The television is available from TigerDirect, and is from a maker not previously seen in the United States, meaning you’re going to have to take a risk if you plunk down the cash for this ultra-cheap ultra-HD device. It’ll likely be a couple weeks, at least, before any substantial amount of reviews hit the web to get an idea of the television’s quality and other relevant aspects.

Still, if you’re willing to take the chance, what you’ll get is a 50-inch 4K HDTV with an LED backlight and a resolution of 3840 x 2160. Seiku touts the unit as having minimized pixilation and smooth video via a 120Hz refresh rate and 6.5ms response time. The contrast ratio comes in at 5000:1 for deep blacks and bright white colors.

The television utilizes a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, and has a few different video connection options, including VGA, composite, component, and three HDMI ports. There’s a stereo mini-jack for headphones and coaxial digital audio, as well as two integrated speakers. All the specs point at it being a nice television set, and that aside, at this price, you really can’t beat giving it a shot if a 4K TV is on your wish list.

[via Engadget]

One common argument against 4k ultra-HD televisions is the lack of content to pair up with the super displays. While the TV can display 4k movies, for example, users won’t get to enjoy that feature unless they have access to 4k content. To answer these bits of criticism, Sony is bundling the 4k Ultra HD Video Player with its XBR-84X900 4k TV.

The player has a hard drive, and is preloaded with 10 movies: The Amazing Spiderman, Total Recall, Bad Teacher, Salt, The Other Guys, Battle Los Angeles, The Karate Kid, That’s My Boy, Taxi Driver, and The Bridge on the River Kwai. In addition to these films, there’s some other 4k content tossed into the mix, which is said to include “shorts from cool contributors like Red Bull Media House and others.”

While this is all fine and dandy, it’s there’s obviously still some big limitations when it comes to 4k content, leaving consumers mostly with a giant, expensive, super-high-definition TV and lackluster content. Sony has a response to this, though, saying that its “solution” will be updated on occasion with more content. The announcement also suggests that Sony plans to reveal 4k content solutions at CES this January, which we’ll be covering.

Samsung’s decision to shoot at lower resolutions isn’t particularly explained by the company – there are 480/60p modes too, with files grabbed in MP4/AAC format – with an emphasis on ease of use pushed instead. So, there’s onboard video editing that allows multiple clips to be joined together simply by tapping on them, and Smart Background Music to automatically add audio.

Once you’ve finished editing up your simplistic masterpiece, there’s a “One Touch” share button. Unfortunately, the HMX-F90 lacks any sort of wireless connectivity, unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Camera, and so pressing that button basically just adds the clip to a queue of priority uploads that are automatically pulled off the camcorder when you next plug it into your PC via USB.

5-megapixel stills are also supported, and there’s a compact 2.7-inch TFT LCD display and digital image stabilization, along with an HDMI output. Storage is courtesy of an SDHC/SDXC memory card. Samsung isn’t saying how much the F90 will be, but it’s worth noting that its F80 predecessor has a street price of around $140.

The new firmware will support a maximum aperture of f/8, even when 5D Mark III is fitted with an extender and lens /8, with central cross-type AF. Currently, that’s only compatible with maximum apertures of up to f/5.6. The benefit will be autofocus even when working with distant subjects and using a sizable zoom lens.

In addition to uncompressed HD output for an external recorder, once updated the 5D Mark III will support external, real-time, on-site monitoring of HD video during its recording.

Canon’s new firmware for the EOS 5D Mark III will be released, free of charge, in April next year. It’ll be available either to download from the company’s support site and install manually, or owners will be able to take their camera to their nearest Factory Service Center to have it installed for them.

At least one digital input needs to support the native 4K signal, without relying solely on upconverting from lower resolution feeds. Of course, that still leaves the potential for existing connectivity with lower capabilities, and we’re likely to see the first batch of TVs only including one or two of the 4K-capable ports and relying on more humble resolution hook-ups for legacy components.

TVs and projectors capable of Ultra HD resolution have been on sale for some months now, though they’re generally seen as more about manufacturers boasting than having any realistic sales potential. Common across them all is a high price: $20,000 for LG’s most recent set, for instance, looking almost like a bargain in comparison to the $25,000 84-inch Sony.

Unsurprisingly, the electronics industry is the most excited about the new tech, having seen 3D fail to gather the same momentum as observed in the SD to HD switchover. Ultra HD’s potential for driving sales may well stumble because of the nature of high-resolution sets, however: you need a big panel to enjoy the benefits, and that requires a big room and a big wallet.

PatentlyApple points out that this display would feature both a smaller screen and a smaller battery than the ones featured in the iPhone, something that could cause some challenges for Apple if it’s looking to boost pixel density in the heads-up display. Also worth noting is that fact that Apple’s patent application states “other embodiments may take the form of other types of display devices such as television sets, computer monitors, projection systems, and so forth,” so it isn’t looking to restrict this technology to just video glasses.

With as strange as that patent drawing pictured above looks, it’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t a design patent. Apple likely just came up with some concept drawings to submit with the application, and will probably work a little bit harder on the design of final product before shipping it. Still, this is a pretty exciting development, as it seems that everyone wants a bit of the video glasses pie. Stay tuned, because this could get interesting very quickly.

The Home Cinema 710HD is easy to setup and works in both small and large spaces. The projector can be placed anywhere between 3.5 feet and 35.5 feet from the wall or screen. It offers a new Easy-Slide image correction, that is an intuitive way to help you align and center images on to a screen with the touch of a finger.

The projector also boasts 2,800 lumens of color and white light output and comes with four pre-set color modes for various viewing environments. A game model lets you use the projector even in bright rooms.

Connectivity for the Home Cinema 710HD include a USB 2.0 port, HDMI input, as well as component and S-video inputs. The projector has a 1.2x optical zoom with 30-degree range for vertical keystone correction and a lamp rating of up to 5,000 hours. It’s expected to ship later this month for $650.

[via eCoustics]

The COOLPIX P310 offers a 16.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that supports an ISO range up to 3200 (Hi1 6400 equivalent), paired with a fast, wide-angle maximum aperture f/1.8 lens. It packs VR image stabilization too, as well as a number of low-light modes including one which combines multiple shots with different settings to create an HDR-style image.

Photographers envious of their DSLR brethren can also make use of manual exposure control (P/S/A/M) on the P310, along with a Zoom Memory function that offers easy access to common prime focal lengths. On the back is a 3-inch 921k dot LCD display.

The COOLPIX 510 supports Full HD 1080p HD video recording, complete with stereo audio, and there’s continuous auto-focus support too. It gets the same display as the P310, while the P510 also has two zoom controls: one on top and another on the lens barrel itself.

Nikon says the COOLPIX P510 will go on sale in February at $429.95 in either black or red. The COOLPIX P310 land at the same time, priced at $329.95, in black only.

Inside there’s JVC’s own Falconbrid LSI processing engine – last seen at CES 2011 in the JVC GS-TD1 3D camcorder, when the company promised us a 4k model was in the pipeline - which saves variable bit rate H.264 codec clips to SDHC or SDXC memory cards. Up to 144Mbps bitrate is supported, and the GY-HMQ10 can record up to two hours of 4k video to a card.

Using the touchscreen, users can crop an HD image from a 4k frame, or alternatively the camcorder can be used to capture 8.3-megapixel stills. Obviously 1080i or 1080/60p recording is also possible. There are manual level controls for audio – with both the LCD and viewfinder showing levels – and a microphone holder and two balanced XLR connectors with phantom power up on the handle. Even if you don’t hook up your own microphones, the GY-HMQ10 has an integrated stereo mic of its own.

