CES - Home theater

LAS VEGAS--Officially, the Consumer Electronics show runs for four days. But the real action happens before the show, as the world's consumer electronics companies line up to tout their latest and greatest gadgets, products, and apps via a marathon of press conferences--every hour, on the hour.

This year was no exception: 2011's "day zero" yielded a data dump of unprecedented proportions from the industry's biggest names. We're still sorting through it all ourselves, but here's a photo overview--with relevant links to earlier stories--to help put it all into perspective. Among the recurring themes … Read more

Xbox 360 and Kinect owners will soon be able to enjoy easy new ways to wave their way through movies and music.

Microsoft this evening announced a spring software upgrade that will let Kinect owners use hand gestures and spoken commands to watch videos streamed through Netflix and the Hulu Plus monthly subscription service, effectively upping the stakes in the rivalry with Sony's Blu-ray-equipped PlayStation 3.

You'll be able to watch these "controller-free in the living room, the biggest screen in your home," Ron Forbes of Microsoft's interactive entertainment division told the audience at the … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Sony announced its flagship Blu-ray home-theater-in-a-box today, the BDV-E780W. Sony's flagship HTIB offers a set of features similar to what we've seen on other models, including built-in Wi-Fi, wireless rear speakers, and two HDMI inputs.

Like other Sony Blu-ray products, the BDV-E780W will be able to access the Bravia Internet Video content portal, which includes Netflix, Amazon VOD, Hulu Plus, Pandora, YouTube, Slacker, and Qriosity. It also features Gracenote's disc identification software, which enables the player to display cover art and related information for Blu-ray and DVD movies.

The most noticeable change from last year's … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Sony introduced its new HomeShare audio streaming platform with wireless iPod docks and wireless speakers, and it also rolled out a new touchscreen Wi-Fi universal remote to control them: the RMN-U1.

The RMN-U1 is capable of controlling new Sony HDTVs and home theater products over Wi-Fi, using their built-in DLNA compatibility. Of course the catch is that all your other gadgets will still need to be controlled via infrared, which the RMN-U1 can handle as well.

Sony is also promising a slick user interface, using activity-based commands (think: Harmony), plus eye candy like album art showing up on the … Read more

Sony has one major focus for the near future and that's 3D.

The entertainment and electronics giant previewed a slew of new 3D-compatible products this evening during the company's keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 3D theme transcends the company's line of products, from TVs and Blu-ray players to laptops and game titles.

Sony kicked off the event with a dramatic 3D demonstration, featuring a long clip from Sony's forthcoming 3D movie "The Green Hornet." Sony Chairman Howard Stringer was then delivered on stage in the Green Hornet's car by the stars of the action movie, Seth Rogan and Jay Chou.

Stringer--while still wearing his 3D glasses--predicted that 50 million TVs in U.S. homes would be Internet-connected via Sony products, including TV, Blu-ray players, and PlayStation consoles, by March. Calling 3D "more than a scientific gimmick," Stringer predicted that 2011 would be "a year in which 3D becomes personal."

One of the ways Stringer intends to get into U.S. homes is via a new 3D channel called 3Net, which will launch in the coming months and feature 24/7 3D content.

Stringer then introduced Sony VP Hiroshi Yoshioka, who took the stage to talk about some of the products Sony has in the works. He promised a 3D-compatible Vaio and handicams. He also showed off a prototype head-mounted display for watching movies and a prototype glasses-less 3D Blu-ray player that resembled a portable DVD player. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Last year Sony had one of the strongest Blu-ray players lineups, headed by the excellent BDP-S570. Today Sony unveiled its new line of Blu-ray players, offering refinements to an already strong product line.

Here's a quick rundown of the announced features:

Key features of the Sony BDP-S380:

Key step-up features of the Sony BDP-S480:

LAS VEGAS--If you've never engaged in a VoIP to your friend or loved one in real time on a 50-inch display, your luck could change two ways. First, Skype is extending its lineup of Skype-enabled TVs to include the Sony Bravia and Vizio Via. Those will show up later in 2011.

If buying an HDTV isn't your style, Skype has also announced deals with Panasonic and Sony to include Skype on select Blu-ray players. You'll still need a Webcam for this approach, but as we briefly saw in a Samsung press conference earlier today, Skype has a … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Panasonic's press conferences aren't known to be all that scintillating, but the good news this year is that the Japanese electronics giant kept things relatively short.

As expected, we got to hear about second-generation 3D TVs and, as usual, several new digital-imaging and home theater-products were announced, many of them featuring some 3D angle.

Perhaps most interesting was the company's decision to rename its Viera Cast streaming media platform Viera Connect. The rechristening was part of a concerted effort of the company to build out its smart TV platform. One of the demos included Gameloft CEO … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Sony has announced its first portable Blu-ray player, the BDP-SX1000, featuring a 10.1-inch screen and 5-hour battery life.

The screen has a WSVGA native resolution (which usually means 1,024x576 pixels), so it won't deliver the full resolution of Blu-ray, but you probably wouldn't notice on a screen that small anyway. There's also a USB port, although Sony hasn't specified what types of digital media the BDP-SX1000 can play back. Rounding out the rest of the features are its 180-degree swivel stand, built-in speakers, and headphone output.

Sony's initial statement didn't specify … Read more