Portable Video


Posted by flung in Portable Video and Projectors and Video13 May 2008 01:56 pm

CompanionProjector_3kids

Here’s an interesting piece of technology news. QPC Lasers Inc. will be demonstrating their high power miniature prototype BrightLase Red-Green-Blue “RGB” laser at the Society of Information (SID) Display Week 2008. The RGB laser is designed for high resolution miniature projectors in the 100 lumens output region for portable electronic devices. According to QPC, the RBG laser provides advantages to consumer electronics such as expanded color gamut, low power consumption, and ultra-compact form factor. The overall idea is to pair small mobile/portable devices with powerful projectors equipped with the small RGB laser. Instead of watching a video on a small 2 to 3 inch display, project the movie right onto a wall with a compact projector.

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Posted by flung in DVRs and MP3 player and Media Players and Portable Audio and Portable Media Players and Portable Video and Toshiba07 Feb 2008 02:51 pm

Toshiba V81

Let the gigabeat go on!.. ok. that was a little lame I know. In any event, Toshiba has updated their gigabeat V lineup with their new gigabeat V81 portable media player. The V81 features 8GB of storage space and comes with an SDHC compatible media card slot. The card slot is important because the V81 comes with an integrated TV tuner. Recorded television shows can then be copied onto the SDHC card and then brought over to another PC or device for playback.

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Posted by flung in CES and Digital Audio Players and MP3 player and Portable Audio and Portable Media Players and Portable Photo Viewers and Portable Video14 Jan 2008 12:36 am

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Cowon had a small booth located along the side wall of the South Hall of the LVCC. The following are pictures as well as descriptions of the portable media players that they had on display there. Quite honestly – nothing really stood out at Cowon but enjoy the pics anyhow!

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First up is the Premium PMP Cowon Q5W. This high end portable media player has the following specs:

  • 5 inch 16.7 million color TFT LCD with 800 x 480 touch screen display
  • Supports WLAN and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
  • Alchemy ALU1250 600MHz processor
  • Windows CE 5.0 OS
  • TV out with Component, S-Video, Composite outputs
  • Supports AVI, ASF, WMV, MPG, OGM
  • Supports DivX, XviD, MPEG4, WMV 7/8/9
  • Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, OGG, WAV, FLAC, APE, MPC
  • Supports JPG, BMP, PNG, RAW
  • Photo and text viewer
  • Adobe Flash Player
  • FM radio
  • Voice recorder
  • Supports MS DRM 10
  • USB 2.0
  • Built-in stereo speaker
  • 7 hour video playback and 13 hour audio playback
  • 40GB or 60GB HDD

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Here is the Extreme PMP Cowon A3 media player. The specs are as follows:

  • New TI DaVinci chipset
  • 1280 x 720 HD video playback support
  • 800 x 480 resolution, 16.7 million colors, and a 4 inch TFT LCD display
  • TV Out – Component, S-Video, Composite
  • Supports AVI, WMV, ASF, MP4, MATROSKA, MPG, VOB, DAT, MTV, OGM
  • Supports DivX 3.11 and up, XviD, MPEG4 SP/ASP,WMV 9/8/7, H.264 MP, M-JPEG, MPEG1
  • Supports MP3/2/1, ASF, WMA, FLAC, OGG, M4A, TTA, APE, MPC, WV, WAV, AC3
  • Video recording from TV, VCR, or camcorder
  • Voice recording and line-in audio recording
  • Supports JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, TIF, RAW
  • Document viewer
  • FM radio and recording
  • JetEffect powered by BBE and EQ filter
  • User adjustable 10 band EQ
  • Built in stereo speaker
  • USB 2.0 support
  • Alarm scheduled playback or recording
  • 7 hours of video playback and 9 hours of audio playback
  • 30GB/60GB of HDD storage
  • Optional mobile TV package supporting DVB-T, T-DMB, 1 SEG

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This is the Premium MP3 Cowon D2 media player. The specs are as follows:

  • 2.5 inch 16.7 million color TFT LCD with a resolution of 320 x 240
  • Touch screen capable
  • Video, music, photo and text playback
  • Flash Contents player
  • Calculator and Notepad
  • FM radio and recording
  • Voice and line-in recording
  • USB storage
  • Easy to use interface via Virtual Click and Virtual Motion
  • 74mW output
  • Supports full scale 30fps QVGA video and TV out
  • SD/MMC card support with SDHC support
  • Up to 52 hours of music playback, 10 hours of movie playback
  • Dynamic playlists
  • USB 2.0
  • Supports APE, MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, FLAC, Moving Picture, JPG, BMP
  • Supports MS DRM 10
  • JetEffect powered by BBE and EQ filter
  • Available in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB flash memory
  • D2 DAB Digital Radio Edition and D2 1 SEG Edition