JVC has added its own Focus Assist technology, as well as manual and auto focus, iris, gain, shutter, gamma, color matrix and white balance control. There are a full four HDMI ports, each capable of pumping out 4k footage in real-time.

The JVC GY-HMQ10 goes up for pre-order today, priced at $4,995, with deliveries expected to kick off in March.

The 520 HS supports ISO up to 3200 and 28mm wide-angle shots, along with 1080p Full HD video capture and 6.8fps continuous shooting. The 110 HS, meanwhile, also captures 1080p and has the 3200 ISO range, but manages 5.8fps continuous shooting. Its lens is even wider, 24mm, for fitting more into any one shot.

Each camera has an “Advanced Smart AUTO” mode that picks from 58 different scene presets – including people, landscapes, pets and vehicles – using Face ID to track people in each frame. Interestingly, users can input an age range for up to 12 different people, stored in the camera, and the ELPH duo uses that range to prioritize focus to the youngest person. It’s also possible to search through saved shots of one of those people.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS will arrive in March, in black, silver, red and blue, priced at $299.99. As for the Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS, that will drop in February, in black, silver, red, blue, green and pink, priced at $249.99.

Other than that, specifications are a mystery. From the low-res picture we can make out what looks to be a camera on the back, and we’re guessing it’ll be joined with a front-facing webcam for video calls too. OS is obviously Android, as per Acer’s more notable Iconia Tabs of the past.

Exactly when we can expect this new model to reach shelves – or even to be shown for more than a couple of seconds – is yet to be announced. So far Acer has satisfied itself with rather more mundane options, including the budget-friendly A200, but the talk of an A700 with a 1920 x 1200 display and Tegra 3 chipset, 5-megapixel rear camera and all three of 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth certainly has us interested.

More on the rumored Iconia Tab A700 here.

The EGO comes with a tripod mount and a multipurpose mount, and will have a range of suction-cups, surfboard and handlebar mounts, and other options available separately. It has a 136-degree wide-angle lens and measures 1.6 x 1.2 x 2.5 inches, controls boiled down to two buttons, and an LCD preview screen. Alternatively, full control is courtesy of a wirelessly-connected smartphone app. Storage is via a microSDHC card (up to 32GB).

As for the TORQUE HD and APEX HD, they’re Liquid Image’s more traditional video goggles, each with WiFi and GPS for geotagging stills and clips. Both have simple onboard controls along with remote app control, microSDHC storage, 30-degree adjustable camera angles and a replaceable, rechargeable battery good for 1.5 to 2hrs of use.

Liquid Image’s EGO 727 will arrive in June priced at $149, alongside the $399 TORQUE HD. The Apex HD will follow on in October 2012, priced at $399 for either the black or white models.

The camera company is particularly proud of its zoom, a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 1:2.8-5.2/4.5-108 mm ASPH. lens. Capable of going from a 25 mm wide angle to a 600 mm super-telephoto, it still manages to fit into a 124 x 80 x 95 mm, 540g form-factor.

On the back is an adjustable 3-inch 461,000 pixel LCD display with approximately 100-percent field of view, and there’s a stereo microphone and 70MB of internal memory, augmented by an SD/SDHC/SDXC card. Connectivity including USB 2.0, mini HDMI, analog A/V output and a microphone/remote jack.

Pricing on the new camera is yet to be confirmed, but it will go on sale in January 2012.

Your money gets you quite a bit of advanced technology, mind. The QFHD – or Quad Full High Definition – display offers more pixels than most people would know what to do with, and there’s 240-zone intelligent backlighting. Face tracking is used for the glasses-free 3D, with a lenticular sheet placed across the panel and up to nine viewers supported simultaneously. It’s possible to convert 2D to 3D, too, though it’s worth noting that in 3D mode you don’t get that 3850 x 2160 resolution.

Toshiba’s REGZA CEVO Duo engine is at the heart of the 55X3, and there’s support for Full HD video recording to a USB-attached hard drive. Three TV tuners are present, for digital terrestrial reception in Japan. No word on availability outside of the country at this stage.

[via AV Watch]

The actual size of the A700/A701 is unspecified, though we’re assuming it would come in at around the 10-inch mark otherwise the resolution might end up counter-productive. The A700 is listed as being WiFi-only, while the A701 has a 3G radio integrated, as is Acer’s usual pattern for its tablet line-up.

OS could be Android Honeycomb, going by the browser user agent, rather than Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich; still, Acer has promised ICS upgrades early in the new year. Other hardware isn’t detailed, though dual cameras are likely, along with HDMI connectivity and the usual array of Bluetooth and GPS.

No word on when Acer might make the Iconia Tab A700/A701 official.

[via Notebook Italia]

We’ve seen wireless TV transmitters before, of course, but high-resolution and zero wires generally don’t play nicely. HP reckons its system is good enough to handle smooth Full HD, however, and supports not only video content but application mirroring, so that you can squirt your browser over to your TV and surf more comfortably from the couch.

Unfortunately that cord-cutting doesn’t come cheap. The HP Wireless TV Connect will go on sale in mid-December, priced at $179.99.

That potentially makes the new LUMIX interesting even to those who aren’t really bothered by 3D stills or video. We’ve seen other cameras and camcorders capable of snapping still shots while video recording is taking place, but the still images are generally lower resolution than normal and are reliant on the same zoom/focus/exposure/etc settings of the video recording. By fitting two completely separate sensors, however, Panasonic has made it possible for independent settings for photo and video.

A dedicated 2D/3D switch on the back toggles between the modes, and there’s Panasonic’s quad-CPU Venus Engine for intelligent noise reduction and other post-processing. Continuous shooting can take place at up to 8 fps (without auto-focus) or 4 fps (with auto focus) in full resolution.  Both AVCHD and MP4 video formats are supported, with primary control via a 3.5-inch touchscreen.

Panasonic expects the LUMIX DMC-3D1 to go on sale in December, priced at $499.99.

There’s plenty to like about photos from the Lumia 800. Colors are accurate and images are bright and crisp. Focusing is crisp: you can either touch to focus, which also captures the frame, or press and hold the camera shortcut button (unfortunately not a two-stage key) and have the Lumia center-focus. All the shots in the gallery below are unedited, straight from the camera, and some have counterpart shots taken on the Apple and Samsung phones.

Nokia Lumia 800 sample photos:

Apple iPhone 4S sample photos:

Samsung Galaxy S II sample photos:

Video, meanwhile, is solid. We were filming in tricky conditions for a phone sensor, with generally low illumination and some odd blue LED lighting that could easily trick up a lesser camera. The Lumia 800 managed to handle that reasonably well, without resorting to using the dual-LED flash as a video light. There’s quite a bit of noise and speckling, especially when we dip into the paint spinner toward the end of the clip, but it doesn’t descend into murkiness and shades of grey. Audio capture is impressive, picking up both operator and subject voices. Don’t forget to choose 720p in the video below to see it at full quality.

Nokia Lumia 800 720p HD sample:

For more on how the Lumia 800 holds up against the iPhone 4S, check out our head-to-head comparison.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s ISO6400 support and the ability to fire off 8.3-megapixel (3840 x 2160) stills images at a ridiculous 60 shots-per-second – up to a maximum of 130 shots total per burst – or 12-megapixel stills at 30 frames-per-second. Super-slow-motion video, meanwhile, can be recorded for two full hours, though only at VGA resolution.

