Logitech Revue – Google TV Running Android Coming Soon

During the Google I/O conference, Google announced the newest product they had been working on, Google TV. Yesterday, the Logitech Revue (the first Google TV box) passed FCC approval, and as usual, the FCC was kind enough to provide some pictures of the device. The device sports some pretty decent specs as well, which include:

• Android 2.1
• 1.2 Ghz Atom CPU
• 4 GB Memory
• 2x HDMI 1.3
• 2x USB
• S/PDIF out
• Ethernet (presumably 10/100/1000)
• IR headers
• 802.11n

The Revue meshes well with the Logitech Harmony remote and acts as a WiFi access point for your entertainment devices. It helps unify many devices such as the TV, receivers, DVR, etc. and even comes with free 720p video chat software. You will have to bring your own webcam though but that isn't too bad. The device also supports many existing Android Apps and allows users to control everything via iPhone or Android devices as well as the previously mentioned Harmony remote and other IR devices. As of right now, there is no solid release date or pricing information, but it is expected to ship later this year for less than $500.

Eee Pad and Eee Tablet Announced By ASUS

Computex 2010 started off with with some hot news as ASUS revealed its two newest products in its Eee product line, the Eee Pad and Eee Tablet. Both are two dissimilar devices aimed at different markets. Lets begin by discussing the Eee pads starting with the more popular one which would be the EP121. It features a 12" touch screen display, a webcam, a USB port, a CULV Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and a battery than can withstand up to 10 hours of continual use. EP121 users will have the option of picking up what is bille as "innovative hybdrid keyboard/docking station" as well. The other Eee Pad which was revealed was the EP101TC. We aren't sure what this one brings to the table exactly as it wasn't made clear but we do know it has a 10" display, a webcam, a USB port, and a pre-loaded Windows Embedded Compact 7. The two Eee pads are said to be in the $399 to $499 price range and are tentatively due for release in Q1 2011. The other products whose information was released were the Eee tablets. It's not as fancy as one might think but it's definitely a notetaker's dream thanks to the stylus-dependant 2450 dpi resistive touchscreen display. The tablet has a 2 megapixel camera (which is said to be useful for taking pictures of whiteboards and lecture notes), while the OS support for tagging allows for quick retrieval of information while super speedy 0.1 second page load times make a navigation a dream. The other known specs about the tablet included Wi-Fi, a USB port, support for microSD cards, and a battery life rated at 10 hours. The Eee tablet should be available for $199 to $299. The press release can be found below:

Stay Connected and Multitask with the Eee Pad

Engineering excellence meets stunning design in the ASUS Eee Pad, an ultra-slim and light yet high-performance slate device designed to provide users with a real time cloud computing experience. The Eee Pad will be available in two configurations.

The 12″ Eee Pad EP121 is a full-featured slate computer that serves as a multimedia player, e-reader, and compact computing device. Powered by a CULV Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor and the Windows® 7 Home Premium operating system, it effortlessly handles multitasking tasks whether enabling users to check their email and calendars, have video conferences, or process Microsoft Word and Excel documents simultaneously. The ASUS Eee Pad EP121 offers two convenient modes of character input-an embedded virtual keyboard or an innovative hybrid keyboard/docking station design. All of this power is available in a personal computing device that delivers up to 10 hours of usage.

For users seeking additional mobility, ASUS is proud to present the 10” Eee Pad EP101TC that runs Windows Embedded Compact 7, which provides an engaging user experience and delivers instant connectivity to the Windows world. It also provides a familiar full-featured user experience across various connected devices and cloud computing services.

* * *

ASUS Provides Tomorrow’s Technologies Today at Computex 2010

Innovative Eee Pad and Eee Tablet extend ASUS’ leadership in Cloud Computing

Fremont, California (May 31, 2010) – ASUS’ leadership in innovation and design will once again be the focus at Computex 2010 in Taipei, Taiwan. ASUS will proudly showcase a wide range of products across five major categories: cloud computing, gaming, enthusiast-level PC components, multimedia and green computing. As a technological leader in cloud computing, ASUS offers a broad lineup of cloud-connected devices featuring on-the-fly data and multimedia sharing capabilities that consumers crave in today’s market.

