Tech Digest

Toshiba goes budget-friendly with the TDP-S35U DLP projector

Projectors are no longer the rich person's plaything, reasonable models with realistic price tags are becoming more commonplace on the shelves, like this Toshiba TDP-S35U projector, just launched in the US for $699 - that's around £376.

Don't expect HD/HDMI for that money, but it's still a decent model for dipping your toe into the water. It;s got an SVGA resolution, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 2000 ANSI lumens, DLP technology and a wireless remote. Ports include dual VGA inputs, composite / S-Video connectors, audio inputs / outputs, and a VGA passthrough to forward the signal onto an additional display.

It's out on the US later this month. No word as yet for a UK launch.

Toshiba website

Via Engadget

Denon roll out four home cinema AV receivers

Denon have released four feature-rich home cinema receivers, with prices starting at just £250. Each model builds upon the feature set of the lower spec one.

All decks including the entry-level AVR-1507 feature:
- Discrete 7.1 amplifier with 7 x 110 W output
- Auto Setup with high quality Audio Technica microphone
- New easy to use ERGO remote
- 32-Bit floating point DSP, full 96 kHz processing, 192 kHz DACs
- Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-NEO:6, DTS 96/24
- Audio Delay (0-200 ms), Night Mode
- 8 channel EXT in for future sound formats
- S-Video, 3 component, 2 coaxial digital, 2 optical digital inputs
- Dock Control connector for ASD-1R dock for iPod

On top of that, the AVR-1707 (priced at £300) and above features assignable surround back amplifier for Front bi-amping, digital component video conversion, and 3 assignable component inputs.

Moving up, the AVR-1907 at £400 beefs up to 120W per channel, On Screen Displays for all functions including iPod, all aluminium front panel and controls, 3 digital inputs, and digital output.

Finally, the top of range AVR-2307 pumps out 135 watts per channel, 1080p HD-Ready HDMI repeater and switching, HDMI Video conversion, Auto Setup with Parametric Room EQ, Pure Direct mode for music, 5 S-Video inputs and 4 optical digital inputs, and a phono input.

Sorry that sounded like a compete spec sheet - believe me this is Denon so there's a whole lot more detail than that - they've never skimped on telling you exactly what their machines are capable of, that's for sure.

These units are generally a little easier on the wallet, too, which is good to see. They're labelled the 2007 Range, though they're available now.

Denon web site

Display your alien, glowing DNA in a GloFrame

Send Generate a DNA sample and they'll make art out of it. Using "proprietary 'edgelighting' technology" to smoothly light up this slice of your protoplasm, it looks somewhat like a rather expensive screensaver on a monitor gone walkabout. Comes in green, blue, gray, red, black, bronze and white. $900 USD for the 18"x24" size; $1300 USD for 24"x36". [GT]

Your DNA as Art [via Trendhunter]

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Google in talks with Apple over iTV?

  According to a report in Newsweek, Google is in talks with Apple with regards to supplying video clips for Apple's soon-to-launch iTV service.

iTV was unveiled by Apple last week's press conference as a solution for watching your downloaded movies and video clips on your TV - streaming the video via wireless technology. Talks between Google and Apple could result in access for iTV users to thousands of videos submitted to Google video via a simple menu item, with other menus offering access to movie trailers.

It all sounds like a nice add-on, but it's still not clear when the service will see a UK launch (the US is earmarked for early 2007) or indeed if they dare stick with that name over here. Hopefully both matters will be cleared up in the coming weeks.

Apple website

Via The Register

Marantz VP-1151 high-def projector

Marantz have launched a feature-rich high-definition projector in their VP-1151, and done it all for under ten grand. It also looks pretty good, and just a little different to other offerings out there.

It can display the holy grail of 1080p HD content, and the image can be up to seven metres diagonally and still be pin sharp. That's big, if you've got the wall to show it on. It has a contrast ratio of 6500:1 and a brightness of 700 lumens, and can generate over 68 billion colours.

It's based on the latest DLP 0,95” 1080p single DMD chip from Texas Instruments, has a 10-bit professional Gennum GF9351 Video Exellence Processing (VXP) chipset designed specifically for the projector, plus CEC (Chroma Error Compensation) for sharp edges, and a seven segment colour wheel with neutral density (ND) filter.

Connections-wise, there are two HDMI inputs, plus HD-ready component inputs. There's a remote handset with backlight. The projector has a noise-reducing aluminium chassis which almost eliminates fan noise.

What's also impressive is the price tag - ten pence short of £10,000 is very good going for a 1080p projector at the moment. If you're serious about HD projection, this could be a contender.

It's available now from Marantz (Product page)

Apple's grand plans: iTunes, movies, iTV, home entertainment Appleised...

Steve Jobs delivered a speech yesterday that initially sounded like a basic product and software update but became a glimpse at Apple's plans for moving into the living room. Here's the highlights:

iTunes 7

We expected an upgrade to the iTunes software. Available to download right away, the software better manages music and other digital media (most of which we can't get hold of in the UK yet). There are new views to display your music by track, album or virtual CD rack. Apple have offered anyone with an iTunes store ID free album art downloads, so long as that music is in the store of course.

The virtual CD rack looks pretty good, assuming you get a decent amount of album art - otherwise it looks a bit empty.

An aside, though, is that I've found both iTunes 6 and 7 crash out on an Intel Mac when trying to run the visualiser. Hopefully that'll get fixed in an update, unless it's something to do with my setup. Anyone else noticed this?

Movies

We also expected the iTunes Store to begin selling movies in earnest. What we got was something that seemed to show that deals are still to be done, and there could be licensing problems. Apple have managed to get Disney-owned studios on board (hardly surprising). Oh, and just to make us jealous, this is all US only at present:

Today, there are 75 films online from Walt Disney, Pixar, Touchstone, Miramax. Apple will be adding more each week and month. Downloads will reach near DVD quality (at least for a NTSC DVD) at 640x480 resolution. Steve Jobs cited a 30 minute download on a 5 Mbps broadband connection.

New releases will cost $12.99 for the first week, then $14.99. Many other titles $9.99. Steve says that they hope to go international on this from 2007, and that iTunes movie releases will be on the same day as the DVD.

New iPods

Read about the new Shuffle, nanos and 5G iPods.

iTV

The 'one more thing' this time is the iTV (working title) - Apple's planned entry into the centre of your living room.

Steve built up to it by talking about getting movies and TV programmes on your iPod and your computer (a Mac of course, he said he was biased) - but how about when you want to watch movies on your new big screen flat-panel TV (who doesn't?)

