The subwoofer integration saves you the trouble of making room for an extra component, although how well it kicks out the bass remains to be seen. Still, as much as we can disagree about how much clutter your entertainment center can stand, it's always great to save space when it's possible.

The YHT-S400 also features UniVolume, which is Yamaha's way of keeping audio levels consistent from channel to channel and from program to commercial. The system has three HDMI inputs, is compatible with Yamaha's iPod and Bluetooth receiver, and is on sale now for $599.95.

YAMAHA'S INNOVATIVE TWO-PIECE HOME THEATER PACKAGE
COMBINES HD AUDIO AND SUBWOOFER-INTEGRATED RECEIVER

YHT-S400 Offers Several Installation Options with Ultra-Slim ‘Sound Bar,' Exclusive AIR SURROUND XTREME, UniVolume and Extended Stereo for Immersive Audio

BUENA PARK, Calif.––Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today introduces its innovative YHT-S400 two-piece home theater audio package. The system, which consists of an ultra-slim "sound bar" front speaker and a first-of-its-kind subwoofer-integrated receiver, provides HD Audio compatibility, three 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs (and one output), the company's exclusive AIR SURROUND XTREME, UniVolume and Extended Stereo technologies for immersive audio for movies, sports and music experiences.

The YHT-S400's sound bar stands at 2-inches high and fits in front of most 32 to 50-inch TVs without blocking the screen. In addition, the feet of the sound bar can be adjusted horizontally or vertically, or taken off entirely, for additional installation flexibility. By integrating the system's subwoofer into the receiver, Yamaha is able to offer users an easy connection to a full-featured receiver without adding a separate component and the ability to place the unit in a rack or on the floor in tight spaces.

For optimal sound quality, the YHT-S400 accepts HD Audio signals (linear PCM transmission) from Blu-ray disc players. Three 1080-compatible HDMI inputs enable three different HDMI sources to be connected to the receiver.

Yamaha's UniVolume feature maintains a consistent volume level between different channel, programs, commercials and input sources. For instance, when watching TV, the volume of commercials will not be louder than the program being viewed. The same is true when switching sources to watch a DVD or Blu-ray movie or to listen to music on CD. This is particularly helpful for late night watching and listening when spikes in volume can disturb others in the house or apartment building.

Yamaha's proprietary AIR SURROUND XTREME technology better delivers sound around the listener than other "virtual surround" systems. Dialogue is clearly heard from the center while ambient audio from on-screen action is clearly heard from the right, left and behind the viewer with smooth sound movement from position to position. AIR SURROUND XTREME can also deliver surround sound from 7-channel sources. Yamaha's exclusive Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) maintains the dynamic virtual surround sound regardless of the viewers' positioning or direction they are facing.

Yamaha's proprietary Extended Stereo technology moves the stereo image further to the sides. With it, audio from the 31 ½-inch sound bar sounds as if it is emanating from speakers that are five feet or more apart, resulting in a wider optimum sound field.

The YHT-S400 also has HDMI CEC functionality that allows the unit to automatically power on with CEC-compatible TVs. In this scenario, the TV remote can also control the YHT-S400's volume. CEC-compatibility also provides advanced functions with other components.

The YHT-S400 also supports Yamaha's YDS-11 universal iPod dock and YBA-10 Bluetooth wireless audio receiver to stream A2DP audio from Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, PCs and Macs.

The YHT-S400 is currently available for MSRP $599.95.

The YSP series made our Bestmodo list of top gadgets, because its the only soundbar to create surround using sonar-ish tech, bouncing sound off walls using an array of small drivers.

Spanning four feet wide but under four inches deep—the perfect complement to a 50-inch TV—Yamaha's 25lb, 120W system simulates 7.1 surround while supporting five HDMI devices, an iPod and subwoofer, if you'd like. I'm not sure whether it qualifies as Big and Tall, husky or even "big boned" (which I know may be made up, but the phrase got me through at least 10 years of my life so I'm rolling with it). Just know the YSP-5100 will be out in Japan later this month for the equivalent of $2,280. [Yamaha JP via CrunchGear]

The Sonos ZonePlayer S5, an all-in-one wireless speaker system for iPod Touches and iPhones that is pictured above, is now available for your music listening needs. Sonos is well-regarded for the full-blown high-end wireless audio system, but in the ZonePlayer S5, priced at $399, they offer an accessible way to get one started. We reviewed the S5 earlier this month and found it an elegant solution for wireless home audio. The system is equipped with Wi-Fi, ethernet, and audio-in and -out jacks and can be controlled by a free iPhone/iPod touch app. For a location in your home in which a full stereo system is overkill—porch, kitchen, home office—the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 is just the ticket. You can order S5 directly from Sonos.

