LG Announces CINEMA 3D HDTV With Nano LED Backlighting

LG has been setting the standard with their flicker free 3D HDTVs. We recently reviewed theLG 47LW6500 and the 42LW5700 and they performed well where the 3D aspect was concerned. The Korean based company has now unveiled the LW980S, which they tout as the newest development in home entertainment. LG claims that the LW980S is a top of-the-class TV that combines LG's advanced CINEMA 3D technology, Smart TV functions and NANO FULL LED all in one sleek package. Really slim bezel Like the models reviewed by us, the LW980S comes with comfortable, lightweight glasses that don't need to be recharged and are easily replaceable. With their latest HDTV, LG claims that they have tackled the issue of not enough content with a proprietary 2D to 3D conversion technology that guarantees a ready supply of shows and movies in high quality 3D. The other main feature of this CINEMA 3D TV are the blacklight levels which boast an extremely high contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1. The HDTV also features Full-LED technology and with LED devices which enable nearly 2,300 screens across the back and keep it sharper and brighter with dense implementation of 3D images. 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio! Through LG Apps which are available by accessing the Internet through the Ethernet port, one can also get 3D Video-on-Demand. Other features of this television include Magic Motion remote control, Smart TV menus as well as built-in Wi-Fi. The LW980S will be unveiled internationally at Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA Berlin) which is a global trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances taking place from September 2-7 in Germany. For more details on this CINEMA 3D TV click here.

Olympus PEN E-P3 Digital Camera

One of the recent developments in the digital camera space has been the introduction of the mirror less, micro four-third sensor cameras. Some of the companies that are really pushing the envelope have been Olympus and Panasonic. There are a bunch of things that make these sort of cameras interesting. They are compact, although not as compact as the smallest point and shoot cameras and yet have the ability to produce SLR quality images. The reason for that is they have larger sensor sizes than point and shoot cameras, which means they have superior image quality.

14-42 mm lens bundled up

Olympus has re-introduced the PEN line of cameras in the digital camera era. Now, there’s a new model. It’s called the E-P3 and it’s the flagship model of the PEN range. Two cheaper models, the E-PM3 and the E-PL3 are yet to follow. The E-P3, like the older E-P1 and E-P2 are targeted at those who are looking to upgrade from a point and shoot camera to a camera with better performance, minus the complexities of a full-fledged DSLR. We first looked at these cameras at an Olympus briefing held in Mumbai, a few weeks back.

Design and Build Quality
The EPL PEN E-P3 has not changed much in design since its predecessors. The PEN E-P3 we received in our labs was a stylish matte black camera with hints of chrome highlights along the edges. Like other PEN cameras, it is compact in design and can fit easily in the hand. It is slightly larger than a standard point and shoot.

40 - 150 mm lens option also available

Unlike the E-P1 and E-P2, this camera comes with a built-in flash that is concealed in the frame of the camera. A simple press of a button next to it is all it takes to deploy the flash that is held inside the body by a set of springs and hinges. These buttons include a dedicated video recording button for shooting videos at 1080i and a Fn1 key  for setting various functions of this camera. Other controls found on the rear of the camera are standard buttons, which are seen on most cameras such as a four way navigational button for flash, aperture priority, auto focus and a timer. The navigational pad also doubles as a scroll for adjusting various camera settings. Besides these the other buttons found are playback, info, menu and erase. A silver jog dial is also located on the back and this is used for adjusting wide-angle and telephoto.

Mode dial on the top

On the top of the camera is a mode dial for changing between the different modes of the PEN E-P3. Other buttons found here are a camera shutter-release button, on/off switch and a secondary function button called Fn2, which can be used to change ISO sensitivity in the manual mode. It has different functions in the different shooting modes.

The camera being slightly smaller than a DSLR isn’t the easiest to grip with one hand. The handgrip on the camera is interchangeable with additional options being made available to users. These can be installed by merely screwing them on to the body. Olympus has bundled a 1150 mAh battery along with the camera and the battery bay is located underneath.

