Panasonic's 58-inch TH-58PZ800U probably isn't the first bigger-than-big plasma that comes to mind when shopping for the best, and even though Pioneer's KURO line is currently basking in the limelight, this bugger is still probably worth a look. The PDP was recently reviewed over at CNET, and somewhat surprisingly, the set was found to be a solid performer -- if not an outright star. Critics found that it reproduced deep black levels / highly accurate colors, had excellent uniformity compared with RPTVs and featured a very satisfactory assortment of ports. The only rubs were the lofty price tag and somewhat lackluster picture controls, but we're just thrilled to see some real competition in this space.

If you've somehow managed to hold off from buying one of HP's MediaSmart servers (or, you know, just forgot about your plans to buy one), MissingRemote has a nice writeup explaining the benefits of picking one up versus building your own. The storage junkies over there pitted an EX475 against a "home brewed Frankenstein" and a server built with WHS-specific parts in order to see which of the three would emerge triumphant. In the end, HP's own unit managed to garner the most of their love, which was quite surprising to be honest. Sure, building your own can be a ton of fun, but the EX475 just delivered in every important area for right around the same price as the other two homegrown competitors. Don't believe us? Tap the read link and check it out.

Are you a big fan of camping? How's about tailgating prior to the big game? If you're currently infatuated with your battery-powered TV for either of the previously mentioned reasons (or any reason, actually), you've probably been trying to find some kind of tiny generator to make one of those newfangled DTV converter boxes work in the wild. Thankfully, Winegard has stepped in to put a stop to all of that nonsense, as the RCDT09A is the first battery-operated (and coupon-eligible) box to convert those digital OTA signals into analog waves that your current set can digest. CNET recently acquired one for review, and overall, it fared pretty well. The sheer fact that the sleek, compact unit could be powered by six D-cell batteries earned it major points, though prospective buyers should know that they'll need an RF or composite AV input on their TV. Winegard claims the device can last 18 hours with those half-dozen batteries, and it even includes front panel buttons for changing the channel in case your remote disappears. Worth nearly $70? Depends on your needs.

For you slugabeds who missed out on seeing the DMP-BD55 get priced and dated, it's probably a bit backwards to start at the review first. Nevertheless, those mildly interested in making this their next standalone BD deck should certainly give CNET's review a glance. Put simply, this unit was deemed "a perfect example [of a solid Profile 2.0 player], hitting almost all the essential features we look for and pairing it up with pristine image quality." That being said, critics still couldn't wholeheartedly recommend it. Why? It's little sibling, the DMP-BD35. The $299 BD35 features all of the same niceties save for 7.1 analog outputs and analog audio enhancements, yet it costs a full $100 less than the BD55. Sure, if you're an analog output junkie, the extra cost will be completely justified, but it seems most everyone else should just snag the BD35 and burn the excess on a few flicks.

JVC's iPod dock-infused LT-42P789 was announced way back when at CES 2008, but we're just now starting to see the flat-panel leak out onto the market. The cats over at E-Gear were able to house one for a review, and all in all, they were quite pleased. Image quality while watching Blu-ray Discs was exceptional, the iPod playback / UI navigation was satisfactory and the inbuilt speakers were actually not half bad. To be frank, we don't see many potential LCD HDTV buyers looking heavily at this one unless they're simply dead-set on having integrated iPod support -- but hey, if that's you, this one may be the next set you want consuming your den.

Comically (and accurately, might we add) described as being "about the size of a late 90's mobile phone," Kodak's Zi6 was widely hailed as the first true competitor to the mighty Flip Video. As we completely expected, this bugger was found to be remarkably easy to use by critics at Gadling, though the portable nature and simplistic operations were overshadowed by lackluster image quality. The cam struggled to adjust when whizzed around and when going from dark to light areas, and we were told to just put the thing away rather than attempt to use it in low-light scenarios. Of course, this shooter is only $179, so it still may be perfect for a select group of daylight-lovin' users. Hit the read link for the full review and a quick sample video to help you make up your mind.

[Via Switched]

You're probably wondering if adding in a fourth panel to an LCD projector is really worthwhile. Actually, you're probably willing to bet your bottom dollar that it's a gimmick. Sound & Vision took the time to actually critique Sanyo's latest with an open mind, and believe it or not, it found the all new QuaDrive technology to be everything it was hyped up to be. To be fair, the PLC-XP200L isn't tailored for the home theater; the lowly 1,024 x 768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio sound downright appalling. However, reviewers focused more on the actual technology / image quality given that Sanyo already has a compact, quieter, 16:9 QuaDrive beamer slated for 2009. During a demonstration, critics found the new tech to be visibly better than 3LCD rivals, with the picture appearing "dramatically more vivid." Should you rush out and buy the XP200L? Probably not. But you may just want to delay your impending PJ purchase until that HT version hits next year.

