Conceptronic already made a relatively big splash at CeBIT, but to be honest, we're equally intrigued by its new Grab 'n GO Full HD Media Player. Hailed as a "personal bridge to stream all digital files," the device includes a gigabit Ethernet jack and a USB port for connecting flash drives or external HDDs. As for the all important file support list, you'll find the ever-popular XviD along with MOV, WMV, H.264, MPEG1/2/4, JPEG, MP3, WMA, AVI and VOB (among others). 'Course, it also supports 1080p output via HDMI, and there's even a coaxial digital audio output for good measure. Regrettably, there's no word on a price or release date just yet.

[Thanks, kjeld]

There are a ton of DVRs with media server / streamer features out there, but the new Media Giant from Conceptronic manages to distinguish itself by being one of the more flexible units we've seen, at least on paper. The 1TB DVR features UPnP setup with DLNA support, a built-in analog tuner, a Twonky server, component, composite and firewire inputs, HDMI and component out, digital audio out, an optional PowerLine networking adapter, and a laundry list of supported codecs, including DivX, XviD, WMV9, SVCD and VOB. Not a bad little box -- but we won't know about pricing or availability until it gets officially official at CeBit next week.

You know, just because you show up at CeBIT with a big ass sign that says "The World's Largest Television" doesn't make it so. Tecnovision's Luxio 205-inch "television" (as they call it) is just a collection of 750,000 LEDs for use primarily in outdoor signage. Sure, some media freak has apparently installed this €350,000 behemoth in his home and connected it to ordinary AV equipment by means of a "special controller," as it was described to us. But that still doesn't make it a television now does it? Certainly, it's not even close to the largest outdoor LED display we've come across. So no worries Panasonic and Sharp, your records are still safe in our eyes. Until the next trade show, anyway. Be sure to check the gallery for an up close look at the pixel density.

After asserting themselves as victor over rival format HD DVD, there was only one suitable target for the Blu-ray Disc Association left: DVD. The European chairman of the BDA proclaimed at CEBIT that it will supplant DVD as the format of choice within three years. The group is still flying after continuing to outsell HD DVD weekly, despite trailing in Europe. With the PlayStation 3 launch next week and Sony promising to put 1 million units on shelves the group expects a boost similar to the one experienced after the console's launch in the U.S. and Japan. We're not sure if the format war is over, but if people believe it is and buy into Blu-ray then there will be little doubt left very soon. As far as surpassing DVD, we'll be happy to see cheaper players and consistent releases before putting the old format out to pasture.

With CeBIT just around the corner, Samsung isn't wasting any time and has already announced their new lineup for Europe; the M87, R87 and Q97 series of TVs. The M-series -- available in 37, 40, 46, and 52-inch sizes -- are all 1080p and include 3 HDMI ports, even one on the side for your cameras and camcorders; for those of you without HDMI outputs, there is a 9-1 card reader. As expected the contrast ratios get better year to year and this year's 32-inch and 37-inch models feature an 8,000:1 contrast ratio, while the 40-inch, 46-inch and 52-inch models are at 15,000:1. The new sets will be available in the UK in April with a MSRP of £1,200 ($2322), £1,300 ($2516), £2,000 ($3870) and £2,500 ($4838.00). Samsung hasn't given up on plasma, and new this year is the Q-series, available in 46-inch and 50-inch models with a contrast ratio of 15,000:1 -- really shows you how far LCD technology has come when Samsung's LCDs and plasmas share the same spec. The R-series is the 720p lineup and ranges in size from 19-inch at £400 ($774) all the way to 40-inch, and even a one in white for those who don't like piano black.

Just when you thought there wasn't any real HD via BitTorrent, all the readers of HDBeat come to let you know where to find it. Now I have found another source and even better it is HD coverage of CeBIT. CeBITVideo has a few great HD clips of their coverage of the show.

So crank up your favorite BitTorrent cliet and check it out.

Who needs blue lasers? Not New Medium Enterprises or Beijing e-world, as they have announced they will be showing off a combo EVD/VMD player at next year's CeBit in germany. Amazingly, while Blu-ray and HD-DVD continue to fight in the streets over who has the birthright to the high definition throne, a little collaboration could be a big boost to two other formats.

EVD (Enhanced versatile disc) is a Chinese backed format that has produced very little since being originally announced in 2003, but promised high definition DVD's with standard red laser technology.

VMD (Versatile Multilayer disc) is a new format pushed by NME, where they say they can increase the storage of a standard red-laser DVD, by adding additional layers, all the way up to 100GB storage (theoretically).

Could all this Blu-ray/HD-DVD posturing be for naught? If these companies can get any studio support and cheap but high quality (MPEG-2 apparently) high definition DVD's on store shelves before the big guys get traction.......2006 will be an interesting year.  Read on for the full press release.