Top gadgets to take on a road trip

Packing for a trip should be something that is done carefully with consideration. Making sure that you have the right clothes, shoes, emergency items and other things can help determine how good of a trip you have. There are also some gadgets that you should bring along for entertainment and safety. Here are the top gadgets to take on a road trip:

>>> Cell Phone <<<

If you are going to be traveling on the road, then you should definitely take a cell phone with you. By bringing a cell phone with you on the trip you can call for help (whether it is a medical emergency or your car broke down), use GPS, use the alarm clock feature (so that you wake up on time), as well as much more. A cell phone is a great all-around device that you should bring with you on a road trip.

>>> Camera <<<

Just like a cell phone, a camera is an absolute necessity if you are going to go on a road trip. By bringing a camera, you can capture those memories that will last a lifetime. If you don’t bring a camera with you, then you won’t be able to take pictures of those funny moments or amazing sights that you might see on your road trip.

>>> Portable DVD Player <<<

If you are bringing your children with you, or even others that may need something to keep them entertained, then it would be a good idea to bring a portable DVD player on the trip. Portable DVD Players are a good choice because they can have a built-in screen, speakers, controls, and of course a DVD player, which means that all you need will be in one place. You won’t have to carry a separate DVD player, speakers, a screen, or extra movie playing devices if you bring a portable DVD player along. Bringing a DVD can keep the little ones entertained for hours as you travel to your next destination.

>>> Emergency Radio <<<

Another gadget that you should take is a portable emergency radio. These kinds of radios may also be known as ‘weather radios’. Why this gadget is important is because if you find yourself stuck somewhere where there is a storm brewing, then you can find out what’s going to happen. An emergency or weather radio would also come in useful if your car had died on the road or if you were staying somewhere where there was no television or radio. You could use the emergency radio to listen and hear what weather issues you may soon have to face. Portable emergency radios can also be helpful because they may have extra features, other than just the radio. Some of these extra functions may include a flashlight, a siren, and more.

Make sure that your gadgets have a completely-charged battery before leaving on your trip! It is also a good idea that you bring the chargers and extra batteries for your devices as well. By bringing the right gadgets on a road trip, you can have a fun and safe time!

http://www.helium.com/items/1903296-top-gadgets-to-take-on-a-road-trip

Philips PET821 Portable DVD Player

Philips PET821 Portable DVD Player detail information
Brand
Philips
Product
PET821 Portable DVD Player
Partnumber
PET821/00
Description
Immerse in movies on the ultra-chic PET821's 8.5" widescreen color LCD display, with Philips Zero Bright Dot™ to ensure optimal screen quality. Enjoy DVDs, DivX®, MPEG4 movies, and MP3/WMA-CD music - all on the go!

Specifications of Philips PET821 Portable DVD Player
Video
Signal format system
NTSCPAL
Video compression formats
MPEG4Divx
Audio
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
>80dB(earphone), >62dB(built-in speakers)
Audio compression formats
Dolby DigitalMP3WMA
MP3 bit rates
32 - 320 kbps
RMS rated power
10mW RMS(earphone)
WMA bit rates
32 - 192 kbps
Disk drive
Supported file systems
ISO-9660Jolliet
Storage media
Media types supported
MP3-CDCDCD-RCD-RWWMA-CDDVDPicture CDSVCDVideo CDDVD-R/-RWMP3-CDWMADVD+R/+RWCD-R/CD-RWCD
Display
Display
Anti-glare polarizerLCD TFT
Display diagonal
8.5 "
Display resolution
480(w)x234(H)x3(RGB)
Pixel pitch
0.13 x 0.45 mm
Display brightness
200 cd/m²
Contrast ratio (typical)
300:1
Response time
30 ms
Effective viewing area
187.2 x 105.3 mm
Connectivity
AV output
Composite (CVBS) x1
Headphone connectivity
3.5mm Stereo Headphone x 2
AV input
Composite (CVBS) x1
Audio output - digital
Coaxial (cinch)
Management features
Remote control type
RC810(credit card style, 38 keys)
Energy management
Output power
250mW RMS(built-in speakers)
AC adapter bundled
AY4112/00 (110-240v, 50/60Hz)
DC-in requirements
9V
Weight & dimensions
Weight
1000 g
Depth
178 mm
Height
33 mm
Width
223 mm
Packaging content
Cables included
1 x AV Cables
Packaging data
Packaging depth
320 mm
Packaging height
278 mm
Packaging width
80 mm
Illumination/Alarms
Battery charging indication
Yes
Packaging content
Battery pack
7.4V, Li-ion rechargeable batteries
Car kit
cigarette outlet adaptor, 12vDC
Packaging data
Case or master carton quantity
3 pcs
Packaging content
Manual

Packaging data
Master carton depth
340 mm
Master carton height
310 mm
Master carton width
260 mm
Packaging type
D-box
Case or master carton weight
9 kg
Technical details
Logical recording format
NTSCPAL
Disc playback modes
OSDA-B RepeatAngleDisc MenuFast BackwardFast ForwardRepeatShuffle PlaySlow BackwardSlow ForwardZoom
Shock proof

Display viewable area HxV
187.2x105.3 mm
Resolution
480(w)x234(H)x3(RGB)
Source data-sheet
ICEcat.biz

Samsung Announces New Full Touch Line Mobile Phones With DivX Certification(TM)

Samsung's Ultra Touch, OMNIA HD, and BEAT DJ provide seamless playback of high-quality DivX(R) video on the go and in the living room

SAN DIEGO, and BARCELONA, Spain Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DivX, Inc. (Nasdaq: DIVX), a digital media company, and Samsung Electronics Co., LTD, a leading mobile provider, announced today at GSMA Mobile World Congress its newest full touch phone product line with DivX(R) Mobile certification -- Samsung's Ultra Touch, OMNIA HD, and BEAT DJ. These new cutting-edge DivX Certified(R) mobile phone devices offer consumers seamless playback of high-quality DivX video on the go and in the living room. DivX technology produces highly compressed video suitable for mobile platforms that require minimal storage for the highest quality experience possible.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081124/LA48153LOGO)

"Our customers see mobile devices as an important place to enjoy high-quality video, and adding DivX support ensures that our handsets provide a cutting-edge media experience," said Younghee Lee, Vice President of Samsung's Digital Media & Communications business.
Samsung Ultra Touch (S8300) allows consumers to enjoy DivX video on its full touch display with anti-reflection and anti-scratch surface. Other compelling features include an 8-megapixel camera with Dual Power LED, GPS with navigation, TouchWiz UI with Mobile Widget, and Auto Rotation with a 3x4 inch keypad.

Samsung OMNIA HD (i8910) boasts its HD brilliance with 3.7" AMOLED full touch screen. The product enables consumers to play DivX videos from the phone directly on their televisions using the OMNIA HD's TV-Out feature--effectively turning the phone into a powerful portable media player. In addition to DivX video playback, Samsung's OMNIA HD features generous internal memory (8GB /16GB) with the addition of a 32GB microSD card. Equipped with Symbian S60 5.0, the OMNIA HD offers innovative technology such as an 8-megapixel camera, the fastest network with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, and advanced features such as geo-tagging and widgets.

With support for DivX video, Samsung's BEAT DJ (M7600) empowers consumers to playback DivX video stored on the phone's 50MB internal memory or up to 16GB with an external microSD memory card. The BEAT DJ also offers an enhanced music experience including full touch Music Evolution with Spin Wheel Touch and DISC UI--an advanced music play user interface, and BEAT DJ--a DJ'ing music application with music filters, scratching features and DJ mix recording.