Mini HDMI port available

Features
The Olympus E-P3 uses a micro four-third, 12.3 MP sensor. Its distinct design means there’s no folding mirror mechanism. The screen at the rear is a 3-inch, 6,14,000 dots one. Olympus specifies that the screen used is an OLED. Unlike most other cameras, the E-P3 comes with a touchscreen interface, which is used primarily for selecting focus areas on the screen and also for altering settings.

Spring loaded flash

Olympus provides lens options with the E-P3. The standard kit includes only the stock 14-42mm (3.5-5.6) lens. We received the dual-kit lens kit, which includes an additional 40-150mm (4-5.6) lens. Other than the proprietary USB port, there’s also a mini-HDMI port so you can output videos to a large TV or projector.

Features (Continued) The last major product update, the E-P2 did not include a built-in flash, this one does. HD video recording capabilities are also present. It can shoot videos at HD 1080i using AVCHD and the AVI format. Full zoom on Olympus has taken a slightly different approach with the PEN E-P3. Some of the features include a special art feature, which is basically a set of filters that give you instant results. Olympus has also updated the interface on the PEN series of cameras. The E-P3 specifically has a very minimalistic interface with not too much happening on the screen at any given time. Icons and artwork used on the interface are dense and compact. Olympus has bumped up the amount of filters from six to ten. Hidden in the Scene mode is a 3D feature where it can click 3D pictures and can be viewed on a 3D compatible television. Performance The Olympus PEN E-P3 is bundled with various features and different shooting modes. Images shot outdoors seemed a bit dull in the iAuto mode, though focusing was accurate. Images appeared detailed and no color fringing was noticed. However, those images that were shot at low ISO sensitivities appeared very bright and the color looked off in most respects. Low ISO sensitivity saw color fringing The Olympus PEN E-P3 performed shoddily in images that were shot indoors, with a lot of colour supplementation being noticed. Images shot in iAuto mode appeared crisp and clear but, the colour supplementation was a turn off. Both the 14-42mm and the 40-150mm lens lend themselves well to macro photography. This was a major plus point of this camera. The flash lit up approximately ten feet of a well lit area, which is impressive for any camera flash. The camera allows users to accurately limit the amount of light that leaves the flash. Macro image shot well Focusing isn’t consistent. The camera manages to click photos quickly when there’s sufficient light and the objects are prominent. While focusing on walls or plain surfaces, focusing is slower and sometimes the auto focus system refuses to focus. Olympus bundles a 1150 mAh lithium ion battery along with this camera and they rate the battery at approximately 330 shots, which is quite impressive for a camera with all these features. Flagship model of Olympus Verdict The PEN E-P3 sells at a maximum retail price of Rs. 39,999 for a single lens kit (14-42mm) and a maximum retail price of Rs. 46,999 for a dual lens (14-42mm lens and 40-150mm). While this may be a step up from point and shoot cameras, the PEN E-P3 has its fair amount of quirks for a camera looking to break into the DSLR market share. While it may have a ton of interesting features and packs a ton of concepts into a compact body; this camera is still not competent enough to match up to DSLR when it comes to quality. Looks and flamboyance are this camera’s forte and it does well in the features department too. However, for a price of almost Rs. 47,000, one would rather opt for a lower price ranging DSLR camera and achieve better image results.

Samsung Launches 3G Ready NC110 Netbook Exclusively for Croma Stores

Samsung have launched a new 3G enabled netbook, the NC110, exclusively for Croma retail outlets. The 10.1-inch netbook is priced around Rs.21,500, but the exact configuration details are still unknown. With the 3G boom currently happening in India, Samsung hopes to take advantage of this and create a new segment in the netbook space. 3G Ready! The NC110 will run Windows 7 Starter Edition and will come with a built-in 3G modem, which means all you have to do is slip in a 3G ready SIM card and you should be good to go. The netbook is pretty light as well weighing in at just 1.18kg (when using the 6600mAh battery). If you wish to get your hands on it though, you’ll have to visit your nearest Croma outlet, since that’s the only place you’ll find it. A 3G ready netbook makes sense as you don’t lose a USB port for a data card plus it looks a lot neater than having a dongle sticking out of the side.