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Above is the Cowon Extreme MP3 iAudio 7 portable media player. Specs are as follows:

  • Swing-Touch interface
  • Up to a whopping 60 hours of playback
  • Choose from 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB flash memory
  • Support for music, video, photo, and text playback
  • FM radio and recording
  • Voice and line-in recording
  • USB storage support
  • 1.3 inch color TFT display with 160 x 128 resolution and support for 260K colors
  • Supports MP3, OGG, WMA, ASF, FLAC, WAV, Moving Picture, JPEG
  • Supports Microsoft DRM 10
  • Dynamic playlists
  • USB 2.0
  • JetEffect powered by BBE and EQ filter
  • User adjustable 5 band EQ

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Here is the Cowon Optimal Slim iAudio U5 portable media player. Specs are as follows:

  • Slim design
  • 1.8 inch TFT Color LCD display with a resolution of 128 x 160
  • FM radio and recording
  • Voice recorder
  • USB Storage support
  • 64 mW output
  • Supports MS DRM 10
  • Supports MP3, WMA, WAV file formats
  • Choose from 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB flash memory
  • Multi Language Support
  • Up to 24 hours playback
  • Dynamic playlists
  • USB 2.0
  • JetEffect powered by BBE and EQ Filter
  • User adjustable 5 band equalizer

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Posted by flung in CES and Camcorders and Digital Photo Frames and Portable Video13 Jan 2008 06:49 pm

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We dropped by the Aiptek CES 2008 booth on Monday and checked out some of their newest 2008 products which included two new 1080p capable HD digital camcorders and a new 8 inch Bluetooth enabled digital picture frame. The exciting products were clearly the HD camcorders (Aiptek uses HD a bit loosely here since the camcorders actually record at 1440 x 1080 and not 1920 x 1080) since they’re fairly inexpensive. The high end camcorder is priced under $300 dollars while the lower end one without optical zoom is under $200 dollars.

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Pictured above is the Aiptek PocketDV AHD300 Pro portable HD digital camcorder. Remember – this is not a full HD camcorder because it records video at 1440 x 1080 at up to 30 fps. Specs for the AHD300 Pro include:

  • 5 in 1 multi-functions including digital camcorder, digital camera, voice recorder, portable media player, and SD card reader
  • capture at 1440 x 1080 resolution at 30fps
  • Supports 720p 60 fps capture for high speed motion capture
  • 2x Digital Zoom at 1440 x 1080p
  • 4x Digital Zoom at 720p at 60fps
  • 2.4 inch TFT display
  • Night shot mode
  • Rechargeable li-ion battery and easy power charge via USB cable
  • Record TV program, DVD via AV cable, and playback on AHD 300 Pro

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The next camcorder is the top of the line Aiptek PocketDV AHD500 Pro which also captures at 1440 x 1080 resolutions and includes a 3x optical zoom lens. Specs are as follows:

  • Capture at 1440 x 1080 at 30fps
  • 3X optical zoom lens with auto focus
  • 2.4 inch TFT display
  • Capture up to 5cm close up picture with macro mode
  • Night shot mode
  • Extra LED light helps video recording in the dark
  • Rechargeable Li-Ion battery and power charge via USB

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The last new product from Aiptek is the Bluetooth enabled 8 inch digital photo frame Monet. You can send images to the digital photo frame using Bluetooth wireless technology – simply snap a picture with your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone and then beam it to the display. Other specs include:

  • Slideshow with 13 transition effects
  • Auto sliedshow with personal MP3/WMA music in the background
  • Play video files (MPEG1/2/4)
  • Supports up to 12 megapixel digital images
  • Compatible with USB flash drive, CF, SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro cards
  • Easy to setup calendar, clock, and alarm

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Posted by flung in CES and Camcorders and Gadgets and Portable Video and Video12 Jan 2008 12:34 pm

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I had the opportunity to drop VIEVU which had a smooth booth at the Sands Expo. This company specializes in creating personal video recording devices and currently has two models – the PVR-PRO which sells direct to consumers for $499.95 and the PVR-LE which is specifically for law enforcement usage.

