Gizmodo: Home Entertainment

Chi Lin's Liquid-Cooled LED Projector Has 6-Year Lamp Life, Expertly Renders Rich Blackness of David Hasselhoff's Eyes

John Mahoney — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:38:58 EDT

Taiwanese OEM Chi Lin is claiming the world's first liquid-cooled, LED-lit 1080p projector here at CEDIA using TI's latest DLP chipset. The liquid-cooled RGB LED light source is rated at 50,000 hours—5.7 years of continuous runtime—and spits out 128% of NTSC's color set and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio at sizes up to 130 inches. As you can imagine, it makes David Hasselhoff look like a million damn dollars.

The lamp pumps out 600 lumens, allowing for deep blacks and excellent color concentrations in a dark room. And the beastly housing you see is only a prototype—when it comes to market in late 2009, you'll see a much sleeker case at 57% of the concept's volume. No price announced yet, but this is surely one of those "if you have to ask..." situations. [CEDIA 2008]

JVC DLA-SH4K Is World's Smallest 4K Resolution Projector: 10 Gorgeous Megapixels In Yer Face

matt buchanan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:20:09 EDT

No surprise that JVC is showing off their own ultra high-def 10MP wonder projector, since JVC's D-ILA tech also powers the one we saw from Meridian a few weeks ago. That means it should deliver the same stunning 4,096x2400 resolution image—it's like IMAX in your house. Or you can watch up to four full HD screens at once. The D-ILA tech, with its ridiculous pixel density, is also what lets this thing be a whole 65 percent tinier than conventional ultra HD projectors.

You can stack two to increase the light output, though it generates 3500 ANSI Lumens already. It's also got an ethernet port, so you can control multiple projectors from your PC, and receive error reports by email. Price isn't mentioned, but the Meridian setup was $185,000, so you can use your imagination.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JVC UNVEILS 10 MEGAPIXEL ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION PROJECTOR
4K2K D-ILA Projector Provides Four Times the Resolution of Full HD

Denver, CO (September 3, 2008) – JVC unveils the world's smallest 4K2K ultra high definition projector, the DLA-SH4K. Based on the company's new proprietary 1.27-inch 10 megapixel D-ILA devices, the DLA-SH4K projects images at greater than 4 times the resolution and clarity of the industry's latest full high definition projectors. The higher resolution will bring a new level of reality to aircraft simulators, medical analysis, 3D display, command and control, museums, theme parks, and ultra high-end home theaters.

The DLA-SH4K will be unveiled at CEDIA September 3 – 6, 2008 and will be on display throughout the show in the JVC Theater located at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts next to the Denver convention center.

The projector's chassis achieves a remarkable 65% reduction in size compared with conventional projectors in its class. This was achieved in part by using JVC's latest 1.27-inch Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier (D-ILA) devices and a new optical system. D-ILA is a proprietary form of Liquid Crystal on Silicone (LCOS), a reflective technology that offers far greater pixel density than competing devices.

The D-ILA devices used in the DLA-SH4K provide a native 4096 x 2400 resolution—multi-screen display modes that allow users to view up to four Full HD screens at a time. A new optical design featuring an 825 Watt Xenon lamp generates a light output of 3500 ANSI Lumens and features adjustable lamp power that ranges from 825 to 660 watts.

Two DLA-SH4Ks can be stacked for increased light output. In addition, the projector can be inclined up to a ± 90-degree tilt angle and has a horizontal lens shift of ±25% and vertical shift of ±50%, which enables flexible installation.

The DLA-SH4K includes DVI-D (dual-link) x 4 input terminals that accept a wide variety of input resolutions. In addition to the RS-232C and USB connections, an Ethernet interface makes adjustment and installation from web browsers on PCs possible. Furthermore, networking allows multiple projectors to be operated with a single PC and an email function also enables the sending out of error messages and lamp replacement reminders.

JVC will offer two lenses for the projector, the GL-MS4015SZG 1.22x zoom lens for screens up to 300 inches, and the GL-MS4011SG short throw lens for screens up to 250 inches. The DLA-SH4K is available immediately. For more information and photos on the DLA- SH4K D-ILA projector, please visit JVC's Web site at http://referenceseries.com.

ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY
JVC Professional Products Company, located in Wayne, New Jersey, is a leading manufacturer of home theater products and security products in addition to a complete line of broadcast and professional video systems. For more information about this, or any other JVC Professional Products product, contact Candace Vadnais at PFS Marketwyse 973-812-8883, ext. 430 or visit JVC's Web site at http://pro.jvc.com

[JVC]

Amazon Video On Demand Begins Sony Bravia Link Beta, Gets More PC/Mac Features

John Mahoney — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:58:27 EDT

We've known Amazon and Sony's VOD plans since they were in diapers, but today Amazon has introduced their promised instant-view capabilities to their Video on Demand service for both Macs and PCs, and rolled out a beta for Sony Bravia Link owners to start testing—allowing you to pair your TV with your Amazon account for instant purchases and rentals. Your purchases are also automatically added to "Your Video Library" for instant streams from any web browser. [Amazon]

Sony Ultra-Thin KLV-40ZX1M and 240Hz KDL-52XBR7 LCD HDTVs Getting Official US Release

John Mahoney — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Just like we spied earlier today, Sony's two baddest IFA LCD TVs—the 9.9mm-thin KLV-40ZX1M LCD (above) and the 200Hz Motionflow Z4500 (below, known as the KDL-52XBR7 at 240Hz here in the US, due to our 30fps broadcasts vs. Europe's 25fps)—are both getting an official US rollout here at CEDIA. Jesus got a chance to fondle 'em in Berlin last week where US details were slim, but both sets will be shipping stateside in December. Both have whole-house WHDI wireless HD streaming built-in from Amimon. No official pricing on either, but they'll be top-end, for sure (rumored to be $4,500 for the ZX1). Full release follows:

SONY DEBUTS LCD TELEVISION WITH 240HZ FRAME RATE
Also Introduces Super-Slim 40-inch LCD Monitor With a Depth of a Blu-ray Disc Jewel Case