"Samsung continues to recognize the value that DivX provides for its customers, and we are pleased to be a key feature in Samsung's new line of mobile phones," said Kevin Hell, Chief Executive Officer at DivX, Inc. "The Samsung Ultra Touch, OMNIA HD and BEAT DJ are superior multimedia phones, and now users will be able to watch their favorite videos absolutely anywhere, enjoying the high-quality that DivX video is known for."

In addition to the three newly DivX Certified mobile phones with Samsung, DivX also announced a new certification profile--DivX Mobile Theater. Now available to DivX IC and OEM licensees, DivX Mobile Theater Profile helps mobile licensees ensure that their phones are certified to support studio requirements for premium DivX video playback, provide true DVD-like quality, and offers an improved user experience.

Products that bear the DivX Certified(R) logo have undergone a rigorous testing program to ensure a high-quality DivX media experience, including reliable video creation and playback, interoperability with other DivX Certified devices and the visual quality users expect from DivX.
For more information about Samsung's new products, visit www.samsungmwc.com.

For more information about DivX video, visit www.divx.com.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$105 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two main business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About DivX
DivX, Inc. is a digital media company that enables consumers to enjoy a high-quality video experience across any kind of device. DivX creates, distributes and licenses digital video technologies that span the "three screens" comprising today's consumer media environment--the PC, the television and mobile devices. Over 100 million DivX Certified devices have shipped into the market from leading consumer electronics manufacturers. DivX also offers content providers and publishers a complete solution for the distribution of secure, high-quality digital video content. Driven by a globally recognized brand and a passionate community of hundreds of millions of consumers, DivX is simplifying the video experience to enable the digital home.
Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute "forward-looking statements." Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding DivX's visibility within the investment community. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause DivX's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that customer use of DivX technology may not grow as anticipated; the risk that anticipated market opportunities may not materialize at expected levels, or at all; the risk that the Company's activities may not result in the growth of profitable revenue; risks and uncertainties related to the maintenance and strength of the DivX brand; risks associated with DivX's ability to penetrate existing and new markets; risks regarding the effects of competition; the risk of DivX's dependence on its licensees and partners; risks related to the effect of intellectual property rights claims; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of DivX's most recent report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. DivX is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE DivX, Inc.

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-16-2009/0004972795&EDATE=

Panasonic Announces Sexy, Pointless Portable Blu-ray Player

LAS VEGAS -- Take a look at the photograph above and wonder, for a moment, just why Panasonic might release a tiny Blu-ray player with a built-in screen. But that's just what it did at CES 2009 today.

Consider the case: The DMP-B15 has a netbook sized screen (8.9") with WSVGA resolution (pretty much the same as a netbook). It has an Ethernet port to use Panasonic's walled garden Internet content service, Vieracast, and a rather poor three hour battery life (just like a netbook!)

Of course, it has a Blu-ray drive in there, but why on Earth would you want that? At this size a DVD rip would be sufficient. The only advantage we see is that there is an HDMI out, meaning it'll work as a standalone Blu-ray player when hooked up to a TV.

Price is as yet unknown, but we expect it to come in somewhere above the price of a netbook. Unless, of course, its a Sony netbook.
Press release [Panasonic]
Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/01/panasonic-annou.html

This year's hot gifts are practical

Retailers say electronics and kitchenware are still selling well in a tough economy

This year, shoppers have a plan.

Like many shoppers in troubled economic times, Lecia Romanazzi has scaled back her Christmas-shopping list this year. She doesn't expect to approach last year's $1,500 shopping frenzy.

"We have a big family," she said while hunting bargains at the Visalia Mall. "I'm planning to budget more this time around and try to halve last year's spending."
One strategy: Stick to the essentials.

"This year it's going to be clothes and shoes," she said. "It's going to be more personal items."
For Jason LeFaive of Visalia "frivolous gifts" are definitely out. His gifts will have staying power, he said.

"For my girls, we're going to make sure we buy toys they plan to keep long term," he said, "and not end up in the garage in two months."

According to retailers, many shoppers have spoken of setting spending limits this year. Big sellers include practical items such as gift cards, kitchenware and electronics, officials said.
Among the more popular gadgets are portable DVD players and GPS systems.

"[Sales have] been going really good," said Michelle Creager, store manager of the Visalia Kohls. "A lot of our customers are going for the electronics as well as toys, since we have really good sales."

Allison Holmes, assistant store manager at the Visalia Gottschalks store, said cosmetics, electronics and home items are on many of her customers' shopping lists.
"We had very strong sales with DVD TVs and MP3 players," she said. "Home items like coffee pots and pots and pans were also popular."

Tim and Dianne Lewis of Fowler were finishing up their holiday shopping Saturday at the Preferred Outlets at Tulare. Their money-saving strategy is to buy gifts for the kids in the extended family, not the adults.

"That's what their spouses are for," Dianne Lewis said.

Sharon Hayes of Fresno was among the throng of shoppers strolling along the covered walkways, browsing.

Hayes said she already had finished her Christmas shopping, spending about 50 percent less than last year.

Instead of buying two or three gifts per person, Hayes said, she selected one must-have present from each of her family members' wish lists.

"[That item] may have cost the most," she said, "but it would've been less than the three gifts combined together."

Whatever their individual strategies, LeFaive said, all shoppers have something in common this year.

"The economy is making people aware of how much they're actually spending," he said.

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20081201/NEWS01/812010322

Lenovo Goes Ultra-Portable

* LENOVO marks its entry into the netbook market, or ultra- portable category, with the IdeaPad S10.

According to Lenovo's worldwide competitive analyst Matt Kohut, apart from more connectivity options and better battery life, the S10 is a great user-interface device.

"The bigger keyboard is suitable for touch typists while the touchpad comes with multi-touch support to allow users to interact using gestures."

The S10 will be available locally this month at RM1,999.

Lenovo also introduced other thin and light IdeaPads such as the U330, Y330, Y430 and Y530.

The U330 features VeriFace face recognition technology, which works with the onboard Webcam to allow users to use their face as a password to access the notebook and encrypted files.

It also offers switchable graphics to lower energy usage, light- emitting diode backlit display, and five hours of battery life. To safeguard data on its drive, it comes with Lenovo's Active Protection System that protects against drops and the One-Key Rescue System data recovery technology.

Next, the Y330 is built to add entertainment elements in computing with features such as a built-in DVD burner, camera, four gigabytes of memory, a 320GB hard drive and multiple connectivity options. This model is priced at RM5,999.

The Y430 and Y530 are Lenovo's fun and functional models that offer options such as framed or frameless screen and upgrade to Blu- ray DVD player. The Y430 comes in Bold Black or Crimson Red.

Starting prices for the Y430 and Y530 are RM2,299 and RM4,799 respectively.

Also unveiled as part of Lenovo's new offerings are the ThinkPad models X301, X200, T400 and T500.


(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
Source: New Straits Times

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1562859/lenovo_goes_ultraportable/

Philips DCP951, PET723, and PET940 portable DVD players announced

3 is the magic number

Philips has announced three new portable DVD players just days ahead of IFA in Germany later in the month.

The new players will sport three different designs and serve different areas of the market.

Top of the pile and costing £199.99 will be the DCP951 a tablet design player complete with an integral stand that sports a slide out iPod docking station so you can watch your movies, music videos or podcasts on the units 9-inch 16:9 screen.

