Microsoft Corp. today announced that it will reduce the estimated retail price (ERP) of Xbox 360™ by $50 (U.S.) beginning Aug. 8. Soon to follow, Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) will release its blockbuster video game title “Madden NFL 08″ on Aug. 14. “Madden NFL Football,” one of the most important mass-appeal franchises in video games, was the top-selling game of 2006 and is the top-selling franchise of the past 10 years. Only Xbox 360 offers a console for all interests and budgets.

“The fact that we have been able to keep our launch price longer than any other console while retaining our leadership position demonstrates that consumers believe in the value of Xbox 360,” said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president, Global Retail Sales and Marketing Group, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “On the eve of the best holiday games lineup ever and the launch of ‘Madden NFL 08,’ there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox 360.”

... continue reading XBOX 360 gets $ 50 price reduction

---

Toshiba unveils its third generation of HD DVD players for the U.S. market. The three new models are the Toshiba HD-A3, HD-A30 and HD-A35. With all three new models priced under $500 (MSRP), Toshiba is delivering a powerful line-up of HD DVD players designed to meet the aggressive growth in demand for HDTVs.

“With a majority market share in unit sales of next generation DVD players, consumers are speaking loud and clear, and they are adopting HD DVD as their HD movie format of choice,” said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba’s Digital A/V Group. “Because of the proven manufacturing efficiencies of the HD DVD format, Toshiba can bring this level of innovation in technology to a new generation of players with cutting-edge functionality at affordable prices.”

Building on the success of its first and second generation players, new enhancements in select models in the third generation line include an improvement in video performance with 1080p/24 frames per second (24p) support. Movie films are traditionally captured at 24 frames per second and select Toshiba third generation HD DVD players will be able to maintain this frame rate allowing consumers to enjoy movies in their native frame rate.

... continue reading Toshiba unveils third generation HD DVD players

---

The Yamaha RX-V3800 is a high-end Home Theater Receiver introducing new technologies and features including 3D CINEMA DSP, latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, upscaling to 1080p, full support for high definition audio formats signals, Adaptive DRC and Adaptive DSP Level, YPAO Auto Setup with Quick Start, and multi-zone custom installation support and Network Receiver functions.

The Yamaha RX-V3800 as Network Receiver
Using a local area network (LAN) connection and Windows Media Connect technology ver.2 or better, Yamaha Network enabled receivers allow you to play MP3, WMA and WAV music from up to four (4) PC’s. The receiver can even be used as a client for Yamaha’s MusicCAST home music server, seamlessly integrating with the MCX-2000 digital audio server within your LAN. The Network Receiver also provides the ability to listen to any of the thousands of stations available on Internet radio when connected to a broadband Internet connection.

By using the included MP3 vTuner data service that is enabled, looking for content on the Internet couldn’t be easier, from your favorite Rock, Pop, or R&B to Podcasts that cater to your music interests. With a USB terminal on the front panel you now have a convenient way to play music from USB flash drives and portable USB music players. Yamaha Network Receivers get you connected to the vast music content available anywhere on your LAN and on the web.

... continue reading Yamaha RX-V3800 Home Theater Receiver introduction

---

NASA is already known for its video material in HDTV quality but now for the first time, people around the world can view 3-D images of the space shuttle Endeavour and surrounding buildings at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida before it launches into space, through a collaboration between Microsoft Corp. and NASA. Microsoft® Live Labs and NASA developed the environments using hundreds of photographs and a photo-imaging technology called Photosynth™. Photosynth uses hundreds of standard digital camera images to construct a 3-D view of an environment that can be navigated and explored in a highly intuitive manner.

Online viewers can go to Microsoft Live Labs to access 3-D images of details such as the shuttle boosters, interior and exterior of the Vehicle Assembly Building, and launchpad. By clicking and dragging their mouse, visitors to the site will be able to explore parts of the shuttle launch, zooming in to see the smallest decorative detail or zooming out and panning 360 degrees to place the shuttle in a wider context.

“This collaboration with Microsoft gives the public a new way to explore and participate in America’s space program,” said William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations. “We are looking into ways of using this new technology to support future missions.”