Designed by the community at Quirky.com, the PowerCurl snaps onto your MacBook's power supply, keeping the cord tidy and the charger looking funky. As an added benefit, the PowerCurl raises the charger off your floor or desk for "improved air circulation and cooling," not that you thought you needed it to begin with. Make all of this bright orange functionality yours by picking up the PowerCurl for $14.99 at Quirky.com.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U150 is now shipping and waiting to be perched awkwardly on your knees or balanced on your hand like a server's tray. The 3 pound, .75" thick ultra-portable has a 11.6" screen and runs on a CULV processor, 3GB of RAM and 250GB hard drive. Those specs can be beefed up by springing for the more expensive model instead of the standard one, already discounted to $749 and $649 respectively. The U150 isn't going to blow anyone away with its power, but it's a svelte little machine and the marbled effect on the exterior might turn a head or two. You can customize and purchase the U150 from Lenovo.

The Yamaha MCR-140 wireless iPod dock sounded good and looked even better when we got a chance to try it out in September. For $399.95, the MCR-140 offers wireless playback from iPods via Yamaha's uncompressed yAired technology, as well as a CD player, FM radio tuner, USB and minijack plugs for other audio sources. The unit is available in ten rad colors and can be had over at Yamaha.

The FLO TV Personal Television, a handheld device for watching television on the go, is finally available to be mocked by regular people in addition to those who got a chance to review the unit ahead of time. (We were one of them.) The device is $250 and requires a $9 monthly subscription, and for that you can watch all your favorite channels, including but not limited to CNBC, Comedy Central, MTV and the like. So you can watch the news, watch John Stewart make a mockery of the news, and watch the contestants on Real World Road Rules Challenge: The Ruins make a mockery of life. But the FLO TV doesn't offer a video out, so you'll be stuck watching it all unfold on the unit's 3.5" screen. If for some reason you want to buy this you can find out where on FLO's website.

But it will also cost $800 or less by the time it hits stores (the MSRP is $1000). The original (Tenori-On W) was $1200 when it arrived last year, but the official U.S. distributor has since dropped it down to $1000. You even get a free 2GB SD card.

The original Tenori-On W is also getting an OS update in January. No word yet on what that might include.

By the way, if you're super tight (and have an iPhone), you could also give the Tenori-On-like Melodica or PacklSound1 apps a go. [Yamaha]

It's tough to judge the sound quality from the brief video taken by Engadget, but we're going to assume that speech is audible (not speaking Japanese, it's hard to measure clarity of speech) and oddly directional. Even one step away from the predetermined sweet spot leaves the listener unable to hear anything from the speaker. We don't know much about the tech—the speaker might have to be a certain size in order to work, which would be a bummer for portable gadgets, but the tech does have a ton of potential for annoying the crap out of you with ads. [Engadget]

If Yamaha's MCR-140 is anything to go by, this little digital clock should also produce some great sound. The device is expected to hit shelves in Japan around December—although pricing has not been announced. [Yamaha via Akihabara News via OhGizmo]

The NeoHD may support 5.1 surround sound, but it dubs itself a "media connector," not a receiver. That's because the model I tested, the YMC-700 ($800), includes ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB drive support. The other big NeoHD revolution is supposed to be its Logitech Harmony-like interface. And the kicker? It's all managed by the most minimal remote you'll find in the home theater world.

What's Really Different with the neoHD?

• graphic-driven interface
• tiny remote
• about half the size of your average receiver
• removes audio modes like Theater, Live, Sports, etc
• gladly supports 2.1 virtual surround or 5.1
• streams web-based radio, network audio
• IR repeaters can control other devices through onscreen remote

Watch, Listen and Play

Every receiver I've ever seen is driven by Inputs. You know, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, Component 3. But when you load the NeoHD, you see Watch, Listen and Play. Like a Harmony, the interface is purpose-driven, not device-driven.
Of course you plug in the PS3 through HDMI just like any other receiver, but going through guided setup, the system asks what you want to do with this device. And if it happens that you use it to watch movies, listen to music and play games, guess what? The PS3 will propagate in a submenu under each of those shiny icons.
Herein lies my main problem. I always knew that I wanted to listen to music from my PS3. That was a complete thought. But using the NeoHD's menus, I need to say, listen to music. Then I need to sort through a list including a slew of other devices. And if I own an Xbox 360, which I do, I need to recall whether the PS3 is Game Console 1 or Game Console 2. (Technically this is the Play menu - I ended up turning off music for both my consoles after encountering the issue.)

