Yes, proving that there is indeed still a market for 4:3 aspect ratio 17 inch LCD monitors, NEC announces a new 17 inch model in the form of the MultiSync LCD175M. Designed primarily for business environments (you know.. IT, corporate, educational needs where large format 16:9 aspect ratios might not make sense), the LCD175M features an EPEAT Gold rating, ENERGY STAR 5.0, and TCO 5.0 compliance and comes with the following specs:

• 1000:1 contrast ratio
• 5ms response time
• 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 1280 x 1024 resolution
• Height adjust (50m) and tilt capabilities
• 50% less mercury content and power consumption than its predecessors
• Two-step ECO mode for power consumption
• Carbon footprint meter for tracking of carbon savings
• Downward-firing multimedia speakers with headphone jack
• Recycled plastic partially utilized in chassis structure

The MultiSync LCD175M will begin shipping this month for an estimated price of $179 dollars.

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Technorati Tags: NEC, MultiSync LCD175M LCD Monitor

Those of you annoyed with the last user interface update of Apple TV will be happy to hear a new UI is out. Apple released version 3.0 of their Apple TV software today featuring a completely redesigned user interface and adding new features such as iTunes Extras, iTunes LP, Genius Mixes, and Internet Radio support.

The new main menu gives you instant access to your favorite content and according to the Apple press release: “Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu.”

Introduced back in September, iTunes Extras and iTunes LP make their appearance in this living-room oriented Apple TV appliance. iTunes Extras provides additional content associated to movies while iTunes LP providing additional information about select albums.

If you’re like me and have a large music collection, you’ll be thrilled to hear that the Apple Genius Mix is now available with this software update. Create up to 12 endless mixes of songs that “go great together”, all of which are automatically created from your own music library. Should you be sick of your music collection – never fear because Apple TV now has support for Internet radio streaming. Nice.

On the photo front, Apple adds iPhoto Events and iPhoto Faces to Apple TV – making it easier to locate the photo you’re searching for.

Apple TV 3.0 is a free software upgrade for current owners of Apple TV. The current 160GB Apple TV model is available now for $229.

Check out PC Magazine’s hands-on (with pictures) of the new Apple TV 3.0 software.

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Technorati Tags: Apple TV, Apple TV 3.0 software

The new Samsung 933HD+ and 2333HD LCD monitors deliver integrated HDTV functionality in desktop monitor form factors with features such as:

• Built-in digital TV tuner with optional cable or satellite connection
• Dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and a fast 5 ms response rate
• 1366 x 768 resolution for 19 inch 933HD+
• 1920 x 1080 resolution for 23 inch 2333HD
• Glossy black finish with rounded bottom edge and matching crystal-like acrylic bar
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• Settings such as brightness, backlight, and color effects can be customized with a touch of a key using the MagicColor, MagicBright, Color Effect and Image Size functions
• Up to two HDMI connections depending on the model
• Built-in stereo sound system
• 2333HD comes with Dolby Digital support
• Remote control

The Samsung 933HD+ has an estimated street price of $249.99 while the 2333HD has an estimated street price of $329.99.

Technorati Tags: Samsung 933HD , Samsung 2333HD

The JVC XV-BP11 is a new entry-level Blu-ray player available immediately for a price of $199.95. Features of the XV-BP11 include:

• BD Profile 1.1
• Playable Discs: BD-Rom, BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW
• Playable Formats: AVCHD, WMV, JPEG, MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS HD Master Audio/Essential
• Connections:
  • Video: HDMI V1.3, composite
  • Audio: Analog L/R, coaxial, HDMI V1.3
  • USB Host (front panel)
• Convenience Features: Quick loading, cinema zoom (x16), parental lock, slim design
• 1080/24p Playback
• HDMI with x.v.Color(TM)/Deep Color

Yeah.. no Profile 2.0 support but then again this is an entry level player.

