New Medium Enterprises’ (NME) proprietary HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) format uses standard red lasers, but crams in 4 layers per disc to handle the data needs of full high-definition content. VMD’s cost advantage comes from the fact that discs and players can be produced using much of the already existing infrastructure that’s set up to produce standard DVDs. First generation VMD will store up to 24GB, but there are already plans in the works to expand this capacity further using more layers, and potentially thinner wavelength blue lasers as prices come down.

The manufacturer claims the format supports full 1080i and 1080p resolutions, as well as bit rates up to 40 Mbps (about half way between the two competing HD formats). The players support video compressed in MPEG- 2, MPEG-1, VC-1, H-264(AVC) formats. As an added bonus, HD VMD is region free, so you don’t have to worry about where you bought your discs. Audio support includes Dolby Digital and DTS, but none of the more advanced audio formats you might find on Blu-Ray and HD DVD players. Even the least expensive HD VMD players offer HDMI and component outputs, and will scale old-school DVDs up to 1080p over the HDMI connection.

The most obvious downside to the budding format is the current lack of available content. NME has only scored distribution rights to a a handful of movies that I’ve ever heard of. Launch titles include: Hostage, Apocalypto, Pulp Fiction, Babel, Saw II and Saw III. Most of the other movies are either lesser-known independents, older films or Bollywood features from India. It’s doubtful that the company will be able to garner support from most major studios, given their already significant investments in the other HD formats. With HD DVD and Blu-ray prices on the decline, HD VMD will face a serious uphill fight.

Both projectors feature a widescreen 3-LCD panel with 720p native resolution, and a bright 165-watt UHP lamp. They both include versions of Sony’s well-reviewed advanced iris system, providing the AW10 with a 6000:1 contrast ratio and a 12,000:1 contrast ratio for the AW15. The more expensive of the two models also includes lens shift capabilities to provide installation flexibility. They’re also designed for quiet operation with a low noise fan mode that can be as quiet as 20dB.

If you’re looking to set up a really big screen home theater set up (say between 80 and 200 inches diagonal,) and don’t have a lot of money to invest, this looks like it could be a great way to get into the game. Sure, the projector doesn’t have the full 1920×1080 resolution of today’s more expensive models, but it is capable of handling 720p, 1080i and 1080p sources, so you’ll be able to enjoy all high definition content regardless. Both projectors are both expected to start shipping this June.

[Press Release]

The new LG J10HD system is a full-featured home entertainment system complete with DVD player, 2.1 channel sound and an onboard 80GB hard drive for media storage. CD music can be ripped to the hard drive or MP3, WMA and JPEG files can be copied from a PC via USB.

The system’s 2.1 sound system offers 5.1 virtual surround (Dolby, DTS and XTS) and a total of 300W of amplification (75W x 2 + 150W subwoofer), which should be more than sufficient for a small home theater. The DVD player features 1080i upscaling and can play back a wide variety of formats including DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and DivX formats. Outputs include HDMI, Component, Optical Audio and SCART.

The LG J10HD can be found online in Europe for about

The MicroHDTV camera measures just about 1.5″ x 1.5″ x 3″ and can easily fit in confined spaces like the inside of a race car or even on a helmet. The camera features IP-based connectivity and all settings (color, white balance, frame rate, etc…) can be controlled via a remote web browser.

This miniaturization could mean that we’ll see really high-quality first person perspective coverage of sporting events in the very near future.

[via Bloggingit]

It features a 10x optical zoom Fujinon lens, as well as optical image stabilization. The $1800 JVC Everio GZ-HD7 offers both point-and-shoot automation, as well as a variety of manual controls for focus, white balance, exposure, shutter and aperture controls and sharpness. The camera offers USB and i.LINK (Firewire) interfaces for moving data to a computer for editing, as well as an HDMI port for hooking directly to a TV for playback.

In addition, JVC plans to release an add-on DVD burner, the Share Station CU-VD40 ($400), which can be used to archive recorded footage without a computer, as well as to play back footage directly from an internal HDMI connection.

[via gizmag]