DENVER, Sept. 3, 2008 (CEDIA Booth #600) – Sony continues to push the limits of display innovation and technology with today’s introduction of two new BRAVIA® flat-panel LCD high-definition televisions appealing to the hard-core home theater enthusiast and design-conscious consumer alike.
The BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 LCD TV features 240Hz high frame rate technology, delivering exceptional motion detail in movies, sports and video games. Meanwhile, the BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 LCD monitor features a revolutionary slim design measuring just 9.9mm, or about the thickness of a Compact Disc jewel case.
“Sony continually pushes performance and design innovation beyond any other television manufacturer,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics’ Home Product Division. “From the top to the bottom of our TV line, Sony offers unmatched performance and design.”
The full HD 1080p 52-inch diagonal KDL-52XBR7 incorporates Sony’s new Motionflow™ 240Hz technology delivering an exceptionally crisp and detailed image with natural motion.
The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames, producing remarkably crisp and natural motion.
Other picture enhancements include Sony’s Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE), which helps deliver a dynamic contrast ratio of 80,000:1 and BRAVIA Engine™ 2, Sony’s digital video processor that enhances all incoming signals to match the TV’s 1080p resolution.
The model also is compatible with Sony’s BRAVIA Link modules providing the ability to seamlessly add new features. Optional expansion modules include the BRAVIA DVD Link, the BRAVIA Wireless link, the BRAVIA Input Link, which will ship later this year, and the currently available BRAVIA Internet Video Link.
The BRAVIA Internet Video Link module attaches to the back of a selection of Sony’s 2007 and 2008 BRAVIA LCD flat-panel television models. The service seamlessly streams on-demand entertainment including movies, TV programs, your favorite YouTube videos and a variety of other content not found on network or cable/satellite TV. The service connects to the Internet via your existing broadband Ethernet connection and streams content, much of which is avaialble at no additional charge Content is easily navigated with Sony’s Technical 2007 Emmy® award-winning Xross Media Bar (XMB)™ user interface.
Rounding out the feature set is Digital Media Port (DMP) compatibility, which provides access to video and music from portable media devices like compatible Walkman® and iPod® players and other DMP accessories, which are sold separately. The models also can display digital photos and play digital music using a creative multi-plane 3D graphics slideshows from USB devices, as well as access photos from your PC in another room using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA)® compliant devices via your home network.
Sony’s new 3D Favorites Menu complements the XMB graphical user interface, which has also been enhanced with Sony-unique integration of TV Guide providing easy access and navigation of content and menus through colorful thumbnails and logically placed icons.
Inputs found on the KDL-52XBR7 include four 1080/60 24p HDMI™ connections (HDCP), two 1080/60p HD component inputs, a 1080/60p-capable PC input, and an Ethernet (RJ-45) port.
Sony is also introducing the 40-inch diagonal 1920 x 1080p KLV-40ZX1M flat panel LCD monitor. The revolutionary super-slim display measures just approximately 9.9mm deep – about the depth of a Blu-ray Disc jewel case – and weighs about 26 pounds.

The model features an edge-lit wide color gamut LED backlight delivering exceptional color reproduction and detailed contrast and Sony’s Motionflow 120 Hz technology for exceptional clarity and resolution when viewing film or video content with motion.
Other features include Sony’s BRAVIA Engine 2, a single HDMI input and compatibility with Sony’s BRAVIA Wireless Link allowing users to stream high-definition content wirelessly to the monitor from high-definition sources such as a set-top cable or satellite tuner or Blu-ray Disc™ player.
Other optional accessories include a flat-matching speaker bar with four full-range speakers and two tweeters and a wall-hugging bracket that completes the stunning package.
Both the BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 and KLV-40ZX1M will ship this December. They will be offered at sonystyle.com and at Sony Style retail stores nationwide, as well as at authorized Sony dealers across the country.

Samsung: Blu-ray Will Be Dead in Five Years

matt buchanan — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:40:00 EDT

We've finally gotten to the good stuff in Blu-ray: BD-Live 2.0 players all over the place, Transformers, Firefly, cheaper prices, almost everything we wanted. That's too bad, because Samsung says this party will be over in just five years.

Andy Griffiths, Samsung UK's director of consumer electronics, says that "I think it [Blu-ray] has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10." Sad, really, since he believes 2008 is finally Blu-ray's year (we agree, by year's end, it'll have finally found its stride).

He doesn't elaborate on what he thinks will take it down, but since Samsung is moving into internet-connected TVs, it's possible he's referring to the oft-cited digital downloads specter that's been haunting the format war since the first shots were fired. Whatever happens, it'll look pretty on our OLED sets in 2010, which is when he thinks the tech will finally go mainstream. [Pocket Lint]

Sony's Bravia BDV-IT1000 All-in-One Blu-ray Home Theater Experience

Sean Fallon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:23:00 EDT

It was only a matter of time before Sony squeezed out an all-in-one Blu-ray home theater system, and their new Bravia BDV-IT1000 seems to fit that void quite nicely. Some of the highlight features include: 700W of total power, slim speakers thanks to finger-sized full-range drive units, wireless rear speakers, two HDMI inputs and support for Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. No word on a price or a release date, but I wouldn't doubt that this beauty will be stateside in the near future.

BDV-IT1000 at a glance

* Super-slim speakers made possible by finger-sized full-range drive units
* All-in-one home cinema system with integrated Blu-ray Disc drive
* Full HD 1080/24p picture quality with Deep Color and x.v.Colour
* Wireless rear speakers for great surround effects without cables
* BD-Live Ready: upgradable to Profile 2.0 for extra content and downloads via Ethernet port
* DVD upscaling to 1080p
* Two HDMI input terminals for connection of games consoles, HD TV decoder boxes or other sources, and one HDMI output
* Optical digital and analogue stereo inputs. Also composite/component video in
* Upconversion to HDMI for analogue sources
* Fast, perfect ‘one-touch’ set-up with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration
* BRAVIA Sync for integrated operation with other Sony components
* XrossMediaBar onscreen display for simple, logical operation of all functions
* Connectivity with Network WALKMAN® and iPod® players, Bluetooth devices and home Wi-Fi networks via DIGITAL MEDIA PORT, plus Portable Audio Enhancer
* 700W total power: 5x100W plus 2x100W for subwoofer, using efficient, high-quality 32-bit S-Master digital amplification

[Sony via Sony Insider]

Transparent Fiber Optic Cabling: An Easy Way To Hide Unsightly Wires

Sean Fallon — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:30:00 EDT

Earlier this year we came across a solution for hooking up surround sound with flat speaker cable that promised a quick and inconspicuous way to deal with cabling across a room. A company called OWLink is offering up another solution to this problem using their new transparent fiber optic cabling. The fiber itself measures a minuscule 9 millimeters in diameter and a clear, plastic covering not only protects it, but makes it nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Obviously, that means you could easily tuck it into a groove or run it right along a wall without creating an eyesore. Plus, you don't have to worry about the hassle of tearing up your walls. The only problem is that sending your high definition video, audio, and control signals simultaneously over one of these "transparent" cables is going to set you back a hefty $600 for the FO2800 TV kit and $800 for the FO2850 PC kit. [OWLink via Electronic House]

