• Disklavier 2.0 - $10,000 to $80,000 - Grand piano's brand new software streams digital player-piano songs over the internet, for a live piano via net radio. PDA remote operates over Wi-Fi.
• EZ-200 Keyboard - $150 - Learning keyboard for kids. Like many, it has light up keys to show you where to put your fingers. But this one will wait for you: it eases the tempo of the song down automatically to match your playing.
• Modus H01 - $12,500 - Sexy "velvet rouge" reimagining of the traditional piano. It's electronic, but with a natural feel. It contains a 40-watt sound system, and also comes in "amber glow" and "deep brunette."
• Clavinova CVP400 - $TBA - Do-it-yourself Barry Manilow workstation: sing into the mic while you play, and it automatically mixes voice and piano into a WAV that you can save on USB thumbdrive.

With reporting by Jennifer Hooker

Currently the handsets that work are the LG CU500v, Samsung a707, Samsung a717 and Samsung a727, with 9 to 11 compatible devices sold by AT&T by year's end. Also, like anything else, you need to pay extra for the service. It's $4.99 per month for 25 minutes (cumulative, not continuous) and $9.99 for 60 minutes. There's also an a la carte plan that's 35 cents per minute which actually sounds like the best deal of all. How many times a month are you going to be at the grocery going, "Hey, which variety of miniature eggplant do you want?" and really need the video. What's cool is that only the transmitting phone is charged for the service, though both need to be signed up one way or another.

It may occur to you to ask, as I did, whether or not you can save the video you transmit. The answer is, "Absolutely." The video you stream is cached to memory as you go. If you run out of memory, it stops saving the video, but keeps streaming it. I was a little bummed that the recipient can't save the video—AT&T says it's for privacy reasons. Hopefully we'll get some video of Video Share up so you can see it in action. I'll confess the reason I can't is because there's no AT&T HSDPA service in my densely populated NYC suburb. An issue that will have to be resolved before AT&T can become a tru playa in the Northeast. (Not just HSDPA. Even iPhones can only venture so far into our fair countryside before losing all connectivity, but that's another story. Or is it?) [AT&T Video Share]

• Jensen NVX225 - The low end of portable GPS navigators keeps getting lower. This little one with SiRFStar III chip and Navteq data lists for a pretty damn low $249. Wonder what its street price will be?

• Jensen NVX430BT navigator with, yep you guessed it, Bluetooth. Price is TBD, and the product ships this fall.

• Audiovox digital photo frames (DPF) in 7", 8" and 10.4" models ($99 to $199). Standard frames, just like most other China-based manufacturers, but these have clock and calendar software. I'm wondering how beneficial a clock will be in a picture frame, but it's a neat idea. I'd like to see the clock superimposed over my images, though. Not sure if that's possible. Yet.

• Two portable Audiovox 8" DVD players: $199 with iPod iPod dock for video out (no iPhones!), and $149 for DVDs only. These were my favorite pieces of the show (besides the cute remote-start keychain in the gallery). I like the matte black finish, and the 8" screen looked decent. The iPod dock does DivX and has a USB jack too.

• Model ARE05 noise-isolating earbuds for $79, about middle of the pack, price wise, and looked fairly decent. Of course, I didn't stick them in my ears.

• The priciest announcements were in the wireless headphone category, where the 2.1 AWD210 set lists for $199, and the AWD510 5.1 surround wireless headphones list for $349; both use 2.4GHz RF, rather than the previous Acoustic Research wireless headphones that used 900MHz technology.

According to Samsung, this is the world's first 1080p Wi-Fi plasma. That's a lot of qualifiers, but it is pretty tasty, and according to the company, the issue of getting Hollywood's permission to stream 1080p video from Blu-ray or HD DVD is being resolved, and the TVs will ship in early October. They will be at 50" and 58" sizes, and will cost $600 more than the equivalent plasmas without Wi-Fi. Note the USB jack next to the HDMI input.

LED backlighting is the wave of the future for LCDs, and not just because they are "greener" than the current CCFLs. Because they can alternately dim and brighten 60 or 70 separate clusters of LEDs underneath the LCD panel, you get deeper contrast, but without losing detail in dark scenes. The TV in the shot below is the previously announced but never-before-shown LN-T4681F, a 46" set that will list for around $3,500. (Though the screen shows that idiotic Robots movie, the best demo of the TV's shadow and explosion capability was Batman Begins.)

Finally, we turn to 120Hz. As many commenters have acknowledged, there are plenty of different types of 120Hz systems, and many different claims. I think the best ones are the ones that use image processing to interpolate new frames. (And yes, there are different types of interpolation, too, but let's skip that for now.) If you look at the photo I snapped of the TV here, Samsung's $3,000 46" LN-T4671F, you can actually see that for every two frames on the right, there's only one on the left. The camera don't lie, and believe me, it looked good in person too.