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VIEVU describes the PVR-PRO as a wearable video recording device and seriously – that’s what it really is. Think of it as a small video camera that you attach to your shirt or front pocket. The device has a tri-clip design which basically allows it to be attached to nearly anything out there. There’s also a small sliding door that hides the camera lens behind it. When you’re ready to shoot some video, simply slide the shutter door down and the camera begins recording video onto it’s internal memory.

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I briefly spoke with Tom Burns (Sales Director at VIEVU) and he explained to me his own thoughts and feelings about the PVR-PRO. First off  – it’s a great tool for law enforcement of course because it allows officers to record basically everything that happens at the scene of a crime. Officers can now fully record what is happening from their point of view so there’s no argument whether someone committed an illegal action or not. 

On the consumer side, it’s all about capturing the emotion of the moment. Who wants to go around holding a camcorder or camera in their hands? If people see you shooting video at them with a camcorder in their hands, they will undoubtedly act just a tad bit differently. With the PVR-PRO clipped to your shirt or pocket, there’s a much better chance that individuals will act more naturally and show their true emotions of the moment. On top of this – you get to fully enjoy the environment around you without worrying about whether your shot is correct or if you’re panning too quickly etc (though you might still pan a bit too fast if you’re body moves all over the place!)

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Above is a photograph of some video footage taken by the folks at VIEVU while using the PVR-PRO as they were walking through the streets of Vegas. It’s definitely a pretty cool device to have on hand if you don’t want to deal with actually carrying a camcorder in your hands etc. Here are the specs:

  • VGA quality video (640 x 480)
  • Weighs approximately 5 oz
  • Measures approximately 2.75 x 1.75 x 0.65 inches
  • Zero light infra-red capability – records in complete darkness
  • Rugged rubberized case for durability
  • Waterproof design – IPX5 standard
  • 64 degree field of view
  • 4 hours of video recording
  • Low memory LED indicator
  • Low battery LED indicator
  • green design – meets RoHS and WEEE standards
  • On/Off switch provides lens protection
  • Download to PC via USB
  • Supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista

The MSRP for the PVR-PRO is $499.95 which might be a tad bit high for some consumers – especially since you can get camcorders these days for much cheaper prices. Of course – you do lose the convenience of having something wearable which happens to also operate in complete darkness so it’s a tradeoff.

If there’s one thing I hope VIEVU works on for later iterations of the device – it would be to improve the overall look of the device. While it’s fairly small in size, it’s still somewhat noticeable if it’s clipped on a shirt. If they could further miniaturize it and make it more inconspicuous – that would be AWESOME. Adding a media card slot would also make it even more handy for long usage.

I look at it this way. I would LOVED to have had the PVR-PRO on hand while walking around CES 2008. Why bother snapping up pics, carrying a camcorder etc, when I could simply talk naturally to folks at CES AND be able to record the conversations as they happen.

Oh.. one final note – someone tell the folks at GhostHunters that they need to pick up these devices for their investigations!

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Posted by flung in LCD displays and Portable Video and Video18 Dec 2007 04:36 pm

iwear av920 There are reports that Vuzix will be introducing a new version of the iWear AV920 before CES 2008. The upgraded version will allow for multi-player gaming right from a single game console. Features of the rumored upgrade include the following:

  • Full screen progressive scan support
  • Ability to daisy chain multiple AV920’s. Example – instead of splitting a Halo screen into four quadrants for four players, each player can have their own private viewing screen

The upgraded version of the AV920 will still support all the other features of the AV920. Here’s a short list of some of the existing features:

  • iWear 3D enabled for automatic 2D/3D control
  • Can be worn with or without prescription eyeglasses
  • Integrated rechargeable lithium ion battery for five hours of continuous viewing
  • mini USB charger
  • Removable integrated speakers
  • AccuTilt viewer pivots up to 15 degrees for comfortable viewing angle
  • 32 degree field of view
  • Equivalent to a 62 inch screen viewed from 9 feet
  • Weight of 2.9 oz
  • 60Hz progressive scan update rate

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Posted by flung in DVD Players and Portable Video and Video11 Dec 2007 02:06 am

hannsg_dvd HANNSG has introduced a new portable DVD player called the HP076VD. The HP076VD features a 7 inch wide-screen active-matrix LCD display, a “flip-up” lid, anti-shock protection, USB connectivity, media card support, MP3 playback via stereo speakers, JPEG viewing support, and a rechargeable NiMH battery (providing a scant 2 hours of battery life though). The HP076VD which comes with a power adapter, 12V car adapter, and carrying case, sells for £69.99.

