November 17 - 8:00pm EST   LaCie has announced the US release of its LaCinema Rugged multimedia storage device. The drive features HDMI output and HD upscaling, allowing content to be viewed on an HDTV. Users can load video, images, and music onto the drive via USB 2.0, and then play or view content from any television. The Rugged features aluminum shell protection, combined with internal anti-shock absorbers and an exterior rubber bumper. Users can view the content by navigating the graphic menus of the user interface. [full story]

November 10 - 10:40pm EST   Gefen has introduced the A/V Scaler Pro, a device that up-converts video signals to 1080p while offering integrated audio amplification. Users can connect a variety of sources, including HDTV televisions, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, DVD players, computers, and more. The input is converted to HDMI with embedded and coaxial/optical audio output. The devices combines a frame rate conversion engine, 3-D motion adaptive de-interlacers, color engine, and dual scaling engines. [full story]

November 4 - 5:00pm EST   Gefen has released its latest product for A/V installations, the GefenTV HDMI v1.3 Repeater. The device can transmit a 1080p 60Hz HD signal across 100 feet of standard HDMI cable. The repeater overcomes the limitation of cable-only connections that are limited to 50 feet before signal loss is experienced. Both HDMI 1.2 and HDMI 1.3 features are supported, including 12-bit Deep Color, 225MHz, Lip-Sync, Color Space Conversion, and CEC. Users can connect 8-channel digital audio components as well. [full story]

October 24 - 8:45pm EDT   Gefen has released a 3x1 rack-mounted switcher with support for HDMI v1.3. "Always on" switching allows users to instantly change between three 1080p HDMI inputs, such as a Blu-Ray player, Apple TV or Sony Playstation 3. The output can be connected to an HD monitor or projector and it works with the latest generation of HDMI, which includes supports features such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS master audio. [full story]

August 5 - 1:20am EDT   IOGear has introduced several new DVI and HDMI accessories for home theaters and game consoles. New DVI and HDMI MiniExtender Kits allow users to expand their A/V network up to "hundreds of feet." IOGear has also released two HDMI switches including a three-port model that automatically switches to the port currently in use. A new four-port model switches HDMI via a remote control. [full story]

July 15 - 9:10pm EDT   Samsung on Tuesday unveiled two digital cameras: the NV100 HD pocket digital camera with an impressive 14.7 megapixel resolution and the NV9 pocket camera with 10.2MP. The Samsung NV100 HD boasts a 3-inch touchscreen, 3.6x Schneider Kreuznach zoom lens, face recognition features, smile and blink detection, and up to ISO 3200 sensitivity. In addition, the camera's tin CCD records images with up to 4,384 x 3,288px resolution, allowing it display HD resolution on HDMI-compatible HD displays (via the optional docking station). The camera can also record HD video with 720p resolution (1,280 x 720px) at 30fps. [full story]

April 15 - 1:05am EDT   Blackmagic yesterday unveiled a new DeckLink HD Extreme at NAB 2008, an update to its PCI-based video capture card, adding support for HDMI and 3Gb per second SDI. The card allows users to switch between SD, HD, and 2K formatted video for capture and editing purposes. Users can also connect S-Video, PAL, NTSC, and analogue component video sources to the card. DeckLink HD Extreme is selling for $1000 from Blackmagic. [full story]

March 19 - 10:05pm EDT   ASUS recently unveiled the M50 notebook, a multimedia-styled computer that blends a Blu-Ray player with Altec Lansing speakers and Dolby Home Theatre. The embedded touchpad doubles as a multimedia control panel, giving users control over both music and video without moving the cursor. The M50 also features an HDMI port to connect to home theatre setups. ASUS has not given pricing or availability, but the M50 is expected to ship next week. [full story]

February 8 - 5:35pm EST   Gefen today unveiled its new 1-to-5 HDMI 1.3 Splitter and 1-to-10 HDMI 1.3 Distribution Amplifier. The Gefen 1-to-5 Splitter for HDMI 1.3 accepts one audio/video input, such as a DVD player or set top box, and transmits the same signal to five displays. The 1-to-10 HDMI 1.3 Distribution Amplifier transmits one HDMI source to 10 displays, and both units accommodate larger distributions when 'daisy chained' with another splitter. Gefen's 1-to-5 splitter and 1-to-10 Distribution Amplifier are both rack mountable, and both are available for pre-order at $500 and $750, respectively. [full story]

January 25 - 7:15pm EST   Gefen today announced a new line of electronics products geared towards home theatre enthusiasts, which it is dubbing Gefen TV, leading off the line with the Gefen TV Switcher. The Switcher is capable of sharing one HDMI v1.3 port to four separate devices. In addition to being able to manually switch between devices, the Gefen TV Switcher can automatically detect recently powered devices and switch the signal accordingly. Gefen is selling the switch through its website for $200. [full story]

January 7 - 8:45pm EST   Toshiba recently unveiled several new lines of LCD TVs, portable and home DVD players, DVD recorders, and some LCD TV-DVD combo units. The AV500 series LCDs range from 19- to 42-inches in size, and feature a 720p HD image resolution. Dynamic backlight controls can adjust for deeper black levels, and the display is housed in a glossy black cabinet. LCDs in the AV500 series will range from $430 to $1300, and Toshiba expects to ship the various models between February and May. [full story]

January 4 - 3:15pm EST   Accessory maker Gefen is preparing the HDMI Over Coax Extender, its latest home theater product. In what the company claims in a commercial first, the technology will allow people to send HDMI content from one room to another anywhere else in a home, via regular coaxial cable. HDMI is intended to block piracy, and normally requires specially-formatted cables to carry its audio and video channels. To this Gefen has added an infrared channel, which allows the same remote(s) for the originating source to function regardless of where in a home they are used. A Blu-Ray player, for instance, should be able to understand pause commands in a room 15 feet away, so long ... [full story]

December 28 - 4:25pm EST   Home theater outfit Marantz is preparing the release of an unusually elaborate HDMI switch. The VS3002, expected to launch first in Japan, will allow users to connect a full six HDMI inputs, where most allow a maximum of two or four. It has two outputs moreover, enabling owners to connect to both a TV and another device, such as a computer monitor. The 3002 will support HDMI 1.3's Deep Color standard, as well as RS-232C connections for more elaborate home theater setups. Although the system will ship with a remote, it auto-detect inputs as a rule, and also indicates whether or not a connected device is powered. Pricing is expected to be 35,000 yen ($310). [via ... [full story]

December 13 - 12:15pm EST   Apple may be on the verge of updating its Cinema Displays, speculation suggests. The company pulled the stand-alone LCD monitors from prominent mention on its online store Wednesday night, relegating them to the Displays section under Mac Accessories. While Apple may be putting the monitors aside simply to market bigger products during the holidays, the company has also traditionally taken such steps before the release of a product update. [full story]

December 3 - 12:20pm EST   Accessory maker Belkin has released a new AV product, the HDMI 2-to-1 Video Switch. The device lets users connect two HDMI devices -- such as Apple TVs and HD DVD players -- to a single HDMI or DVI port, whether on a computer monitor or an HDTV. Resolutions between 480i and 1080p are available on any of the supported connections, and the switch always defaults to the highest single-link video resolution. Inputs are not chosen automatically, but an infrared remote is bundled in the package. The switch is available now in Canada and the US for approximately $50 to $55; Asia, Europe and Australia will receive it in March of 2008. [full story]