We've already seen that a number of retailers will be offering Vizio HDTVs on the cheap this Friday (or Black Friday, as the in-crowd calls it these days), but the company is stealing a bit of their thunder by announcing cuts from the top a few days early. Vizio's 19-inch VA19 LCD will be offered for just $199.99 at Costco through December 7th, while the 32-inch VP322 plasma (pictured) will go for $437 at Walmart starting today. There's also the 37-inch VW37 LCD HDTV for $499.99 at Costco, the 32-inch 1080p VOJ32LF LCD for $559.99 at Sears and the 42-inch 1080p VS420 for $698 at Sam's Club. If none of these sets float your boat, check out our condensed guide to Black Friday: HD style for something more to your liking.

Ok, we know the PlayStation 3 is getting a movie download service this year - but apparently much work remains to be done. Variety checked into the situation and sees the number of movie studios signed on at present stands at exactly one: Sony Pictures. Never fear, because being late to the party could benefit Sony as it negotiates deals with other studios similar to the ones already in place for Xbox Live Video Marketplace and iTunes. Also on board is the possibility of transferring flicks to PSP, although that and any other features that expand on the functionality already seen on other services could slow down a deal. We're torn, while having another competitor in digital downloads (and another way to enjoy movies on our PS3) as soon as possible sounds good, we might be willing to wait if it means Sony's leverage can swing more features (or at least some leeway to the DRM currently in place on other services).

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Now we're talking Sony, this is the type of integration we expect to see on the heels of your promise to cash in on portable video after losing the audio battle to Apple. As a Blu-ray recorder, the BDZ-A70 features all the in/outs you'd expect and recording to a 320GB (the new BDZ-T90 offers 500GB) disk or dual-layer BD-RE media from a host of analog and digital tuners. Great, but what's most notable here is the new one-touch video transfer to Sony's PSP, select mobile phones including NTT DoCoMo's FOMA 905i, and video Walkmans like Sony's new NW-A820. As you may have noticed, those last two are Japanese products. Appropriate given the Japan-only launch of these players in April for about ¥170,000 ($1,658). Still, we're pretty sure they'll go global soon enough. Quickie demonstration video after the break.

[Via Impress]

The Portable Copy feature shown off at the Blu-ray interactivity demo is a nice bit of functionality. Buy a Blu-ray disc and you can easily put an optimized copy of the content onto your PSP. Sounds good to us, but it really makes us wonder what use UMD has anymore. If it ever had any real utility to begin with, that is. Sure, UMD may be useful for those who don't have a PS3 and want to get the portable movie fix, but the format is losing visibility in the retail space and even before that, things weren't so rosy. Only Sony can decide when it's time to let go of UMD, but the first step in solving a problem is identifying that it exists.

Already shrugged off those swank new Samsung LCD HDTVs? If you're more the plasma type, rest assured, Sammy's got your number, too. Up first is the 1080p PN58A750T lineup (available in 50- and 63-inch sizes), which sports the same interactivity features and Ethernet port as seen on the LN52A750R, but adds a 15,000:1 contrast ratio and an ACE2 algorithm that reportedly "improves image quality by reducing false image contours and on-screen noise." Additionally, there are four HDMI 1.3 ports with CEC, USB 2.0 / RS-232C sockets and the firm's own Ultra FilterBright 2, meant to ensure a clear picture even when surrounded by loads of ambient light. Head on past the break for details on the other two lineups.

You knew they were coming, now PSP 3.80 and PS3 2.10 are out and ready to dance on your Sony console. That's DivX and WMV video support with Blu-ray profile 1.1 now ready for your PS3 in addition to Internet radio and a few other goodies for your PSP. Now get to it Sony boy, you might want to call in sick to do it up right.

Get your software update on kids, Sony's latest firmware is available now for your Sony PS3 and PSP rigs. While the PSP pulls a minor 0.01 update offering a boost in both security and playable network titles under [Game], the real sauce comes by way of firmware 1.90 for the PS3. Custom photo wallpapers for the XMB, messaging emoticons, AVCHD video playback direct from Memory Stick or camcorder, DMB sorting of hard drive-based games, upscaled CD audio over HDMI or digital optical outs, and a new forced 1080p24 HDMI output for Blu-ray films. Best of all perhaps, is the new "eject disc" option from the controller to keep your lazy meat sack planted on the couch just that much longer.

[Via Joystiq]

Sony has big plans to reinvent A/V receiver's GUIs. Even though receivers have been equipped with on-screen menus for a couple of years now, we have never seen one that the less-then-technically-inclined can use efficiently. But Sony has taken the cross-bar interface from the PSP along with the upcoming PS3 and worked it into the STR-DA5200ES. They demo'd the interface for us but it just wasn't good 'nough for our readers; we wanted more. Thus we present to you an internal Sony Powerpoint slideshow showing everything the STR-DA5200ES GUI has to offer. NOTE: We stripped out the extra stuff around the images so you can get a better look at the GUI.

26 screenshots follow after the link.

Sony's upcoming high end home theater receiver, the STR-DA5200ES features HDMI connections, 7.1 audio, video upconversion and everything else you would expect, will share something borrowed from the PSP. No, it's not a UMD-slot, it's the crossbar-style menu that will also be in use on the Playstation 3. You'll be able to access the menu as an overlay while still playing HD video playing behind it, picture-in-picture, and possibly be able to set up your A/V system without an engineering degree. This might be a bigger revolution in home theater than the Nintendo Wii controller is to gaming, a truly user-friendly UI would be a rare boon for users with complex systems. They'll be showing off this and many other components at CEDIA next week, if they really do have an interface that anyone can use the next challenge will be keeping your family away from it so they don't mess it up.

No price, no release date, no playable demos = no problem. The hype machine is officially rolling as more details leak from the latest PSM article detailing how the PS3 will change the world upon it's launch later this year. Why should your credit card be running in fear of a pre-order? Let's run down the list:

• DVR
• Online service that will surpass Xbox Live
• an iTunes Music store-style service for downloading high definition movies music and more
• Better media center functionality than the 360
• Stream DVR'd content or disc-based movies to your PSP over the Internet via LocationFree
• Fall release

That's not even mentioning the dual 1080p output and Blu-ray disc playback we already know about. We're excited, but we also remember when Ken Kutaragi told us the PS2 would be like jacking into "The Matrix", 5 years later and there are no plugs in our bodies. We'll keep a space open in the entertainment center, but we're not shaving our heads in preparation (again). What features are you most anticipating when the Playstation touches down by an HDTV near you?

ATI has already shown their flexibility by partnering with JVC to put their chips in TV's, are now spreading the benefits of that technology across their product line with their newly-announced "Avivo" technology.  Simply put, Avivo is a set of image enhancement, display, and connection specifications that you'll be able to find in many of ATI's future products.  MPEG-2, H.264, HDCP or otherwise, if it is high def and you want to play it or output it to a TV, you will be able to with full hardware support on Avivo compatible products. Video cards equipped with the technology will support progressive scan output and hardware-assisted video encoding so you can convert for other devices without wasting precious CPU cycles. 

I'm glad to see this, as my home PC currently has an ATI Radeon 9200SE that is great, however setting everything up to work properly and output to my monitor and/or TV when and how I want has been more difficult than necessary.  Now that they are designing such connectivity in from the ground up, it will be good for everyone.  Expect Avivo labeled products to be available in the next month or so.

Will it do your laundry, dishes and homework?  No, but it will let you play that high-definition movie you just downloaded on your big screen TV with no loss of quality and leave you with CPU power to work with at the same time.