Philips’ BD player features a fresh, attractive design, supports Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio in bit-stream format and performed excellently in 1080p24. So, what’s the problem, you ask? Unfortunately, there’s no onboard decoding of the previously mentioned audio codecs, no Ethernet port for firmware upgrades, an inability to understand Profile 2.0 and “subpar image quality in standard 1080p mode.” All in all, the 6.4 out of 10 rating screams “mixed bag” to us, and while this particular device may actually be right for some, we’d certainly take a gander at the review linked below before diving on in.

The good: Unique design; can output Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bit-stream format; excellent video quality in 1080p/24 mode; Profile 1.1 compliant

The bad: No onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio; subpar image quality on Blu-ray Discs in standard 1080p mode; lacks Profile 2.0 support; no Ethernet jack for firmware upgrades.

The bottom line: The BDP7200 has a unique design and is Profile 1.1 compliant, but subpar Blu-ray image quality and the lack of onboard audio decoding options limit its appeal.

Specs: Sound output mode: Surround Sound; Weight: 9.3 lbs

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iLuv has introduced its first pair of HD Radio clocks, and sure enough, one of ‘em plays nice with Cupertino’s darling. iLuv i169 would be that player, which offers up a mostly black motif, dual stereo speakers, remote, iPod dock, AM / FM / HD Radio reception, an auxiliary input and dual alarm settings for good measure. As for the currently available iLuv i168, it provides most everything you read up there sans the iPod compatibility, but then again, it only demands $89.99. What about the iLuv i169, you ask? It’ll set you back a cool $169.99 when it lands in “early May.” Full release waiting after the break.

iLuv i169 HD Radio with iPod Dock and Dual Alarm Clock:
iLuv i169 HD Radio with iPod Dock and Dual Alarm Clock features crystal-clear, digital stereo for FM and AM HD Radio stations and multicast channels. iLuv i169 displays information from the HD Radio station including song name, band, frequency and more. It also receives standard analog AM and FM stereo and includes PLL tuning digital tuning technology. There are 30 programmable presets for radio stations (10 for AM / 20 for FM). The new HD Radio dock also plays and charges your iPod and the digital dual alarm clock function allows you to wake to iPod, AM/FM radio, or buzzer. It also includes an auxiliary line input for any audio devices with 3.5mm jack and remote control.

iLuv i168 HD Radio Unit with Dual Alarm Clock:
iLuv i168 HD Radio unit with Dual Alarm Clock provides crystal-clear, digital stereo for FM and AM HD Radio stations and multicast channels.. Functions include station and song information display, analog AM and FM stereo reception, PLL tuning digital tuning technology and programmable presets for 30 radio stations (10 for AM / 20 for FM) and an auxiliary line input for any audio devices with 3.5mm jack. The liquid-crystal display (LCD) and dual alarm clock features a digital clock and date display with the option to wake up to AM/FM radio or buzzer and includes a mute function. www.i-luv.com

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T-Mobile’s 3G network starts tomorrow? It’s going to be voice only. So trepidatious is T-Mobile to actually get their 3G data rollout, rolled out, they’re launching first with kneecapped voice-only service, keeping only EDGE for those demanding data. Here’s the snippet from the memo we received:

“3G is the next generation of our wireless network, following our current GSM network. In this early phase of our network evolution, 3G is a new technology for carrying wireless voice calls and supporting existing data capabilities on our network. In future phases, this next generation network will power ‘high-speed’ (3G) products and services that connect customers in new and exciting ways. Inform customers who are interested in high-speed data that the first phase of our 3G roll out supports voice only.”

No word on when T-Mobile actually plans to turn on the faster data, but for everyone who hasn’t already jumped ship — hoping against hope — the wait continues. Every single major US 3G network — including Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint — went live as either data card-only (with phones added later), or data and voice together.

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A keen follower of DirecTv over at DBSTalk mentioned that :

Looks like the AM21 can now be ordered through directv.com… once logged in, click on the “Kits and Equipment” link in the top right corner… Also looks like it is for ‘Self Installation’ only…

HR21 is finally available on DirecTV.com for purchase. This $50 accessory will enable HR21 owners to tune into and record OTA HD channels and is a must have for anyone who wants access to every local HD channel in their area. Although DirecTV caries HD locals in most markets, it doesn’t carry all the HD channels in those same markets. As expected, it’ll let you record two shows at once, but unfortunatly it doesn’t work with the H21 HD receiver (non-DVR).

