Easy Home Theater » HTXTC

Low cost home theaters approachable for the average family.

Admin — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:52:29 +0000

If you’re not quite satisfied with the 42-inch plasma TV you bought several years back. You want something a little bit more impressive, a system to give you that gasp-inducing, jaw-dropping, toe-curling movie theater experience.

Perhaps it’s time for your own home theater. What kind of equipment to buy depends on your budget, how much time you have on your hands, your technical prowess and — of course — how much you tend to drool over the latest high-tech gizmos.

Those inclined toward do-it-yourself projects can buy a high-definition set or projector, hook it up to a DVD player and a surround sound system for $3,000 or less.

But if money is no object, you can get your home cinema professionally designed, acoustically engineered, installed and tricked out to look like a real movie theater . . . for $25,000 and up.

Like luxury cars or motorboats, there’s practically no upper limit for those with money to spend.

Motorola flexible multimedia set top platform

Admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:00:16 +0000

Motorola is currently working on accelerating the delivery of personalized media experiences by rolling out a flexible multimedia set top platform that allows users to transfer content from and to a cell phone, enjoy multimedia content be it at home or on the road without the need for the traditional middleman – the PC. This new set top platform also makes way for users to create and store personalized music and video libraries. Japan being at the forefront of consumer electronics for most parts will be the first country to receive Motorola’s new multimedia platform, with KDDI leading the way with their “au BOX” service. The au Box service will enable mobile customers to transfer content between their home entertainment systems and their mobile devices without a hitch, and the au BOX service will be launched throughout Japan from November onwards. It will be delivered to au subscribers as an option first on a leased basis, and this set top will also come with a CD player as well as CD ripping capability, allowing users to transfer songs from CDs to a more portable digital format on-the-fly. Data transfer is achieved via USB, and the set top box also doubles up as an entertainment unit by itself, thanks to its built-in stereo speakers. Nice to see that Motorola’s multimedia set top also features video encoding capabilities that lets you upload video from a video recording device, followed by an encoding process that makes it possible to view these recorded clips on your cell phone later on. When hooked up to an external monitor, you can also view DVDs with this set top. Alternatively, the set top also functions as a portal for Internet browsing, so make sure you have a decent monitor or TV to go along with this lest your eyes start to deteriorate. Nice to see digital content distribution being enabled here as well, where you can purchase music and video online. Press Release Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames , check out our analysiss. [ Motorola flexible multimedia set top platform copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Motorola flexible multimedia set top platform

ViewSonic N2201w LCD TV the latest to hit the market

Admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:30:00 +0000

ViewSonic isn’t exactly a brand name that is associated with high end AV equipment, but then again they have been in business for quite some time already for a very good reason – offering enough bang for your buck. The latest LCD TV from ViewSonic would be the N2201w, and this 22″ looker offers more than just high definition images in your living room – it also packs in two other functions for added value for money. Retailing for under the $500 price point, the N2201w also features an integrated DVD player (if only they threw in a Blu-ray drive instead) that is located on the side of the TV as well as PC capabilities. With living spaces these days getting smaller and smaller due to overpopulation in large cities, one has to learn to make do with the living space available in tiny apartments. The ViewSonic N2201w caters to this need, offering 1080i high definition digital video as well as outstanding image quality for a high end entertainment experience. After all, the digital revolution is well underway and analog TVs are going to go the way of the dodo in due time, so why not hop on the bandwagon now and experience tomorrow’s entertainment quality today? The N2201 is feature rich and won’t burn a whole in your pocket during procurement, ensuring you won’t have to get into an argument with the missus if you want to bring this puppy home. Granted, 22″ isn’t much to look at, and the lack of full HD might not appeal to some, but the screen size itself wouldn’t make any difference if the image was shown in 1080p since the eye can’t discern the detail difference at that level. Other features of the N2201w include a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050, 5ms response time, a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, wide viewing angles, ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital TV tuner and HDMI connectivity, and a PC input that helps you connect computer sources. The ViewSonic N2201w has been listed at $429 and will come with a one year warranty. Press Release Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames , check out our analysiss. [ ViewSonic N2201w LCD TV the latest to hit the market copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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ViewSonic N2201w LCD TV the latest to hit the market