Optical image stabilization, a 10x optical zoom and white balance, aperture and shutter controls for manual use round out the main specs, while there’s a 3-inch posable touchscreen for control and SDXC/SDHC memory card support. An HDMI port and 32GB of internal storage are also present. Interesting stuff, and JVC is likely to find a few buyers when the GC-PX10 goes on sale sometime in October, even with that $899.95 price tag.

The specifications, in fact, are broadly similar to the 4.5-inch LTPS 720p panel Hitachi showed off back in February (and shown in the image above), though the new panel should be more affordable. Both offer 500 cd/m2 brightness and 16.77m color support, along with 160-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The original LTPS panel does have a slightly better contrast ratio, however, at 1,100:1 (the new version runs at 1,000:1).

Hitachi, however, has worked on the aperture of each pixel so as to reduce the amount of backlighting required, which will hopefully add up to lower power consumption in whatever mobile devices the panels end up inside. No word on when that actual implementation will happen, though given the appetite for HD-capable smartphones of late – with the Samsung Galaxy S II HD being recently announced for the South Korean market – Hitachi is likely to want to get its more affordable panel on the market as soon as possible.

[via Impress]

That’s only one of Panasonic’s various processing tools, which include the Detail Clarity Processor 3 engine and Pure Color Filter Pro, while there’s also the Dynamic Iris Pro to physically control the projector’s iris, Red-Rich Lamp and gamma curve 60 times a second. All very complicated on paper, but Panasonic reckons it adds up to minimal frame delay or blurring during sports, reduced murkiness in games, and crisper detail in movies.

Connectivity includes a pair of HDMI ports, with support for VIERA Link remote control, and there are two 12-volt trigger terminals so that the PT-AR100U can manage a motorized projection screen and curtains, for instance, as part of a whole-house automation setup. The lens has a 2x zoom, capable of projecting a 120-inch image when between 3.5m and 7m from the screen, while offset positioning is possible with 68-percent vertical adjustment and 26-percent horizontal adjustment.

Availability is set for October 2011, with the Panasonic PT-AR100U expected to be priced at $1,999.

There’s also on-demand media streaming support, including Netflix, Blockbuster, VUDU and Film Fresh, in up to HD quality, and Onkyo has used Marvell’s Qdeo processor for 1080p upscaling, deinterlacing and noise reduction. Ports include two HDMI outputs, so as to make hooking up – and flicking between – an HDTV and a projector more straightforward.

DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, along with THX certification, round out the key specs, though as you’d probably imagine there are plenty of other ports on the back including digital and analog audio outputs.

And what would you pay for this rich, creamy, uncommonly good Blu-ray player (disclaimer: we haven’t actually tried it; it could be rubbish)? Onkyo will be asking $599 when the BD-SP809 lands in August.

Netflix already offers an Android app, but it’s only officially available for a select number of devices. The streaming media company has previously said that it’s an issue of security, with Android lacking a generic content protection system that will salve the concerns of license holders:

“The hurdle has been the lack of a generic and complete platform security and content protection mechanism available for Android. The same security issues that have led to piracy concerns on the Android platform have made it difficult for us to secure a common Digital Rights Management (DRM) system on these devices. Setting aside the debate around the value of content protection and DRM, they are requirements we must fulfill in order to obtain content from major studios for our subscribers to enjoy” Netflix, Nov 2010

More recently, Netflix has been working to individually certify devices, but it’s a time-consuming process. That frustration has led to users exploring unofficial methods to get the app onto their handset.

With this blanket certification for TI’s OMAP4, however, there’s the prospect of more speedy approval for new devices. Motorola already uses TI chips, and the upcoming DROID 3 is expected to sport the OMAP4430. For the moment, though, TI isn’t saying which devices will come preloaded with the Netflix app, but only that the first examples will land “in the near future.”

[via Android Community]

But over the weekend, I had an epiphany.

I sat down on Sunday and decided to revisit Battlestar Galactica from the beginning of the series. But rather than go to my Blu-ray box set, I instead went to Netflix, found the episode I wanted to watch, and turned it on. At no point did I get up out of my chair to watch the show.

In that moment, I realized what had just occurred. And I started to thinking back at the recent times that I have ditched Blu-ray in favor of a streaming option. When those thoughts came back, I came to one unlikely conclusion: I don’t really need Blu-ray.

If I take into account all of my entertainment viewership each month, the amount of time I spend watching a movie or television show on Blu-ray is extremely limited. For the most part, I watch some of my favorite shows while they air. And if I happen to miss them, I can typically go to Hulu Plus and watch an episode.

When it comes to movies, I typically go to theaters to see films I’m really interested in. If I want to watch a movie at home, though, I’ve found myself going to Netflix more and more. When new films aren’t available on Netflix, I’ve found it easier to simply go to my cable provider’s on-demand channels and pick the film I’d like to watch.

In the last month, I didn’t even touch a Blu-ray disc. And I didn’t mind it one bit.

When I started talking to friends about my discovery, I was surprised to find that many of them didn’t even own a Blu-ray player, and quite shockingly, they didn’t have any desire to get one. One friend told me that with all the streaming he does, Blu-ray is an additional expense that he doesn’t need to take on.

He makes a good point. Good Blu-ray players are still quite expensive — I bought my last player over the winter for $169 — and buying Blu-ray content is not cheap either. Considering Netflix and Hulu Plus cost just $8 per month for unlimited streaming, and Redbox is available for those who want to rent a film for just $1 a day, it turns out many of us don’t necessarily need Blu-ray.

Of course, I’m sure there are some out there that would disagree with that sentiment. They will quickly point to Blu-ray’s 1080p video quality and outstanding sound, and say that it’s an integral part of any home-theater set-up. Others would point to Blu-ray storage capacity as a key feature.

But as of late, I haven’t been as willing to admit those benefits as I have in the past. Sure, 1080p is nice, but for many folks, 720p is just fine. And the improved sound can only be enjoyed with the proper set-up — something many consumers don’t have. And considering how cheap external storage devices are nowadays, I’m not so quick to jump on the Blu-ray bandwagon.

Maybe my interests are changing or perhaps I’m just jumping to a premature conclusion. But I’m starting to think that I don’t need Blu-ray in my home. With all the other options available to me, it seems like an extra addition that costs too much over the long-term for the added benefit it provides.

In fact, the camera can rotate 360-degrees, and Logitech supplies a three foot USB extension cable (along with the three foot fixed cable on the webcam itself) so if you can’t find a good angle then you probably need to go to a yoga class. Both PC and Mac are supported, there’s integrated autofocus that’s good for objects up to 10cm from the lens, and up to 8-megapixel interpolated stills.

Various apps are bundled, including face-recognition login, video editing software, video effects and Logitech’s own Vid HD conferencing app. The Logitech HD Webcam C615 is on sale in the US now, priced at $79.99, and will drop in Europe and Asia come September 2011.

Even on a hi-def monitor, we just can’t show you that resolution, but we included the sample video anyway. The video was shot with the Scarlet’s 8x fixed lens. This music video style clip can give you an idea of what this camera is capable of. For those that don’t know, that would certainly include slow motion.

Like other modular cameras from RED, the Scarlet “brain” can be purchased on its own or in a bundle. The bundle is supposed to include the brain, a fixed 8x zoom, CF module, 2.8-inch touchscreen, REDmote, a battery and a travel charger, for $5,750. The brain alone is estimated at $3,750. So, if your budget can afford the price tag, you too can shoot family videos in slow motion or broadcast quality high definition.