Here's the breakdown of the models:
• The flagship SC-HMX10 is a high-definition flash-memory camcorder with 8GB built in memory plus SD and SDHC card compatibility for expansion. The $799 model includes 10X optical zoom lens, an HDMI output, a touchpanel LCD screen and electronic image stabilizer. It will be out in September for $799.

• Similar in style to its HD brother is the SC-MX10, called the "YouTube" cam because it is easy to shoot VGA video onto SD card, pop it onto a PC and upload. It has a 34X optical zoom lens. Like the HD version, it has a swivel grip and an iCheck button to instantly report battery life and remaining memory. It will be out in August for $399 $299.

• The third one, the SC-DX10, is a hybrid: it records video either to DVD-R or to flash memory. There's 4GB of internal, but like the others, it is also SD and SDHC compatible. You can even burn video to DVD on the go. It has a touchpanel LCD and, like the others, a swivel grip and iCheck button. It'll be out in September for $549.

Kevin Collins of Microsoft is the chief evangelist of HD DVD, and he talks about three things that, in combination, he says, make HD DVD better than Blu-ray.
• Internet connection for online updates, and now, finally, Web-enabled content
• Dual decoding for real picture-in-picture playback
• "Persistent storage" memory on the deck for customization and downloading

The sad thing for you is that Collins demonstrated these traits using the HD DVD of 300, coming out in July. However, I wasn't allowed to take photos of that, because Warner would be angry, but just take my word for it, it looked very cool. In one scene, when the Spartans are pushing the Persians off the cliff, you can pull up a green-screen "behind the scenes" version and compare it in realtime. The bronze helmets look plastic; the boiling sea below is nothing but green cushions! Collins says that the Warner Blu-ray version of 300 would have the behind-the-scenes footage, but no physical way to watch both the scene and the footage simultaneously.

The disc will also have a Risk-style XML game that lets you lead soldiers against enemy armies. It looked pretty involved, so it might actually be entertaining.

To demo Web content, Collins pulled up the anime flick Freedom, from Bandai. He pulled down French subtitles where none existed before. He downloaded trailers (compressed for the Web.) Check out the gallery for all that, plus some translucent PIP effects—hell, just because that movie just looks so amazingly good.

The third HD DVD title Collins showed off was Blood Diamond. In the menu, you could pull up pages, via the Web, discussing various parts of Africa and providing up-to-date information on diamond-trafficking, civil wars and other issues that the movie touches on.

Toshiba's Jody Sally said the company had set September 4 as the day it will ship firmware allowing for 24P compatibility; that is, playback of movies at 24-frames-per-second where available, and pending 24P compatibility in your TV.

Speaking of TVs, Toshiba had its latest Regza LCD models on hand, most originally introduced at CES. There were two never before seen 52 inchers (from $3,500 to $4,000 depending on feature set) and a 57 incher (price not yet determined, shipping next month). The company was proud to announce that it is now Number 3 in market share in the 32-inch to 42-inch LCD category. You are forgiven if you didn't know there was such a category, but nevertheless, it marks a 90% sales spike for Toshiba, and its execs are beaming.

HD DVD DELIVERS ADVANCED CONTENT AND INTERACTIVITY BY OFFERING EXCLUSIVE WEB-ENABLED CAPABILITIES

Momentum for HD DVD continues to grow as player sales reach new heights and Toshiba captures 70 percent share of high definition set-top player market

WAYNE, NJ - JUNE 28, 2007 - Today at its summer press event, Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. ("Toshiba") announced that HD DVD is bringing a whole new world of high definition entertainment to the hands of consumers. Delivering on the promise to provide advanced content and interactivity, new HD DVD titles with web-enabled network capabilities now allow consumers to easily access additional content and bonus features, as available, to enjoy their favorite HD DVD movies like never before. Current users of Toshiba HD DVD players can enjoy the web-enabled network capabilities by updating to the latest HD DVD player firmware, now available from Toshiba.

Since the launch of HD DVD, all of Toshiba's players have offered advanced interactive functionality including picture-in-picture video and audio commentary, which have already been available on many HD DVD movies. Now Toshiba takes interactivity to the next level. The company's latest firmware update supports improved network connectivity for downloading web-enabled network content and is another example of the company's commitment toward achieving the ultimate home entertainment experience. No other high definition home entertainment format currently matches the features offered by Toshiba and the HD DVD format. "Through web-enabled network connectivity, HD DVD is unlocking the door to an entirely new world of entertainment and once again achieving another milestone in next generation DVD," said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba's Digital A/V Group. "With HD DVD, studios have the ability to develop new and unique content for movie fans, enabling consumers to have an entirely new way to access entertainment and customize their home movie experience that is currently not available with any other format."

