Accell today unveiled the world's smallest and first HDMI 1.3a Category 2 compatible 2-1 switch. Called the UltraAV 2-1 HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Switch, it will be shown publicly for the first time during CEDIA Expo 2007 in September. The switch, which is expected to retail for $99.99, is the first to support both the HDMI 1.3a Category 1 and Category 2 specifications. Other companies produce HDMI switches in 2-1 and 4-1 configurations, but not all of them support HDMI 1.3a Category 2, also known as HDMI 1.3 … [Read more...]
Apple Announces New iMac
Apple announced a new iMac today, replacing the white enclosure with a new aluminum and glass design.. The new iMac comes in 20" and 24" configurations, bringing an end to Apple's 17" iMac offerings. The updated machines will run on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, with clock speeds of either 2GHz and 2.4GHz. A 2.8 GHz chip is available as a configuration model. The machines will come equipped with a base of 1GB of installed RAM with memory capacity of 4GB. The low-end model will feature an ATI Radeon HD 2400XT graphics … [Read more...]
LEGO Indiana Jones Announced for Consoles
Normally we get upset by me-too games, but every now and then one rolls along that just sounds awesome. Like LEGO Indiana Jones. LucasArts and Traveller's Tales are teaming up again, this time to create a game for all home consoles that covers the first three films in the Indiana Jones trilogy (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade). The two companies last teamed up for the LEGO Star Wars games. Lucasfilm Ltd. recently announced that the LEGO Group will begin releasing LEGO Indiana Jones playsets … [Read more...]
Bull's-eye for Blu-Ray
(Reuters) - Target plans to carry only Blu-ray high definition DVD players through the holiday shopping season, a move that boosts the Sony-backed technology and may deal a blow to rival HD-DVD. In a statement on Thursday, Sony Corp. said that Target will exclusively carry Blu-ray players "at least through the holiday season" and will also expand its inventory of Blu-ray discs. The move begins in October with Target's sale and promotion of Sony's BDP-S300 unit, which sells for about $500. It was the second major … [Read more...]
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Drops to $179
Microsoft announced a $20 price drop of the HD DVD player starting Aug. 1, 2007. In addition, the give-away happy company will add five free HD DVD movies for anyone purchasing an Xbox 360 HD DVD player between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30. Furthermore, Microsoft inked a deal with Warner bros. and Universal Studios to begin streaming on demand HD movies and television series starting Aug. 14. In a nutshell, you'll be able to download the first season of Heroes and the popular movie "300" very soon. … [Read more...]
Sony Says: People Like Us on the Cheap
Looks like consumers really do like things on the cheap, especially when it comes to high-end hardware. Sony announced this afternoon that PlayStation 3 sales at its top five retailers have increased 135 percent since the console dropped in price to $499. The PS3 hasn't been the only thing selling well for Sony, though. Although PS3 sales were up 21 percent over May's figures, (98,469 units sold), the PSP was up 31 percent year-over-year (290,108 units sold, and the PS2 showed no signs of dying, as it moved 270,763 … [Read more...]
Disney's Films and TV Coming to Xbox Live
Disney and Microsoft have teamed up for online content in a way that makes total sense -- and that gives Microsoft yet another leg up in the world of online distribution via a console: high-definition and standard-definition feature films from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films and Hollywood Pictures will be available for rent-on-demand to Xbox Live members in the United States. The first wave of titles will be available starting today, with more on the way this fall. … [Read more...]
A&E, National Geographic Headed to Xbox Live
Just as Microsoft announced the HDMI-equipped Elite Xbox 360 is coming in April, the company has announced new ways to fill up the Elite's 120 GB hard drive: five new video partners are going to provide content on Xbox Live Marketplace. Paramount Pictures, A&E Network, National Geographic, ADV Films and TotalVid.com will all provide content on Xbox Live Marketplace. Paramount's downloadable films will include Braveheart, Team America, World Trade Center and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Warner Bros. will also … [Read more...]
Microsoft Second-Guessing HD-DVD?
Ah, the Internet. A beautiful place, really. Limitless information, amazing research resources, active online communities, naked ladies ... what isn't there to like? Oh yeah, fanboys. OK, so 50 percent of the Internet sucks. The rest? Refreshing and entertaining, especially if you like the rumor mill. Months ago an image found its way onto the Internets showing the supposed evolution of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox 360. Code-named Zephyr, this version 1.3 system would have HDMI output, a larger hard drive and an … [Read more...]
Xbox 360 IPTV "Demo" Coming in March
Microsoft's trojan horse into your living room, the Xbox 360, will be used in March to demonstrate IPTV on the console. The demo will take place in Europe, at "The Connected Home" show taking place in Olympia, London March 5-7. IPTV on Xbox 360 is expected to be available through select service providers as early as the 2007 holiday season. However, because so few U.S. providers have access to the necessary infrastructure, most of the service providers that have chosen Microsoft IPTV Edition are European (AT&T, BT Group … [Read more...]