Portable DVD Players

Top gadgets to take on a road trip

2010-07-26T11:40:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-16T14:47:00.002-04:00

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)

2009-02-17T11:18:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-09T14:23:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-04T12:22:00.002-05:00

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

2008-09-22T13:53:00.001-04:00

* 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

2008-08-22T10:26:00.002-04:00

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

2008-08-08T14:18:00.003-04:00

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?

2008-07-21T15:47:00.001-04:00

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

2008-07-11T10:39:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-02T10:18:00.000-04:00

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

2008-06-11T11:58:00.000-04:00

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

2008-06-03T09:57:00.001-04:00

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

2008-06-02T10:54:00.000-04:00

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

2008-05-28T10:38:00.002-04:00

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

2008-05-20T10:35:00.000-04:00

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

2008-05-16T12:58:00.001-04:00

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

2008-05-05T09:40:00.001-04:00

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

2008-04-23T10:59:00.002-04:00

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

2008-04-08T09:47:00.002-04:00

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

2008-04-03T11:04:00.002-04:00

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   (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

2008-03-18T10:45:00.003-04:00

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

2008-03-13T20:00:00.001-04:00

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

2008-02-04T12:46:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-30T11:16:00.001-05:00

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

2007-12-03T12:49:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-07T13:35:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-23T12:37:00.000-04:00

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

2007-09-20T14:44:00.000-04:00

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

IFA 2007: Toshiba launches portable DVD player with digital tuner

2007-09-12T23:02:00.000-04:00

Freeview TV and DVD on the move by Amy-Mae Elliott

Toshiba announced the launch of the SD-P120DT portable DVD player, adding a third model to Toshiba's current range of players, at IFA 2007. Boasting an upright design, the 12.1-inch player has an integrated digital tuner for Freeview channels and radio so would suit anyone not wanting to miss out on films and TV when away from home. The 12-inch LCD panel has 800 x 480 resolution, and thanks to the IPS projection system, a 170 degree viewing angle, which means more than one person can view the player at any one time. The three hour battery life means you should be able to watch a whole DVD in one sitting while the headphone socket means you can do so without disturbing others. The built-in 4-in-1 memory card reader (SD, MMC, Memory Stick and XD) will help justify the unit's space in your luggage as it means you can use the unit to instantly view your holiday pics on a decent sized screen. The player is compatible with DVD-Video, DVD-R and DVD-RW and includes HDMI input and component video output for connecting to camcorders, games consoles and other AV equipment. Pricing and launch date details to be confirmed.

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/9855/10879/Toshiba-launches-SD-P120DT-portable-DVD.phtml

Amadana DVD Player

2007-08-24T10:19:00.000-04:00

If, like us, you spend an inordinate amount of time globe-trotting, you'll know a raft of magazines and a few good books doesn't really wile away the hours. And it goes without saying that in-flight entertainment isn't exactly up to our standards either. We were briefly excited when portable DVD players arrived on the market, but soon found postage stamp-sized screens and clunky models did little to alleviate our boredom.
But finally a model that neither strains nor offends our eyes is available for the first time in the UK. The Amadana Portable DVD player boasts the largest LCD screen on the market at 10 inches, a flat-touch, easy button operation, six input-output terminals, Dolby Digital Sound and an SD memory card slot; all pretty impressive, meaning easy-to-use cinema (or at least flatscreen television) quality on our laps.
This is only half the story though. What we really like is the laminated bamboo lid panel, a feat of technological design, given the difficulty of maintaining precision and regularity when combining natural materials and industrial gadgetry. The natural texture, achieved by carbonising the bamboo before it is laminated, means each unit has a very bespoke quality and a refined elegance, unusual in the world of technology where sleek and chic are the dominant looks.

Toshiba to Debut Third Generation HD DVD Players for High Definition Enthusiasts

2007-08-06T13:57:00.000-04:00

Toshiba takes the Hi Def movie experience to a whole new level with 24
frames per second support, CE-Link connectivity, High Bit Rate Audio
capabilities and unmatched interactivity functionality

