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Palladia / MHD European launch slated for September

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 14th 2008 at 7:32PM


Europeans eagerly awaiting more high definition concerts (updated weekly, still) rejoice, as MTV is launching a European HD channel next month. Although it goes unnamed, based on the content mentioned (concerts, special music events and festivals) and the relaunch of Palladia (the station formerly known as MHD) happening at the same time we've been able to reach the surprising and stunning realization that they are pretty much one and the same. In addition to being underwhelmed by an incredibly limited amount of HD content in rotation at any given time, our HDTV-equipped friends in German speaking markets can look forward to Nick programs on the weekend. D-d-d-dora, Dora.

Pioneer's 60-inch KURO PDP-LX6090 plasma gets unboxed

by Darren Murph posted Jul 3rd 2008 at 10:16AM


Just in case you didn't get a close enough look at Pioneer's next-gen KUROs earlier this year, the folks over at CNET UK managed to bring home a 60-inch PDP-LX6090 and snap a few pics. As expected, onlookers were thoroughly wowed after ripping it from the box and firing it up, with a tag line dubbing it "big, black and beautiful." See what they mean in the read link below.

[Thanks, John]

Pioneer reveals four new HTIB systems, three with Blu-ray players

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2008 at 4:18PM


We've seen a few HTIB systems trickle out from the Pioneer labs of late, but never four at once. Today, the firm has made official a foursome of home cinema systems slated to hit Europe in the fall, so we'll cut right to the chase. The LX03 is the lone system with a DVD / SACD player and USB port, while the others thoughtfully include Blu-ray decks. The LX03BD (satellite speakers included) and LX08BD (no satellites included) feature 500-watts of power, HDMI 1.3 sockets (2 in / 1 out), KURO LINK, an iPod connection and a 7-band equalizer. The LX01BD includes omni-direction speakers, 400-watts of power and pretty much everything else found on the LX08BD. For complete specifications, be sure to give the read link a visit; as for availability, you'll find the LX03, LX03BD and LX08BD systems in October while the LX01BD arrives in November.

Pioneer gets official with four KURO plasmas, media receiver

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2008 at 3:21PM Breaking News


Not that Pioneer's KRP-600M KURO plasma was any huge secret, but across the pond, the outfit just got official with it alongside three other 1080p sets and a fantastically sexy media receiver. The 50-inch KRP-500A and 60-inch KRP-600A each boast a 64-millimeter thin enclosure, "extreme contrast" levels, DLNA certification and a trio of tuners including analog, digital (DVB-T for Europe) and digital satellite (DVB-S/DVB-S2). Furthermore, the two "A" models come bundled with a whisper-quiet media receiver that appears to be nothing more than a sexy 4-port HDMI switcher. As for the 50-inch KRP-500M and 60-inch KRP-600M, those should ring up slightly cheaper due to the exclusion of internal tuners and the fact that the aforementioned media receiver isn't packed in. Speaking of Euros, there's no mention of price, though release dates span from August (600M) to September (600A) to October (500A / 500M).

Pioneer reveals new Blu-ray players in Europe

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2008 at 3:03PM Breaking News


Remember how your curiosity level shot through the roof when Pioneer abruptly discontinued the BDP-LX70A Blu-ray player in the UK? We're willing to bet this is why. Announced over on Pioneer's European website, we're being treated to three fresh faces -- the Profile 2.0-compliant BDP-LX91, Designer BDP-LX08 and BDP-LX71 -- along with one familiar face (the BDP-51FD). All of the new units will feature 1080p24 support, HDMI 12-Bit Deep Color support, KURO LINK, DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby True HD compatibility and professional-quality Wolfson Digital Audio Converters (DACs). As for pricing and availability other than Europe, your guess is as good as ours, but we are told to expect the BDP-LX71 in September, the BDP-51FD / BDP-LX08 in October and the BDP-LX91 "later on in the winter."

Norway's Get cable provider fetching Voom HD networks

by Darren Murph posted Mar 12th 2008 at 2:50AM

Shortly after hearing that a FTTH network was on its way to Norway, a cable provider (Get) in the nation has just landed a carriage agreement that will bring Voom HD networks onto its lineup of high-definition channels. Granted, this isn't the first time the Voom channels have surfaced in the Nordic and Baltic regions, but when it launches on Get later this month, it will be a first on this particular carrier. Interestingly, there was no mention of rate changes associated with the newcomers, so here's to hoping users in the area are in fact gifted with these gratis.

Canal Digitaal gears up to launch its first HD channels in Dutch market

by Darren Murph posted Mar 11th 2008 at 6:03PM


As the European HD changes continue to roll out, along comes news that Canal Digitaal is getting set to launch its first HD channels in the Dutch market. Details are fairly scarce at the moment, but we are hearing that National Geographic HD and Discovery Channel HD will indeed be landing in April, and negotiations are still ongoing to throw Dutch Classic Music Channel BravaHDTV into that mix. Reportedly, the HD tier will cost a stiff €9.95 ($15) per month after the first free month that's provided to all that wish to accept, but here's to hoping that becomes a bargain as more channels are added in.

[Thanks, Richard]

Eurosport going HD on May 25

by Darren Murph posted Mar 10th 2008 at 11:33PM

Not quite two years after we wondered when HDTV would ever make its way across the pond -- and not even two weeks since we found that barely 5-percent of European HDTV owners even watch HD programming -- along comes news that yet another channel is slated to go high-def in Europe. And for what it's worth, we've all ideas this one will get some attention. Eurosport is getting set to launch an HD simulcast channel on May 25th, just in time for the start of the French Open-Roland Garros tennis Grand Slam. Additionally, viewers can count on seeing content from the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympics, and for folks stuck watching SD, at least that version will be morphing from 4:3 to 16:9. As of now, carriage agreements have been landed on "platforms in Israel, Turkey, Portugal and the Nordic countries, where Canal Digital will deliver the channel."

