Archive for: hdtv
Four days ago we shared the Google TV YouTube video of the service introduction. It’s a big leap for the company who is now focused on not just getting our eyeballs on the computer, but also on our TV’s. The service will apparently be integrated in some models of TV, but for those that dont’ have that option, set top boxes will be released to get help you get your Google on.
It hasn’t even been a full week since we shared this announcement and already Logitech, known for making some amazing technology devices, most notably speakers, headsets, keyboards, and mice, has stepped into the set top box arena. Last week they announced their Google TV Box which will connect your TV to the world of Google. No price yet, but you can bet that the value will be priceless, that is, if you’re a Google fan.
The box is based on the Android platform and runs the Chrome browser. Bringing full search to your TV will hopefully create a seamless experience with your existing paid TV subscriptions. Google TV Box will run on an Intel Atom processor that will integrate with any HDTV and pre-existing set top box (TiVO?), and also come paired with a keyboard, a remote, and touchpad.
This could be a slap to the face of the Apple TV which has not seen a lot of traction since its release. Perhaps it was just an experiment, but Google has jumped on this opportunity to truly create a seamless transition between laptops/desktops and the television in your living room. It will be interesting to see how much this Google TV concept is adopted into our daily lives. What are your thoughts?
Nothing has changed the way we watched TV more than TiVo has. When the TiVo was first released it was truly revolutionary for the viewing audience. Time controlled TV; no longer were we to be enslaved by the powers that be and their scheduling practices. Even if we were watching something scheduled, we could record on another channel. The many iterations of TiVo over the years has seen increased offerings and versatility, but now with the release of the Premiere, we might see a new era for the TiVo…or will we?
The new TiVo Premiere ($300) takes full advantage of the many new HDTV models and their ability to connect to the internet. By accessing the internet TiVo can now not only surf the digital channels, but also content across sites like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, On Demand, and Blockbuster. The new standard version of the Premiere can record up to 45 hours of HD quality content. The larger version of the Premiere XL ($500) can record a whopping 150 hours of HD quality content.
The new interface for this TiVo is built on the Adobe Flash platform. You know Flash, the one Apple is so afraid of. Is this any good? Will this crash on us constantly? It’ll be interesting to see how things work out, but this TiVo is a heavy contender for in-home set top boxes.
We’ve been waiting for this now for quite a while for this day to arrive. Samsung have just started shipping the first of their HD 3D TVs in the US as the world gets ready for 3D content to start going live. This is a whopping 55 inch TV that is stunning to look at, even when it’s turned off. However, all 55 inches will set you back just under $3,300. Ouch!
Plus, those shutter glasses which we talked about earlier will set you back another few bucks (between $150 and $200 probably) if you ever want to activate the TV’s 3D mode which I assume everyone who just paid an arm and a leg for the thing will.
Both Amazon and Sears are now selling the product with free delivery. So if you fancy watching World Cup 2010 in 3D, order now while stocks last. There’s sure to be a rush for these babies. Last time I checked Amazon there was only two left!
Last year, I reported that the 3D home entertainment trend was on the up. Recession or no recession, it’s coming. The latest development in this tantalising three dimensional tale is the release of HDMI 3D glasses for use at home with a 3D TV.
Whether you’re a fan of wearing weird glasses while watching TV or not, you’re going to be happy with this next piece of new: there isn’t going to be much bickering between the companies about format issues. When almost any new development is made in the tech industry, each company almost always seems to choose its own format. That way, they hop to gain loyalty and crush the others. One wins, a lot loose. And of course eventually we’re left with one format. This time though, they;re doing things differently. They’ll all be going with the active shutter glasses which you can see in the picture.
The ones above are geared up for HDMI 1.4 and will be compatible with future updates to HDMI technology. So 3D is coming, prepare to be either dazzled or extremely annoyed.
There are few things out there that are beautiful enough to just look at for hours. What if a TV was so beautiful whether it was on or off you could just stare at the amazing design? The Sony Bravia builds the aesthetic appeal to an all-time high with their new NX800 HDTV. A design that looks like something Apple would create, is sleek, monolithic, and clean. With the barrage of TV’s shown at CES earlier this month, this is one of those TV’s that is just jam packed with technology that any tech geek or otherwise will drool at what it has to offer.
Naturally the TV, being HD, offers up a full 1080p display. It comes in varying sizes ranging from 46-, 52-, or 60-inches with an LED backlit LCD screen. The two big ones for me is the integrated WIFI which opens up a lot of opportunities and the inclusion of an ambient light sensor is always nice for quick adjustments. The TV is also internet ready with its own set of proprietary widgets. I’d like to see these in action in the real world to see if it’s something people will actually use.
The Sony Bravia NX800 HDTV will retail at $2300 to $3500 so save your nickels and dimes and see if this TV is what you’re looking for in a full entertainment experience.
Sony Bravia offers full online and offline entertainment options.
I guess it was only a matter of time before motion gaming made it’s impact on other areas of entertainment. Although this one doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Instead of playing games with the Magic Motion remote (although you can do that too) you can use it to change your TV station.
As you can see from the video below, the HDTV is easily controlled by the remote in a similar way to how you control the home screen on the Wii console. All of the options are big to compensate for hand shaking. As is the cursor. You can easily navigate through the various TV menus and select what program you want to watch.
Obviously, there will be some compatibility issues with things such as Digital TV Boxes and DVD players but I think as we enter an era of PC-TV combination – this kind of technology will be the norm.
Check out the hands-on video here.