The player will also sport a SD/MMC card slot and you can access movies, music and photos direct from a storage card.

The player also features a long 2.5 hour battery life and weighs just 1.1kg according to Philips.

The PET723 will come in a tablet design allow this player to act as both a digital photo frame or as a portable DVD player. According to Philips you'll be able to access images stored directly on memory cards, DVDs and CDs on its 7-inch 16:9 widescreen screen and because of an in-built battery you won't need to see unsightly cables.

Finally there will be the leatherette or aluminium finished PET940. The clamsheel designed model will offer three-hour battery life and a 9-inch 16:9 screen with a full size USB slot means you can plug in your USB storage device and access the photos and music stored on it.

It will also come with a dual headphone socket.make it great to share what you are watching or listening to with a friend. The three new models are all available from today and will cost £199.99 for the SCP951, £129.99 for the PET723 and £169.99 for the PET940.

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/16742/17766/philips-portable-dvd-players-announced.phtml

LG DP391B: A work of art that happens to play DVDs

The LG DP391B truly is a pretty little thing. We've seen a fair few portable DVD players in our time, and almost without exception they're the same drearily functional clamshell design, where the lid flips open to reveal the disc compartment and a screen. Clearly someone at LG got bored of that, and came up with something different. That's the spirit.

Instead of having a screen concealed, the LCD on the DP391 is on the top of the unit. If you lift it up, you find the disc tray behind the screen, which, if we're honest, confused us slightly to start with. Behind the disc tray, there's a little kickstand that keeps the screen at the right angle.

What we really like about this player is that it's designed with two functions in mind. Obviously it's a portable DVD and media player, but it's also a photo frame. That might sound a little crazy, but it's actually incredibly cunning, because you could set the player up at home to show pics, with access to a mains power socket, then when you go out, unplug it and use the built-in battery to watch video.

The cunning doesn't stop there either. The DP391B also has a little USB socket, but an adaptor is provided so that you can use USB memory sticks to view photos or video. There's also an SD/MMC/MS card reader, so you can take a card out of a digital camera and view your images instantly. AV line-in means you can use it to view footage you've shot on a camcorder, or watch stuff from your iPod or PMP on a larger screen -- you'll need to find a special cable to do that, though.

The LG will play the usual line-up of MPEG-4 video we've come to expect, including DivX and XviD. It doesn't know what to do with QuickTime movies however, which might bother some people.

The screen is also quite high resolution, offering up 800x480 pixels of enjoyment spread out over 8 diagonal inches, which is a generous endowment indeed. Thoughtfully, there are a pair of headphone sockets two, so happy couples can bicker over what to watch while shooting across the Atlantic one mile up.

We'll have a review of the DP391 sometime soon, but it's already available to buy and you can grab one for around £180 online. -Ian Morris

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/dvdpvr/0,39030701,49298392,00.htm

Portable round DVD player and Simon separated at birth?

This black portable round DVD player is reminiscent of that childhood classic electronic memory game, Simon, but in fact it has a 3.5-inch TFT screen, DVD and MP3 playback, SD card reader, and video and audio outputs for connecting up to other equipment.

I'm not sure if the manufacturers made the unit round so that it seemed bigger, when really they should've invested a bit more money and made a rectangular one with a bigger screen. Who knows?

It seems "Simon" and this DVD player can never exist in the same country, though, because -- despite the product page claiming it costs only £55.65, it also (disappointingly) states "Attention to UK Customers: This DVD Player cannot be used in UK."
Oh well.

http://techdigest.tv/2008/07/portable_round.html

Wireless carrier tests eye controls for electronics

Rolling your eyes to turn up the volume of a portable music player and tapping your fingers to turn on a DVD player are among technologies Japan's top mobile carrier is testing for "wearable" gadgets.

In one version, sensors and chips inside headphones detect electrical current produced by movements of the wearer's eyeballs, says Masaaki Fukumoto, executive research engineer at NTT DoCoMo.

"We are working on a cell phone of the future," he said at a suburban Tokyo research center.
NTT DoCoMo believes wearable control technology will be adapted for mobile devices that download music, play video games and allow users to shop online and keep up with their e-mail.
In a demonstration Tuesday for The Associated Press, researcher Hiroyuki Manabe wore a giant headset covered with wires to show how computer graphic lines in a monitor connected to the headset darted wildly whenever his eyes moved.

He turned up the volume on a digital music player by rolling his eyes, and he jerked his eyes twice to the right to fast forward.

The new technology may also enable cell phone cameras to read bar codes used in Japan to get product information, download music and coupons when the user simply looks at the codes, researchers said.

Fukumoto showed a wearable cell phone shaped like a ring about the size of a ping pong ball. When a wearer sticks his fingers in his ears, the sound travels as vibrations through his bones and into his ears, where it is heard as sound again.

Another iteration of the technology appears in a wristwatch that can detect the wearer's thumb and forefinger tapping together to work as a remote controller for such gadgets as a DVD player.
The days when wearable technology looks like fancy cumbersome space-suits are over. The latest look is everyday and inconspicuous, blending into the routine, Fukumoto said.

"Japanese don't like to stand out," he said.

But when such technology will become real products, if ever, is still unknown, he said.

DVD Player/ Recorder market showing mixed trends in Austria

Although the decrease of the DVD-Player/ Recorder market has slowed down due to positive developments in March/April 2008, the overall performance so far has been negative; with a decline of 9% in terms of sales value.

Contrary to the trends in 2007, Portable Players grew by 25% and Table Players by 9% in terms of sales value. The latter increase has mainly resulted from the rise of Blu-Ray, which already accounted for 5% of the total product group turnover in April 2008.

On the other hand, the only positive performing segment in 2007, DVD Recorders with HDD, is losing turnover shares this year. Almost stable in terms of sales units, this loss can be traced back to an enhanced price decline.

http://www.gfk.com/rt/infopool/market_news/single_sites/002609/index.en.html

Disney to offer DVD and digital bundle

Disney is to offer a digital copy of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas bundled with the collector's edition DVD and Blu-ray discs. The discs are due to launch at the end of August 2008. Disney has labeled the digital copy 'Disneyfile' but the Studio has not disclosed which devices the digital version will be compatible with or if the digital file will expire after a time limit.

Our take...Disney is the latest Studio to offer a digital copy of a movie bundled with physical product. Fox, Warner, Sony, Universal and Lionsgate have all begun experimenting with this strategy over the last six months. Although the inclusion of a digital copy may help to prop up physical disc prices there is a danger that such an approach will devalue the digital version in the eyes of the consumer.

Bundles may help to familiarize viewers with digital movies but in order to encourage adoption such files must be compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems in addition to all portable devices, including both Apple's range of iPods and portable media players using Windows Media DRM. If playback is restricted to a narrow range of devices bundles may help to increase consumer confusion about digital rather than diminish it. Some Studios such as Fox offer both Windows Media and iTunes-compatible digital files bundled with selected discs. Given Disney's historically strong links with Apple it is probable that Disneyfiles will be compatible with iTunes.
http://www.screendigest.com/online_services/intelligence/broadband/updates/bi-300508-sj1/view.html

Play it, portably

What's not to love about the iLuv Portable Multimedia Player? Pop open the lid, and you'll see a DVD/CD player and a folding dock for playing and charging an iPod with Video. (Non-docking models and other media devices can be hooked up via external jacks).

