Samsung is also working on creating its own TV App Store, so you can look forward to having even more features on your Samsung products. Initially, Lovefilm application will be available in the UK only. The company has not announced any dates or plans for extending the facility to Europe. Lovefilm, which commanded a price of £200 million, has wide range of movies available in its portfolio. By the way, Lovefilm streaming is already available on PlayStation consoles as well.

Source: Engadget

Samsung to Stream Lovefilm Contents on its Blu-ray Players is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Initially, YouView is planning to target the market of 7 million people who are already using FreeView along with a broadband connection. Freeview is planning to source its content from various sources ranging from indie sources to internet phenomenon such as YouTube and Lovefilm. Navigation will be done through remote control, which I believe, will enhance the overall TV feel, which just is not possible with a key board and mouse.  Since Apple and Google are already in the online TV arena, things are only bound to get more interesting with the entry of YouView. However, now even the manufacturers such as Samsung and Sony are directly embedding digital content in their devices. Sony has already said that its new Bravia sets will have in-built BBC iPlayer.

YouView set-top boxes are expected to hit markets in the first half of 2011.

Source: SlashGear

YouView to Bring IPTV to British Screens is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was disc medium called Blu-ray it allowed people to look through a window into the future and re-live their favourite movies.

Well, now you’ll be able to re-live the magic of the Star Wars universe in full 1080p glory. After Jedi Lucas announced at the Star Wars Celebration V event in Orlando, Florida that he is planning to release the whole Star Wars saga on Blu-ray.

However, you’re going to have to wait at least a year before we see the first release. As it is won’t be available until sometime in fall 2011.

“I wish I could say it was coming out this year”, said Lucas, speaking at the event. “But it will come out next year.”

Among the new features set for inclusion are never-before-seen scenes, including a new introduction to Return Of The Jedi. Which we for one would buy the whole set for this tasty extra morsel of Start Wars goodness.

And if you’re a true Jedi, you can reserve you copy of each trilogy from Amazon right now. Here for the Episodes I-III and Episodes I-III for the new three.

May the force be with you.

Star Wars Coming to Blu-Ray Says George Lucas is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

In what may be the biggest revolution in the industry from TV moving from black-and-white to colour, 3D TV is all the rage at CES this year with Sony, Samsung, LG, and Toshiba all announced 3D-compatible HDTVs at this year’s event.

Panasonic has been banging on about its 3D technology since last year’s event though, so we thought we’d see what developments have been made since.

Panasonic’s press conference began with a live broadcast from Japan of company president, Fumio Ohtsubo, on an HD visual communications system. He used himself as an example to introduce Panasonic’s new HD 3D professional video camera, allowing filmmakers to get creative with a new dimension.

The company plans to mainstream 3D HDTV through model info on five plasma sets in its Viera range and a Blu-Ray Disc player.

Panasonic’s 3D HD TVs (catchy, no?) range in screen size from 50 inches to 65 inches, and are due to ship by mid-2010, though costs are still under wraps.

The TVs include two 50-inch sets (TC-P50VT20 and TC-P50VT25), a 54-inch set (TC-P54VT25); a 58-inch model (TC-P58VT25) and the 65-inch blockbuster (TC-P65VT25).

Each set comes with one pair of the special funny-looking glasses that we’re supposed to don to see Man Vs. Wild in 3D.

If you fancy re-living the Avatar experience over and over again after it comes out on Blu-ray, Panasonic’s 3D-enabled DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player will do just the job and will also play standard Blu-ray Discs and DVDs if you can’t handle the 3D blue leopard skin.

Panasonic also used its time in the spotlight to announce a partnership with Skype to equip its latest Viera TVs with videoconferencing capabilities.

The partnership allows TV watchers to make and receive Skype calls without taking their eyes off Neighbours.

You will also be able to use Skype TV to call mobile phones or landlines and set up voice conference calls with up to 24 other people.

Panasonic has created a specially designed camera that can be plugged into a Viera Cast set to make video-calling possible. The camera will deliver up to 720p video quality. and features a microphone system that can detect sound from “couch distance”.