The solution? iTV - a box half the size of the Mac Mini that acts as a set top box in your home cinema setup, and wirelessly or via Ethernet streams digital content from your Mac or PC. It'll have a built in PSU, USB, Ethernet, 802.11 wireless technology (G or draft N is not clear), optical audio and HDMI ports, and RCA stereo audio. It will have an advanced Front Row system and use the Apple Remote.

Now, assuming that content is coming from your computer, and that content is available, there's no reason why this can't be released in the UK at the same time as the US - sometime in Q1 of 2007.

Apple don't usually do these advanced announcements, but it does make sense as a taster because the other announcements weren't that cutting edge and on their own (with or without John Legend playing at the end of the show) might've been a letdown - that's one problem of all the pre-event hype.

What do you think to these announcements? Will Apple make a bigger impression in home entertainment and gain control of your TV?

iTunes Store offlined for 'showtime'

We're building towards Apple's 'Showtime' announcement in just under 4 hours time, in which Steve Jobs is rumoured to be announcing a new iTunes version, movies, new iPod Nano, Mac streaming to your TV, and the like. Take your pick amongst the many speculations and 'insider knowledge' floating around at present - we'll all know in a short while.

In preparation, the iTunes Store has been closed down for an update.

Whatever happens, be sure to read the latest from Steve, and our own brand of reflection and analysis, here at Tech Digest.

Update: The Apple Store is also down.

KEF launches fivetwo series lifestyle loudspeakers

Contrary to what the picture shows, these aren't giant fans, they're the latest NXT-equipped speakers from KEF - the fivetwo series.

KEF’s fivetwo series features its own Uni-Q technology and NXT SurfaceSound to produce what they describe as "rich, room-filling sound" from an attractive-looking casing. The NXT SurfaceSound flat speaker panels in the back disperse the sound, while the Uni-Q drivers deliver sound from the front (left, centre and right) channels. KEF claims this produces an even dispersion of sound, offering optimum surround sound experience wherever you are in the room. It also means the fivetwo series can be a 5.1 surround sound home cinema system - but without the clutter of six speakers and additional cables and connectors.

There are two models available - Model 7 is a seven driver stand/wall-mount system whilst Model 11 is a floor-standing system with 11 drivers.  Finished in matte silver or high gloss black, the Model 7 is priced around £600 per pair while Model 11 is priced around £1,100 per pair. Available from Autumn.

KEF website

More home cinema:
LG launches LHRH760IA and LHRH361SE home cinema systems
B&W VM6 flat-screen TV speakers

Review: Optoma DV10 MovieTime projector

The Propaganda

The MovieTime DV10 from Optoma is a projector aimed at those who occasionally want a massive screen, without the commitment of having a projector installed. It's one stop shop solution, which means that you've got a DVD player and speakers built into the projector.

There are a few of these types of projectors about, such as the Epson TWD1, but it does come in at about £100 cheaper than other models.

The Good

The MovieTime DV10 is designed with simplicity in mind - you can take it out of the box and have it up and running in about 5 minutes. It's simply a case of plugging it in and loading your DVD into the player positioned on the top. The DVD function is automatically selected, so there's no searching for sources. The speakers are also in-built, so you don't even need to wire those up.  For those that want more than the 5.1 Dolby sound supplied by the two 5 watt speakers, there is an audio output dock for you to hook up your own speaker system.

You can also hook up your television or games console for the full cinema experience via the RGB connection - great if you're hooked on Sing Star on the Playstation 2. Finding the input is also easy, as the projector will scan through all the options until it detects a feed.

In keeping with its brief, you don't need a cinema room to get a decent size screen - you don't even need a large room. 1.5 metres away from the wall gives you a screen size of about 1.5 metres square (which is big enough for you to pretend you're in a cinema, albeit a small one).

The projector uses DLP technology rather than LCD. This is often criticised for creating a kind of rainbow effect on dark images which only some people can see. Now, either I'm not one of those people, or this projector doesn't suffer. But out of the four people that watched the film, nobody could see the rainbow effect, prompting me to conclude that Optoma have it licked.

The native resolution of the DV10 is 852x480, so it's can't be classed as HD, which starts at 1,280x720. However, it can handle the HD input signal, so can be branded 'HD Compatible'.

The Bad

I projected onto a beige wall, which was absolutely fine as a background, although there is an optional screen you can purchase. However, whilst it's bright and crisp in darkness, it's no good in the daytime, even with all the curtains shut. In fact, it's really annoying to be watching a film and then for the sun to emerge and completely wipe out the screen.

The positioning of the projector can also take a bit of getting used to. It's designed to be set up on a coffee table, so doesn't come with the option of mounting it. It can adjust up to 16 degrees of correction, which is useful when you need to project onto the space above a book case/television/whatever and need to set it at an angle. However, it takes its air input from the bottom of the projector, so piling magazines underneath it, or even carpet, can be a risky business. There were several remarks made about the burning smell that the fan gave off after a while.

The design of the projector itself ensures that it's not something that would take up permanent residence on your coffee table. The top loading DVD player reminded me of cheap CD players we used to get given for our birthdays from Argos, and the white plastic finish didn't help. The remote is also fairly old-fashioned. Noticeably, it's not backlit, which is annoying when you really need to be using the product in total darkness. This is likely a result of them trying to keep the costs down, but is annoying when it comes to using the controls.

Geek Sheet

Contrast ratio: 4000:1

Brightness: 1,000

Lamp Type: 200W

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (16:9)

Projection Distance: 1.5 - 10 metres

Audio: 2 x 5W stereo speakers

Video Compatability: PAL, SECAM (576i/p), NTSC (480i/p), HDTV (1080i, 720p)

Weight: 3.5 kg

In our opinion

Personally, I can't yet justify spending £560 for a projector bought especially for watching films in the evenings, but if you want a projector that you can set up anywhere in the house, or cart about to mate's houses with you, this is a comparatively reasonably priced option. It's not designed to be a solution to replace your television, so I can't whine about the brightness during the day and the like.

