Acer also announced that their 24 inch G24 wide-screen LCD display is now available for sale in the U.S. The G24 is designed to match the look and feel of the new Aspire Predator gaming rig with its armored, angular exterior look and feel. Features of the G24 include:

• 400 cd/m2 brightness
• 160 degree viewing angle
• Acer OD (overdrive) technology improves gray to gray levels
• 1920 x 1200 resolution
• 2ms response time
• D-Sub, DVI, HDMI with HDCP
• 50000:1 contrast ratio
• VESA Wall Mounting

The Acer G24 has an MSRP of $399.99.

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Technorati Tags: Acer, G24 24 inch wide-screen LCD

I absolutely love the premise of HDMI. I love that a single cable carries all the information between two digital devices. It simplifies life, it simplifies the complexity behind a home entertainment system. However, if there’s one thing that I don’t love - it’s the insufferable, yet necessary, HDCP authorization process that occurs every time a device connects to an HDTV set. This process inevitably results in lag times whenever you switch between HDMI enabled inputs. How many of you suffer from this problem?  I know I do with my Samsung HDTV set. Switch to a new HDMI input and I get the “searching for a signal” message for 4 to 5 seconds. Utterly annoying!

Enter Silicon Image and their InstaPort Technology. With InstaPort Technology in devices such as HDTV sets, A/V receivers, and HDMI switches, HDMI input switching delays will be a thing of the past. A typical HDTV set will initialize the HDCP authorization process only when the input is selected - resulting in that perceivable delay. An HDTV set with InstaPort Technology will perform the HDCP authorization process when the HDTV connects to the device - not when the input is selected. InstaPort allows a digital television set to “perform simultaneous background HDCP authentication with all connected source devices as soon as they are connected to the DTV”.

Folks .. I WANT this technology in my next HDMI switching component - whether it’s in my HDTV set or in my A/V receiver or in a standalone HDMI switch.

To that end, Silicon Image announced that InstaPort technology will be featured in Samsung’s next generation HDTV sets and is also under evaluation at nine of the top ten HDTV manufacturers for next year’s models. Throw this into a next generation A/V receiver and I’m so there!

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Technorati Tags: Silicon Image, InstaPort Technology

Let’s face it - HDMI connections are a thing of joy. A single cable for both audio and video - what better way to connect different home theater components right? The only problem with the modern day HDMI cable is the amount of clearance you’ll need behind your component to fit the cable in. Panasonic has a solution for this problem with the introduction of the world’s first free-angle HDMI cable. The new cable is version1.3a compliant and comes in two lengths - a 1.5 meter one and a 3 foot one. The Free Angle HDMI cable has a flexibility of 180 degrees and Panasonic reduced the amount of space needed for the HDMI cable to a mere 1.2 inches. These new cables will be available in October with the 1.5 meter going for $59.99 and the 3 meter going for $79.99.

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Technorati Tags: Panasonic, Free Angle HDMI cable

Still thinking about upgrading to a 120Hz LCD HDTV set? Well it looks like you’ve got a bit more catching up to do thanks to Sony’s latest HDTV set - the KDL-52XBR7 featuring 240Hz Motionflow technology. That’s four times the frame rate found in typical LCD sets and two times the frame rates of current high end sets. Other features include Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) which helps deliver a dynamic contrast ratio of 80,000:1, the BRAVIA Engine 2, compatibility with BRAVIA Link modules, Digital Media Port, and a new multi-plane 3D graphics slideshow for digital photos and music stored on USB devices. The KDL-52XBR7 comes with four 1080/60 24p HDMI ports, two 1080/60p HD component inputs, a 1080/60p capable PC input, and an Ethernet port. You can expect the Sony KDL-52XBR7 this December.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony, KDL-52XBR7, Motionflow, 240 Hz

IOGEAR has announced the new HDMI CAT5e/6 MiniExtender (GVE300) and DVI CAT5e/6 MiniExtender (GVE200) allowing users to expand the distance between their HD video source(s) and their display units. Both extenders come with a local transmitter unit and a remote receiving unit which are linked together by two standard solid Category 5 twisted Ethernet cables. The HDMI extender can provide up to 100 feet of additional distance for 1080p signals and 200 feet of additional distance for 1080i signals. The DVI extender supports a 1080p signal up to 100 feet away.

Here’s a picture of the HDMI extenders:

Here are the DVI extenders:

Both extenders are available now with the HDMI extender going for $279.95 and the DVI extender going for $69.95.

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Technorati Tags: IOGEAR, HDMI CAT5e/6 MiniExtender, DVI CAT5e/6 MiniExtender, GVE300, GVE200

IXOS has a new HDMI switch out called the XHT948-UK. This 4 input switch features iVEC technology which enhances the digital signal for increased distance capabilities. Other specs include:

• Data error LED alerts for improper or no signals
• Input LEDS for each component signal
• Supports SD, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p signals and HDCP compliant
• Comes with wireless remote and brackets for rack mounting option
• Includes RS-232 port
• HDMI v.1.3 support

[Check it out via Pocket-Lint]

Technorati Tags: IXOS XHT948-UK, 4 port HDMI switch

Sony has three new receiver models for their ES (Elevated Series) lineup of A/V receivers which are typically targeted for high end home theater environments. The new models are the STR-DA4400ES, STR-DA3400ES, and STR-DA2400ES. These new receivers feature 1080/24p support, support for the latest audio codecs, and Faroudja DCDi Cinema technology for video upscaling up to 1080p when connected via HDMI. Other features include the xross media bar inspired user interface, Sony’s Digital Cinema Auto Calibration system for easy surround sound setup, Sony’s DIGITAL MEDIA PORT, and BRAVIA Sync support.

