
It’s been rumored for some time, but HBO shows are finally available on iTunes… today. Yes, that means The Sopranos (it’s over guys… deal with it), Flight of the Conchords, Rome, The Wire, Deadwood, and Sex and the City which girlfriends and wives are sure to be pleased with. We imagine you’re wishing you purchased a larger iPod.
What this means to you: It’s remarkable how much longer you can hit the treadmill or shorter your commute is when you’re watching Al Swearengen take over a scene on Deadwood.
Cost: $3 per episode @ iTunes
Categories : Electronics, Entertainment, Video, Writers, Eric E. Yang

Say hello to my massive friend. The newly announced 60 inch Pioneer Elite Kuro Plasma and it’s smaller siblings, rolling into our hearts and living rooms this June. The second-generation Kuro plasmas will have 5x deeper black levels than the previous dark-as-hell Kuro plasma units. The 50 and 60 inch standard Kuro PDP-5020FD and PDP-6020FD will be $4,000 and $5,500 respectively and their Pioneer Elite equivalents (PRO-111FD and PRO-151FD) as shown here will weigh in at a hefty $5,000 and $6,500. Seriously though… look at it. It’s blackness beckons you.
Not only do the new Kuro plasmas have eye gouging blacks, but measure a supermodel 2.5 inches in thickness. Additional enhancements include a new remote control, high definition user interface, home media gallery, and sex-on-a-wall case design. [via Gizmodo]
What this means to you: Suddenly, your television looks… well, a little sad.
Cost: $4,000-$6,500 @ Pioneer (Available June)
Categories : Electronics, Video
We doubt many guys make power comsumption their first thought when buying a new flatscreen tv, but if there are those of you who crossover between environmentalist and electronic enthusiast then the Philips Eco TV is for your.
Beyond having 4 HDMI inputs, 25 watt speakers, full 1920×1080p resolution the Eco TV is completely RoHS compliant meaning it’s absent of any lead, mercury, cadmium metals that are harmful to the environment. The Eco TV also dims and brightens automatically based on ambient light and uses only 0.15w of power on standby. Philips of course went one step further and boxed the television in recycled packaging.
What this means to you: It’s comparabaly priced to sets in this size so why not upgrade your tv with some green gear?
Cost: $1399 @ Amazon
Also See: Not so eco-friendly, but oh so equipped LumenLab Qmax | $10,000
Categories : Electronics, Video, Writers, Brian Huang

Sony is late to the game with their digital picture frames, but they’ve brought out plenty of stops with their new lineup including red-eye correction using face recognition, exposure adjustment, scaling and display of (up to) 48 megapixels, Bluetooth adaptor compatibility for wireless transferring of images from your computer or phone and an HDMI output. Memory capacity ranges from 256mb to 512mb depending on the model.
The 15:9 aspect ratio screens on these frames can scale and display images up to 48 megapixels in size and has 10 different slide show variations, calendar views and two index displays.
The signature all-business look from Sony will make this frame perfect for your home or office and it’s ability to handle transferring of all image types directly through the memory card reader or USB port without a computer makes it a quality no-strings attached gift.
What this means to you: A perfect addition for your digital lifestyle. Just avoid loading all the memory with images of yourself unless you’re one of the Gear Girls.
Cost: $140-$250 @ Sony Style [Available March]
Categories : Electronics, Video

[click on image to enlarge]
Got 10 grand burning a hole in your bank account? Looking for a centerpiece to your entertainment computing system? Well, break out the cards because the Qx is some serious computing - wait for it - integration.
Integration what? Well, let’s go down the specs and maybe you’ll see. This computer is a 42″ 1080p LCD monitor built in with 3.0 GHzIntel Core 2 Extrememe processors, XLR8 GeForce 8800 Ultra graphics card with a 768MB of GDDR3 overclocked by PNY tp 621MHz from 575MHz. It has 200 MBPS HotwireWith Lumenlab’s™ Hotwire™ networking and utilizes Q’s powerplug which pars down all the connectivity to one single cable. The choice of HD-DVD or BluRay drive, SPDIF 8.1 channel audio, Noctua silent cooling manufactured in Austria only add to the Q’s prowess.
What this means to you: You could probably get two comparable Dell computers for the same price, but then no one would be able to stand stupefied at your crazy ass for having such a thing. That is pretty much the worth the cost.
Cost: $10,000 @ Lumenlab
Categories : Electronics, Computers, Video

50″ plasma television aren’t really that big of a deal anymore. A 50″ plasma that weighs 41 lbs and the thickness of an iPhone… well, that is a big deal. Too bad it’s only a concept right now. You’re looking at the Pioneer Kuro 9mm Concept Plasma and officially the thinnest television in the world.
What this means to you: Damn, this thing is thin.
Cost: Concept Only
Categories : Electronics, Video

It’s rare something comes along from Sony we can’t find some reason to like. Even more rare are the products from Sony that impress us with valued pricing.
The Net Sharing Camcorder (terribly yet appropriately named) will capture all your interesting-to-you-and-maybe-others video and photos in a sleek little device enabled to make transferring your video to the internet with incredible ease.
It’s equipped with a 2.4″ lcd screen, 4x digital zoom, a lithium-ion battery, 5mp still image capturing, and up to 6 hours of 320×240 video (not so coincidentally sized exactly for YouTube specifications).
What this means to you: They say you should never video tape what you don’t want people to see. This is designed to do just the opposite. Internet fame awaits you…
Cost: Pre-order for $200 @ Sony Style
Categories : Electronics, Video

Blu-Ray players have finally reached the sub $500 price point and it comes from Sony. Significant because that means it’s finally less than the Playstation 3 which itself has a Blu-Ray disc player. This player is equipped with full 1080p high definition video playback in 24 frames per second (the same rate as film) for faithful playback of your movies.
What this means to you: Bring high definition movie playback to your home. They’ll make your DVD’s look like 3 year old VHS tapes from Blockbuster.
Cost: $499 @ Crutchfield
Categories : Electronics, Video

When it comes to LCD televisions Sharp takes no prisoners. Setting the standard for resolution, clarity and sheer hotness Sharp knows their flat panels. The full 1080p (full high definition folks, none of this 720p business) AQUOS has dramatic black levels and a design that will satisfy all natures of admirers.
What this means to you: At 32″, it’s the smallest full HD TV your money can get. At under a grand, your money couldn’t be spent on a better TV. Go ahead, burn a paycheck.
Cost: $989 @ BestBuyPlasma (the best price we could find from a reputable dealer)
Full specs after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Categories : Electronics, Video

[Mother’s Day Gift Idea] Looking for the perfect gift for mom? Philips 7″ PhotoFrame™ (seasonal edition) pays tribute to those you love by displaying your digital photos in stunning quality to view, share and relive memories - all without a PC.
Features:
- Top quality display for print-like pictures
- 4 Interchangeable frames to fit your room and personal taste
- View photos directly from memory cards - no PC required
- USB connector for easy photo downloading from your PC
- Create a slideshow for all stored photos
- Play slideshows or browse single photo and thumbnails
- Operate on AC power or cordlessly with rechargeable battery
- Automatically turn on and off display at preset times daily
What this means to mom: Yay, photos of my family 24/7! Now, how do I change the photos?
Cost: $160 @ Buy.com
Categories : Electronics, Cameras, Video, Gift Guide