I see the intent for a simple UI. But how is this system easier than before? Even the grandma stereotype will be just as lost in this second menu, filled with inputs, as she would be a normal receiver.

Wouldn't it be better for the main menu just to show an icon of a PS3, an Xbox 360, my satellite dish and whatever else I had around?
To make matters worse, this lack of formal inputs means there's no input button on the remote. I haven't been able to find a way to change inputs other than hitting a back button, a la webpage, to slowly back my way to the main screen. The neoHD hopes to replace your universal remote altogether, controlling your TV and cable box through IR blasters. But how can I expect it to replace every remote in the house when it can't adequately replace itself?

Connectedness

Let's call the system halfway there.
I found that the neoHD can just as easily play FM as it can stream music from its large library of internet radio stations. But even when streaming music from my Mac (which requires TwonkyMedia Server, bundled free) there's no way to pause or stop your music, even using a button that brings up onscreen controls. Why can I loop a track but not pause it?

It was also a great disappointment when I realized that the iPod and Bluetooth functions both require external adapters to work. The USB port won't even charge your iPod.

But the biggest issue that many Giz readers may have is that the neoHD can't stream video of any sort, nor can it load video from USB. In this regard, the you can't justify a neoHD purchase knowing that it could replace an Apple TV, Roku, Xbox...you know, anything you use to watch those torrents on the big screen, let alone web content.

Music streaming works, and updating the NeoHD's firmware couldn't be easier (it's basically one button in the settings menu). But ultimately, the AV networking aspects are a bit of a tease without both the A and the V arriving in full force.

Sound

Oh right, this thing drives speakers, doesn't it? I tested the YMC-700 with 2.1 speakers found bundled with the cheaper, Wi-Fi-less YMC-500. So we're talking two small front speakers and a subwoofer setup through an automated microphone tone test.
Watching Hero on Blu-ray, the water droplets panned sporadically through the front half of my living room with distinct, round plops, before the clash of swords sliced through atmosphere. The faux surround fills your ears completely, but it only captures the front 150 degrees of your perspective (at least in my living room). Still, I was pleased with the quality. Honestly, voices and shows over DirecTV have never sounded so good, and I use the impressive ZVOX 550 on a daily basis. Not bad.

It's the Thought that Counts

I know this will sound condescending, but I mean it sincerely. While the neoHD has a flawed UI and limited media support for a media connector, at least Yamaha is trying something new.

There are good ideas here. I've never had such an easy time setting up components in any large AV system. And it is inherently easier to manage something like networked audio through your receiver than both your receiver AND your Xbox AND your TV.

But if you've already networked your home theater and just want an easy way to add surround sound, you might be better off going with a lower end receiver and a really nice remote. [Yamaha]

Super easy setup

Solid 2.1 performance

Simplified interface often just slows you down

No video codec support whatsoever

Component to HDMI conversion was blurry

The MCR-140 has a wireless transmitter that attaches to the bottom of your iPod and streams music using Yamaha's own "uncompressed" wireless tech instead of Blueooth. The MCR-040—the orange one—is the exact same, but no wireless. iPod aside, they do CD, FM and USB. The 040's $280, while the wireless step-up puts the 140 at $400, and they're both out in October.

Yamaha clumsily calls neoHD a "media connector," which makes it sound like just part of the home-theater equation, rather than a solution to that equation. What neoHD really is is a streamlined AV receiver with more emphasis on "V" than "A."

It's a smallish box with a zillion inputs—3 HDMI, 2 component, 1 composite, both optical and coax digital audio, and a USB port—and a few choice outputs. Straightaway there's support for media on USB disks, but you can add on an iPod dock or a Bluetooth stereo receiver.

There's an amp to drive your own 5.1 surround-sound speaker set, or a 2.1 system that you can buy bundled with it that uses a virtual surround sound. There are IR blasters for TiVo, cable boxes and I suppose even Xbox (though not PS3, right?), so that everything can be run and managed through the system. And to do that, it's got a super-simplified remote, signaling the days of the 14" long AV receiver remote are finally, possibly, at an end.