Rifftrax: Mike Nelson reinvents MST3K for DVDs

Of course you miss Mystery Science Theater 3000; we all do.  It's not exactly back, but RiffTrax may well be better.  Mike Nelson (the second guy; not Joel) provides MP3s for download which you then synchronize with your DVD (or other format) of the movie you want, ah, annotated, and Mike's MST3K-style commentary plays alongside.  It's only $2 now since it's in "beta", although it's not clear exactly what being in non-beta would provide.  The test clips aren't quite as funny as MST3K, but on the other hand, he's not restricted by being able to afford to air given movies, so he does have commentary for recent turkeys like Roadhouse.  [GT]

RiffTrax

Related stories: Create your own portable movies | Movies to turn digital | Cinedelica - the world of cult movies and TV online

Friday interview: John Newman of Roxio explains DVD-on-Demand

To me, 'DVD on Demand' means that if I ask nicely, the man in my local Blockbuster will take my £3.50 and give me a copy of King Kong for a couple of days. But to Sonic Solutions, it means something different - the ability to download a movie over your broadband connection, then burn it to a recordable DVD to watch in the living room.

The company's Roxio subsidiary has just announced Roxio Venue, a media application that makes this possible - with all the copy protection that you'd find on a shrink-wrapped DVD (i.e. you can't burn 17 copies and flog them in your local pub). VP of European operations John Newman explains what it all means.

Roxio Venue is a media application that allows you to manage, view and burn video that you've purchased online onto recordable DVDs. It supports the Content Scramble System (CSS) copy protection technology that's used in commercial DVDs, which according to Roxio is going to be a crucial step in persuading studios to distribute movies online.

"For the first time, Hollywood studios will be able to make DVDs available for online delivery, and be able to supply the same level of copy protection that they use in retail stores," says Newman. "But they'll also have the same level of DVD player compatibility that they expect from their retail DVDs today."

So has the lack of this sort of technology held the studios back in the past? Newman says it has, partly because of concerns over quality and disc compatibity, and copy protection.

"CSS is the only mechanism that can really guarantee player compatibility at an acceptable level for the studio," he says. "The expectation is that now the industry has got behind this recordable CSS standard, the studios will make their first cautious steps towards making premium content available."

Roxio Venue is currently being made available to online entertainment service providers to evaluate. I understand the theory of DVD-on-Demand, and the convenience provided by being able to download a movie to your computer, then burn it onto a DVD to watch in the living room. But isn't this  just a short-term thing?

I wonder if the sort of people who'd do this already moving towards the sort of wireless home network that will cut out the DVD part of the process, in favour of just streaming video from your computer to your TV screen. However, Newman disagrees, pointing out that hundreds of millions of DVD players have now been sold around the world.

"The networked home with DRM doesn't exist in the real world with real people today, but users really do want the ability to burn to a DVD which they can play anywhere," he says, pointing to a recent prediction by Screen Digest that within seven years, the majority of DVD business will be online.

So what does this mean for the mail-order DVD rental clubs who've been growing fast recently - companies like Netflix and Lovefilm? Will they be swept away if everyone's going to be downloading and burning their own DVDs? Newman says not. In fact, Roxio is aiming to sell its technology to these companies too, allowing them to burn DVDs on demand.

"It means they'll be able to carry a far greater selection of films," he says. "If it's not on the shelf, it can be manufactured to order. They'll be able to offer real long tail content, burning each order on an individual basis if necessary."

CinePlayer PDP100: the thin DVD player you can wallmount

Can't decide on the sort of art to hang in your living room? Ever considered putting your DVD player on your wall?

Most DVD players are bulky, unattractive boxes that you try your best to disguise underneath your TV (unless you're really into metal boxes), but the CinePlayer PDP100 from NuTech is just 18mm thick, and works just as well vertically as it does horizontally.

Features are a bit thin on the ground - but hey, what does it matter when your home electronics double up as modern art?

What? OK, well it does play MPEG4 and DivX - as well as ordinary DVDs of course. And it should come with a price tag of sub-£100, so it won't break the bank even if you really ought to be holding out for a new high-def DVD player.

(Via Gizmodo)

Nevilla Johnson Linea - bespoke home cinema furniture

Got money to burn? Worried that your new minimalist home cinema system doesn't fit in well with your mock Georgian property? Worry no more - bespoke fitted furniture manufacturer Neville Johnson has produced a Linea home cinema range to show off your technology in a more elaborate way.

The Linea range is designed around your home cinema kit - either your existing set-up, or if you like, they'll work with your supplier to build something from scratch for your home. Some of the features the company boasts include scoop drawer design, one touch push catches and "gas lifts" that allow you to open the unit with a single touch. You can also have opaque glass inlays, mood lighting and "imaginative shelving design gives the illusion of floating shelves". And, more practically, they'll make sure there's not a cable in sight.

All sounds a bit "Footballers' Wives" for me, but if you like the sounds of mood lights and floating shelves for your DVDs, prices start at £5,000 - which is considerably cheaper than Bang and Olufsen's room makeover.

Find out more

More home cinema:
LG launches LHRH760IA and LHRH361SE home cinema systems
Philips HTS9800W home cinema system

LG launches LHRH760IA and LHRH361SE home cinema systems

LG has added two new home cinema systems to its range with the LHRH760IA and the LHRH361SE - both featuring a stylish design, along with recordable DVD players, XTS Pro surround sound and HDMI connectivity.

The LHRH760IA 'tall boy' system includes five ultra-slim speakers and a powerful sub-woofer that offers an impressive 700 watt power output. The recorder supports anything from DVD+RW to DVD-RAM, while additional digital devices such as a camcorder or a digital camera can be linked up via the integrated USB entry. The 250GB hard disk drive allows up to 345 hours of recording time, which should cover most people's immediate needs.

The LHRH361SE is a smaller 5.1 Home Cinema system with five discreet satellite speakers, a sub-woofer and recordable DVD player. The 160GB hard disk recorder allows you to pause, record and replay live TV while the USB host again, offers an easy connection to a range of portable devices. This 300 watt system also comes with LG’s Super-Multi recording capabilities, supporting a wide range of DVD formats.

Both systems feature LG's DVFX technology for 'professional standard' output - eliminating fuzziness, noise, loss of colour and loss of detail. Both systems also have excellent sound quality without signal distortion due to XTS Pro technology and HDMI connectivity to link up to high-definition TVs.

The company says both systems will be coming soon to the UK market, but have yet to confirm prices or availability dates.

LG website

More home cinema:
Philips HTS9800W home cinema system
B&W VM6 flat-screen TV speakers

BT and Universal team up to offer video downloads (but with a free DVD!)

Big news from BT. Nope it is not the announcement of the launch of its broadband TV service BT Vision, that’s coming in the autumn, rather the company has announced a deal with Universal to offer the film company’s movies for downloads via its BT Vision website and, in the future, via its BT Vision set top box.