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Technorati Tags: JVC XV-BP11 Blu-ray player

Big news for Sony PS3 owners who also have Netflix subscriptions – the two companies have announced a partnership to bring Netflix streaming to the PlayStation 3 platform. Due to arrive next month, Netflix streaming will be available to all Netflix members in the U.S. who also own a PS3 console.

Enabling Netflix streaming on your PS3 will be an interesting affair especially if you’re used to other means of activating Netflix-enabled devices. You’ll need to reserve a free instant streaming Blu-ray disc from Netflix which  leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3. Of course, your PS3 console needs to be connected to the Internet in order for the activation to occur (or any streaming for that matter).

Once enabled, Netflix subscribers will be able to view movies and TV shows that can be watched instantly with titles organized into categories such as members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals, and members’ individual Instant Queues. You’ll also be able to add movies and TV shows to their Queues, read synopses, and rate movies on the PS3.

You can reserve the free instant streaming disc for the PS3 by going to www.netflix.com/ps3.

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Technorati Tags: Sony, Netflix, PlayStation 3, Netflix Streaming

If you’re looking to eliminate the HDMI cables leading up to your flat panel display, then you’ll want to check out the newly announced Philips Electronics Wireless HDTV Link (model SWW1800/27).

With the Wireless HDTV Link, you’ll be able to transmit full 1080p HD video wirelessly at up to distances of 75 feet without any signal loss or degradation. The HD signal is also never compressed during the wireless transmission – ensuring that all attributes are transmitted between the source to the destination.

Finally, the Wireless HDTV Link also acts as an AV switch – providing four connections in the form of two digital HDMI connections and two component connections.

Now comes the bad news. At $799, the Wireless HDTV Link isn’t cheap at all so unless you absolutely need to have wireless HDMI technology, you might want to wait a bit until the prices fall down to Earth a bit. The Wireless HDTV Link is available for purchase at Amazon.com and Dell.com. It will also be sold at Sam’s club, samsclub.com, and Costco.com beginning next month.

Technorati Tags: Philips Electronics, Wireless HDTV Link, Wireless HDMI

Looking to capitalize on the ever growing computer mobile market, Samsung introduces two LCD monitors today designed specifically to serve as secondary displays for notebook PCs – the Lapfit LD220G & LD190N. These monitors are designed to be portable (weigh less than 10 pounds) similar to how you might take your notebook PC with you wherever you go. Other conveniences include a built-in kickstand, a slim form factor, quick customizations at the touch of a key, and a low profile designed to stay level with a notebook PC.

Here’s a breakdown of the two monitors.

Lapfit LD190N:

• 1360 x 768 resolution
• 250 cd/m2 brightness
• Dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000:1
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
• 5ms response time
• Low power consumption

Lapfit LD220G:

• 1920×1080 resolution
• 250 cd/m2 brightness
• Dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000:1
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
• 5ms response time
• UbiSync technology for connectivity via USB – allows users to quickly plug-in and manage multiple monitors without using additional video cards or changing system settings
• USB hub
• Low power consumption

The new Lapfit monitors are available now with the Lapfit LD22G going for $249.99 and the Lapfit LD190N going for $149.99.

Technorati Tags: Samsung, Samsung Lapfit LD220G, Samsung Lapfit LD190N

HP goes all-in with multitouch computing with a bevy of new multitouch-enabled product announcements including three new consumer HP TouchSmart PCs, a new business oriented all-in-one touch-enabled PC, and the company’s first fully interactive 42 inch HD digital signage touch display. Here’s the complete breakdown of the new product announcements.

New Consumer HP TouchSmart PCs:

In the desktop PC front, HP announces new TouchSmart PC models spanning 20 and 23 inch widescreen systems. The new models include the HP TouchSmart 300 and the HP TouchSmart 600 – both of which feature:

• Supports either HD capable or HD widescreen display with a multitouch enabled screen
• Features exclusive “built-for-touch” applications including Hulu Desktop, touch-enabled Netflix app, Twitter app, Rhapsody app, Pandora Internet radio, TouchSmart RecipeBox, TouchSmart Live TV app, TouchSmart Canvas APp, and TouchSmart Link
• New swivel stand and tilt webcam
• Meets ENERGY STAR 5.0

The TouchSmart 300 will have a starting price of $899 and will be available on November 1st. The TouchSmart 600 will have a starting price of $1049 and will be available on October 22nd.