Are you tempted to upgrade your current box to 3D? Leave us a comment and let us know.

CES 2010: Panasonic Brings 3D HD TV to Life Avatar Style is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

One of the systems we're previewing. The Sony HTP-BD36SS

This week, if you’ve been following, we’ve been previewing some fantastic, all-in-one Blu-ray surround sound home cinema systems from Sony. Today we’re looking at some more systems from Sony, based around the S360 Blu-ray disc player.

Sony’s BDP-S360 Blu-ray Disc player is already attracting a whole host of praise and approval. Now, Sony have created four new sound systems built around the player- fantastic. For starters, each of the systems boast surround sound features of all the all-in-ones we’ve reviewed this week but, according to Sony, have even more flexibility, courtesy of three HDMI inputs for extra AV sources and a wider choice of speaker systems.

The BDV-360FS is a 400W 2.1-channel system with S-Force Front Surround technology, while the BDV-360IS uses five of Sony’s amazingly tiny ‘golfball-sized’ speakers to create a truly immersive surround sound experience.

The HTP-BD36SS packs in a bigger 1000W and features compact satellite speakers. The system is wireless-ready, allowing cable-free operation of the rear speakers with an optional amplifier model.

The HTP-BD36SF takes the same concept and partners it with four floorstanding speakers for the front and rear left and right channels for those of us who like a bit more visual for our money.

We’re hoping to see and review some, if not all, of these systems when we attend the IFA in September. To stay tuned to all future updates on Sony, or any part of Gaj-it, why not subscribe to our feed? If you want it all sending in an email, you could always subscribe to our newsletter too.

Four more home cinema solutions from Sony is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Sony BDV-Z7 blu-ray home cinema system

Yesterday we looked at the Sony BDV-E800W and on Tuesday we previewed the BDV-E300, two blu-ray surround sound home cinema systems we’re looking forward to seeing at the IFA in Berlin this year.

Today’s offering, the Sony BDV-Z7, offers most of the facilities of the two systems we’ve reviewed this week but is more suited to smaller rooms or apartments.

The BDV-Z7 is stylish and compact with a 2.1-channel format creating great surround sound using Sony’s S-Force Front Surround technology. This gives a virtual 5.1 surround sound experience.

There’s no need for rear speakers for the sound to wraparound and is therefore suited more to smaller rooms or just keeping the number of speakers floating around your room to an absolute minimum, while still getting some great quality sound.

Somehow the Z7 manages to pack in a 350W power output, BD-Live, 24p and x.v.Colour, Full HD video with the latest HD audio codecs, 1080p upscaling for DVDs, BRAVIA Sync (so you only need one remote control) and a Digital Media Port. We’re not quite sure where though- it’s so compact.

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at three other systems built around Sony’s BDP-S360 Blu-ray disc player. So you don’t miss out, subscribe to our feed now.

Sony’s compact blu-ray home cinema system with clout is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

The Sony BDV-E800W home cinema setup

Remember yesterday when we reviewed the Sony BDV-E300 blu-ray and surround sound home cinema system? Well, if you do, you may not be surprised by the first couple of paragraphs on its brother system, the E800W.

As you’ll recognise from yesterday, the both systems have 1000w of amplification with Sony’s S-Master digital amplifier. They also both come with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA with Sony’s Digital Cinema Sound, the latest Blu-ray Disc features, and all the mod-cons you’d expect of such a system.

More excitingly the E800W uses a technology from Sony that uses nearly double the range of colours so the picture will well and truly pop.

What’s more, if you haven’t got round to buying any blu-ray DVDs quite yet, the system will upscale your existing, bog-standard DVDs to near-FullHD standard. So the ‘what comes first the DVD or the player’ mystery is well and truly resolved.

Where the BDV-E800W stands apart from the E300 is with its four floorstanding main speakers for front and rear, left and right channels. It packs in the same high-power subwoofer as the E300, and there’s some wireless rear speakers thrown is as standard as standard so hiding wires is no longer an issue.

As promised yesterday, Sony brings another two exciting features to the E300 and E800W.