<via> engadget

Other options include a 17Mbit “normal” 1080p mode and a 24Mbit “fine” 1080p mode, while 720p can be shot in 9Mbit “normal”, 13Mbit “fine” or 17Mbit “super fine” modes. All have the same high-quality audio, though there’s a second version which removes the sound effects in the app too.

Opinions differ as to whether anything over 17Mbps produces a noticeable difference in final video quality, but at least now you can judge that for yourself. Potatoman and hyperX say they’ll be working together on other GSII mods in future, and we’re excited to see what the pair come up with.

We weren’t exactly underwhelmed when we saw the 1080p HD video the Galaxy S II is capable of, so this improvement in quality is even more welcome. Natively the Samsung records roughly 16Mbit/s 1080p HD, spitting out MP4 files using the H.264 codec with AAC mono audio.

The mono limitation is still present – that’s down to the single microphone, of course, and software hacks can’t exactly grow the Galaxy S II another one of those AnonymousCoward points out that the GSII does have a second microphone, but right now it’s not being implemented - but otherwise this is the sort of hack that we expected excitable Samsung owners to come up with. Unfortunately there’s no public release of the mod, so we’ll have to wait for hyperX to polish it up before we can try it out ourselves.

Update: While we wait, xda-developers member Potatoman tells us that his GSII camera mod is already available. It doesn’t tinker with the video bitrate – Potatoman reckons he didn’t see enough quality improvement to warrant the increase in file size – but it does boost audio quality to 192kbps/44.1Khz quality from the standard 64kbps/16khz. You can download it here.

Current broadcast 3D systems basically squash the left and right eye image into a single frame, which are then expanded out and upscaled by the TV itself. That means the broadcasters can use the same HD pipes to send over 3D, but at the cost of picture quality.

The new Japanese Hybridcast system, however, uses digital broadcast paired with IPTV or internet-based video, with the Full HD picture for one eye going over the former and the Full HD picture for the other eye going over the latter. Since IPTV can lag behind broadcast TV, “time stamp signals that are embedded in airwaves for synchronizing video and called PTS also in video data to be transmitted via a communication line” are used to make sure the two feeds are matched up correctly when they reach the HDTV, the NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories said. “And we synchronize images for the right and left eyes based on PTS on the side of TV.”

3D sync is just one of the uses envisaged for the timestamping, which the NHK team rely on for their new Hybridcast system. That promises to deliver content to tablets and other companion devices that’s linked with what’s playing on the TV at that point in time, mixing together internet- and broadcast-based content with no difference between the two visible to the end-user.

Handy for a sauna, though most of the time you’re probably not allowed to film in there anyway. Other specs include still shooting with autofocus and an F2.2 lens, digital image stabilization and microSD/SDHC for storage. The 1,300mAh battery is apparently good for up to 2hrs of continuous use, and it’ll withstand 3m submersion in water or 2m drops.

A flip-out USB plug makes for easy offloading of your footage, and while you could obviously then spend time post-processing it, the W200 itself allows you to momentarily pause recording (without then starting a new file) as well as offering a couple of video effects (including an “extreme sports” style fish-eye setting). The Samsung HMX-W200 will go on sale in May, priced at $159.

Press Release:

Samsung Introduces Multi-Proof W200 Pocket Cam for Full HD Filming Anywhere
The ideal vacation pocket cam features the best in imaging technology and specialized underwater features for great video anywhere

SEOUL, Korea – April 20, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has announced the launch of its W200 Pocket Cam. The W200 is designed so it can be taken anywhere to capture brilliant video in the toughest conditions, particularly underwater, thanks to features such as a 5 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and F2.2 Bright Lens. Created for those whose active lifestyles demand both durability and quality, it houses Samsung’s leading imaging technology in a shock, water and dust-proof rugged body.

The W200 is built to withstand the elements to produce high-quality video in almost any circumstance and thanks to specialized functions, it makes brilliant underwater video easier to achieve than ever. It is waterproof up to three meters, making it suitable for great video of a relaxed day by the pool or even up-close shots of coral reefs. The W200’s anti-water drop coating also means that the LCD screen will stay free of condensation, even in damp conditions, so you can film without wiping the screen. The lens also features anti-fog coating that lets steam disperse so you always have clear, blur-free videos and pictures even straight after coming out of the pool. To make capturing amazing underwater footage simple, the W200 also includes an Aqua Mode setting, which automatically sets the ideal parameters for the bright and clear underwater video. Despite being slim and compact, it is also shock-proof and dust-proof and so is the perfect addition to a backpack for any trip and robust enough for worry-free family vacations with young children. Because the W200 is designed to be taken anywhere, it also comes with a built-in USB arm to make it easy to share your adventure.

Innovative Samsung technology ensures that filming on-the-go never means a loss of image quality or brightness. The W200 is built with a 5-megapixel BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor, which delivers double the sensitivity of previous CMOS sensors, capturing footage with dramatically reduced image noise and distortion. Along with this, the W200 includes a bright F2.2 lens to give users the ability to shoot during low-light conditions for stunningly clear, sharp, blur-free images. The camcorder shoots in Full HD resolution to let you capture every moment in rich, dynamic detail and displays your video on a 2.3” 230K clear pixel LCD screen.

In addition to delivering high-quality video, the W200 makes it easy to both manage your video files and be creative with them too. With Samsung’s Record Pause feature, users can pause briefly during filming and then resume from the exact same moment. When filming is complete, footage will all be in the same file, removing the need to merge them and making uploading and sharing hassle-free. To have more fun with filming, whether at the waterpark, on a rollercoaster or just capturing a special family moment, the W200 has two special Smart Filter features. Vignetting allows users to fade the edges of shots and the Fish-Eye setting creates an arty, distorted feel for unique and interesting footage.

“The W200 is the ideal Pocket Cam for anyone who wants to experience life to the fullest and share those experiences with friends and family,” said Mr. Hyunho Chung, Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics. “It’s tough enough for filming a backpacking trip or vacation with small children, and light enough to carry around with you every day, so that you never miss a moment. We’ve used the latest in Samsung technology to make sure that you’re able to capture a faithful memory of your experiences, wherever you go. The W200 is the Pocket Cam that you’d never want to leave at home – it’s reliable and easy to use, whatever adventure you’re setting out on.”

In fact, it will go all the way up to 2048 x 1152 resolution, and demands just 400mA. Output is via a single HDMI port, and you can either mirror or extend your existing desktop. Up to four VGA2788 units can be used at any one time (assuming your computer’s CPU can keep up).

It’s backward compatible with USB 2.0, of course, though you’ll probably lose some pixels in the process. No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

[via Everything USB]

As for the displays themselves, the four sets use edge-lit LED X-Gen LCD panels and Sharp’s Quattron Quad Pixel Technology. The latter adds in a dedicated yellow pixel to the usual red/green/blue trio, making yellow-hued pictures more lifelike and allowing more light through the panel so that the HDTV as a whole is brighter.

Four HDMI ports round out the key specs, and pricing kicks off from $1,299.99 for the 40-inch Sharp AQUOS Quattron LC-40LE830U. The LC-46LE830U has an MSRP of $1,499.99, the LC-52LE830U has an MSRP of $1,899.99, and finally the 60-inch LC-60LE830U has an MSRP of $2,799.99.