When closed, the lid serves as a clear, bright 8.4-inch widescreen display with touch controls for the DVD player and the iPod (when it is attached to the integrated port).

The player runs on a built-in, rechargeable lithium battery, the included AC power adapter, or a cigarette lighter adapter. It has two stereo headphone jacks and a built-in folding stand. Also included are a television cable and remote control. A battery charge lasts about three hours. The sound is full and clear, but volume could be more powerful.

The iLuv measures 11 inches by 6.3 inches by 2.75 inches thick, and weighs 2.6 pounds.
Iluv Portable Multimedia Player lists for $250.
Info: http://www.i-luv.com/;

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/travel/20080525_Play_it__portably.html

Westwell launches new portable DVD players

SYDNEY: Westwell has announced it will sell three new portable DVD players by August, with a 10-inch flagship topping the list.

The Olin branded line will include two 7-inch swivel screen models and the aforementioned 10-inch model.

The PD03 base model comes with a 270 degree swivel mount screen, plays all major disc formats and has a built-in Dolby decoder. It is locked to Region 4 discs.

The PD04 model adds NTSC playback and DivX, MPEG 4 and Kodak Photo CD compatibility. Olin’s flagship PD05 uses a 10.2-inch 800 x 400 display and comes with a three-in-one card reader, USB 2.0 port, FM transmitter and in-built analogue TV receiver. It can play all formats, including DivX and Photo CD.

Unlike its lesser siblings, the PD05 also has a zoom in/out function and can speed up for slow down playback. Users can use the ‘virtual keyboard’ function to operate the player and parents can use a parental lock function.

Precise launch dates and prices were unavailable by time of publication.

http://www.current.com.au/2008/05/23/article/EOVQKKDIIV.html

Sony DVP-FX850 portable DVD player review

Made from plastic, the look is sophisticated and the overall feeling is one of quality. It opens like a notebook, so can be rested on a table. Alternatively, you can twist the panel around and fold it down, which makes it easier to mount on the back of a car seat for the kids to watch.

Controls are mounted conveniently along the bottom of the screen, so are easy to access in whichever mode you to choose to use. There is also a switch for switching mode from DVD to USB memory key, which is a nice touch. Weighing 1.3kg, this machine is heavier than most other portable DVD players and is even heavier than mini-notebooks like the Asus Eee PC, so you have to wonder why you'd want to carry a machine this heavy with you.

The answer is battery life. Sony quotes an average of 6 hours but in truth we managed to get a little over 5 hours, which is still better than you'll get from other players on the market. The 8-inch screen has a typical resolution of 800 x 480 pixels but it is the quality of the display that really impresses. The colours are bright and rich and movies really come to life. The one downside was the reflectiveness of the display, so images looked washed out and rather poor when viewed outside. We were impressed it could instantly recognise the right aspect ratio for the files being played, something that is not always the case. A wide range of files are supported but we found we had to burn DivX files to disc before they could be read.

VERDICTThe Sony DVP-FX850 Portable DVD player isn't without its flaws but it works well, the battery life is more than acceptable and the screen impressive.

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/3166/4190/Sony-DVP-FX850-portable-DVD.phtml

Portable DVD player roundup

The 2008 portable DVD players have arrived, and we've taken a look at four of the top competing models. Portable DVD players have come a long way since they hit the market with most models being able to do a whole lot more than simply playing a DVD.

With the DVD-LS86, Panasonic has taken a new approach on the traditional swivel screen and has opted to incorporate a collapsible hinge. While we liked its vast range of format compatibilities, it may not be as compact and portable as you would like.

The Toshiba SD-P71S is the smallest of the portable DVD players we've recently seen and is best suited for the person who just wants a "bare-bones" portable player. It supports MP3 and JPEG file playback, but that's about all the extra features you'll get.

The Philips DCP851 is an ambitious portable DVD player with an iPod dock that will play music and video. While we weren't really impressed with its picture quality, we did like the fact that the DCP851 comes with a flash card reader and DivX compatibility.

The Sony DVP-FX820 (the successor to the FX810) really captured us with its gorgeous 8.5-inch high-resolution screen. It may not have the bells and whistles of the DCP851, but in terms of video quality, it can't be matched.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-6498_7-6620017.html

Students in Penn Township turn senior trip into mission

While some students will be spending their senior trips at the beach and Disney World, Christian Fellowship Academy's seven seniors are going to Pittsburgh. It's not because they don't have the money or permission to go far away; it's because students of the Penn Township school want to benefit a greater cause.

By forgoing an expensive trip, the students will be able to work with the Light of Life ministry and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Senior Jeremy Norwood came up with the idea.

"I wanted to take it back to what it was supposed to be," Norwood said. "We didn't want to just plant flowers somewhere and say, 'OK, we're done with fellowship. Let's go to the beach.'" Some of the seniors were hesitant, but as time when by, they started to appreciate the idea.

"We thought about going to Disney, Arizona or the beach, and we couldn't decide," said Ashley Balbach. "But Jeremy made us realize we were going to do a good thing."

An illness influenced the students to reach out to the hospital. Senior Kelsey Burger, who is participating in the class trip, has been in an out of the hospital since her sophomore year because of a virus that shut down her organs and nervous system.

Seeing a fellow classmate in need brought the students together.

"There's a really strong unity among us," said Aaron James.

Earlier this year, Burger was in the hospital when she received a call from her classmates with their idea for the senior trip.

"I was in the hospital, and they called me up for a senior meeting," Burger said. "They had me on speaker phone to tell me about helping the hospital."

The students so far have raised $4,130 for the trip. About $2,000 so far will go toward their mission.

Students are buying 10 portable DVD players for the Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital. They also will donate $1,000 to the Light of Life.

During their stay in Pittsburgh, they will take the children at he shelter out for a picnic and help serve food.

They'll still have time to enjoy their last days together as high school seniors. The group plans to ride the incline and go on the Gateway Clipper boats.

"I'm so excited for this," said Tricia Jones.

Principal Sharon Herbster is proud of her students.

"This is the vision for ministry we've had for our seniors from the beginning," Herbster said.

"This senior class has far exceeded what previous classes have done. This class made outreach the main thrust of their senior trip."

The students say they hope their efforts influence other classes to think of those less fortunate when planning their senior trip.

"I'm stoked to help the homeless," said Jon Barron. "I think this will make an impact on younger students because they look up to us."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_567686.html

Pinnacle USB device transfers video to iPod

Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, May 03, 2008

PINNACLE VIDEO TRANSFER, $130
Transfer analog video to your iPod or USB flash drive or USB hard drive with this USB 2.0 device. It records straight from your television, DVD player, personal video recorder, camcorder or set-top box with three different recording levels to choose from for video quality. Works for iPod Video, the third generation iPod nano and iPod classic as well as other USB mass storage devices. As a bonus it recharges your iPod battery while it's transferring video. At www.pinnaclesys.com.