Acer’s New C110 Pico-Projector is USB Powered and ‘Android Ready’

Pico-projectors are handy little gadgets that come to the rescue when you have that spur of the moment presentation to deliver. Although they haven’t caught on too well in our country, this scenario may just change with their new C110 projector. What sets this apart from the rest is that it doesn’t require a power adapter and is powered solely through USB, either from a laptop or any Android Tablet provided it has a USB host port. Small and Compact Don’t take its size as a sign of weakness though, this DLP projector is powered by a LED lamp and can project up to a 100-inch screen. The brightness is a bit low at just 50 lumens, so you’ll need as little to no ambient light as possible for a good picture. The projector weighs just 175g and sports a very nice 1280x800 resolution. The C110 is expected to be sold at a little over $300 when it releases in August and even though we don’t have an India launch confirmed yet, it should make its way here since the ICONIA A500 is already out and they both complement each other very well as you can see in the video below.

BenQ Launches W1100 Full HD Projector for Movie Buffs

Choosing between a projector and a large screen TV for one's home theater setup has always been a tough choice. Most people don’t have that kind of hall space to accommodate a 100-inch screen, which is why sales of multimedia projectors haven’t really taken off. If you are one of those exceptions, then you’ll love BenQ’s new offering. They’ve launched the W1100, which is a full HD projector with a native resolution of 1920x1080p. It’s priced at Rs. 95,000 and is available across India.

Bringing the cinema home

Some highlights of the W1100 are the 2000 lumens brightness and 4,500:1 contrast ratio. The 10-bit color processor in this DLP projector is capable of pumping out 1 billion colors. You also get two 10W speakers with SRS WOW HD built-in so simply, that you just have to connect that HDMI cable and you’re all set. For a limited period, BenQ will be bundling a HD DTH set-top box (they haven’t mentioned which one) with the projector which should attract prospective buyers.

Harman/Kardon BDS 700 Home Theatre System - TECH2 REVIEWS

Harman/Kardon is one of the first manufacturers of stereo receivers, if not the first. They have been known for entering into the audio receiver market, well before any other manufacturer. The company continues to set the benchmark, as one of the best producers of AV receivers.

Fast forward to 2011, Harman/Kardon is now a company known world over by audiophiles and even by people who are remotely interested in AV technology. The company has expanded globally and they've now unveiled their brand new BDS 700 Blu-ray disc-enabled Harman/Kardon home entertainment system in India. The system includes BDS-5 Blu-Ray player, AV receiver and the acclaimed HKTS9 5.1 speaker system with active subwoofer.

Stylish front panel and big volume dial

Design and Build Quality
The Harman/Kardon BDS 700 home theatre system, unlike other brands is fitted with stand alone products and for the package is bundled up as one. We have the BDS-5 Blu-ray player cum AV receiver, the HKTS9 5.1 speaker system and a HKTS200SUB/ 230, which can also be purchased separately.

The BDS-5 Blu-ray and receiver is styled like other Harman/ Kardon receivers with a glossy black front and side panels, complete with a brushed silver top panel. This player is very stylish looking, and yet displays a sense of power which Harman/Kardon has been known for in the past few decades. The manufacturer has gone with a minimalistic design while designing the look of this product. There is a slot loader on the left of the front panel for a single disk. The LCD display flushes along the face of the front panel and is done very neatly, so much so that it becomes difficult to distinguish it from the rest of the panel. Like other AV receivers from Harman/Kardon, there is a large dial for adjusting volume and is grey in color. Below the face of the player is a USB slot, as well as a 3.5mm audio jack where a headset or a pair of earphones can be attached. This is seen on most players nowadays. On the top of the player are the circular on/off and eject buttons, which are designed really well and do not compromise the look of the player.

