We have talked all about the Wii U since the new console made its debut at E3 and we know just about all there is to know about it at this point. We know that the console will use game discs with a proprietary format what have 25GB of capacity per disc. That is the same capacity that a Blu-ray disc offers. You may have been hoping that the console would at least play DVDs.
Asus is well known in the geek world with offerings ranging from computers to tablets and video cards among other things. The company also has a line of accessories and external gear that plugs into the USB port on a computer to add functionality. The latest product for the USB port from Asus is the new BW-12D1S-U external Blu-ray writer and player.
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Onkyo just announced their new line of products including four home theater in a box kits (HTiB), a new mid-line receiver, and a 3D Blu-Ray player. None of them have any code names or anything, they all are listed only by their model numbers. Cool. The new HTiB's are the HHT-S6400, HT-S7400, HT-S8400, and HT-S9400THX. The receiver is the TX-NR709, and the 3D Blu-Ray player is the BD-SP309.
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Panasonic Japan has announced the world's first triple-layer 100GB rewriteable BD-RE XLÂ discs, a lengthy name for an optical media format with plenty of capacity. Set to hit shelves on April 15, the new discs will store around 12 hours of 17Mbps terrestrial broadcast Full HD, or 8 hours 40 minutes of 24Mbps HD.
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When it comes to home entertainment, 3D is the buzzword of 2011. Listen to what the manufacturers and retailers are saying, and you’d believe your living room simply isn’t up to scratch if it doesn’t have a 3D-capable set taking pride of place. SlashGear 101 goes back to basics to figure out exactly what 3D is, how it works in the home, and what considerations you’ll need to take into account if you want to join the third-dimension.
Samsung has announced the launch of a new external slim Blu-ray drive that is for the computer market. The new slim drive is called the SE-406A and it supports 3D playback. The drive might be just the thing to add 3D Blu-ray capability to a notebook or netbook that lacks an optical drive.
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VUDU's streaming movie service can now be found on Sony's latest Blu-ray players, with a choice of 1080p 2D and 3D pay-per-view titles available. Promising 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound and, in many cases, availability on the same day as DVDs go on sale, the VUDU movies can be watched in 3D on Sony's 3D-enabled hardware.
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It's not just LCDs and plasmas on Panasonic's mind today; the company also wants your home entertainment to sound better. Hitting the market in April is the Panasonic SC-HTB520, a slim-bar audio system with wireless subwoofer, and the Panasonic SC-BTT770, SC-BTT370 and SC-BTT270 Blu-ray 3D home theater systems.
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We reported before that LG filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking to ban Sony's PlayStation 3 game consoles from entering the U.S. due to alleged patent infringements. At the time we thought actual bans would be unlikely, but it looks like LG has won a preliminary injunction against Sony not in the U.S., but in Europe. LG alleges that Sony has infringed on a number of their Blu-ray technology patents. The ruling made by the civil court of justice in Hague means that all new PS3s must be confiscated when they are imported into the UK and the rest of Europe for a minimum of 10 days. Tens of thousands of PS3s have already been seized in by customs officers.
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Sony's third VAIO launch of the day is the new VAIO L Series, all-in-one touchscreen desktops packing 24-inch Full HD displays and a new "edge access" system of touch-sensitive shortcuts integrated into the bezel. Packing a choice of Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics and a 1920 x 1080 multitouch display, the L Series also hides a Blu-ray drive and both HDMI input and outputs.
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VUDU has announced that the new 2.0 interface is going out today to most VUDU-enabled HDTVs and Blu-Ray players, as well as PS3 and Boxee Box users. The updated interface speeds access to movies as well as introducing recommendations based on viewing history; in an imminent update, PS3 users will also be able to navigate the UI via their Move controller.
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Opera has announced that its browser will be making an appearance on future Sony BRAVIA HDTVs and Blu-ray players, allowing the network-connected hardware to browse the full internet. The partnership will also mean that future Sony kit will support emerging online standards, including HTML5, HbbTV and OIPF.
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