Set top boxes seem to get more and more popular these days, and it is no wonder since folks have been conditioned to get things instantly as well as on-demand, leading to an ever increasing pace in our lifestyle which has side effects such as unwanted stress as well as being in a rush all the time. Well, Western Digital surely doesn’t help slow down your life, as it introduces its WD TV Live HD media player that boasts network capability and Full HD 1080p resolution support, making it the first network media player that is compatible with Windows 7 in the market. The WD TV Live HD media player is pretty easy to use, as virtually anyone is able to play media stored on USB and network drives, through any PC on the home network, alongside content from popular websites, all in the comfort of your living room and on the biggest screen in your home. Makes perfect sense to upgrade that TV now, eh?

With the help of Windows 7 Play To feature, users are able to initiate and control the streaming of video, music or photos to the WD TV Live HD media player and home entertainment systems using just about any Windows 7-based PC on their network. As long as your media file is compatible as well as accessible from the PC, you can play it straight to the WD TV Live just by right clicking on the file name in the folder or directly from within Windows Media Player 12 while selecting WD TV Live HD media player as the playback device of choice. Of course, current WD TV Live owners will need to make sure their device is updated to the latest firmware before they are able to take advantage of the Windows 7 Play To feature.

Among the features that are available in the Windows 7-compatible WD TV Live HD media player include :-

• Full-HD 1080p video playback and navigation with the included remote control and crisp, animated navigation menus
• Play a wide variety of file formats including support for the most popular file formats with no need to spend time transcoding
• Play videos, music and photos from the Internet on your big screen TV and discover new music with Pandora Internet radio or listen to thousands of radio stations via Live365 Internet radio
• Ethernet port for wired or WiFi connection to access files anywhere on the network to play movies, music, and photos from any PC or drive on a home network
• Turns a USB drive into an HD media player and plays content from most popular USB drives, and digital cameras, camcorders, and portable media players that can be recognized as mass storage devices
• Unlimited media collection, just add more USB drives for more space
• Two USB ports for seamless media playback from multiple USB drives and ability to access them simultaneously while a media library feature collects the content on all the drives into one list sorted by media type
• Transfer files by copying, moving or deleting files stored on a USB drive, a network drive, a camcorder, or a camera to the attached USB drive using the on-screen menus
• Picture Transfer Protocol support to show photos and movies directly from digital camera or video camera and/or any digital imaging device that supports Picture
• Transfer Protocol
• Advanced navigation options including thumbnail and list views, media library and search
• Photo viewing to create custom slide shows, zoom and pan and search
• Movie viewing with fast-forward, rewind, pause, zoom and pan, view subtitles, and search
• Music playback with fast-forward, rewind, pause, shuffle, repeat and search
• File copying between USB devices
• HDMI 1.3 port, composite video and component video output for the highest quality HDTV or home theater
• SPDIF digital output that sends digital signals to your AV receiver for the best surround sound experience
• Ultra-compact design to fit easily into a home entertainment center

Product Description
Does it feel like technology is moving too fast, and your barely keeping up? Blu-ray Disc/VHS Combination Player gives you both the technology of yesterday and today, so that you don’t have to send your precious VHS cassettes to storage just yet. The unique feature about this player compared with a regular VHS player is the fact that it provides up-conversion so it will enhance your viewing experience, like watching a remastered copy, but instead of doing the tedious task of improving video and audio quality yourself, the player does it for you. It even features an SD memory card slot and USB terminal so you don’t have to unload your digital media for it to be viewed, wherein simply insert an SD memory card filled with joyous memories into your player, and let the good times begin. There is even the possibility for JPEG slideshow with music and transition effect, so not only will you dazzle your audience with you family photos, but also the innovative features of your Blu-ray Disc/VHS Combination Player.

VHS Playback and 1080p HDMI Out Deep Color and x.v.Color 148.5MHz/12bit Video D/A Converter Digital Noise Reduction (3D-NR/ Integrated NR) Picture Mode (Normal, Soft, Fine, Cinema, User) Picture Adjustment (Contrast, Brightness, Sharpness, Color, Gamma Correction).

Audio Features – Built-in Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Decoder 192kHz/24bit Audio D/A Converter 96kHz Surround Re-master for All Formats (BD, DVD, CD and MP3).