On the consumer mobile front, HP announces the multitouch-enabled TouchSmart tx2 notebook PC with features such as:

• Tablet PC capabilities
• Multitouch support within HP MediaSmart
• Features most of the same apps found on HP TouchSmart PCs as well as exclusive touch-enabled games and Corel Painter Sketch Pad
• Weighs 4.65 pounds
• 12.1 inch WGXA HD HP LED widescreen integrated touch-screen convertible display
• AMD Turion dual core processors
• Glossy HP Imprint finish with titanium color “Reaction” pattern
• Enjoy the notebook in three modes – PC, display, and tablet
• Rechargeable digital ink pen
• Starting price of $799 and available on October 22nd

Consumers aren’t the only ones to enjoy new HP multitouch-enabled products. The company announces the industry’s only full-featured, all-in-one multitouch-enabled business PC – the HP TouchSmart 9100 Business PC. Features include:

• Supports Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• Windows 7 Professional
• Up to 8GB of RAM
• Up to 500GB HDD or optional 64GB SSD
• NVIDIA GeForce G200 integrated graphics or upgrade to NVIDIA GeForce GT230 discrete graphics using Mobile Express Module (MXM) graphics slot
• Optional wall mount adapter attaches the PC to a VESA wall mount or a VESA compatible articulating arm
• Firewire output
• DVI output
• Optional wireless keyboard and mice
• Optional Blu-ray combo optical drive
• ENERGY STAR qualified and EPEAT Silver registered
• Starting price of $1299 and available in December

Finally, HP announces their first fully interactive 42 inch HD digital signage display – the HP LD4200tm. The display utilizes infrared technology to recognize multitouch gestures for on-screen interaction. Features include:

• 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution
• 178 x 178 degree viewing angle
• Designed to run 24/7 with low power usage
• MSRP of $2799 and will be available in December

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Technorati Tags: HP, HP TouchSmart 300, HP TouchSmart 600, HP TouchSmart tx2, HP TouchSmart 9100, HP LD4200tm

Samsung announced today their first internal Blu-ray/DVD/CD combo drive called the SH-B083. The new drive supports the following features:

• Reads Blu-ray discs and reads/writes CD/DVDs
• Reads BD-R and BD-ROM discs at up to 8x speeds
• Reads CDs at up to 40x and DVDs at up to 16x
• Average access speed of 350ms
• Comes with two lenses for more stable reading and writing – one lens for BD read and one lens for CD/DVD read/writes
• Spherical Aberration Compensation Technology (SACT) improves reading quality on a BD drive whose protective layer does not have a uniform thickness
• Precision Step Control Technology (PSCT)
• Four point skew adjustment
• Optical lens cooling system reduces heat buildup
• Eco-friendly drive with low power consumption and aerodynamic frame design to lower acoustic noise by preventing pressure concentration in several areas of the bezel and the door
• Bundled Cyberlink Powerproducer software
• Front bezel includes chic mirror front door design and blue LED

The Samsung SH-B083 will be available in November – no word on pricing as of yet.

Technorati Tags: Samsung SH-B083

JVC is out with a new portable pocket HD camcorder device called the PICSIO GC-FM1. Measuring a mere 53 x 97 x 17mm and weighing only 95 grams, the GC-FM1 features:

• 8 megapixel image sensor for digital stills
• 2.03 megapixel video sensor
• Capture 1080p HD video on SD and SDHC memory cards in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format (other video resolutions include 720p, VGA, and QVGA)
• 2 inch LCD display
• HDMI output

The GC-FM1 will be available in three colors – blue, black, and purple.

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Technorati Tags: JVC PICISIO GC-FM1, Pocket Camcorder, HD Camcorder