LG introduce new Plasmas with bluetooth, PVR to the UK

Admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:38:22 +0000

A "new, even smaller" model announcement is an odd thing for a TV manufacturer – usually we hear about larger, louder, brighter sets. There is method to the madness though – historically, plasma TVs have only been available in larger sizes – 40" and above. With the 32PG6000 LG have squeezed Plasma technology into a 32" screen. Coming soon after the launch of the new LCD TV range this Plasma launch breathes life into a technology many other manufacturers are abandoning, with some innovative new features. As with the recent LCD launch there are a myriad of model numbers and screen sizes covering a wide range of features and budgets. The 32" set sits at the bottom of the range, while the monster 60" 60PG7000 stands at the top. Even the 32" model gets a huge array of inputs with 4 HDMI sockets, component, SCART and VGA ports. Moving up the range gets you bluetooth connectivity and an integrated freeview PVR. This is a really nice idea, you get two tuners so you can watch one program while recording another, and a 160GB hard drive for over 80 hours of recording capacity. You can get more details of all these sets on the LG Blog , or on the LG website If you’ve got to the bottom of this post and are wondering what the difference between LCD and Plasma is anyway and why you’d care, we asked LG to give us their take on it. You can get their explanation here . Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool [ LG introduce new Plasmas with bluetooth, PVR to the UK copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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LG introduce new Plasmas with bluetooth, PVR to the UK

Sony releases two new BRAVIA projectors

Admin — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:57:50 +0000

Sony Electronics has introduced two more full high-definition 1080p BRAVIA projectors known as the VPL-VW70 and VPL-HW10, bringing yet more choices for the discerning consumer who want nothing but the very best when it comes to enjoying a home theater viewing experience. These 1,920 x 1,080 progressive Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) projectors boast 24p True Cinema technology that makes everything look surreal, as if you were in the cinema itself thanks to delivery of a film-like performance. Any home theater enthusiast ought to be happy with the VPL-VW70 as that models comes with a 60,000:1 dynamic contrast and a brightness of 800 ANSI lumens. It will be able to use an external anamorphic lens (sold separately) that can be paired with Sony’s Anamorphic Zoom Mode. When that is done, it enables users to take full advantage of panel resolution and screen size whenever watching a movie with native aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Should you decide to select Anamorphic Zoom via the remote, the VPL-VW70 will automatically output a trigger signal that can be used to activate the optional lens and screen transition to maximize the theater experience with a 2.35:1 movie. Folks who do not want to miss out on a full HD home theater and yet don’t have that much dough to spare can always look forward to Sony’s VPL-HW10 model that comes with half the dynamic contrast ratio of the VPL-VW70 at 30,000:1 and 1,000 ANSI lumens that will function well even in bright rooms. These projectors were specially designed with the custom installation market in mind, and are accompanied by a panel alignment adjustment function that aligns each red, green and blue pixel for precise images. Both models will also come with the BRAVIA Engine 2 all-digital video signal processing engine, complete with unique algorithms for noise reduction and color enhancement to deliver sharp, vibrant images. You will be able to pick up the VPL-VW70 and VPL-HW10 projectors for $8,000 and $3,500, respectively. Press Release Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames , check out our analysiss. [ Sony releases two new BRAVIA projectors copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

New Study Shows Consumers Prefer PS3 Blu-ray players

Admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:56:51 +0000

When surveyed as to whether customers would prefer a stand alone Blu-ray player over a Sony PS3 with same player, the majority preferred to pay less for the player and have a hi-def video game console tossed in for good measure. The study, conducted by ABI Research shows that more than half of consumers aren’t thrilled with the obscene price point of a stand alone alone player, preferring to add value to their purpose by going with the Playstation 3 instead. The study goes on to say that, although 23 percent of consumers are planning a Blu-ray purchase, even those aren’t in a hurry to get one, choosing to wait until at least 2009 before they take the Blu-ray leap. In addition, the study also found that a whopping 87% of Playstation 3 users do watch Blu-ray movies on their PS3 player. The study’s findings are great news for SONY who is enjoying brisk sales of the Blu-ray capable PlayStation 3 game console. So, when one considers that Blu-ray sales are staggering at the current price of between $350 and 500, it isn’t surprising at all that consumers would rather have a great gaming platform tossed in for good measure. Kudos to Sony for being so forward thinking in tossing in the Blu-ray player from the outset. Hat Tip – Crave Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames , check out our analysiss. [ New Study Shows Consumers Prefer PS3 Blu-ray players copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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New Study Shows Consumers Prefer PS3 Blu-ray players