The Notepad Goes Digital with the Eee Tablet

Innovation meets cloud computing at Computex 2010 with the ASUS Eee Tablet. With a 2450 dpi touch resolution screen, the Eee Tablet is one of the world’s most accurate and sensitive digital note taking devices, and gives the user the feel of writing on paper. Users can select one of the built-in notepad templates and have the option to store, sort and tag, organize or browse through them. Real time text annotations can also be made on-the-fly. The Eee Tablet makes reading easy, with text file page turns taking just 0.1 seconds-nine times faster than the page turns of normal e-readers. Reading documents or books remains easy on the users’ eyes even after prolonged viewing periods.

The ASUS Eee Tablet features a built-in 2 megapixel camera that captures detailed images, letting the user grab screenshots of lecture slides and write notes on them instantly. It easily syncs up with a PC or notebook via USB or Micro SD to ensure that all notes, content, and calendars are constantly kept up-to-date. With up to 10-hours of battery life, the Eee Tablet has enough power for a variety of tasks. At the end of the day, users not only have an electronic notepad, but a media player and e-reader as well.

Google TV Coming This Fall - Sony, DISH, Adobe, and Others Join Along

Sony will be the first company out of the gate with a Google TV powered device, with its "Sony Internet TV" devices, which will be int he form of either an HDTV or a set-top box with Blu-ray player, arriving on shelves this fall. The rest of the partners were just as the rumors indicated, with Logitech adding a QWERTY Harmony remote, "companion box" to birdge the gap to existing home theater equipment and eventually video chat capabilities, Intel providing the CE4100 Atom processor at the heart of the devices, and an Android 2.1 OS with Chrome browser brings it all together. DISH Network and Google have admitted to their ongoing trials. DISH announced it will enable "advanced integration" via HDMI on all of its HD DVR receivers this fall while Best Buy is already on board to sell all of this inevitably offer to hook up those IR blasters for a fee, while Adobe is just happy to see another device that runs Flash 10.1. Check out the video form below as well as the press release. You can sign up for updates at Google.com/tv (developers check in here) and stay tuned for more information by following us on Twitter and/or subscribing to our RSS feeds.

Press Release:

Google and DISH Network Collaborate to Develop Integrated Multichannel TV and Web Platform

Enhanced Integration with Google TV Available to DISH Network Customers This Fall

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Google and DISH Network L.L.C., America's fastest-growing pay-TV provider, today unveiled the launch of Google TV, an open platform that seamlessly integrates multichannel television with rich web media content. This technology brings the full power of the Internet to the television viewing experience.

Google TV merges traditional TV programming with the wide amount of content on the web, allowing viewers unprecedented access, control, and flexibility over all forms of digital content. DISH Network subscribers using Google TV can simultaneously search for content across DISH Network, the Internet and their DVRs. They can overlay online content related to television shows, movies, actors and more; and also hyperlink web content back to multichannel TV.

"DISH Network has enjoyed a strong partnership with Google for many years, built on a common foundation of innovative thinking and risk-taking," said Charlie Ergen, Chairman, President and CEO of DISH Network. "DISH Network's integration of Google TV marks the next evolution in television, and DISH Network customers will be able to enjoy the best of TV and the web in one platform using their existing HD DVR receivers and a Google TV device."

"We are excited to bring the web to television and enable developers to innovate on the Google TV platform," said Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO, Google. "With DISH Network's contributions, Google TV delivers a richer user experience and a compelling product for consumers."

The DISH Network Google TV integration is the outcome of a joint development process between the two companies. The companies began their collaborative trial over a year ago by beta testing the technology with more than 400 DISH Network and Google users. Based on continuous feedback from the trial, Google and DISH Network built the Google TV experience that seamlessly integrates traditional TV programming with rich web content.

Google and DISH Network plan to make the optimized Google TV experience available to customers later this fall. DISH Network will integrate the software to enable this advanced integration on all HD DVR receivers. Users can then simply connect their Google TV devices to their DISH Network receivers via HDMI. For more information, visit www.dish.com/googleTV .

Seagate Confirms 3TB HD To Come Later This Year

Barbara Craig, Seagate’s senior product manager confirmed rumors that the company will be releasing a massive 3TB drive later this year. Unfortunately XP users will need to upgrade, as the drive will require a 64-bit OS.