Starting from the end of July consumers will be able to download the movies from the BT Vision website to their PC paying between £7.99-16.99 for the privilege. The really odd bit is that for their money consumers not only get one copy for their PC and another which they can port onto a mobile device, they also get a DVD of the movie through the post a few days later. Dan Marks, CEO of BT Vision, suggested that this was because of research which showed that three times as many people would subscribe to the service if a hard copy was included.

The movies will be in a Windows media format and will play on any ‘plays for sure’ Windows Media compatible devices. Eddie Cunningham, chair universal Pictures UK, acknowledged that the BT deal was the first of many, so don’t rule out Universal movies on your iPod video then. The movies, the first of which will include King Kong and Pride & Prejudice, are around 1-2 Gigs in size and take from around ninety minutes to download on a two Meg connection.

While the website move makes sense for BT the big push will inevitably when BT launches its BT Vision set top box service in the autumn. There users will be able to download the Universal movies to their set top box. BT says too that users will be able to access the movies any time, and won’t necessarily need to store them on the BT Vision box’s hard disk.

Funai's 3-in-1 HDR-B2735 video/DVD player and recorder

  I think it's safe to say that the VHS market is on its final legs - but that doesn't mean to say we haven't all got piles of tapes still knocking about the house (including many things yet to be released on disc). Which is where Funai's 3-in-1 HDR-B2735 video/DVD player and recorder makes itself useful.

The HDR-B2735 features a 160GB drive, which should offer up to 100 hours of recording time to the drive alone, though you do have the option of recording to the 6-head, hi-fi video recorder or DVD disc if you so wish. Though for me, one of the biggest bonuses of these kind of combined units is the ease of which you can transfer all your old video recordings (copyright permitting of course) onto disc, wihtout having to stick yet another box under the TV and add even more wires to the spaghetti pile.

It also features simple set up, one touch recording and the option to view one channel while recording another.

You can purchase the Funai HDR-B2735 now, priced around £300.

Funai website

More recording:
Hitachi's new Memory Master DVD/HDD recorder
LG RH200MH HDD DVD recorder

Philips HTS9800W home cinema system

So, you've got your stylish new HD-ready TV, but your existing home cinema system looks a bit tired next to it. It might be worth shopping round for something a bit more eye-catching - like Philips' HTS9800W home cinema system.

It's not all about looks - HTS9800W also has the technology to match. The system comprises of the main DVD unit, three front speakers, three wireless rear speakers (connected to a wireless receiver box) and a subwoofer. Both the main unit and flat-panel speakers have a flat design, so can be wall-mounted or freestanding. Picture-wise, the HTS9800W offers video upscaling from DVD to near high definition quality at 720p and 1080i resolutions. There's also extensive format coverage, including DVD, DVD+/-R/RW, (S)VCD, SACD, MPEG4, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA/MP3-CD and JPEG CDs.

The digital amplifier has 800W Total RMS output across the 6.1 channels and is equipped with Dolby Digital EX, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II decoders. The flat-panel speakers each utilise a ribbon tweeter with Neodymium magnet assembly for improved detail and precision in the higher frequencies, while two 3-inch woofers cover the midband. Bass is supplied by the subwoofer which is equipped with a 6.5-inch high-efficiency woofer delivering deep low-frequency output down to a menacing 30Hz. The HTS9800W is one of the first home cinema systems to offer Dolby Digital EX 6.1 surround sound processing using wireless rear speakers - so great sound and less spaghetti round the TV.

Connectivity includes HDMI, progressive scan-enabled component video output, RGB Scart output and digital coaxial input for connecting audio devices such as an CD player or MP3 player.

The HTS9800W is available now for around £700.

Philips website

More home cinema:
B&W VM6 flat-screen TV speakers
Authentic introduces world’s first projection screen with sound

Authentic introduces world’s first projection screen with sound

Who needs speakers? They've also been a necessity when projecting onto a screen, but the ASS-60AK Speaker Screen from Authentic does away with that, producing sound directly from the screen itself. 

Although the Speaker Screen looks pretty much like any other, Authentic claims it offers "a larger, more dynamic audio visual experience", thanks to a woven fabric which is able to produce high frequencies - frequencies most other fabrics would absorb. SoundVu technology from NXT enables the projection screen to become a loudspeaker by "exciting" (their word) the surface. Vibrations are undetectable to the naked eye so image quality is preserved while producing a high quality sound.

Ideal for anyone that wants to create the effect of a commercial cinema on a smaller scale - and indeed anyone who wants to roll up and pack away their cinema when it's not required. And certainly useful if you want to give a presentation with sound from a laptop. It's available later this month in Japan (and likely here later in the year), priced at ¥59,800 (around £285). 

More on the technology from the NXT website

More projection:
Hitachi's theft-proof projector
Sony's VPL-ES3 projector

B&W VM6 flat-screen TV speakers

If you were impressed by the B&W XT series speakers we featured recently, you might want to check out the VM6 speaker system from the same company, designed specifically for use with flat panel TV screens.

The VM6 has been "styled and conceived" to compliment the newer generation of Plasma and LCD screens, but it's also suitable for hi-fi stereo, 2.1 theatre and 5.1 home set-ups. It uses technology first used on B&W’s Nautilus speaker - but without the £35,000 price tag. It features 800 Series derived electro-acoustic technology for improved resolution and bass extension, along with a 130mm Kevlar cone bass/midrange driver and a Nautilus tube-loaded 25mm aluminium dome tweeter.

Available in a choice of silver, white or black gloss, the VM6 comes with wall-bracket and table-stand mounting hardware (so it can sit vertically or horizontally) and will be available from September, priced around £250.

Find out more

More home cinema:
B&W XT Series speakers
Eclipse TD508II Time Domain speakers

B&W XT Series speakers

I'm a sucker for something stylish - but when it's also a top-notch piece of technology, like these B&W XT Series speakers, it's got to be worth a look.

The XT Series consists of four models - XT4 (three-way speaker), XT2 (two-way speaker), XTC (two-way centre channel speaker) and PV1 (subwoofer). All models in the XT Series feature leading edge acoustic engineering, in slimline, satin-polished aluminium cabinets.

The XT4 features a one-piece extruded aluminium enclosure which carries a top mounted Nautilus tube loaded 25mm aluminium dome tweeter, a 130mm Kevlar cone midrange driver, and twin Flowport loaded, composite paper/Kevlar cone bass drivers. The twin bass drivers also provide low frequency bandwidth and power handling - giving the XT4 a sense of scale and dynamics. The XT2 features a one-piece extruded aluminium enclosure carrying a top mounted Nautilus tube loaded 25mm aluminium dome tweeter and a Flowport loaded 130mm Kevlar cone bass/midrange driver.