WAYNE, N.J., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Consumer Products,
L.L.C. ("Toshiba"), announced today its third generation of HD DVD players
for the U.S. market. Continuing to outpace the competition in sales of
dedicated high definition players and responding to increased consumer
demand, Toshiba revealed three new sleek and stylish models for an ultimate
HD home movie experience. With all three new models priced under $500
(MSRP), Toshiba is delivering a powerful line-up of HD DVD players designed
to meet the aggressive growth in demand for high definition TVs.
"With a majority market share in unit sales of next generation DVD
players, consumers are speaking loud and clear, and they are adopting HD
DVD as their HD movie format of choice," said Jodi Sally, Vice President of
Marketing, Toshiba's Digital A/V Group. "Because of the proven
manufacturing efficiencies of the HD DVD format, Toshiba can bring this
level of innovation in technology to a new generation of players with
cutting-edge functionality at affordable prices."
Building on the success of its first and second generation players, new
leading enhancements in select models in the third generation line include
an improvement in video performance with 1080p/24 frames per second (24p)
support. Movie films are traditionally captured at 24 frames per second and
select Toshiba third generation HD DVD players will be able to maintain
this frame rate allowing consumers to enjoy movies in their native frame
rate.
Also added to the line is "CE-Link" (HDMI(TM)-CEC) connectivity which
offers the capability to communicate with and control another CE device in
a whole new way. For instance, using "CE-Link" with "One Touch Play"
consumers will be able to turn on a CEC capable HDTV and a Toshiba HD DVD
player, and start playing a movie, with a single touch of a button on the
player remote.
Toshiba Third Generation HD DVD Models
Toshiba's third generation family starts with the entry level HD-A3
player featuring 1080i output capability. The other two new models,
Toshiba's HD-A30 and HD-A35, will output 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080p),
the highest HD signal currently available. Both models are capable of
outputing signals at 1080p/24 frames per second so consumers can enjoy
movies in their native frame rate. The HD-A30 and HD-A35 models also
feature "CE-Link" (HDMI-CEC), allowing two- way control between the HD DVD
player and a TV through an HDMI connection.
The top-of-the-line HD-A35 also adds support for Deep Color via HDMI
allowing compatible display devices to deliver outstanding video quality -
displaying millions of possible colors to billions of possible colors.
Additionally, the HD-A35 offers 5.1 channel analog output and High Bit
Rate Audio (up to 7.1 channel) via HDMI. With content encoded in 7.1ch,
this advanced surround sound is achieved through the HDMI connection
bypassing the player's internal audio processor and sending the signal to a
7.1 capable A/V receiver. High Bit Rate Audio will allow the consumer to
integrate the HD-A35 with the latest multi-channel A/V receivers and enjoy
a whole new dimension of high definition home entertainment.
All of Toshiba's third generation HD DVD players are refined with new
cosmetic designs. Rounded edges, slim chassis (only 59.5 mm - nearly half
as tall as first generation players) and high gloss, black acrylic face
plates create very sleek devices - a perfect complement to Toshiba's award
winning REGZA(R) HD LCD televisions.
Beyond the Hi Def Movie Experience
Starting with 1st generation players, all of Toshiba's HD DVD players
support the enhanced features of the HD DVD format mandated by the DVD
Forum including picture-in-picture video, audio commentary and the ability
to allow web-enabled network capabilities. Using the Ethernet ports found
on all Toshiba HD DVD players, once connected to the network, users can
access bonus features, as available, from a movie studio's server. This
data is then saved in the player's persistent storage and can be accessed
by the user. In addition to accessing new bonus features, some HD DVD discs
may include locked prerecorded content which can be unlocked with a
downloadable key from the studio's online server. Web-enabled capability is
now opening the door to a new entertainment experience beyond hi def video
and audio.
"Consumers will always have a consistent experience with HD DVD as we
have an established platform to keep the players updated to ensure the
ultimate HD movie experience," said Yoshi Uchiyama, Group Vice President,
Toshiba's Digital A/V Group. "A mandatory Ethernet port in all HD DVD
players ensures that consumers can receive updates to their units to
support the latest offerings from the studios and maximizing their
investment in the format."
All of Toshiba's HD DVD models are backward compatible allowing users
to enjoy their libraries of current DVD and CD software while enhancing the
look of regular DVDs by upconverting them to near high definition quality.
For more information on HD DVD, please visit http://www.toshibahddvd.com.

Expected Pricing and Expected Availability:
HD-A3 ($299.99, October 2007)
HD-A30 ($399.99, September 2007)
HD-A35 ($499.99, October 2007)
About Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C.
Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. is owned by Toshiba America,
Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader in high
technology products with subsidiaries worldwide. Toshiba is a pioneer in HD
DVD, DVD and DVD Recorder technology and a leading manufacturer of a full
line of home entertainment products, including flat panel TV, combination
products and portable devices. Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. is
headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. For additional information, please
visit http://www.tacp.toshiba.com.
Important Notes:
HD DVD with high-definition content required for HD viewing. DVD with
standard definition content will upconvert to near HD quality. Viewing
high- definition content and up-converting DVD content may require an HDCP
capable DVI or HDMI input on your display device. 1080p capable display
required for viewing content in 1080p. Firmware update may be required for
some interactive features depending on content, which may also require an
always-on broadband internet connection. Some features may require
additional bandwidth. To take advantage of web-enabled network content,
downloading and installing the latest firmware (ver.2.3 for HD DVD player
models HD-XA1, HD-A1, and HD-D1; ver.2.0 for HD DVD player models HD-XA2,
HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-D2, HD-A2C, and HD- A20; and ver.1.0 for HD-A35, HD-A30,
and HD-A3) is required. Web-enabled features require an always on broadband
connection along with specific movie titles that include this form of
content. MP3/WMA audio files not supported. For 24p output, content that
was created in 1080p/24 frames/sec is required. Viewing 24p output requires
an HD display capable of accepting a 1080p/24Hz signal. Use of CE-Link,
which is a feature based on HDMI-CEC, requires an HDMI-CEC compatible
display device. Depending on the specifications of your TV, some or all
CE-Link functions may not work even if your TV is HDMI-CEC compatible. Use
of High Bit Rate Audio requires High Bit Rate Audio compatible AV receiver.
Deep Color feature as specified in HDMI 1.3a requires compatible Deep Color
capable HD display and/or device. Because HD DVD is a new format that makes
use of new technologies, certain disc, digital connection and other
compatibility and/or performance issues are possible. This may, in rare
cases, include disc freezing while accessing certain disc features or
functions, or certain parts of the disc not playing back or operating as
fully intended. If you experience such issues, please refer to the FAQ
sections of http://www.toshibahddvd.com or http://www.tacp.toshiba.com for information on
possible work-around solutions or the availability of firmware updates that
may resolve your problem, or contact Toshiba Customer Solutions. Some
features subject to delayed availability. While Toshiba has made every
effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information
provided herein, product specifications, configurations,
system/component/options availability are all subject to change without
notice. For additional information on Toshiba HD DVD players, please visit
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/
HDMI, the HDMI logo, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are
trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing, LLC.
HD DVD and DVD are trademarks of DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation.

SOURCE Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C.

AudioVox 10.2" Portable Hi-Fi DVD Player with Remote and...