The 3TB drive jump had its own fair share of obstacles as the current LBA (logical blocking addressing) standard set in 1980 only supports capacities up to 2.1 TB. Craig said that the drive’s full power will only be accessible with 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Vista, as well as some modified versions of Linux.

Seagates determination to go big rather than going home was definitely something to admire. Craig only said to expect an announcement “later this year,” which should give everyone plenty of time to start hoarding any and every file you can get your hands on. What are your thoughts of the big news? Share your thoughts and comments below.

Skype Store Opens Pre-Orders For Freetalk Everyman HD Webcam

 

Despite Skype talking a lot about HD webcams, there wasn't any to be seen until now. Freetalk's Everyman HD (Talk-7140) features on-board H.264 hardware encoding for up to 720p video at 22fps, with the minimum system requirements of Windows XP, 1GB RAM, and a dual core 2 GHz CPU. Apparently Mac users (using OS X 10.4 or better) can expect VGA quality at 30fps. This badboy will be available soon and you can pre-order yours now for $50 if you are interested.

The iPad is Here! Jailbreakers and Developers Gear Up! Consumers Go Crazy!

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!!

The iPad is finally here, with its arrival comes the usual consumer feeding frenzy that Apple products have been known to inspire. Check out our coverage from the Apple Store in Carousel Center, Syracuse, NY. People have been waiting as early as 7:00am (which is nothing compared to NYC.)

Many people had pre-ordered their iPads and were all hyped up while waiting in line. To be fair, though, a number of folks in line aren't just your good-old-fashioned Apple fanatics. There were many different types of people who were on the line ranging from people wanting the iPad for business purposes, app developers, to others who were just interested in casual usage. Having an opportunity to see their creations on the iPad screen is, indeed, making it difficult to sleep in this Saturday.

Along with app developers, and Apple fanatics, the developers of the jailbreak community who have promised an iPad jailbreak will be getting ready to crack open the guts of the idevice. And regardless of whether you're getting an iPad this morning or not, you can still enjoy a very up close and personal look at the iPad today - both inside and out.

We at MGN will publicly tear down an iPad this afternoon via a live stream and have youtube videos here on our website. Stay tuned for more pics and videos regarding some of our coverage at the Carousel Center in Syracuse, NY.

Amazon Defeats T-Mobile In HTC HD2 Pricing

We recently posted an article about T-Mobile’s big roll out of HTC HD2 cell phone which was yesterday. Most of you might have bought one or are still debating whether or not to get one due to the hefty price tag. As far as we know T-Mobile is offering this beauty with two types of plans as a way to save you some money.

Plan A: Comes with a 2 year contract and features great phone discounts, so your upfront costs are lower retailing at $449.99 with an instant discount of $250.00 which drops your cost down to $199.99.

Plan B: Has no annual contract and currently provides the best monthly rate plan. So you would pay for your phone upfront, but the lower monthly plan costs save you money over time. Suggested retail $449.99 and you pay $449.99. No discounts offered with this plan.

This device comes with features like downloadable books, TV, and movies. It also has the largest touch screen on the market which is very tempting. This Smartphone also requires a data service. There is more exciting news for those of you who have not fully made up your minds as to whether or not you would like to purchase this device.

A number of stores have discounted the HTC HD2 Smartphone down to a mere $100.00. This is great, despite the fact that this cell phone was released yesterday. Amazon has out done itself by offering the HTC HD2 for $99.99 with a two years contract. You have nothing else to worry about no mail in rebates or any of the other complications that comes with getting a discounted phone. It certainly makes the phone - arguably WinMo 6.5's last real hurrah. This is most definitely a great deal.

We have heard rumors that T-Mobile HTC HD2 was a great hit and was sold out in under four hours in all most all T-Mobile stores.

Microsoft Announces LifeCams with 720p TrueColor Technology

To those of you who are looking for a webcam upgrade or an addition to your laptop or desktop, Microsoft might have the answers to your quest.

Microsoft has launched three new Lifecams that will boast 720p resolution, the company's new TrueColor technology promises to provide a "superior color and brightness in even the worst lighting conditions."