The XTC’s two-way system incorporates twin Flowport loaded 130mm Kevlar cone bass/midrange drivers and a centrally mounted Nautilus tube loaded 25mm aluminium dome tweeter. The PV1’s twin 200mm (8-inch) drivers operate back-to-back, to minimise pressure differences throughout the internal volume, which increases its ability to withstand vibration and reduce coloration.

Available now, the XT4 costs £1699.00 per pair, the XT2 is £699, the XTC is £549 (sold singly) and the PV1 is £950 (also sold singly).

B&W website

More speakers:
Mordaunt-Short Avant Architect - minimalist speaker system for walls and ceilings
Eclipse TD508II Time Domain speakers

Acer unveils three new DLP video projectors

Acer has announced three new DLP projectors to its range of digital projectors, each featuring the DLP micro-sized chipset for slimmer, lighter machines.

The Acer PH730 is pitched at the home entertainmant market and features a 230W bulb that delivers 1,200 ANSI lumens brightness, and a 2500:1 contrast ratio, which means impressive movie definition even in poor lighting conditions. With two internal speakers, the Acer PH730 delivers "concert-calibre" audio while Progressive scan (P-scan) capability ensures high-quality video signals for picture-perfect entertainment. It supports VGA, NTSC, PAL, SECAM and HDTV input-signals and offers connectivity options including HDMI, DVI, VGA, Component, Composite and S-video.

The PD525PW is Acer's first projector with full wireless capability. It features built-in 802.11b/g wireless LAN protocol, allowing it to receive video (data) signals from a PC and project the images directly onto the screen. The PD525PW also offers wireless audio connectivity, giving users the freedom to centralise the presentation from the integrated 3W speaker or through external speakers. There's a brightness of 2700 ANSI lumens, which means high-quality images up to 12 metres from the screen, while the native 1024 x 768 XGA resolution and contrast ratio of 2000:1 should ensure good clarity. It's HDTV compatible, supporting 720p/1080i and a 16:9 aspect ratio which, when combined with the P-Scan (Progressive Scan) technology, delivers "film-like" video quality.

The Acer PD527D is designed for "big-screen impact". It combines an XGA resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels with a high contrast ratio of 2000:1, in addition to a brightness of 3000 ANSI lumens. It's HDTV compatible, supporting 720p/1080i and a 16:9 aspect ratio which, when combined with the P-Scan (Progressive Scan) technology, should again deliver high-definition excellent "film-like" video quality.

Prices and release dates for all three models are yet to be confirmed.

Acer website

More projectors:
Hitachi launches the theft-proof projector
Sony's VPL-ES3 projector

Sharp DV-SV97H DVD player with HDMI upscaling

Sharp has announced the DV-SV97H, a DVD player with HDMI digital output and DivX video compatibility. 

The player has progressive scanning and video upscaling features up to 720p and 1080i, and is compatible with the usual range of audio and video formats - DVD-RW/-R, DVD+RW/+R, CD-RW/-R, VCD/SVCD playback capability, MP3/JPEG/MPEG-4 decoder and DTS/Dolby Digital/MPEG Audio Stream Output.

According to Sharp, the HDMI upscaling technology makes the DV-SV97H a "future-proofed" DVD player and one that's more likely to retain its value. However, without any recording functionality and with the arrival of HD DVD and Blu-ray later in the year, I'd certainly question that judgement.

It should be in the stores later this month, price to be confirmed.

Sharp website

More home cinema:
Sharp unveils the XV-Z3000 high-definition projector
Sony updates DVD/HDD recorder range

Linux Style Desktop Manager For Windows XP

One of the more eye-catching features of many Linux distributions is the ‘virtual desktop’, which basically means you can switch between four active desktops with the click of a mouse. According to Propellerhead that feature is also available in Windows XP, though you have to know where to find it. In fact you need to go to the Microsoft website and download a ‘Powertoy’ called Virtual Desktop Manager.

Powertoys, as we’ve mentioned on many occasions, are a suite of tools developed by Microsoft (including the most excellent Tweak UI) but they’re not included as standard with Windows XP,

or at least not any longer. They’re unsupported but that doesn’t mean they’re in any way buggy or inferior.

But we digress, download and install Virtual Desktop manager. To launch it right-click on the Taskbar, select Toolbars then click Desktop Manager and you will see 5 new icons on the Taskbar, one for each virtual desktop and one for a ‘quad’ view. We reckon you’ll find it hard to go back to a boring single desktop after using it for a while, so what are you waiting for? For more great tweaks check out the Top Tips Archive on the BootLog website

Sharp unveils the XV-Z3000 high-definition projector

Sharp has introduced the HD Ready XV-Z3000 prjoector, which offers a resolution of 1280 x 768, giving you the chance to turn your living room into your very own home theatre.

The XV-Z3000 has 720p High Definition capability (and is compatible with 1080i and 720p HD signals), plus a 6500:1 contrast ratio (in High Contrast mode). There's also a 1200 ANSI lumen in High Brightness mode for improved large-screen images and a 5x speed 6 segment colour wheel, which produces a flicker-free picture with a more natural colour reproduction. The Short Throw Lens means 60" large screen projection from just 1.8m.

Along with standard connectivity, there's HDMI. The unit also comes with a 275W lamp, which should see you through around 3,000 and a remote control unit. Available soon, but as yet, we haven't got a confirmed price.

Sharp website

More projectors:
Hitachi's theft-proof projector
Toshiba's palm-sized projector

Sony's "entry level" VPL-EX3 projector

Sony has launched what it describes as an "entry level" projector for the office or classroom in the shape of the VPL-EX3 projector, which is designed to be user-friendly and to offer flexible connectivity

The VPL-EX3 features XGA (1024x768 pixel) resolution and six preset picture modes, is compact size and easy to set-up, so should be suited for anyone on the move. There's a high maximum brightness of 2000 ANSI lumens, offering clear displays even in brighter environments - so no need to draw the blinds.

The projector accepts a wide range of input sources, including computer signals up to SXGA+ (1400 x 1050 pixels) and high definition video. There's also two computer (15-pin  D-sub) connections, composite video and S-Video connections as well as audio and monitor outputs and an RS-232C connection.

The VPL-EX3 supports a maximum screen-size of up to 300 inches, with two aspect ratios, 4:3 for data projection and 16:9 for movies.

It should be available late May with a price of around £660 exluding VAT.