As you probably guessed from the picture, it ditches for good this notion that a receiver can be programmed with a tiny LED display and a bunch of abbreviated terms like "PrLgcII." Instead, it throws everything to an on-screen display that is sadly not pictured here. The core is a natural-language command hierarchy much like the one that made Logitech's Harmony remotes famous, where you select "Watch" "Listen" or "Play" and a series of commands are set into motion.

The basic neoHD receiver, the YMC-500, costs $600, a little steep, perhaps, but if it replaces a Harmony as well as an AV receiver, it could well earn its price—we'll find out for sure when we have a look at a review unit. There's a $200 step-up YMC-700 model that comes with Ethernet and Wi-Fi, which is good for Rhapsody as well as local content (using Twonky Media Server), but something tells me Yamaha may not be able to go as far as Samsung, LG, Sony or Panasonic to secure really good on-demand video. $800 is also the price of the YMC-500 with 2.1 speakers thrown in.

YAMAHA neoHD MEDIA CONTROLLERS WITH SIMPLIFIED REMOTES OFFER INTUITIVE CONTROL OVER ENTIRE HD ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

- Breakthrough Components Deliver HD Audio, HDMI, AIR SURROUND XTREME and Dynamic Full-Color On-Screen Menus for Quick Access to Desired Entertainment -

BUENA PARK, Calif.––Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today ushers in the future of home entertainment with the introduction of neoHD. These sophisticated Media Controllers provide the HD audio and video performance essential to true HD entertainment experiences and total control of all home and Internet components and sources connected to a home AV system. Using a simple remote to drive an intuitive menu-driven on-screen display, neoHD makes it easier than ever before to navigate and access all audio and video content in the home, regardless of where it is stored.

Upon touching the power button of the neoHD remote, the Media Controller and connected TV automatically power up and give the user three onscreen entertainment choices: "Watch," "Listen," or "Play." Next, the user is prompted to choose among more specific activities (such as Watch Movie, Watch LiveTV, Listen CD, etc) at which time icons for the appropriate video, audio or video game components (such as Blu-ray players, CD players, cable boxes, iPods, game consoles, etc.) will appear. Once the component is selected, it automatically powers on and is fully operational via the neoHD remote and on-screen interface. All individual component remotes that normally clutter the room can be kept out of sight in a drawer.

neoHD can control up to six other AV components, such as TVs, Blu-ray disc players and set-top boxes, through its remote control and three IR outputs on the Media Controller's back panel. Remote control codes for the AV components (including TVs, DVD and Blu-ray players, VCRs, set-top boxes, etc.) from most manufacturers are embedded into the neoHD Media Controller for immediate compatibility and control. The codes for components that are not embedded can be quickly learned by the Media Controller.
neoHD is available in a variety of configurations, including neoHD (YMC-500), neoHD WiFi (YMC-700) with WiFi/Ethernet compatibility, and the neoHD System 2.1 (YMC-S21), a complete surround sound and system control solution that matches the YMC-500 Media Controller with two high-quality speakers and a subwoofer.

Both neoHD models feature HD quality audio playback (Dolby TrueHD) and three HDMI inputs for connecting HD AV sources, such as a Blu-ray player, digital set-top box or Apple TV. Also provided are two component video inputs for game consoles and DVRs, such as Tivo, and single composite video inputs for a VCR. The YMC-700's WiFi compatibility allow it to wirelessly play back content from PCs, laptops and audio files stored on hard drives. Even without the computer powered on, the Rhapsody online music service and Internet radio can be accessed directly from the Internet. YMC-700 can also playback iTunes AAC files via TwonkyMedia Server Software that purchasers have access to via a bundled license key.
Both models also allow connectivity to portable devices, such as USB memory sticks, as well as iPods and Bluetooth-enabled devices (including cell phones, PCs or Macs) via optional accessories (Yamaha YDS-11, MSRP $99.95, and Yamaha YBA-10, MSRP $129.95, respectively).

neoHD employs several proprietary audio technologies. Users can take advantage of Yamaha's popular Cinema DSP programs, such as Movie, Music, Entertainment and All Channel Stereo, to optimize movie, TV and sports viewing experiences in systems with 5.1 speaker configurations. Yamaha's AIR SURROUND XTREME technology adds extra system setup flexibility for a two-speaker stereo configuration, delivering surround sound that clearly separates the audio from in front, behind and either side of the viewer. Yamaha's YPAO Automatic System Calibration quickly optimizes audio performance in any room, regardless of where the speakers are placed.

