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Filed under: HDTV, Storage

Now here’s a rate of progress we could get used to. Nary a month after Pioneer trumpeted a 400GB Blu-ray Disc, out pops another press release from the firm boasting about a 500 gigger with a score of layers. Based on research at its Tokyo headquarters, specifications have been drafted for an incredibly capacious 500GB BD. Granted, this very company already had plans for a 500GB optical disc nearly four years ago, but there’s no time like the present to make this stuff a reality, right?

[Via TrustedReviews, thanks xdragon]

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Source: Darren Murph

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

While the world waits for official word on the fate of Pioneer’s plasma HDTV operations, The Nikkei offers an analysis of the state the company is in, and how it got here. The problems started with Sony’s choice of LCD over plasma back in 2005, leaving Pioneer without a partner to sell its plasma panels (the way Samsung and Sharp sell Sony LCDs), and unable to reduce prices by boosting production. Now the company is caught between its top shareholder Sharp — an LCD manufacturer, that wants to put Pioneer’s speakers in its TVs and sell Pioneer LCDs — and its new plasma supplier Panasonic (fear not, Panasonic hopes to exceed even the Kuro’s contrast ratio in its upcoming displays). The Nikkei expects Pioneer to announce it will sell 40- to 50-inch LCD & plasma HDTVs at its press conference March 7, but we just want to know what happens to Project Kuro.

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Source: Richard Lawler

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/tech_news/Pioneer_to_STOP_producing_plasma_HDTV_s’;Pioneer is officially “reviewing the plasma business”, according to a release today — much like Toshiba’s “review” of the HD DVD business in February when it had decided to quit in January — while a Reuters source confirmed The Nikkei’s earlier report that Pioneer is getting out of the plasma panel manufacturing game altogether. While Pioneer would keep building plasmas based on panels sourced from Panasonic, according to the report, this would mark the exit of the the 5th ranked plasma manufacturer, and host to some of the best PDP displays and technologies around. We can’t expect any official word until the company’s press conference on the March 7, but rumors have swirled recently that it is considering a switch to LCD. We’ll find out on Friday (our money is on SED rising again), but for now we’ll just look longingly at our lovely Kuros.

Read - Pioneer reviewing plasma business
Read - Pioneer to cease output of plasma panels, source says
Read - Pioneer press release [via Impress; warning: PDF link, Japanese]

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Source: Richard Lawler

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio

It looks like DJs (robot or otherwise) will soon have a couple of new pieces of gear to consider, as both Stanton and Pioneer took advantage of the currently-happening NAMM expo to announce some new and decidedly non-amateur rigs. First up is Stanton’s SC System (pictured above), which will be available either as a set for $2,499, or as a separate “virtual turntable” and “virtual mixer” for $1,499 and $999, respectively. As Crave reports, the former of those’ll give you a 10-inch, high-torque motorized platter covered in real vinyl, while the latter packs four channel strips with EQ control among other standard controls and, most importantly, a Firewire interface that’ll handle a 96KHz sample rate. Look for it to be available in May. For its part, Pioneer’s announced two new additions to its line of DJ CD players, including the MEP-7000 Professional Multi-Entertainment Player and the SEP-C1 Professional Software Entertainment Controller. Both of those pack 4.3-inch LCDs and make use of Pioneer’s DJS software suite for control from a PC, with the $2,300 MEP-7000 adding dual players (that’ll handle DVD-ROMs in addition to CDs) and a slew of other features not found on the $1,200 SEP-C1. As with the Stanton, however, you won’t be able to get your hands on those just yet, with each of ‘em only slated to roll out in June.

Read - Crave, “Stanton unveils SC digital DJ rig”
Read - Press Release, ” Pioneer Livens DJ Performances with Two New DJ Machines”

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Source: Donald Melanson

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Filed under: CES, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Pioneer is expanding its CES lineup with four new audio-video receivers, one of which supports the new high-definition audio codecs found in Blu-ray and HD DVD. The VSX-518-K, VSX-818V-K, VSX-918V-K, and VSX-1018TXH-K A/V receivers all feature Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration with an included microphone for tweaking acoustics in the room, three 1080p-capable component inputs, and Auto Level Control for equalizing volume between sources. The VSX-518-K, 818V, and 918V all feature P.H.A.T (Pioneer Hybrid Amplifier Technology) power sources and support for WMA9 Pro over 5.1 channels, with the 518 dropping support for XM and Sirius satellite, iPod, and HDMI inputs. The big news is the VSX-1018TXH-K, with its support for 130 watts over 7.1 channels using a Direct Energy power supply, HDMI upscaling to 1080p, six digital inputs, and support for the lossy Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution, and lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs. The VSX-518-K is priced at $199, the VSX-818V-K at $249, the VSX-918V-K at $349, all releasing in April, and the VSX-1018TXH-K will come to market in June for $599.

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Source: Erik Hanson

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

We’ve already seen more than a few Blu-ray and HD DVD players make their debut at CEDIA this week, and Pioneer’s now tossed an entry of its own into the pack, unveiling its new high-end BDP-95FD Blu-ray player. As Pioneer is quick to boast, this is apparently the first such player to offer bitstream output of “all advanced audio formats” including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD High Resolution, and DTS-HD Master Audio. Otherwise, the player will give you full 1080p24 video, along with HDMI 1.3 connectivity (including HDMI-CEC technology), and Pioneer’s “exclusive” Home Media Gallery, which will let you network the player with your computer or other DLNA-compliant gear. Just don’t expect to be able to do all that on the cheap, with the player set to pack a $1,000 price tag when it’s released in October.

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Source: Donald Melanson

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Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Less than a month after Pioneer loosed details on its AVIC-X3, along comes word that we can also expect an AVIC-N4 in the not-too-distant future. This single-DIN unit boasts a motorized, flip-out seven-inch touchscreen, optional iPod / Bluetooth compatibility, CD or DVD playback, XM / XM NavTraffic-readiness, and a Tele Atlas database for routing you around. Regrettably, the lack of an internal HDD means that you’ll be forced to insert the map DVDs in order to access guidance, but users can feel free to toss in discs with MP3, WMA, AAC, or DivX files when the drive is clear. Furthermore, the unit can even accept tunes streamed in wirelessly from a mobile handset when utilizing the CD-BTB200 adapter, as it understands both A2DP and AVRCP protocols. So, now that you’ve found a satisfactory replacement for that aging factory head-unit, you’ve only got to scrounge up $1,600 to make the swap.

[Via NaviGadget]

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Source: Darren Murph

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Filed under: GPS

Those looking for a few more distractions than the ordinary GPS / PMP device has to offer may want to consider Pioneer’s new AVIC-X3 unit, which looks like it should please even the most demanding car-dweller. Up front and center on this one is a 7-inch touchscreen which, in addition to displaying the usual GPS information, can also be used a display for the integrated DVD player (which’ll handle DivX files stored on a CD-R or DVD-R as well). Otherwise, you’ll get real time traffic information from the built-in TMC receiver, along with 1.5 million points of interest for 26 European countries. If the standard fare isn’t enough to keep you busy, you can also make use of various optional cables and accessory to hook up an iPod, a video game console, additional screens, or a rear view camera. No word on price, but it’ll apparently be available in Europe sometime in September.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Source: Donald Melanson

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