Press Release:

Sharp Ships Four New AQUOS Quattron LED LCD TVs in March

AQUOS Quattron LE830 Series TV models are available in 60-, 52-, 46- and 40-inch screen size classes
Quattron Quad Pixel Technology
Each provides built-in WiFi and a suite of network features including CinemaNow™, Netflix®, VUDU™, DLNA® video streaming and AQUOS Advantage Livesm customer service

Sharp Electronics Corporation is shipping all four of the LE830 Series AQUOS Quattron LED LCD TV models it introduced at CES in March, including models in 60-, 52-, 46- and 40-inch screen size classes. All models employ Sharp’s proprietary edge-lit LED X-Gen LCD panels and Quattron Quad Pixel Technology for the widest color palette available from LCD TVs and brighter images. Built-in WiFi in all models delivers wide network functionality such as video streaming from the Internet and throughout the home, as well as Sharp’s best-in-class AQUOS Advantage Live customer service.

Each AQUOS Quattron model features Sharp’s proprietary Quad Pixel Technology that adds the color Y (yellow) to the three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of the traditional television pixel structure. This technology enables the reproduction of colors that have been difficult to portray using conventional LCD displays, such as the brass color of musical instruments. The addition of the yellow sub-pixel also allows more light to pass through to the panel. Sharp’s advanced pixel control technology minimizes light leakage while offering a wider aperture to let more light through. The combination of these factors results in brighter, more vibrant images. Sharp’s LE830 Series models also employ Quad Pixel Plus to improve image resolution.

These models also offer built-in WiFi and access to Netflix, VUDU and CinemaNow, as well as four HDMI inputs for simple connections to multiple HD components. An attractive slim and narrow bezel design provides a great complement to any home theater viewing environment.

The new Sharp AQUOS Quattron LCD TVs boast extremely low power consumption and are ENERGY STAR 5.1 qualified, the highest energy efficiency specification.

Last week, Sharp Electronics Corporation announced it had been selected to receive a 2011 Excellence in Energy Efficient Product Design Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program. This award recognizes Sharp’s ongoing commitment to promoting energy-efficiency amongst the consumer electronics and business products’ trade and consumers, as well as the company’s efforts to lead by example in the execution of its business operations.

Pricing and Availability
The LC-60LE830U has an MSRP of $2,799.99
The LC-52LE830U has an MSRP of $1,899.99
The LC-46LE830U has an MSRP of $1,499.99
The LC-40LE830U has an MSRP of $1,299.99

Although Samsung expects the Series 7 and Series 9 to spend most of their time hooked up to computers, they also offer two HDMI inputs, an HDTV tuner, picture-in-picture with a second coax input, and Smart Hub smart TV functionality. The latter offers home network content search and streaming, video recommendations, and Samsung Apps for widgets and more.

USB, 7W speakers and full 100-percent sRGB coverage round out the main specs, while the TA950 gets an asymmetric stand and super-skinny bezel, and the TA750 uses a more traditional “touch of color” design. The new models will go on sale from May 2011, priced from $599.99.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG UNVEILS POWERFUL 3D MONITORS FOR STYLE-CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS

New Displays Add 3D Immersion and Easy Connectivity to Samsung’s Signature Visual Experience

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ, March 16, 2011— Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced the launch of two new HDTV monitors that incorporate Samsung’s proprietary 3D, Smart Hub and ConnectShare technologies into truly unique designs. The Samsung 3D LED HDTV Monitor Series 9 (TA950) and Series 7 (TA750) displays offer a pristine yet versatile viewing environment for the world’s growing array of 3D content, further reinforcing Samsung’s leadership among monitor brands.

“As all the major studios and game companies continue to boost the availability of high-quality 3D content, a 3D monitor will be an essential part of any home’s 3D ecosystem,” said Young Bae, director of display marketing, Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “Samsung’s latest display technologies and designs ensure we will maintain our leadership, not only in the LED and monitor categories, but also in 3D entertainment.”

Picture Perfect, Even in 3D
Since launching the world’s first 120Hz 3D monitor in July 2009, Samsung has reinvented the 3D monitor experience to provide more stunning picture quality and access to a wider array of content options. Samsung’s TA950 and TA750 displays incorporate Samsung’s proprietary 3D technology – 3D HyperReal Engine – which optimizes color, motion and contrast for hyper-realistic 3D viewing. Combined with a full HD 1920×1080 resolution and ultra-fast refresh rate (120 Hz in the 3D mode), the TA950 and TA750 displays are ideal for intense 3D PC or console gaming or for watching action-packed 3D video content like movies and sports.

More than just a PC monitor, the displays are compatible with a wide array of 3D and 2D devices, such as Blu-ray players, game consoles, set-top boxes, and 3D digital cameras and camcorders, enabling truly immersive playback on the widest variety of 3D content. Samsung’s latest products also offer boundless 3D content through a feature that converts 2D content into stunning 3D in real-time.

Through all of this, the TA950 and TA750 monitors offer superior picture quality in the monitor industry, whether on 2D or 3D content. Samsung’s new Ultra Clear Panel technology minimizes the reflection of external light, enhancing the color and clarity while minimizing glare. Both the TA950 and TA750 support Photo Accuracy 100%, which provides full 100% sRGB coverage, ensuring the colors users see in real-life are replicated on their monitor screens.

Samsung is the only company to offers a complete 3D monitor solution in a single package. Both the TA950 and TA750 feature a built-in sync emitter that work seamlessly with the pair of 3D active-shutter glasses that come bundled with each monitor. The package also includes middleware to enjoy most popular games in 3D. The new displays also feature two built-in 7-watt speakers that allow users to enjoy the benefits of 3D sound.

Form Plus Function
Designed with style-conscious consumers in mind, the TA950and TA750 monitors – available in 23” class (23” diag.) and 27” class (27” diag.) – feature razor-thin screens and unique designs. “Consumers increasingly expect products that blur the boundaries between art and life,” said Young Bae. “Samsung reflects this desire by providing the most immersive picture quality in both 2D and 3D and by designing our products to be as bold or unobtrusive as desired. Our new designs go well beyond the traditional concept of the monitor as a simple picture box.”

The TA950 features unique and unexpected curves, crafting an elegant shape. Its narrow bezel allows users to immerse themselves in the screen, while the metallic-silver finish and slim, asymmetrical design offer a clean, modern look. All of the circuitry is housed within the display’s base, resulting in a uniformly ultra-slim form factor. The TA750 display boasts Samsung’s signature Touch of Color design, which draws inspiration from the elegance of nature to add softness to a bold, black and silver design.

Both displays take advantage of their LED-backlit technology to reduce energy consumption by as much as 40 percent over traditional LCD displays. Like all of Samsung’s LED displays, the TA950 and TA750 are free of mercury and halogens, making them easier to recycle.

The Ultimate in Convenience
Providing a wide range of connectivity options, the TA950 and TA750 models offer Samsung’s new Smart Hub, which includes:
- Search All, which makes it easier to search for and access desired content, not only on a PC, but across the Internet and on any connected storage, PC or mobile device within the home network.
- Your Video, which delivers video recommendations based on a user’s viewing history.
- Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based application store, which offers a range of paid and free apps that help people connect to their various passions – whether in sports, entertainment, information, games or social networking.

Additionally, both models include Samsung’s ConnectShare feature which allows users to simply and conveniently connect devices via USB to enjoy instant playback of video, music and photo files without connecting to a PC. Multiple input ports—including two HDMI inputs—allow users to connect up to seven electronic devices to the monitor, while a built-in HDTV tuner can further expand content choices to include live television. The TA950 and TA750 displays both integrate a convenient picture-in-picture function with use of a separate coaxial cable, allowing for simultaneous activities like editing documents or browsing the internet while watching live TV.