The Skinny on Projection Screens

Sean Fallon — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:50:00 EDT

If you have been toying with the idea of setting up a home theater with a projector, the guys over at Home Entertainment Mag have put together a handy guide for beginners that can help you maximize performance. They say the key is to match your projector with the right screen—and that means knowing what kinds of screens are out there, what size and shape you need, what to look for in terms of screen gain, whether a perforated screen is the way to go and what the deal is with rear projection. The basics of these issues are covered, and they offer up plenty of suggestions for you to investigate. Hit the link to check out all the details along with some pretty pictures. [Home Entertainment Mag]

The Sonance Kayak Speaker: For the Living Room, Not the Rapids

Sean Fallon — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:30:00 EDT

I'm not quite sure where the name "Kayak" came from because it obviously does not resemble a small boat, but this speaker from Sonance is still a unique looking piece of equipment. The system was designed by the gurus at NACSound and they claim that the Kayak offers stereophonic sound from a single speaker (like numerous other manufacturers) thanks to an acoustic reflector suspended in the center. The Kayak can also be suspended horizontally or vertically depending on your needs. It cranks out a decent amount of sound at 60W with a sensitivity of about 86dB, but it will not come cheap at $2900. [Sonance via Dvice]

Intel's Latest System-On-A-Chip is For Web Enabled TVs, Set-Top Boxes

John Mahoney — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:02:42 EDT

Only a month or so after announcing intentions to dabble in the SoC game for embedded systems, Intel's showing off its first iteration at the Intel Developers Forum. The CE 3100 (previously known as "Canmore" in Intel speak) combines HD video processing, "home theater quality" audio and 3D graphics with the internet connectedness to run widgets from Yahoo's Widget Channel on TVs and STBs like the mockup you see here. Great, another web-connected TV platform.

Intel and Yahoo's solution can pull down Flickr photos, weather, and related TV content and dump it into widgets along the bottom of the screen. It's nothing we haven't seen before. But at least now Intel's FCC plea for mandatory ethernet jacks on all STBs makes a lot more sense. The folks at Laptop had a chance to walk through the interface:

CE 3100 predates Atom, so it does not appear to be the Atom-based SoCs hinted at previously. Also, it packs more muscle than what's required to simply dump some web widgets on the screen, so we'll probably see some more robust media extender technology running on the platform soon. [Video: Laptopmag]

Full release from IDF:

Intel Introduces First IA System on Chip for Consumer Electronics, Expands Internet to TV Experience

Internet on TV Collaboration with Yahoo!®, Mobile Internet Device Momentum and ‘Boundless’ Opportunities for Software Developers Highlighted
IDF San Francisco 2008

SAN FRANCISCO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—NOTE TO EDITORS: photos, videos and more facts available at www.intel.com/pressroom/idf.

At the Intel Developer Forum, Intel Corporation introduced the Intel® Media Processor CE 3100, the first in a new family of purpose-built System on Chips (SoCs) for Consumer Electronics devices based on the company’s popular Intel Architecture (IA) blueprint.

Executives on Wednesday also provided updates on the Mobile Internet Device (MID) category and Intel Atom™ processor, unveiled a brand with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. around the shift to 3-D movie-making and outlined a number of efforts to speed many-core processor software design.

The CE 3100 has been developed for Internet-connected consumer electronics (CE) products such as optical media players, connected CE devices, advanced cable set top boxes and digital TVs. The media processor (previously codenamed “Canmore”) combines leading-edge CE features for high-definition video support, home-theater quality audio and advanced 3-D graphics, with the performance, flexibility and compatibility of IA-based hardware and software. Intel expects to begin shipments of this product next month.

Intel and its customers have been working together to develop a variety of products for emerging growth areas – consumer electronics, MIDs, netbooks and embedded computers – each based on Intel architecture that enables uncompromised Internet access.

“As consumers look to stay connected and entertained regardless of where they are and what device they are using, the Web continues to affect our lives in new ways and is quickly moving to the TV thanks to a new generation of Internet-connected CE devices,” said Eric Kim, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Digital Home Group. “As Intel delivers its first IA SoC with leading-edge performance and Internet compatibility for consumer electronics devices, we are providing a powerful and flexible technology foundation upon which the industry can quickly innovate upon. This technology foundation will help the high-tech industry bring devices to market faster, as well as encourage new designs and inspire new services, such as connecting the TV to the Internet.”

“I Love TV” – Intel Extends the Power of IA into Consumer Electronics

As another SoC product from Intel, the Intel Media Processor CE 3100 is a highly integrated solution that pairs a powerful IA processor core with leading-edge multi-stream video decoding and processing hardware. It also adds a 3-channel 800 MHz DDR2 memory controller, dedicated multi-channel dual audio DSPs, a powerful 3-D graphics engine enabling advanced UIs and EPGs, and support for multiple peripherals, including USB 2.0 and PCI Express.

The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 also features Intel® Media Play Technology that combines hardware-based decoding for broadcast TV and optical media playback with software-based decode for Internet content. When a consumer watches broadcast TV or content on optical media players, the video is encoded in standard formats, such as MPEG-2, H.264 or VC-1. Intel Media Play Technology software routes the video to the on-chip hardware decoders. When viewing Internet content, the software automatically routes the video, and audio as applicable, to a software codec running on the IA processor core. As the Internet becomes more omnipresent, the ability to decode multiple video and audio formats will provide the industry with greater flexibility to evolving standards and technologies, and consumers with more viewing experiences.

The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 is scheduled to ship to CE manufacturers, including Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.1 and Toshiba1. More information is available at www.intel.com/go/celink.

In related news, Intel and Yahoo! Inc. previewed an applications framework for televisions (TV) and related CE devices that use the Intel Architecture, which blends the openness, personality and community aspects of the Web with the simplicity and entertainment strengths of the TV. This application framework, called the Widget Channel, introduces a new and user-friendly way to enjoy Web content while watching TV programs. The Widget Channel is powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine and is optimized to use the performance and the capabilities of Intel Media Processor CE 3100. [A separate press release and more information about the Widget Channel and the Yahoo! Widget Engine are available at www.intel.com/pressroom/idf or connectedtv.yahoo.com/newsroom.]

Intel also announced the formation of The Intel® Consumer Electronics Network, a member-based community of hardware, software and services providers aimed at speeding the delivery of Internet-connected CE devices based on IA SoCs. Together, the network, which includes Alticast Inc1., Futarque A/S1, Giga-Byte Technology Co., LTD1, Tatung Co1., Unihan Corporation, Videon Central Inc1., and VividLogic Inc1., will receive early access to Intel CE platforms and will work to develop and market more feature-rich products to ultimately provide consumers with more choice.

Mobile Internet Devices: “Platform for Innovation”

Anand Chandrasekher, Intel senior vice president and general manager for the Ultra Mobility Group, discussed how Intel® Atom™ processor Z5xx series-based MIDs are becoming platforms for innovation in the mobile ecosystem. He added that the Internet revolution continues unabated with the rapid growth of social networking, user-generated content and location-based services. These trends are even more important for mobile users who are demanding the right device to take this experience with them.

