ALKHOBAR, 17 October 2006 — High Definition (HD) and Digital Multimedia Convergence are the two keys to having a great entertainment experience with the next generation of digital lifestyle products. HP has signaled that it is time for everyone to get ready to play with the introduction of three hardware solutions based on the HD-DVD digital media format, making HP one of the first companies to enter the HD arena.
The hardware includes a 17-inch widescreen diagonal HD-DVD notebook PC with a piano-black HP Imprint finish and patterned design; an HD-DVD Media Center TV PC with 7.1 surround sound; and an HD-DVD external drive for PCs — all of which can deliver the superior picture quality associated with high-definition movies.
HP has also introduced two home storage products that are ideal for storing high-definition movies and rich digital content such as music and photos. The HP Media Vault, the first in a new product category for the company, is an expandable storage product that allows consumers to easily back up and share movies, music and photos across home networks. The HP Pocket Media Drive is an ultra-portable, 2.5-inch USB hard drive in 80GB and 120GB capacities.
“The digital lifestyle is here, and HP is making it easy for customers to experience high-definition entertainment that is compelling and fulfilling,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “HP, with its heritage in digital technology, is at the forefront of simplifying the experience. Today, we’re extending that leadership to the high-def lifestyle.”
For personal use, the HP Pavilion dv9000t Series Entertainment Notebook PC handles demanding applications with its combination of digital entertainment features and fast multi-tasking performance via Intel Core 2 Duo mobile technology. Cinema-quality viewing is delivered with a 17-inch diagonal high-definition BrightView widescreen display with optional HP Ultra BrightView dual-lamp technology. An integrated HDMI port enables true HD content playback on a high-definition TV or monitor.
Treat your family to an upgrade in their entertainment experience with the HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7600n Series PC. This PC takes movie watching to a new level with its HD-DVD high-definition DVD player, Intel Viiv technology and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, wireless home networking, and 7.1 surround sound. The PC enables high-definition movie playback with six times better resolution than standard DVD. In addition, the built-in TV tuner and personal video recorder allow users to simply watch, pause, rewind and record live television. The new HP Pavilion Media Center TV PC paired with HP’s new w22 flat panel HD-ready monitor completes the HD movie experience.
The digital lifestyle requires access to greater amounts of storage to save all your digital content. HP’s Media Vault mv2010/mv2020, allows consumers to easily protect and share digital content across multiple PCs. With its user-friendly HP-designed interface, even the least technical family members can enjoy the same movie, photos, music or video by streaming the file from the Media Vault to different computers or networked TVs throughout the home. With a capacity that expands up to a staggering 1.2 terabytes, the Media Vault can store up to 500,000 photos, 16,000 hours of music or 340 hours of video. Get more information on HP’s new digital entertainment products at www.hp.com/go/yourlifeistheshow.
And it’s important to note that the digital lifestyle shouldn’t just be enabled at home. Enter the Wolverine ESP, the world’s first portable media player to deliver true digital multimedia convergence for professional and serious amateur photographers as well as for consumers who want the most extensive array of multimedia/multifunction capabilities in the palm of their hands.
The Wolverine ESP features a razor-sharp 3.6-inch TFT LCD display and the ability to store and view 60,000 digital photos, play 240 hours of video and 40,000 songs, plus the capability to record television programs and FM radio — all in a 5.3”x2.8”x0.9” footprint that weighs 10.2 ounces.
Photographers will appreciate the ESP’s large 80GB or 120GB storage capacity that allows them to offload digital photos directly from their cameras, eliminating the need to buy expensive memory cards. Afterward, they can view, zoom and rotate their JPEG, bitmap, tiff, text or RAW images on the crystal-clear 3.6-inch screen, a TV or a computer and print directly to PictBridge printers. The built-in 7-in-1 card reader accepts all popular memory cards.
Video enthusiasts will be delighted with the ESP’s ability to download, store and play hundreds of hours of their favorite TV shows and DVDs, then watch them on the player itself, on a TV or on a computer. With the optional ESP Cradle System, the unit acts as a digital video recorder (DVR), enabling users to record directly from TVs, DVD players, VCRs or any video source. Supported formats include MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV9 and Xvid.