Toshiba HD DVD Players' Web-Enabled Network Capabilities
Using the Ethernet ports found on all Toshiba HD DVD players, and the currently available firmware update, once connected to the network, users can download bonus features, as available, from a movie studio's server. This data is then saved in the player's persistent storage and can be accessed by the user. In addition to downloading new bonus features, some HD DVD discs may even include locked prerecorded content which can be unlocked with a downloadable key from the studio's online server.

In addition to downloading content, HD DVD users also have the ability to upload content and interact with content providers. For example, with the award winning title, "Blood Diamond" from Warner Home Video, users can participate in interactive polls. After providing feedback, results are delivered back to users via the HD DVD player.

Web-enabled network content became available on June 26 with the launch of Bandai Visual's anime title "Freedom" volume 1. This title is the first HD DVD anime title available in the United States, the first web-enabled network content disc and the first "twin format" disc (featuring both HD DVD and DVD on one side of the disc).

"While others may talk about interactivity, HD DVD has proven time and time again that it offers true interactive features and capabilities for consumers which can make the enjoyment of movies a new experience every time they're viewed," commented Sally.

Toshiba Announces 24p Output
Coming in early September, Toshiba will add an enhanced performance function to its HD-XA2 and HD-A20 HD DVD players by offering the capability for users to update the firmware of their players allowing playback of film content in 1080p/24 frames per second, or 24p. Movie films are traditionally captured at 24 frames per second and Toshiba's HD DVD players will be able to maintain this frame rate allowing consumers to enjoy movies in their native form.

Mandatory to the HD DVD format, every Toshiba player is equipped with an Ethernet port. In addition to the capability to access web enabled content, this also allows HD DVD owners to conveniently update the firmware of their players with new features and performance improvements.

Movie Aficionados Adopt HD DVD as the Next High Definition Format of Choice - The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Responding to recent promotions as well as the industry growth of HDTV, the market adoption of HD DVD increased significantly in the past 2 months garnering Toshiba with approximately 70 percent share of all high definition set-top players, both HD DVD and Blu-ray, in both April and May according to NPD. "These numbers prove once again that HD DVD is the high definition format of choice," commented Sally.

Effective July 1st the pricing levels available during the May and June promotions will become standard MSRPs, making the HD-A2 available for an every day price of $299.99 and the HD-A20 for $399.99. The top of the line HD-XA2 continues at $799.99 (MSRP).

Important Notes:
HD DVD with high-definition content required for HD viewing. DVD with standard definition content will upconvert to near HD quality. Viewing high-definition content and up-converting DVD content may require an HDCP capable DVI or HDMI input on your display device. Firmware update may be required for some interactive features depending on content, which may also require an always-on broadband internet connection. Some features may require additional bandwidth. To take advantage of the web-enabled network content, downloading and installing the latest firmware update (ver.2.2 for HD DVD player models HD-XA1, HD-A1, and HD-D1; and ver.2.0 for HD DVD player models HD-XA2, HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-D2, HD-A2C, and HD-A20) is required. Web-enabled features will require an always on broadband connection along with specific movie titles that include this form of content. MP3/WMA audio files not supported. Some current DVDs and CDs may not be compatible. Some Combo Discs and Twin Format Discs may not be compatible. HDMI audio support for PCM only. For 24p output, content that was created in 1080p/24 frames/sec is required. Viewing 24p output requires an HD display capable of accepting a 1080p/24Hz signal. Because HD DVD is a new format that makes use of new technologies, certain disc, digital connection and other compatibility and/or performance issues are possible. This may, in rare cases, include disc freezing while accessing certain disc features or functions, or certain parts of the disc not playing back or operating as fully intended. If you experience such issues, please refer to the FAQ sections of www.toshibahddvd.com or www.tacp.toshiba.com for information on possible work-around solutions or the availability of firmware updates that may resolve your problem, or contact Toshiba Customer Solutions. Some features subject to delayed availability. While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice. For additional information on Toshiba HD DVD players, please visit http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/

FOLLOWING STRONG SPRING SALES, TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ITS LARGEST EVER REGZA® HD LCD TV MODELS

Toshiba increases market share by 90 percent in 32-42 inch LCD screen sizes and looks to continue this strong growth with new larger model introductions

WAYNE, NJ - JUNE 28, 2007 - Today at its summer press event in New York City, Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. ("Toshiba") announced the availability of its 46", 47" and 52" REGZA LCD TVs as well as the upcoming availability of its largest ever LCD TV, a 57" Cinema Series® model. The availability of these larger TVs comes at an outstanding time for the company, as according to The NPD Group's retail tracking service TV data, which includes combos, Toshiba has nearly doubled its market share in the 32" to 42" LCD category in April and May 2007.

