Thursday, August 19, 2010

Two More 3DTVs from Sony, in That Swish Monolithic Design [3dTv]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5616473/two-more-3dtvs-from-sony-in-that-swish-monolithic-design

Two More 3DTVs from Sony, in That Swish Monolithic Design3DTV is still to catch on, but Sony's already churning out more Bravia models before the year is out—the NX713 and NX813. They're of that beautiful "monolithic" design (stand sold separately!) and are slimmer with smaller bezels.

A few details are listed in the press release below, but we're still waiting on the nitty-gritty. In the meantime, I can tell you they've got dynamic edge LED backlighting, and on the NX713 Motionflow 100Hz Pro, and Motionflow 200Hz Pro for the NX813. Both models have a base-mounted 2.1 system, and can be adjusted at a 6-degree viewing angle.

Hold out for the full tech specs, along with dating and pricing, which I've already asked Sony for.

UPDATE: The NX713 has gone live on Sony's UK website, with specs here.

Weybridge, August 19, 2010

The new BRAVIA® 3DTVs NX713 and NX813:
Bringing style and connectivity to the 3D experience
Sony extends its BRAVIA 3D line-up with two new network models that combine 3D capability, connectivity and elegant design

• Featuring BRAVIA Internet Video - for on-demand, online entertainment
• Full High Definition 3D – just add a 3D Sync Transmitter and glasses to enjoy a new dimension in television
• Transform your living space - with the slim and stylish Monolithic Design

Get ready for the 3D revolution
3D entertainment has moved out of the cinema into the Living Room, and the Sony EISA award winning 3D BRAVIA TVs are leading the way.

All 3D BRAVIA TVs are supported by a rapidly increasing variety of 3D content, including the latest Hollywood movies on Blu-ray 3D™ disc such as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs; sport, music, natural history and entertainment from new 3D cable and satellite channels; even 3D games such as WipEout®HD and MotorStorm® Pacific Rift for the PlayStation®3.

Even in 2D, these TVs offer amazing HD picture quality. With Dynamic Edge LED backlighting and Motionflow 100Hz Pro (NX713) or Motionflow 200Hz Pro (NX813), the resulting ultra high contrast images are incredibly sharp and smooth.

Watch what you want, when you want
BRAVIA Internet Video puts the viewer in control of a world of online, on-demand video – delivered straight to the television screen with no need for a PC. From catch-up TV to video sharing sites like YouTube™, plus exclusive content like the FIFA World Cup™ Collection and streaming movies from LOVEFiLM, it's never been easier to enjoy what you want, when you want - with new content and video channels being added to BRAVIA Internet Video all the time.

BRAVIA Internet Widgets allows the viewer to see what friends are up to with updates from sites like Twitter™ and Facebook™, view photos from Flickr™ – all via the TV screen.

Transform your living room
Monolithic Design means a new way of thinking about how the TV fits into the living room. These televisions look amazing even when not switched on – plus the slim screen with concealed, touch sensitive controls means nothing interrupts the smooth surface finish.

The NX713 and NX813 both have a new, even slimmer design - including a smaller bezel around the TV's screen.

To complement the NX713 or NX813, a new optional designer stand offers an even more elegant way to set the TV at the perfect 6° viewing angle - and with a 2.1 sound system mounted in the base, enhanced sound quality is guaranteed.

Get ready for style and performance
"With 3D capability, the connectivity of BRAVIA Internet Video and stunning monolithic design, the NX713 and NX813 are perfect for people who want both style and performance from their TV," says Christian Brown, Senior Category Marketing Manager, Sony UK.

"More and more people recognize that 3D will play an important part in the future of home entertainment. And with the NX713 and NX813 you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're ready to upgrade to 3D viewing as soon as you decide the time is right."

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Verizon testing a $99 unlimited plan that simply matches Sprint's famous offering

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/verizon-testing-a-99-unlimited-plan-that-simply-matches-sprint/

Carriers test the waters on new plans all the time, but this new one from Verizon seems -- at least at cursory glance -- squarely aimed at its CDMA competitor. According to research from Current Analysis, the nation's top carrier is trying out an unlimited Nationwide Talk & Text plan for $69.99 in San Diego and Los Angeles retail outlets. That's $20 less than the current price, and coupled with a $29.99 data plan, we're looking at a monthly fee that's within pennies of Sprint's Simply Everything plan. As with other network trials, this one may never expand beyond certain test markets -- but needless to say, this seems to indicate Verizon's taking its smaller CDMA rival a whole lot more seriously. Amazing what a quarter of positive subscriber growth can do, isn't it?