Building on the launch of the Intel Atom processor for MIDs in April, Chandrasekher reinforced the growing need for performance, Internet and software compatibility, and wireless broadband connectivity in order to bring Internet innovations to pocketable devices. He showcased a range of MIDs coming to market across the target market segments and welcomed executives from Clarion1 and Panasonic1 to launch their products in the U.S. market. Chandrasekher also demonstrated the world’s first full 1080p high-definition video playback in a handheld device on the upcoming OQO1 MID. Additionally, he highlighted MIDs from Fujitsu1 and Lenovo1.

Supporting the diverse range of devices spotlighted at IDF this week in San Francisco is a rapidly developing software ecosystem based on the Moblin-based operating system. More than 10 software vendors, including GyPSii1 for social networking, Fuel Games1 for online gaming, Move Networks1 for Internet TV programming and Neusoft1 for UI and applications, announced plans for making their applications available for Moblin-based MIDs.

Continuing on the path of innovation, Chandrasekher reinforced Intel’s MID roadmap with the next-generation platform codenamed “Moorestown,” which is on track for 2009/2010. Holding up the first wafer, he announced that first silicon has been produced, reinforced the versatility of the architecture, and the opportunity to target the communication MID with data and voice capabilities.

Developing for the Future of Computing

Renee James, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Software and Solutions Group, described how software developers play an essential role in bringing emerging technologies and Internet opportunities to life. Processor performance and the move to Intel’s multi-core processors with multi-threaded software are accelerating advancements in all aspects of visual computing for richer and more believable experiences.

James and DreamWorks Animation1 CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg jointly unveiled a new brand, InTru™ 3D, that will represent the next generation of movie storytelling and enhanced 3-D viewing experience. The InTru 3D logo represents stunning computer generated 3-D imagery made possible by the unique combination of Intel technology and DreamWorks creativity. The logo will be employed by Intel and DreamWorks in promotion of 3-D movies, and presented within all of DreamWorks’ 3-D movies beginning with “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

James also announced Visual Adrenaline, Intel’s new visual computing developer program. The program offers resources to help developers, publishers, artists, animators and other gaming and digital content creation and consumption professionals take full advantage of Intel products and technologies as they create tomorrow’s most compelling visual experiences. More information on Visual Adrenaline is available at www.intel.com/software/visualadrenaline.

Additionally, Intel announced the next generation of parallel programming tools that offer new options for multi-core software development for mainstream client applications. The Intel® Parallel Studio includes expanded capabilities for helping design, code, debug and tune applications to harness the power of multi-core processing through parallel programming. Intel Parallel Studio will ease the path for parallel application development to deliver performance and forward scaling to many-core processors for Microsoft Visual Studio developers. For more information, visit www.intel.com/go/parallel.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Intel, Intel Atom and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

Question of the Day: Is Your Flat Panel TV Wall-Mounted Or On a Stand?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:10:00 EDT

Obviously, one of the biggest advantages to owning a flat panel TV is that it is usually light enough and thin enough to be wall-mounted. It reduces clutter and it makes the TV less of an eyesore when it is placed in a tastefully decorated room. For those reasons, I prefer a wall-mounted TV over one that is mounted on a stand, but its not something that everyone is set up for. So, I am curious to know whether your main flat panel TV is wall-mounted, on a stand or tucked away in some sort of media cabinet.

Hillcrest Labs Sues Nintendo to Keep the Wii Out of America

Adam Frucci — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:01:42 EDT

Now this is interesting. Hillcrest Labs is suing Nintendo, trying to create an import ban on the Wii. They claim that Nintendo is infringing on a number of their patents relating to the Wiimote and the on-screen menu system on the Wii. The whole thing doesn't make a lot of sense to us, as we were under the impression that both Nintendo and Hillcrest Labs licensed their tech from Gyration. We're looking into this now, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that an import ban on the Wii is pretty unlikely. Hit the jump for Hillcrest's full press release. Update: After the jump, a clarification on what Hillcrest is suing over from Gyration.

The Hillcrest patents referenced in the action against Nintendo are secondary patents relating to user interface details and compensation techniques, whereas Movea’s Gyration patents are central to the usage model, i.e. using sensors to detect human motion and control graphics on a screen. Gyration was the pioneer in developing fundamental motion sensing technologies and IP, and was a core enabler to Nintendo and Hillcrest, both of whom had entered license arrangements with Gyration to enable their products.

PRESS RELEASE: Hillcrest Labs Issues Statement About Legal Action Against Nintendo and the Wii

August 20, 2008 – Rockville, MD – Hillcrest Labs issued an official statement about legal action that the company has taken today against Nintendo(R) for patent infringement. The statement is as follows:

Hillcrest Labs has filed a complaint for patent infringement with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, D.C., and a separate patent infringement suit in the U.S. District Court in Maryland against Nintendo(R) related to the Wii(TM) video game system.

Hillcrest's patents at issue are U.S. Patent Nos. 7,158,118, 7,262,760, and 7,414,611, which relate to a handheld three-dimensional pointing device, and U.S. Patent No. 7,139,983, which relates to a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television. Since 2001, Hillcrest Labs has pioneered technology that allows consumers to interact with digital media on television using motion-control and pointing techniques. The company holds 29 patents in this area worldwide, and has filled for more than 100 related patents.

Leading consumer electronics companies, not all of whom have been disclosed publicly, have already licensed Hillcrest's technology for use in their products. While Hillcrest Labs has a great deal of respect for Nintendo and the Wii, Hillcrest Labs believes that Nintendo is in clear violation of its patents and has taken this action to protect its intellectual property rights. Given the current status of the filings, the company will not disclose any additional details about the matter at this time.

Information about Hillcrest Labs and its products are available at www.hillcrestlabs.com

Huge Labor Day HDTV Price Drop Coming Up

John Mahoney — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:15:00 EDT

Just in time for NFL, the World Series and all those delightful new network sitcom premieres, Gary over at HD Guru has caught wind of an across-the-board price drop that will lower prices of 2008 panels by a couple hundred dollars. Tons of Samsung's series 5, 6 and 7 sets will see a drop of $100-$200, with Sony, Mitsubishi and Panasonic expected to follow suit by Labor day, so it's probably a good idea to hold your horses on that new set until the prices start to fall, Wal-Mart style. Head over to HD Guru for Samsung's full discounted model list. [HD Guru]

Mitsubishi 40mm-thin HDTV Panel Packs External WHDI Wireless Tuner, BD Player

John Mahoney — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EDT

While there have been several other ultra-thin TVs to cheat on size by moving some of the set's guts into an external box, we're starting to see a few of the biggies taking advantage of the newly-codified WHDI spec to beam the signal from the external box to the screen wirelessly. Details are somewhat thin on these new concept Mitsubushi panels, which are 40mm (a hair over 1.5 inches) thick and should reach manufacturing before the year is up. But their use of WHDI (like these Sharp sets before them) to link the panel to the external tuner box adds an interesting twist to this trend.

