Archive for Home Theater

Speakal unveils iPom speaker system

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on November 19th, 2009

speakalipom-sgSpeakal makes some of the stranger and more interesting speaker docks on the market. They have docks for the iPhone that look like pigs and some look like other animals. The company has announced a new speaker system today called the iPom.

The iPom is designed to look like an apple with two speakers that look like flowers. The device lacks an iPod dock and makes due with a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting to devices. The speaker flowers are removable and can be positioned.

TVGuide.com unveils online DVR

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on November 12th, 2009

tvguidedvr-sbWhen you say DVR to me, I think of the hardware device that is in most living rooms around the country allowing us to record our favorite shows and skip commercials. TVGuide.com has long offered an online listings guide and it has now announced a new online DVR.

The DVR is apparently more like an online video aggregator that allows the user to select the shows they are interested in and watch them all from the TVGuide.com website. The DVR will send you messages when new episodes are posted of your favorite show.

Moxi unveils three tuner HD DVR and drops prices

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on November 10th, 2009

moxi3tuner-sgLast night I was wishing my DVR had three tuners. Two shows I like were recording and my kids wanted to watch Sponge Bob. That meant one of my shows had to be cancelled. Moxi has unveiled a new HD DVR that is perfect for folks like me with three tuners.

The three tuners means that the thing can record three shows at once while playing a fourth recorded show back. The downside is that the new three tuner HD DVR isn’t cheap at $799 in a bundle with a single Moxi Mate.

Livio unveils NPR Radio for internet radio fans

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on October 21st, 2009

livionprradio-sgI am not that big a fan of music. I have a really short attention span and music distracts me too much to listen while I work. If you are a music fan and the type that likes to listen at work where reception is sketchy the new NPR Radio by Livio can get you free tunes from the Internet.

The radio has access to over 800 NPR radio stations and is the first Internet radio to have a NPR specific station menu. The radio can also connect to more than 16,000 Internet radio stations. Listeners can also book mark their favorite stations with a favorites button.

LG HB954SP Blu-ray 5.1 home cinema system with iPod dock

Posted in Home Theater by Conner Flynn on October 10th, 2009

LG HB954SP Blu-ray 5.1 home cinema system with iPod dockLG has announced a new home theater system. The LG HB954SP Blu-ray HCS offers Full HD 1080p video and 5.1 surround, with 1,000W of audio tuned by audio-wizard Mr Mark Levinson. It features a slide-out dock in front for your iPod or iPhone, and you can control it from the HB954SP’s own remote.

The system can also upscale standard definition DVDs up to 1080p. The ethernet connection connects it to the internet for streaming YouTube and BD Live content. You’ll also get two HDMI inputs and a USB port. If you haven’t jumped onto the HTIB bandwagon, this might entice you with it’s touch of blue and globular speakers.

46 million 3DTVs will ship by 2013

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on October 5th, 2009

panasonic-3d-plasma-540x404There have been more 3D films hit the theater this summer than I can ever remember seeing before. It wasn’t only animated films in 3D either; there were some live action films. I for one am glad to see 3D going so much more mainstream and I can’t wait to get 3D content in my living room. According to a new report from GigaOM Pro, 3DTV shipments are set to boom over the next few years.

The research firm estimates that between now and 2013 there will be 46 million 3DTVs shipped. Big supporters of the 3DTV format will include Sony and Panasonic who will both look to 3DTV to boost slowing sales.

Zvox unveils IncrediBase 575 home theater

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on September 9th, 2009

zvoxbase-sbI like home theater systems, but I am not a fan of all the wires that go along with them. Wireless systems are available, but the speakers still typically need to be plugged into an AC outlet creating issues of their own.

Zvox has announced a new IncrediBase cabinet that offers a simulated surround sound experience with all the speakers needed for the system crammed into one cabinet that sits under your TV. The IncrediBase 575 has a 133-watt amp, dual 6.5-inch long-extrusion subs, and five full range speakers in one cabinet.

Vizio nabs top LCD HDTV shipper status

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on August 20th, 2009

vizio-inc_-vs420-sbWith the economy still in the toilet, many consumers are holding off on big purchases of electronic devices like TVs. Those who are buying are shopping for lower cost products and looking for value over raw features often.

The numbers for LCD TV shipments for Q2 2009 are in and Vizio has grabbed the top spot again in U.S. LCD TV shipment. The firm is tops in the 21.5 to 24-inch, 26-inch, 32-inch, and 37-inch panel size and leads in year over year growth for 40-inch and over 1080p sets.