VOYAGER ROCK SPEAKERS, BOSTON ACOUSTICS, $225 TO $450

Boston Acoustics has brought new meaning to the term rock music with its new solution for 'outdoor soundscaping.' Disappearing into the garden in versions ranging from river rock to sandstone to New England granite, these weatherproof speakers come in three configurations, the Voyager RK5 with a 5 1/4-inch bass unit; the Voyager RK6T2 with a 6 1/2-inch bass unit; and the Voyager RK8T2 with an eight-inch bass unit. Part of a lineup of outdoor speakers, find them at www.bostonacoustics.com

U.B. FUNKEYS, MATTEL, $25 FOR A STARTER KIT, $7 FOR ADDITIONAL FUNKEYS

Arriving in Canada in mid-May, Funkeys inhabit a virtual world called Terrapina and let kids play games, collect coins and not surprisingly expand their online world with the more Funkeys they get. There are 42 of them, so we're guessing this could be the next birthday gift of choice for the harried parents of social butterfly kids. Geared for ages eight to 12, this junior networking site lets players (or their parents) stipulate different viewing levels so they can limit their contact to other users they know. www.UBfunkeys.com

CANON PIXMA IP100 MOBILE PRINTER, $280

Canon's latest portable printer brings new features to mobile printing including increased colour resolution to a maximum of 9600 x 2400 dpi and increased print speeds up to 20 pages-per-minute for black and 14 for colour. It also adds auto image fix technology to the mobile printer category and can print photo-quality prints in sizes up to eight-by-10-inch as well as letter size. It can print wirelessly from a built-in irDA port3 or from select Bluetooth-enabled cellphones and computers with an optional Bluetooth Unit BU-304, at $80. It also has an optional lithium ion battery that will churn out 290 pages per three-hour charge -- an extra $100. Also available is the automobile power unit adding another $90 for charging through a car socket.
gshaw@png.canwest.com

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=c6042f99-fca4-41c7-bc8a-12b6193355b5

DSP Virtually Extends Distance Between 2 Speakers

Apr 22, 2008 19:51
Satoshi Ookubo, Nikkei Electronics

New Japan Radio Co Ltd (JRC) has started sample shipments of the "NJU26040-16A" audio DSP (digital signal processor), which is claimed to increase stereo sound effects of iPod and other speaker systems as well as audio equipment such as radio-cassette players and micro component systems.

The new DSP employs the "eala Stereo Expander," which processes stereo sound and makes it sound as if the distance between the two speakers on both sides has been virtually increased. According to the company's assessment, "Although the effect varies between individuals, we've obtained sound images that would indicate that the speakers had been placed five times as far apart as they actually were," the company said.
Two modes, in which sound processing is performed when the distance between the two speakers is 5 to 10cm or 10 to 20cm, are available. Designers can select either mode when designing application devices.

The sound processing can be used not only for audio equipment, but also for portable DVD players and LCD TVs. In addition to the eala Stereo Expander, "eala" audio processing technology, which makes sound stereoscopic, can be used.
Furthermore, another audio processing technology dubbed "Dynamic Bass Boost" was also incorporated. The technology adds bass emphasis processing to audio signals from both the right and left channels.

JRC has used its bass emphasis technology for other audio DSPs. But the predecessor technology output audio signals after synthesizing right and left channels into monaural signals, giving bass emphasis and converting them into each side's audio signals again.

Compared with the technology that separately gives processing to each channel, this technology generated slightly weak bass effects, but broadened the range that generates great sound effects (sweet spot), instead.

Because this technology will be used in AV equipments whose speakers are located close together, users sit in front of the equipment when enjoying music and sound. JRC, therefore, decided to separately emphasize bass sound of each channel in a bid to strengthen sound effects rather than broadening the sweet spot.

The power supply voltage is +3.3V. The DSP's maximum external clock frequency is 38MHz. The package is a 32-pin SSOP measuring 11 x 7.6 x 1.15mm. Pricing for a sample is ¥1,000 (US$9.69, price may vary depending on country). The company is planning to start volume production at 30,000 units per month from May 2008.
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080422/150794/

Toshiba, Crutchfield Provide DVD Players For U.S. Troops

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 4/7/2008

BAGHDAD, IRAQ — For the past three years Toshiba and Crutchfield have worked together to provide entertainment to U.S. troops based in Iraq.

Beginning with the 2005 holiday season and continuing each year since, Toshiba has donated portable DVD players to U.S. forces here, while Crutchfield, the direct-sell retailer, has partnered in the effort by shipping them.

"Toshiba is happy to provide the players to the troops," said Jodi Sally, marketing VP of Toshiba's digital A/V group. "We want to show our appreciation for these brave men and women by giving something back to them."

In a thank-you address, Lt. Col. Peter Garner, U.S. Air Force, said, "Knowing that we have the backing of people back home is an important force-multiplier in our mission here."
Army Capt. Chris Barnecut, who leads a company that received the players, wrote in a thank-you note, "The great magnitude of your contributions and the time and effort you expended to bring this sort of support to the troops let a very positive impression on the soldiers. Considering the holidays, this morale boost couldn't come at a better time."

Barnecut said the players were distributed to the lowest-ranking members of his company. "The DVD players will go a long way with these young soldiers," he noted. "It was a great surprise for them on Christmas."

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6548456.html?industryid=23098

Finding Deals on Portable Technology

A guide to Web sites offering deep discounts on laptops, smart phones, and other gear.

James A. Martin
PC World Wednesday, April 2, 2008; 4:19 AM

We're either in a recession or teetering on the precipice of one. Want to discuss the Bear Stearns collapse, the slumping housing market, rising oil prices? Let's not and say we did.

Regardless of grim economic news, when you need a new laptop or other portable device, you need it. Here then are a few Web sites offering tech deals and bargains.

Some products offered on these sites are refurbished, meaning that someone else bought and returned them, for whatever reason. Generally speaking, refurbished laptops are tested and repaired, if necessary, before being resold.

As with any e-commerce site, shop carefully. Along with great deals, you may find similar products at different prices on some sites. Or you might discover that a new laptop costs the same as a refurbished model but offers updated specs.

Apple.com'sSpecial Dealsinclude refurbished iPods, iPhones (sometimes), and Macs, as well as discontinued products.

In a recent visit to the site I discovered a current-model 8GB iPod Nano for $169, a $30 discount. I also found a $1449 refurbished MacBook Pro with a 2.2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, a 15.4-inch wide-screen display, 2GB of memory, a 120GB hard drive, an 8X SuperDrive, and a Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics chip with 128MB of graphics memory. At the same time, Apple offered a similarly equipped MacBook Pro as a clearance item on Apple's site for $1699. Presumably, the clearance item was simply never sold, while the refurbished model had been sold and returned.

In comparison, a new MacBook Pro closest in specs to the refurbished and clearance models cost $1999. It included a slightly faster processor (2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo), a larger hard drive (200GB), a Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT with more memory (256MB), and Apple's new Multi-Touch track pad.

Dell has consistently offered a wide variety of refurbished computers for sale on itsoutlet site. Dell Outlet's search tools enable you to find laptops by price, memory, processor, and other features. I have found compelling bargains on this site, such as laptops costing nearly $500 less than similarly configured new models in the same line.

Shop carefully, as some refurbished laptops cost almost the same as new models that are better equipped. For example, recently I found a refurbished Dell Vostro 1400 laptop for $759. The laptop's specs included an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 CPU (2.2 GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800-MHz FSB); 2GB of memory; a 120GB hard drive; a 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M graphics processor; an 8X DVD RW optical drive; a 2-megapixel Webcam; Windows Vista Home Premium; and Microsoft Works 8.5 with Microsoft Office trial software. I compared this model to new, built-to-order Vostro 1400 laptops. For $767--nearly the same as the refurbished model--I configured a new Vostro 1400 with a faster processor and a larger hard drive.
Currently in beta,Deal Lockeris designed to help you find "secret and not-so-secret" deals on Amazon.com--which sells laptops, MP3 players, and tons of other consumer electronics. You can type in a keyword (such as "MacBook"), select a category (Computers & PC Hardware), and a discount range (from 10 to 99 percent off); and choose a sort-by option, such as "relevance." You can search Amazon.com's U.S., UK, Canadian, German, and French sites. Deal Locker presents your search results within Amazon.com.

