CES 2008

Philips 120Hz-equipped PFL7403 series lacks Ambilight backlighting...

(Credit: Philips)

Although they won't have all the eco-friendly chops featured on the company's entry-level LCD, the most-expensive LCD HDTVs announced by Philips at CES this year do include 120Hz technology with de-judder, the company's first attempt at such video processing. The technology, dubbed HD Digital Natural Motion (HD DNM) with. Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC) as part of the company's Pixel Plus 3 HD package--got all that?--joins similar technologies we've reviewed from Sony, Toshiba, and Samsung.

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For those who can't afford to say it with diamonds, Philips offers Swarovski crystal earbuds.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

Philips has announced plans to release a line of Swarovski crystal earbuds, available just in time for Valentine's Day. Priced at $99, the Philips Active Crystals earbuds feature a stainless steel body, fabric cable, silicon in-ear caps, and single neodymium drivers with a 16 ohm impedance.

The Active Crystal earbuds are part of Philips' larger launch of women-focused products, including crystal-studded USB drives and home electronics that feature a softer, more elegant design aesthetic.

The Philips 6515D

Philips is showing off two new Ambisound products--the first an HTiB, the $499 6515D, offers a 5.1 surround-sound experience while only using an actual 2.1 setup. It includes HDMI upscaling up to 1080p, along with USB support for playing music and video files.

The Philips HTS6100

(Credit: Philips)

The Ambisound soundbar, the HTS6100, is ultimately a step-down version of the HTS8100, which will retail for $599. It also includes a DVD player with 1080p upscaling via HDMI and an iPod dock that can be controlled through the system itself. However, this version will not support an onscreen display like we saw with the HTS8100. This is actually a good thing, as we found that interface to be almost worthless.

Both products will debut in May 2008.

The Philips GoGear SA5200BT series includes Rhapsody subscription music compatibility and integrated Bluetooth wireless technology.

(Credit: Philips)

Philips has announced plans to release an MP3 player with built-in Bluetooth functionality. Available in April in both 4GB ($129) or 8GB ($169) capacities, the Philips GoGear SA5200BT series will feature a 2.8-inch screen, Rhapsody subscription music integration, FullSound audio enhancement technology, and DRM audio and video support. Beyond the obvious benefit of being able to pair the Philips GoGear SA5200BT with a set of wireless Bluetooth headphones, the player can also take advantage of wireless file-sharing with any Bluetooth-capable PC.

Philips also plans to sell versions of the GoGear SA5200 series without Bluetooth for $109 (4GB) and $149 (8GB).

It's just an engineering sample, but if the Philips SA650 ever materializes, it could give Creative and SanDisk a run for their money.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)

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 with its audio and video DRM support, and Rhapsody DNA integration, the Philips GoGear SA6500 has an opportunity to become the preferred budget PVP of 2008.

The 42PFL5630D uses less power than any 42-inch LCD we've seen.

(Credit: Philips)

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

Squeeze this! With an affordable price and attractive design, the Philips Streamium NP1100 hopes to take streaming home audio mainstream.

(Credit: Philips)

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.

When not in use, the Streamium NP1100 doubles as pixel-flaunting clock.

(Credit: Philips)

On the back of the Philips Streamium NP1100 you'll find a standard pair of RCA audio outputs along with a digital coaxial jack, both used for connecting the device to a home theater system, boom box, or powered desktop speakers.

Aside from the Streamium's attractive price tag, Philips touts the product's small footprint, attractive design, and ease of use as major advantages over the competition. The oversize, high-contrast white LED display used on the Streamium does an admirable job of presenting large, legible text on a device no bigger than a clock radio.

A 30-day trial Rhapsody subscription is included with the Streamium right out of the box, with no account set-up requirement. No fee is attached to the Internet radio streaming feature.

All in wonder: Bluetooth, CD player, and iPod dock.

(Credit: Philips)

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 music). Lastly, the spec sheet says the BTM630 offers "one-touch MP3 digital recording in 2x speed without the need for a PC." Sweet.

Philips says the BTM630 is currently available and carries a MSRP of $199.99.

Will the new Streamium systems get mass distribution in the US?

(Credit: Philips)

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. Streamium also offers an optional iPod dock, although it seems a little superfluous if you keep all your music on your computer. Internet radio fans will be happy to know that Streamium allows you to bypass the need for a PC and listen to broadcasts directly from either a hub or extender.

We've reviewed a variety of Streamium products over the past few years and--while we liked some more than others--the bigger frustration was that the products seemed increasingly scarce at North American retailers. Hopefully when April comes along these will finally materialize in the states.

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.)

she's entranced with the Ultimate TV

(Credit: michael kanellos)

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.

Some of the products are actually quite cool. Check out the Ultimate Dream TV pictured here: white bezel with a translucent frame. The company also showed off the sleek (i.e. few buttons) Streamium home audio products. (I don't recall Streamium in the Periodic Table of the Elements, but Philips assures me it's near Stronium.)

But take a look at the second picture. It's a large crystal pendant designed by Swarovski that holds a USB drive. The Active Crystal USB drives are shaped like a lock, or a heart. "The Active Crystal range combines high fashion design with the best in technology, creating a fusion of fashion and function," Philips said in a statement.

A heart shaped world, and USB drive

(Credit: Michael Kanellos )

I asked my wife if she wanted one for Valentine's Day.

"I'll stab you," she said.

There's a fusion of fashion and function for you. Philips also has a set of crystal ear buds.