2007-07-26T09:57:00.000-04:00

Enjoy your favorite movies no matter where you go with this AudioVox 10.2" Portable DVD Player. This versatile unit comes with everything you need to view your best flicks on those long and boring road trips. AudioVox 10.2" Portable DVD Player Features: Model No: D2011 Formats Played/Recorded: DVD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, Picture CD Screen size: 10.2" Disc Capacity: 1 Composite Video Outputs: Yes S-Video Outputs: Yes Stereo Audio Outputs: Yes Remote Control: Yes Power Requirements: Battery Battery Type: High capacity rechargeable Battery Life: 2-3 hours Dimensions: 10.5" x 1.25" x 8.25" Weight: 6.78 lbs

New products: portable DVD players and SSD hard drives

2007-07-05T10:58:00.000-04:00

Upgraded SSD hard drives for notebooksHamburg - Transcend has released a SSD Flash hard drive for notebooks with an Express Card slot. The 32 GB memory device has no moving parts and operates silently, according to the Hamburg-based manufacturer.

According to the company, the Transcend ExpressCard/34 SSD is compatible with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS (starting with System 10.4) and Linux (starting with Version 2.4).

The module also supports the Vista function ReadyBoost for especially fast access to the buffer. Weighing in at 19 grams, the cards costs 400 euros (539 dollars), which includes a USB adapter. There is also an 8 GB version for 120 euros and a 16 GB version for 225 euros.

Toshiba presents two new portable DVD players.

Munich - Toshiba is about to put two new portable DVD players on sale. According to the company's Munich offices, the SD- P90DT will have a screen measuring 23 centimetres diagonally and cost 399 euros.

The SD-P100DT will have a screen measuring 26 centimetres diagonally. It should cost around 599 euros when it is launched in June. It also has a 3-in-1 card slot for SD-cards, multimedia cards and memory sticks. Since both models come with a built-in DVB-T tuner, they can also be used as portable televisions.

V7 presents 22-inch widescreen LCD display

Munich - V7 has announced the release of a new widescreen monitor measuring 55.9 centimetres diagonally. The V7 D22W11 has a resolution of 1,680 by 1,050 pixels and brightness of 300 candles per square metre, according to the Munich-based manufacturer. It has a viewing angle of 160 degrees and a reaction time of 5 milliseconds. The monitor goes on sale for 249 euros.

Netgear offers firmware upgrades for new WLAN standardsMunich - Netgear soon plans to offer servers for the still- to-be-released 802.11n WLAN standard. The move will make products from Netgear, like RangeMax NEXT, compatible with the new and faster WLAN standard, according to the Munich-based manufacturer. European customers should soon be able to download the upgrades free of charge.

Recycling fee on portable DVD players added

2007-06-27T10:56:00.000-04:00

The state has expanded the electronic and waste recycling fee to cover sales of many portable DVD players effective July 1, a move intended to help offset the cost of disposing the liquid-crystal display screens, the Board of Equalization said Friday.

Disposal fees for the DVD players -- popular entertainment for families on long trips and road warriors -- will range from $6 to $10, depending on the size of the LCD screen. Only DVD players with 4-inch screens or larger are subject to the fee, which is collected at the time of purchase.

Computers, televisions and several other categories of electronic device already are subject to the fee.

Retailers started collecting the electronic waste fee in 2005. The state collected about $62 million last year from 20,000 retailers.

East Bay Business Times - June 22, 2007

Burn Babe, Burn! (effective and cheap way to trash a DVD/CD)

2007-06-13T10:22:00.000-04:00

New Portable DVD Players From Philips With Docks for Video iPods

2007-06-05T11:05:00.000-04:00

More and more electronics devices are including technology to integrate the ubiquitous iPod. Such is the case with a pair of new portable DVD players from Philips. Two of the six new models released contain docks for video iPods.The screens range in size from 7 to 10 inches, with the 10-incher featuring a 180-degree swivel screen. A DVB-T tuner can be found on one of the 8-inch models. The other is a tablet-style machine, with a slide-in disc slot and a view stand at the back.Those iPod-equipped models, by the way, are a 7-inch and an 8.5-inch, both of which have SD/MMC card readers built in.All models come with a car mounting kit and two headphone jacks.These DVD players are available now, and prices range from US$255 to US$ 393.

Panasonic DVD-LS80 8.5" Portable DVD Player

2007-05-29T09:44:00.000-04:00

Panasonic DVD-LS80 8.5" Portable DVD Player

Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features
High Image Quality
8.5" screen
Multi angle screen
6 hour Battery
AC &DC Cords
Technical Details
General:
Product Type : DVD player
Form Factor : Portable
Width : 9.6 in
Depth : 6.9 in
Height : 1.9 in
Weight : 2.3 lbs
DVD:
Media Type : CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD, CD, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
Media Format : NTSC, PAL
Video D/A Converter : 12bit / 108MHz
Audio D/A Converter : 24bit / 96kHz
Search Speed : Up to 200x
Supported Digital Video Standards : DivX, MPEG-2, MPEG-4
Supported Digital Audio Standards : WMA, MP3
Display:
Display Type : LCD display - TFT active matrix - 8.5" - color
Image Aspect Ratio : 0.672916666666667
Display Format : 480 x 234
DVD Features:
MP3 Compatible : Yes
Additional Features : HighMAT support, digital video noise reduction, dialogue enhancer, JPEG photo playback, depth enhancer
Audio System:
Sound Output Mode : Stereo
Speaker System Details : 2 x right/left channel speaker - built-in
Remote Control:
Type : Remote control
Technology : Infrared
Connections:
Connector Type : 2 x headphones ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) 1 x composite video input/output ( mini-phone 3.5 mm ) 1 x audio input / output ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) 1 x DC power input
Miscellaneous:
Included Accessories : Car power adapter, car headrest holder
Cables Included : A/V cable
Power:
Power Device : Power adapter - external
Battery : DVD player battery - rechargeable
Capacity : 6 hour(s)