Adaptive DRC maintains the maximum dynamic range at all volume levels by continuously monitoring audio content and making low-volume sounds easier to hear as music or movies are playing. Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer restores the highs and lows that are lost when audio files are digitally compressed, such as with MP3 files, to make them sound fuller and more engaging.

Both neoHD Media Controllers, YMC-700 and YMC-500, are currently available for MRP $799.95 and $599.95, respectively. The neoHD System 2.1, YMC-S21 is also available for MRP $799.95.

Touted as the ultimate multiroom wireless system for music lover's, the MusicCAST2 supports iTunes AAC files as well as MP3s, WMA, FLAC, and WAV, and can playback music from iPods, Bluetooth devices and other Yamaha accessories—via a built-in dock port—and USB thumb drives. It can also pull audio from a variety of sources, including Rhapsody, Internet radio, both PC and Macs, and NAS devices.

First introduced to the market six or seven years ago when the release of a wireless music platform was highly anticipated, the original MusicCAST was a server and satellite system that promised an awful lot at a time when networking technology wasn't very good, so the release of a successor—the MusicCAST2—comes as a surprise to us.

YHT-791
• 7.1 Channels (90W x 7)
• 10-inch, 100-watt YST II sub
• Four HDMI Inputs
• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MasterAudio; Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio

YHT-591
• 5.1 Channels (105W x 5)
• 10-inch 100W YST II sub
• Four HDMI Inputs

YHT-491
• 5.1 Channels (100W x 5)
• Tower speakers
• 8-inch, 100W sub
• Two HDMI Inputs

YHT-391
• 5.1 Channels (100W x 5)
• 8-inch, 100W sub
• Two HDMI Inputs

All systems are compatible with Yamaha's $100 iPod dock and $130 Bluetooth receiver.

BUENA PARK, Calif.––Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today introduced four new HTIB (home-theater-in-a-box) systems that include high-quality AV receivers and speakers. The new YHT-791 (MSRP: $849.95), YHT-591 (MSRP: $649.95), YHT-491 (MSRP: $549.95) and YHT-391 (MSRP: $399.95) systems make it quick and easy for virtually anyone to create a performance-oriented home theater with advanced capabilities and exceptional versatility.

Designed to offer those looking to create complete HD systems around Blu-ray players, broadcast HD services and gaming consoles, the top two systems, the YHT-791 (7.1 system) and YHT-591 (5.1 system) provide complete speaker packages and HD audio format decoding (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MasterAudio; Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio).

Offering seamless operation with high AV performance, all systems feature Yamaha's SCENE modes, a series of four buttons that allow users to instantly ready the system for any entertainment experience by powering the unit, selecting the correct input and surround sound combination. All systems are compatible with iPods via the optional YDS-11 dock (MSRP: $99.95; included with the YHT-791) and Bluetooth devices via the Yamaha YBA-10 wireless audio receiver (MSRP: $129.95), two proprietary audio technologies, Compressed Music Enhancer to improve sound of "ripped" music files and Cinema DSP signal processing. Front panel mini-jacks make it easy to connect portable audio players.

The HD-ready YHT-791 system, featuring a 7.1-channel AV receiver (90W x 7), a 7-channel speaker package backed by a 100W powered subwoofer and four 1080p-compatible HMDI inputs, delivers movies, television and music with powerful presence and gripping dynamics. Advanced HD audio format decoding (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MasterAudio; Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio), Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels, and a direct mode that bypasses non-essential internal circuitry, also make it a standout for HTiB systems at its price point.

The YHT-791 offers two-way satellite speakers reinforced by a 10-inch, 100-watt YST II subwoofer, faithfully rendering every sonic nuance, from subtle quiet passages to the most intense moments. In addition to its HDMI connectivity, the system delivers analog video upscaling to full HD 1080p and Auto Lip-Sync compensation to ensure the picture and sound match up perfectly without requiring the manual adjustment of complex settings. Yamaha's proprietary YPAO technology allows users to automatically set up their speakers for optimized sound. The YHT-791 comes with the Yamaha YDS-11 iPod dock for high quality audio playback from the portable devices through a home entertainment system.