On the rear of the AV receiver is where all the connectors lie. Unlike other players, Harman/Kardon uses gold plated connectors for speakers. The connectors are neatly color coded for connecting to either the front, centre or surround speakers. Interestingly, Harman/Kardon has also added an Ethernet port on the rear thus making it possible to connect the player to the Internet for BD live content. Other connectivity options found at the back are an HDMI port, analog audio, digital audio, as well as a color coded LFE (Low Frequency Effects) subwoofer connector. Apart from HDMI, all these connectors are gold plated, as well.

Gold plated rear connectors

The HKTS9 5.1 speaker system like the player is very stylish looking. The system includes four two way satellite speakers and one centre channel speaker. Each of these speakers include a mid-range driver and a tweeter, which are neatly concealed behind the speaker meshing. The HKTS200SUB/ 230 subwoofer, like the player has a glossy black finish. The woofer has four cone shaped stands, thereby elevating it allowing the woofer to fire downwards. There is a single light on the top of the player for displaying the on/off status of the woofer. The woofer has an on/off switch at the back along with other controls like adjusting the volume level, a toggle switch for turning on bass boost, a toggle switch for phase mode and other connectors for LFE and external trigger input. The BDS 700 remote control is a sleek and stylish looking controller and has its buttons well spaced. The controller features designated buttons for switching between the different modes such as Blu-ray, iPod, etc., which simplifies switching between the different modes.

Overall the design of the BDS 700 is really good and would be a good ‘looking’ option for a home theatre system.

Features
The BDS 700 is primarily a Blu-ray player and a receiver for the bundled 5.1 channel speaker set. This in itself is the standout feature of this kit. The other features of this player include an Ethernet port, but this is restricting as with the cable one can only connect to the Internet to receive BD Live content. One cannot use the Internet facility to stream YouTube videos or even connect to an NAS device for streaming content. In addition to Blu-rays, the player can also play audio and video content from a flash drive using the USB port located at the front. However, the player supports only FAT32 drives so storage options were limited.

The player can support 1080p video playback and can support popular formats such as DivX - AVI, MPEG, and MP4. The BDS-700 supports a wide range of audio formats and can also render them using Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD, which are mostly found on higher end players.

Glossy subwoofer, centre and satellite speakers

The player also has an option called iPod Connect where one can use an iPod or an iPhone by pairing it with a Harman/Kardon Bridge IIIP to play content from the said portable device. However the dock is not included in the BDS 700 bundle and has to be purchased separately.

Performance
The Harman/Kardon BDS 700 was hooked to a Panasonic 65-inch 65VT20 Viera Plasma HDTV via an HDMI cable. The speakers were calibrated, according to the dimensions of our test lab to get the optimum results from the home theatre system. We tested the player using all the out of the box settings with minimal tweaking. We ran our tests using a Blu-ray of How To Train Your Dragon and also standard definition videos, as well as HD videos stored on a flash drive.

Sleek looking remote control

The Blu-ray playback was really good and the video rendered well. There were no issues with video quality and images displayed were crisp. The satellite speakers all fired well and the subtle background tones could be made out well from the rear channels. Voices were very audible through the centre channel and overall there was no issue with video playback through the Blu-ray feature. Playing videos through the USB flash drives was equally good, but it goes without saying that the Blu-ray playback was much better.