The TA950 and TA750 displays will be available as soon as May 2011, starting at $599.99. All Samsung display products are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting www.samsung.com.

“When you look at Nintendo, for a while there, it was all about the Wii being the biggest entertainment platform ever and capturing the mass market, and it faded away. Now, they’re coming back with a second act. I think they know that. They’re very self-aware as an organization and a very powerful brand”

Although Nintendo has not talked about specific specifications for the next-gen Wii, and has generally downplayed talk of replacing the first-gen model, Gibeau seems convinced that high-definition support will be a key part of the upcoming refresh. Last year, Nintendo exec and Metroid co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto said that the Wii 2 would leave gamers agape with what the company did with relatively generic hardware.

“They understand the dynamics and the fact that HD consoles is a booming part of business right now. Legacy platforms like PS2 and the Wii have dropped off significantly. They’re not stupid. They’re going to figure something out. They’re going to come back at it”

As for when the Wii 2 might be announced, there’s suggestions that Nintendo will make the console official at E3 in early June. That would certainly please SlashGear columnist Don Reisinger, who wrote last month that Nintendo had to release the Wii 2 this year.

[via T3]

There’s also an SDXC memory card slot. JVC offers three different recording modes: the new “LR Independent” format (MP4 MVC) for Full HD; “Side-by-Side” format (960 x 1080 X 2) for AVCHD 3D recording; and 2D AVCHD shooting for regular use. There’s support for YouTube 3D as well.

An SDXC card slot, 3D optical 5x zoom, Optical Axis Automatic Stabilization System and Automatic Parallax Adjustment round out the main specs. As we discovered back at CES, the GS-TD1 packs an impressive amount of tech into a reasonably small package; find more in our hands-on report here.

Press Release:

JVC First To Offer Full HD 3D Consumer Camcorder

New GS-TD1 3D camcorder now available

WAYNE, NJ, March 7, 2011 －JVC today announced the availability of a new 3D consumer camcorder, the first on the consumer market that offers 3D video recording in Full High Definition. The new JVC GS-TD1 uses two camera lenses and two imaging sensors – one for each lens – to capture three-dimensional images in much same way that human eyes work.

3D video shot using the GS-TD1. What’s more, the camcorder can shoot 3D video that can be burned to a Blu-ray disc or DVD-R for 3D playback on a compatible Blu-ray player.

“With more commercially-produced 3D content coming along this year, sales of 3D TVs are expected to be strong,” observed Dave Owen, Vice President, Consumer Video, JVC U.S.A. “But what could be better than creating your own home videos in 3D? We think there will be plenty of 3D TV buyers eager to do just that. Furthermore, we think they’ll appreciate that our new camcorder offers both Full HD 3D recording and several options for archiving and playing back their 3D footage.”

The JVC GS-TD1 features a pair of 3.32 megapixel CMOS sensors and a new JVC-developed high-speed imaging engine that processes the two Full HD images – left and right images at 1920 x 1080i resolution. Three shooting modes are offered, a key feature that provides several options for HD resolution and archiving of 3D footage. These three shooting modes are: a new “LR Independent” format (MP4 MVC) that records in Full HD, the widely used “Side-by-Side” format (960 x 1080 X 2) for AVCHD 3D recording, and 2D AVCHD shooting.

The camcorder uses a F1.2 JVC 3D Twin HD GT Lens that sets a new standard in high-resolution lenses, with extra-low-dispersion glass for crisp, high-contrast images, as well as multiple aspherical lenses for fine image reproduction. The combination of the fast F1.2 lens and the back-illuminated CMOS sensors provides the GS-TD1 with outstanding low light performance. The GS-TD1 also features round iris diaphragms that enable beautiful bokeh effect (background blurring) shooting of video and stills alike.

Additional highlights include 64GB of built-in flash memory, SDXC card slot, 3D optical 5x zoom, Optical Axis Automatic Stabilization System for disparity control to give depth to 3D images, JVC’s BIPHONIC technology for dynamic 3D sound and Automatic Parallax Adjustment to optimize the 3D-video comfort zone.

The GS-TD1 operates like other consumer JVC camcorders, with easy-to-use, intuitive controls. A 3.5” 3D touch panel LCD monitor displays 3D images without any need for 3D glasses, making it easy to check 3D images while shooting and watch 3D playback in the field.

The GS-TD1 comes with new Everio MediaBrowser 3D software (for Windows®) for full management, editing and sharing of content. In addition to full-fledged video and still image editing, files can be uploaded effortlessly to social media sites such as YouTube™ or Facebook, and the software allows 3D video to be shared on YouTube.

For archiving and playing back 3D recordings, there are several options depending on the shooting mode used.
· Full HD 3D video, shot using the MP4 MVC mode, can be archived to a computer hard drive or Blu-ray disc drive. This Full HD material can be played back in 3D by running the footage back through the camcorder.
· AVCHD 3D (Side-by-Side mode) video can be burned to a DVD-R disc and played back in 3D on any AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray player – including non-3D AVCHD-compatible Blu-ray players – when the disc was created with a PC or JVC Share Station.

The JVC GZ-TD1 Full HD 3D camcorder is available now for $1,699.95.

The original umi 1080 is now down to $499 (from $599), while the umi 720 will arrive at $399. Both will still require a service plan, either $99 for the year or $9.95 per month; still, that’s a lot less than the $275 annually/$24.99 monthly Cisco was previously demanding.

As for the softphone version, that’s Cisco umi Connect, a PC and Mac client for HD video calls that’s expected to be offered – free, and free of service fees – as a full app this summer. We’re still not convinced that any of this telepresence kit will make significant headway into the domestic market, especially with the growth in HD webcams on notebooks.

Press Release:

Cisco Connects Businesses to Consumers via Video; Announces Seamless Connectivity between ūmi and Cisco TelePresence and Expansion of Consumer TelePresence Portfolio

SAN JOSE, Calif. – March 7, 2011 – Extending the company’s success in telepresence, Cisco today announced that it is enabling businesses to connect with consumers via full interoperability between Cisco ūmiTM and the Cisco TelePresence portfolio for businesses. Cisco is also announcing an expansion of its ūmi product line with a range of options, from free HD desktop video to high-quality immersive telepresence experiences on an HDTV.

Business Services in the Home

As video communications becomes pervasive, businesses and consumers are increasingly looking to augment in-person meetings and interactions with lifelike video experiences. With today’s announcement, ūmi users in the home will be able to connect with businesses over telepresence, paving the way for innovative new video services such as distance learning, tele-health, virtual professional services and community services. For example, there are currently field trials underway in Korea that connect Cisco TelePresence and ūmi systems in the home to offer business and government services to consumers through their HDTVs.

Expanded ūmi Product Line

Key to today’s announcement is the extension of the ūmi product line, making home telepresence experiences available to more consumers. ūmi is a first-of-its-kind, easy-to-use consumer product that delivers a high-quality, immersive video calling experience that goes beyond just seeing the people you talk to. The expanded portfolio includes:

Cisco ūmi Connect, a free HD calling client for PC and Macs (currently in trials);
Cisco ūmi 720, a new product that delivers an immersive telepresence experience with lower broadband requirements, which will be available at $399;
Cisco ūmi 1080, the original breakthrough telepresence offering for the home now available at a reduced price of $499.
The service fee for Cisco ūmi 1080 and 720 is now $99.00 a year, or $9.95 a month. There is no service fee for ūmi Connect for PC and Mac.

