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Other Tech
Sony Vending Machines
Ken Richardson  |  Oct 31, 2006

Actually, Sony would prefer that you call its branded vending machines "automated kiosks." And the machines' maker, Zoom Systems, refers to them as "robotic stores." Whatever you call 'em, the Sony Access units are currently being test-marketed in various locations, including: • Malls: FlatIron Crossing (Broomfield, Colorado), Mall of Georgia (Buford), and Santa Rosa

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Projector Reviews
BenQ PE8720 720p DLP Projector
Thomas J. Norton  |  Oct 29, 2006

With all the hullabaloo about the new 1080p projectors, some of them at prices lower than any of us dreamed possible only a few months ago, is there any point in reviewing a mid-priced 720p design?

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Audio Video News
What Comes After High-Def? Higher Def!
 |  Oct 29, 2006

Now that the HD transition is finally kicking into gear friends and colleagues who have been around long enough to know that something new is always around the corner have asked, what comes after high-definition? And answer of course, is higher-definition.

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Audio Video News
Vidabox Announces Blu-ray And HD DVD Compatible Media Center PCs.
 |  Oct 27, 2006

Vidabox LLC recently announced an interesting entry into the next-gen HD disc format war in the form of two lines of "dual HD" Media Center PCs that will playback both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. In addition to playing standard DVDs, Vidabox's LUX and MAX dual HD systems analog and dual HDTV tuners allowing users to record as many as four TV programs at once, obviating the need for a DVR.

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Ears On
iPod nano, second generation
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 27, 2006
A friend who is moving to a new apartment asked me to take delivery on his second-generation iPod nano. The (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition, no less. What was I going to say, no?
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Other Tech
The House That Jim Built
 |  Oct 26, 2006

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Projector Reviews
Sony VPL-VW50 Front Projector: On the Bench
Shane Buettner  |  Oct 26, 2006
  • $5,000
  • 1920x1080 threee-chip SXRD
  • Key Connections: Dual HDMI inputs, two component inputs, one RGB on 15-pin DSUB, one Ethernet
Features We Like: Full 1080p that not only accepts 1080p/24 signals, but displays it at frame rate that direct multiples of 24 for smoother motion, dynamic iris for deep blacks, uses less expensive lamp than previous SXRD PJs, and did we mention the price?
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Projector Reviews
BenQ W10000 Front Projector: Coming Attraction
 |  Oct 26, 2006
  • $8,999
  • 1920x1080 single-chip DLP
  • Key Connections: One HDMI input and two component inputs
Features We Like: 1080p single-chip DLP at a good price, Faroudja deintlerlacing with DCDi, motorized zoom, focus and vertical lens shift
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Ears On
Engadget HD Shows TiVo Series3 Upgrade
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 26, 2006
The new TiVo Series3 is HD-capable, CableCARD-savvy, and limited to "35 hours of HD goodness," note the folks at Engadget HD. And so a tutorial on the new Engadget offshoot walks you through the process of upgrading the drive with lots of pictures (and some assistance from DealDataBase and TiVoCommunity). The proccess is part physical, part typing into a character-based BIOS interface. Be warned that you'll need a TORX 10 screwdriver and there's some real danger from opening up any product with a power supply (so don't do it, our lawyers would no doubt advise). If you're not suicidal, or mechanically inclined, or the memory of DOS gives you nightmares, WeakKnees will do the upgrade for you, replacing the 250GB TiVo drive with 750GB. But it doesn't hurt to watch, does it? Engadget HD has been running for a few months and worth regular visits.
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Ears On
Consumers Value Picture and Sound
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 25, 2006
Eighty percent of home theater buffs value sound quality. Even more, 84 percent, value video quality. And when asked whether they value both, 83 percent say yes—proving that the traditional definition of home theater as the marriage of big-screen television and surround sound is still valid. Those are a few of the highlights of Home Theater Opportunities, a study from the Consumer Electronics Association's CEA Market Research. The study also finds that a third of existing home theater system owners plan to buy at least one component in the coming year, at an average cost of $1700, while home theater newbies plan to spend $1400. More than half of these planned purchases will be video displays; CEA defines an HT-worthy screen as 34 inches or more. Comments Sean Wargo, CEA's director of industry analysis: "The high interest in displays leads many to wonder if there is opportunity left for the other components of a home theater system, such as audio. But the survey results show, when it comes to home theaters, sound and video quality are almost equally important to the majority of consumers. As a result, investments in displays may just be the first round in a larger investment in the home entertainment system." Especially, I think, if display prices continue to drop, leaving more budgetary room for audio purchases. The full study sells for $499 but you can read the press release for nothing.
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