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Pioneer introduces AVIC-F500BT satnav unit got you all hot and bothered, then big brothers NavGate AVIC-F900BT and NavGate AVIC-F700BT should totally wreck your lifestyle. The new units sport all kinds of funky functions, like a 5.8-inch WVGA touchscreen display, built in DVD player (CD for the F700BT), 3D mapping with text to speech, PMP functionality with playback of MPEG, DivX, MP3, and WMA files, plus Bluetooth support for cell phones and the ability to manage up to 300 contacts. The do-it-all units also feature SD card support and USB jacks. Both new models will go on sale in Europe, Russia, Australia, and the States sometime in June, no word on pricing yet. You can watch a demo of the unit in action in the video after the break. C’mon… you know you want to.

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So Pioneer’s cramming a 5.8-inch 800 x 480 screen into this Pioneer AVIC-F500BT “portable” navigation device, and just got themselves some FCC approval for shipping it over to the States. In addition to that gargantuan screen, Pioneer F500 really excels at connectivity, with Bluetooth for hands-free calling, an optional traffic antenna, and some ND-BC2 add-on to hook the unit up to a rear view camera. You can also use it to control your iPod, but there’s an SD card slot if you want to handle those tunes with the F500. No word on price or availability, but this unit sells as the NavGate 500 over in Europe for a whopping 699 Euro — about $1100 US. Ouch.

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Okay Britons, here’s your shot at ripping us Americans who’ve had quite a few laughs at the expense of your GPS-loving neighbors. Reportedly, the driver of a charter bus carrying a high school girls’ softball team decided to casually follow the soothing turn-by-turn directions that were being emitted from the nearby GPS unit rather than actually noticing the enormous clearance sign on the overpass ahead. As you can likely guess, the 11-foot, 8-inch-high vehicle plowed right into the 9-foot bridge — which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 — though somehow everyone on board escaped without any major injuries. Oddly enough, the driver apparently isn’t alone in chipping away at the landmark, as a local even mentioned that “large trucks hit the bridge every two weeks or so,” but couldn’t resist noting that “this [instance was] by far the worst.”

[Thanks, Raleigh]

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We first heard about Dash Express back in 2006 and we have been waiting since then. Although we’ve seen a ton of photos and even toyed around with a beta version of the GPRS / WiFi-connected navigator, actually using the device for a lengthy period of time revealed some pretty interesting things. The main verdict: yeah, it’s way pricey, but if you’ve got the scratch, this is the GPS you want — and if the community features take off like Dash think they will, it’s going to be a game-changer. Read on for the full review!

Continue reading Dash Express review

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The release date of Samsung BD-P1500 was postponed from May to July due to change in the product. Samsung made a last moment decision to include BD-Live in Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-Ray player — which is a very smart business decision.Samsung announced its fourth generation Samsung BD-P1500 will be BD-Live Ready. The bad news is the May release date announced earlier has slipped to June, and the formerly comfortable $399 MSRP is now a less promising TBA. We’re not sure if that “ready” tag means it will be BD-Live enabled out of the gate, however DTS-HD “High resolution” is confirmed on the way in a future firmware update.

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While Microsoft and the gang are out wondering if folks really want Caller ID on their TV screens, Time Warner Cable is out delivering. Effective immediately, select customers in Eastern North Carolina (from Wilmington to Raleigh) can now see who’s calling ‘em right on their television screen, but of course, one must be subscribed to digital cable and digital phone to receive the free service. More specifically, Caller ID on TV logs the last ten incoming calls (including the caller’s name, number, date, call time and whether he / she enjoys long walks on the beach) and can be turned off if you so choose. The offering is being made as part of a $50 million upgrade in the region, and by this summer, every TWC subscriber in the East Carolina footprint will have access. Personally, we’re interested to see what else is bound to come from such a substantial cash investment (more HD, please?). [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

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