Trading a few millimeters shaved off the panel for a big honking box may not seem like a hugely advantageous situation, but WHDI has a range of over 100 feet (into the closet it can go) and allows for seamless pairing of compatible HDTV gear throughout your home, meaning the tuner (or the external Mitsubishi Blu-ray recorder shown next to it) could potentially be linked to other panels in the house. I kind of like the idea of stashing all of my modular source gear in a home theater server room of sorts, leaving only ultra-thin panels to receive the signals visible. That seems to be where WHDI is taking us, although Panasonic (who is not a WHDI member) could have something else up their sleeves. [Tech ON]

World's Largest Record Collection is Worth $50 Million; No One Wants it for $3 Million

Adam Frucci — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:45:00 EDT

If you're looking for a sign that we live in a digital world that cares not for the physical manifestations of our analog past, you need only look at Paul Mawhinney's record collection. At over 3 million records, it's the largest in the world. He's trying to sell it due to his advancing age and health problems. Unfortunately, as he puts it, "no one gives a damn."

Paul's been building his collection for most of his life. He used to run a record store, and while running it he never sold the last copy of any album or single, instead keeping it for his archives. Over the years, those really added up.

Now, at an advancing age, stricken with diabetes and legally blind, Paul wants to sell the collection. It's been appraised at about $50 million, but Paul is asking a mere $3 million. He's had no serious offers, and an eBay auction back in February fell through.

In a time when you can access pretty much whatever music you want online, hard copies of albums are declining in value, both monetary and sentimentally. But to see such a mindblowing collection as this sitting in a basement, unwanted, is really heartbreaking. This is historic, no matter that we live in the iPod era or not, and it belongs in a museum. If only one cared enough to buy it. [World's Greatest Music Collection via Nah Right]

Toshiba XD-E500 Upscaling DVD Player: Their Plan to Not Fight Blu-ray

matt buchanan — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:01:30 EDT

Don't get me wrong, Toshiba's XD-E500 is a decent 1080p/24fps upscaling DVD player—it toasted one of their own upconverting players in the demo, and they've gotten pretty good at doing it. It's got three different intelligent processing modes, two of which are really solid—sharp (which only sharpens where it's needed, not the whole picture), color (dials up blues and greens plus sharp mode), and contrast (deepens blacks, probably the worst mode because you lose some dark detail).

It's $149 and most people still just own DVDs—hell, even if they own an HDTV more than half don't even know what Blu-ray is. And for them, this will make their DVDs look better, and that's good enough. So it's not a bad business decision, either. It's just that it feels like a little bit of a cop-out, even if Toshiba openly admits it's not meant to battle HD, just be a bridge to it for normal people. What I really want to see is a Toshiba Blu-ray player, and I want it to be totally awesome. [Toshiba]

Pandora Internet Radio Can't Take Royalty Rates, Will Likely Close the Box

Benny Goldman — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Pandora, the internet radio station built around your tastes, will probably be going out of business soon. After getting slapped by the CRB with exorbitantly high royalty rates to continue playing music, founder Tim Westergren says the company is facing a "pull-the-plug" situation. There's one congressman trying to help Pandora and it's million plus users, but the service is bleeding money in the meantime and its future looks grim. I'll be very sad to see it go, since being reintroduced to it recently through their excellent iPhone app. What great idea do you have for us next, CRB? [ReadWriteWeb]

How to Watch Michael Phelps Snag 8th Gold Medal, Obliterate World Records Live Tonight

matt buchanan — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:30:00 EDT

One of the benefits of living on the East Coast, besides the fact that it's simply better, is that we rarely suffer the pain of tape delays. So tonight we'll get to watch Michael Phelps snag his eighth gold medal, live tonight, at 10:59pm (which is 10:59am Sunday in Beijing). West Coasters will have a three-hour delay, and if they want to have the illusion of watching it live on their HDTV, basically crawl under a rock for those three hours. Unless you watch it on your PC. Here's are a few ways to watch it with the rest of the world (and our Olympics watching guide).

The best way, usually, would be through the NBC Olympics site, which has decent quality for streamed video, even though it suffers its share of quirks. But they've decided to be jerkfaces and only show swimming on the tube:
To see other events live without a faux tape delay, the first time you go to the site, you've gotta give it an East Code zip code and cable provider, like 10003 (NYC) and Time Warner Cable. Then it'll think you're on the East Coast and give you the goods live. If you punch in a West Coast zip, you'll get hit with the three-hour delay. If you've already messed up, clear out your browser's private data, then try again. And our guide to the byzantine site will probably help you navigate it.

The best option for Phelps is to use a proxy server to make the BBC or CBC think you're in the UK and Canada, and watch their live streams, which offer pretty good coverage generally. Silicon Alley Insider recommends Xroxy for its list of open proxies broken down by countries. Then you've gotta configure your browser, detailed here. If you find one that works (which might take a couple tries), verify you've actually teleported here. Remember kids, someone else owns the server you're running through, so don't put in passwords or credit card info while you're connected to the proxy. And be persistent!

Another option, also from Alley Insider, though the video isn't that good, is Alriyadiah saudi Sport TV, which shows video on about a 10-minute delay. But you don't get to choose your event, so cross your fingers.

If you've got other ideas or tricks, let 'em loose in the comments. Maybe next year NBC will have its shit together. Oh, and go Team USA! [Silicon Alley Insider]

Netflix Up and Running Again: Offering 15% Credit to Customers

Sean Fallon — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:28:00 EDT

The longest service disruption in Netflix history has apparently been resolved, with normal service resuming today. The company will compensate affected customers by adding a 15% credit automatically to their next bill. [Physorg]

The Criterion Collection's Reference Blu-ray Player: The PlayStation 3

Adam Frucci — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:20:00 EDT

The folks at the Criterion Collection know a thing or two about movies. They restore classic films for release on DVD and, starting later this year, Blu-ray. So when they set up their screening rooms, you'd expect them to have some crazy $1,000 Blu-ray player, right? Nope. The Criterion Collection people rock a PlayStation 3 for use as their reference Blu-ray player. If you needed further proof that the PS3 is the best Blu-ray player out there, now you have it. [CNET]

Every NES Game Now Up for Grabs on eBay

Adam Frucci — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Every so often, another OCD nerd realizes they've wasted their life collecting things and/or meets a girl who refuses to cohabitate with someone who dedicates an entire room to 20-year-old video games. At that point, we see epic eBay auctions with complete system collections. Now is one such time.

