philips

Philips has announced plans to release a new portable video player named the GoGear SA6500. The Philips PVP features a 4.3-inch wide-screen display, SDHC memory expansion, Rhapsody subscription music integration, built-in speakers, and an included pair of high-end, in-ear headphones. An 8GB version of the GoGear SA6500 (the SA6585) should hit shelves in July, priced around $200.

While a budget, flash-based PVP might not seem groundbreaking, one of the GoGear SA6500's most compelling features might be its multicodec, multiresolution support. Flash PVPs are sprouting up everywhere, but few support drag-and-drop video transfers without requiring tedious video conversion. Along … Read more

At CNET, we take HDTV power consumption seriously, which helps explain our excitement when Philips announced its Eco TV. The 42-inch, 1080p resolution, flat-panel LCD, model 42PFL5603D (due in March, $1,399 MSRP), is packed with power-saving features.

Watch the Philips 42PFL5603D Eco TV video on CNET TV.

Chief among them is the ability to dim the backlight--by up to five times peak brightness--in response to program material, much like the "local dimming" found on Samsung's LED-based LN-T4681F. Dimming the backlight in darker scenes has the dual benefit of saving power and improving black-level performance, according to the company. The backlight can also be dimmed via a room lighting sensor, so in dark rooms it will use less power. There's also traditional a "power-saving" mode that caps the peak light output.… Read more

Aiming squarely at devices such as the Logitech Squeezebox and Roku Soundbridge, the recently announced Philips Streamium NP1100 might not break the mold on features, but it will be offered at a great price of just $149. The Philips Streamium NP1100 offers three basic functions: an Internet radio tuner; a PC-link for streaming audio from a local computer; and a dedicated Rhapsody subscription music feature. The Streamium NP1100 uses a built-in Wi-Fi connection (or hardwired Ethernet), to pull down streaming music from the Internet or your networked PC library.

On the back of the Philips Streamium NP1100 you'll find … Read more

Philips' Bluetooth Wireless Entertainment System, the BTM630, may not be among the "future" products Philips announced at CES, but it's making its official debut at the show, so we're going to write it up.

Along with Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music from Bluetooth-equipped cell phones and PCs, the BTM630 features an iPod dock, a slim-slot CD loading system, a USB port, and the ability to playback MP3 or WMA music from a SD or MMC card. With a built-in mic, the system also doubles as speakerphone for cell phone calls (you can switch between calls and … Read more

While Streamium systems are always hard to come by stateside, Philips has announced the next iteration of its wireless digital streaming devices. The WACS7500 hub ($999.99) and WAS7500 extenders ($299.99) feature 80GB hard drives, color LCD displays, and USB ports for connecting a variety of media devices.

The idea behind Streamium is to be able to wirelessly broadcast music to anywhere in your home. Using the WACS7500 you can control up to five WAS7500 extenders, either synchronizing them together or controlling them separately. Rip CDs directly to their hard drives or, through Wi-Fi, access files on your computer. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Although men crave electronics, women actually make the buying decisions, according to Philips.

Thus, the Dutch electronics maker is launching on a campaign to appeal more to women by making their electronics more fashion forward and elegant, said Andrea Ragnetti, the new CEO of Philips Electronics at a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (The old CEO, Rudy Provoost, has been shifted over to Philips lighting.)

To that end, it unveiled its Design Collection, a series of TVs, home audio systems, and other equipment with what Philips says will make a statement about personal style. … Read more

Since the beginning of Blu-ray, standalone, dedicated Blu-ray players have been a tough sell. The Sony PlayStation 3's built-in Blu-ray drive delivers excellent video quality, loads discs superfast, and it costs less than or the same as standalones. And it's also an HD gaming system with media streaming functionality. Sure, some people refused to use a game console in their home theater, but for everyone else, the PS3 has been a no-brainer buy for those who want to go Blu.

Finally, Philips has broken the PS3 barrier with the $350 BDP7200, which is the first Blu-ray player we'… Read more

In recent years Philips has produced some of the better--and most popular--digital photo frames, and the company has announced it's expanding its line of frames to include 6-, 7- and 8-inch models that incorporate technologies "that enhance screen color and contrast for an unparalleled showcase of priceless images."

The press release notes that, "New models leverage RadiantColor, Philips' innovation that extends the color on the edges of a less-than-full-screen photo to the sides of the screen. This alleviates black bars as well as aspect ratio distortion to ensure the best viewing experience, adding new glow to … Read more

LG.Philips, one of the major worldwide LCD panel suppliers, is planning to debut a series of mammoth touch screens, including two so-called world-first commercial flat panels: a 52-inch multi-touch and a 47-inch triple-view HDTV.

The former has an ultra-high 1,920x1,080 resolution and the ability to recognize two touch points, as well as gestures. Its high responsiveness is also capable of picking up more exacting writing instruments, thereby improving interactivity.

The HDTV, meanwhile, can display three images to viewers standing at various angles simultaneously. It's intended for such uses as in-store directories and shopping mall advertising.

(Source: … Read more