Consumer Electronics Scoop

HDTV

Windows Media Center is set to thrill at CEDIA 2009 next month

Monday, 10 August 2009

Everyone likes to try and predict the future and with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation (CEDIA) show only a month away, the crew at Engadget HD threw all of their crazy ideas out there for your reading pleasure. For the most part all of the predictions are around Windows Media Center and how it will integrate with other products like the Zune HD, Digital Cable and HD satellite services, but there are some other fun things throw in. We really believe that this is going to be the year that Redmond brings everything together, so if you're the type who doesn't think it'll ever happen, then click through to find out why we think you're wrong. Either way, you can expect we'll be on the scene in Atlanta to check out what's new first hand.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Windows Media Center is set to thrill at CEDIA 2009 next month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subscription services like Netflix Watch Instantly generate 20x the revenue of pay-per-downloads

Saturday, 08 August 2009

Now this is one stat from an analyst that we wouldn't refute, but we do wonder how Versaly Entertainment acquired this information. How exactly does one calculate streaming revenue from a subscription service like Netflix anyways? To be fair we are only assuming that Netflix is involved here as it wasn't specifically mentioned, but we really can't think of any other subscription based video streaming service. Our best guess is that the revenue in question is based on what the studios are receiving and not for the service itself. Regardless, it isn't hard to figure out why no one is paying $4-$5 for the 24 hour rights to watch a movie on any of the pay-per-download services out there. Especially when you can rent a movie from just about anywhere via Redbox for $1.

Read -- Subscription downloads outperform pay-view.
Read -- Redbox undermining DVD value

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Subscription services like Netflix Watch Instantly generate 20x the revenue of pay-per-downloads originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kodak Zi8 impressions: surprising functionality, but it's still a pocket camcorder

Tuesday, 04 August 2009

We've been messing around with Kodak's latest pocket camcorder, the Zi8, and find the shooter to be an interesting hybrid. With a flip-out USB plug, HDMI out and an easily accessible SD card slot, this is clearly a "premium" mix of features for the class, but the $180 pricetag keeps the device firmly grounded in Walmart-friendly reality. Other odd perks like a line-in jack and 1080p have us scratching our heads -- but in a good way. Overall, we'd feel pretty comfortable saying the footage is about the best you can obtain at this pricepoint. Colors are great, the image stabilization isn't a gimmick (sorry, Flip), and if you squint hard enough you can almost believe the 1080p is 1080p. Still, the camera is hampered by its cheap approach to processing and compressing the footage it's taking in -- despite its limitations, we'd say the iPhone 3GS is besting most cheap pocket camcorders on this front, motion just looks much more fluid. But don't take our word for it, check out a couple of video samples after the break.

Gallery: Kodak's 1080p Zi8 HD pocket camcorder in hand

Continue reading Kodak Zi8 impressions: surprising functionality, but it's still a pocket camcorder

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV

Kodak Zi8 impressions: surprising functionality, but it's still a pocket camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3D TV channel coming to UK next year, 3D-ready set and glasses required

Friday, 31 July 2009

We can still remember the days, not too long ago, that HD channels were but a sparse luxury. Now of course they're a dime a dozen, but you can still look onward to the next big thing, which BSkyB is wagering will be 3D. The satellite broadcast is gearing up to launch a 3D television station next year to showcase movies, and sports -- the latter of which we're thinking will be the biggest draw. Any customer with a Sky+ HD box can receive the transmission, but you're also gonna need to look past that ragged old flat-panel HDTV and instead use a 3D-ready set and glasses. We can't imagine a huge demand for this anytime in the near future, but if the technology does take off, they'll be more than ready to capitalize.

Filed under: HDTV

3D TV channel coming to UK next year, 3D-ready set and glasses required originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG unveils new slim design LCD HDTVs due this fall

Friday, 31 July 2009

Sure it's summertime in New York and not January in Las Vegas, but that didn't stop LG from rolling out a couple new lines of LCD HDTVs today. The new SL80 and SL90 models don't bring new high water marks on the spec sheets, but feature LG's take on the "borderless" design trend that's the rage these days, built from a single edge to edge piece of glass with a slim bezel and Invisible Speaker design. The top of the line SL90 is due later this year for an unspecified price range in 42- and 47-inch sizes with LED backlighting contributing to its 3,000,000:1 claimed contrast ratio and 1.15 inch depth, plus 120Hz TruMotion processing. The SL80 line has 240Hz processing, but older CCFL backlighting means a 300,000:1 measured contrast ratio and 1.8-inch thick design, but the 42-, 47-, and 55-inch models will be available this August for $1,599, $1,899 and $2,799, respectively. Want a closer look at LG's new global flat panel design platform? The gallery is right here.

Gallery: LG's SL80 and SL90 hands-on