ūmi 1080 and 720 include an HD camera, a console and a remote. Unlike video chat, ūmi telepresence was specifically designed for the living room and group-to-group conversations, delivering a truly immersive and lifelike video experience that fits into every home, automatically adjusting to lighting conditions and background noise to provide the most natural communications experience possible. Both ūmi 1080 and 720 products offer optical zoom and automatic pan and tilt to deliver close up and room size experiences.

ūmi 1080 and 720 connect to any existing HD television and broadband internet connection to deliver a high-quality, HD video calling experience in the home. The new Cisco ūmi 720 requires less bandwidth, 1.5 mbps upload and download speeds which are readily available across most of the U.S. Both versions of Cisco ūmi intelligently adapt to the quality of the broadband in the home.

Sharing Video Experiences

In addition to its immersive and lifelike experience and incredible ease of use, ūmi also offers HD recording and sharing on FaceBook, Flipshare and You Tube. In the case of a missed call consumers can leave video messages for one another. Both recorded videos and messages can be retrieved from a PC, Mac or smart phone. In addition, with Cisco ūmi telepresence, users can also place and receive video calls from anyone with a computer (PC or Mac), webcam and ūmi Connect or Google Video Chat.

“With today’s announcement, Cisco is continuing to deliver innovative, market-leading video and telepresence solutions that enable consumers to connect and transact with businesses from the comfort of their home,” said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president, TelePresence, Emerging Technologies & Consumer Business, Cisco. “By offering a range of video solutions – from high-end Cisco TelePresence for business to the free Cisco ūmi Connect product, we are extending our leadership in telepresence and driving the pervasive use of HD video.”

ūmi for Service Providers

Today’s announcement gives consumers, businesses and service providers the industry’s widest choice of high-definition telepresence video communications options. Verizon will be launching ūmi for its FiOS network this year. In addition, ūmi is in field trials with service providers in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Availability

Cisco ūmi 1080 is now available for 499.00 at Best Buy Magnolia and at bestbuy.com; Cisco ūmi 720 is scheduled to be available for $399.00 early this summer. Cisco ūmi Connect is in beta trials and is scheduled to be available via free download this summer.

The “MR” suffix stands for “Multi Recording”, and basically means that while you’re shooting 1080p HD video on the SZ-30MR, you can also fire off still images as well. That’s not especially new, but what makes the difference here is that the Olympus captures stills at full resolution; other cameras which offer simultaneous shooting generally take pictures at much lower resolution than they can normally manage.

The SZ-20 lacks the simultaneous shooting abilities and makes do with a sizeable zoom. Both will go on sale in March, priced at €329 for the SZ-30MR and €219 for the SZ-20.

Press Release:

Introducing the first ever camera to capture Full HD movies & 16 Megapixel stills simultaneously

Olympus Super Zoom Series posts another world first
New SZ-30MR & SZ-20 deliver high-tech at its finest

Hamburg, 2 March 2011 – When Olympus launched the SZ-10 in February, it was hard to believe the zoom in a compact camera could get any more powerful. The new SZ-30MR proves that it can. With a jaw-dropping 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*), this state-of-the-art flagship breaks all the rules in the compact category – and it breaks records too. The SZ-30MR is the first camera ever to offer simultaneous recording of 1080p Full HD movies and 16 Megapixel still photos. So with the SZ-30MR, users can shoot in high resolution with different combinations of recording modes at once, then share their shots in the format of their choice. For example, as a movie and digital still or a wide-angle shot and a close-up. Like the SZ-30MR, the new SZ-20 is astonishingly slender for a camera with huge zooming power. The super-slim design makes both SZ models ideal for people who like to travel light but insist on the very best spec. With a backlit CMOS sensor for excellent pictures in low light, 3D photo shooting and Eye-Fi card compatibility, these cameras combine practicality with beauty and sheer imaging power. The SZ-30MR is available for €329, the SZ-20 for €219, both from March 2011.

MR is for a Multi Recording
The SZ-30MR is the world’s first camera to record 1080p Full HD movie and 16 Megapixel stills at the same time – thanks to an ingenious feature Olympus calls Multi Recording. For anyone who’s ever shot a scene one way, then (when it was too late) wished they’d done everything differently, MR is a must. Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processors give the
SZ-MR30 the power to record simultaneously in more than one mode, and in a variety of combinations. Users can record two different movies at once: in wide-angle and close-up; Full HD and lower resolution; or original and filtered (using one of the SZ-30MR’s seven Magic Filters for movies). In addition, with the Photo with Movie Clip setting, it’s now possible to capture moving footage before and after taking a single photo. These innovations give users the fun and flexibility of sharing their shots in a variety of media – from full-size prints to video clips for their favourite social media website. Both new models come with wireless Eye-Fi compatibility, so they can upload photos automatically to the Web – no cables required.

SZ is for Super Zoom
The Super Zoom SZ Series lives up to its name with a 24x wide optical zoom on the SZ-30MR and an equally impressive 12.5x super wide optical zoom on the significantly lower priced SZ-20. With this sort of zooming power it’s easy to take exceptional shots, from the expressive face of a gargoyle high up on a church roof to an emotive movie close-up of battling athletes. The pixel-rich 1080p Full HD movie format ensures the best moving picture quality currently available in a compact camera – with breathtaking realism, clarity and colour when users play back on a large Full HD TV.

S is for state-of-the-art
The SZ-30MR and SZ-20 are packed with the smartest technology the compact camera world has to offer, giving users a host of features that make it easy to get creative, transfer movies or photos wirelessly and capture just the shot they want in excellent quality. Both cameras offer 3D still photo shooting and eight Magic Filters, including the new Sparkle and Watercolour options. Pet Detection mode automatically snaps dog or cat faces just as they look up, while with Smart Panorama, users simply pan from side to side to get a sweeping panorama picture.

The SZ-30MR is available in black for €329, the SZ-20 in silver and black for €219, both from March 2011.

Distinguishing features:

OLYMPUS SZ-30MR

Image Quality

• 24x wide optical zoom (25-600mm*) for exceptional close-ups

Creativity & Flexibility

• Multi Recording with Dual Engine TruePic III+ image processor for recording movies and photos simultaneously, or two movies in different modes or from different angles

OLYMPUS SZ-20

Image Quality

• 12.5x super wide optical zoom (24-300mm*) for superb close-ups
• TruePic III+ image processor for ideal colour reproduction and low noise

Common features:
Image Quality

• 1080p Full HD Movie with sound for capturing movies in the best image quality currently available in compact cameras
• 16 Megapixel backlit CMOS sensor for high-resolution, superb-quality full-size movies, stills and prints, even in low light
• Dual Image Stabilisation for reducing blur with fast-moving shots

Usability

• 3” colour LCD (460,000 dots) for easily framing, reviewing and sharing shots
• Smart Panorama for capturing sweeping stills just by panning the camera
• Handheld Starlight Mode for shooting blur-free at night without a tripod
• Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology for capturing people’s faces just as you want them
• Beauty Mode for hiding unwanted blemishes
• Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking for easy setting and focussing
• Pet Detection Mode for automatically capturing dog’s or cat’s faces when they look at the camera
• Scene Mode for automatic settings that suit specific conditions (e.g., Landscape, Night)

Creativity & Flexibility

• Eye-Fi Card compatibility for automatic wireless uploading of images to a website or PC
• 3D photo shooting mode for striking stills
• Magic Filters for adding creative effects to HD movies and/or stills:
Punk, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Soft Focus, Fish Eye, plus new Sparkle (photos only) and Watercolour

Other key features

• Photo surfing and [ib] software for browsing, organising and viewing images by person, place, location or event
• HDMI technology for controlling your camera from one remote when it’s connected to HD equipment
• ISO 80 to 3200
• SDHC and SDXC memory card compatible**
• Built-in flash
• In-camera manual
• USB charging

* 35mm camera equivalent.
** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association.