The STR-DA4400ES features the following:

• 7.1 channel receiver
• 120 watt amp (8 ohms, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.09 percent THD)
• Six HDMI inputs (gotta love that!)
• DSD decoding through HDMI
• HD video distribution to a second zone
• Audio distribution to three zones
• Picture-in-picture for monitoring of multi-zone output or an external video source
• Available in August for $1500

The STR-DA3400ES features the following:

• 7.1 channel receiver
• 100 watt power amp (8 ohms, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.09 percent THD)
• Four HDMI inputs (not too bad)
• 12 volt trigger
• IR repeater
• HD video distribution to a second zone (composite)
• Available in August for $1000

The STR-DA2400ES features the following:

• 7.1 channel receiver
• 100 watt power amp (8 ohms, 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 0.09 percent THD)
• Basic icon-driven GUI
• Four HDMI inputs
• Available in July for $800

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony, STR-DA4400ES, STR-DA3400ES, STR-DA2400ES

HDMI is good.. but let’s face it.. wouldn’t it be awesome if we could just simply eradicate any wires at all in our home theater systems? Well that dream is pretty much a reality folks thanks to companies like AMIMON who are working on wireless high definition technologies. AMIMON’s technology is called WHDI and they recently partnered up with Sharp to include their technology in Sharp’s X-Series of LCD TVs.

AMIMON WHDI technology is capable of delivering wireless uncompressed HDTV at ranges of over 100 feet and through multiple walls. Sharp’s implementation of WHDI technology allows their X-Series to separate the tuner from the display. The tuner can now be connected to the display either via a traditional cable or via a wireless video transmitter. The new sets will go on sale first in Japan. The only downside thus far? The added expensive in having WHDI - about 800 dollars on top of the cost of the Sharp HDTV set. Ouch.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sharp, AMIMON, WHDI, X-series, Wireless HD

Introduction

Do you find yourself running out of HDMI inputs on your receiver or HDTV? If you’re like me, then the answer to that question is probably a resounding yes. The coming of HDMI greatly simplified home theater systems by combining the video and audio (and control) signals into a single cable. However, this simplicity also brings a problem to consumers. As more and more devices embrace HDMI, we’re running into a problem of a limited number of HDMI inputs on receivers and HDTV sets. You could get around this by buying a high end A/V receiver with four HDMI inputs but these receivers are typically rather expensive. Could we solve this by connecting to an HDTV? Problematic there also as many HDTV’s only have one or two or at most three inputs. What do you do then when you have an HDMI enabled cable box, PS3, and Xbox 360 and you only have two HDMI inputs to work with? You add an HDMI switch into the picture of course. That’s pretty much the problem I faced earlier this year when I finally caved and purchased a Sony PlayStation 3. I desperately needed more HDMI switches. Thus, today I’ll be looking at one such switch commonly found at local Best Buy stores. It’s called the Psyclone PSC47 and it’s one of the more expensive switches out on the market (at $199.99). Let’s see if the PSC47 is worth the money!

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Psyclone, HDMI Selector, Model PSC47, Review, HDMI Switch

Sony continued their new product onslaught with the introduction of four home theater component systems designed for HDTVs and Blu-ray players. The new models consist of the HT-SS2300, HT-CT100, HT-7200DH, and the HT-DDWG700.

The HT-SS2300 features:

• Three 1080p capable HDMI inputs
• Optical and coaxial digital inputs
• 5.1 channel system with 1000 watts RMS of power
• Slim A/V receiver designed to match 2008 Blu-ray player models
• Sony Digital Media Port
• Sony Digital Cinema Auto Calibration
• Updated Portable Audio Enhancer
• Available this summer for $400 dollars

HT-CT100

• Three 1080p capable HDMI inputs
• Optical and coaxial digital inputs
• 3.1 channel system with sound bar and separate subwoofer
• Delivers realistic surround sound using Sony’s S-Force PRO Front Surround Sound technology
• Sony Digital Media Port
• Sony Digital Cinema Auto Calibration
• Updated Portable Audio Enhancer
• Available in March for $300 dollars

HT-7200DH

• 5.1 channel system delivering 900 watts RMS power
• Single disc DVD/CD player
• Video upscaling to 1080p via HDMI
• HDMI repeater automatically switches the television to the correct input
• Three 1080p capable HDMI inputs
• On-screen display
• Sony Digital Media Port
• Sony Digital Cinema Auto Calibration
• Updated Portable Audio Enhancer
• Available in May for $500 dollars

HT-DDWG700

• 5.1 channel system delivering 800 watts RMS power
• Includes cradle for iPod players
• Sony Digital Media Port
• Sony Digital Cinema Auto Calibration
• Updated Portable Audio Enhancer
• Available in March for $200 dollars

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony, HT-SS2300, HT-CT100, HT-7200DH