"The feedback on our new REGZA LCD line-up has been exceptional, and our market performance has been astounding," said Scott Ramirez, Vice President of Marketing. "We listened to the voice of our customers, made quality products that are market right, and virtually doubled our 32" to 42" LCD market share. We now start shipping our larger 46" to 57" models, including our Cinema Series models with the advanced ClearFrame 120 Hz Anti-Blur System, and are confident that we will continue the same level of success. Consumers are responding to the quality and design of REGZA, but more importantly, they are proving that Toshiba is a market leader in flat panel TV."

NPD's data for April and May shows that Toshiba's LCD market share in the key 32" to 42" screen size range has grown by 90 percent to 10.8 percent market share, making Toshiba #3 for 32" to 42" LCDs, including combos. In fact, Toshiba's 40" to 42" LCD market share has grown to 12.7 percent, and the company's 37" LCD market share has grown to 13.2 percent.

With the new model additions, Toshiba REGZA models will now be available in a wide range of screen sizes including 26", 32", 37", 42", 46/7", 52" and 57" (diagonally measured). REGZA televisions also come in a variety of series including: the HL67 HD series, LV67 LCDVD® series, HL167 1080p Full HD series and LX177 Cinema Series. As a result of this fully comprehensive line, there is a REGZA television to fit the need of virtually every consumer, every room and every application, helping to ensure the continued market share growth of the REGZA line.

The success of the 2007 REGZA line can be attributed to dramatic improvements in picture quality, connectivity and cosmetic design. All REGZA models incorporate key Toshiba technology including PixelPure3G™ 14 bit internal digital video processing for accurate 12 bit output and DynaLight™ dynamic backlight, and feature beautiful high-gloss black cabinetry (differentiated by series) with Toshiba's SoundStrip™ speaker system. The 1080p Full HD REGZA series adds additional features such as ColorBurst™ wide color gamut CCFL, and CE-Link HDMI CEC control. At the top of the line are the Cinema Series REGZA models, which incorporate cutting-edge technology such as the ClearFrame™ 120 Hz anti-blur system and Deep Color.

A standard LCD TV typically has a frame rate of 60 frames per second, or 60Hz. To avoid possible motion blur with fast motion video, ClearFrame doubles that frame rate to 120 frames per second, or 120 Hz. While there are many possible methods for creating the additional 60 frames, ClearFrame utilizes superior Motion Vector Frame Interpolation (MVFI) technology. MVFI analyzes Frame A and Frame B and creates a new Frame A+B. By evaluating the speed and direction of multiple picture elements within the frames, this advanced system virtually eliminates motion blur without decreasing image brightness or adding flicker.

PixelPure3G, Toshiba's 3rd Generation digital video processor, runs at a fast 333 MHz, with high 14 bit internal digital video processing for accurate 12 bit output. This system is capable of producing an amazing 4,096 levels of gradation (16 times greater than a standard 8 bit processor) for a smooth natural picture without image banding. PixelPure continuously monitors the incoming video signal, adjusting multiple picture quality parameters including real speed progressive scanning, dynamic gamma, dynamic MPEG noise reduction and now, dynamic back-light control. Superior processing creates a superior picture, and PixelPure 3G creates incredibly deep, vibrant, sharp and natural images.

DynaLight utilizes advanced PixelPure histogram image processing to monitor the brightness level of each video frame and automatically adjusts the backlight intensity based on the image content. Precise signal analysis allows for 256 levels of backlight control, creating seamless transitions and a Dynamic Contrast that is up to 5X that of the original panel contrast. The result is a considerably deeper black level for increased detail and depth.

ColorBurst significantly increases the LCD color space to reproduce 90+ percent of the NTSC Color Gamut. By utilizing proprietary image processing and color control algorithms, ColorBurst expands the number of available colors and improves the color accuracy. This significantly improves both color purity and color saturation.

CE-Link (HDMI CEC) allows two-way control between the TV and applicable source devices through an HDMI cable. The TV remote can be used to control the source device, or the source device's remote can be used to control the TV, allowing for simplified system operation, even when the source devices are not in sight. Unlike some manufacturers, Toshiba incorporates CE-Link into all three HDMI digital inputs, allowing customers to create an "in-room network" with CEC enabled devices such as a PC, DVD Player and A/V Receiver.

The momentum Toshiba has experienced around REGZA directly relates to the industry-leading technology, beautiful design and outstanding viewing experience the line provides. With the introduction of larger REGZA models packed with even more technology features, Toshiba expects to continue its strong growth and solidify its position as a leader in flat panel TV. For individuals interested in learning more about Toshiba REGZA televisions, please visit http://www.regzalcdtv.com.