Sony website

More projectors:
Hitachi's theft-proof projector
Toshiba's palm sized projector

KEF's 'egg' speaker system

If you're you know a gadget lover who's not keen on chocolate this Easter, why not put the money towards a different kind of egg - KEF’s stylish 'egg' speaker system for example, known more formally as the KHT3005 5.1 home cinema speaker system.

Building on the success of the popular KHT2005.2 system, the system consists of four Uni-Q satellite speakers in specially shaped cast-aluminium enclosures, incorporating new drive units which give a cleaner, smoother response. There's also a dedicated Uni-Q centre speaker with two additional 75mm bass drivers for superior output and enhanced dialogue intelligibility. And there's a high-efficiency subwoofer with 250mm driver and matching auxiliary bass radiator (ABR) powered by a 250W class D amplifier.

At the heart of the system is a totally new version of KEF’s Uni-Q driver, which uses aerospace technology to mount the tweeter in the centre of the bass/midrange cone, creating a single point source of sound. The satellites and centre speaker use sealed suspension technology, or SST, which seals the gap between a Uni-Q driver’s moving mid-range cone and tweeter to prevent high-pressure air passing through, producing a markedly more powerful and cleaner sound.

It looks great, but all this technology doesn't come cheap. The system, in high-gloss black or high-gloss silver, is expected to retail at around £1,000 in the UK and should be available from May 2006.

KEF website

More home cinema:
Bang & Olufsen's £180,000 entertainment system
KEF KIT 200 instant DVD theatre

Sony updates DVD/HDD recorder range

Sony has announced several DVD writers with hard disk storage, two of which will feature GemStar Guide Plus+ electronic programme guide (EPG).

The RDR-HX920, RDR-HX720 and RDR-HX520 contain 250GB, 160GB and 8GB hard drives, respectively. The RDR-HX925 and RDR-HX725 have the same capacity HDDs as the HX920 and HX720, respectively, and add the GemStar support. They also feature an infra-red transceiver to allow them to control a set-top box according to the recording schedule set via the EPG.

All five models offer PVR functionality - you can pause live TV programming and 'chase' shows currently being recorded (that means you can  watch before the recording has completed). The recorders can save shows in standard mode or long-play mode. According to Sony, long-play means up to 428 hours' recording time on a 250GB drive.

All the models will hit the stores during April and May, though prices are still not confirmed.

Sony website

Via The Register

More recorders:
Maplin Electronics 250GB HDD DVD recorder
Philips adds a trio of DVD recorders

Toshiba's projector with built-in DVD/surround sound

Tosh has introduced a new DLP projector for the type of person who wants the full home cinema experience without all the hassle. The new ET10 projector is not only a lot more curvaceous than other shoebox-styled models on the market, it also comes with a built-in DVD player and Dolby 5.1 surround sound system (though don't expect great surround sound from speakers that are so close together).

Another useful feature is its wide angle lens which means that it can project large images with just a short throw - a distance of just 20inches between the projector and the screen will produce an image of 40inches across, making it particularly attractive to those with small living rooms.

Expected to retail for £1299, this standard definition (480p) projector isn't exactly cheap. But then it is a particularly convenient solution, especially for those people who just want to whip out a projector from under the coffee table for occasional movie screenings. Tosh is planning to launch an HD version (720p) of the ET10 very soon.

Toshiba

Toshiba's Palm-sized projector launches

Toshiba's tiny, palm-sized FF1 projector is certainly a dinky little device. As to whether we'll all be beaming our favourite films onto our bedroom walls of an evening remains to be seen, but the battery powered projector makes a change from the usual home cinema set up.

The DLP FF1 is a battery powered projection device that uses LEDs instead of the usual lamps, which means it's not only more environmentally friendly, it's also more cost-effective thanks to the lower energy consumption.

The foldable screen that comes with it isn't anything special - looking like a bit of glorified cardboard -  but it improves image quality, offering better light reflection than you'd get from a wall.

Not only can you plug in a USB memory key, you can also connect up your mobile phone (mini USB connection) to show people your photos and videos, which is why Toshiba envisage this being used in teenagers' bedrooms as much as office boardrooms.

Battery life is quoted at two hours, although you'll get better brightness with it plugged in, and the lamp life is approaching 10,000 hours. It projects an image of up to 68 inches (diagonal) with sound provided by its built-in speaker. It'll cost you around £749 and it's available now. A neat little idea, and maybe business users with teeny tiny boardrooms might be willing to part with that amount of cash, but possibly a bit over-priced and under-powered for most.

Tesco's DVD player for under £18

When I hear the words Tesco Value, I think about cheap and cheerful groceries like bread, baked beans and loo roll. I don't think consumer gadgets. But there's actually quite a lot of applicances in the range, the latest of which is the Tesco Value DVD Player, which costs less than £18 - not much more than a new release disc.

As a DVD player, it's what you'd expect from a basic model - it connects to your TV, plays DVDs and audio discs and it comes with a remote control to perform all the basic functions. And for a second room, connected to a small TV, it would probably do the job.

It's on sale now at £17.97 in Tesco stores. Do you know of a cheaper one? Let us know.

Tesco website

More DVD:
KEF KIT 200 instant DVD theatre
Tosh's new DVD recorders

Hitachi launches the theft-proof projector

You'll not lose this one in a hurry. Or rather, that's what Hitachi hopes with their ED-X10 projector, designed for schools, colleges and universities in a distinctively bright orange colour and with a host of security features onboard.

If the bright colour of the ED-X10 doesn't put a thief off, a transition detector locks the projector if it's moved from its normal place. Once the detector is activated, a pin-code is needed for normal operation to resume. This works alongside two other protection systems - one locks the projector on power on until a pin-lock sequence is input from the remote control, the other locks a unique 'my screen' startup image that is always displayed when operated. And for brute force security, the ED-X10 also has an integral steel security bar that allows it to be physically tethered to a fixed point.

There are other features that benefit users in schools, including instant power-on/power-off, a 'my button' feature on the remote control to pre-programme commonly used commands and there's a special "whiteboard mode" which limits the peak white light without reducing the projector's brightness, making it safer to use in the classroom. The ED-X10 also has a 'blackboard mode' and a greenboard mode' providing optimised colour balance for projection onto these backgrounds.

It's available now for around £700.

Hitachi website

More projectors:
Sony's VPL-ES3 projector
Samsung P300 pocket projector

NEC's NP1000 and NP2000 projectors

  NEC has unveiled the NP2000 and NP1000 wireless projectors, designed primarily for the serious home cinema buff or for commercial or public spaces.

