Filed under: Home Entertainment
Panasonic is using this week’s CEDIA show to debut its new AV receiver, the SA-BX500, and even though we doubt the nameplate will get much attention from the audiophile crowd, this unit does have a bit of audio-geekery with its bi-amplification/bi-wiring feature. Other stuff that will appeal to a wider audience includes 7×130-Watt amplification, HDMI connectivity (3 inputs, 1 output) that’s ready for your 1080p content, HDMI-CEC in VIERA Link form, support for Dobly TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, and the ability to simulate 7.1-channels of surround in 5.1-channel systems, so you can hear what you’re not missing. Available in October for $799, but you can grab a peek at the front and back right now.
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var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/hardware/Official_Dell_s_8_9_inch_Inspiron_Mini_9_netbook’; Dell doesn’t take its site down when it introduces product unlike some laptop peddlers. The result, however, is shots like this of early pre-release gear like the Inspiron Mini 9 netbook as Dell spins the product up for retail. $449 full spec’d just like we heard with 8GB SSD, 1GB memory, Bluetooth 2.1, Windows XP, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. We still expect to see a lesser spec’d $349 model running Ubuntu. Shipping on the 16th of September in your choice of white or black though white will cost you a $25 premium. Dell seems to have taken the link down already but we’re sure they’ll get the site sorted out in a few hours. For now, happy URL hacking as we dig for more details.
Update: Here’s the $349 model running Ubuntu.
[Thanks, Shon]
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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
It’s official, Amazon has moved Unbox-replacement Amazon Video on Demand out of beta for Mac and PC users, while confirming rumors the still-in-beta BRAVIA Internet Video Link service is open to all Sony HDTV owners. The streaming option (you can still download and watch via Unbox on PC or TiVo, and no matter how they’re purchased, content is added to the Your Video Library accessible from the web or IVL) gives Amazon that critical buy-now / watch-immediately element some other online stores lack, for its library of 40,000 licensed movies and shows. Prices start at $1.99 for single episodes shows, and at least $2.99 for movies, with savings available on season passes, now all we need to keep an eye on is the bandwidth meter.
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Filed under: Cellphones
LG’s cover was blown late last month with the early unveiling of the KC910, but it’s hard to ignore that warm, fuzzy feeling one gets when any outfit doles out the official verbiage as confirmation. The self-proclaimed Viewty successor (formally dubbed the LG-KC910) looks mighty fine on paper, with a 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen, 8-megapixel camera (with Schneider-Kreuznach certified optics and a Xenon flash), geotagging support, Dolby Mobile, video recording, A-GPS, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and integrated WiFi. Regrettably, LG failed to pass along the most pressing morsel of news (read: the price), but at least we know it’ll be available somewhere in the world this October.
[Via MobileBurn]
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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment
Toshiba got official with its new RV / XV REGZA families last week at IFA, but now Tosh is debuting ‘em along with a smattering of other lines at CEDIA. The main news here is the US pricing and availability, but if you care to get neck-deep in marketing hoopla, we’d be happy to oblige. The company is trumpeting its Super Resolution Technology (now available in the REGZA RV535 and XV545), which purportedly uses a “proprietary processing system” to “improve image sharpness, brightness and color, [thereby] enhancing standard movies, TV shows, camcorder movies and most video games to near HD quality.” For details on how much he AV500, RV525, AV502, RV535 and XV545 sets will cost here in America, head on past the break.
[Image courtesy of TWICE]
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Filed under: Laptops
It’s everything but official, but hopefully the image above will enable you to rest easy knowing that you’ll soon be able to order yourself a Dell netbook starting at $349. The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (we’re assuming that’s the final moniker) will apparently weigh in at 2.28-pounds, boast an internal WiFi module and pack an Intel Atom N270 processor. The baseline model ($349) will include Ubuntu Linux 8.04, 512MB of RAM, a 4GB SSD and a black or white paint job. For $50 more, you’ll get an 8GB SSD and a 0.3-megapixel webcam, while the $449 version throws in Windows XP, 1GB of RAM and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. C’mon Dell — you’re only fooling yourself at this point.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
Aw, snap. Not even 24 hours after we learned that a new DirecTV HD TiVo was on the way, in flies word from Denver that a new standalone TiVo is hitting even sooner — like, today. The TiVo HD XL will become the flagship unit in TiVo’s line by offering up 150 hours of high-def recording space, THX certification, a Series3 premium backlit remote and a bundled HDMI cable. As with the TiVo HD, this one boasts dual tuners for recording two HD programs simultaneously and a pretty similar design, but unlike the TiVo HD, this one will set you back a full $599.99. Those unaffected by the price tag can order one today from TiVo’s website, and we’re told to expect the box at various other retailers “as early as next week.” Full press release after the break.
Continue reading TiVo HD XL DVR: 150 hours of HD recording, $599.99, available now
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Filed under: Cellphones
It was only a matter of time before ole Walty got his hands around Sprint’s still-not-official Touch Diamond, and we can’t say that the conclusion he drew is at all shocking. As Mossberg has done so often, he mentions Apple’s darling just as much as the topic of the review itself, and while he seemed impressed with the hardware, it was the software that suffered the brunt of his attacks. He proclaimed that “despite its handsome TouchFLO 3D software and animated icons, the device failed to disguise the frustrating interface of Windows Mobile often enough for [his] taste.” Beyond that, he also found room to gripe about the “cramped” keyboard, which he felt was “next to impossible” to use with just his fingertips. On the plus side, he did give the browser a decent amount of praise, but if you were looking for support from this critic before picking up the forthcoming handset, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
[Via phonescoop]
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One of Dell’s latest desktop PCs deserves an adjective that has rarely applied to its products: stylish.
Filed under: Digital Cameras
By and large, Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi was widely adored. Still, even the fanboys in attendance can’t deny that firmware updates that solve any number of quirks are loved just the same. Canon has just posted up firmware v1.0.9 for the aforesaid DSLR, which purportedly fixes three primary issues. The 7.81MB download addresses a “phenomenon in which AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) shooting does not operate normally under specific conditions,” another in which “the Live View exposure simulation warning indication does not properly display during Live View shooting, and yet another in which “images cannot be played back after continuous shooting when a printer is connected to the camera or a video output terminal is used.” Tap that read link to get your download on, and be sure to let us know if this update actually works as advertised.
[Via CNET]
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