Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

Just a week after the DVD CCA approved an unexciting (and incredibly restrictive) download-to-burn scheme, DataPlay has unveiled what it calls the “world’s first CSS-managed recording DVD burner.” Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this type of setup, and as it turns out, DataPlay is actually “participating in the Qflix technology and IP licensing program.” The aptly-named MovieWriter is an external USB 2.0 device that is “capable of writing CSS encrypted content for playback on standard DVD players,” but alas, you’ll be forced to pick up the presumably expensive CSS-MR pre-keyed recordable discs through Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden before any burning can take place. Currently, no pricetag is being listed, but we are told that the outfit is already planning an internal version for OEMs to integrate into pre-fabricated machines. [Warning: PDF read link]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Hitachi has developed a prototype display with an amazing 8 million to one contrast ratio, achieved by combining a traditional LCD display with an LCD projector and multiplying their respective contrast ratios. Designed for dark rooms, the prototype is said to be targeted at a 30cm depth using a short focal-length projector model. The LCD panel sports 1080p resolution, while the rear projector is a standard 720p type. Hitachi also claims that 3D technology could be combined with the same method. Both will be on display at CEATEC Japan in early October. No word on any plans for a plasma / Etch-a-Sketch hybrid display.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

EchoStar sure seems to be keeping itself busy these days, with its long-running talks with AT&T now said to be “heating up” just days after it acquired Sling Media for a cool $380 million. According to TheStreet.com, EchoStar is apparently considering splitting the company into two publicly traded units, one that would focus on its consumer TV service (which is where Sling fits in) and one that would focus on its wholesale satellite transmission service. As you can probably guess, it’s the former that AT&T is interested in, and it’s apparently prepared to pay $55 a share for the potentially separate company. According to TheStreet, however, EchoStar is currently holding out for a hefty $65 a share, although at least one analyst “sensing a deal in the works” is speculating that AT&T will “likely pay about $56 a share for the TV service.” As TheStreet points out, the acquisition would likely help out AT&T with it’s so-called Project Lightspeed, which aims to combine TV, phone, and internet service on a single fiber optic network.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

Technically, Niveus was the first of the major partners to spill the proverbial beans on its Extender for Windows Media Center, and while it was sitting around for all to see at CEDIA, details were admittedly slim. Now, however, the firm has come clean and doled out the specs for its Media Center Extender - EDGE, following the moves made by Linksys and D-Link earlier. The EDGE boasts a “Glacier Passive Cooling for near silent operation,” RS-232 / IP / IR for third-party control support, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, HDMI / component outputs and two-channel analog / digital optical audio outs. Unfortunately, Niveus’ box doesn’t include integrated WiFi, so its wired or nothin’ here, and while we’d love to know how much this thing will actually cost, we do know it’ll land sometime in November. Click on for a few more looks.

Continue reading Niveus shares official details on Media Center Extender - EDGE

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Storage

It’s been nearly a year to the day since Toshiba unleashed a slew of VARDIA updates — the RD-A600 notwithstanding — but recently the firm got official with four new combo recorders. Starting things off is the October-bound RD-W301 (¥90,000; $785), which is the only newcomer to record to HDD, DVD and VHS, and it also includes a 300GB drive, HDMI / S-Video / composite outputs and a hybrid TV tuner. The RD-E301 (¥80,000; $698), which is also slated to ship next month, shuns the VHS crowd but maintains the other features already mentioned. As for the RD-S301 (¥90,000; $785), it keeps the 300GB hard drive but doubles the amount of built-in hybrid tuners and tosses in an Ethernet jack for good measure. The flagship RD-S601 ups the ante even more with a DV input, i.LINK connectivity and a 600GB HDD, and should be available for ¥120,000 ($1,047) when it lands alongside the S301 in November.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

So now that the EchoStar acquisition is public, Sling Media’s CEO, Blake Krikorian sat down with SlingCommunity’s Matt Whitlock and talked about how the deal is going to affect the place-shifting upstart. In his usual candid way, Krikorian said Sling is going to stay independent, and while the company is obviously going to try and leverage Dish Network’s huge install base and software library, it’s not going to rule out deals with other content and delivery providers — in fact, Sling will continue to work with EchoStar’s arch-rival DirecTV on things like NFL Supercast. Sadly, there are no juicy product details, but Krikorian did say that “there’s some interesting things we’re going to be able to cook up.” Overall, Krikorian seems incredibly stoked about the acquisition — which probably means good things for all you place-shifting hooligans out there.

[Thanks, Jeff]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

Just as we expected, Microsoft is getting official with its Windows Media Center Internet TV feature, which is set to go live in beta fashion tomorrow morning. According to Microsoft, US-based users of Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate will soon be able to download a simple update that will enable them to “enjoy a range of television and video content on their PCs and TV sets [with a Media Center Extender of some sort] without a TV tuner in their PC.” The streaming content will all be ad-supported “by an advertising platform provided by YuMe,” which means that you’ll be getting it gratis. The programming reportedly “comes from MSN Video,” and just over 100 hours of it will be available when the beta begins. To whet your appetite, a few notables that will be available are “full episodes of TV shows such as ‘Arrested Development,’ full-length music concerts by artists such as Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Pink, John Mayer and the Pussycat Dolls, movie trailers, news segments from MSNBC, and sports clips from FOX Sports.”

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

Remember those Linksys Media Center Extenders that popped up yesterday? Well, today the duo has officially been priced, but there’s no good news for folks hoping for these two to undercut the other guys. Up first is the DMA2200, which will of course sport an integrated “upscaling DVD player” along with the obligatory dual-band Wireless N functionality, while the DMA2100 arrives in a smaller package (see it up close after the break) but keeps to the basics by omitting the optical drive. Both boxes are set to land this November, and while the DVD playin’ DMA2200 will run you $349.99, you can save $50 by opting for the lesser-spec’d sibling.

Continue reading Linksys’ DMA2100 / DMA2200 Media Center Extenders get priced

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

Just in case Linksys and D-Link’s introductions weren’t enough to satisfy, Microsoft is now announcing yet another partner in its refreshed Extenders for Windows Media Center effort. Beginning in “early 2008,” owners of HP’s current 42- and 47-inch MediaSmart LCD HDTVs will be able to utilize all of the features of the Media Center Extender platform sans any additional hardware. According to Microsoft, users will simply download a software update for their set, after which they’ll be able to kick back and enjoy a little Windows Media Center Internet TV while basking in the glory that is added functionality.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays, Home Entertainment, Household, Portable Audio

DigitalLife is all about the tweens today, and Nickelodeon isn’t about to be left out in the cold — the venerable network has paired up with Imation to release an array of brightly-colored gear for the budding young geek. In addition to a line of pretty-decent DAPs, it’s a pretty broad array of stuff you’d be mortified to own if you’re not 7, including Dora / Diego and SpongeBob-branded cameras in resolutions from VGA to 3.0 megapixels, a Dora the Explorer portable CD player, a SpongeBob 15-inch LCD TV and progressive-scan DVD player, and a whack-SpongeBob-to-snooze alarm clock. The best of the bunch appears to be the $100 7-inch picture frame, however, which has a pretty decent-looking screen. Check it all out — along with some hands-on shots — in the gallery.

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