Samsung unveils new Blu-ray HTIB with the HT-BD3252

Posted in Home Theater by Conner Flynn on July 21st, 2009

Samsung unveils new Blu-ray HTIB with the HT-BD3252Samsung’s latest Blu-ray Home Theater In a Box is a nice all-in-one solution.The HT-BD3252 supports all of the latest HD audio codecs like TrueHD and DTS-HD, and a mic for automatic calibration. It features an integrated Blu-ray player, which supports BD-Live.

Samsung has also included internet services like Pandora, Netflix and Blockbuster via an included WiFi dongle and more. Even an iPod dock. You get a bunch of features for just $799. Those looking for an all-in-one solution should definitely check this one out.

Pioneer announces new in-ceiling speakers

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on June 26th, 2009

pioneer_elite_s-ic871a-sbPioneer Electronics is a big name in the home audio and home theater industry. The company has a full line of AV receivers and amps and makes some very nice speakers. Pioneer is also a well-known name is car audio and has produced some very nice and high-end HDTVs as well.

Pioneer has unveiled new in-ceiling and in-wall speakers in its Elite architectural speaker line that are available now from authorized dealers around the world. The speakers were developed specifically for custom installers and are matched to other Pioneer products to create a more integrated home theater system.

Vizio announces new XVT HDTVs

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on June 24th, 2009

vizio-xvt-hdtv-sbVizio has upset the status quo in the HDTV market in America. The company came in, displaced some of the most established names in HDTVs in America and stole the top sales spot. The reason the company was able to do this was that its products are low cost and perform well.

Vizio has announced a new line of HDTVs that will be coming to market over the next several months. The line includes the XVT HDTV series with up to 240Hz refresh rates and TruLED with Smart Dimming technology.

Maingear Axess HD: Hardcore Gaming comes to HTPCs

Posted in Home Theater by Conner Flynn on June 18th, 2009

Maingear Axess HD: Hardcore Gaming comes to HTPCsMaingear’s Axess HD Gamer aims to park hardcore PC gaming in your living room with a Core i7 processor, up to 12GB of DDR3 memory, 2x NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT cards in SLI, a Phantom Lapboard and robust media center capabilities.

The Axess HD can include a Blu-ray drive, 8-channel HD audio, WIndows Vista Home Premium and up to 4TB of hard drive storage or…dual 160GB SSDs. Connections include: DVI-D, VGA, HDMI and component out, dual gigabit ethernet, eight USB 2.0 ports, two 6-pin FireWire ports and eSATA.

Syabas Popcorn C-200 settop box revealed

Posted in Home Theater by Shane McGlaun on June 18th, 2009

popcornc-200-sbIt seems like the big thing in the technology world today is to make everything stream Internet programming to your TV. The Xbox can do it, some TVs can do it, and there are tons of settop boxes that can stream media from the Internet to your TV. I do like the idea of watching Hulu on my big screen, but everything else I can do without.

Syabas has announced a new settop box called the C-200 that supports Blu-ray and just about every video file format under the sun. The device supports 30 formats including MPEG 1, 2, 4, AVI, H.264, Xvid, MKV, Windows Media and many more.

Cideko Air Keyboard is also a 3D mouse, remote control

Posted in Home Theater by Conner Flynn on June 17th, 2009

Cideko Air Keyboard is also a 3D mouse, remote controlSome of you want something more in your HTPC keyboard than just a multitouch trackpad. Lucky for you, Cideko has your back. Their Air Keyboard has a built-in 3D mouse that will have you waving it around and hitting people in the head. But that;s not all.

It also features two gamepad-style buttons in place of standard mouse buttons. Other than that it has all of the usual media control buttons, and a range of 50 meters. The battery life is 50 hours.

Akai AISS010 All-in-one Home Theater System

Posted in Home Theater by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2009

Akai AISS010 All-in-one Home Theater SystemThis Akai AISS010 All-in-oneHome theater system has it all. We’re not sure, but there may even be a place that spits out movie tickets, in case you miss the theater.

Some features include: Docks and charges iPod, Compatible with CD/ DVD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3/WMA/VCD/JPEG/DIVX/MPEG4, AM/FM radio with digital readout, HDMI 1080P, Supports USB and card audio playing, Built-in DVD player, LCD clock display, Composite video, S-video, Y, Cb, Cr video output, Supports all iPods, Digital coaxial & optical audio output, VFD Multi-function display, Automatic age lock and screen protection function, Remote control unit, 2.1 + 1 track power output (double sub-woofer), 4″ x 4 + 5″ x2 bass speaker 40w + 20w*2 (RMS 10% THD).





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