Back in May, we passed along a look at one of Panasonic's earliest FreeSat-enabled VIERAs. Fast forward a few months, and here we are staring down the barrel of a full-fledged review. Pocket-lint recently got ahold of Panny's 46-inch TH-46PZ81B, a 1080p plasma with a built-in FreeSat tuner. Obviously, the bulk of the review focused on how well that latter inclusion performed, and we're happy to share that it did well. Images from FreeSat HD sources were dubbed "sharp with superb detail," and Blu-ray flicks were also a treat to watch. The biggest downer in the whole writeup wasn't about the set at all -- the reviewer bemoaned the fact that so little HD content was available through FreeSat, and given just how excellent it looked, he was left yearning for more. Couldn't agree with you more, brother.

It's one thing to hear 3.46- x 4.12- x 1.46-inches. It's another thing to see how giant someone's hand looks beside Dell's absolutely minuscule M109S pocket projector. Based on a hands-on session with a near-final prototype of the pico-PJ, the cats over at Popular Mechanics were mighty impressed with what they saw. They noted that "colors were a little more washed-out than a top-end home theater projector," but given the size and the manageable $499 price tag, it still managed to wow. Peep the in-action video in the read link.

LG first showcased its THX-stamped 60PG60 at CES 2008, thought it just recently rolled off the production line and into homes everywhere. CNET was able to fit one of these suckers into its offices for review, and while it wasn't the perfect 60-inch plasma, it definitely made a positive impression. Critics found the primary colors in THX mode to be "highly accurate," the video processing to be "solid" and the feature set to be "superb." Design and port assortment were also applauded, and overall image quality was respectable. On the downside, the color decoding and grayscale in THX mode was less accurate, and sadly, it produced lighter blacks than other PDPs in its class. All in all, it wound up with an above-average 3.5 out of 5 stars, but unless you're partial to LG (or George Lucas), you may still be better off with a Philips KURO.

There she is -- the long-awaited Slingbox PRO-HD. For high-def junkies who've been waiting ever so patiently to get their hands on this thing, we're thrilled to say that it was worth the wait. We've got a complete unboxing over at Engadget Classic along with some first impressions. Head on over and have a look.

Never heard of VOX (outside of the guitar amplification company)? Fret not, as the critics over at TechwareLabs are about to introduce you two in fine fashion. The TV-R HDD Media Player / Recorder was recently reviewed over at the site, and outside of having a full-fledged media PC handling your PVR duties, this one was seen as the next best thing. The unit can be grabbed for well under two bills with 120GB of storage built right in, and aside from being able to capture TV shows, it can also act as a local multimedia player for those who like to run things through their entertainment center. We would've loved to see an Ethernet port or WiFi module added in for good measure, but if you're down with keeping it local, this one doesn't seem like a half bad option for the coin. Tap the read link to decide for yourself.

After spending a bit of time with Sony's new all-in-one desktop lineup at CEDIA 2008, it was easy to recognize that some serious thought went into the design. CNET was able to corral one of the lower-end JS units, the VAIO VGC-JS190J to be specific, and took the time to determine whether the innards were as delightful as the exterior. Overall, critics found that it was the "best deal" going on an all-in-one desktop with an inbuilt Blu-ray drive, and amazingly, they found it "relatively free of software clutter." Furthermore, they yearned for more screen space than just 20-inches when watching those BD flicks, but outside of that, they found that "no other all-in-one, including Apple's iMac, could do as much, as fast, for the same price." Sounds like a winner, no?

Sharp's 46-inch AQUOS LC-46X8E was recently acquired by the fine folks at TrustedReviews, and overall, it was just decent for the coin. If you're a bit perplexed by the model number, you should be -- this is a fairly exclusive set, currently sold only in the UK at retailer John Lewis. All that aside, performance was simply dubbed "okay." It didn't do anything particularly well, though it didn't do anything spectacularly bad, either. The sharpness, fittingly enough, was highly praised, though the lackluster handling of SD material and the appearance of a few off-kilter tones were downers. The moral of the story? The set actually proved to be a mixed-bag, albeit one that would probably be recommended for a few hundred pounds less. Do yourself a favor and dip into the full review before marching into Mr. Lewis' store and picking one up.

There aren't many things we love more than when a new gadget comes along that is nothing like anything we've ever seen, so when we first heard about a box that streams HD around the house on the existing coax that is in just about every abode in America, we got pretty excited. Lucky for us, we were able to pull a ZeeVee ZvBox in for review, and after a few setbacks during setup, we were left playing with something pretty unique. The problem of course is that unique isn't really a compliment, but it can be if it just happens to be the solution you're looking for. So if you've been scouting a way to get web content on your HDTV without running any wires and without being forced to deal with a STB or the headaches that come with a wireless device, click on through to see what all the fuss is about.