This particular auction contains every single grey cartridge released for the NES as well as a couple that were sent to critics but never released (California Raisins & Final Fantasy 2). You don't get the insanely rare gold cartridges that go for ludicrous amounts on eBay every so often, but who cares? You get every NES game! You also get a mint NES to play all these games on.

Sure, at some point you'll realize that this is a huge waste of money and space with all of these games available via emulation, but then you'll just have to toss it back on eBay to make your money back. It's the circle of life. The buy it now price is $3,800 and shipping is free. What're you waiting for? [eBay via Geekologie]

60 Video Games Bastardized with Unnecessary Gadgets

Adam Frucci — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EDT

For this week's Photoshop Contest, I tasked you with adding gadgets to your favorite video games, and what results we have. Many a childhood memory is sullied in our Gallery of Champions, adding Segways and iPhones where they really didn't belong or really make a lot of sense. Again, it was tough picking three winners from this lot, but I did. Hit the jump for your top three winners and then the rest of the best in the Gallery of Champions.

First Place — Andy Graber
Second Place — Thanassi Karageorgiou
Third Place — Chip O'Toole

Dealzmodo: Free Home Media HD-DVR For a Year With Verizon FiOS

John Mahoney — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Sign up for some sweet, sweet fiber pipes via Verizon FiOS between now and October 4th and you can bag a year's worth of free Home Media multi-room DVR—the nifty recorder that can play three different saved shows on up to six TVs simultaneously, with individual pause/play controls on each set. You know, the one Kevin Garnett likes so much.

The Best TV Service Just Got Even Better - Special Promotion Makes Signing Up for FiOS TV Even Sweeter

Cable Can't Compete With Ultimate Home-Entertainment Experience From
Verizon; Promotion Offers Free High-Def Digital Video Recorder for 12
Months and Free Month of HBO/Cinemax for New FiOS TV Customers

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ — As TV lovers look forward to the
start of the new fall programming season, Verizon is making it easier to
enjoy the ultimate home-entertainment experience — with a new promotional
savings offer for FiOS TV.

New customers who subscribe to FiOS TV between now and Oct. 4 will
receive their choice of a year's free use of either a high-definition (HD)
digital video recorder (DVR) or an HD Home Media DVR. Verizon is also
offering new FiOS TV customers, or existing customers who upgrade to a
bundled package, one free month of HBO and Cinemax, which includes the
latest hit movies, documentaries and original programming from more than 25
premium channels and access to hundreds of titles on video-on-demand (VOD).
New customers who take advantage of this offer will save between $200 and
$260 the first year, depending upon the DVR customers choose.

"High-def is hot, and FiOS TV is delivered over the network that's
built for HD," said Shawn Strickland, vice president of video solutions for
Verizon. "Our new offer combines the excitement of premium movies with the
convenience and advanced technology of our high-def DVRs. It's a great time
for people to experience HD the way it's meant to be seen, with the
sharpness and clarity of FiOS TV."

With Verizon's unique Home Media DVR, customers can use one DVR to
record programming that can then be watched on up to six other TV sets in
the home. This includes viewing up to three separately recorded programs
simultaneously on different TV sets, and the ability to pause recorded
programming on one set and then continue watching it on another. FiOS TV's
Home Media DVR is bundled with Media Manager, a feature that allows
customers to access photos and music from their personal computers and play
them on their TV or home theater system.

According to Greg Ireland, consumer video research manager for the
industry analyst firm IDC, this new promotional offer is unusual and
impressive because it focuses on features that can positively transform the
viewer experience — and in the case of Home Media DVR, it offers a unique
service that none of the major cable TV providers can deliver to their
customers system-wide.

"What makes this promotion compelling is the fact that it focuses on an
increasingly popular feature, the DVR, in a way that will appeal to both
late- and early-adopters of DVRs," said Ireland. "With this offer,
consumers who have always wanted a DVR can get one for free for 12 months
by moving to FiOS TV. And those that already use a DVR can extend that
experience throughout their home at no charge for 12 months by signing up
for FiOS TV and its Home Media DVR service. This is a good example of how a
service provider can leverage its technological advantages to attract new
business."

In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon offers FiOS Internet service over its
advanced network, with connection speeds as high as up to 50 Megabits per
second (Mbps) downstream and 20 Mbps upstream.

"FiOS is the fastest Internet, period," said Strickland. "When you
combine our superior voice, video and broadband — all delivered on our
advanced network — with unbeatable packages, it's clear that cable just
can't compete."

Verizon's FiOS TV service is delivered over the nation's largest
all-fiber network, straight to customers' homes and businesses, and
features pure digital HD quality and sound as well as an expanding HD
channel lineup, interactive features, diverse content and more. FiOS TV is
currently available to more than 7 million homes in 13 states, and offers
more than 400 all-digital channels, a robust interactive media guide and
other advanced features. Customers also have access to the largest VOD
library, with more than 11,000 titles per month, 70 percent of which are
free. The VOD library includes an increasing number of HD titles, with
plans for 1,000 HD VOD titles per month by the end of the year. For more
information on FiOS TV, visit http://www.verizon.com/fiostv. Consumers can also
call their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a
leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless
communication innovations to mass market, business, government and
wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable
wireless network, serving nearly 69 million customers nationwide. Verizon's
Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and
seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon
Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications,
information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced
fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce
of more than 228,600 and last year generated consolidated operating
revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com.

Freewheeler Speaker Can Be Rolled Around: Yeah, That Makes it Worth $21,000

Sean Fallon — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:30:00 EDT

The Freewheeler speaker features a frequency response of 52 - 21,000 Hz, a 112dB output, a built-in FM receiver, a battery life of 8 hours and a wireless range of 656 feet— but I'm having trouble figuring out what makes it worth $21,000. Is it the fact that it is roughly the size of a Mazda Miata tire (only thicker) and can be rolled around? Because I'll be dammed if I'm paying that much for something I have to push. Still, 8 morons spent $1000 bucks on that stupid iPhone app so there is no telling what people will drop big money on.