... continue reading Endeavour Shuttle Launch preparation in 3D

---

The V3HD is a new hub for the HDTV quality video production studio of the semi-pro. With one simple plug-and-play FireWire connection, the V3HD turns your Mac or PC desktop or laptop computer into a powerful HD/SD video production workstation equipped with all the video and audio I/O you need.

Connect all your gear, from SD camcorders and CRT monitors to today’s latest professional HD cameras, video decks, LCD reference monitors and plasmas — all at the same time, with no cable swapping. Choose your input source, then log and capture HD and SD clips directly into Final Cut or Premiere, converted on the fly and ready for fast, CPU-efficient editing in pristine native DVCPro HD quality, without the costly overhead required for uncompressed HD. Monitor simultaneously in HD and SD with real-time SD-to-HD up-convert, HD-to-SD down-convert and real-time pull-down insertion or removal.

... continue reading V3HD introduction

---

Hitachi, Ltd. announced the Hitachi DZ-BD7H and DZ-BD70, the world’s first Blu-ray Disc (BD) Camcorders, -which records one hour of 1920×1080 Full High-Definition video onto a BD (single side, single layer.) The new camcorders will start selling in Japan on August 30, 2007, and overseas market sequentially starting from October.

The new Hitachi DZ-BD7H is a Hybrid Cam with a BD drive and a 30 gigabyte (GB) built-in hard disc drive (HDD) which can record approximately four hours of 1920×1080 full high-definition video, or up to eight hours of 1440×1080 high-definition video. It can also copy the contents from HDD to 8cm BD within the camcorder so that users do not need to use any external devices.

The new Hitachi DZ-BD70 is a BD single drive camcorder which can record approximately one hour of 1920×1080 full high-definition video (two hours of 1440×1080 high definition video) on a 8cm BD.

... continue reading Hitachi DZ-BD7H and DZ-BD70 Blu-ray Disc camcorders introduction

---

AVerMedia® Technologies, Inc. announced today the release of the AVerTV Hybrid ExpressCard High Definition and Analog ExpressCard TV Tuner for laptops. Utilizing the latest component technologies, the new AVerTV Hybrid ExpressCard is the perfect TV Tuner solution for laptops with an Express Card interface a hybrid world-wide Analog and ATSC tuner. Certified for Windows XP, XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Windows Vista Premium Certified 32/64 bit, this new TV Tuner will take portable PC-TV viewing to the next level.

The AVerMedia AVerTV Hybrid ExpressCard is a certified 54mm Express Card TV Tuner combining Analog and ATSC capabilities onto one tuner. Users can watch and record Analog and High Definition TV through their laptop’s Express Card interface. The hardware compression allows for sharp, clear video while reducing CPU resources. The AVerTV Hybrid ExpressCard enables users to watch over-the ”“air, or coax Analog or over-the-air High Definition TV on either their laptop. Able to support up to 1080i HD signals with variable aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9, the AVerTV Hybrid ExpressCard is a true HD-laptop device.

... continue reading AVerMedia AVerTV Hybrid ExpressCard HD introduction

---

Panasonic, the well known manufacturer of flat panel HDTVs and other HD equipment, today announced the launch of its Living in High Definition program, a multi-faceted, experiential program, in association with researchers from the Center for Urban Research and Policy at Columbia University, that will explore how the latest HD TV and video technologies can enrich the American lifestyle.

Between August 2007 and March 2008, Panasonic’s Living in HD Program will look for 30 families to live with a complete suite of High Definition technology products and related services worth an estimated $20,000, including a large screen 1080p Plasma television, HD camcorder, Blu-ray Disc Player, Digital Still Camera and other equipment. For an opportunity to participate in the Living in HD program, consumers can visit www.LivingInHD.com to register and get information on submitting their entry. One key element of Panasonic’s search is to hear from families what they would create in High Definition and why they want to chronicle their lives in HD. A panel of judges including leading Hollywood producer/director Brett Ratner and Kevin Smith will select families based on their creative submissions and a set of diverse criteria.

... continue reading Panasonic Living in High Definition Program introduction

---