Home entertainment

Alright, maybe "superflous" is a bit harsh, but we're still a bit confused as to why LG stuck Bluetooth into its new 7000-series LCDs and plasmas. Sure, if they offered a Bluetooth remote we'd take it all back in a heartbeat, but the fact is that there are about four people on earth that own stereo Bluetooth headphones, and none of them have been watching TV on mute all this time -- and the rest of us are too lazy to figure out how to beam pictures from our phone over Bluetooth, the other main ...

If there's anywhere exactly wrong for displaying a speaker's prowess, it's in the middle of a tradeshow booth. The subtle musical stylings of Sony's ultra-high-concept Sountina speaker were a bit lost to us as our ears warred against the IFA drone, but what we could hear sounded just fine to us -- and there's no arguing with the looks. We kept expecting Tesla to jump out from behind a curtain and start spouting off about some free energy properties of the organic glass tweeter, but sadly walked...

Good news everyone! If Ultrasone's $1,500 pair of radiation reducing Edition 9 headphones were a bit too pricey for your taste, you'll no doubt be thrilled to know that the company has now let loose the far cheaper Pro 900 phones, which promise to block just as much of that pesky radiation for the low, low price of $600. Of course, Ultrasone is just as focused on sound quality as it is on curbing radiation leakage, and the Pro 900s look like they should deliver the goods on that front as well, ...

Still not satisfied by any of the Blu-ray home theater in a box systems out there? Then perhaps Sony's just announced Bravia BDV-IT1000 unit will be more to your liking. This one boasts 700W of total power, and includes some wireless rear speakers for added convenience, and slim speakers all around that Sony says are made possible thanks to its brand new finger-sized full-range speaker drive units. The Blu-ray player / receiver at the heart of the unit also looks to be capable enough, with it s...

We suppose it was just a matter of time before iPod docks and HTIBs achieved some sort of unholy union, and their demonic lovechild has appeared at IFA -- say hello to the Philips CinemaOne. Essentially a mashup of an iPod speaker system, a DVD player, and a soundbar, it's designed to plug in to your flatscreen via HDMI and provide surround audio through five DSP-driven speakers and 4-inch sub, all in a package about the size of a football. The DivX-compatible DVD player seems decent, with 1080...

On the audio front, Philips just launched a pair of Network Music Players, the NP2500 and the NP2900. They're color-screened followups to January's monochrome NP1100, and the NP2500 does audio out (including coaxial digital audio) just like is forebear, while the NP2900 (pictured) includes built-in speakers. The players work with internet radio, your PC's music library and some online music services like Rhapsody. No word on price or release date.Gallery: Philips entertains your home with new N...

It's been a month since we first caught a glimpse of the sharp-looking Logitech Squeezebox Boom, but the wireless network speakers are official today, coming in at a list price of $299. Yeah, it's basically a standard-issue Squeezebox with a built-in amp and speakers, but that's a pretty solid idea, especially since we're guessing the 24-bit Burr Brown D/A converter and bi-amped 3-inch woofers and 3/4-inch tweeters will offer up some decent sound. Everything else is regular Squeezebox kit -- 80...

We thought we had seen all of Sony's 2008 ES lineup, but boy were we distinctly incorrect. Sony Japan has today revealed a trio of newcomers, two of which we've never seen before. The TA-DA5400ES packs a 120-watt x 7 channel internal amplifier, six HDMI inputs (and 2 outputs), six optical audio jacks and three sets of component inputs (among others). As for the STR-DA3400ES, the wattage steps down to 100-watts per channel and the port selection isn't nearly as robust; the STR-DG820 is already a...

We have to admit, that headline makes us a little bit giddy, and Sony seems to be betting there's enough folks giddy enough to throw down their credit card to snag its new high-end SACD player, which has just made its debut in Japan. In addition to making a bold statement of non-conformity in your A/V rack, the SCD-XA5400ES is particularly notable for its inclusion of an HDMI output, which nicely complements the usual digital optical, coax, and analog audio options. According to Sony, you can a...

One thing's for sure: DLO's pretty attached to its HomeDock brand, and evidently it could care less about just how confusing these naming schemes are to customers. Let's clear some cobwebs real quick -- this isn't the HomeDock Pro, nor is it the HomeDock HD. Rather, it's the HomeDock HD Pro, a glorious combination of the two (or something). Aimed at home theater enthusiasts and home installers alike, this upscaling iPod dock takes stored content to 720p or 1080i over HDMI, and you'll also find ...

