Miglia Digital TV Recorder for Mac Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're anything like me, you spend a lot of your time with your Mac, Browsing the web, listening to itunes, making the occasional iMovie. The only thing other than work and friends that competes for my time is the occasional TV show. That is where the folks at Miglia come in. They know you love your mac and they know you're busy and don't always have time in your schedule to sit down and watch a full hour of "LOST." They even know that you get up during the commercials to send a quick email, but that invariably something will happen that keeps you from getting back to the show and you miss the next segment. They know all this... and they've done something about it.
The TVMini HD is a cute little peripheral about as big as a mouse (optical not animal). The design appears to draw from the iPod, as the majority of it's smooth rounded case resembles stainless steel (iPod mini) and the front and back are adorned with shiny white plastic (Classic iPod good-ness). The TVMini HD(tm) is a compliment to any desktop and looks especially nice next to my 20" iMac. The front of the unit contains three blue LED's which at a glance can tell you if it's on, how good your signal strength is, and when a show is being recorded.
The rear of the unit has but two connections, USB-2 and a coaxial cable terminal. The fact that the unit is powered via USB means there is no power-brick to worry about and keeps potentially messy cables to a minimum.
The TVMini HD has the capability to decode, pause and record ATSC/Clear QAM broadcasts. It will let you watch unencrypted digital TV content, but is not compatible with paid digital cable or satellite services. Many cable TV providers broadcast free-to-air digital channels on their networks. TVMini HD(tm) supports resolutions of up to 1080i (1920x1080) and transfers the digital video stream to your Mac without modifying it in anyway keeping the original quality.
I am cheap, I don't pay for digital cable so I haven't been able to use the TVMini HD in the latter capacity. However I do have a nice ATSC antenna in my attic and when I plugged the TVMini HD into it, I was able to pick up 26 channels 6 of which are HD. The TVMini HD ATSC video fills the majority of my 20" monitor and gives a much better picture than Standard Definition TV.
1920x1080 signals are crisp and will fill many Mac screens - leaving just over 2" on the bottom of my iMac. You can view the broadcasts at "Half size" and "Small size but they look too good at the normal size, not to make this your default. If you have a 20" monitor and a Dual G4, G5, or a CoreDuo processor you will find that the Miglia TVMini HD provides a wonderful TV viewing experience on your Mac.
The included Elegato EyeTV software is intuitive, good looking, and just plain works great. The program guide is what I was most interested in and it works well, at first I had a hiccup getting the actual program information to show up so that I could schedule a recording, but once it started working, it was flawless. Once you have a show recorded, the EyeTV software continues to be useful, allowing you to edit out commercials (saving space on your HDD!) and includes one button support for burning the content to DVD, and/or conversion to the iPod's video format (it will also automatically import the file into iTunes for easy synching or playback via Front Row).
Out of the box you have everything you need to watch HDTV on your mac. The small antenna they provide will get you by in a pinch (I was able to pick up 7 channels, 3 being HD). The included remote control is nice and works well, but it would be nice if you could access EyeTV's new full screen menu (which functions much like Apple's Front Row) using only the remote. The included "protective carrying case" is a nice touch, keeping it looking good on your travels and your friends drooling.
For people who don't want to spend a fortune to get the benefit of HDTV Miglia's TVMini HD is perfect. You get HDTV (as well as SD) decoding, PVR capability, and program guide data from a small portable device. Plus the small size and attractive appearance compliment your desktop.
I recommend this product to anyone who loves TV. The TVMini HD is especially nice for those of us in the military, since we're often loo

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Miglia TVMini HD - TVMini HD consists of a small external decoder, portable antenna, and remote control. Together, they allow you to watch and record live digital TV on your Mac. With good enough reception, you can enjoy HDTV resolutions up to 1080i (1920x1080). You can even pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV, or if you can't stay and watch, easily record your shows to your hard drive or burn them to DVD.Pause, rewind, and skip forward Live TV Export recorded TV shows to Apple iPod and Sony PSP Compatible with ATSC/Clear QAM broadcasts Not Compatible with paid digital cable or satellite services

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Philips DVP5992 1080p HDMI Upscaling DVD Player with USB 2.0 and DivX Ultra Review

