Skip to Content

Get your holiday on with Holidash!
AOL Tech

Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 8:00PM


You should've known that Canon wouldn't be able to introduce a new family of HD camcorders without Samsung hitting back with a crew of its own, so it's with that in mind that we present Samsung's H-Series. The HMX-H106, HMX-H105, HMX-H104, and HMX-H100 all arrive with Full HD sensors and a Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens with Optical Image Stabilization, but it's the H106 that really steals the show. Said device is the first Full HD camcorder to incorporate a 64GB SSD within, while the H105 and H104 offer up 32GB and 16GB SSDs, respectively; as for the H100, you'll be providing your own SD / SDHC card before anything gets recorded. The whole crew utilizes H.264 compression, meaning that the big daddy can hold 12 hours of footage at Full HD resolution. Mum's the word on pricing / availability, but the full release is waiting just after the break.

Gallery: Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

Continue reading Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

Wisair's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set coming soon for $129

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 6:37PM

It's debatable whether wireless USB is on its way out or on its way in (for real this time), but regardless of which way it's swaying, Wisair's got some availability you should know about. The outfit's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set, which is a screen-centric variant of the kit introduced back in November, will be available this quarter in the US and Europe. Based on Wisair's WSR601 Wireless USB single chip solution, the device offers up VGA and HDMI connectivity options, supports resolutions up to 1,400 x 1,050 and is USB-IF certified. If you're struggling to understand the purpose here, the two-piece bundle enables USB-equipped PCs to stream content to TVs, monitors and projectors sans cabling, and it'll do so for just $129. Now, if only it were 1080p compatible...

Liquid Image's new underwater digital camera masks debut at CES

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 4:52PM


Looks like Liquid Image -- those wacky underwater digicam folks -- are going to be hitting the ground running at CES with not one, but two HD underwater digital camera masks. Meant for serious professionals (and well-heeled Jacques Cousteau wannabes), the Pro HD350 shoots 720p video, sports 64 MB flash storage, supports microSD / SDHC cards (up to 32GB) and is rated to a depth of 330 feet. Taking things down a notch, the Scuba Series 320 (MSRP around $215) is the other 720p video cam. Featuring the same 64 MB internal memory and 32 GB microSD / SDHC support, this guy is rated at 115 feet. Bringing up the rear is the VideoMask 310, a 640 × 480 / 30 fps video camera, sporting 16 MB internal memory, 8GB microSDHC card support, and is rated to a depth of 33 feet. It is expected to list at $159, while the Scuba Series 320 will list for about $215. The Pro HD350 hasn't been priced just yet; all three cameras take 5 megapixel photos and will get debuted at CES this week.

[Via Helmet Camera Central]

Canon comes clean with HD camcorder lineup at CES 2009

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 1:11PM


Just as Canon did last year, it has busted out a plethora of new high-def camcorders for our enjoyment over the course of 2009. Without further adieu, let's take a closer look at the outfit's five newest. Starting things off are the VIXIA HF S10 and VIXIA HF S100 flash models, which offer up to 32GB of internal storage along with an SDHC card slot. Both units tout the DIGIC DV III image processor, an 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, face detection, Auto Exposure system and the ability to snap 8-megapixel stills. Moving on, we've got the VIXIA HF20 and VIXIA HF200 models, both of which include a 3.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor and a 15x lens. Closing out the bunch is the HV40 HDV, which offers a 2.96-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, 10x zoom lens, native 24p support and a Custom Key Mode that filmmakers should adore. Sadly, the full release is curiously devoid of pricing and availability information.

Gallery: Canon comes clean with HD camcorder lineup at CES 2009

Celeno and Cavium team up for WiFi-based wireless HDMI solution

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 12:05PM


A ProVision exec proclaimed last month that WiFi was the only suitable wireless HDTV medium, and it appears that bigwigs at Celeno and Cavium Networks emphatically agree. The two have joined up to debut a whole-home 1080p60 HDMI over WiFi solution here in the desert, with the gem of the show being the CL1300. Said microchip is designed to be integrated into essentially any device (a set-top-box, router, TV, toaster oven, etc.), enabling the host device to deliver H.264 compressed HD streams over long distances. In fact, it promises 802.11 beaming of up to four concurrent high-def streams. So, here's a perfectly good wireless HDMI option based on a standard that everyone and their grandmother has already adapted too -- too bad there's not a laundry list of companies already signed on to integrate it. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Celeno and Cavium team up for WiFi-based wireless HDMI solution