The audio playback was quite shallow. We noticed that though the volume was loud, there was a fair amount of emptiness in the form of lacking frequency response noticed. The speakers lacked the thump expected from a brand of their quality. The system needed to be tweaked to get the maximum out of it, and then it was a lot better. Out of the box, the audio playback just does not cut it. After tweaking, the playback was good with all of the deft tones noticed. The speakers having 65 watts per channel fired on all counts except for mids to a mild extent. There was the desired thump emitting from the 200 Watt subwoofer and no other playback issues. The remote control of the home theatre system performed really well even at distances of over 10 feet. There was no need to point it directly at the system. Pointing it in its general and selecting options worked pretty well too.

Glossy black and very visually appealing

Verdict
The BDS 700 is priced at a market operating price of Rs. 59,990, which includes taxes. Though the BDS 700 Blu-ray home theatre system did well in the looks department, as a Blu-ray capable home theater system, the cost is way too high. We see decent features and these are a powerful set of speakers, but out of the box, they lacked the quality expected. Harman/Kardon is in a league of its own and will continue to flourish the way they have been all these years. In this case, they’ve tried to create a package that competes with some of the mainstream brands; the end result isn’t as stunning or as jaw-dropping as it should have been.

LG Unveils World’s First Glasses-Free 3D Monitor

3D desktop monitors have hit a bit of a roadblock and there isn’t much to choose from as compared to 3D televisions. This is probably due to the fact that 3D glasses don’t come cheap and you have to pair it with Nvidia’s 3DVision kit which again is quite an investment. To avoid all this hassle, LG has launched their first (world’s first as well) glasses-free 3D monitor. The D2000 will also feature an eye tracking technology that automatically adjusts the 3D effect depending on the position of your eye.

No more dorky glasses

Along with that, the monitor also features 2D to 3D conversion feature which automatically converts movies and games into 3D. This is very similar to Asus’s Naked 3D technology used in their upcoming gaming notebook which also uses a camera to track your eyes. No word on the specifications or pricing as of now, so I guess we’ll have to wait and watch.

Casio Launches Mercury Free 3D Projectors in India

Japanese consumer electronic giant, Casio has recently launched the world’s first mercury lamp-free, high-brightness data projectors at an event in New Delhi. Casio has launched three top models of its projector series which are Short Throw, Pro and Standard models. Speaking at the launch of these projectors Mr. M. Naka, Managing Director of Casio India Company said that their eco-friendly projectors promise to revolutionize the Indian market with never before features such as projection in a 3D format as well as converting the projection screen into an electronic blackboard by mouse operations and writing on the projection screen with the optical interactive pointer.  Mercury free 3D projectors from Casio now in India The Standard Model has features such as: Mercury free ANSI lumen up to 3000 Compatible with 3D content Wireless LAN function with MobiShow compatibility USB 2.0 host function Wireless connection with a smartphone or mobile device AV terminals such as HDMI and S-Video PC input terminals The Standard Models of projectors from Casio range from Rs. 66,995 to Rs. 99,995. The Pro Models have features such as: Mercury free ANSI lumen up to 3000 10W monaural speaker Compatible with 3D content A mouse compatible interactive pointing function supporting writing Wireless LAN function with MobiShow compatibility USB 2.0 host function Wireless connection with a smartphone or mobile device AV terminals such as HDMI and S-Video PC input terminals The Pro Models of projectors from Casio range from Rs. 1,19,995 to Rs. 1,34,995. The Short Throw Series has features such as: Up to 3000 lumens is equipped with a set of applications Equipped with a short-throw lens for projection of 60-inch images at a distance of 80 cm 10W monaural speaker Compatible with 3D content A mouse compatible interactive pointing function supporting writing Wireless LAN function with MobiShow compatibility USB 2.0 host function Wireless connection with a smartphone or mobile device AV terminals such as HDMI and S-Video PC input terminals The Short Throw Series of projectors from Casio range from Rs. Rs 1,29,995 to Rs 1,34,995 Average lamp-life of new projectors is 20,000 hours, approximately 10 times higher than conventional mercury projectors. These projectors are available at select stores across India and come with a three-year limited warranty. For more information on these projectors, click the linkhere.