Despite the optical wizardry, the webcams provide all the basic features you'd expect, it features auto focus and face tracking, a flexible base on the HD-5000 and HD-5001 that can be adapted for use on a desk, or attached to a laptop or desktop monitor the HD-6000 is designed for laptop use only.

Press Release:

Microsoft’s New TrueColor Technology Brings Color to LifeThree new LifeCams feature Microsoft Hardware’s latest technology and 720p HD sensors.

REDMOND, Wash. — March 16, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today brightens your video calls with TrueColor Technology, a groundbreaking new image processing technology that provides superior color and brightness in even the worst lighting conditions. TrueColor Technology automatically adjusts the picture quality to provide a more colorful video whether out on the porch with bright sunshine in the morning or in the living room with low light in the evening. This technology will be available in three new webcams launching today, the LifeCam HD-5000, LifeCam HD-5001 and LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks. These LifeCams will also feature 720p HD sensors and Auto Focus technology at a value price. In addition, TrueColor will be available with the recently launched LifeCam Cinema through a software update.

LifeCam HD-5000

“Color quality and brightness are critical aspects of video calls. Through our research we know that a large number of video calls are held in either low light conditions or uneven lighting, and these are challenging situations for any webcam and represent a common pain point for webcam users,” said Daniel Anguiano, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware. “Our engineers at Microsoft Hardware created TrueColor Technology to improve the video experience, combining software and firmware to help people look bright and natural in virtually any lighting situation.”

True Colors Shining Through

Microsoft’s new image processing technology analyzes the user’s environment and automatically adjusts the LifeCam settings to provide brighter and more colorful video. It does this through a carefully designed proprietary combination of software and firmware technology to deliver a great experience. To achieve these results, TrueColor Technology includes face tracking technology developed by Microsoft Research, which can detect a person’s face and help ensure it’s not overexposed or underexposed, so the video call picture looks great even in the most challenging lighting scenarios.

LifeCam HD-5000

Launching with Microsoft’s new TrueColor Technology, the LifeCam HD-5000 offers best-in-class video quality in most lighting scenarios and is the only webcam on the market to offer 720p HD widescreen video and Auto Focus for an estimated retail price under $50.1 The LifeCam HD-5000 also features a flexible attachment base that bends to fit on most surfaces, including on top of flat-screen monitors and notebook screens, or directly on the desk, so people can use it at home on the desktop or with their notebook while on the road.

Best Buy will launch an exclusive version of this product, called the LifeCam HD-5001, that includes all the same great features as the LifeCam HD-5000, but will have a custom design with a white faceplate.

LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks

Also launching today is the LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks, which includes TrueColor Technology, 720p HD widescreen video, Auto Focus and a design just for notebooks. The LifeCam HD-6000 features a 360-degree rotation view so people can point the webcam in any direction to share more with friends and family. With a compact design, short three-foot cord and carrying case, the LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks is the perfect webcam for sharing life on the go.

Pricing and Availability

The LifeCam HD-5000 and the LifeCam HD-5001 will be available later this month for the estimated retail price of $49.952 and the LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks will be available in May for the estimated retail price of $59.95.2 The LifeCam HD-5000 and LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks will be available for pre-sale on Amazon.com and Buy.com starting today. TrueColor Technology will be available via a software download for LifeCam Cinema, which is already broadly available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/downloads/default.mspx.

Microsoft backs these products with a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty. More information about these and other Microsoft Hardware products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

About Microsoft Hardware

For more than 27 years, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. More information about Microsoft Hardware is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware and http://www.microsofthardwareblog.com.

iPad Battery Replacement Program - New iPad?

Apple posted details on its iPad about its battery replacement service, which is not really a battery replacement service at all. Check out the company's opening line:

"If your iPad requires service due to the battery's diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee."

Now, let's compare that to the verbiage found in the iPhone's battery replacement program details:

"If your iPhone requires service only because the battery's ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will service your iPhone for a service fee."

We can see the bewildered look on your face, we have that same expression . Apple won't bother replacing the battery they will just send you a an new iPad or a refurbish one ; you'll pay $105.95 (including shipping) for a completely different iPad, which certainly has its advantages and disavantages. On one hand, you're getting a new (or potentially refurbished, actually) iPad in around "one week," on the other, you'll be waving goodbye to every piece of personal data on the device that you send in. Here's Apple's take on answering "will the data on my iPad be preserved?"