Iomega's Home Media Network Hard Drive backs up files, streams content

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 11:00AM


Slowly but surely, the multimedia hard drive is becoming more and more relevant. At first, it was outlets like Mvix doing the honors, and then mainstays such as LaCie got in while the gettin' was good. Now, we've got ole Iomega trying its hand at the game, with the introduction of the Home Media Network Hard Drive at Macworld in San Francisco. The drive, which includes the firm's LifeLine software, enables users to easily backup their precious files and stream music, photos, videos and all manners of other multimedia between computers, networked TVs, gaming consoles, etc. For those curious, it'll function just fine as an iTunes server and play oh-so-nice with DLNA certified devices, and aside from the obligatory gigabit Ethernet jack, there's also a USB port for adding a shared network printer or extra capacity. It should be available early this month for $159.99 (500GB) / $229.99 (1TB).

Premier Mounts offers up fully-integrated motorized lift system

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 9:52AM

If you're looking for a way to have a big screen flat-panel and keep things neat and tidy for the SO, Premier Mounts is about to become your new best friend. The outfit has just announced that it will be introducing a fully-integrated motorized lift system at CES, enabling buyers to hide away HDTVs in existing or customized cabinets. With just the touch of a button, owners can hide and reveal their flat-panel; the LIFT1 (single system) holds panels up to 52-inches and 180 pounds, while the LIFT2 (dual system) manages screens up to 58-inches and 360 pounds. 'Course, for $2,499.99 / $4,199.99 (respectively), maybe the eyesore isn't so intolerable after all.

LG gets official with Netflix-enabled Broadband HDTVs

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 7:01AM


Yup, it's official. LG will be showcasing the world's first Netflix-enabled HDTVs at CES this week. The so-called Broadband HDTVs will arrive in plasma and LCD flavors, though exact screen sizes and model names have yet to be disclosed. They'll arrive with Netflix streaming software baked right in, meaning that no external set-top-box will be required to suck down Watch Instantly material. Best of all, it sounds like HD Netflix content will also be supported, and with the accompanying remote, viewers will be able to "read synopses, rate movies and fast-forward / rewind the video stream." No word on pricing, but the family of sets should be shipping this Spring. Hop on past the break for a look at the full release.

Continue reading LG gets official with Netflix-enabled Broadband HDTVs

Intel, Adobe plan a chicken in every pot, Flash on every HDTV

by Richard Lawler, posted Jan 5th 2009 at 4:19AM


Intel's been talking up the CE 3100 (née Canmore) processor for quite some time now, and with Adobe as its newest partner -- late again Yahoo? -- pushing HD Flash streams to Internet connected TV's and set-top boxes. Frankly, we've already gotten quite used to YouTube and other online video access in the living room, but with the first Flash Lite-enabled system-on-a-chip due by mid-2009 and everyone and their mom watching TV on Hulu this could be the push that takes online video to the TV mainstream. Still, Intel must know that only Flash support so 2008, we'll be expecting more widgets to come.

Sony's BRAVIA BDV-IT1000 Blu-ray HTIB gets unboxed, previewed

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 4th 2009 at 3:23PM


When Sony unleashed its BRAVIA BDV-IT1000 Blu-ray HTIB back in August, we were given no indication of a price or release date. Clearly the time has (almost) come for prospective buyers to buy in, as Home Cinema Choice has procured the bundle and posted up a thorough preview. Upon testing, the crew found that it performed much better with movies than with music, and given that a BD deck comes packaged in, we suppose that's the point. The surround experience was also dubbed satisfactory, with "perfect channel separation" and a subwoofer with plenty of oomph. Hit the read link for the hands-on writeup, and get ready to pony up a staggering £1,500 ($2,168) when it ships in the UK this Spring.

Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 4th 2009 at 2:13PM


Kodak's 720p Zi6 has only been out for six months, but already we're seeing what's likely its beefed-up successor. The mighty Zx1 is debuting here at CES, and with it comes a 2-inch LCD monitor, easy upload to YouTube, 720p HD video capture at 60fps, an IP43-certified weather-resistant design and an SD / SDHC card slot that can understand media up to 32GB in size. All told, users can capture up to ten hours of high-def video, and the bundled HDMI cable makes showing off recent grabs as easy as pie. The Zx1 will arrive in five colors (pink, blue, yellow, red and black) and will include pre-charged AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries alongside a charger. We'll bet Creative and Pure Digital have a little something of their own to show off before this one lands in April for $149.95. Full release is (where else?) after the break.

Continue reading Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle

Latest CE Pro Magazine reveals the ZeeVee ZvPro

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Jan 3rd 2009 at 9:19PM

ZvPro add in CE Pro
Well looky here, the wonders that is print media isn't useless just yet -- thanks to very long lead times and an ambitious postal worker, the latest edition of CE Pro Magazine reveals the evidently soon to be announced ZvPro. The ad doesn't offer up enough details for us, but it does look like some of our biggest gripes about the original ZeVee Box are addressed. For example, now we have component and Toslink input as well as RS-232 control and an IR port -- no indication if that is an input or an output. The rack mountable device is obviously geared towards the prosumer so it isn't too much of a stretch to assume this little baby will demand a premium price -- if we were the betting type, we'd have our money on over $800. But even at that price, we're sure this box will find at least a few homes as there are plenty of people trying to figure out how to send HD over the existing coax in their home without mounting a STB on the wall below the HDTV.

[Thanks, Utah]

Gefen's CES bounty squealed about early

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 1st 2009 at 5:26AM

Gefen knows all too well how easy it is for new wares to get lost in the shuffle at CES, so it's opting to disclose its freshest gear a few days beforehand. This year's show will see four new devices in particular, so we'll start from the top. The Digital Audio Decoder with Dolby will be used to combine older, analog-based audio systems with digital devices of today by converting 5.1 audio to L/R analog audio. Next, the Volume Controller is a completely elusive "fully automated solution which equalizes audio to maintain the same levels consistently." The 2x1 Digital Audio Switcher makes it easy to hook up two TOSlink cables to one AV receiver, while the 1:2 Digital Audio Splitter does the opposite by splitting a single TOSlink signal into two streams. The full spill is just after the break.

Continue reading Gefen's CES bounty squealed about early

Torus Power intros AVR series of power conditioners

by Steven Kim, posted Dec 31st 2008 at 9:36AM

Torus Power AVR power conditioner
If your high end setup is going on a New Year's resolution diet of clean power, Torus Power has a little something to show you in its AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation, not "audio video receiver") lineup. The brand is distributed by high end fave Bryston and there are six models stretching from the 2U RM10 (2U height, 10A supply) all the way up to the RM60 BAL (4U and 20A, requires dedicated 240V, 20A service). As you'd expect, full power can be delivered to the taps so your amp won't run out of steam, but there are extras, too -- plenty of condition monitoring, 12V triggers and a web-accessible interface will ensure you never have to run to the rack once you've set everything up. But seriously, would you really want to hide this unit in the back room? Prices to be announced, which gives you some time to make space in the equipment rack.

Continue reading Torus Power intros AVR series of power conditioners

Pragmatic's HideAway amplifier brings zero-footprint audio one step closer

by Steven Kim, posted Dec 30th 2008 at 11:57PM

Pragmatic SAA248 in-wall amplifier
If you've gone through the trouble and expense of putting audiophile-approved speakers in-wall, there's a good chance you're a "separates, no receivers" kind of purist. Carrying out your streamlined install to the next level will require you to put the amplifiers in wall, too, so you might be a candidate for Pragmatic's HideAway Stereo Audio Amplifier 248. Your audiophile side will like the promise of dual monoblock amplifiers in the little 2x3.5x3-inch box, but while you might typically associate monoblocks with triple-digit power, this $550, 15V-powered unit pumps out 48-Watts continuous and 60-Watts peak and Pragmatic specs flat performance from 10Hz to 50kHz. Like all things custom install, you can accessorize here -- volume controls, rack mounts and even a junction box install await your pocketbook.




Weblogs, Inc. Network

AOL News

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in:

Joystiq
Download Squad
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
BloggingStocks
Xbox 360 Fanboy
Autoblog
Big Download
Fanhouse NFL Blog