REGZA is The One To Watch!

Expected Pricing and Availability

REGZA HD
26HL67 ($799.99, Available Now)
32HL67U ($999.99, Available Now)
37HL67U ($1,199.99, Available Now)
42HL67 ($1,399.99, Available Now)

REGZA LCDVD
26LV67U ($899.99, Available Now)
32LV67U ($1,099.99, Available Now)

REGZA 1080p Full HD
42HL167 ($1,799.99, Available Now)
47HL167 ($2,499.99, Available Now)
52HL167 ($3,499.99, June 2007)

Cinema Series REGZA
42LX177 ($2,299.99, June 2007)
46LX177 ($2,999.99, June 2007)
52LX177 ($3,999.99, June 2007)
57LX177 (TBD, July 2007)

The platform that Tivoli designed is supposed to make Internet radio as accessible as standard FM stations: You navigate by geographical region or genre using controls similar to the radio tuner, then drill down until you find the station you want. The larger NetWorks table player will have a remote that allows you to input stations (WFUV, WBYR etc.).

Tivoli will compile the list of stations worldwide, which at this point totals about 12,000. There are five preset buttons, but you'll also be able to store the creme-de-la-creme in a favorites folder for easy access.

The black NetWorksGo has rechargeable batteries nestled in their own built-in charger, which means you can use them or, if you're out of a charge, swap in storebought alkalines.

Both devices support Wi-Fi, and are compatible with WPA and WEP security. DeVesto says you input a password or key with the dial, which I suppose could be tedious, but he says only needs to happen once.

The radios will also be able to pull tracks (everything but iTunes DRM) from the PC, but DeVesto didn't mention what software provider would be used. I'm guessing something like ArcSoft CyberServer, but I could be wrong. Let's hope, whatever it is, it's easy. They also have USB inputs for playback of files locally.

When the conversation landed on HD Radio, DeVesto said he wasn't interested in putting it in his boxes just yet. "We're not sure what's in it for the customer," he said. – Wilson Rothman

Company Page [Tivoli Audio]

The main device in the new lineup, it will ship at the end of June. I like the way the flick-button interface on the side saves space while giving you all of the options of a bulkier interface. The touchscreen is now 800x480, way up from last year's 480x272. That means that the 480p output you see on the TV in the gallery shots is almost pixel-for-pixel what you see on the device itself. Fonts look smooth and the icons are clear—the abstract icons of last year's model have been improved.

The 605 will have three or four storage options: there will be a 4GB flash version for $229, a 30GB HDD for $299 and a 160GB HDD version for $399. Some retailers may also carry an 80GB edition.

You'll be able to stream from PC to PMP and any TV it's connected to. It won't do high-def, since the max output is 480p, and it can only record up to 640x480. You can also download CinemaNow files up to 2.5Mbps in resolution. With rentals, you will download files directly to the PMP, and you'll have to watch them there. With purchases, you'll be able to download a copy to the PMP, then download another to a PC. (I believe it's up to four copies total.)

To save on cost, Archos will upsell software plug-in options as follows:
• Opera web browser $30
• Internet radio plug-in $20
• Cinema plug-in with DVD (MPEG-2) and AC-3 audio $20
• Podcast plug-in with H.264 video and AAC audio $20
• High-def video plug-in lets you record HDTV up to 720p (24 frames per second) $20
• Widgets plug-in with games and utilities from the Opera widget collection $20

If you order it all, the bill could get pretty high, but Archos says most people will only buy the extras they need. It's an interesting strategy. Make sure you read through the Gallery captions for a guided tour of features. – Wilson Rothman

Archos Coverage [Gizmodo]

Rick Clancy, head of Sony's US public relations, quickly reminded reporters that Sony would still innovate in this category, but when discussion turned to the Sony Connect service, Glasgow said that, looking to the future, it would be more focused on movies and books. (It is currently the content hub for Sony's E-Ink Reader.)

On a brighter note, Sony confirmed that it would be using the PlayStation-style Cross Media Bar (XMB) in most or all of its TVs and audio-video products going forward, including Blu-ray players and audio receivers. In some instances, two connected players can be controlled by the same XMB interface; I plan to follow up and figure that out, since it would make a one-remote, one-interface relationship with your home theater possible. (I am skeptical as to the execution at this point, but will get the facts soon.)

Sony was overall upbeat about the LCD TV business with new 720p Bravias hitting Wal-Mart and Target at the end of July. In the consumer electronics industry in general, Sony says it grew 7% last year and plans to grow more, and it has an 18% market share in the US. It was No. 1 in over 20 different categories, including&emdash;depending on how you crunch the numbers—digital cameras and camcorders.