Toshiba 2007 Range Announced - RD-97DT DV-R17DT

2007-05-21T09:57:00.000-04:00

RD-97DT

Toshiba has announced two new recorder models, the DV-R17DT DVD recorder and RD-97DT HDD/DVD recorder.
Digital TV tuners are included in both, but they also have analogue tuners in case you are stuck in a dodgy Freeview area. Additional features include PAL Progressive scan, component video output and Timeslip recording.
The RD-97DT has a massive 250GB hard drive which can comfortably store over 40 hours of television.
Both devices come equipped with an HDMI output for upscaling DVD images to 720p, 1080i and 1080p.
Prices and dates are, as yet, not released.

http://www.dvdrecorderworld.com/news/439

A guide to portable DVD player hookup to TV

2007-05-17T12:08:00.000-04:00

A guide to portable DVD player hookup to TV

Shiny Video: Philips Portable DVD player

2007-05-14T11:15:00.000-04:00

Shiny Video: Philips Portable DVD player

Portable DVD Players: Just the Basics About Headphones

2007-05-09T10:04:00.000-04:00

For anyone wanting to enjoy their portable DVD player outside of the privacy and solitude of their own room, headphones are a critical accessory. They allow the viewer to listen to movies and music without disturbing those nearby and often act to reduce environmental noise which can intrude on the audio experience. Both comfort and audio quality are important considerations when selecting earphones.

• For those who will be using their portable DVD player to entertain two viewers at a time it is important to assure that the device has 2 headphone ports on it; otherwise a splitter (Y-plug) will be needed.
• Various styles of headphones offer different advantages.

For anyone wanting small, inconspicuous devices any style of in-the-ear headphones can be a good choice. They are often the headphone of choice during activity, but in the case of use with a portable DVD player this is generally not a concern unless it is used for listening to music. Ear bud style headphones are often less comfortable and offer lower quality sound than in-the-canal type headphones. On the other hand, in-the-canal headphones generally require more frequent cleaning. Both require a good fit to offer the best quality sound.

Around-the-ear headphones with ear cups can be quite secure and reduce the intrusion of outside sound without consuming additional battery power although they tend to be a bit more noticeable to the wearer than in-the-ear models.

Over the ear headphones help reduce the risk of hearing loss as the signal from in- the-ear devices is amplified by several dB. For comfort, padding over the earpieces and an adjustable headband is recommended. Some users feel that sound quality with over the ear headphones is superior and helps to reduce noise escaping which can disturb others. Some models even offer behind the neck or headband-less styles for added comfort which allows users to don a hat and avoid disturbing their hair. These types of headphones tend to be lighter but also more fragile.
Wireless headphones free the user from wires but have the drawback of using a great deal of battery power in conjunction with a portable DVD player which already consumes a great deal of energy. With wireless headphones, users are also given freedom to move about when listening to music via their player.

Noise canceling headphones are effective at eliminating environmental noise by creating an out-of-phase signal to cancel unwanted outside noise. As this is not a passive process, additional battery power is consumed to achieve this effect.

• A final, but important consideration in selecting headphones for a portable DVD player is to assure that it is compatible with the device. The cord on the earphones must obviously be capable of connecting to the player or an adapter will be needed, adding more weight and bulk where it is not wanted.

Christine Peppler believes that consumers should not have to possess a technology degree to be able to choose home electronics and entertainment devices. Take advantage of the wealth of simple to understand, useful information and shopping available on her website at http://www.homemedias.info./

The New powerful DVD ripper software, Aimersoft DVD Ripper now released!

2007-05-07T09:50:00.000-04:00

Aimersoft DVD Ripper has friendly interface, easy-to-use, and powerful function; it can rip DVD movies onto all popular portable video/audio players and support all common video and audio formats. You can trim and crop your video, and can also capture any picture you like from your video. With Aimersoft DVD Ripper, you will find your life become more and more colorful.

Here are the advantages in details:

1.Rip DVD to various video formats such as MPEG4, DivX , XviD, AVI, H.264, WMV (Windows Media Player), MP4, MOV (Quick Time), RM, RMVB (Real Player), FLV(Youtube), MPG, MPEG, 3GP, 3GPP, ASF, VOB, H.264, M4V, etc.

2.Rip DVD onto all popular video and audio players including iPhone, iPod, PSP, PS3, Apple TV (MP4, M4A, MP3), Zune, Xbox360 (WMV, WMA), Archos MP4 Player (MP4), Creative Zen (WMV, MP3, WMA), iRiver PMP, iPod nano, iPod shuffle (MP3), Pocket PC (WMV), mobile phone (3GP) and so on.

3.Support extract audio track from DVD to MP3, WMA, M4A, AAC, WAV audio format.

4.Copy DVD movie to computer by 1:1, Perfect Video & Audio Quality

5.Merge different titles and chapters into one file. Rip different titles and chapters of DVD to a single file with no loss of quality.

6.Rip DVD with flexible video and audio settings. Aimersoft DVD Ripper Platinum allows you to adjust video brightness and video contrast, set subtitle, select audio track, and adjust audio volume ect.

7.Set the aspect ratio of video with full screen, 16:9 and 4:3, crop the DVD as you like.

8.Capture the picture you like from the DVD without any loss of quality.

9.Very intuitive user interface that guides you to finish DVD ripping with a few clicks of your mouse.