"No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad."

A pretty bold step from Apple if you ask us. What do you guys think of the ordeal? Some people may just prefer their personal device with their own information saved whereas others will gladly take a fresh piece of hardware, it all depends on the person and their preferences. It could also bring about issues for those who jailbreak the iPad (assuming there will be a jailbreak available for it shortly after its release.) Imagine you jailbreak your iPad and need to get a battery replacement down the line, Apple could possibly send you back a new version of their hardware which won't allow you to jailbreak it (much like MC models for the iPhone 3GS.) Are you still excited for their new battery replacement program?

[iPad] New Details Emerge

iPad seems to be the hot topic of the day, with that being said we have some more interesting news - "Apple's pushing out a few more scraps of info about the iPad in conjunction with the launch of pre-orders.One of the quirkier details is what was previously known as the mute switch on the iPad - similar to the one on the iPhone - is now known as the 'screen rotation lock' on Apple's website.

We suppose it makes more sense for this sort of device, because of both 'hold it any way you feel like' marketing push, and since it's less likely to start ringing in the middle of a Remember Me screening than your iPhone is.

In other news, it's been confirmed that iBooks will be able to sync free (non-DRM'd) ePub titles in from iTunes, which is good news for people who want to use an existing ePub stash of theirs with Apple's fancy page-flipping interface. Also on the books front, it was clarified today that the iPad can indeed use VoiceOver screen-reading for reading pages of books out loud - we knew the screen reading tech was on the iPad, but now it sounds as if it will be more directly integrated into iBooks.

Apple also clarified today that folks who sign up for the 250MB iPad data plan will receive pop-up alerts when they're running short on data, similar to battery warnings, at the 20 percent, 10 percent and zero marks. There's an account management pane that lets you sign up for or cancel service, add another 250MB, or swap to an unlimited plan.

But wait, there's more! Apple's also confirming a few more iPhone OS 3.2 features, like the addition of Google's 'Terrain' view in maps and a slightly revamped iPod app UI. 3.2 also brings some nice video tweaks like support for additional formats (AVI and MJPEG) and native uploads to Facebook - further boosting the iPad's external camera friendliness.

Which iPad Did You Order?

With iPad pre-orders finally available, at least in the U.S., I am relieved to place my order for an 16 GB iPad, due to be delivered on or after April 3rd.

I just went with the 16GB Wi-Fi only model with a case, USB Power Adapter and Taxes, the whole package came to just about $630 for me. I declined AppleCare for the moment, at $99 for two years of coverage, it seemed a little steep. Besides, I will end up selling or passing the unit to friends and family once I upgrade to the Wi-Fi+3G model once it becomes available in "late April"

I passed on the other accessories as none of them seemed compelling enough for immediate pre-order. Interestingly, Apple does not seem to offer any engraving options for the iPad yet, although I'm guessing they will at some point.

So what did you end up ordering? Did you pick up accessories? Are you going to wait in line and get your the same day? If so, which ones did you decide on and what motivated that decision?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

iPad Available for Pre-Order Now

iPad is now available for pre-order at the Apple Store. And if you're still confused between the models, it's not too late to read the iPad Buyer's Guide.

Apple Confirms, iPad Pre-Orders To Start Tomorrow at 8:30AM EST

 

With months of hype, anticipation and excitement the wait is finally over. The iPad is here or at least you can Pre-order it starting tomorrow at 8:30am EST Friday. That's 5:30am, Pacific.

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn you have the option to either get a Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi+3G equipped model, on their respective release dates of April 3rd and "Late April." If you pre-order through your local store over the phone, you can expect to get your iPad day of launch; or if you pre-order through Apple's website, which might be the only option for West Coasters, they'll ship it on launch day, but no earlier. (Speculations are that stores will have set-aside a number of units for pre-order anyway, so don't worry about getting yourself out bed before your local store open.)

Onkyo's TX-SR608: First THX-Certified 3D AV Receiver

Onkyo introduces the TX-SR608 receiver the TX-SR608 will be out on the market in April for a price tag of $599, coincidentaly its release is around the same time as Panasonic or Sony 3DTV. This beauty has a mother load of six HDMI inputs. All six HDMI 1.4 inputs has the capacity of passing 3D video, and upscale to 1080p if needed—with one of the inputs located on the front. All HD audio formats are able to be decoded, and uses 192kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown DACs. Dual subwoofer outputs and 7 x 100W output is a definite upgrade over the previous TX-SR607 model, which had just 90 watts per channel.

