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LG BD370 Blu-ray player hands-on at CeBIT

by Darren Murph posted Mar 5th 2009 at 6:14AM Featured Story


While the vast majority of our CeBIT coverage is stored over on Engadget Classic, we just felt the need to pass this one on to our diligent HD readers. We've already seen the BD370 unboxed by others, but we couldn't let slip the opportunity to snap a few shots of the one we saw displayed here in Germany. The output was crisp and clear on the admittedly small display, but sadly, no internet was present to test out the network options. Feel free to poke around in the gallery below!

Gallery: LG BD370 Blu-ray player hands-on at CeBIT

QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Mar 4th 2009 at 9:46AM Featured Story


While swinging by QNAP's CeBIT booth to check out its array of recently launched NAS devices, we happened upon a demonstration that was showcasing a brand new device: the NMP1000. Short for Network Multimedia Player, this set-top-box is pretty much like every other HD media streamer already out there, as it connects to networked storage and pipes out audio and video content to one's TV via a customized user interface. What we saw looked pretty slick, even though it was inexplicably connected to the LG display via S-Video. As for specs, it's boasting a Sigma Designs SMP8635 processor, 256MB of DDR RAM, room for one 3.5-inch SATA drive, a single gigabit Ethernet jack, dual USB 2.0 sockets, one eSATA port, HDMI 1.3 / component / composite / S-Video outs and a bundled remote. It supports just about any format on the map, and the on-hand representative told us it should be out next month for "somewhere under $10,000." Have a look at some in-action shots below.

Gallery: QNAP intros NMP1000 network media player, we go hands-on

iPoint 3D brings gesture-based inputs to 3D displays

by Darren Murph posted Feb 22nd 2009 at 12:37PM


Just in case you've been parked out under a local stone for the past six months and change, we figured it prudent to let you know that the 3D bandwagon has totally regained momentum. So much momentum, in fact, that the brilliant minds over at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have decided to bust out a 3D innovation that actually makes us eager to sink our minds into the elusive third dimension. The iPoint 3D, which we're hoping to get up close and personal with at CeBIT next week, is a technology that enables Earthlings to interact with a 3D display via simple gestures -- all without touching the panel and without those style-smashing 3D glasses. The gurus even go so far as to compare their creation to something you'd see in a science fiction flick, with the heart of it involving a recognition device (usually suspended above the user) and a pair of inbuilt cameras. There's no mention of just how crazy expensive this would be if it were ready for the commercial realm, but we'll try to snag an estimated MSRP for ya next week.

[Via Physorg]

Conceptronic unveils Grab 'n GO Full HD media player

by Darren Murph posted Mar 8th 2008 at 7:13AM

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]

Conceptronic intros the Media Giant HD media server / DVR

by Nilay Patel posted Feb 28th 2008 at 3:55PM


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.

Tecnovision's Luxio "world's largest television" folly

by Thomas Ricker posted Mar 17th 2007 at 3:55PM


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.

Blu-ray backers plan to pass DVD in 3 years

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 16th 2007 at 4:14PM

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.

Samsung's new European HDTV lineup

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Mar 14th 2007 at 11:57AM

Samsung M87
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.

HD Coverage of CeBIT

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Mar 17th 2006 at 9:30PM

Pansonic HD Camcorder
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.

More competing formats? EVD/VMD High definition players coming to CeBit 2006

by Richard Lawler posted Dec 29th 2005 at 5:12PM


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.

Continue reading More competing formats? EVD/VMD High definition players coming to CeBit 2006





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