Music lovers will enjoy the ability to download, store and play their favorite music in any popular format including MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC (MP4 audio) and CDA. As a bonus, they can also record off the ESP’s built-in FM radio.
Additional features include: Built-in speaker (8 ohms, 400mW); high-speed USB 2.0 computer interface; video interface: NTSC or PAL that connects to TV, monitor or projector; and audio interface — audio line-in recording from any AUX source. The Wolverine ESP can be purchased online (www.wolverinedata.com) starting at $399.99 for the 80GB model and $499.99 for the 120GB model. The optional ESP Cradle System is priced at $79.99.
But what if you don’t want to make such a large investment, but still want to be amused? Then immerse yourself in one of the new games that’s just become available. The housewives of Wisteria Lane have arrived on Windows PCs. Desperate Housewives: The Game (Buena Vista Games) is a lifestyle simulation Windows PC game inspired by the TV series. In the game, the player takes on the role of a new housewife who moves to Wisteria Lane and unlocks the dark side of the seemingly “perfect” neighborhood. The Game is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and has a suggested retail price of $19.99.
Those individuals with sportier interests can take a swing at Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. In the game compete against 21 of the world’s top golf players, including Tiger Woods, John Daly, Vijay Singh and Annika Sorenstam. Dominate any of the 21 courses on Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07, such as the newly added Four Seasons Resort Aviara, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Riviera Country Club, The National, and The K Club. Use the all new Team Tour mode to assemble a team, improve your status, establish rivalries and drive for the coveted EA Cup as you hunt down Tiger on Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 for the PC and PSP feature 12 championship and fantasy courses. The PSP has an all-new PGA TOUR Career Mode where gamers will take down the best players the world has to offer, one season at a time.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB and is priced at $39.95 for Xbox, the PlayStation 2, PSP and PC and $59.95 for Xbox 360. Tiger shipped in Europe for Xbox, PlayStation2, PSP, and PC in September 2006. The game’s official website is http://www.easports.com/tigerwoods07.
If a game of golf is too sedate, then perhaps more action is required. EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 07 offers fans the chance to live out their soccer dreams and take their clubs to the title with complete control of their favorite clubs and players, enabling gamers to experience the highs and lows of the upcoming season.
From the first whistle, FIFA Soccer 07 throws you into the emotional rollercoaster of the soccer season as you live out the intensity of every home and away match. Specially-designed audio replicates the crowd reactions found in stadiums around the world. The dynamic game engine brings to life the emotional response of the crowd during the highs and lows of a match. Crowds respond to what occurs on the pitch by cheering or jeering, and broadcast commentary reflects the momentum swings that play out in games.
This year, you have the power to shape your club’s destiny in the EA SPORTS Interactive Leagues, a new online mode that enables you to pit your club against supporters of your real-world opponents. The online interactive leagues feature the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1 Orange and the Mexican 1st Division. Experience the future of online gaming as you play your games according to the real-world schedule. When they play, you play. Track your team’s progress as the aggregate results determine your club’s position in the league table. Learn more about the game at http://fifa07.ea.com.
These are all super games and wonderful hardware, but how about a little fun right now?
“The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand has always celebrated the truly amazing discoveries of the world, and our new website is no exception,” said Steve Glum, vice president of marketing for Ripley Entertainment. “Our new web experience carries the same Believe It or Not! feel people expect from Ripley’s; it’s chock-full of content and discovery yet functions with ease for those solely interested in information gathering.”
Designed to harness and deliver the vast amount of truly strange and bizarre content Ripley’s has amassed over decades, the site stays fresh and updated for frequent and heavy users. Ripleys.com allows visitors to quickly and easily locate the latest and greatest Believe It or Not! photos, stories, videos, daily cartoons, “Inside the Vault” video clips, exhibits, Ripley Retro Radio streaming audio, on-demand radio vignettes, “Did You Know?” facts and contests.
Ripley’s believes that the site represents the very latest thinking on the web. It’s a hybrid of a community-based website and an interactive experience. The latest Adobe design and development suites were used in concert with Web2.0 features such as XML, AJAX, and streaming media services. Take a look. Ripley’s guarantees you haven’t seen anything like this before. Believe It or Not!