Bulletin

Google has partnered with Sony and Intel to develop a new generation of internet connected TVs. Mainstream TV brands have a raft of IPTV capable sets coming this year, many using Yahoo’s Widget technology, but it seems this new power trio are intent on taking web-connectivity to the next level.
According to a report carried by the New York Times, the new Google TV will be built upon an iteration of Google's Android  read more »

Samsung has reportedly inked a deal with Apple said to be worth $240million to deliver screens for the upcoming iPad. The first iPads will feature screens made by LG Display and Chimei Innolux Corp., a Taiwanese display group, but the deal remains a major coup for the SKorean giant. Despite the size of the Samsung deal, LG will remain the main supplier of screens for the iPad, having already signed up to supply  read more »

Digital media company DivX has released the latest version of its Windows media suite. The free-to-download DivX Plus includes a player, web player, file converter and codec pack.    read more »

The lights are going out at Toshiba - but don't worry, the Japanese giant isn't pulling out of AV. It's just that Toshiba Lighting and Technology Corporation has stopped manufacturing traditional incandescent lightbulbs in favour of new-fangled LED types.  read more »

The new issue of Home Cinema Choice is out now and it's jam packed with the very latest in AV tech...

You can wait all year for one exciting tech launch, and two turn up at the same time…

3DTV has arrived. Literally. Although you won’t see it on the market until the end of April, Samsung’s first 40in 3D TV is currently sitting in HCC’s Tech Labs three-dimensionalising anything we happen to put through it. 
Even EastEnders.  read more »

Active Shutter 3D TV sets look certain to become the de facto standard for 3D in the home, but pop out for a pint and you’ll still have a chance to compare the technology with Passive Polarization models, thanks to a deal between LG and Sky.

The Korean TV maker will supply the satcaster with a large (if unspecified) number of screens to be installed in pubs nationwide, in time for its weekly Premier League  read more »

Dolby will debut a new theatrical surround sound format, called Dolby Surround 7.1, in cinemas this Summer. The first movie to benefit will be the Disney/Pixar threequel Toy Story 3.

Dolby says that this latest cinematic iteration of its popular surround codec will better integrate with 3D imaging on the big screen, providing full 360-degree audio.  read more »

Hinting at a future where PVRs are made obsolete by Video On Demand, Virgin Media has announced a new hi-def receiver sans hard drive for subscribers to its ultra fast fibre-optic network.

The V HD Box will be available on March 22 for £49 (plus an installation fee of £35). There will be no additional monthly HD subscription to pay.  read more »

Sony has confirmed that it is junking its original Applicast TV internet portal in favour of a new system based on open standards. Introduced on TVs just one year ago, the AppliCast service suffered in comparison to rival content portals from Panasonic and Samsung. Only a limited number of Apps have been Cast.
Speaking at an exclusive briefing of the brand's 2010 Monolith TV range, Sony executive Ed Uzzell told HCC: ‘The problem with  read more »

From tomorrow, you’ll be able to experience first-hand Sky’s upcoming 3D TV service. The satcaster’s new 3D TV Experience opens at the giant Westfield mall in West London (you’ll find it at the Sky Retail Store on level 2).
It’s the first in what will be 100 shopping mall demonstration 'Experiences' rolled-out to support Sky 3D this year.  read more »

LG today confirmed it will release its active shutter Full HD 3DTV and 3D Blu-ray player in May to meet what it describes as 'increasing interest in 3D across the nation.'  read more »

Samsung yesterday unveiled two Blu-ray-player-cum-Freeview HD PVRs that should be onsale within the near future.

The BD-C8200M features a Profile 2.0 BD-spinner, complete with Samsung's Internet@TV functionality, built-in Wi-Fi, and 1GB of local storage for BD-Live applications. Built into the same sexy-looking black/chrome chassis is a Freeview HD tuner and 250GB HDD.  read more »

You couldn't make it up - as Richard Littlejohn is fond of saying. 3DTV isn't even in the shops yet, but already doom-merchants are claiming that it could be hazardous to your health.
Internet pundits such as BoingBoing.net and ABC.net.au are sounding Daily Mail-style warnings that prolonged exposure to 3DTV could  read more »