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(More customer reviews)Just bought 3 of these 5992/37. There is an easy hack found on the internet to upgrade to play all regions dvd's.
Philips DVP 5992
Region Free:
press Setup
select the Preference Tab
Press 1,3,8,9,3,1
Press up/down key to select "0"
and hit menu to exit.
Prior to this I had a 5982/37 which had 1.1 usb and I had some trouble with avi's at high bitrate through the USB 1.1 port but the 2.0 on the 5992 fixed that. Both players play divx (avi) files but the major upgrades to the 5992 are USB 2.0, plays wmv files, now has 14 characters for files on hard drive or memory stick, you can rip music from cd to hard drive in mp format, you can play vob through the usb. The remote is much improved over the 5982 as well. In summary this is a great deal if you need a player that does a good job upconverting to 1080p, supports divx (avi), wmv and has usb 2.0 for connecting a hard drive or memory stick (must be fat 32 - for drives over 32 gb there are several utilities for doing this such as awissknife or fat32.exe - I have a 1 TB WD connected to mine). Also, to sort the fat32 files alphabetically by name there is a freeware FolderSort.exe which you can download to keep your folders and files alphabetically when you play the HD through the USB. The DVD player reads the folders/files in order they were loaded so for convenience you can sort them yourself with FolderSort. Bought mine for $39.99.
There are additional firmware upghrades by a developer Vb6rocod which makes some great changes to the setup options and screens. For example itlets you see file characters much longer than the standard Philips release (at first it was 40 characters from a cd/dvd then upgraded furtherto the length of the bar on the scree; the files through the usb are limited to either 21 or 23 which is a nice improvement), adds font choices to subtitels, colors to subtitles and some other fixes. You can download through rapidshare. See links at http://ryan.com.br/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=1074;sa=showPosts OR http://www.forodvp5100.com.ar/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=1458&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=60 OR http://forum.videohelp.com/topic355675.html#1881495. Many users like these improvements. I tried the firmware upgrade and it is very nice.

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Be impressed with this Philips DVD player with HDMI digital video and audio connection. Step into another home entertainment arena as you immerse yourself with High Definition video (720p / 1080i/1080p). HDMI for simple AV connection: HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. It is a direct digital connection that can carry digital HD video as well as digital multichannel audio. By eliminating the conversion to analog signals it delivers perfect picture and sound quality, completely free from noise. HDMI is fully backward-compatible with (Digital Video Interface) DVI. DivX Ultra Certified: DivX Ultra combines DivX playback with great features like integrated subtitles, multiple audio languages, multiple tracks and menus into one convenient file format.

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Naxa 13.3 Inch Widescreen HDTV LCD with Built-In DVD Player & AC/DC - NX-550 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pro:
. Upon initial start-up everything appears to function well.
. Hope Discount City was quick to send replacement unit when the first TV was lost by FedEx.
Con:
. Picture clarity is very directionally sensitive. Viewer must be directly in front of screen to appreciate the HD image.

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13.3" Widescreen HDTV LCD with DVD Player. * 13.3" Widescreen HD LCD TV * Built-in Full Function DVD Player: DVD/CD/CDG/CD-R/CD-RW * High Definition Digital ATSC TV Tuner * HDMI Input(s) * Aspect Ratio: 16:10 * Resolution: 1280 x 800 * Brightness: 250 cd/m2 * High Contrast Ratio: 350:1 * Separate Bass, Treble & Balance Controls * Sleep Timer Function * Multi-language On Screen Display (OSD) * TV System: ATSC & NTSC * Power Source: UL Approved AC100V-240V 50/60Hz * 2-Way Power: AC Adaptor & DC Input 12V * Headphone 3.5mm Jack * Input Terminal: HDMI/VGA/YPbPr/S-Video/AV Audio/Video/PC Audio/RF * Vertical Swivel Table Stand * Full Function Remote Control (Included) * UL or ETL Listed * Includes - Remote Control, & AC Adaptor

