Audio News for July 13, 2010

by | Jul 13, 2010 | Audio News | 0 comments

New Blackberry To Play 1080p Video – The makers of the Blackberry smartphone are set to launch a 7-inch tablet which like the recent Cisco Android will be targeted at the business market. The device will have a 1GHz processor and play 1080p video, giving it an advantage of Apple’s iPad. It will play Flash files and have cameras on the front and back. Users will be able to access the Internet, use Wi-Fi, or insert a 3G SIM similar to the high end iPad. The tablet is expected early in 2011.

LG Looks at Google TV – Korean company LG has admitted that they previously thought sales of their 3D TVs would be strong in the second half of this year, but as global economic conditions worsen, they may have to raise their TV prices. They are concerned that Google is building up the Android app market and may become too dominant in the TV sphere, but they are also interested in what Google TV has to offer.

3D TVs Use More Power Than 2D TVs
– The Cnet website tested four models of TVs, including both plasma and LED/LCD TVs, and found from 62% to 101% greater AC power draw from plasma sets and 29% more from LCD 3D sets.  (Plasmas are regarded by many as the SUVs of video displays.) The most power-hunger 3D TVs were two Panasonic models. 3D requires a brighter image to make up for the darkening from the polarized 3D glasses and from the shutter glass blocking the images part of the time, and that usually takes more power. Strangely, a Sony TV tested used more power in 2D mode than 3D.

Samsung Growth Hurting Sony – Samsung Electronics is the world’s No. 1 maker of flat-panel TVs and they hope to sell 50 million of them this year – a 32% increase over 2009 sales. Samsung has boldly gone after the 3D market. They are the No. 1 brand in Australia and up there in the rest of the world with LG and Panasonic, both with whom they are in a head-to-head battle for dominance. A 20% increase in the sales of flat-panel TVs is expected by analysts for this year.

AV Streaming Options for Mobile Users
– Storage space on one’s various personal computer devices has increased greatly, but so has the size of files, with a HD movie being as much as 5 GB. Those with the new iPad may think they can relax anywhere around their house and watch a movie on it if they have Apple TV.  They can’t. But there are $3 apps such as AirVideo and StreamToMe that run on the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch that allow streaming to your mobile device. They won’t work with movies purchased at iTunes, or movies on the second digital copy disc that comes with some DVDs and Blu-rays. A free program called Handbrake allows you to digitize your DVD movies. StreamToMe supports streaming audio, so you can also listen to any music you have on your home network.

Jamcast – New Music-Streaming Software – Software Development Solutions has launched Jamcast – a streaming media software solution enabling (PC-only) users to effortlessly send digital audio from any source directly to their favorite devices. Its Virtual Soundcard feature captures audio playing on a consumer’s PC and transmits it over their wireless network to HDTVs, home theater components, smartphones, iPads, media adapters, etc.  It also allows users to play back their favorite podcasts, Pandora, and other music services, and it works with iTunes, but only on PCs. Jamcast retails for $30.

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