The YHT-591 offers great HD-ready features and benefits in a 5.1-channel system, including a 5-channel AV receiver (105W x 5), three-way front and center bass reflex speakers, two-way surrounds and a 10-inch 100W advanced YST II subwoofer. This system also has four 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, as well as a full array of HD audio decoders, representing great performance and value for home theater consumers. The YHT-591 also features YPAO for automatic speaker set up and sound optimization.

The YHT-491 features a 5-channel AV receiver (100W x 5), a pair of slim, powerful bass reflex tower speakers for the front left and right channels, a two-way acoustic suspension center speaker and two-way bass reflex surrounds, all acoustically matched for seamless sonic performance. An 8-inch, 100-watt subwoofer gives the YHT-491 the capability to deliver powerful home theater and music entertainment experiences. The system also features 1080p HDMI switching with two inputs and one output.

Rounding out the new models, the entry-level YHT-391 includes a 5-channel AV receiver (100W x 5), along with five two-way acoustic suspension satellite speakers and an 8-inch, 100-watt subwoofer. The YHT-391 allows consumers to easily build a great home theater without breaking the bank.

The screen swivels around a central hinge to hide the phone's regular numerical keyboard. Through a Yamaha piano app program, you can also play and record various other instruments on-the-go. Sounds like a fun concept, but it's hard to tell if the phone's specced out enough to handle that kind of program smoothly.

Also included in package: motion sensing, an "urban fitness program," a 5MP camera and 500MB of internal memory. Per usual, only available in Japan for now. [KDDI au]

So Yamaha went to work on AvantGrand, an ingenious digital piano that uses strategically-placed resonators to pound the pianist with sound and vibrations, just like the real thing! In fact, the Yamaha CFIIIS concert grand was used to create the digital samples for this piano, and that is the real thing.

Even the pedals were tweaked to more closely resemble the mechanical feel of a traditional string and hammer piano.

Yamaha spokeswoman Alicia Keys demo'd the tech at the NAMM convention in LA on Saturday, and came away loving her vibrating piano, which she said was like a friend but better because it couldn't talk (seriously).

You, too, can vibrate to Mozart or Beethoven or covered pop hits from Keys when the AvantGrand arrives in July for $20,000. [OC Register via DVICE]

YAMAHA’S NEW BD-S2900 BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER FEATURES INDUSTRY-LEADING HD AND MULTIMEDIA CAPABILITIES

— Model Offers RS-232C Interface and IR In/Out Ports for Seamless CI Integration,
12-Bit Deep Color, HD Audio Bitstream Output, Picture-in-Picture and Virtual Package Multimedia Features —

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Yamaha, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today introduced the BD-S2900, an innovative Blu-ray Disc player that gives home theater enthusiasts a front-row seat at the leading-edge of high-definition entertainment. Featuring performance enhancements such as 12-bit Deep Color and HD Audio Bitstream output, engaging BONUSVIEW Functions that leverage the Blu-ray format’s next-generation multimedia capabilities and a stylish design to match the company’s high-end receiver line, the BD-S2900 ($1199.95 MSRP) delivers on the promise of all the excitement the home theater experience can offer.
Delivering the highest picture quality, the BD-S2900 can output 1080p via HDMI. Although these signals are generally sent at 50 or 60 frames per second (fps), the BD-S2900 can output them at 24fps, the same frame rate at which movies are shot. This results in a much sharper picture with smooth motion, truer to the original motion picture production. With 12-bit Deep Color compatibility, the BD-S2900 can deliver 4096 shades of each of three primary colors for an astronomical total of 68.7 billion possible colors. This gives viewers inspiringly rich and deep color experiences with incredible color fidelity, smooth tonal transitions and ultra-fine gradations between colors. It also enables many times more shades of gray for a higher contrast ratio.