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Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my 3rd media device, and by far the most capable. I bought it solely based on the HDMI output and MKV playback abilities, and am pleased with the performance so far. Given the price to features ratio, this is the best such device on the market, in my opinion, and one of very few devices I know that can play the robust (and relatively obscure) MKV format as well as being able to output to HDMI. My other 2 devices play AVI's and so does my PS3, so AVI playback was not important to me.Major pluses:
1) HDMI output at 1080p
2) Unicode support is flawless (for subtitles and filename displays). for subtitles, simply name them the same as your movie file and put in the same directory. e.g. Batman.mkv; Batman_ENG.srt; Batman_ESP.srt, etc.
3) remembers where you left off in a movie so you don't have to start from beginning
4) BEAUTIFUL and easy to use interface that is similar to PS3's cross-media bar
5) solidly constructed remote control and overall superior build quality
6) wide selection of languages for the interface, not just the usual French, Spanish, and English.
Major problems:
1) inability to decode DTS audio
2) external hard drive does not power down when device is off
3) higher bitrate 1080p MKV files are unwatchable due to screen artifacting and other visual problems. i think it has a problem with 29fps @1080p.
Not so major problems, but still bothersome issues:
1) excessive spacing btwn lines of text in subtitles
2) inability to read muxed subtitles in files
3) no ability to go to a specific time code if you want to skip ahead
4) thumbnails don't work on any of my videos
5) shiny surface is nice, but fingerprints are easy to see on it
Overall, this is a great value if you're in the market for a versatile multi-format device. It even plays FLAC and OGG audio. If you're a movies guy though, the inability to decode DTS audio may be the deciding factor in your purchasing decision. Hopefully, WD can fix this via a firmware update.
If they release a Gen-2 version of this device that fixes the DTS problem and also has an Ethernet port and/or internal storage, I will gladly repurchase it at a higher price.
4.5/5 stars
UPDATE 12/26/08
WD released a firmware update a few days ago that addressed several of my complaints, including embedded subtitle playback, fast-forwarding and reversing by 10 minute increments, fixed subtitle spacing, subtitle font size select, and a long list of other improvements.
My 3 major problems mentioned above seems to remain. Hopefully, a future firmware release will address these, with the biggest priority for me being DTS decoding.
New Rating: 4.75/5. Highly recommended product.
---------------
UPDATE #3: May 21, 2009: I continue to be highly pleased with this product, after 6 months of ownership. WD has periodic updates that greatly improve the device and fixes small issuse, or introduces new features. The latest firmware shows the subtitle's language name (English, Spanish, etc), instead of just "Subtitle 1/3".
---------------
UPDATE #4: Nov 22, 2009: WD has quietly released a hardware update to the WD TV a few days ago, calling it the WD TV Gen 2 (not to be confused with the WD TV Live, a totally different model). This hardware revision adds DTS downmix and HDMI 1.3, making it very similar to the WD TV Live, except without networking. This is great news for users who don't need networking and want a cheaper second unit for the spare entertainment room because DTS downmix was one of the major features missing from the original product. I am not sure about other features, but make sure the SKU is Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player WDBABF0000NBK-NESN instead of WD00AVN.

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The WDTV HD Media Player is full HD 1080p video playback and is an ultra-compact, USB 2.0 device that attaches to an entertainment unit through a variety of audio/video interfaces and supports playback of major audio, video, and image file formats. It supports high-definition video playback of up to 1080p through an HDMI connection or standard definition for TVs with lower capabilities. It includes remote control, composit AV cable, AC adapter and quick install guide. (Brown Box, Product is Recertified)

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Sony DVP-SR500H 1080p Upscaling DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)We had a 3-yr old Sony DVD player but were not happpy with image quality on 42" LCD TV. Bought this newer sony and it is excellent. Much smaller, lighter, and a lot quicker to load/eject a disc. Image quality finally looks as good as all the display models in the stores. Compatible with all older Sony remotes, including a 15-year old one. Simply the best.

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Upgrade your DVDs to near HD quality via an HDMI connection with the Sony DVP-SR500H upscaling DVD player. A perfect complement to your home theater, this DVD player features Precision Cinema Progressive technology for sharper and more vibrant images as well as the Precision Drive 3 system which lets you play back some of your damaged or warped DVDs without a degradation of picture quality. In addition to watching movies, you can play CDs, MP3s and share your digital photos with friends and family.
The Sony DVP-SR500H upscales your standard DVD video to near HD quality via an HDMI connection.

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Westinghouse PT-16H610S 15.6-Inch Portable Dual-Hinged LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)PROS
- Great mounting options
- Picture quality
- Visible in high glare location
CONS
- Awful speakers (everything sounds tiny)
Great TV that I bought as a gift. Everything about it is perfect for a kitchen TV, with the exception of the awful sound the thing puts out. Luckily it has an audio-out jack, but frankly I shouldn't have to come up with workarounds for a TV at this price range.

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Bring big beautiful HDTV to any room in the house with this stylish 15.6-inch LCD HDTV. The Westinghouse PT-16H610S is a versatile TV packed with unique and innovative features: convenient touch keypad on the base and dual hinge design makes it great for the kitchen (easily adjust the display forward and back and adjust the height or mount on the wall or under a cabinet). The removable bezel and picture orientation features allow you to display the unit when mounted upside down. Packed in this exciting unit is a true HDTV display with an ATSC / NTSC / clear QAM tuner and 1080p HDMI for HD players and composite inputs for gaming.