Availability and Suggestion: Aimersoft DVD Ripper is now available at: http://www.aimersoft.com/dvd-ripper.html. Now, get them to enjoy your favorite DVD movie on mobile device anytime and anywhere. In order to make us provide better products for you, it's very appreciated that you can send your feedback to us via the survey email: survey@aimersoft.com

Portable DVD Player Starter Kit For 9 Inch Players

2007-05-04T10:59:00.000-04:00

Portable DVD Player Starter Kit For 9 Inch Players

Holds most portable DVD players up to 9 inch Built-in dual headphone jacks 10 inch W x 4 inch H x 8 1/2 inch D Includes portable DVD case with in-car suspension system, 2 pairs of headphones with in-line volume control, 6 colored velcro cable ties, and a 12-DVD nylon wallet

Sony dvd players you should know when you buy

2007-05-04T10:08:00.000-04:00

Sony Electronics are crowned as the indisputable monarch of the realm of technology. The products that come from the house of Sony are always the best in the terms of features and looks. The same holds true for portable DVD players. DVD is the abbreviated form of digital versatile disc that has replaced the older technology of VCD.
Sony DVD players come in different styles and categories that are made according to the needs and suitability of the customers and according to different price range. The latest DVD models that have flooded the UK market are the portable and super slim DVD players. Some come with multi-format playback capacity and others with super audio player. The primary purpose of buying a DVD player is sheer entertainment. So it is entirely dependent upon the consumer as to what kind of portable DVD player will suit his needs and fit into his pocket as well.
Sony is a reputed brand in the market. The products under its brands are a little costlier as compared to the other brands or local manufacturers. However, it is recommended that financial constraints shouldn't make you compromise on quality. It may happen that you are able to buy the product and brand of your choice at a lesser cost if you are diligent enough while shopping from your desktop.
When you want to buy a Sony DVD player, you need to compare the prices of different makes and models that are being launched recently. You may visit the official website of Sony to get a hint of the prices of different models. Then there are numerous online electronic shops that are constantly offering various discount schemes to the consumers. And finally, there are cash back portals or comparison websites that will give you the most lucrative deals at the right price.
Sony portable DVD players can be availed at the right price if you do your research in a right manner. And you will be able to find your best buy at the right price.
About the Author
Know more about online shopping and Consumer electronics here.

Toshiba SD-P1900 9" Portable DVD Player

2007-05-03T10:05:00.000-04:00

Toshiba SD-P1900 9" Portable DVD Player
Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features
Portable DVD Player
9 Inch Diagonal Widescreen TFT LCD Display
480x234 Pixel Resolution
Attractive Black Acrylic Top Combined with an Aacrylic Control Panel
3.00 Lbs (WxLxH) 6.69" x 9.45" x 1.26"
Technical Details
Model: SD-P1900
Item Package Quantity: 1
audio_output_mode: Stereo
dvd_media_load_type: Top-load
Color Name: Black
Width: 6.69 inches
Height: 1.26 inches
Weight: 3.0 pounds

Toshiba SD-P1750 Portable DVD Player

2007-05-02T09:50:00.000-04:00

Toshiba SD-P1750 Portable DVD Player

Toshiba announce multitude of DVD players

2007-05-01T10:01:00.000-04:00

New DVD recorders, DVD/VCR combis, portable and standalone DVD players
by Stuart Miles

Toshiba might be concentrating on bringing out a new range of High-Definition DVD players, but that hasn't stopped the company announcing a range of new players for those who aren't ready to make the format jump. The company has announced a stack of new models across the DVD recorder, DVD/VCR combi, portable and standalone DVD player sectors. Significant improvements to this year’s range include the full support of DVD+R/+RW playback, multidrive recording compatibility, the inclusion of HDMI output on more models and dual tuners (1 x analogue 1 x digital) on selected recorders. Keeping in line with its three HD DVD players, all the new models now come in black to match the company's range of REGZA LCD televisions. New standalone DVD players include the SD-370E and SD-270E entry-level DVD player. The new models incorporate PAL Progressive scan, DivX playback, component video outputs, MP3 playback and a JPEG picture viewer. The SD-370E will include an HDMI output for connection to a HD ready TV, the SD-370E is able to upscale DVDs to deliver both 720p and 1080i signals. In the DVD/VCR COMBI sector the company has announced the SD-38VB for those still believing that they want to watch VHS quality footage. The model includes the ability to simultaneously record via the incorporated analogue tuner and watch DVD discs in PAL progressive, and boasts a seven event, one month timer that includes Programme Delivery Control (PDC). DivX (up to version six), MP3 and JPEG support complete the package. The bulk of the announcements are for DVD recorders with Hard Disk Drives (HDD). Toshiba has announced the DR-17DT (DVD Recorder), RD-87DT (DVD Recorder with HDD, RD-97DT (DVD Recorder with HDD), R17 (DVD / VHS Recorder), RD-XV47 (DVD / VHS Recorder with HDD), DV-R17 (DVD / VHS Recorder) and the RD-XV47 (DVD / VHS Recorder with HDD) The DV-R17DT and RD-97DT are identical in looks and share many market leading features. Both include analogue and digital tuners as standard, allowing instant recording from over forty Freeview channels via an on screen, 7 day EPG with view/record, digital text, favourite channel list and parental lock functions. Additional features include PAL Progressive scan, component video output and Timeslip recording. Most significantly, both recorders come fully prepared for the high definition era, supporting HDMI output and upscaling DVD images to 720p, 1080i and 1080p. The RD-97DT adds a huge 250GB hard drive – allowing up to 424 hours of tapeless recording, as well as the ability to pause and rewind live TV and edit recorded broadcasts for archiving on DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW. It also features digital optical and coaxial outputs. The D-VR17 and RD-XV47 offer support for both tape and disc media. Both models feature "chase play" recording, DivX support up to version six, PAL progressive scan, component video output, JPEG picture viewer and MP3 playback. Each unit also boasts five recording modes – including Super Extended Play – an eight event, 1 month timer and Programme Delivery Control (PDC) functionality. The RD-XV47 offers a 160GB. Finally the company has launched two new portable DVD players; the SD-P1900 step-up portable DVD player and the SD-P1707 entry-level portable DVD Player. The step-up SD-P1900 has a five hour battery life and nine-inch widescreen LCD panel with a 110 degree viewing angle. The slightly smaller SD-P1707 boasts a metallic silver finish, seven-inch widescreen LCD panel and three hour battery life. Each player features a 480 x 234 screen resolution, 150:1 contrast ratio, extensive connectivity (including component video output for connecting to other AV equipment), DivX playback, JPEG picture viewer, MP3 and WMA playback. Both models also come complete with DC adaptor and carry case.