[Made in Design via Technabob]

Windows Media Center Offers "Olympics on the Go"

Sean Fallon — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:39:00 EDT

If you and your DVR are having trouble keeping up with all of the Olympics coverage, Microsoft is offering Media Center users the opportunity to catch up with on-demand content. All you need to do is launch Windows Media Center on a PC or laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate and scroll down to Online Media. There you will find a link to activate “NBC Olympics On The Go." (Can also be activated via the NBC site). The content is said to be "up-to-HD quality," whatever that means, so you should get a decent look at your favorite events. [Olympics on the Go]

Ultimate Blu-ray Database for Movie Geeks

matt buchanan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:20:00 EDT

If you're a total movie geek who wants quick access to every sliver of minutae about every Blu-ray disc out there—release date, studio, IMDB rating, disc size, codec, audio encoding and price comparisons—Blu-ray Statistics has them all in a neat table that you can sort by any of those criteria. It's not a pretty site, but damn handy if you wanna know every Fox movie released on a BD50 disc with MPEG-2 encoding, thereby averting bloodbaths with pasty white dudes arguing about codecs or Dolby vs. DTS. [Blu-ray Stats via Crave]

Use Photoshop to Insert Gadgets into Video Games

Adam Frucci — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Last week, we took a quick breather from the weekly Photoshop Contests for an MS Paint contest. The results were awesome, to say the least, but this week it's back to business. I want you to use your hot Photoshop skills to put gadgets into your favorite video games. There are loads of possibilities here, with every game from the Commodore 64 days all the way up to Grand Theft Auto IV just begging to be messed around with.

Work up your best entries and send them to me a contests@gizmodo.com with "Video Game Gadgets" in the subject line. Name your files FirstnameLastname.jpg with whatever name you want to be credited by, and I prefer JPG, PNG or GIF files. PSD, PDF, and various other formats will be ignored. I'll post the winning entries in the Gallery of Champions next Tuesday. Get 'shopping!

Radiohead's House of Cards Video Rendered in 3D Using Legos

Adam Frucci — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:48:32 EDT

Radiohead's latest music video, as you may have heard, didn't use cameras, instead using lasers to capture data that could be presented visually. They then released all that data, allowing people to fiddle around with it. Ian Mackinnon took that 3D plotting data and created this Lego version of the House of Cards video. It's totally awesome.

[Ian mackinnon via Brothers Brick]

Court Rejects Studios and Networks' Copyright Beef With Cloud-Storage DVRs

John Mahoney — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:10:00 EDT

Waaay back in 2006, Cablevision planned to roll out a DVR which stored shows on Cablevision's servers rather than on hard disk inside your set-top box. As they are wont to do, the studios and networks saw an opportunity to suck more revenue out of the system, citing obscure copyright conditions which call for fees when content is "retransmitted" in any way. Now, a judge has smacked down their suit to block remote-storage DVRs, meaning DVRs in the cloud could see the light of day after all.

Cablevision sees RS-DVRs as a way to reduce the price of service and offer more storage, and the option to expand your storage if you can't bear to part with your saved seasons of Big Brother, seasons 20-26. I see a potential bandwidth problem considering how often my Time Warner on demand is "unavailable." Either way never a terrible thing to see tech defeat ridiculous copyright haggling. [Reuters]

Analyst: New Nintendo Handheld to Launch by Year's End

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Get ready for the rumor frenzy. According to EDGE, analyst Michael Pachter is telling investors that, with DS sales taking a dive in Japan and PSP on the rise, Nintendo may release a new handheld game console by year's end:

We think that the timing of a new product introduction will depend upon the sales profile for the DS, and believe that lower than expected DS hardware sales could trigger an earlier launch for the new device. DS sales are solid worldwide, but are weak in Japan, leading us to expect an introduction of a new device in Japan before the end of the calendar year. We think that Nintendo has a new handheld device ready for launch in [Japan] before the end of the calendar year.

We don't know if this is going to be the Nintendo DS 2, but that's the most probable scenario, as Iwata is not very optimistic about new breakthroughs, and the DS touch concept works quite well. On the other side, it could be something that combines the DS with another device.

Or maybe Michael has eaten one too many magic mushrooms and his report stinks worse than Bowser's dung. [EDGE via Kotaku]

An Xbox 360 Controller Crammed into a PS3 Dual Shock Controller's Body

Adam Frucci — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:40:00 EDT

A clever modder on the Ben Heck forums managed to cram an Xbox 360 controller into the shell of a PS3 Dual Shock controller. What resulted is an unholy union of the two consoles, bringing a controller for people with smaller hands to Microsoft's great grey beast. There's no headphone jack, although it may be added in the next go-around, but it looks pretty awesome to me. [Ben Heck Forums]

LG BD300 Is First Blu-ray Player With Built-in Netflix Streaming

matt buchanan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:17:35 EDT

We've been waiting for this since January: LG's promised Blu-ray player with built-in Netflix movie streaming is official. Available this fall for "well under $500," the BD300 is the third major box Netflix has invaded with its unlimited streaming service offering over 12,000 titles.

After adding flicks to your instant queue, you can access them directly from the player, just like with the Roku box. Basically, the BD-300 is a BD-Live Blu-ray player with an invisible bolted-on Roku box—and that's totally awesome, since it chops the number of boxes you need down by at least one (and shows why Netflix's strategy to win the set-top box war is brilliant). If you're a Netflix subscriber, this is three levels of win. We'll see this baby later tonight, but here's all the details we got in the meantime.

LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player to be Unveiled Tonight

NEW YORK, July 31, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — Building on a groundbreaking technology partnership announced earlier this year, LG Electronics and Netflix, Inc. today announced plans for the first Blu-ray disc player that will have the added benefit of being able to instantly stream a growing library of movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to the TV.

Available this fall, the LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will play high definition Blu-ray discs, up-convert standard DVDs to 1080p and allow Netflix subscribers to instantly stream more than 12,000 choices of movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the TV for no additional charge.

LG Electronics and Netflix will demonstrate the BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player for the first time tonight at LG's 2008 Summer Line Show at Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. (The event is open to invited media only.)

Instantly streaming content from Netflix to the TV via the LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will rely on a wired broadband connection and Queue-based user interface. Netflix members will use the Netflix Web site to add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those choices will automatically be displayed on members' TVs and available to watch instantly through the LG player. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. With the BD300's accompanying remote control, Netflix members will be able to browse and make selections right on the TV screen and also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies. In addition, they will have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream.

"As Blu-ray player sales are expected to triple in three years, consumers are craving content and seeking a premium home entertainment experience," said LG Electronics USA President Teddy Hwang. "The BD300 is another LG industry first and provides consumers with an advanced high-def disc player with unparalleled flexibility and networked access for services such as Netflix."

Consumers craving more content will appreciate the BD Live feature, which provides real-time interactivity for movie enthusiasts seeking extras, new previews or special content while BonusView provides picture-in-picture access to Blu-ray disc special features. To further personalize and simplify the home theater experience, the BD300 includes
LG's SimpLink(TM) technology, which allows users to control similarly equipped LG TV and AV products via convenient on-screen menus or directly from the product itself.

In January, prior to the 2008 International CES(R), LG Electronics and Netflix announced their technology partnership to provide a set-top box for consumers to stream movies and TV episodes from the Internet to the TV beginning in the second half of the year.