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Coby TFTV1913 19-Inch LCD Digital TV/Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this TV from Brandsmart USA because I was looking for a small cheap TV to put into my dorm room that had HD. Unfortunately I didnt read correctly, but this TV is only HD-Ready. That means that if you have HD through a cable box or sat. recevier, you are fine, but if you are planning on catching HD through the air... you are out of luck. Also, after searching all over the internet to find a universal remote code, I called Coby Tech support only to be told that Coby does not release codes for its products.
My TV had a small bright patch in the top of the screen when I bought it but it was so small and I had received such a good deal that I just decided to ignore it. But when I used the S Video connection, it often times would cut in and out of picture. I returned the set, and got a replacement. Same issue with the S Video Connector again! Also the front of the second TV was cosmetically imperfect. I think Coby just uses poor quality control, if any.
I just finally threw in the towel and returned the set and went with a Toshiba.
Prices are dropping so fast on these types of TVs that I would say stay away from this and get a brand name. You will spend $50 or $75 more, but you will be glad you did. Also, just so you know in advance. Most name brands offer 1 year warranties. Coby offers only 90 days on a TV of this size.

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Coby TFTV1913 19"widescreen TFT LCD digital color TV/monitor with ATSC/NTSC tuner, fast 6ms pixel responce time, dual ATSC/NTSC tuner for digital and standard TV broadcast reception, AV input jacks for use with media players, DVR/VCRs, video games, and more, 15-pin VGA interface for use with computer systems, full-range stereo speakers(10W), digital comb filter and noise reduction, V-chip parental control, closed caption, and electronic program guide support, multi-language on-screen display, wall-mountable design, black

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Audiovox FPE1080 8-Inch Flat Panel LCD TV with DVD Player and Card Port Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently purchased the Audiovox FPE1080 and found out of the box that one of the pixels was always on solid green. I returned the unit for another and on powering this unit on, a pixel was stuck on solid red. The LCD displays are defective in these units. I returned the unit for another make. If your looking for quality or quality control from this unit, look somewhere else.

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A great choice for the kitchen or adding to your child's room with its removable base, the 8-inch Audiovox FPE1080 LCD TV can also be used for in-vehicle entertainment thanks to the included car power (cigarette lighter) adapter. In addition to playing standard DVD movie and CD audio discs, it's also compatible with playing CD-R/RW discs that have been burned with MP3 audio files and JPEG pictures. It will also play DVD-R/RW discs. It has a built-in 181-channel NTSC tuner, 4:3 standard aspect ratio, stereo speakers on the sides, and a Secure Digital/MMC memory card reader (for viewing image slide shows and playing MP3 digital audio). Connections include a composite A/V (RCA) input and RF antenna input.
What's in the Box LCD TV with DVD player, composite A/V cable, AC-to-DC power adapter, vehicle power adapter, remote control (with batteries), removable stand, printed operating instructions

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Toshiba 20HL67 20-Inch Portable LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the Toshiba 20HL67 LCD TV for my mom as a Mothers Day present this year.
The picture on this TV is outstanding. Colors are very accurate out of the box, and black levels are very good for a LCD TV. The QAM tuner allows for unscrambled HD feeds passed over cable TV to be displayed without a cable box. The QAM tuner on this Toshiba is more accurate than the one in my JVC 32" LCD TV, allowing for stations to be slotted into their correct locations. The zoom modes provided on this Toshiba are great for making traditional 4:3 aspect programing fill the screen. I've also hooked up an older Aiwa, non progressive scan, DVD player via the component inputs. The Toshiba does a fine job of upconverting the 480i signal to the 768P resolution of the TV. A Progressive scan or an upconverting DVD player is not an essental add on, an older DVD player hooked up to the component video inputs (red, blue and green) will do fine with this TV. I have not hooked a VCR up to the TV to see how it would perform with a sub NTSC quality signal.
The main disadvantages of this TV are the remote sensor is in the lower right hand corner of the TV and the lack of a digital audio output. If your TV is in a cabinet, like my mom's is, the remote sensor won't have the range on the right hand side of the room. I prefer older TVs where the remote sensor is in the center of the TV. My mom has to get out of her bed to change channels or turn the TV off. Most other 20" LCDs, have the sensor in the lower right hand corner too, so this is a flaw across the board. As far as the lack of a digital audio output, there is neither a coaxial or optical audio output. However, I doubt many people are going to use this TV for home theater, so this is not a make or break missing feature to 98% of people looking at 20" LCD TVs.
Overall Toshiba did a great job with this TV. I highly recomend this TV to anyone that needs or wants a 20" LCD.