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk

Twin Portable DVD Players Released by Polaroid

2007-04-30T10:07:00.000-04:00

Twin Portable DVD Players Released by Polaroid by Jeff StricklerPublished 04/11/2007 in Multimedia Devices Unrated

When you hear the name Polaroid, you probably think of old-school photography and not necessarily portable DVD players. But that's exactly what the venerable company has come out with, a pair of definitely new-tech-age devices, complete with tilt screens and antennas.The screens are 8.5 inches wide and are TFT LCD, sporting 16:9 ratio on a 480x800 presentation. Polaroid is going out of its way to emphasize the words "flicker free," so we should believe them.The broadcast system is ISDB-T, and the usual format is NTSC, both of which are all to the good for most DVDs. However, you also get CPRM and DivX capabilities, which is definitely a nod toward up-to-the-minute formats.The 5-hour battery life should be more than enough to get through the director's cut of Peter Jackson's latest movie, whatever it happens to be, and certainly enough for a small handful of Jackie Chan flicks.About the only thing we don't know about these players is the price. They're out, in Japan, and they'll be headed across the Pacific soon enough.

DVD Players What you Need to Know

2007-04-28T22:28:00.000-04:00

As many electronics devices get less expensive and mp3 players are now starting to support video, portable DVD players are getting less and less expensive. Software DVD players are programs that allow users to view DVD videos on a computer with a DVD-ROM drive. DVD players are so good at playing music CDs that you'll no longer need a separate CD player.
Virtually all new DVD players are progressive-scan models. The DVD players are code free out of the box, there is no complicated setup necessary. Lets take a look at both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, they both are compatible with the HDDVD and standard DVD as well as CDs.
HDDVD players are becoming very popular, one important reason is that HDDVD fit the format of the new HDTV and you do not need to readjust your screen for full or widescreen, the picture is also a lot sharper than the older DVDs. Remember not all DVD Players are the same.

Portable DVD players are growing in popularity with passengers who want to make sure that they get to see the movies they want while on board a flight. Today portable DVD players come with widescreens and are create to watch on a plane, train or car.With the invention of portable dvd players, long airline flights and extended car trips have become much easier to take. Bring all your electronic devices with you when you get them portable. Portable video players are getting smaller, more lightweight, and at the same time, more advanced. If your minivan does not come equipped with a DVD player, they are now making portable players that will install easily into any vehicle. There are so many electronic devices out there that are able to play digital video these days here are some of them portable DVD players, PDAs and laptops.. Portable DVD players give people the freedom to take their entertainment with them wherever they go. When it comes to portable DVD players, users tend to focus only on the size of the monitor, the image quality, or the number of available media.

As far as image quality is concerned, the experts seem to be evenly split. Using higher values may improve the quality, but will make the video incompatible with many set-top DVD players. These players contribute high-quality video, often with lots of extra material. DVD players have a sharp, widescreen picture and they also provide CD-quality sound, DVD players are important if you want to get the home theater experience. Unfortunately, quality universal players are less easily found. The high-quality sound available on DVDs is one of the reasons DVD players are so popular for home use. DVD is gaining tremendous popularity with its high-quality video and high-storage capability. The latest TVs feature digital video inputs for very high quality connections to new DVD players and future high-definition devices.

A disadvantage of Blu-ray format is that other DVD players are not able read the discs. Consequently, normal USA DVD players are built only to play Region 1 DVDs, and will not play DVDs from other Regions. Similarly DVD players are encoded with a specific Region as a condition of manufacture, dictated by the Patent Holders. It seems as though most manufacturers of DVD players are only half-heartedly embracing the inclusion of region codes on their machines. Many current DVD players are compatible with many formats, some include DVD-R and CD. Whether you have a family, travel with friends on the road, or just want to be noticed on the streets, car DVD players are the way to go. Portable DVD players are an excellent way for you to entertain the kids on a long trip or keep yourself occupied when you're traveling via plane or train.

David Marc Fishman is the owner of priceriot.com. Priceriot is a new online auction where prices drop as people shop for cameras

New Video Ipod is Incredible

2007-04-27T16:31:00.000-04:00

The new iPod is now lighter, slimmer and cooler looking, it has new features that surpass other mp3 players. The best new features of the video iPod concern the sound quality. The iPod video is small, compact and sleek, it is very easy to use, and it has tons of great features that are second to none and can only be found on iPods.

Taking portable video entertainment to a different level than it ever has been, it features a color screen and video playback capabilities. The new Apple video iPod is pushing the envelope with technology by combining mp3 music and video in one device. Consumers embraced the new iPod, it allows consumers to keep all of their music and video in one place, the device is light weight and is portable so all the videos and music can go where ever you go. The iPod has a 5-inch color display that lets you take your music videos wherever you go. Unlike in the music versions, Apple did not include an option to rip movies to play on the Video iPod.

If your priority is storing music over video, get the iPod Video. Many automobiles have the normal AM/FM Stereo and CD player, but many automobile manufactures are including and jack so you can plug in your mp3 player. Most of the people who benefit from the iPod are those people who want to listen to music, watch movies or TV shows or who want to keep photos You can listen to all your music. You can do more than just listen to music. Many manufactures have created accessories so you are able to listen to your iPod in your car, these gadgets work very well and are worth the investment. Until just recently, you used to have to have an expensive CD player and a multitude of CDs with you in order to listen to whatever you want, whenever you want.