Output – HDMI AV Output Component Video Output Video Output 2ch Audio Output Digital Audio Output (1 Optical) Ethernet for BD-Live, VIERA CAST and Firmware Update.

Convenience Features – Compatible with VIERA CAST (YouTube, Picasa, etc) Compatible with BD-Live and BONUSVIEW VIERA Link or Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Product Line-up Movie (AVCHD, MPEG2) & JPEG View with SD Memory Card Slot Music (MP3) & Photos (JPEG) Playback on US.

Bang & Olufsen will launch its latest addition to the BeoVision8 series of LCD TVs. This 40-inch LCD features a 100hz refresh rate, 1920×1080 resolution, 6ms response time, 3000:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 brightness and an anti-glare screen. The LCD also boasts a downward facing subwoofer and front facing speakers. No word on pricing or availability so far. More pictures after the jump.

Featuring high gloss black piano finish with brushed chrome legs, the Onei Solutions 6.1 Home Theatre System/Stand is a perfect combination between style and luxury. This fully integrated home cinema sound system is equipped with pop off front speakers, built-in VFD display screen, built-in amplifier, full functional remote control and several HDMI and Optical Digital Audio connections.

Korean giant Samsung today introduced the latest 450 Series PAVV Fabrizio PDP Series of Plasma TV that is available in both 42 inch and 50 inch models. These PDP TVs feature 600Hz Technology and Samsung’s Crystal Engine. Stay tuned for more updates.

Here are two new members of Samsung’s PAVV Bordeaux LCD. Available in both 40 inch and 46 inch, these Fabrizio 650 LCDs are built on Eco friendly plastics and feature a 120Mhz Full HD panel. These TVs are DLNA and support direct play of many kinds of movies, photo or audio files via its USB port. Other features include four HDMI 1.3 ports.

Fujifilm will release a waterproof point-and-shoot FinePix Z33WP camera next month. The 10-megapixel “Life-Proof” camera will be available in three distinct color schemes including black, green or pink. The Z33WP can drop down to depths of 10-feet. Sadly, it is not shockproof. Other cool features include a 3x optical zoom lens, Face Detection Technology, Automatic Red Eye Removal, SR Auto (auto scene recognition) and blog mode, which automatically resizes images to 640×480. You can purchase the Z33WP next month for $200. Its rechargeable Li-ion battery provides enough juice for up to 200 shots.

Sharp introduces new Blu-ray player from its Aquos series. The Sharp BD-HP21 is priced at a hefty 40000 Yen. There is nothing special with this player. It supports 1080/60p and 24p videos, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby NR True HD, and BD-LIVE.

Available in silver, blue, or red, the Sony DCR-SX41 DV cam boasts 60X of optical zoom, a 2.7 inch touchscreen, and 8GB of internal memory which can be further expanded via the Duo slot. You can store 4 hours of video recording in HQ mode using a 16GB Memory Stick. Measuring 53mm × 107mm × 59mm and weighing 240grams, the Sony DCR-SX41 DV Cam will be released next month for 50,000 Yen or approx. $550.

Fujifilm has finally made available its EXR technology in the new Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR digital camera that aims to be the leader in compact cameras for the year, featuring a Super CCD that is able to register excellent detail levels when switched to its high resolution mode, but it won’t sacrifice on quality either where low light conditions are concerned, so feel free to switch between modes and obtain the best image quality possible. Features of the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR include 

• 12 megapixel 1/1.6”Super CCD EXR
• Fujinon 5x wide angle optical zoom lens
• 3.0” high-resolution 230,000 pixel wide view LCD display
• Face Detection 3.0 with auto red eye removal
• 6 Film Simulation Modes
• HD Photo Output
• Dual Image Stabilization and sensitivity up to ISO 12800
• Full Photo HD output

The Nikon Coolpix L19 digital camera is an affordable digital camera for the budget minded crowd. This 8MP digicam boasts an Easy Auto Mode that helps you to capture high quality photos. Other features include 3.6x optical zoom, Smart Portrait System, Face-priority auto focus (up to 12 faces per shot), smile shutter, up to ISO 1,600, a 2.7 inch LCD display, 20MB internal memory and SD memory card slot for extra storage capacity. You can bring home the Nikon Coolpix L19 with your $110. The camera uses two AA batteries(not included).