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Toshiba 20HL67 20" LCD HDTV

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Viore PLC10V49 10.2-Inch Portable Widescreen LCD TV, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Most of these reviews are specific to each individual's use and hookup.
Here is my input, after comparing to a similar 10.2" Haier HLT10:
1) Regarding the other review on the audio, you can't expect much from 1"
speakers. This Viore was better (clearer sound) than the Haier HLT10.
2) Picture was great on either model, but that's usually the case when the
screen is so small. It's like saying my 2" screen on digital camera
is great.
3) Regarding the Tuner operation in this Viore model, based on my hookup to
Cable which carries both digital and analog channels:
First off, both models have a NTSC/ATSC as well as QAM tuner which will
receive your off analog/digital/and cable digital channels. So for that
I gave 2 stars for having the QAM as well.
Second: The Viore is much less user friendly for channel setup than any
other TV I've seen. After scanning my analog/digital cable, it separates
the TV/DTV (analog/digital) channels in 2 menus rather than mix them all
together when changing channels. So before changing channels you need to
use the source menu to choose TV or DTV. Viore told me they do it this
way because they have 2 tuners. (But how does every other brand get
around this?)
My biggest complaint is you cannot skip the DTV channels, as the skip
is only for analog channels (which we don't care about any more). So
if you are flipping through channels and come across one channel which
has 80 sub-channels (like I have), you need to keep flipping 80 times
just to go to the next channel.
The alternative is not so useful either and you need to know the ch# you
want to go to. Ex: If you need to go to ch 105-1, you need to press:
1-0-5-(10+ key for the "dash") and also the ENTER key.
Ex: channel 82-4 is entered as 8-2-(10+ key for the "dash")-ENTER.
Again I called tech support and they agreed there is no way to skip
the DTV channels. They said it was designed to select channels using
the EPG instead. So I tried that, but it only displays the program
time slots for the CURRENT channel. So how do you get to the next channel? You flip through the CH+/- or use the arrows on remote and you're
back to same problem: If a channel has 80 sub-channels, you must keep
flipping thru all of those before you get to the next channel.
Basically it cannot skip the DTV channels nor create a favorites list.
4) Now regarding Off-The-Air (free TV) channel reception:
My comparison includes this TV, the Haier HLT10, an RCA set-top
box (from $40 rebate program) and a Samsung HDTV set-top box. All
these work the same way using VSB (ATSC) tuners.
You may notice many complaints on off-the-air reception. But it's usually
a matter of location and antenna used. In my case living in Dallas area,
all these tuners including the Viore picked up almost all channels listed
for my area, but only with a good antenna. The supplied antenna with this
model is useless as you may have heard.
To keep it short, choose an antenna shaped like this one, or just buy
this one if you need a portable antenna (vs. roof top or attic-mount):
PHILIPS PHDTV1 SILVER SENSOR HDTV ANTENNA (same as the former Zenith
model ZHDTV1). You will still need to reposition it for best reception,
but it outperforms most other indoor types.

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The VIORE PLC10V49 10.2 inch portable television allows you to enjoy TV programs wherever you are.Use it at home, at the office, at the big game, or at the beach and never miss your favorite shows.The 10.2 inch widescreen active matrix TFT screen delivers a bright, clear image and the built-in speakers give you stereo sound.Operation is extremely simple through the user-friendly interface, and a built-in large capacity Li-ion rechargeable battery provides long run time when you're away from power.Using the supplied external rod antenna, the integrated digital/analog tuner lets you tune in any TV channels available over-the-air. The USB port and the 3-in-1 SD/MS/MMC card reader allow you to play back a range of popular digital media files including video clips, digital still pictures and MP3 music.The included audio/video input allows you to enjoy your favorite movies by connecting an external DVD player, camcorder or other A/V source.

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Canon HV10 3.1MP High-Definition MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Overview:
Running on the HDV MPEG-2 standard, the Canon HV10 allows many users of miniDV camcorders to continue using and playing their miniDV tapes they've recorded and have, while providing them with the added option of recording in either HD or regular mode onto MiniDV tapes. The HV10 has a slim, pocketable body, so it's very easy to take with you on long trips without feeling like you have a huge rock tied behind you to slow you down.
Minuses:
* No external light/mic jacks - buy the HV20 if you want these.
* No HDMI output - buy the HV20 if you want this.
* Can't change tapes if the camcorder is on a tripod - bottom load, again - buy the HV20 if you want this. But keep in mind that bottom load reduces the amount of dropout causing dust from falling into the tape transport bay (a good thing).
* Viewfinder is decent, but not the highest resolution viewfinder around - but I almost always use the LCD panel so it's not a big concern.
* No manual focus/aperture rings around the lens. You can adjust manual focus using the rear menu dial, but it's not the same as a 'professional' camcorder like the $5000+ Canon H1 series. (then again, almost no consumer level camcorder for