The unit’s high-quality video processing offers Chroma Upsampling, precise pixel detection and 16-step motion video detection. In addition to providing 1080p output from Blu-ray Discs, the BD-S2900 also offers 1080p output for DVD discs, photos and personal video data, delivering an HD experience from a broad range of today’s popular content sources.
The BD-S2900’s magnificent audio performance is achieved through the incorporation of the latest HD technologies. High bit-rate audio signals (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio) are output directly from the player to the receiver (via an HDMI cable) without conversion to PCM. With the BD-S2900 and an appropriately equipped AV receiver, users can experience pure, direct and unadulterated audio exactly as it was intended to be heard. The device also offers superb analog audio output with a 192kHz, 24-bit converter.
With the incorporation of BONUSVIEW features, the BD-S2900 delivers next-generation capabilities for the Blu-ray format. Home theater aficionados can take full advantage of the latest features, such as Picture-in-Picture and Virtual Package. Using the BD-S2900’s remote control, users can instantly view a secondary picture inside the main picture, with compatible Blu-ray Discs. In addition, the BD-S2900 can output the secondary audio, giving viewers truly multi-dimensional experiences. Virtual Package lets viewers combine information from a Blu-ray Disc with content on an SD card to enjoy additional multimedia and interactive possibilities as they become available.
The BD-S2900 features a full complement of connections including an HDMI output, component, S-Video and composite video outputs, as well as optical digital, coaxial digital and 5.1-channel analog audio outputs.
The BD-S2900 is designed to perfectly complement high-end home theater installations. The unit has an RS-232C interface that can be used for touch controllers, as well as IR in/out ports that make it easy to integrate into any environment. The BD-S2900 also has a well-designed graphical user interface for menu and feature display on your HDTV. Its front panel design is not only clean and uncluttered, but also matches Yamaha’s top-class receivers to give your system a neat, uniform appearance. Bright, dim and auto display brightness modes minimize viewing distractions.

I believe a working prototype could be made, but it would take a great deal of time and engineering. This isn’t fantasy. It’s a green vehicle, and all of the numbers are based in the real world.

But who would actually use this? Sure, it looks pretty amazing and you can park it vertically in a garage to save space, but imagine having to unfasten yourself from this every time you get to work. Or the supermarket. Or grandma's house. At least with a Segway you can hop off and do your business. [Popsci via Crunchgear via Boing Boing Gadgets]

And here's the original video demonstrating Tenori-On's seemingly infinite capabilities:
[Pakl.net]

YAMAHA INTRODUCES THE YSP-3050 DIGITAL SOUND PROJECTOR,

ITS LATEST SINGLE COMPONENT SURROUND SOUND SOLUTION

—New model to its market-leading line offers HDMI, video upconversion, iPod and XM Satellite Radio compatibility, FM tuner and advanced listening settings —

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Yamaha, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today unveiled the YSP-3050, the latest in its award-winning line of Digital Sound Projectors which focus audio signals into precisely controlled and directed "beams" that provide true multi-channel surround sound from a single component. The YPS-3050 fits neatly underneath a flat-panel television and gives consumers a space-efficient option to installing multiple speakers throughout a room for immersive audio for watching movies, television and sports programming.

The new YSP-3050 features 21 beam drivers, and two woofers, 23 corresponding digital amplifiers, three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports), analog to HDMI video upconversion, high definition video upscaling to 1080i/720p and a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output to facilitate pure digital connections with the latest home theater components.

The YSP-3050 is XM Satellite Radio ready with XM HD surround sound powered by Neural Surround. The YSP-3050 also offers iPod compatibility via the new optional YDS-11 dock (more information on the YDS-11 below). Once docked, the iPod can be operated (song selection, play, etc.) via the YSP's remote control and on-screen display. Yamaha's proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer technology compensates for the lost detail of audio that is compressed during the "ripping" process, recapturing the essence of the original recording. An integrated FM tuner further broadens the user's entertainment choices.

The YSP-3050 creates a wide soundstage designed to fill the whole room with convincing surround sound regardless of where listeners are seated. Sound settings include 5-Beam, 3-Beam, 3-Beam + Stereo, 2- channel Stereo, My Beam, 5-Channel Stereo and My Surround modes. My Surround mode delivers surround sound to even the most difficult installation environments where walls may not be present or are covered with unsuitable materials. My Beam mode focuses the sound at a specific listening position, so the listener can hear all program audio clearly, including dialog, without disturbing others in the room.

Yamaha's proprietary IntelliBeam™ automated system calibration enables users to quickly and easily set up each system for the optimal listening experience and intuitive, multi-language on-screen displays.

The YSP-3050 offers full support for surround sound standards, including Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6, as well as CINEMA DSP technology, to create realistic soundscapes in any room. For late night movie and music enjoyment, a Night Listening Enhancer mode allows dialog and quiet passages to be heard clearly, even at low volumes. The TV Equal Volume mode prevents sudden startling bursts of sound from TV programs and commercials. The model also features SRS TruBass technology to provide exceptionally deep and rich bass response.

The YSP-3050 is currently available for a suggested retail price of $1,399.95.