It is very exciting when you receive your new video iPod, you now have the ability to watch videos on a mobile video player. Once you download the movie or video you can simply transfer it to your iPod, however if you want to be able to watch the movie on your DVD player while at home then you might want to think about this. If you're like many new Video iPod owners, you are excited about the idea of carrying your movie collection along with you wherever you go.
According to the informational websites, the number of video downloads have reached and might have passed the one million downloads since it was introduced. There are many companies that have created software that will convert to the iPod format, some even come with extra software so you can view the pictures or videos before the conversion process starts, this comes in handy if you want to view the information before putting it on your iPod. You can download, convert and transfer and you have the ability to watch all kinds of movies, home movies and TV shows.

About the Author

David Marc Fishman is the owner of Bornasuperstar site. The online auditions site for actors. Learn how to become a successful in your life

Toshiba Offers you More

2007-04-27T14:08:00.000-04:00

One product area that Toshiba has been doing very well in lately is the DVD player market. This includes normal DVD players and recorders that hook up to a TV, DVD drives that go inside computers, and portable DVD players that can be used to watch films on the go.

When it comes to TV DVD players, Toshiba was part of the original DVD working group that worked together to come up with the format, and had some of the first players on the market. Unlike the cheap clones that have since come out of the Far East, Toshiba DVD players implement the standards consistently and reliably, making sure that all DVDs will play, all the extra features will always work and the picture quality will be the very best that the disc can manage. Although Toshiba DVD players can be expensive, their reputation is second to none, and they are considered by many home cinema fans to be some of the best players available at any price.

Given its mastery of the high-end DVD player market, then, it is understandable that Toshiba has made moves to expand its product offering in this area. As recordable DVDs came on the market, Toshiba was again in the working group and one of the first companies to offer the product. The same goes for portable DVD players, where Toshiba was at the forefront of building a market for them, combining the great DVD playback of their DVD players with the build quality and light weight of their laptops to come up with some of the best portable players out there.

Finally, if you’re thinking of buying a new DVD drive for your computer, you would do well to consider getting a Toshiba. Toshibas tend to be able to read DVDs slightly faster than some other brands, and are much more reliable when it comes to burning discs. They are a favourite among computer enthusiasts, as they can copy some discs that other players can’t, making them especially good for making backups of copy-protected commercial software.

John Gibb is the owner of Toshiba Laptops sources For more information on Toshiba Laptops check out http://www.toshiba-laptops-sources1k.info/

Cheap Portable DVD Players

2007-04-27T10:32:00.000-04:00

Cheap, portable DVD players are portable DVD players that are at the lower end of the pricing scale. They are typically priced in the $100 to $200 range, with most being priced closer to the lower limit of the price range. With a few exceptions, most of the players in this segment of the portable DVD player market are not the big names in the industry. Low-priced models from Coby, Mustek, Astar, CyberHome, and Audiovox dominate the cheap portable DVD players’ segment.

Portable DVD players are DVD players that enable you to watch movies whenever and wherever you like. They allow you to watch a movie “on the go.” DVD players are devices that play digital video discs (DVDs), an optical disc storage media that stores data, including movies. Since these days DVDs are primarily used to store movies – given the large storage capacity that these discs possess – they have come to be synonymous with movie discs. The discs are normally twelve centimeters in diameter, although a few also come with an eight-centimeter diameter.

Even though they are priced lower, cheap portable DVD players have features that are comparable to the high-priced premium models. Most of them have a seven-inch or eight-inch liquid crystal display or LCD screen, which is attached to the player. There are also a few with a five-inch- or six-and-one-half-inch-wide screen. They are also light and compact. Most also play almost all of the media formats and support all the television systems. However, since one gets what one pays for, there are various other features of the premium models that cheap portable DVD players do not necessarily carry. But, for the price, cheap portable DVD players are a good option for the mobile traveler who is interested in getting the basic yet important aspects of a movie experience.

Portable DVD Players provides detailed information on Portable DVD Players, Cheap Portable DVD Players, Portable DVD Player Reviews, Compare Portable DVD Players and more. Portable DVD Players is affiliated with Headrest DVD Players.

Toshiba SD-P1600 Portable DVD Player Review

2007-04-26T16:25:00.000-04:00

Found this review of the Toshiba SD-P1600 Portable DVD Player on about.com:

"
The Bottom Line
Toshiba’s SD-P1600 is a good seven-inch screen player for the value. While it is not the most attractive device to look at (especially with the battery pack attached), this is more than made up for with its compact size, decent battery life, good picture and sound quality and well laid out controls. The remote is smart and the dual headphone jacks a well thought out feature. This will make a great player for a family on the go with its included car and room power adapters.

Pros
Dual headphone jacks.
Quality color and contrast of display.
Well laid out presence of function buttons.
Cons
Battery charge time longer than playback time.
When attached, battery looks like ugly tail.
Not most attractive player on market.

Description
Screen Size: 7 inches
Dimensions of Player: 7.48” x 1.2” x 5.71” (W x H x D)
Weight: 1.52 pounds without battery
Disc Formats Supported: CD, CD-R/CD-RW (MP3/WMA), DVD, DVD-R, VCD, Picture CDs (JPEG, Kodak)
Digital Audio Formats: DTS, Dolby Digital
Listening Options: Built in speakers, Dual headphone jacks
Connectors: A/V Out (1), A/V In (1), BITSTREAM/PCM Out (1), Headphones (2)
Battery Notes: Rechargeable Li-Ion, 4 hours charge time, 3 hours playback time
Accessories in Box: A/V cable, Remote and battery, AC adapter, Power cord, Battery pack, Car adapter
Guide Review - Toshiba SD-P1600 Portable DVD Player Review
The SD-P1600 has a seven-inch screen and a not so attractive body. This is offset by the compactness – about the size of two DVD cases – when the battery is not attached. When the battery is attached, it ungainly protrudes from the rear, though it does elevate the screen for better viewing.
The buttons are well placed and easy to use. Toshiba got it right, placing useful functions within easy finger reach without needing the remote. The remote itself is a fine piece of work with its multitude of easy to understand function buttons.
Picture quality was fine for a mid-range player like this. The colors were sharp and the picture crisp while viewing a vivid movie. The sound matched nicely with the picture. Through both the speakers and headphone jacks were heard the highs and lows of battles and the accompanying soundtracks. A virtual surround sound option made this even better.
Connectivity was little issue, with jacks for headphones (dual), digital audio (DTS, Dolby Digital) and A/V out available to connect to other audio and video devices for movie, image and audio sharing.
Several extra features were found to be very useful. These included time jumps to a specific location on the DVD, bookmarking three specific locations to jump to later, picture zoom and parental lock.
The SD-P1600 supports a number of disc types besides DVD. Tested were CD, CD-R (MP3 and WMA music files) and JPEG CDs. Other formats are supported also. Battery life was as advertised at three hours."