Putting two iPhone / iPod docks in an alarm clock is a simple and clever idea that's so far only shown up in the JVC NX-PN7 (which we have and love), but it looks like iLuv's getting in the game as well with the new iMM137. Apart from the two shielded iPhone 3G-compatible docks up top, it's the usual iLuv kit with 5 watt jAura sound, an aux input, and dual alarms -- not a bad deal for an MSRP of $129 that'll almost certainly be lower at retail when this hits in September....

Filed under: Home EntertainmentRumors of Samsung's BD-Live-ready BD-P2500 Blu-ray player first started cropping up a few months ago, and the strikingly similar BD-P2550 just slipped out at Best Buy a few days ago, but if you like your Blu-ray news all official like, you'll be glad to know that Samsung has now finally actually talking about the player, and it's set to show it off at the big IFA show later this week. In addition to BD-Live support (which will apparently come in a future update), S...

Tiny player, but big on features?Philips have long had a firm standing in audio products, but can they keep pace with the likes of Apple, Creative and SanDisk to win that coveted space in your pocket? We check out the GoGear SA2820 to find out. Read Philips GoGear SA2820 2GB MP3 player on Pocket-lint...

Will this make getting around your screen easier?Nipples, trackpads, trackballs are all great ways of controlling the pointer on your laptop, but they can't beat a mouse. So is Logitech's new V550 cordless mouse the answer? We get pointing to find out. Read Logitech V550 cordless laser mouse on Pocket-lint...

A twist on the USB stickThere was a time when a USB memory stick was something of a novelty that offered nothing more than portable storage. These days, aside from increases in capacity, there is little to differentiate between devices. Read Kingston DataTraveler Micro Reader USB stick on Pocket-lint...

Will this save you upgrading to Blu-ray?With the battle for Blu-ray and HD DVD over, Toshiba has changed its tack and launched a new upscaling DVD player, but does it have want to takes to recapture ground lost? We get watching to find out. Read Toshiba XD-E500 upscaling DVD player on Pocket-lint...

Provides physical and virtual security?Depending on which research you read, notebooks either outsell desktop PCs already or are expected to do so in the coming 12 months. With this growth in popularity it comes as no surprise to find notebook specific software now being released. Read GData Notebook Security 2008 - PC on Pocket-lint...

Will this put you in control?A burgeoning collection of home gadgetry ultimately means more remote controls lying around the place and increasing frustration at not being able to find the one you want. Philips want to bring simplicity into your living room with the Prestigo SRU8008, a universal remote that you can programme to control up to 8 devices. We looked at the Prestigo SRU8015 earlier in the year and this model offers an entry-level alternative. But does the step-down lessen the experien...

Looking to move your videos to DVD?If you're anything like us, then you'll have a couple of boxes somewhere in the house full of VHS recordings still waiting to be copied over to DVD. Video capture and edit boxes are nothing new but this device from KWorld is the smallest we've seen to date. Read KWorld DVD Maker 2 video capture stick on Pocket-lint...

A tablet not pitched at business?When you think about tablet PCs, it's more than likely you'll think of a business tool. However, HP has taken a slightly different approach with the Pavilion tx2130ea and aimed it at the consumer market. By reducing the price to a more than affordable £699 and selling it through stores such as PC World it can reach a far wider audience. Read HP Pavilion tx2130ea tablet PC on Pocket-lint...

Has the compact camera had its day?Samsung's latest all-powerful handset promises to match the might of the Nokia Nseries with a host of features, but can this multimedia gadget, that's also a phone, impress? We get more than just dialling to find out. Read Samsung i8510 mobile phone on Pocket-lint...

A worthy spin on Dungeon Siege?All PC gamers should be aware of a title by the name of Dungeon Siege. A traditional dungeon crawling RPG at heart, it managed to build on its simplistic point and click style of hack and slash gameplay and be one of the most thoroughly addictive titles in recent memory. Read Space Siege - PC on Pocket-lint...

Has the compact camera had its day?Samsung's latest all-powerful handset promises to match the might of the Nokia Nseries with a host of features, but can this multimedia gadget, that's also a phone, impress? We get more than just dialling to find out. Read Samsung i850 mobile phone on Pocket-lint...

Will these be your personal trainer?AIRUN think they have the solution to expanding waist-lines with their latest shoes. The shoes combine a number of features to appeal to those looking to lose weight or get fit, or both. But will these shoes be your personal trainer? Read AIRUN+ training shoes on Pocket-lint...

Hub for home and travelNo matter how many USB ports your computer has, you'll find that at some point you'll need more. With more and more of us switching to notebooks, extra ports are also an issue. Belkin has hit on a novel idea to offering more UBS ports when at your desk as well as when on the move. Read Belkin 2-in-1 USB hub on Pocket-lint...