Tag: HD
Blu-ray support for Wii 2?
The move to introduce high-definition would see Nintendo u-turning on its next-gen policy of accessibility over technical fireworks.
Complete Star Wars series in HD for free on ITVHD
Then throughout the months of November and December, the entire series will be airing on ITVHD in consecutive order, beginning with Episode I: The Phantom Menace on 24th October, culminating with Episode VI: Return of the Jedi in December, and including the terrestrial premiere of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
SHINY VIDEO REVIEW: Samsung i8910 HD
Anna takes a look the Samsung i8910 HD, previously named the Omnia HD, which we gave you a sneak peak at last month:
Anna was clearly impressed by the camera and not without good reason. HD video recording at 720p (24fps) is a world’s first for a smartphone. We’ve seen examples of HD footage from this phone on a big screen and, we have to say, it looked good.
The photo aspect of the camera is fairly decent as well – 8-megapixels with auto-focus, face detection, smile sensor and blink detection.
Connectivity is via 3G (HSDPA) or Wi-Fi and it operates on S60 so you’ll be able to load it up with Symbian apps if you wish.
The media capabilities are also very impressive. HD playback is possible via the huge 3.7-inch AMOLED screen – yes, 3.7-inches is huge for a phone screen. It plays a massive range of media formats as well: AVI (DiVX/XviD), WMV, RV, MP4, 3GP, MP3, WMA, WAV, RA, AAC and M4A. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack which is always welcome.
So, overall this is a pretty good effort from Samsung – although the hefty price tag, as described by Anna, may be enough for customers to shun this phone in favour of many of its illustrious rivals.
Get one from Orange if you want to. If not, well, no biggie.
LaCie launches the LaCinema Rugged HD
We told you last year about LaCie’s LaCinema – a rugged, portable multimedia hard-drive designed to host all of your multimedia content. Well, as the name suggests, this is the HD upgrade to that device.
As well as playing all the formats you’d expect of a multimedia player – it now plays all of the popular HD variations too, such as H.264, MKV, WMV9 and MPEG-4.
It’s got 500GB of storage and offers full HD, 1080p resolution via HDMI. It’s designed to be carried around – it has a unique varnished, scratch-protected aluminium shell and shock-resistant rubber sleeve that make it resistant to a bit of rough and tumble.
It’s £289.99 and it’s available now direct from LaCie.
Freeview HD gets launch date
The launch date for Freeview HD has been revealed as 2nd December. That is the date in which Multiplex B – the multiplex that is being utilised for HD transmissions goes live at the Winter Hill transmitter. Put simply, this means that Freeview HD will be available to the Winter Hill areas of Liverpool and Manchester.
The plan is to increase the Freeview HD transmissions in the first half of next year. The Crystal Palace transmitter, which covers much of London, may also be upgraded in December – even though the proposed date for this, according to Ofcom, is 2012.
Graham Plumb, head of distribution technology at the BBC stated that Ofcom’s dates were merely a “backstop contingency”.
Earlier this month we told you how Five had been added to the Freeview HD line-up alongside the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Users will need a HD Freeview box to receive the channels as the HD content will not be decoded by existing Freeview equipment. Some TVs, such as the Sony W4000 and the Loewe Connect, already have the hardware in order to do this though, without the need for a box.
(via BBC blog)
Five given HD freeview slot
Ofcom has provisionally awarded Five a HD slot, allowing the network to broadcast in HD over the Freeview network when the capacity becomes available.
Five follows in the footsteps of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, who have already been awarded their licenses. It was believed that Channel 4 was vying for a second licence in order to broadcast their E4 channel in HD.
Ofcom has stated, however, that the agreement with Five relies on them meeting “certain key criteria” by 31st December 2009. They also confirmed that Five’s HD output would only be at peak times.
This is good news for fans of shows like CSI:Miami, The Gadget Show and Bones. Bad news for fans of The Wright Stuff, Wordplay and House Doctor.
Freeview HD is expected in 2010, but when you’ll actually be able to get it really depends on where you live. Ofcom say the north-west will be first to receive Freeview HD after its switch-over. Everyone should be able to get the full Freeview HD package by 2012.
(via Brand Republic)
Sky News HD from next year
Sky will be launching a HD version of their popular news channel, to be broadcast alongside the current, standard definition, version from Spring 2010.
To coincide with the launch Sky will be updating their studios and production facilities, so expect an even more Starship Enterprise looking set with an ever increasing, and seemingly unneeded, array of computer graphics.
Sky HD currently has over a million subscribers and has been aggressively promoting the service in recent months. They are currently offering the box to new customers for a mere £49, free set-up, plus £50 worth of Tesco’s vouchers. It costs an additional £9.75 a month to subscribe to the HD channels, but it’s still pretty good value. Sky may even drop this additional subscription price in the future, as they did with the Sky+ fee.
The announcement will also put a bit of pressure on Freesat, who currently only offer two HD channels – BBC and ITV. Sky in comparison, have over 30.
In America, the big networks, like Sky’s cousin Fox, already broadcast their news in HD, sort of. Everything in the studio is HD but films taken outside, which could be argued is the news, is not always filmed in HD. Sky are planning to make all of their coverage, wherever possible, HD.
Sounds like exciting stuff, although the thought of Eamonn Holmes in HD at 7.30 in the morning is enough to put me off my Weetabix.
(via Broadcast Now)
UK Satellite TV Comparison Guide: Sky versus Freesat
Two services that require you to stick a satellite dish to the side of your house.
One has been around for two decades, the other has just celebrated its first birthday.
Both will demand an upfront payment: one will continue to drain money from your bank account each month.
So which is best? Read our comparison guide to see if you should go with coming-of-age Sky or new-kid-on-the-block Freesat.
Read on to find out…
JVC launches Everio X super slo-mo hybrid camcorder
In an industry where, suddenly, if you can’t record full HD and take stills with a CMOS sensor, you’re not in the game, JVC has still managed to pull out an impressive camcorder in the shape of the Everio X.
The X, or GZ-X900 as it’s also known, offers 9-megapixel pictures and 1080p HD at a weight of 298g but, most interesting of all, it features video capture at up to 500fps. That translates as 10x super slow motion speeds. It’ll be like watching the Tornado Camera in your own home movies.
It’s out in June complete with 5x zoom Minolta glassware, an HDMI 1.3 port and will record onto SDHC. Prices to follow.
JVC HD40 & HD30 Preview:
SHINY VIDEO REVIEW: Flip MinoHD – 720p recording and under 100g
Let’s make this simple. If you like the original Flip Mino, you’re going to ache for the MinoHD. Same kettle of bananas, only this time with 720/30p video recording instead of boring old VGA. Want to know what that looks like? Press play on the box below…
There’s only a couple of real issues with what is one of the best camcorders I’ve held in my hands. The first is that it’s mono sound recording. Not much you can do there if you want to keep the weight down. The second is the price.
Now, £169.99 isn’t that expensive but it is a) around double what you’d pay for the VGA Mino and b) a little bit more than other Full HD camcorders to be hitting the shelves very soon.
Doubtless the Flip MinoHD will still do well. The battery lasts a lifetime, the 4GB/60mins recording memory is ace and I’ll be very sad when it’s time to send mine back.
Flip