This is just a press release of more Onkyo products they announced March deliveries of its first 3D-Ready home theater receivers and home theater in a box (HTiB) systems. These models consists of three A/V receivers and three HTiB systems ranging in price from $299 to $599, and all of them support the new HDMI v1.4 connectivity standard for new 3D video displays and Audio Return Channel capabilities.

The lineup includes Onkyo's new easy-to-setup overlaid onscreen graphical display that lets the user watch the program in the background while using the function menus. Additionally, all 2010 HDMI v1.4 models include a new feature call HDMI Thru. HDMI Thru allows content to pass through to the TV when the receiver is in a standby state.

All are extremely well furnish to provide excellence in music, home theater sound and video experience, with a quality that offers an exceptional value. All these new receivers and HTiBs now decode lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstreams, and include new 192-kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown PCM1690 DAC's that are highly resistable to clock jitter and provide a remarkable 113-dB dynamic range.

The new TX-SR608 7.2-channel THX-Select2 Plus certified receiver has a new powerful amplifier section that uses three-stage inverted Darlington output topology, and a power boost from 90 to 100 watts. Audyssey DSX dimensional sound processing has been added to its predecessor's Dolby PLIIz capabilities. Additionally, all video sources, including those using the new PC input, and regardless of source resolution, can be upscaled to big and beautiful 1080p via HDMI and Faroudja DCDi Cinema™. The TX-SR608 will also include a front HDMI input, a feature first introduced by Onkyo in 2009. The TX-SR608 will be available in April at an MSRP of $599.

The 5.1-channel TX-SR308 and 7.1-channel TX-SR508 round out this initial announcement of A/V Receivers from Onkyo. The TX-SR308 will be available in March with an MSRP of $299, a followed by the TX-SR508 in April for $399.

The HTiB package systems, which each consist of a receiver, speakers and a subwoofer, are the 5.1-channel HT-S3300 and 7.1-channel HT-S5300; the latter also includes an iPod dock. Thanks to the HDMI interface and the use of advanced Dolby and DTS codecs, all of these receivers and systems are also capable of decoding lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The HT-S3300 will ship in March with an MSRP of $379, followed by the HT-S5300 in April for $599.

A third packaged system departs from the traditional HTiB form factor and uses a combination subwoofer and 3D Ready A/V receiver plus two front speakers. It uses Onkyo's own Theater-Dimensional processor to create an immersive and convincing surround effect through just 2.1 channels. The HTX-22HDX has three HDMI v1.4 inputs, handles HD audio formats from DTS and Dolby; offers four distinct audio modes for gaming; and outputs for additional speakers. The HTX-22HDX will ship in May with a $349 MSRP.

"Onkyo's 2010 entry-level product line represents a significant jump over last year's line," said Paul Wasek, Onkyo USA's marketing manager "We are excited to deliver this first wave of 3D capable products. By upgrading to 1.4, even on the least expensive HTiB, we have eliminated all HDMI pass-through products and allowed HD audio formats to be used across the line. The fact that consumers can now buy a THX-Certified receiver with 1080p upscaling, Burr-Brown DACs, PC input and more for under $600 shows Onkyo's clear commitment to delivering performance and value to consumers."


All of Onkyo's receivers offer exceptional connectivity options with as many as six HDMI inputs, plus component and composite video, a number of stereo input jacks, optical/coaxial digital inputs, and the popular front-panel connections on many models. Two models include Sirius Radio connections, and all these receivers incorporate Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port (U-Port) connector which simplifies connections to optional HD Radio tuners and iPod Docks (included with the HT-S5300).

Sony 3D TVs To Go On Sale In June!

3DTVs are beginning to flood the market, Panasonic will be flogging 3DTVs in the US by month's end and Sony will be following behind with a launch date in June. The LX900, HX900 and HX800 look great. The competition is on between Sony and Panasonic, Japan will start sales of the 3DTV set on June 10^th and world wide soon after. But Sony is claiming that they will be cheaper than Panasonic's 3DTV.