Link to the text: http://portables.about.com/od/portabledvd/gr/SDP1600Review.htm

Compare Portable DVD Players

2007-04-26T12:36:00.001-04:00

There are numerous portable DVD players in the market. The major companies in this industry are Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Philips, Samsung, Coby, and GoVideo. These companies largely cater to the high-priced segment of the market, though they also have models that come under the cheap portable DVD players segment. The lower-priced segment is dominated by models from Mustek, Coby, Astar, CyberHome, and Audiovox.

Currently, the most popular and fast-moving models are the Panasonic DVD LS-90, Philips PET 1000/37, Sony DVP-FX705, Coby TF-DVD500, GoVideo DP7240, and the Samsung DVD-L1200. A few models are compared below.

The Panasonic DVD LS-90 has a wide nine-inch screen that makes the viewing experience even better. But it’s pricey at around $400. The battery provides an impressive six hours. The player can double up for the home. The Philips PET 1000/37 has a sleek look, black finish, and a high resolution 10.2” LCD screen. The battery life at two and one-half hours compares with the industry average.

With its chic look, the Sony DVP-FX705 comes with the usual style that characterizes Sony products. This model has a seven-inch screen and allows up to three hours of continuous viewing. It’s light weight at one and one-half pounds without the battery and supports most media formats. The Samsung DVD-L1200 is heavier at 3.3 pounds but provides a wonderful viewing experience with a twelve-inch LCD screen. The model is skinny, yet allows three-way sharing. A host of additional features makes this a top model among portable DVD players.
The GoVideo and Coby models are in the lower- to medium-price category of $150 to $250. However, the former has a wider screen at seven inches compared to Coby’s three and one-half inches. Both have comparable features except that the Coby model has a small form factor while the GoVideo model has the conventional sleek black finish.

While comparing portable DVD players assists in making an informed buying decision, the key for a buyer would be to prioritize the features in relation to their prices since better and more features come at increasingly higher prices.

Portable DVD Players provides detailed information on Portable DVD Players, Cheap Portable DVD Players, Portable DVD Player Reviews, Compare Portable DVD Players and more. Portable DVD Players is affiliated with Headrest DVD Players.

Portable DVD Players Easy to Handle When You are Traveling

2007-04-25T12:34:00.000-04:00

There is nothing which can have a more soothing effect on your tired senses than watching your favourite DVD after a hard days work. For this purpose of nervous relaxation alone, DVD players have become an integral part of every household in UK. DVD players sell like hot cakes at both the high street and the internet and the manufacturers, big and small, are making hay while the sun is shining.

Top manufacturers of DVD players in the UK offer variety of DVD players available in the market include DVD/VCR Combi, DVD Player Multiregion, 2 Channel DVD Player, DVD/DivX/MPEG4 Player, Mpeg4 Wall Mountable DVD Player, Portable DVD Player with 4.5in LCD Screen and DVD player with DivX-. Every variety in the market is available in conjunction with good cashback deals that are set to lure even more customers towards their product.

If you are looking for the best and cheap portable DVD players then the World Wide Web should be your ideal hangout. The entire web space is choc-a-bloc with merchants, cashback portals and comparative sites that intends to make a smooth sail of the process of buying best DVD players online. These websites not only offer you the best of deals but promise to pay whopping cashback amount as well!

Now you know where to head for in case you are looking for the best of cheap DVD players! Almost all leading manufacturers have set up internet shops to catch a pie of this recent cashback and comparison shopping sites boom. No more do you need to waste your precious time to search for that elusive best deal. It’s all there at your fingertips!

Fletcher Mak is an author, write various articles on different themes to expand information, because articles is a good way to send their information to needy people easily. You can get more information about portable dvd players and other consumer electronics.

Portable DVD Players the Right Choice

2007-04-25T01:15:00.000-04:00

DVD players is certainly not a new terms for your ears. In fact, it is the best way to enjoy your movies in a perfect cinematic experience. The market is flooded with a variety of portable DVD players and the manufacturers are forever trying to improvise on the new technologies so that they can retain a competitive edge over the other players in the market.

As far as selecting the best DVD player is concerned, you must first of all have a fair idea as to what kind of DVD player would suit your requirements. There are at least a thousand of them available in the market. You may as well choose to go for portable DVD players when you need a DVD player to pass your time during a journey. By using these portable DVD players, you wouldn't waste your laptop battery and can enjoy watching movies while you are travelling.

Then there are standard DVD players which are required for your everyday use. When you decide to buy a portable DVD player, you must not try to limit your choice, but you should try to draw an analysis of the various DVD models that are available in the market. Visit various cashback portals and online superstores and it may happen that you get some discounts on your shopping. You can also rely upon various comparison shopping portals before buying your portable DVD player. In this way, you will be able to make sure as to which are the best DVD players available in the market and you will also get a comparative price chart of the best DVD players. It will also help you a lot before you freeze your final option.

So go ahead and buy the portable DVD player of your choice... but with some prudence and you would surely be able to find the best DVD player!

Fletcher Mak is an author, write various articles on different themes to expand information.You can get more information about portable dvd players and other cheap laptops.