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The stylish Canon HV10 gives you the ultimate in HD video and digital photo quality in an incredibly small HDV camcorder that can literally fit in your pocket. Its 10X optical zoom lens and 2.96 Megapixel CMOS image sensor ensure meticulous detail and superior color reproduction. And, with its HD and Standard Definition recording modes, you can make the move to HD without making your SD equipment obsolete. The HV10 is easy to use and delivers the high level of performance you ve come to expect from Canon. Features: HD Image Quality Compact Size HD Video Lens True HD CMOS Sensor (1920 x 1080) DIGIC DV ll Super-Range Optical Image Stabilization Instant AF (Auto Focus) Brilliant Video Digital Photography Edit and Share Your Video Share Your Photos Built-in Electronic Lens Cover 2.7Widescreen LCD Screen USB 2.0 Full Speed Terminal Analog-Digital Converter Wireless Remote Control Windows XP Compatible One-year Parts And Labor Limited Warranty

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Samsung DVD-F1080 1080p Upconverting Compact DVD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We have had this player for a couple of weeks now. We recently purchased a Full Hi Def television but not quite ready to plunge another $400+ into a Blu Ray player. This little machine is a gem. It works exactly the way it should. We have it connected to the TV via HDMI and the picture is fantastic -- our SD DVDs look incredible. Not sure what the previous reviewer is referring to. There is no set up, simply connect the cable and plug it in. Also, there is no problem with the power cable -- it's standard length. The machine is sleek and intuitive. All you have to do is insert the disc -- the machine will turn on the TV, change to the proper input and load directly to the main menu. We were completely amazed the first time we inserted a movie. Honestly, if this is a small sampling of Hi Def, a Blu Ray player might be in our future soon. I cannot get over the clarity.

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up to 1080p up-conversion SAMSUNG's F1080 DVD Player up-converts the resolution of ordinary DVDs to 1080p/1080i/720p High-definition which means you'll experience the video and audio quality you didn't think was possible from a DVD player.

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OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this player thru Amazon, and ran two region1 DVD disks: LOTR Return of the King Platinum and Dying Young. The short review: The wife is so impressed with the Oppo's picture quality (that's probably the most important consideration when buying anything like this). I was expecting the quality, since I was able to demo a Samsung earlier that could do DCDI/Faroudja/upconvertion. ADDED: I also tried Star Wars DVD. WOW!! The picture quality really blew me away. I can see details in the movie I have never seen before on a TV.
Our Oppo/HT setup: Panasonic AE700 widescreen lcd projector hdmi, ht=61" x wd=108" diy "blackout" screen (viewing distance=3.5meters), Yamaha RXV2095 receiver, Pioneer DV515 (old non-progressive dvd player via 12meter sVideo, 1.5meter fiber optic audio), Oppo DV971H (via dvi-to-hdmi adapter, 5meter hdmi cable, 3.7meter 75ohm component video cable, 10meter 75ohm coax audio), Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 L/R/C and Bose AM10 L/R/C/Surr, Wiring AWG12. Home Theater PC setup (6meter VGA output, 1.5 meter fiber optic audio, Asus Pentium 4-2.67GHz notebook, ATI Radeon 9000-64MB, 512MB, 40GB HDD, ZoomPlayer, FFDShow, PowerStrip, WinDVD6, PowerDVD6). (1meter = 3.28ft)
I have observed a significant video improvement over our old pioneer DVD player. I also tried a 1970's movie (I won't mention the title) that was so poorly transferred to DVD (region3), and I noticed a significant improvement in the video playback over the old player. The noise artifacts were minimized, and the sharpness had a significant improvement. I guess that was the DCDI/Faroudja chip doing its work.
I've tried the 480p,720p,1080i upconvertion using the "dvi" button on the remote and although I couldn't really notice the difference in quality between the three modes even on such a large screen, the lcd projector saw the difference and reported the corresponding "input source signal". I may have to observe some more and change the projector's picture mode, we usually leave it at "Cinema1 mode".
ADDED: okay, I've now looked A LOT closer using Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon region3 DVD. Basically, as I move up the DVI resolution from 480p to 720p to 1080i, I did noticed that less and less horizontal lines were becoming visible (a good thing).
BUT, since our projector uses hdmi, the picture does suffer from hdmi cropping issues (varies with the resolution being used). Using component/analog gives the largest picture that can occupy the screen (unfortunately there is no upconversion using component, only the Oppo's DVI output has the upconversion). At the projector side: Using hdmi input, the picture appears cropped (black bars at the left and right, sometimes at the top and bottom, sometimes a combination of both). I also cannot change aspect ratio using hdmi, while you can using component/analog inputs of the projector.
ADDED: The Oppo I have can play DVD-Audio, something not stated in the manuals or the unit's array of logos. The DVD-Audio sampler disc I used came from Creative Lab's Audigy 2 for the PC.
ADDED: I also compaired the Oppo's component output vs. the dvi-to-hdmi output, basically, there's a big difference in the picture quality, you should connect using the dvi output if possible.
I also noticed that the subtitles on the movies are much easier to read now when compaired to the old dvd player, but on one brief moment the subtitles on Dying Young were garbled -that's never happened before on the Pioneer.
ADDED: Okay, this has now happened to a bunch of other DVDs, sometimes it garbles one single line of subtitle per entire single dvd I watched. That is still an acceptable problem to me.
I also heard no apparent difference in audio quality between the Oppo and the old Pioneer despite the length of the coax. Naturally I set all audio sound effects to off when compairing audio CDs.
I also compaired the Oppo to our HTPC. Basically, the HTPC could output better video than the old Pioneer, but when compairing with Oppo, I prefer the Oppo. I don't want the hassle the HTPC is giving me. I saw no significant video quality difference between the HTPC and the Oppo. So my take on this is if you're happy with your HTPC, stick to it. If you want convenience then Oppo is something to look at. If you can't demo an Oppo, try looking at anything with DCDI/Faroudja.
Bottom line: I am happy with the purchase. Good value for the money. It's region free and can upconvert, and that's what's important to me. I chose Oppo vs. Momitsu V880 because I prefer Faroudja over Sigma Designs. BUT, BUT, here are my Oppo gripes....
1. I don't like the remote's key layout, it also seems flimsy, it could use a backlight.
2. I don't like the el-cheapo plastic disc tray. It looks like it will break easily. It's weird having to insert a disc if the tray doesn't comeout 100% all the way. I just hope this is the design, not a defect.
3. I don't like the bright blue light which is distracting in a completely dark home theater room.
4. The player's buttons are a little hard to press, well, maybe because it's still new. As with other players, not all remote functions can be found on the unit itself. So take care of the remote.
5. I wish the unit was color black instead of silver.
6. I don't like the OSD font, could use a better readable font.
7. The setup menu could be more descriptive, the manual helps but not enough...
8. I wish it was HDMI rather than DVI, but the adapter solved that issue.
ADDED: 9. Subtitle display is sometimes garbled (sometimes happens once on a single line per DVD watched).
ADDED 05/28: Okay, after 3 months and almost 200 hrs of use, I am still happy with this purchase. However, not all DVD titles appeared fantastic thru the DVI upconversion output (hdmi input on our projector), such as Top Gun r1. I had to watch it thru the component output. It appeared too visually noisy via DVI.