The projectors offer up an impressive brightness of 4000 ANSI Lumens for the NP2000 and 3500 ANSI Lumens for the NP1000. With five lens options, NEC claims the projectors can produce one of the largest ranges of image size currently available, varying from a 30” diagonal for rear projection applications to over 500” - probably only of use if you intend using in a large exhibition space. Lenses are installed using a bayonet fitting, so swapping a lens is just like changing a light bulb. Vertical and manual lens shift allows flexible projector placement, from a distance of 2.5 to 68.5 feet.

Wireless capabilities mean you don't need to directly wire up your PC to the projector for demonstrations and you can make adjustments to your projection via a network. Both models are HD compatible and feature heat sensor and Direct Power on/off to extend the lamp life, along with a number of security features.

No price as yet, but they should be in stores in May of this year.

NEC website

More projectors:
Epson's projector with built-in DVD player
Samsung P300 pocket projector

Philips MPC9350i Media Centre PC

Philips has entered the Media Centre PC market with the MPC9350i - which it claims is the ultimate home entertainment unit, offering music and movie playback, twin TV tuners, hard disk-based PVR functionality and wireless internet access.

The MPC9350i uses a 3GHz Pentium 4 with 512MB of memory and has a 250GB hard drive on board. It runs with Windows XP Media Center Edition. It has twin TV tuners, so you can watch one channel while recording another - however, they're both analogue, so you'll still need to buy a separate digital receiver. Which stops it from being an all-in-one really.

Programmes can be saved to hard drive or onto the optical unit, which supports dual-layer DVD±R, single-layer DVD±R/RW and CD-R/RW for read and write. There's also an eight-in-one memory card reader, four USB 2.0, two six-pin Firewire and one four-pin Firewire ports. The box has an 802.11b/g Wi-Fi adaptor and a port for 10/100Mbps Ethernet networks. It's got SCART, RCA, DVI, S-video plus standard audio and video ports.

Shipping with all necessary cables and adaptors, including DVD-to-HDMI and SCART-to-S-video, plus a remote control and wireless keyboard, expect to pay around £1,000.

There's a full review of the MPC9350i over at Gadget Centre

Philips website

Via The Register

More media centre PCs:
Sony's latest Vaio Media Center
Alienware DHS2 and Evesham Mini reviewed

Bang & Olufsen's £180,000 entertainment system

Another failed week for me in the National Lottery, but if your luck was in, you might be interested in Bang & Olufsen's "ultimate home entertainment gadget" - the home entertainment studio, which is currently showcased at their Merchant City store and features everything music and movie enthusiasts could ever need; from 100-inch screen to full surround sound.

A 50-inch BeoVision 4 plasma screen, retractable 100-inch projection screen and central BeoLab 7-2 loudspeaker are flanked by two BeoLab 5 loudspeakers while a BeoSound 9000 audio system completes the set up.

The BeoVision 4 hangs neatly on the wall with the BeoLab 7-2 loudspeaker positioned underneath. The BeoLab 5, an all-digital loudspeaker, automatically calibrates itself to match the exact acoustics of the room. It has two acoustic lenses to ensure equal dispersement of authentic sound meaning it always sounds the same in every area of a room. As well as the TV, loud speakers, projector and sound system, for around £180,000 the entire suite can be fully recreated in your home. It includes everything from the armadillo effect walls to the Danish coffee table and retractable ceiling projector.

So who would pay that? Well, so far three people have laid out the cash for the full suite - all get the benefit of a designer, architect, electrician and Bang & Olufsen consultant and all three will have their suites installed by the end of March 2006. The company expect to sell 12 by the end of the year.

More home cinema:
Toshiba's 'super close' projector
Samsung P300 pocket projector

Toshiba's 'Super Close' projectors

If you fancy a projector, but are limited for space, Toshiba's new ET10 and ET20 'Super Close' projectors with built-in surround-sound system, which can project a 0.65m image from just 20cm away from a wall, could solve your problem.

The good-looking ET10 and ET20 projectors use Toshiba’s own SCP (Super Close Projection) technology and can be used for throw distances from a mere 20cm, delivering an image size of 0.65m (diagonal) up to 1.6m, delivering a 2.9m (diagonal) image. In addition, the prjectors have built-in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and include a 30 Watt speaker system, five 16mm satellite speakers and one 2-inch subwoofer.  The ET20 model also features an integrated DVD player with DivX playback and is USB port compatible with JPEG photo format, MPEG1, MPEG2 and MPEG4 video formats.

The ET10 and ET20 (with integrated DVD player) will be available in the UK from April 2006 and will be priced at £1,099 and £1,299 respectively.

More projectors:
Epson's projector with built-in DVD player
Samsung P300 pocket projector

Transfer your video to DVD with Grabster

If, like me, you spent a good part of your youth recording your favourite bands and TV shows onto video, you might be interested in the new Grabster AV 150 from Terratec, which can quickly transfer your (almost) obselete video mountain to a digital format with ease.

The Grabster AV 150 connects to your PC via USB, digitising files from your video player at the other end in either MPEG1 or MPEG2 format. You can then play around with your old recordings, removing ad breaks and those overruns when the timer didn't quite work as intended, before burning to DVD.

It's not the first - check out the DVD Xpress DX2 - but shipping with a full version of Ulead’s DVD MovieFactory 3 for under £50, it is competitively priced if you just want to do a quick transfer job.

More movie making:
DVD Xpress DX2
Hauppauge Wing

Inflatable home cinema system

Now, just think of the dilemma; football on the telly, temperatures soaring outside - what is a man to do?

Well, Bayraider may have found the answer. For just $11,995, you can pick up a HDTV-ready video projector, and an enormous sound system which comprises a 400-watt subwoofer and 300-watt top speakers. But that's not all - you also get a VersaStretch screen, which is 20-foot wide and 12-foot tall, with an inflatable frame.

Stick it in the local park, charge £20 a head (including barbecue), it'll pay for itself by the semi-finals!

Interested? Visit Bayraider for full details.

Samsung P300 pocket projector

Projectors used to be costly and bulky, an affluent addition to the house or office. Not so anymore, they're down in price and size - just take a look at Samsung's lightweight P300 pocket projector.

It's small, but with enough about it to match the bigger boys with an impressive battery life of 2.5 hours, 24 ANSI Lumen brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio. Picture quality is improved with the Digital Mirror Device (DMD) that minimises loss of light in the projection process to improve efficiency. And of course, it's built to be mobile, so there's ease of connection to a variety of devices and if you are on the move.

You should be able to find it in the shops now, priced at around £399 excluding VAT.

More projectors:
Epson's projector with built-in DVD player
The smallest projector ever?

World Cup and Discovery to broadcast in HD?