I don't know how many "secret" deals you'll find. But you might unearth some attractive bargains by searching for, say, ThinkPads discounted from 70 to 99 percent off.
Wootis a cheeky site that features one product a day, deeply discounted. Once the supply has been snapped up, you're out of luck, so you'll need to check the site in the morning. Some products offered here have been on the market a while, have been recently discontinued, or just didn't sell all that well.

Still, you can find current products at deep discounts. A recent example: In mid March, Woot offered JBL's Radial High-Performance Loudspeaker Dock for iPod for $100. At the same time, thelowest priceI found for this iPod speaker system/docking station using PC World's Shop & Compare tool was $140, andAmazon.comhad it for $230.

The $1500 HTC Shift occupies the space between a smart phone and mini notebook. You can slide the touch screen up and tilt it at an angle, just like a laptop screen. The Shift is pricey, but itperformed serviceablyin our tests--despite its languid boot time.

Which technology combinations have rocked your world? One that's just starting to get a foothold is the combo of cloud computing and always-on devices. Cloud computing is used to describe applications &#160; (such as Google Docs) and files that live on networks instead of your hard drive. Together with always-on devices like smart phones, cloud computing is poised to change how portable devices are designed and how we'll use them. ReadDan Tynan's articlefor more on this and other world-rocking tech combinations.

Speaking of shifts, influential research firm Gartner has about-faced on its position that the Apple iPhone isn't a valid business tool. Recently, Gartner said that with iPhone 2.0, the upcoming software upgrade, Apple's smart phone willbecome a viable contenderwith BlackBerrys, Windows Mobile, and other smart phones.

Contributing Editor James A. Martin offers tools, tips, and product recommendations to help you make the most of computing on the go. Martin is also author of theTraveler 2.0blog.Sign upto have the Mobile Computing Newsletter e-mailed to you each week.

Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket?Tell me about it. However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/02/AR2008040200458.html

Sony portable DVD player sings a rainbow

How they love their gloat of many colours...

Enough of the poor musical theatre metaphors, already, let's get down to business. Sony have announced the release of their latest portable DVD player in a startling array colours. Four to be precise.
White, Blazing Red, Indigo Blue and Glamour Pink, could all be mistaken for titles of dubious, top-shelf publications, but in-fact they're the exciting colours Sony have concocted from their eclectic palette.
The DVP-FX720 has a 16:9 ratio 7-inch widescreen to keep movie purists happy, with an admirable five hours of battery life. That's three regular movies or around a quarter of the extended edition of The Return of the King. Not bad going.
There's a USB port for loading up photos and musical downloads, as well as an in-car charger for those long-haul journeys, or Sunday afternoons in the garden.
This model is a step down from the 8" swivel screen, FX850B which can be snapped-up nowadays for just over £200. A more compact package, leads to a more compact price and a keen nose to the ground will sniff out this latest model for £130 nicker.

http://www.t3.com/news/sony-portable-dvd-player-sings-a-rainbow?=35434

Portable DVD Players: Your Best Journey Partner

Though watching your favourite movies on the move is surely a stress and strain buster. However, you cannot carry a complete home theatre system while on a business or fun trip. Watching a movie while traveling can easily make the miles go zoom.
Now the question arises that how to make it possible and how to watch your favourite DVDs while on the move? The answer is quite simple, the Portable DVD Players can take your boredom away and they can also lead you to a great land of entertainment and joy. These players not only provide the facility to play your favourite DVDs but they also serve the facilities of listening to your favourite music. With such players you can also show a presentation to your clients and thus, you do not have to carry a laptop on your business trip.

As with most technologies, the concept of “getting what you pay for” has been applied on such portable players of DVD as well. Do not ever get confused with the prices of such devices. Most of the times, the companies launch a feature laden machine and that too on rock bottom price but be always beware of such companies as it may be possible that you get a junk in the form of a DVD player. Always go for a branded piece so that you never have to worry about your leisure times. There are various websites available on the Internet that is providing great players at cheap prices. You can also avail branded but cheap DVD players from such websites.

There are various facts that you should always keep in your mind before buying a portable player for you. Consider all possible buying and research criteria and please ignore the media hypes made about any product. Some of the possible facts are stated below:

* The Life of Battery: This is really a big issue for the constant travelers and this should not be taken as grated as this may spoil the enjoyment of your trip. Always go for at least two hours of battery life in a video playback mode. There are various players that give the backup of upto four hours.

* Car Kit: If you are planning to use your DVD player in the car, then you should purchase a player that includes a car adapter. To avail maximum convenience, go for a tablet model with the facility of wall mounting system that will attach your player on the back of the front seats. You can easily choose where to install that player.

* Format Support: Your player is made to support standard DVDs that run MPEG-2 files, but you should also look for some other formats like MPEG-4 ASP (Advanced Simple Profile), WMV9 (Windows Media Video 9), DivX, and XviD. Support for CDs and MP3s could turn your video player into a jukebox. If you burn CDs or DVDs, make sure your player supports writeable (CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-R.

* Output Jacks: Practically all DVD players can plug into a PC or TV for large-screen playback. However, high-quality outputs like S-Video for video or Optical Out for audio will give better playback quality.

* Screen Orientation: The more clarity in pictures, the better. A 7-inch screen is normal with many players, but a 10-inch screen makes viewing more pleasurable. If you use the player in group surroundings, a swivel screen will ensure that everyone gets a view.

* Sound Control: You won’t always be using headphones, so check the sound quality of the player’s built-in speakers. The good stereo quality is a must. Make sure you can add peripheral speakers. You may also need a small duo for business presentations.

* Weight: If you love to travel with less baggage, check the weight of any player you consider to buy. Anything heavier than 5 pounds can feel like a block after awhile. Don’t be confused by size either. Some of the less-weight players have overweight batteries.

There are various companies that are making great portable DVD players, but Sony portable DVD players are among the best players one can have.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/portable-dvd-players-your-best-journey-partner-356125.html
About the Author:
Alden Jerry is an expert writer. Visit to know more about latest DVD Players at consumer electronics store

LG DP271 - Portable DVD Player

Before the advent of PMPs and iPods, portable DVD players were some of the coolest and most coveted gadgets on the technology scene - not to mention some of the most expensive. But the rise of hard-disk video players from the likes of Archos and Apple have made them a lot less fashionable, and their prices have dropped considerably. You can now pick them up for peanuts, which is great news if you're looking for a convenient, cost-effective way of keeping the kids quiet in the car, or entertaining yourself on long journeys. And it's worth remembering that not everyone has the time, patience or computer literacy to deal with hard-disk devices that require encoding or downloading of video content.

LG's latest portable DVD player (the only one in the company's range) features a 7in, 16:9 screen that can be swivelled 180 degrees and tilted, a neat idea that gives you plenty of viewing flexibility. The unit is compact and incredibly light, even with the slim battery pack discreetly clipped onto the back, and its attractive white exterior finish proves to be a refreshing change from the black styling these products usually sport.
Flipping the screen open reveals a pop-up disc tray and a bank of buttons set into a glossy black base section, which is a real fingerprint magnet. These buttons include basic playback controls and direction keys for controlling menus, but you can also use the supplied credit card style remote.