Eric Gutierrez
Manila, Philippines

Click Here to see more reviews about: OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player

Improve the picture quality of DVD movies shown on your high-definition television with the versatile OPPO Digital OPDV971H DVD player, which provides 480p/540p/576p/720p/1080i resolutions and can upconvert 480i video from DVDs to the high definition 720p/1080i formats. Featuring a slim and elegant design, it featurs a sleek, silver design that will fit in nicely the rest of your home theater's components. In addition to standard DVD move and CD audio discs, it's also compatible with DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, (S)VCD, HDCD, and CD-R/RW discs as well as WMA and JPEG digital content. It also plays DivX 5, DivX 4, DivX 3, and DivX VOD video content (in compliance with DivX Certified technical requirements).
The OPDV971H features Faroudja's Emmy award-winning DCDi deinterlacing and scaling technology to up-convert standard video in DVDs to HD resolutions. DCDi (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) technology eliminates the jagginess that conventional upconverters introduced to diagonal edges in video. FaroudjaÕs unique DCDi algorithm identifies all the moving edges in a scene and adjusts the angle of interpolation at each pixel so that the interpolation always follows the edge instead of crossing it, eliminating staircasing or jagged edge artifacts.
Other features include a 108MHz/12bit video D/A converter, super error correction with twin laser and intelligent laser wavelength control, NTSC/PAL output (from both NTSC and PAL formatted discs), multi-angled view capability, virtual surround sound, and built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders. Future upgrades to the firmware can be updated to the player via a CD-ROM disc. It offers the following connection options:
DVI Out: 1 (480p, 576p, 540p, 720p, 1080i resolutions)
S-Video Out: 1
Composite AV Out: 1
Component Out
Subwoofer Out: 1
Optical digital audio Out: 1
Coaxial digital audio Out: 1

Tech Talk DivX is a video codec (a piece of software encoding and decoding video) based on the MPEG-4 compression format, that blends good quality video with a low bitrate. This translates to a smaller file size (around 15 percent of a standard DVD's video file), making it easier to transfer to portable devices as well as quicker to create (encode).
HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) is a disc encoding format for audio CDs and DVDs. It can encode 20 bits of audio information into a conventional CD 16-bit channel, yielding a greater dynamic range and a more true-to-life sound when decoded. HDCD-equipped players will improve audio quality for even traditionally recorded CDs and DVDs. Conversely, because of the recording process, HDCD-encoded media will also sound better than traditionally CDs and DVDs on players that don't have the HDCD chip.
DVI (Digital Video Interface) provides an uncompressed transfer of high definition video from a digital video source to a digital display device. HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ensures copy protection of the content. The DVI output is also essential if you want to watch copyrighted DVDÕs at a higher, upconverted resolution (other video connections do not provide upconversion).
What's in the Box DVD player, remote control (with batteries), video cable, RCA L/R audio cable, printed operating instructions