"LG Electronics is establishing itself as the innovation leader in consumer electronics, combining the best of broadband and Blu-ray connectivity," said Netflix Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Reed Hastings. "LG Electronics was the first of our technology partners to publicly embrace our strategy for getting the Internet to the TV, and is the first to introduce a Blu-ray player that will instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the TV."

[Market Watch, Reuters, Engadget]

Nintendo Sues Piracy-Enabling R4 Cart, R4 Sales Predictably Skyrocket

Adam Frucci — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:45:00 EDT

Yesterday, Kotaku reported on Nintendo and 54 software makers filing an injunction to stop the sales of the R4 and similar devices in Japan. For the uninitiated, the R4 allows you to download DS games online and play them on your DS. Yes, DS piracy. And now said piracy is threatened! So what does that mean? R4 sales are through the roof. Hell, even I bought one yesterday.

The R4 is sold all over the place in Akihabara, the nerd district of Tokyo, and the employees at stores there have already noticed an uptick in sales.

The rush in demand has been amazing. These devices always sell well. But this weekend should be staggering, don't you think?

Yes, I do think. So if you're on the fence about getting one or just discovered their existence thanks to this lawsuit, now seems like a pretty good time to jump on board. For, uh, homebrew games only, of course. [Kotaku]

Sony Ad's HDTV Hungers for the Sweet Flesh of a Blu-ray Player

Adam Frucci — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

This new Sony Vaio ad, created by 180 in Los Angeles, features an HDTV that swallows up a Blu-ray player like a Venus Fly Trap. It's pretty awesome. I think I'd enjoy any ad that has large gadgets devouring smaller ones in an animalistic fashion. [Space Invaders via NotCot]

Nintendo Preparing New Console While Counting 992 Million Dollars

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:55:00 EDT

Nintendo engineers are busily preparing new hardware, while trying not to break the concentration of Mario-in-Chief Satoru Iwata while he counts the $3.9 billion in sales and $992 million in profits they have made this quarter. "We are always preparing for the next hardware. We are under development," he declared. However, according to Chris Morris, he warned fans not to expect too much:

Every hardware needs some revolutionary features. This time around, it happened to be we had a revolutionary user interface. Will it be the same for the next generation? I really can't tell. It's natural for the current customer to expect Nintendo is going to once again do something different. If the people are expecting so many different things from Nintendo, it's going to be difficult for us to go beyond that expectation again.

So there you have it: no brain interfaces, no holodecks, no Matrix. But as Microsoft and Sony's game divisions keep bleeding money, I'm sure Iwata is not giving a damn about the future, four or six years from now, when new generation consoles are expected to hit the market. [Kotaku and Forbes]

DirecTV Adding 30 HD Channels on August 14th, 1080p Movies Later This Year

Sean Fallon — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EDT

DirecTV is poised to take the lead in the HD battle by adding 30 extra channels starting on August 14th. That would give them 130 channels of HD in total—putting them well on their way to the 150 mark they floated around early this year. By the end of this month they also plan to be the first company to transmit all of their HD programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding standard with Dolby Digital Audio. And the icing on the cake will come later this year in the form of 1080p movies.

Some of these new HD offerings include: Showtime Extreme HD, Showtime Showcase HD, Planet Green HD, ABC Family HD, additional DIRECTV HD pay per view channels and an additional 23 Regional Sports Networks. DirecTV is also planning to launch satellite #12 next year, which will push the national HD content to 200 channels. Sure, there are compression issues and those 23 RSNs are all filler, but hey—its better than watching standard crap. [WSJ Marketwatch via Electronic House]

VR Treadmill Makes Running Indoors Feel Like Running Outdoors

Adam Frucci — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:20:00 EDT

This extremely fancy treadmill puts in a whole lot of effort to make you feel like you're running outside when you, in actuality, aren't. While it'd be easy to cynically joke about how people hate the sun so much that they're devising ways to pretend to run outside, this is clearly designed for physical therapy in hospitals. But really, what makes me interested in it is the potential to put something completely different up on that screen. Like a video game.

Why not allow people to jog through, say, the underwater city of Rapture from BioShock? Sure, a country dirt road in the summertime might be nice, but when you can put anything at all up there you might as well think outside the box. And if you can make running on a treadmill feel like a video game, maybe, just maybe you'll be able to get a whole new group of people into exercising. And that wouldn't be something even the biggest cynics could make fun of. Much. [New Launches via Ubergizmos]

MPAA Creating Website to Tell You Which Service Offers Which Movie

Adam Frucci — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:20:00 EDT

In this brave new world of digital video on demand, there's no single place that lets you watch every movie out there (other than, you know, BitTorrent). Instead, there's a smattering of offerings that offer different slivers of the overall movie catalog, forcing you to switch from your Apple TV to your Vudu to your Netflix box to watch what you want to watch. Annoying! The MPAA's solution? No, it's not consolidating so every device accesses every movie. That'd be too convenient. Instead, they're working on a new website that tells you which service to find each movie on. Hey, thanks for providing a band-aid for this here machete wound, MPAA! That'll solve the problem! [Ars Technica]

Blackwater to Drop Xbox 360s Out of Planes as a Mercenary Recruitment Tool

Adam Frucci — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:40:00 EDT

You're probably familiar with Blackwater Worldwide, the mercenary group that works in warzones and doesn't allow itself to be held back by silly things like ethics or respect for human life. Well, they're looking to hire some new mercenaries, and they know that they want people with wartime experience. That means troops. How do you get on current troops' good side? How about dropping free Xbox 360s with Guitar Hero out of planes for them in Afghanistan?

Blackwater recruiter James Overton is working on packing a Microsoft Xbox video-game console, modem, TV projector and "Guitar Hero" video game into a kit that can be kicked out of a Blackwater cargo plane and dropped to troops in Afghanistan.

Why not Army of Two, Blackwater?

Honestly, I don't even know how to feel about this. On the one hand, it's great that the troops will have fun games to play on their down time. On the other hand, Blackwater is one of the most reprehensible companies on the planet. What a world. [GamePolitics via Kotaku]

aTV Media Center Hack for Apple TV is Back, Now With GUI Installer and Support For USB Drives

John Mahoney — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

After disappearing for a while due to a fair use scuff-up, the aTV software that helps turn the Apple TV into the media center it should have been is now back and freshly updated. Big new features are a GUI installer for loading the hack onto a USB stick, eliminating the messy command line work that used to be required, and support for external USB devices for connecting a bigger hard drive or NAS for more storage, on top of everything else this nifty unofficial upgrade does for your Apple TV.

Mplayer codecs mean you can handle just about every file format you can find (including uncompressed VIDEO_TS rips). Other add-ons include the Sapphire media organizer, a WebKit browser, game emulators, the ability to FTP into your box to avoid iTunes and more, all without blocking any of the out-of-the-box functions. Not bad at all for $60. [aTV via 43 Folders]