared to about $20 for a DVD drive), relegating Blu-ray notebooks to a high-end market price point during a recession, prices are expected to drastically drop by the second half of 2010.
Once this happens, we may see a proliferation of Blu-ray notebooks similar to this year's netbook phenomenon.
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September 23, 2009
Best Buy has an in-house HDTV with a built-in Blu-ray player
Signifying a possible new trend in HDTV design, Best Buy will soon be releasing a 32-inch Insignia LCD HDTV with a built-in Blu-ray player. For cheap too, at only $599. Of course the Insignia NS-LBD32X won't feature any of the new higher-end features we've seen this year. But it will have a respectable 1080p display, 20000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 450 cd/m2 brightness. No word on the Blu-ray specs short of playback, but for $599 you can't really complain.
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September 19, 2009
Denon DBP-4010UDCI Universal Blu-ray ships with IP control, CI remote access
Denon's DBP-4010UDCI Universal Blu-ray Disc Player, announced yesterday, is the company's latest premium Profile 2.0 Blu-ray disc player geared for the custom installation market. The unit features an onboard Ethernet port enabling internet access, firmware updates, BD Live interactivity, IP control for third-party controllers, and CI remote access. The 4010UDCI also features AVCHD and DivxHD playback, Anchor Bay Technologies VRS processing, and decoding for all the newest HD and digital audio formats. Shipping in October 2009, the Denon DBP-4010UDCI Universal Blu-ray player costs $1999.
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September 6, 2009
Toshiba intros BDX2000 Blu-ray player for $249.99
Toshiba, the former voice of high-def optical disc format HD DVD, announced earlier this summer that it would jump on the Blu-ray bandwagon. Sure enough, this week the company announced the BDX2000 Blu-ray player. The 1080p/24fps player is Profile 2.0-compliant with Bonus View, features AVCHD playback, and supports DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio playback. It also features REGZA-LINK enabling it to be hooked up to a Toshiba REGZA HDTV with an HDMI connection, with control for the whole package possible using a single remote control. Extra storage is available via and SD card expansion slot, and to top it all off, the BDX2000 is Energy Star-certified. Shipping in November, the Toshiba BDX2000 has an MSRP of $249.99.
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September 5, 2009
Samsung adds YouTube streaming, MKV file support to 2009 Blu-ray and home theater products
Add YouTube video and MKV file support to the growing list of capabilities that Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray players and home theater systems offer. Blockbuster support was announced earlier this summer and is still on track to debut this fall, but a free firmware upgrade available now enables BDP-1600, BDP-3600, and BDP-4600 Blu-ray owners to start streaming SD YouTube videos now. MKV file support (often used for torrents) is also included in the update. Blockbuster and YouTube support will also be available later this year for the HT-BD1250, HT-BD7200, HT-BD8200, and HT-BD3252--Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray home theaters. The company hasn't specified an exact date that the home theater firmware update will be available.
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Philips BDP9500 and BDP7500 Blu-ray players debut
Philips has added the BDP9500 and BDP7500 Blu-ray players to its high-def roster, while continuing to mull over the future of 3D HDTV. Both Blu-ray players feature 1080p Blu-ray playbacks, DVD upscaling and 7.1 analog outputs, while the flagship BDP9500 adds in a Qdeo video processor and Burr-Brown analog-to-digital converter. Both units are housed in a thin aluminum shell. No word on pricing or release dates just yet.
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September 4, 2009
Oppo BDP-83 universal Blu-ray player blows away CNET reviewers
Okay fine, the Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player is a universal model, capable of Blu-ray, DVD, SACD, CD, and DVD-Audio playback, but the expensive price has always turned me off. But it just received a 4.5 out of 5 from CNET, a nearly impossible score to achieve, so there must be something good about it. The reviewers say it's amazingly quick and responsive, Profile 2.0-compliant, has 7.1 analog outputs, and compatibility with the latest HD audio codecs. But it also lacks Wi-Fi and streaming video from Netflix and Pandora, a must-have for me these days. If the price point was lower, this seems to be a must buy for most home theater fanatics. But for $500, I'm not so sure.
Oppo BDP-83--At Amazon
August 26, 2009
Sony Japan bows a 2 TB hard drive-packin' Blu-ray recorder plus 4 others
Sony Japan has announced its latest group of Blu-ray recorders, all packing built-in hard drives ranging from the the 320 GB BDZ-RS10 (single tuner) to the whopping 2 TB BDZ-EX200. Rounding out the five new models are the 320 GB BDZ-RX30, the 500 GB BDZ-RX50, and the 1 TB BDZ-RX100. Aside from the RS10, all of the Blu-ray recorder have twin tuners.
Other features include the CREAS 2 Engine which offers improved picture quality and standard-definition upscaling, 1080p video playback, a USB port, and for the EX200, RX100 and RX50, support for Sky PerfecTV, and both PSP and Sony Walkman compatibility.
The RX100, RX50, RX30 and RS10 are all hitting Japan in September priced at $1800, $1500, $1200, and $1000, respectively. The EX200 will arrive on Japanese shelves in November priced at $2800.
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August 15, 2009
LG LHB953 Blu-ray HTIB gets reviewed: a solid buy
LG first announced a trio of Blu-ray HTIBs at CES earlier this year, and now the product reviews are beginning to roll in. CNET put the screws to the LG LHB953 Blu-ray HTIB recently, and by the time the review was done, the LG home theater unit had thrown the screws right back.
Though the LHB953 wasn't the best HTIB from an aesthetic perspective released so far this year (it's a little big), it's Blu-ray image quality and 5.1-channel audio playback was top of the line. Furthermore, it's excellent streaming capabilities which include Netflix, CinemaNow, Pandora and Youtube really push it over the top.
CNET says the LHB953 could use some video inputs, as well as automatic speaker calibration and a wireless rear speaker option. But for $436, it's well worth the money spent for the overall quality purchased.
LG LHB953 Blu-ray HTIB-->At Amazon
August 10, 2009
Toshiba applies to join Blu-ray Disc Association
Last month we heard that Toshiba would be releasing a Blu-ray recorder or Blu-ray player by the end of 2009. Today, the former kingpin of the failed HD DVD format, has officially confirmed it will release Blu-ray products and plans to join the once-rival Blu-ray Disc Association.
It's appeared for some time that Toshiba would skip the Blu-ray revolution altogether, possibly to work on a different video technology again. But with Blu-ray's popularity picking up steam, and with high-def drives beginning to supplant DVD drives in laptops and PCs, Toshiba would be leaving a huge pile of money of the table if it were to opt out.
The company says it will release more details later this year.
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Black Friday deal rumor: $49 Blu-ray players