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Coby TFTV1091 10-Inch Portable Widescreen LCD TV with ATSC/NTSC Tuner and Integrated Telescopic Antenna (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)After previously owning a 7" TV that was unable to maintain a stable digital signal, this Coby 10.2" TV is a refreshing change. The TV includes a rechargeable battery, and the built-in digital tuner worked right out of the box with the included antenna. Picture quality on the TV is also good, even though the screen size changes when viewing different digital channels.

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Coby's10-Inch portable LCD TV offers a premium viewing experience, featuring brilliant picture. DTV-ready with dual ATSC/NTSC tuners andIntegrated telescopic antenna.Coaxial antenna input for use with external antenna sources, AV input for use with video games, VCRs, or other AV sources. Headphone jack for private listening andHigh-output stereo speakers.Integrated viewing stand.Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 2.5 Hours of viewing time.Three-way power: AC/DC/battery operation along with a full function remote control.

Get 43% OFF

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Toshiba 19AV600U 19-Inch 720p Portable LCD HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I compared the picture quality of the Toshiba 19AV600U side by side with Samsung (at our local Best Buy) after tweaking both to their maximum quality and the Toshiba had truer colors with accurate flesh tones, probably due to the 10 bit color. The sound was also much better (and louder) than other TV's of the same size. If you can live without the headphone jack, then this will be a great choice, especially for a small bedroom or kitchen.
One more thing that impressed me and my daughter was how the TV cleaned up the standard analog cable channels, apparently due to the noise reduction feature, which we put on high. Some of the channels even look as good as digital or HD. The 19AV600U also has (2) HDMI jacks and is a great looking little TV even when it's off. We mostly buy SONY but was settling for Samsung (since Sony is not that impressive in this size range) until I ran across this little jewel.

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Portable 720p HD LCD TV

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Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for a very small LCD TV, this is a nice product. If you have room for a 19", by all means I would go for the larger screen. Keep in mind that, even with the abundance of digital and high def signals out there today, many channels/programs will be broadcast in 4:3 format. Since this TV is a 16:9 profile screen, a 4:3 display will appear that much smaller on this 15.6" screen.
However, if you have a tight space, like on a kitchen counter under cabinets, this TV is perfect. It included a built in DVD player, which is a nice perk. The picture is vivid and HD display on it is excellent. At this size there is absolutely no reason to go for 1080p. For a 15.6" screen, or even a 19", 720p is fine.
At this screen size, Toshiba's competition tends to be "store brands" or no-name brands. This is the lone high quality name brand TV in this class (size).
What included in the box:
* 15.6" (measured diagonally) flat screen TV.
* Attached stand.
* Remote control.
* Power cable.The TV comes with a QAM tuner so you can pull any unscrambled analog and digital TV signals from your cable company. The TV accepts coax and ColorStream component connections.
PROs:
* Vivid picture
* Fully adjustable backlight and picture format, as well as all the usuals (brightness, contrast, audio, etc.).
* Excellent sound.
* Matte finish screen reduces glare so screen is viewable in bright and low light situations.
CONs:
* Tuner is fairly slow when switching stations.
* Stand is not adjustable for different angles or height.
Overall, this is a nice TV for the price and has many of the functions you'd want. An adjustable stand would be nice but at this size its not a necessity. I'm not sure why the tuner lags as much as it does, taking approximately 2-4 seconds in between channels. If you channel-surf often, this will annoy you.
I would have rated this a 5 had it not been for the slow tuner.

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Petite and packed with features, the 15LV505 LCD TV/DVD combo is a great addition to kitchen counters, spare rooms, or dorm rooms. The portable size makes it easy to enjoy movies anywhere in your home. Features:
1366 X 768 Pixel resolution

Built-in slot loading DVD player that plays DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/VCD

Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning

Wide aspect ratio

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DVD MPEG4 Player, DV-933 Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this dvd player and it didn't work from day one. When I turned it on, it just continued to spin around. None of the buttons worked except the on/off. The instruction phamplet didn't even have a ph number or address in which to complain, nor did it list the name of the company. So I wasn't suprised when there was no mention of a warranty.

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Full-featured remote control.Parental lock, Video output, 2.0CH output, AC 100-240v, 50/60 HZ,height 1.7 inches width 10.2 inches depth 7 inches

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