Digital Cinema Auto Calibration means that tyour system will set itself up for optimal performance in your room. It can even take into account your listening position too.

Sony’s Digital Media Port allows the connection of iPod, Walkman players, mobile phones and Bluetooth stereo devices so you can hook them up to your TV (and, more importantly, your godly surround sound system) for a different music experience altogether.

Tomorrow we will be taking a look at a whole new Sony home cinema system, the BDV-Z7, a simpler yet still effective system for the casual home cinema viewer. Why not subscribe to our RSS feed now so you don’t miss it?

More bite than bark: Sony BDV-E800W home cinema system is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

The Sony BDV-E300 home cinema system

Remember those seven Sony blu-ray/surround sound home cinema systems we told you about on Monday? Well, this is one of them. The Sony BDV-E300.

In essence, the BDV-E300, we’ll call it E300 for short, is in the most part identical to its brother system, the BDV-E800W (previewed tomorrow). It does, however, have a few subtle differences to help you decide.

For starters, both systems kick off with 1000w of amplification with Sony’s S-Master digital amplifier. They also both have the latest Blu-ray Disc features, such as BD-Live for added content and features.

The E300, alongside its 800W brother, boasts 24p with x.v.Colour- the latter of which is a Sony technology utilisting nearly double the range of colours that can be successfully reproduced. Needless to say, the quality will be amazing.

The E300 packs in a lot more strange yet interesting technology names too. With Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA with Sony’s Digital Cinema Sound you’re in for a cinematic feast.

The E300 will also upscale your existing DVDs so that they’re nearly as good as in HD, and have Sony’s Virtual 7.1-channel sound so you can have a complete “wraparound” experience without the need for a mess of speakers cluttering your room.

If you’re not satisfied with virtual surround sound- and lets, face it, why should you be?- a real 7.1 set-up is also possible with the wireless upgrade kit WAHT-SBP1. This comes complete with an amplifier and two additional speakers.

“The systems,” say Sony “are as simple to use as they are breathtaking in performance”. With Sony’s BRAVIA Sync, you’ll have seamless operation of a complete Sony system with one remote handset- no more masses of controls.

Where the E300 differs from the 800W is in its use of five compact satellite speakers for the main channels, which can be place around the room.  Both models feature a powerful subwoofer, and the E300 offers wireless operation of the rear speakers with the addition of the WAHT-SA1 optional amplifier, just incase you want true and total power over your home cinema system.

There’s even a few more features too, but we’ll save them for tomorrow. The Digital Cinema Auto Calibration and Digital Media Port are just two that will be covered with the 800W tomorrow. Why not subscribe to our feed now to make sure you don’t miss out?

Buy: Sony BDV-E300 from John Lewis for £499

Sony BDV-E300: Blu-ray and surround sound is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

There are three all-in-one systems to take your pick from with features ranging from full 1080p HD video to DVD upscaling, to sleek yet simple surround sound systems.

Environmentally speaking, all seven systems consume 0.3W in standy and over 85% power efficiency of the amplifier block is achieved with the full digital amplifier, S-Master.

We will be taking a closer look at three of the systems over the coming days, with a comparison on Friday, so stay tuned for more sound-tastic Sony goodness.

UPDATE:

• Sony BDV-E300
• Sony BDV-E800W

Home cinema comes alive with Sony Blu-ray and surround sound is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Toshiba will begin to produce stand alone Blu-Ray players as well as drives for PCs and laptops, with its first products expected in shops by Christmas this year.

Blu-Ray won its first victory in early 2008 when it was announced that all four of the biggest movie studios would support the format.

Sony largely developed Blu-Ray, and used the best-selling PlayStation 3 to boost the format’s popularity by fitting the console with a Blu-Ray player.

In what is good news for consumers, Blu-Ray products look set to now become cheaper as more intense competition should result in a bit of a price war. This linked to the build-up for Christmas sales in a recession means that you may be able to afford “Tyson” and “Visions of Italy” in HD without having to compromise with the spouse.

Toshiba gives up HD-DVD for Blu-Ray is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com