Verizon testing a $99 unlimited plan that simply matches Sprint's famous offering originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Alpha A55 makes articulating cameo, A33 and some rumored specs tag along

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/sony-alpha-a55-makes-articulating-cameo-a33-and-some-rumored-sp/

In the market for a Sony shooter or two? The company's upcoming lineup can't seem to stay off the internet, which lucky for you serves as a great source for planning holiday gift plans. First up the Alpha A55, pictured above with an apparent articulating display. According to the DChome forums, there's a 16.7 megapixel APS CMOS sensor, a translucent mirror, 15-point AF, 1080 / 60i video, 10fps continuous shooting, an ISO range of 100 to 25,600, dual memory card slots (we'd guess SD and MemoryStick), and an eventual retail price of $900 to $1,000. Also pictured on the site is the A33 -- with an unmoving display -- spec'd at a reported 14 megapixels, ISO range of 100 to 12,800, and 1080i video. The expected launch is August 24th, but bear in mind this all is just a rumor for now -- keep your wallet and check and don't do anything rash, k?

Sony Alpha A55 makes articulating cameo, A33 and some rumored specs tag along originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Sony Alpha Rumors  |  sourceDChome ! (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/motorola-charm-hitting-t-mobile-on-august-25-at-an-affordable/

T-Mobile USA just dropped the knowledge on Twitter that it'll be carrying the Motorola Charm starting next Wednesday, August 25 -- but what it failed to mention is pricing. For what it's worth, the company does specifically say that it'll be "affordable" -- and although a marketing department's definition of "affordable" can be very different from ours, we're encouraged by a handful of previous rumors that there would be ways to get it for free on contract. If you need us to jog your memory, the Charm is a cute little portrait QWERTY Android device with a Kodak-branded 3 megapixel cam and landscape display, giving it a rare form factor that could very well appeal to a whole new audience (read: BlackBerry folks). So, how much would you pay for it?

Update: Turns out Moto's posted on its official Facebook page that it'll run $74.99 on contract -- not free, unfortunately, and in the age of free Pixi Pluses, that might be a tough pill to swallow. We've also been handed a video of Telus demonstrating its version of the Charm, which should look and work exactly the same -- check it out after the break. Thanks, Matt and DeadMan!

Continue reading Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!)

Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink @TMobile_USA (Twitter)  |  sourceT-Mobile, Facebook!  |  Email this | Comments

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Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/verizon-fios-set-top-boxes-getting-a-new-hd-guide-external-stor/

Streaming and downloading TV content to mobiles is nice, but we enjoy watching TV... on the TV, and Verizon had plenty of that to talk about today as well. Due in Q4 along with its FlexView app for mobile VOD access, version 1.9 of its FiOS TV guide software will finally add a 16x9 HDTV-filling guide to those Motorola boxes and it looks like many of our suggestions (and yours, according to Director of Product Management Joe Ambeault) made it in. Beyond a fresh coat of paint (although, with animated transitions, highly customizable viewing and browsing options and 3D-ish elements it's shaping up to be a very nice fresh coat of paint), the real meat is in the enhanced DVR features.

New updates include support for external storage (up to 1TB eSATA per DVR), automatic DVD-style chaptering on recordings, and an undelete button to bring back mistakenly removed recordings. Also freshened is its MoCA-powered multiroom setup that now shows all recordings from any box or external storage all in one list. About the only thing we can find missing from the new software is any sort of support for conflict resolution across DVRs or using all tuners as a pool, but it's otherwise robust, with each box handling up to 4 streams (2 in, 2 out) at once, and 7 connected devices (6 boxes plus one router) per home. Check out a couple more screens after the break, though skipping directly to house shopping in FiOS-connected neighborhoods may make for more efficient use of your time.

Continue reading Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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