Ready to jump on the Blu-Ray bandwagon, but don't feel like peeling ten Franklins off that bankroll? Sony's preparing to launch a lower cost Blu-Ray player this summer: the BDP-S300.
The S300's biggest selling point is its price: at $600, it's only slightly more expensive than a competing HD-DVD player. As such, it will also run about equal to the cost of the higher-end PlayStation 3, which was to date the cheapest Blu-Ray player available.
Strangely enough, Sony claims the S300 will have the "same capabilities" as its flagship BDP-S1 (pictured). Granted, in PR speak, that could mean anything from the exact same feature lineup to "yes, it also plays Blu-Ray discs." The S300 will also be physically somewhat smaller than the S1, about the same size as a conventional DVD player. It will do 1080p, and it will also play CDs, which the S1 won't.
Sony Electronics president Stan Glasgow also reputedly said that Blu-Ray players would drop below $500 by this holiday season. So unless you need one stat, you're probably better off waiting.
[via Engadget]
My Canon PowerShot A510 takes surprisingly decent video for a still camera. And it makes sense, when you think about it, that video and still cameras would get closer and closer together. Now, Canon's new PowerShot TX1 combines them in a surprisingly low-priced, attractive package that's got me thinking it might be time to upgrade.
The TX1 can take still shots at 7.1 megapixels, as well as record video at 720p HD. There's also a 10x optical zoom lens, ISO settings from 80 to 1600, face recognition, an orientation sensor (think horizontal vs. vertical, not north and south), and more. All for a very slick $500. While this probably won't get you professional quality video, and the lack of a microphone in port is certainly a bummer, at that price, it's well-positioned as an entry-level camcorder for budding young filmmakers. Think of it as the 8mm for the digital age and without any of the unpleasant Nicolas Cage associations.
The TX1 is Windows and OS X compatible, but no release date has been set yet.
[via Engadget]
Despite being cracked open faster than an ice cold beverage on a hot day, it doesn't mean that the next generation optical formats are going to back down. Au contraire. In Japan, Sharp is rolling out the BD-HP1, a Blu-Ray drive that not only plays back high-def content, but can also record it.
You'll need single-layer BD-R/RE discs for it to do its job, but using those you'll get over two hours of 1080p video or 6 hours of standard definition content. Besides its recording tricks, it can play back DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW discs over HDMI, S-video or composite, with optical and coaxial digital audio and surround sound support.
Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, there's a catch. Recording is accomplished via the BD-HP1's FireWire ports (though they're using Sony's iLink moniker), and as such only seems to work with Sharp's own Aquos LCD TVs. Supposedly you can also use the FireWire connection to copy material from a hard drive to a Blu-Ray disk, though Sharp says you'll need one of their Aquos HD Recorders.
The BD-HP1 drops in Japan on March 20th, though no official price has yet been announced.
[via Engadget]
Not content with doing a sneaky hack that required the knowledge of keys for individual titles, the folks over at Doom9 forums have located a key that allows circumventing of the Advanced Access Content System (AACS), the encryption system used on both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs.
AACS reputedly took years and billions of dollars to develop while hackers appeared to have compromised it in the few months since the release of both formats into public. As Steve Jobs's recent open letter pointed out, the development of DRM systems is "a cat-and-mouse game" with content providers trying to constantly stay one step ahead of hackers.
Circumventing copy protection is, of course, illegal under the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and it has yet to be seen if the content providers will strike back at the hackers with the full weight of the law—which, of course, won't actually be able to stop the cracking process, since the information already exists all over the Internet. There is a chance that the encryption scheme will be updated, but I imagine it's a very slim one. Perhaps they should, instead, consider this another example of the futility of DRM.
[via Slashdot]
And, I mean, what is with this plush webcam fetish? Am I right? Am I right? Seriously, though, is it just me or does this panda look seriously ticked off? Like panda attack ticked off. To be fair, if I'd had my stomach replaced with a webcam, I'd probably be somewhat on the nonplussed side.
Naturally, the combination stuffed animal/Internet appliance comes straight from everybody's favorite maker of random USB gadgets, Brando. Don't let this cute exterior fool you either: within is embedded a deadly 640x480/15fps (or 320x240/30fps) video camera that will watch you. Waiting. For the right moment to strike.
Should you wish to bring this snarling, feral, unholy bear/camera combination into your own, it'll cost you $24. And a lifetime supply of bamboo.
[via Shiny Shiny]
In the history of disastrous gadgets, I'm sure there have been many. The combination footbath/shredder (why, god, why?); the robotic lawnmover (Rover, we hardly knew ya); and now, the Sun Visor TV/DVD Theater, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.
Look, there are enough distractions on the road today, what with iPods, cellphones, satellite radio, and the continued idiocy of other drivers. Do we really need a device that lets the driver watch television? Further: what the hell are they watching there, exactly? Exercise videos? You're going to keep in shape while driving? Brilliant.
This isn't to say that it isn't packed full of features. It plays CDs, DVDs, VCDs, MP3 CDs, comes with an SD card reader, an FM transmitter for listening to the audio over your car stereo, and a USB port. So you can plug in your computer. Right. Oh, you'll be "the carpool envy of all of your friends," all right. Only I'm not riding in your deathtrap, you hear me?
For the privilege of getting yourself into a fiery ball of destruction, you'll pay just $300. A steal at twice the price.
[via Red Ferret Journal]
When Google purchased mega video site YouTube for $1.65 billion last year, many figured either Google Video would be dropped like a hot potato, or YouTube would assume the Google Video moniker. Neither eventuality has happened though, and today Google shared some thoughts on both of its video services.
Seems Google Video will be transformed from being a YouTube-clone to more of a Google for video; that is, an index for all video content online—think Google Images, but with video instead. As of now, you will be able to find YouTube videos via Google Video. Click on one and you'll be taken straight to the Tube. But to those who enjoyed Google Video as a YouTube competitor, well, it seems those days are gone.
So what of the de facto king? Google explains that it seems YouTube as evolving to be not just the great melting pot of online video, but a future where "most user-generated and premium video content being hosted on YouTube." Yes, the war for control of online video continues. Of course, it remains to be seen what the content providers think of this, given that they're not thrilled about their copyrighted material showing up on the site in the first place.
[via Ars Technica]
We've been talking up the LG Hybrid Player, ever since we learned of the super secret project surrounding its construction, deep in the bowels of LG's mountain lair. But now that the official ship date is mere days away, a few units have begun wending their way out to happy consumers. Gizmodo's Brian Lam just happens to be one of 'em, and he's posted his first review of the BH100.
Of course, the question on everybody's minds is whether or not this sucker will bring the next-gen optical format war to a close. The answer: mmmmm, probably not. For one thing, the BH100 seems to still lack full compatibility with HD DVD, making some of the spiffier features of that medium clunky at best, inaccessible at worst. There was also an issue getting it to output full 1080p resolution via HDMI to the display used, but your mileage may vary.
Still, the player gets a thumbs up for its sleek design, and for having decently speedy load times for both HD DVD and Blu-Ray (in the 30-40 seconds range). The BH100 will run you about $1200, which is actually slightly more than separate HD DVD and Blu-Ray players, so it's not likely to end battles any time soon. But if you're looking to cut down on clutter and don't mind sacrificing some of HD DVD's bells and whistles, well, this might be just the thing.
