Digital Home
Review: Sony KDL-46HX853
- Fri, 18 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Introduction
With the latest TV ranges from Samsung and LG already out and attracting mostly positive critical notices, the pressure on Sony's debut TV for 2012 really couldn't be any greater. Especially with Sony's TV business contributing spectacularly to the brand's latest round of cataclysmic operating losses.
Still, the noises coming out of Sony about the 46-inch KDL-46HX853 are all promising. There's been much talk of 'getting back to what...
Review: Toshiba BDX5300
- Fri, 18 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Introduction
Ease of use increasingly makes or breaks electronic products, but with the Toshiba BDX5300 Blu-ray player, Toshiba is hoping there are shoppers out there who still put core features and a low price at the top of their wish lists.
With built-in Wi-Fi, smart TV services and support for 3D Blu-ray, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Toshiba BDX5300 is the equal of its more expensive competitors.
All core, must-have features of the...
Review: Toshiba BDX3300
- Fri, 18 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Introduction
Aside from the odd show-off product, such as the Toshiba Excite 13, Toshiba is a brand that's largely been focused on good value rather than breaking new ground, and the Toshiba BDX3300 Blu-ray player is a spectacular example of its signature 'everyman' efforts.
Priced at £78.99 in the UK and $119.99 in the US, it's comfortably the cheapest 'big brand' Blu-ray player we've yet seen. So it's with some surprise that we discover that the...
Review: Fatman Mi-Tube
- Thu, 17 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Ever since the Fatman brand was founded in 2006, its mission has been to marry upstart digital devices such as the iPod and iPhone with vacuum tube amplifying technology, bringing both a much-needed boost in perceived audio quality to the former and some street cred to the latter - as we saw with the Fatman Mi-Tube's sibling the iTube 452.
The Fatman Mi-Tube Valve Amplifier with Bluetooth, though, is arguably the smallest and neatest expression...
Review: Panasonic TX-L42DT50B
- Thu, 17 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Introduction
Did someone at Panasonic just get a degree in design? After spending most of the last 15 years concentrating primarily on plasma TV tech, but also on producing arguably the most consistent picture quality across the board, the Japanese brand has suddenly gone all arty on us.
This mid-range screen doesn't just boast a depth of 27 mm and a 'Narrow Metal' bezel around the screen that's barely 10 mm, but it is yet another Edge LED screen...
Review: Toshiba 55ZL2
- Thu, 17 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Introduction
Well here's something you don't see every day. A TV that not only enables you to watch 3D without any glasses on, but also sports a native Quad HD or 4K resolution.
In fact, no television before the Toshiba 55ZL2 has been able to offer either of these hugely significant features. So it's fair to say the TV will rightly be looked back on in the years to come as the start of what is looking likely to be a new era in television...
TV industry uneasy over PVR's ability to skip adverts
- Thu, 17 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Big-wigs from the television industry met in New York this week and all the talk was about ad-skipping technology that's making its way into PVRs.
Now, we may all press the fast-forward button through adverts but for the advertiser that's not necessarily a bad thing as technically eyes are still on the prize.
Recently, though, Dish Hopper has added functionality to its recorder range that allows you to ditch the adverts completely and it could...
Grand Slam tennis coming to Sky in 3D
- Thu, 17 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Sky has announced that it is offering up 3D tennis on Sky 3D from May 28, thanks to a tie up with Eurosport.
Eurosport is a big producer of 3D and has the rights to the live 3D feed from Centre Court of Roland Garros, and will be piping footage from the French Open through the Sky 3D channel.
The news comes as Sky pushes its big weekend of 3D sport – which involves the Champions League Final, live boxing and the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final.
Summ...
Review: Plantronics BackBeat Go
- Wed, 16 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
Shopping for a stereo Bluetooth headset can be hit or miss. When looking for the best solution, do you choose a product made by a company known for their commitment and mastery of audio technology or one that is known for their Bluetooth technology?
And herein lies the dilemma with the Plantronics BackBeat Go Bluetooth headset: it's a good stereo headset that's great for phone calls. That said, hardcore audiophiles will no doubt be disappointed...
Review: Incase Sonic Over Ear Headphones
- Tue, 15 May 2012
HARDWARE Digital Home
When you think of the name Incase you'll invariably think about aftermarket Macintosh products. From super slick iPhone and new iPad cases to protective products for your various MacBooks, SF-based Incase does one thing very well: They make great looking products that are both stylish and functional.
When we first heard that the company was jumping into the audio market with a complete line of headphones and earphones we had no doubt that they'd...