For a whopping $15,436 you could own one of this luxurious multimedia sofa ‘Athena’ which features an integrated computer. The sofa provides you with a home computer that enables you to connect it with the multi-room systems to take care of media applications from email to watching TV right from the comfort of a chair. Pretty impressive, but I guess you need to be damn rich to own one.

Pentax has announced the launch of the Pentax Optio E70L, describing it as an “entry-level compact is ideal for first-time users looking for an affordable and easy-to-use camera”.
The E70L gets a 10.1-megapixel CCD and a 3x optical zoom (equal to 32-96 mm in 35 mm format) and runs on AA batteries – angled as ideal for travellers.

There’s also a 2.4-inch display, various scene modes and the ability to record video.

The point-and-shooter offers face recognition for up to ten people and smile detection, while the digital shake reduction feature claims to reduce camera shake for sharp, blur free images.

The new Pentax Optio E70L will be available in March 2009 at £99.99 including case and batteries.

Marantz boasts its latest Blu-ray player known as the BD8002. However, you should spend at least £1,799 to bring home this Blu-ray player. The BD8002 features full HD resolution at 1080p, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, DVD upscaling, HDMI 1.3a, 12-bit/297MHz video chipset, 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta processor, and SD memory card slot. Sadly, it only supports Profile 1.1.

Denon has announced to delay the production of its DVD-A1UD Blu-ray player for two months. This Blu-ray player is claimed to be the first universal disc player that can handle Blu-ray, DVD video and audio, SACDs and regular CDs. Its SDHC memory card slot allows you to play back pure DivX 6, JPEG, MP3 and WMA files directly. The Denon DVD-A1UD will be priced at $5,974 each when it launches in Japan.

Minox of Germany is noted for their line of Leica cameras, and this time round the company decides to go covert with its DSC model, also known as the Digital Spy Camera in length. This isn’t a looker and neither will it offer highly detailed images from afar, as you get a mere 3.2 megapixel camera with 128MB of internal memory. There is no word on whether the Minox DSC comes with some sort of memory card slot, although we think that would be a great feature to have considering the rather limited internal memory and the possibility of recording videos with this. Pricing details are unavailable, but we do know the Minox DSC tips the scales at 90 grams and measures a diminutive 86mm x 21mm x 30mm.

The Sony Bravia XEL is the first Organic Light Emitting Diode (Oled) television to come to market in Europe and uses completely new technology, different from previous flat screen models such as LCD and Plasma

The world’s thinnest television goes on sale today in Britain, measuring a mere 3mm, no thicker than a pound coin but costing 3,489 of them.

Sony’s Bravia XEL promises to transform the television industry, despite its high price, by offering viewers the crispest, most colourful pictures ever. Because it has such a lightweight screen, Sony predicts the £3,489 model will revive the idea of portable televisions, with families able to move the gadget from room to room.

The XEL is the first Organic Light Emitting Diode (Oled) television to come to market in Europe and uses completely new technology from previous flat screen models such as LCD and Plasma.

Normal flat screen televisions use a backlight to produce the picture on screen, but Oled screens actually emit their own radiance, which means the blacks are pure black, rather than the dark grey you get on most televisions.

The contrast ratio on a good LCD television is about 30,000 to one. On the Oled it is 1 million to one.

Oled televisions were first unveiled as a prototype a year ago, but Sony is the first company to start selling them in shops. However, because the technology is still so expensive and fragile, the biggest screen available is just 11 inches wide.

Jonathan White, head of televisions for Sony UK, insisted there had been lots of interest in the machines, despite the small size and high price.

“It is the sort of product that people who have to have the latest technology will be interested in. At this very top end of the market, these sort of products are almost recession proof.”

Sony is just one of many consumer electronics giants to be hit by the global recession and last week said it expected to make its first loss for 14 years.

According to Sony, it has received “hundreds” of pre-orders from British consumers. Most of the models sold in Japan, where they went on sale last year, ended up in people’s studies as desktop televisions, or in kitchens.

Television experts believe that while the technology will ultimately take off, Sony’s model is too small and too expensive to prove popular.

“We are in a recession, for goodness sake,” said Ian Morris, TV editor of the technology website Cnet, “Okay it looks very cool, and the pictures are amazing, but at just 11 inches it is way too expensive for Joe Public.”

The XEL is first going on sale in Sony’s shops this week, and in mainstream shops, such as John Lewis and Currys, in March.