For a full list of features, please go to http://www.countryspecificurl.com

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Julia Rauther
Olympus Europa Holding GmbH
Tel.: +49-40-23773-4258
Email: Julia.Rauther@Olympus-europa.com

http://www.olympus-europa.com

Appendix

1080p Full HD Movie recording
1080p Full HD movie recording (1920 x 1080) offers the best moving picture quality available in a compact camera today. With Full HD, footage is realistic, smooth, bright and clear. Movies become a fascinating window on real life when viewed on a big Full HD TV.

3D Mode (3D photo shooting)
Captures two shots of a scene from two different angles to create still photos that can be viewed with the added excitement and realism of 3D (on a 3D-compatible display). There are two 3D settings: Manual and Automatic. In both settings, the camera indicates when it is time to pan. In Automatic, when the camera is panned horizontally after the first shot, it automatically takes the second shot at the ideal moment. Manual is for 3D experts – the user decides when to take the second shot.

Advanced Face Detection technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that’s sharp in the right places and ideally exposed. Advanced Face Detection Technology can detect up to 16 faces.

AF Tracking
This system tracks a moving subject automatically and keeps it continually in focus – for optimally focused and exposed pictures. It even memorises the subject when it goes out of frame and resumes tracking when it reappears.

Beauty Mode
Beauty Mode touches up the appearance of subjects even while the shot is being taken. This feature recognises faces and automatically makes skin on the face and adjacent areas appear smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Dual Image Stabilisation
Providing two-fold protection, this special function helps to avoid image blur caused by camera shake or fast-moving subjects. It combines high ISO values with a sensor-based mechanical image stabiliser, where a built-in gyro sensor detects camera movement and adjusts the sensor accordingly.

Eye-Fi card compatibility
Lets users insert an Eye-Fi storage card and set it to automatically wirelessly transfer new photos and HD movies to the sharing website and computer of their choice.

i-Auto Mode
The “intelligent-Auto” mode uses advanced automatic detection technology that enables the camera to automatically recognise the most commonly shot scenes. This makes it possible to capture perfect photos without the need for manual settings.

[ib] software
Olympus now offers [ib], an integrated photo browsing and organising software. Images can be organised by person with a new face recognition technology, by place with a GPS-based mapping function or by event.

Magic Filters
Make it possible to create special artistic effects in still images and/or movies directly in the camera.

Fish-Eye: Simulates the dramatic effect of a fish eye lens, lending a new perspective to the whole scene with a “wrap-around” effect.
Pin Hole: Reduces peripheral brightness, like with an image seen through a pinhole. A unique colour tone results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid, to create high-impact pictures that express the light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
Punk: Displays images primarily in contrasting pink and black to give them an edgy, punk-inspired feel.
Drawing: Transforms images into line drawings to give the impression that subjects have been sketched by an artist.
Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone that gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It renders pictures as though they were veiled in heavenly light, without obscuring details such as hair or flower petals.
Sparkle (photos only): Adds twinkling lights to objects.
Watercolour: Another piece of artistic wizardry. This time images are turned into a watercolour painting surrounded by soft light.
Multi Recording
A world-first, Olympus Dual Engine technology allows users to combine various photo and movie recording modes simultaneously:

Photo & Movie: A Full HD movie and 16 Megapixel full-size photos. While users are recording a Full HD movie, they can take a high-resolution photograph as well.
Photo with Movie Clip: Records a Full HD movie before and after taking a photo.
Multi-File Movies: A Full HD movie and a movie with less resolution.
Multi-Framing Movies: A wide-angle and a close-up Full HD movie.
Magic Filter & Original Movie: A regular Full HD movie and a movie with a Magic Filter effect.

Pet Detection
Automatically detects dog or cat faces (two different modes) and works together with the Auto Release to capture the photo the moment the dog or cat turns to face the camera.

Photo Surfing
By selecting this option in the Playback menu, users can opt to browse pictures by date, scene, person, place, or image collection.

Scene Mode
Offers a choice of different scenes to suit the subject being captured, for example, landscape, night, beach and snow or pet. The camera automatically adjusts a host of parameters to achieve the best possible result for the chosen scene.

Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT)
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g., a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

Smart Panorama
Allows the user to create an impressive super-wide angle, wrap-around photo simply by panning the camera horizontally or vertically. There’s no need to pay attention to points of intersection – the camera knits the separate stills together automatically.

TruePic III+ image processor
Automatically enhances important aspects of image quality, including colour reproduction (range, saturation and brightness) and picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as processing data faster. Supports the Magic Filters that enable unprecedented creative expression.

It’s supplied with a pair of active shutter glasses and uses three separate Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) panels that split up the red, green and blue picture. There’s also 1,000 ANSI brightness and Advanced Iris3 automatic iris control, along with a 24p film mode. Yours for $9,999.99.

[via 3D-Display-info]

• Full-HD Shooting with a 3-Meter Waterproof, 1.5-Meter Shockproof and Dustproof Design
• 3.0 inch LCD
• Tripod stand included for self-portraits
• 4x Digital Zoom
• Face Detection
• 8-megapixel still picture recording
• Simultaneous linear PCM sound recording with still pictures
• Three playback effects: sepia/monochrome/soft skin
• Direct connection to high-definition TVs with a single HDMI cable

Panasonic is also introducing the TA2 HD Mobile Camera, but as far as we can tell from their website, it has the same features as the TA20.

The WA10 pistol grip camcorder has full-HD 1920 x 1080p resolution, and 16 megapixel still image recording. It can also record in the MPEG-4 AVC file format (MP4).

Features:

• Waterproof to 3 meters for up to 60 minutes (must be in dry conditions for more than 10 minutes after 60 min water exposure)
• BSI (Backside Illumination Sensor), for shooting in dimly lit areas
• Can take still photos while shooting a movie without changing modes
• 2.7 -inch wide TFT LCD monitor
• Optical 5x zoom/12x Advanced zoom for movie recording.
• Electrical Image Stabilizer

Panasonic is also releasing the HX-DC10 and the HX-DC1. The HX-DC10 has Full-HD11 video shooting with BSI Sensor, 16-Megapixel still picture recording. The HX-DC1 features Full HD Recording in MP4 Format, 14-megapixel still picture recording 3.0-inch Wide TFT LCD Monitor.

[via Panasonic]

Talking to TI earlier today, the company was at pains to highlight that it had been talking about – and, more importantly, working on building in support for at the chipset level – Full HD 3D support in its chips since the first days of the OMAP4, whereas rivals have come to those capabilities more recently. That means on Tegra 2 the ARM processor has to do the crunching, whereas in the OMAP4 it’s shunted to dedicated DSP.

TI’s OMAP5, meanwhile, will add in chipset-level support for four simultaneous camera streams, which will mean devices using it will be able to record 3D using twin cameras on both sides. That opens the door to 3D streaming video calls.