Down one side of the unit, you'll find a volume control dial, two headphone sockets, optical digital audio output and a port that doubles as an audio and video input/output, which allows you to watch DVDs on your big-screen TV if need be. On the opposite side is a USB 2.0 port, which lets you play back media files on the device.

The range of supported formats includes DivX, MP3, WMA and JPEG, any of which can be played from CDs and DVDs. The unit supports every DVD disc format except DVD-RAM, including dual-layer DVD-R and DVD+R discs. Other features include brightness and colour adjustments for the screen, the somewhat pointless ability to flip the picture vertically and all the usual DVD trickplay functions, including slow motion and a three-stage zoom. The unit supports Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks, and can pass them on to a compatible amplifier from the optical digital output. Battery life is somewhere in the region of three and a half hours, which isn't bad considering it allows you to watch an entire British comedy series or even Lord of the Rings in one sitting.

The supplied remote is small and packed with fiddly, similar-looking rubber buttons, which doesn't exactly make it easy to use. But the unit is responsive and the main menu is good-looking and well laid-out, allowing you to make basic changes quickly and easily.












When testing the DP271's picture prowess, we thought we'd ease it in gently with a run through of The Simpsons Movie on DVD. The first thing to jump out when watching this animated movie is the strength of the colour reproduction, with the famous yellow skin looking particularly bright and powerful. Colour tones are displayed with a vibrancy that makes the image stand out no matter the viewing environment.
The screen sports a QVGA resolution (320 x 240 pixels) which doesn't sound much on paper, but it still manages to display a decent amount of detail. This becomes more evident when you switch to live action movies like The Departed - small objects and patterns on display in Scorsese's cop thriller are reasonably well defined, such as the criss-crosses on Jack Nicholson's suit jacket or Leo DiCaprio's facial stubble.

But there are tell-tale signs of the low resolution, such as the clearly visible pixel structure that makes the image seem slightly gauzy with edges that look jagged, plus there's some severe banding on large areas of colour where the tone goes from light to dark. However, the player does handle the movie's colours well, as the appropriately peachy skin tones demonstrate, and black areas of the screen are reasonably dense with some shadow detail visible within them. And we're also pleased to report that the DP271 keeps video noise at bay, rounding off a generally pleasing picture performance.

The unit handles DivX files stored on DVD and CD with ease, not once stuttering or suffering from lip sync issues. On the audio side, the unit's built-in speakers produce a typically weedy sound, so you're better off listening through some good quality headphones. If you do, you'll be treated to a crisp and surprisingly bass-heavy sound that's dynamic enough to cut through the drone of a car engine or rattling train. CD, MP3 and WMA playback also sounds superb, and when piped to a proper sound system via the digital audio output you'd barely notice that you were listening to a portable deck.

Verdict
It might lack the glitz and glamour of an iPod Touch or an Archos hard-disk player, but as portable DVD decks go the DP271 is a great example. Yes, there are problems with its picture quality, resulting mainly from the QVGA screen, but apart from that picture quality, colour and noise suppression is generally solid. It also offers some useful extras like a USB port and DivX playback, which will no doubt come in useful if you've got a big library of compressed movies that you want to watch on the move. What's more the alluring design and flexible swivel screen give it a desirability that will make you proud to pull it out on the train, all of which makes this one of the best-value portable DVD decks around.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/multimedia/review/2008/02/04/LG-DP271-Portable-DVD-Player/p3

Sony DVPFX810 8" Portable DVD Player

For More Information Click Here: Sony DVPFX810 8" Portable DVD Player

Product Features
8 LCD Widescreen Monitor (Diagonal)
Swivel&FlipScreen w/ Dual Sensor for Remote Control
Control Buttons on Screen Bezel
12 Bit Video DAC with 108 MHz Processing
Removable&Rechargeable Battery&Car Adapter Included

Technical Details
General:
Product Type : DVD player
Form Factor : Portable
Width : 11.8 in
Depth : 3.7 in
Height : 9.7 in
Weight : 2.2 lbs
Enclosure Color : Silver
DVD:
Media Type : CD-R, CD-RW, SACD, SVCD, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD, CD, Video CD, DVD+R DL
Media Format : NTSC, PAL
Video D/A Converter : 12bit / 108MHz
Audio D/A Converter : 24bit / 96kHz
DVD Repeat Modes : A-B repeat, title, chapter
CD Playback Modes : Program play, A-B repeat, random play, all tracks repeat, one track repeat
Supported Digital Audio Standards : MP3
Display:
Display Type : LCD display - TFT active matrix - 8" - color
Image Aspect Ratio : 0.672916666666667
DVD Features:
Parental Lock : Yes
TV Screen Saver : Yes
MP3 Compatible : Yes
Additional Features : On-screen display, JPEG photo playback, screen saver
Audio System:
Sound Output Mode : Stereo
Surround Sound Effects : Virtual Surround Mode
Digital Audio Format : Dolby Digital output
Speaker System Details : 2 x right/left channel speaker - built-in
Additional Features : Volume control
Remote Control:
Type : Remote control
Technology : Infrared
Connections:
Connector Type : 1 x audio output 1 x composite video output 1 x S-Video output 2 x headphones
Miscellaneous:
Included Accessories : Car battery charger
Cables Included : 1 x A/V cable
Power:
Power Device : Power adapter - external
Battery : 1 x DVD player battery - rechargeable - lithium ion
Included Qty : 1
Capacity : 3 hour(s)

For More Information Click Here: Sony DVPFX810 8" Portable DVD Player

Portable DVD players for big trips

Why waste a laptop battery on a movie when you can use one of these devices?
San Francisco Chronicle, Cnet.com

Monday, December 3, 2007

Philips PET1002
Cnet rating: 8.2 out of 10 (excellent)

The good: A top-notch player offering sleek design and a 10-inch screen with excellent image quality. Also plays MPEG-4 and DivX video files and MP3 and JPEG CD-Rs. Includes car adapter, component-video output and two headphone inputs.

The bad: Expensive and rather hefty. Can be a little noisy when starting up or searching for files.

The price: $350

The bottom line: A large screen, sleek design and great battery life put the PET1002 at the forefront of this category. Two other standout features: a nicely designed remote and a cable package, which includes component-video and S-Video outputs for connecting to a TV.
Read the full review

Philips DCP850
Cnet rating: 7.3 out of 10 (very good)

The good: Features video iPod dock, 8.5-inch screen, SD card slot for movie and photo viewing. Supports DivX video, MP3 CDs.

The bad: The remote can hardly command a docked iPod; iPod menus not displayed on screen. Tinny speakers not good for music. Rechargeable battery isn't removable and provides only about 2 1/2 hours of DVD playback.

The price: $200

The bottom line: Has plenty of appeal for video iPod users. When docked, an iPod is completely flush with the DCP850's casing. Also nice are its connection options and support for MPEG-4/DivX video files. Biggest drawback: its limited iPod integration.
Read the full review

Panasonic DVD-LS91
Cnet rating: 7.2 out of 10 (very good)

The good: Well designed, has a 9-inch display with swiveling armature, A/V input, excellent battery life and two headphone outputs; plays CD-Rs of MP3 and WMA audio files or JPEG images.

The bad: Fairly expensive, no high-resolution screen, lacks support for MPEG-4 and DivX video.