When it came to Blu-ray, Sony said BD titles were outselling HD DVD movies 3 to 1, and that the forecast for standalone players would be five or six times the 100,000 sold in 2006. The elephant of this discussion was the PS3, clearly the reason for Blu-ray's momentum. One thing is sure: Sony Electronics is glad to have PS3 on its side, even if it is some sort of competition.

When the subject of iPhone inevitably came up, Sony said it was proud of its sister company Sony Ericsson and would support it in various marketing initiatives. When pressed, however, the Sony brass did acknowledge that iPod compatibility was an important part of A/V strategy these days. – Wilson Rothman

Let's start with my allegation about Monster, which isn't mine alone, because Lee helpfully pointed out the gist of it in the opening of his presentation:

I say, since everything is digital, and since HDMI is a spec, the cheap cable will get the data from point A to point B as well as any other cable. Additionally I say that if there are subtle (i.e. videophile-grade) differences in cables, the average consumer isn't going to spot them on the TV.

Am I wrong? Monster says yes, but in Lee's elaborate answer I felt both his POV and mine were justified.

Here are Monster's truths:

Bandwidth is King.
The requirements of 1080p and beyond is what separates from the high-end cable from the knock-offs. This is the same as Ethernet cable, in the sense that a cable certified for HDMI 1.3a "Highspeed" will guarantee greater throughput. The newest spec, 1.3a means just over 10Gbps of bandwidth. Standard 480p requires less than 1Gbps, the current 8-bit 1080p requires 4.46 Gbps, but the next gen 1080p formats will require nearly 15Gbps, more than the highest certified HDMI cable can support. (See chart if you can, if not I'll try to get a better one up later.)

Not all cables are the same.
During Lee's slideshow, he demonstrated via X-Ray slides that pricier cables (OK, Monster's) have a smaller chance of wear and tear damage at the point where the cable meets the connector. t's a concept that's easy for any musician to understand—remember all of those shorting-out patch cords?

Even if it has an HDMI-style connector, it may not be certified HDMI.
You have to look for the HDMI logo, says Steve Venuti of HDMI Licensing. There are tons of knock-offs, especially the bundled or online cables, since you can't look at the packaging when you buy. Really high-end cables will certify other things, such as HDMI 1.3a and even "Highspeed."

Just because digital information is made up of ones and zeros it can still degrade, especially over distances.
I get this now, because it's not about the digital info just getting there, like packet data. It's video, so it's about the digital info getting there at the right time to make sense. It's also audio, and over distances, there's a greater chance that audio and video will get out of sync. The following pictures show a test that they run that measures data throughput. In the interest of brevity, I'll just say that the more those lines crowd the center, the greater the risk of having crappy video.

This is what it looks like when a low-grade 10-meter cable tries to handle 720p:

This is what it looks like when a Monster 10-meter cable tries to handle 1080p:

Differences in cable are easily spotted by untrained eyes.
A PS3 feeding 1080p signal to a Samsung 1080p LCD TV starts to jitter and throw digital noise lines across the screen if the cable can't hack the bandwidth. We tested the two cables above on a PS3 showing a Blu-ray of Chicken Little and it was totally noticeable, there were lines and jitters, none of this videophile matter-of-opinion stuff that I had anticipated. It was totally obvious, and something that Monster says people often blame on their TV, not their cable.

Future proofing and heavy-duty cable are crucial for in-wall installation.
This probably made the most sense of all. Given the fact that in-wall cable is longer than others, you'd need something that can handle the bandwidth. (In fact, when it gets to 50 feet, you don't have many choices in the cable world for that reason—Monster says it's soon headed for 100 feet of HDMI.) Couple that with staples, kinks and other weirdness that might happen with in-wall installation, and the fact that when you upgrade your TV, you don't want to have to re-do your drywall, and Monster has a good point.

Lest you think I be drinkin' Lee's Kool-Aid, here are my caveats to Monster's truths:

• If you are going from any source to a 720p or 1080i TV set, you should really be in the clear using a full-on crappy ass cable.

• As long as you're not doing installing the wiring in your wall, start with the crappy cable. If it sucks and you only paid $20 for it, go back and spend more on something certified.

• In the demo, Monster even proved that good components can offset crappy cables: that PS3 and that Samsung 1080p were able to work around much of the problems, all the more reason why, in a non-custom non-in-wall installation, you should try out the lower grade stuff first.

So listen, you've heard it from me: there are differences in cable, but there are also differences in technical requirements. We don't all need $120 cables for our components. As to the question of why Monster won't offer a lower-priced product in recognition of these differences in technical requirements, Lee told me to "stay tuned."