Panasonic's DMP-BD50 Blu-ray player gets spec'd, "released" in Europe

by Darren Murph posted Feb 12th 2008 at 6:10PM Breaking News


Well, would you look at this. According to an atypically short blurb on Panasonic's own website, the elusive DMP-BD50 that we peeked briefly at CES has been "released on the European market." Sadly, we're still left to wonder about the price, but the website does dish out a whole slew of specifications. Granted, there's not anything out of the ordinary: BD-Live, UniPhier chip, Deep Color compatibility, 1080p24 playback, Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD support, VIERA Link, DivX support, SD expansion slot and an Ethernet jack. The site does warn, however, that these specs are valid "on the European model only," but we don't imagine the US edition being all that different. Now, if anyone across the pond actually finds one for sale, do us all a favor and holler, cool?

[Thanks, Eric R.]

Toshiba showcases uber-slim external HD DVD burner

by Darren Murph posted Sep 3rd 2007 at 9:36AM

If a couple of new HD DVD players weren't enough for you, Toshiba is also launching an ultrathin, highly portable HD DVD burner for playing back high-definition flicks and writing massive amounts of data to single or dual-layer HD DVD-Rs whilst on the go. The simply titled HD DVD-Writer is reportedly the brother of the HD DVD Super-Multi, which only supports CD, DVD+/-RW, and HD DVD-ROM. Both units supposedly measure in at just 5.04- x 4.96- x 0.51-inches and weigh 5.82 ounces, and best of all, they're said to be available right now across the pond for £200 ($403).

[Thanks, nfinity]

Toshiba announces HD-EP30 / HD-EP35 HD DVD players for Europe

by Darren Murph posted Sep 1st 2007 at 11:52PM


While there's certainly been quite a few new Blu-ray players to emerge from IFA, Toshiba is making sure the HD DVD faithful (at least those in Europe) aren't slighted by launching a new duo for that crowd. The standalone HD-EP30 and HD-EP35 players will both tout "REGZA-Link (HDMI, CEC-Link) connectivity and native 24 frames per second playback support," and moreover, the HD-EP35 also supports High Bit Rate Audio and Deep Color via HDMI. Additionally, both October-bound units play nice with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, and DTS HD formats, and while the lower-end iteration is set to launch between €349 ($477) and €399 ($545), the EP35 will demand between €449 ($613) and €499 ($682).

[Via TechDigest]

Sharp cranks out new XL2E and X20E AQUOS HDTVs

by Darren Murph posted Sep 1st 2007 at 11:13PM

Not wanting to be outdone by all those other guys loosing LCDs at IFA, Sharp has stepped up and unveiled two new lineups of AQUOS sets in Berlin. The XL2E series, which includes models 42-, 46-, and 52-inches in size, will all offer up 100Hz technology, be Full HD ready, and will even support 24p. Moreover, the trio will tout a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, a built-in DVB-T tuner (and an analog one, too), VGA input, integrated speakers, and three HDMI connectors to boot. As for the X20E series, you'll find 32-, 37-, 42-, 46-, and 52-inch flavors, all of which support 1080p24, feature three HDCP-compliant HDMI ports, and "a slot for CI cards to receive pay TV." The new AQUOS members are slated to land in Europe sometime before the year's end, but pricing details look to still be up in the air.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Metz unveils 100Hz Linus 32 LCDs, includes hybrid tuners and HDD

by Darren Murph posted Aug 22nd 2007 at 1:44PM


Amidst the onslaught of releases surrounding IFA comes one from Metz, which is introducing a pair of feature-laden LCD HDTVs for the European market. The 32 HDTV 100 and Linus 32 HDTV 100 R both tout 100Hz technology, integrated "double-hybrid tuners" for cable and aerial (DVB-C / DVB-T) reception, Dynamic Motion Compensation to nix the jaggies, and two "externally accessible input slots for CA modules with smart cards that open up the possibility of being able to receive various pay-TV channels." Moreover, the "R" model comes equipped with a 160GB hard drive, which enables users to store up to 200-hours of SD content, 30-hours of HD programming, or any combination of the two sans a traditional DVR. You'll also find a trio of HDMI ports, DVI, and even a USB interface for loading up photo slideshows. Mum's the word on pricing at the moment, but both of these sets should be hitting the streets next month.

[Via Messe-Berlin]

Toshiba to release two Regza-series LCDs for Europe

by Erik Hanson posted Apr 2nd 2007 at 11:12PM

Toshiba Regza Z-Series LCD 1080p HDTV
What with Sony announcing two new Bravia series LCDs for the European market to go with the new PlayStation 3s, Toshiba had to jump in with two new lines of their own -- for connecting to HD DVD players, naturally. The X-series will start off at 40- or 46-inch sizes, and have three HDMI and two SCART interfaces. Moving up to the higher-end Z-series will add 100Hz Active Vision M100 refresh rates, and a wider range of sizes, from 37 to 57 inches. Both model lines support 1080p and built-in Freeview tuning. As with Sony's sets, prices and exact release dates are forthcoming.

Warner promises ten European Blu-ray launch titles

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 31st 2006 at 12:09PM

Blu-ray will be launching in Europe this year, as Warner has queued up ten Blu-ray titles for a European launch later this year. France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom can all expect to have titles such as Firewall, Syriana, Full Metal Jacket, Training Day and Space Cowboys to choose from (yes that is just 5, they didn't announce which ten specifically). We're still awaiting word on European HD DVD releases but we wouldn't be surprised to see a very similar lineup.




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