Samsung Yepp YP-Z5

Samsung Yepp YP-Z5: "The Z5 offers long battery life and good photo-viewing capabilities. It may be the first PlaysForSure-compatible 4GB flash player, but it's still no iPod nano-killer."

viliv P1 30GB PMP Ships

viliv P1 30GB PMP Ships: "Episodic Media opened its shop for the Viliv P1 portable media player. You can order the 30GB viliv P1 for $499.95. The viliv P1 comes bundled with viliv Earphones, Cradle, Wireless remote control, AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, Hand Strap, Pouch, Ma..."

Archos AV700 includes dual digital tuners, DVR, 40GB HDD

Archos AV700 includes dual digital tuners, DVR, 40GB HDD: "Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video


Archos has upped the ante (and the price) in the PMP race with the AV700, a model that includes two digital tuners (for European terrestrial digital broadcasts), a 40GB hard drive, a 7-inch LCD display, DVR software, PlaysForSure compatibility for both audio and video, and inputs for recording from any analog source. Archos also claims that the inclusion of two antennas and 'diversity reception' technology allows for better TV tuning on the go. If that's not enough, it can operate in USB host mode to pull pics directly from memory card readers or digicams, allows you to pre-program up to 100 TV channels per location for up to 5 locations, and supports downloadable games. It's expected to be available in Europe in May for about €700 (about $950), and will probably never be available in the US.

PCzapper Media Center Extender, on the cheap

PCzapper Media Center Extender, on the cheap: "Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

We're a little short on details thanks to some obfuscated PR material, but this PCzapper TV Extender pretty much appears to be a straight up Media Center Extender. The main claim to fame is that it's going for 'well below €100!' If the unit makes it to the States that means it should go for less than $120, which doesn't sound too bad for Media Extender with remote. Along with extending your WMCE PC, the PCzapper.TV device includes software for extending media functions of your regular old XP box. No word on connectivity, but we're guessing WiFi since they claim the Extender can work up to 25 meters from you PC. Otherwise your guess is as good as ours, but if you're looking for a cheap Extender you (probably) couldn't go far wrong here.
"

Pioneer launches DVRs with external drives

Pioneer launches DVRs with external drives: "Filed under: Home Entertainment We all know we'll never see a Pioneer standalone DVR this side of the Pacific -- we know this -- and the announcement of their new 160GB DVR-540H, 250GB DVR-640H, and VHS / DVD / DVR DVR-RT50H don't exactly ring any major technical chords or anything. But what does catch our attention is the fact that all these DVRs support external drives (up to 3 simultaneously), and are being sold alongside Pioneer branded external drives. Where you at TiVo? Once again Japan leads the way -- if not technologically then by being unabashedly pro-consumer.

Samsung's YP-F2 2GB pendant MP3 player

Samsung's YP-F2 2GB pendant MP3 player: "Filed under: Portable Audio Samsung has yet another flash-based player on display at CeBIT – the YP-F2. Like it’s F1 sib, the F2 is a pendant style player (barely) tipping the scales at a slight 21g. Still, they manage to pack in up to 2GB of flash memory and 12 hours of playback from your choice of MP3, WMA, OGG, and WAV audio formats. The 512MB drops this April for about $105 or $227 for the 2GB. Sorry, no FM tuner on this model Flave, for that you’ll have to wait for the YP-F2R also expected later this year. Get more of ur freak on after the break.

Modding the NES Into a PS2

Modding the NES Into a PS2: "Many will argue that the good ol’ days of gaming died along with the NES. Upstarts like Sony and Microsoft may tout all the graphic wonderment under the sun, but there’s something about the NES that still draws gamers to this day. Looking to bridge the gap between these two worlds, a French modder transformed his NES into a PS2 look-alike. By painting the whole unit black, installing it into a vertical stand and carving PS2-esque letters reading “NES” into the old Nintendo standby, he has created a work of art. Dubbed the “NES Station 2,” this is the kind of mod that makes learning how to tear apart hard plastic all the more fun.

PortalPlayer branches out to Microsoft

PortalPlayer branches out to Microsoft: "Filed under: Laptops

We're not sure if it's because some sort of behind the scenes exclusivity contract with Apple expired or something, but PortalPlayer, best known for creating the guts of the iPod, looks to be making good on their intentions to take on work with Microsoft. Apparently they've got chips on the way to power those Vista-enabled external / auxiliary laptop displays (aka 'personal media displays') we've all been so stoked about, which are basically small, independent embedded systems, not too different from an iPod, we'd imagine. Careful now though, PortalPlayer, you don't want to go pissing off Stevie J. -- it's his checkbook that's putting most of the food on your table.

The DSM-520, D-Link’s High-Def Media Player

The DSM-520, D-Link’s High-Def Media Player: "Streaming high definition content seems to be the new pink this year, so nobody should be surprised to see D-Link jump into the fray. The DSM-520 is a new member to the MediaLounge family of media streaming devices, the difference being that it plays back HD video in either Windows Media Video 9 or MPEG4 format, topping out at 1080i. The DSM-520 connects to an existing home network via Ethernet or 802.11g Wi-Fi. With HDMI, component, S-Video and composite video connections, the DSM-520 connects to just about every TV on the market. Besides, if you’re TV doesn’t support so much as composite inputs, are you really in the market for a $250 HD media streamer?

Philips 42" 3D-WOW-Display

Philips 42" 3D-WOW-Display: "Philips shows at the CeBit a 42 inch 3D display panel dubbed smartly 3D-WOW-Display. The Philips 3D-WOW-Display is one of those auto-stereo displays that also Sharp is offering since a while. Users can see a 3D effect from various angles and without..."

Philips 42" 3D-WOW-Display

Philips 42" 3D-WOW-Display: "Philips shows at the CeBit a 42 inch 3D display panel dubbed smartly 3D-WOW-Display. The Philips 3D-WOW-Display is one of those auto-stereo displays that also Sharp is offering since a while. Users can see a 3D effect from various angles and without..."

MviX MV-5000U reviewed

MviX MV-5000U reviewed: "Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Storage The MviX MV-5000U, yet another product trying to seduce its way into your livingroom, got a glowing review from Tom's Hardware for its audio / video capabilities. Bought as a case or equipped with a 80GB, 160GB, 250GB, or 300GB hard drive, the MV-5000U packs standalone audio, video, and photo viewing capabilities, an IR remote control, FM transmitter, a small LCD display, optical, coaxial, RCA composite, S-Video, and component outputs. Whether connected to your computer via its USB 2.0 cable, or left on its own by your TV, the MV-5000U handles MPEG-1/2/4, DivX, AVI, DVD and XviD on the video side of things, and MP3, AC3, WMA, OGG, and DTS on audio. Considering Tom's Hardware says this thing can do everything it says it can, and with a slick TV setup interface to boot, we just can't understand why other hard drive manufacturers have been holding out on us for so long. There are a couple downers for the MV-5000U.

Sling Media Slingbox Review

Sling Media Slingbox Review: "The crew at Designtechnica reviews the Slingbox. Quote: 'Sling Media has been gaining a lot of attention over the past year with their new device, the Slingbox. Slingbox is a set-top device you hook up to your television and broadband Intern..."