Football made Sky and the World Cup could be the making of HD. The BBC is making positive noises about screening the World Cup in high definition and has confirmed to HDTVUK that it is in talks with both Sky and Telewest to trial top-level HD sports during the summer. Get the full story from HDTVUK.

One HD certainty, as previously predicted by HDTVUK, is that documentary channel Discovery has signed up for Sky's upcoming HD service. That makes eight HD channels so far in the Sky package. For details of the others and what you can expect to see on the new Discovery HD channel, visit HDTVUK.

More HD news:
Slingbox coming to the UK
Cyberhome's 'HD' personal media players

Epson's projector with built-in DVD player

Over at Shiny Shiny, this little fella caught my eye - the minimalist EMP-TWD1 from Epson, complete with built-in speaker system and DVD player. With so many wires, gadgets and cables cluttering up the house (or is that just me?), this will certainly free up a bit of space.

It's priced at £899 - not bad for the amount of gadgetry packed into the small space. For more information, visit Shiny Shiny.

More projectors:
LG's wall-mounted projector
Smallest projector ever?

KEF KIT 200 instant DVD theatre

Apparently, that statement of 80s high living, black furniture, is back in vogue. If you are back in black, it could be worth looking at the KEF KIT 200 instant DVD theatre - a complete 5.1 DVD home theatre system with five speakers and a subwoofer with a nice black finish.

Based on the best of the existing KEF range - the same DVD unit and subwoofer as the award-winning KIT 100 - the KIT 200 is a five-speaker set up with satellite column speaker enclosures. That means an incredibly powerful sound. The system also features Uni-Q® technology, which creates a very wide soundfield, so everyone in the room benefits from the same quality of sound.

And rather cleverly, whatever is played - DVDs, CDs or MP3 discs - the KIT 200 automatically recognises it and configures the system accordingly, selecting Dolby® Digital, Dolby Pro Logic® II or DTS (Digital Theatre Systems), which saves you a bit of button pressing.

The KEF instant theatre is available from Selfridges, selected branches of Harrods and independent audio-visual retailers nationwide for around £1500.

More home cinema:
The home cinema chair
Movie titles for Blu-ray

Your own home cinema chair

So, you've got the big TV, the top-end DVD player and the surround sound - if only you had the comfy chair with room for drinks and snacks. Well, now you can if you purchase one of La-Z-Boy's home cinema range of seating.

The company claim their seating has been designed specifically for home cinema viewing, even down to the way the chair back is positioned - for optimum viewing and listening in comfort without inducing sleep! Snack areas are provided, courtesy of the built-in cup holders and trays, but you'll have to clean up your own popcorn debris.

The seats are available now in a variety of fabrics and colours. If you fancy turning your living room into the local picture house, visit www.la-z-boy.co.uk.

More home cinema:
Linksys high definition DVD player
Sanyo's LD5 and LC5 HD ready TVs

Sanyo's LD5 and LC5 HD ready TVs

Home cinema and home PCs seem to be converging into the media centre. So it's no surprise to see Sanyo's latest high definition TVs, the LD5 and LC5, equipped with both scart and computer inputs to cover both options.

Available as 32" and 27" HD ready models, both feature Sanyo's ColourPlus+ picture enhancement technology, which refines both monochrome and colour picture levels. A digital comb filter further enhances the picture. The new models have 3D Surround Sound, 3D Noise Reduction and BBE Mach 3 Bass Sound for enhanced bass - just in case you want that big cinema sound! The LD5 also comes with the option of an integrated digital tuner for Freeview.

These new UK-made sets are due on sale in the few weeks, but as yet, we have no pricing information. To find out more or to find a stockist, visit www.sanyo.co.uk.

For the latest on high definition technology, visit HDTV.

Alienware DHS2 and Evesham Mini reviewed

Typical; you wait ages for a Windows Media Center PC, then two come along at once. But these two couldn’t have been more different and was a real case of beauty and the beast. The Evesham Mini shone through in terms of its incredible compact design and squeezes in some neat features for its budget £500 price tag. It makes for a stylish and subtle accessory to your home entertainment setup. Read

In contrast the Alienware DHS 2 uses a more muscular approach and packs some serious hardware under its hood. It’s a very impressive system that has the capacity for strenuous computing tasks matched with the design of something clearly intended to operate in close proximity to your home cinema rack. Time to abandon the desk and surf from the sofa. Read

Loads more reviews and features over at the Gadget Centre website.

CES 2006: Linksys announce high definition DVD player

Linksys has announced the KiSS DP-600 at the CES, one of the first DVD players to play Windows Media Video in High Definition.

The networkable DVD player from Linksys is equipped with a built-in WLAN 802.11g connection for wireless access to an online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and various other online features on the internet or content on the home PC.

In addition to Windows Media Video 9 compatibility, the DP-600 offers progressive scan technology that enhances the visual experience, MPEG-4 support, Nero Digital, DivX HD, XviD, MP3, WMA, WMA Pro and Ogg Vorbis playback. It also has an advanced user interface and a photo album feature for digital photo collections.

The KiSS DP-600 should be available in the early part of 2006. You can find out more by visiting www.kiss-technology.com.

More wireless technology:
Microlink dLAN Audio
Linksys internet security camera

CES 2006: Movie titles for Blu-ray

We have told you about Blu-ray players from Sony and Philips at the CES - now the movie distributors are falling over themselves to get their films to market in 2006, with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Fox Home Entertainment and Lionsgate all announcing specific Blu-ray titles. The difference between standard DVD releases, apart from the obvious quality, will be enhanced menu navigation, increased added-value and new interactive features.

Sony plans to release 20 titles towards the summer of 2006, including The Fifth Element, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Desperado, For a Few Dollars More, The Guns of Navarone, Hitch, Legends of the Fall,, Robocop, Sense and Sensibility, Species, SWAT and XXX. Sony will also add bonus BD Java games, and other as yet unknown features to new release titles, which will hit the market on the same day as standard DVD releases. 

Paramount plans to release around 10 titles, icluding Aeon Flux, The Italian Job, Tomb Raider, U2: Rattle and Hum, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, We Were Soldiers and Mission Impossible 2 and 3. The Fox line-up includes Fantastic Four, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Behind Enemy Lines, Kiss of the Dragon and Ice Age. Lionsgate's featured titles will be Lord of War, The Punisher, The Devil's Rejects and Saw.

More Blu-ray:
Sony debuts Blu-ray
Philips enters Blu-ray market

CES 2006: Philips Blu-ray debuts

So who is going to be first to del