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Posted by flung in Digital Audio Players and MP3 player and Media Players and Portable Media and Portable Media Players and Portable Video11 Dec 2007 12:03 am

iriver w7

The folks at Akihabara News are reporting that the widescreen portable media player iRiver W7 is now available in stores in Korea. The 4GB version is selling for 177 EUR while the 8GB version is going for 214 EUR.

Here are the specs in case you’re not familiar with the W7 (which I wasn’t):

  • Available in 4 or 8GB storage capacities
  • Available in violet or white
  • Supports MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA
  • Supports MP3, WMA 8kbps – 320 kbps
  • Supports WMV9 SP, MPEG-4 SP (30fps, 480 x 272) H.264 (Baseline Profile)
  • 480 x 272 TFT LCD display with support for up to 260K colors
  • SRS WOW HD, 7 Preset Equalizer
  • Flash support for games
  • Electronic dictionary
  • E-Book reader
  • Supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista
  • Touchscreen + Jog user interface

 

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

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Posted by flung in Creative and Digital Audio Players and MP3 player and Portable Media Players and Portable Photo Viewers and Portable Video05 Dec 2007 02:01 am

Creative_Zen_ZN_Z32G_BK_1

It looks like the 32GB version of the Creative Zen will be coming out a bit sooner than expected – at least in Japan! Akihabara News is reporting that Creative Japan will begin selling the 32GB Creative Zen (model ZN-Z32G-BK) by the middle of December. Price? How about 250 Eur. Spec wise, the Zen is basically still the same except for the memory boost to 32GB. Features include:

  • 2.5 inch QVGA (320 x 240) LCD display
  • Audio support for MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV file formats
  • Video support for WMV/MPEG-SP/DivX/XviD/Motion-JPEG file formats
  • SD card slot with support for SDHC cards
  • FM tuner built-in
  • Measures 83 x 55 x 11.3 mm and weighs 65 grams
  • Signal to Noise Ratio of 97dB
  • Frequency Response of 20Hz – 20kHz
  • USB 2.0 support

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Posted by flung in Digital Audio Players and MP3 player and Portable Audio and Portable Media Players and Portable Photo Viewers and Portable Video and Windows Mobile05 Dec 2007 01:18 am

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COWON is now shipping it’s next generation portable multimedia player in the form of the COWON Q5W. The Q5W combines three major capabilities into a single device – a portable multimedia player (PMP), a Windows Mobile device, and a GPS navigation system (assuming you get the optional GPS navigation package). At a high level, the Q5W comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a high resolution 5 inch widescreen display, a touch-sensitive interface, Windows CE 5.0 Professional, and an AMD Alchemy Au1250 600MHz processor. Here are the major features and specifications:

  • 5 inch, 800 x 480 display with support for 16,700,000 colors
  • 500:1 contrast ratio
  • 200cd/m2 brightness
  • AMD Alchemy Au1250 processor running at 600MHz
  • 64MB NOR Flash, 128MB SDRAM
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0
  • 1.8 inch 40GB or 60GB HDD
  • Windows CE 5.0 Professional
  • Music and movie player
  • Voice recorder, photo viewer, and text viewer
  • 95 dB signal to noise ratio
  • 20Hz to 20KHz frequency range
  • 1W + 1W integrated speakers
  • 5.5 hour charge time
  • Measures 5.46 x 3.48 x 0.79 inches and weighs 13.4 oz
  • 13 hour battery life for audio playback
  • 7 hour battery life for video playback
  • Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, OGG, WAV, FLAC, APE, MPC Audio formats
  • Supports MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, Wave, FLAC, APE, MusePack audio codecs
  • Supports AVI, ASF, WMV, MPG, OGM Movie formats
  • Supports DivX, XviD, MPEG4, WMV7/8/9 video codecs
  • Max video resolution of 720 x 480 at 30fps
  • Component, S-Video, and Composite TV out
  • Internal microphone
  • Supports JPG, BMP, PNG, and RAW
  • Supports TXT
  • MSN Messenger with Voice Chat support

Oh yes – the Q5W supports GPS navigation through the addition of the GPS navigation package. The package comes with  a COWON Navigator cradle equipped with GPS receiver antenna (SiRF III internal), FM transmitter switch for audio playback on vehicle radio, Tele Atlas premium digital maps data and NavMate navigation software.

The COWON Q5W 50GB is selling for $549.99 while the 60GB version goes for $599.99. The optional GPS Navigation package goes for $199.99.

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