OK people, let's hear it. Go ahead and vent. – Wilson Rothman

Company site [Monster Cable]
Info site [HDMIInfo.org]

The Game FX system isn't just for 3D gaming, but it also supports "dual view" gaming: with the right dongle, you will be able to connect two game systems. If you and your friend are wearing the special glasses (sold separately or as part of a future bundle), you will be able to see your side of the game fully on the screen at 60Hz, and your friend will be able to see his or her version of the same game on the full screen, also at 60Hz.

The DLPs are much lighter weight than last year's model, in spite of performance improvements and decreased footprint. The 73-incher shown in profile below didn't just slim down from 17.5 inches to 15.3 inches, but it dropped from 190lbs to 92lbs. I asked what came out, and no one could tell me. My guess is lead, you know, for ballast. They're also fairly green compared to other TV technologies, consuming 275 watts or less.

Mitsubishi laser-assisted DLP is on schedule for year end, designed for better brightness, but also improved color and overall performance. The DLPs in the current line are 6-color wheel with a single light source. Mitsubishi is not building LED-projected DLPs, like Samsung's current DLP lineup. The world will get its first glimpse at CES 2008.

Below, you'll see the new interface, featuring NetCommand for painless (if not exactly quick) programming of the Mitsubishi remote to handle you components. Also, check out the side inputs of the Diamond-class LCDs. For more info on all the new TVs, take a look at our original post. – Wilson Rothman

Mitsubishi Thin Frame TVs [Gizmodo]

And unlike Sony, which dabbles in a lot of areas that it doesn't intend to dominate, when Panasonic enters a market, it plays for keeps. (See Panasonic digital cameras and Panasonic plasma TVs for recent examples.) The real question: how soon will we see a Panasonic portable, something that might give Garmin a run for its money? Paul Liao, CTO of Panasonic North America, told me that while he won't discuss particulars, the company is working on one.

Follow the jump for Strada specs and a screenshot gallery.

The Panasonic CN-NVD905U is now available. It competes directly with double-DINN systems from Alpine and Pioneer, but instead of DVDs, it uses a hard disk drive, meaning 20X faster read speeds.

That's a 30GB hard drive: 10GB for map data and points of interest, plus an extra 20GB, I'm told, for future updates. For you digimap junkies, Panasonic went with Navteq for their map database, and packs 12 million POIs, also from Navteq. One cool POI feature I haven't seen before on a GPS navigator: phone-number reverse lookup. If the number of a business is in the database (and there are 3 million phone numbers included), you can just punch in the number and the POI will pop up. It's easier than entering an address, and sometimes a phone number is all you've got. [Apparently, this feature is on other in-dash systems, but it's still very cool.]

There's an SD card slot and a DVD drive built into the in-dash device. For minor firmware updates, you just download something to an SD card, then insert it. For larger upgrades, the SD card acts as the key, unlocking the hard drive. You then insert a DVD, say, a full Navteq map update, and the disk copies that data.

It supports iPods and both Sirius and XM tuners, but only one at a time, unless you buy a $129 4-port adapter. The iPod cable will cost you an extra $49. It supports Sirius Traffic, with the add-on receiver and a subscription. It doesn't support XM NavTraffic.

Here are some other nuggets you might find interesting:

•Bluetooth is not built in, but supported via add-on dongle

•The Strada supports a rear-view camera, sold separately

•The on-screen keypad can be alphabetical or QWERTY depending on your preference

•It's got gyroscopic and speed sensors so that it stays on track in tunnels and covered roadways

•There is no voice command, nor is there any text-to-speech capability (it talks, but it won't call out road names)

•While Panasonic uses Windows CE as an operating system, it uses its own proprietary GPS receiver chipset and its own Ultra 1 processor

The big story for Panasonic was that the interface made sense. I think there are a lot of nice interfaces in the portable world these days, but it is nice that Panasonic is aware of the importance. Since the device is pretty much a typical double-DINN in-dash system, I only took pictures of the interface itself, since it's what sets it apart. Shots are below.

As I mentioned, it's sometimes hard to get excited about an in-dash system, something that is difficult or impossible to install yourself and comes with a bunch of hidden costs, something, after all that, that you can't even take with you when you rent a car in some far off place. My hope is that Panasonic gets going on the portable version, because the portables I've seen from Pioneer and Alpine were also-rans, at best. Bring it, Pana! But beware of Garmin, cuz they're good! – Wilson Rothman

Panasonic Launches Strada Hard Drive Based Audio/Video Navigation System [Panasonic]

Read on for my questions and Plummer's italicized answers—some of them direct, and some of them a little more, shall we say, courteously evasive. (Hey, he's a nice guy, but he's also a sales VP. That's why they pay him the big bucks.)

