Toshiba's REGZA Z3500 series of 120Hz LCDs: 57-inches

from Engadget by Thomas Ricker

Like TVs do ya? Then go ahead and block off the next few hours to decipher the machine translated Japanese surrounding Toshiba's 11 new HDTVs. Of these, the new top of the line REGZA Z3500 series of 37-, 42-, 46-, 52- and 57-inch LCDs are by far the more interesting. Each offers a 120Hz / 10-bit IPS panel with 3x HDMI (1080/60p and 24p) supporting x.v.Color / DeepColor, 2x Firewire, and a whopping 3x Ethernet jacks for surfing the internet (browser built-in) or streaming DLNA and DTCP-IP media from Tosh's own VARDIA recorders, Qosmio PCs, your local NAS server, and plenty more. Better yet, sling a few disks off the included 2x USB jacks and you've got an instant DVR -- suuuweet. Prices start at ¥360,000 ($3,123) and run up to ¥950,000 ($8,242) for the biggie 57-incher. We'll bring you the rest of the new sets a bit later, mkay? [Via Impress]

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Sony's 12.47 megapixel APS-C sensor captures 10.4 fps

from Engadget by Thomas Ricker

So, you've already decided to save up the $1,300 green for your new EOS 40D, eh? We can't blame you in the least, in fact, we're pondering the hit ourselves. Still, we thought you should know that Sony just announced their 12.47 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS image sensor, the IMX021. Right, the same sized CMOS sensor you'll find in the 10.1 megapixel 40D capable of processing "just" 6.5fps. The new sensor is said to offer enhanced image quality with reduced noise at a staggering 10.39 frames per second. It's available now in ¥40,000 ($347) sample quantities and will no doubt make its way into DLSRs from Sony and others in the months ahead. Damn you progress! [Via Impress]

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Browser-based WiTV video player gets sneak preview

from Engadget by Conrad Quilty-Harper

WebwireTV got a sneak preview of a new online video client designed to compete with the likes of Joost and other higher quality online video offerings. The few differences between the two clients include a central content distribution model -- Joost uses P2P -- and support for Steve Jobs' hobby. Beyond that, WiTV doesn't have the same kind of content deals that Joost has, although the interface and the absence of any kind of software installation definitely shows potential.

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Faking one's death still not enough to escape Verizon contract

from Engadget by Darren Murph

It's no secret that some wily individuals will look high and low for loopholes to escape a wireless contract, but staging your own death in order to bypass a $175 early termination fee is admittedly extreme. Nevertheless, a frustrated and determined Verizon customer decided to do just that after the carrier refused to let him out of his contract. Insistent that a host of dropped calls and "string of defective cellphones" were reason enough to ditch The Network, he went so far as to "fashion a fake death certificate" and convinced a friend to fax it in. Unfortunately, Verizon caught on to the scheme and yet again refused to let Mr. Taylor out, so as you can probably guess, the perturbed ex-customer begrudgingly coughed up the dough, trashed his phone, and hoped that he "sent a definite message about how much people hate being strapped to a cellphone that doesn't work." [Via Pocket-Lint]

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Has Building B created an internet video "God box"?

from Engadget by Joshua Topolsky

Without getting overly dramatic, word on the street is that Building B, a new-fangled startup based in Belmont, California, has developed an internet video "God box" which will allow OTA streams of traditional cable, internet video, and on-demand content without the need for a PC (i.e., directly to your 70-inch plasma television). Obviously, as the wave of internet TV steadily increases, dozens of companies are scrambling to unify the set-top, and streamline the end-user's ability to get all their content in one place -- not to mention suck up some totally righteous dough. Although Building B claims their technology will bring a heretofore unseen convergence to people's living rooms, the boys in charge have been rather tight-lipped in regards to the "forthcoming" magic unit, or services and fees that would be associated with said device. Hopefully we'll soon know what the "God box" can or can't do with your television, what kind of "plague" capabilities it will include, and if it will be compatible with Atheism.

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