Akihabara News was in attendance at a press launch of the LX900, HX900 and HX800 3D sets in Japan, which are all of the "monolithic" design. Based on their reviews the LX900 series consists of four models all with Intelligent People Sensors which allows you to adjust the sound and brightness as to where the viewer is located. It was built on the VE5 TVs launched last year which can also detect when you leave the room and turns off automatically.

The LX900 will be available in 40, 46, 52 and 60-inch LED-backlit options, will have inbuilt wireless LAN, and include two sets of 3D active shutter glasses (which will be available in grey, blue and pink options). The 46-inch size will reportedly cost 350,000 Yen—about $3,900. Only 46 and 52-inch options will be available for the HX900 series, which will be LED-backlit, and feature Intelligent MPEG noise reduction. Less attractive, the HX800 lacks the Intelligent People Sensors and MPEG noise reduction, and come in just 40 and 46-inch sizes.

These are all LED-backlit LCD panels, refreshingly at no more than 3ms, whereas plasmas are better suited to showing 3D because of their smoother and faster images.

Here’s all you need to know in more details:

LX900 series

The flagship LX900 series consists of four models with screen sizes between 40 ($3,200), 42 ($3,900), 50 ($4,800) and 60 inches ($6,500). Buyers will get 2 pairs of active shutter glasses, wireless LAN, full HD, 4 HDMI ports, a USB port, video-on demand, and LED backlight. The 60-inch model, the KDL-60LX900, is pictured above.

There’s also an “intelligent people sensor system”, which adjusts images and sound depending on where viewers are located. And through face detection, the TVs can even be “personalized”. For example, the TVs can detect if a child is sitting too close to the screen and display a warning message. And if nobody is in the room for a certain period of time, the TVs shut down automatically (“On/Off Conscious” function).

The 40- and 42-inch models will go on sale in Japan on June 10, followed by the bigger LX900 models on July 16.

HX900

The HX900 series consists of a 46- ($4,350) and a 52-inch ($5,250) model. For some odd reason, 3D glasses are not included in the price. These models are full HD, too. The HX900 series shares main specs with the KX900 (outlined above) but lacks the fancy sensor systems and wireless LAN. The bigger of the two models, the KDL-52HX900, is pictured above.

Both HX900 models go on sale on July 16.

HX800

Priced at $2,450 for the 40-inch model and $3,100 for 46-incher, the two models of the HX800 are the cheapest of all 3D TVs Sony unveiled today. The TVs feature LED backlights, full HD and all basic specs of the HX900 but come without wireless LAN or sensors. They also lack the 3D glasses, which buyers need to get separately. The picture above shows the 40-inch model, the KDL-40HX800.

The two HX800 TVs are scheduled to hit Japanese stores on July 16.

Sony wireless LAN adapter

The HX800 and HX900 TVs do have (wired) LAN but buyers can also get the UWA-BR100, a wireless LAN adapter that’s to be inserted into the USB port of the TVs. It’s already available in the US for $79.99.

Sony Active Shutter 3D TV glasses and synchro transmitters


As the HX900 and HX800 TVs don’t come with glasses, Sony also announced the extra-large TDG-BR100 in black and the smaller TDG-BR50 in blue or pink (price: $140 each) today. Then there’s TMR-BR100, a 3D “synchro transmitter”, which makes sure the glasses can actually display the 3D images your TV produces (price: an extra $60).

Sony said they will roll out these TVs globally at around the same time, meaning Panasonic will have a head start of about 3 months in the USA and 2 months in Japan. Just like Panasonic, Sony is expecting the 3D business to evolve into an important revenue machine in the near future.

Xtand: Perfect Stand for iPhone\iPodtouch

Just Mobile, a Taiwanese manufacturer of iPhone\iPodTouch accessories since 2005 introduces Xtand an all-aluminum iPhone\iPod Touch stand which matches the feel of the Mac perfectly. In fact, it looks almost exactly like a miniature Cinema Display base, except instead of a monitor at the top, there's an idevice.