Will there really be GPS in all Nokia phones?
"You will see GPS in a broader range of devices in the future, with N Series out in front. We will also deliver a range of handsets with a range of functionality to meet a range of consumer lifestyle demands. Consumers that aren't as interested in GPS, because they are cost-conscious or primarily focused on voice, will still have non-GPS options."
So, like, more GPS but no commitment to full deployment across the board.

Why doesn't GPS navigation come free with N95?
"Turn-by-turn navigation is a service offering that does indeed require a fee. It is software we developed after our acquisition of gate5; it's a service you purchase from Nokia. Anything beyond that, the GPS functionality and the downloadable maps from Tele Atlas, that's all free. What's great is that you can get the maps for what you need. A map of your home, or any additional maps you need. You don't necessarily need the map to Crete."
Assuming you have a big enough memory card—the N76 supports MicroSD cards up to 4GB—you probably can get the whole world database in there.

How are N95 sales doing?
"We are very pleased."
We knew they wouldn't actually answer that one.

Since there are Nokia music download stores in the UK and Australia, part of Nokia's Music Recommender service, when will we see a Nokia music store in the US?
"We will be rolling out broader music services, including ways for the consumer to stream and acquire music in other markets, but I can't to speak to the timetable."
Pretty sure that means that US is on the list, but it could take years.

Are there plans to use an OS other than Symbian?
"Certainly if you look at the N800 and N770 Internet tablets, they are Linux powered devices. But from the standpoint of multimedia business, we are still very committed to Symbian and Series 60 OS on Symbian. Unlike other mobile OS's, Symbian was designed with mobile-device characteristics in mind, such as the display and the processor, from the outset. It is optimized for the mobile computing experience."
Plummer did at least support the argument with some sweet Symbian(-compatible) apps such as ComVu PocketCaster.

Why are Nokia phones still so large?
"Our answer to that is the N76. There's no 5 megapixel camera. It's for the technology stylists, people in the high-end tech community who also want to demonstrate their flair."
It's the age-old tradeoff between size and capability. Nokia did ship the N76 this week globally. There's no US arrival date yet, nor is there a price. However, we are told it will cost "under $500."

Why no QWERTY keyboard on the N Series?
"The Bluetooth keyboard is one answer to that. When I am mobile, my replies are Yes, No, Maybe. When I stop being nomadic, I whip out my Bluetooth keypad and write real emails. In the future we're bringing a range of devices with different form factors and different functionalities."
OK, so I'm reading that as a QWERTY play coming sometime soon.

When will Nokia phones be compatible with the US version of HSDPA?
"On a global basis, N Series are multiradio GSM and 3G radios, as well as wireless LAN and GPS—they are very sophisticated devices. In US bands, these run on EDGE. The change to that will be the Nokia N75, which will work on US UMTS networks. I also have to add: Watch this space."
Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Will carriers pick up the N series?
"There's a constant ongoing dialog with the carriers—a Nokia-wide dialog, but also one with the Multimedia business as well. We are working with them to help them building their understanding of the emerging mobile multimedia space, and sharing the experiences we're gathering by being first to market. Carriers are strategic partners—we're going to collaborate to address their needs and their consumer's needs as they perceive them."
Plummer also added that Nokia had divided its handset business into two separate teams. There is the "mobile phones" division, which more directly addresses the hardware needs of the carriers, and Plummer's Multimedia group, which is more focused on building new products and bringing them to early adopters, and less focused on designing something that is necessarily a perfect fit in a carrier lineup.

How is the WiMax rollout going?
"Beginning of this year, Nokia was announced as a strategic partner with Sprint in WiMax network. We will be bringing devices in 2008 and beyond that will take advantage of that network. It's an exciting way for Sprint to be approaching the marketplace. It's an open Internet model, they build it to spec and people who have a relationship with Sprint will be able to attach a device to that network. It's akin to the fixed Internet model today. It will have a good impact on overall marketplace, allowing consumers better access to the networks, whether fixed or wireless."
We, too, like the idea of a high-bandwidth "open Internet model," but can we trust Sprint, or any carrier for that matter, to pull it off without some kind of walled-garden architecture? We'll see about that.

Plummer concluded with what he thought was the real mission of his Multimedia division, to bring the Web 2.0 experience into the real world. Why glue yourself to your computer for the latest social networks and Web apps? Eventually, we will be able to manage all of this wherever we happen to be, with GPS and 3G networks to facilitate transactions and interactions.

I have to apologize to the Glaswegians and general fans of weepy music out there: we didn't get a chance to talk about the just-announced N76 partnership with Travis. Frankly, the only Travis who entertains us is the Gizmodo associate editor, not so much the "thought-provoking and inspirational band". – Wilson Rothman

Our coverage of the N95 [Gizmodo]
All Things Nokia [Gizmodo]