The price: $230

The bottom line: Display isn't the sharpest, but the design and battery life - more than five hours - shine brightly. The swiveling armature allows you to adjust the angle and height of the display to cut down on glare, and you can fold the screen down almost flat.
Read the full review

Sony DVP-FX810
Cnet rating: 7.0 out of 10 (very good)

The good: Affordable and sleekly designed; has an 8-inch swivel screen and strong battery life. Also offers dual headphone jacks, A/V input/output and MP3/photo CD compatibility.

The bad: Screen coating causes noticeable glare; picture quality is average.

The price: $200

The bottom line: It may not offer a great picture, but its sleek design, above-average battery life and affordable price make it an attractive value. Its generous screen swivels 180 degrees and folds flat on top of the unit. We managed about four hours with the brightness setting cut down - better than average for such players.
Read the full review

The following Cnet staff contributed to this report: senior editors David Katzmaier and John P. Falcone, executive editor David Carnoy, senior associate editor Jasmine France, assistant editor Jeff Bakalar, freelance writer Nathaniel Wilkins and features editor Tim Moynihan. For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/03/BUBJTKGL4.DTL

Travelling gets easier with DVD players

Danny Bradbury, For CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2007

There's nothing worse than being trapped in an airplane cabin with only the most inane in-flight entertainment on offer.

Watching Air Bud Three may be fine for eight year-olds, but you wanted the hockey game, or maybe that groundbreaking documentary on the Mongolian nose flute.
Not to worry -- thanks to portable video players, you can watch them both.
Five years ago, the main function of a portable entertainment device was simply to play audio.
Today, with faster processors, more storage capacity and larger screens, portable entertainment devices are able to play video just as well. An increasing number of units are now becoming video-enabled.

Even the iPod Nano, traditionally purely an audio player, now has integrated video capabilities, and can carry up to eight hours of visual content.

"The majority of the players have two-inch (five-centimetre) screens," says Travis Fary, a product expert at Future Shop, "although the iPod touch, which is a Flash player, has a 3.5-inch (nine-centimetre) screen."

Screen sizes are increasing. Archos, for example, now produces a seven-inch (18-centimetre) unit. Like many new video players, the Archos 750 device also features wireless Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi, almost placing it in the Internet tablet category.
"It features an 800 x 480 pixel screen, which lets users surf the net without scrolling," says Archos chief operating officer Larry Smith, who also explains that the number of dots per inch on these portable displays often far outclasses those found on conventional PC monitors. An LCD screen might have 96 dots per inch, whereas the Archos device gives you 220, making for a much sharper image.

Smith says that one of the next big development for portable video players will be the elimination of hardware buttons in favour of buttons programmed directly into touch screens. One example of this is the iPod touch, Apple's latest iPod device. The Wi-Fi-enabled unit is controlled almost entirely with software buttons that change on the display depending on what you're doing. The only hardware buttons are single 'home' button on the front of the device, and a power switch at the top.

It is worthwhile noting the difference between hard drive and flash-based players. The Archos units come with a hard-drive option providing up to 160 GB of storage. Apple's iPod touch maxes out at a tenth of that capacity, but there is a trade-off, because unlike the Archos unit, the iPod touch is well under a centimetre thick.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/lifestyle/story.html?id=8ab1e5db-2d58-4c54-b35b-85498e554628

Tech on Deck: The Decline of the DVD Player

Sales of DVD Players Declined by 15 percent Over the Past Year

After the compact disc ushered in the first digital music revolution, there were questions about whether the digital versatile disc (DVD) would have a similar impact. It did.

The DVD has become one of the most successful consumer electronics products ever in the decade since it was first test-marketed in seven American cities. About 80 percent of U.S. consumers have a DVD player in their homes; that's more than PCs, VCRs, cable television or even analog televisions for which DVDs were designed. The DVD accelerated home video purchases, and Netflix carries about 85,000 DVD titles.

Much like the CD before it, DVD players have become so ubiquitous that electronics companies are finding them a formidable forebear. At the end of the '90s, two higher-quality music disc formats failed to unseat the CD. Similarly, today's rival Blu-ray and HD-DVD camps are both struggling to compete with cheap DVD players, particularly those that can "upconvert" or "upscale" movies, providing a "near-high-definition" experience.

But the golden age of the DVD player is behind us. While they are still well in excess of 10 million units per year, DVD player sales declined 15 percent for the 12 months ending September 2007; that's coming off a decline of 24 percent the year before. The average price has sunk to just over $60.

Sales of DVD recorders, which were cursed with an extended gestation, high complexity and a format war, were also down 15 percent during the year ending September 2007, crashing after nearly 50 percent growth during the same time period a year ago. And even portable DVD players -- those LCD-equipped baby sitters -- were slightly down in the year ending September 2007, even after their average price came down to just $119 after being at $190 two years ago.
Of course, DVD movies will be with us for many years to come. In addition to the massive installed base of hundreds of millions of DVD players, both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players are backward-compatible with DVDs. Some HD-DVD movies, in fact, come with a regular DVD on one side of the disc so it can be played in a standard DVD player.

There are even some bright spots in the DVD picture. DVD camcorders continue to grow as do "upconverting" or "upscaling" DVD players, which have had a significant price advantage versus high-definition disc players.

But the recent availability of the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player at retailers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy for less than $100 represents a milestone toward closing the gap between high-definition formats and their predecessors. As more of the market turns to HDTV, paying a small premium to take advantage of all that your television has to offer as well as new levels of interactivity will seem worthwhile to more consumers.

Whether one of the new formats prevails or broadband delivery of movies eventually takes hold, the DVD player story is creeping toward its final chapter.

By ROSS RUBIN
Nov. 5, 2007
Ross Rubin is director of industry analysis for consumer technology at the NPD Group.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/TechOnDeck/story?id=3820318&page=1

Samsung Unveils World's First Flash Memory Based on 30-Nano Tech

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest computer chip maker, said Tuesday that it has developed the world's first flash memory chip based on 30-nanometer production technology.

The 64-gigabit NAND flash memory can help produce a 128-gigabyte memory card that can store up to 80 DVD-quality movie files running for 120 hours, Samsung said in a regulatory filing.

The new flash memory, to be used mostly in portable devices such as mobile handsets, digital cameras and music players, will create a US20 billion market over the next three years, Samsung said.

A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. Fewer nanometers mean that more integrated chip products can be manufactured. Thirty nanometers measures only one 4,000th of the width of a strand of hair.

Since it started to produce 256-megabit memory products in 1999, Samsung has succeeded in doubling their capacity every year. It also has led the world in adopting cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.Unlike dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips, the conventional memory chips used for personal computers, flash memory can retain and store information even when a device's power is turned off. For this reason, it is gaining popularity for use in portable electronic devices.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/10/123_12360.html

Toshiba reportedly recalling 73,554 portable DVD players

TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Toshiba Corp. (6502.TO) said Wednesday it is recalling 73,554 portable DVD players to replace free of charge alternating current power adaptors that could overheat and damage the players, Kyodo News reported.

Subject to the recall are SD-P1600 players sold between September 2005 and June 2007, Toshiba said, according to Kyodo.

Four cases of overheating have been reported, according to Toshiba. Toshiba has already discontinued making the players, the news agency reported.
-Contact: 201-938-5400

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/toshiba-reportedly-recalling-73554-portable/story.aspx?guid=%7BD77F9933-20B3-489F-AF58-A3A935CE8C7D%7D