The material is solid aluminum, brushed to match your Mac products. The holder where you set the device has rubberized corner 'bumpers' which both hold the device in place and make sure it's notgetting scratched at all from sitting in the stand. The holder also swivels 360 degrees – so you can use your device vertically or horizontally depending on your liking. There's a knob on the back which you turn to loosen the holder to swivel it. And, for you OCD folks out there, the stand has a hole in the vertical part of the base which let's you run your iPhone cable through it to manage desk clutter as well.

                  

Since the device is solid aluminum, there's no way to change the angle it sits at, but it is a perfect angle for both watching videos or using the device. It is weighty enough to not move when you are tapping and swiping on the idevice, although when you press the home button you use a bit more pressure so you'll need to hold the stand so it doesn't slide around.

This stand by far is our favorite from what we've seen and tested. It looks great on the desk, matches all the equipment, and is functionally efficient. The ability to swivel the screen is much appreciated, and it's an all around durable and well-made item. You can find the Xtand at quite a few places, and it retails for $39.95. Amazon's got it at $31 right now.

We have seen a lot of iPhone\iPodTouch stands – but they don't compare to the Xtand!

No iPhone-iPad Unified OS Till Fall 2010?

Sources reports that Apple would not unify iPhone and iPad OS until Fall 2010. Possibly even after the release of the iPad and the 4th generation iPhone.

iPad is set to launch on April 3rd and it will be running OS 3.2. It’s iPad specific firmware because it includes all the changes needed for iPad sized device and development purposes. On the other hand iPhone latest firmware is 3.1.3 won't get an OS upgrade until the new device is released.

The next model iPhone 4G is expected to hit the market in June which, most probably, will be running the latest and greatest iPhone OS 4.0 plus redesigned hardware. iPhone firmware 4.0 will be a major firmware release like its predecessor OS 3.0 and will bring lot of new features

However, It doesn’t make sense for Apple to unify the two operating systems for 4.0 with the timeline they are working with.

Seeing Apple's trend from past years, we expect the Apple to release OS 4.1 in September or October. It will not only address issues with the 4.0 release, but also unify the operating systems. Again, these are just speculations.

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

LG Announces Ultrathin X300 Laptop

LG has announced its new ultrathin mobile laptop the X300. This laptop displays an attractive design with its polished chic look which charmed the viewers at CES 2010 in Las Vegas.

This device features a 2GHz processor, 11.6-inch screen, and a 1.3-megapixel webcam. Its 17.5mm thick and weighs 2 pounds, Its unique smooth style keyboard and borderless touchpad adds a classy look to this premium mobile .It also consists of 128GB SSD, the LG X300 runs Windows 7 Home Premium OS and ships with a spare 2-cell battery to provide up to seven hours of use. This definitely adds some class for the style-conscious users, the LG X300 comes in two colors, shiny white and light brown.

“Given how demanding and discerning consumers are nowadays, we were delighted to receive such acclaim from the public and media at the CES for our new mobile PC,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “It’s a vindication of LG’s efforts to maintain the very highest standards in design without any sacrifices in high-tech or functionality, and ensure our consumers’ experiences with LG PCs just keep getting better.”

The LG X300 will be available in Asia starting in March, followed by the Middle East and South America. Prices will vary country-to-country and will be announced separately in each market. No word on availability in the US yet.

HP Slate Show Off Flash

HP trying to keep up with the competition and has released a video which bares a similarity to last night's iPad commercial. HP runs Windows 7 so we were not at all surprised when HP's announcement of its new Slate device that supports Flash.

There has not been much advertisement of the device since it was announce and displayed by Steve Ballmer at the CES. The video below from Adobe gives you a much clearer look at the functionality of this device.

You can get a quick shot of the on-screen keyboard, it looks like an edited version of the standard Windows 7 keyboard. It dose not look comfortable to type on.

Flash is hardware-accelerated on the Slate, which suggests something other than a bone-stock Atom setup in there – there is speculation that its an Atom plus a Broadcom Crystal HD Accelerator.

Wooden Case for iPad: iWood?

With iPad just getting its official release date of April 3rd, during the 82nd Annual Academy Award show, 2010. Vers, had announced to release of a wooden case for iPad. The case increases the width of the iPad and also contributes to the weight however, in our opinion it does look nice.

iPad is set to release on April 3rd and Pre-orders starts from March 12th.

Time to wait outside the Apple store near approaching it's get your camping gear out.