The Godfather Collection on Blu-ray

Admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:49:40 +0000

Some people say that Blu-ray might be the DVD killer. It’s already outed HD-DVD and has established itself as the high-def video standard. I’m yet to own a Blu-ray disc myself. Other than the Blu-ray disc that ships with the PS3 and of course the games which come with the logo emblazoned on the covers. But this might just make me give on the HD disc revolution. Paramount has announced their release of The Godfather Collection: The Coppola Restoration on Blu-ray in 1080p high definition and offering English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround sound. The four disc tome features all three Godfather flicks as well as an extra disc with a truly impressive list of extra features and documentaries. Each film is show in BD-50 dual-layer presentation, with a frame-by-frame restoration overseen by director Francis Ford Coppola himself, as well as cinematographer Gordon Willis. Each film includes an audio commentary by Copolla, with the fourth disc featuring multiple featurettes, galleries, deleted scenes, storyboards and trailers. When the Blu-ray discs drop on September 23rd the whole collection will cost you $120. But luckily for you, we’re giving you the early bird special. You can pre-order the Godfather Collection now for the special price of $86.95 from Amazon. Press Release and Product Page via PS3Fanboy Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool [ The Godfather Collection on Blu-ray copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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The Godfather Collection on Blu-ray

The Hello Kitty HD-TV soon to be found in Japan

Admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:21 +0000

I swear, if there is some kind of hostile takeover and the world ends, at the root of the problem will be Hello Kitty sitting in pretty pink. I’m not sure what started my deep and true hatred of all things Hello Kitty, so I fully admit that it is entirely random and not at all logic based. The more hilarious part is that I know I’m not the only one bad about disliking all that is Hello Kitty. My theory is, anything that has taken over the world as quickly as Hello Kitty has must be evil, especially if it appears innocent. Well Hello Kitty has managed to get its stamp placed on yet another product, this time a little LCD TV. The 19” TV was announced by the Japanese company Uniden and will be shipping out about mid July. The contrast ratio is 1,000:1 and a resolution of 1440 x 810. The TV comes in either the white shown here or black. For a price of $650 you too can sell your soul to Hello Kitty. Alright, so Hello Kitty might not be quite that bad, but it’s just so pink. Source: crunchgear Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames , check out our analysiss. [ The Hello Kitty HD-TV soon to be found in Japan copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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The Hello Kitty HD-TV soon to be found in Japan

Backyard Outdoor Theater System

Admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:09:36 +0000

You’ve got a beautiful backyard, with a gorgeous pool and a deck large enough to size a decent sized party, but something is missing from this luxurious scene. Where is the multimedia? A bunch of people standing around chatting on a pool deck can only steal the crowd’s attention for so long. And a music system blasting cheesy classical music can only accomplish so much. If you’ve got the money, why not add an awesome theater system to go along with your poolside facade? The Backyard Theater System is an all-in-one unit for displaying video on a large screen on your very own property. Awesome for both sporting events and movies alike, this theater system from Frontgate offers the very finest of outdoor displays. The theaters incredible 720p digital resolution 12-foot wide screen is completely weatherproof, which means there’s no inflatable parts which have to be messed with everytime you want to watch video from your poolside. It takes just 20 minutes to assemble and dissemble the full product. The system ships with a pair of 80 watt speakers and a Epson MovieMate 72 projector for producing a theater-quality experience. It’s all easily transportable with an included travel bag, and the Epson MovieMate even features wheels for easy movement. With a retail price set at $2,999, you’ll be spending less than you would be on a theater system for inside of your home, which is pretty incredible if you ask me. Product Page via Baller House Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool [ Backyard Outdoor Theater System copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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Backyard Outdoor Theater System

The very retro M21 Flat Panel TV

Admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:25 +0000

If your flat panel TV is looking entirely too modern in your home, this prototype design might spark your interest. The M21 Flat Panel definitely looks more like one of the earlier TVs than the sleek ones offered today. Although I love how the flat panels look, someone that has a home that is overly retro might not want to slap something so modern into their living room. Something like this would blend in a lot better. Besides that, if you’re robbed by really ignorant criminals, maybe they’ll be fooled and leave it alone thinking it’s just an old outdated TV. The design was made by Joe Wilkerson, but anyone that is great with their hands could probably easily make something similar. It’d probably be faster than waiting on the prototype to hit the market. Especially since prototypes don’t always get made. This particular design features a 42” plasma screen and is designed after TVs from the 1950s. The designer is still testing the waters and seeing what kind of public interest his design draws before he takes any further steps with it. At some point he hopes to make a wider and shorter version that features a bit of storage. Which means for all those interested in the design keep a lookout on his page for any new pictures he may post. Source: bbgadgets Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames , check out our analysiss. [ The very retro M21 Flat Panel TV copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

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The very retro M21 Flat Panel TV