Audio Video News

Nestled among the dozens of gadgets and gizmo’s at the annual Holiday Spectacular press event in New York City were a few products worth mentioning.

Samsung showcased the 65-inch JS9500 “SUHD” TV Tom Norton reviewed a couple months ago. Representing the state of the art in LCD TV, the 4K/Ultra HD set has full-array backlighting and is one of the first TVs to support high-dynamic range (HDR) technology, which holds the promise of greatly improved contrast and, therefore, more lifelike images. As exciting as HDR technology is, HDR-encoded content is extremely limited and will likely remain so for some time. And as Tom noted in his review, proper TV setup is the key to getting realistic results with HDR content. The set is currently being offered for $5,000 on samsung.com—three grand off the super inflated “suggested retail price” of $8,000; Amazon is selling the TV for $4,998 but shows a “list price” of $6,000). Sorta like shopping for a new car.

TiVo introduced Bolt, its new 4K-ready “unified entertainment system (DVR is so Nineties), which features improved one-button commercial skipping on 20 major channels, Quick Mode for zipping through programs with pitch-corrected audio, recording of up to four shows at once, and an improved user interface that makes it easier to organize and access all content, including streamed programs. Bolt is available in 500-GB ($299) and 1-TB ($399) versions; prices include a one-year subscription, which costs $14.99 a month.

Here’s a great gift for inquisitive minds: The “Gizmos and Gadgets Kit” from littleBits Electronics, a New York-based company founded by engineer Ayah Bdeir, provides everything kids need to create a dozen “tech-infused” devices—from a wireless rover to a bubble machine—using electronic components that snap together with magnets (no soldering!). Bdeir describes the kit as a “roadmap to invent amazing devices with an easy-to-follow guide. Once the training wheels come off and people feel comfortable with the tools, they can invent virtually anything they imagine.” The littleBits website and free app offers up ideas for thousands of projects. The kit will be available for $200 on amazon.com, at Barnes & Noble, and through other e-tailers and retailers starting October 8.