Apple will unveil its next-generation iPad on Wednesday during a press conference in San Francisco. While the Cupertino, California-based company may have a few surprises in store for us, Apple’s supply chain has been leaking like a sieve over the past few months. The result is what should be a relatively complete picture of the “iPad 3″ — or “iPad HD,” as it may be named — that has come together as follows:

• High-definition display — Apple’s next-generation iPad will sport a Retina-like HD display that packs four times the pixels (2,048 x 1,536) in the same 9.7-inch size. The result should be absolutely gorgeous.
• 4G LTE — The rumor mill has gone back and forth about 4G, but our exclusive report from last month made embedded 4G LTE connectivity a very likely possibility.
• Quad-core — The new iPad is expected to feature a quad-core Apple A6 processor to make this the smoothest iPad yet. Rumors of an enhanced dual-core A5X chip surfaced recently, but many speculate that the new dual-core chip may be destined for other devices rather than the next iPad.
• Slightly thicker case — That amazing new display is going to need some more juice to ensure battery life isn’t compromised, and the new iPad is expected to be about 1 millimeter thicker than the current iPad 2.
• Better battery — Early reports suggested the new iPad would feature double the battery life of the iPad 2, but those rumors have become a bit foggy in light of the new iPad’s HD display. It’s possible that the bigger battery Apple is using in its upcoming iPad is merely intended to compensate for the new screen.
• Better camera — Leaked images of the new iPad’s case show a bigger camera lens, but megapixel count is still a mystery. Rumors have ranged from 3 megapixels up to the same 8-megapixel unit in Apple’s iPhone 4S.
• iOS 5.1 — Developers have had their hands on iOS 5.1 for quite some time now, and the new iPad will be the first device to launch with the new build pre-installed.
• Brand new iPad, same old pricing — Despite earlier rumors, expect six versions of Apple’s new tablet, with three Wi-Fi-only models priced at $499, $599 and $699, and cellular connectivity available for each at a $130 premium. Apple may also sell a new version of its iPad 2 with less internal storage for $399 alongside its next-generation iPads.

A source with knowledge of Microsoft’s plans within the company’s Entertainment and Devices Division has confirmed with BGR that Microsoft intends to unveil its next-generation Xbox console at E3 2012 next summer. The source is not aware of Microsoft’s launch plans for the new Xbox, which we are told has been in development since 2006. Microsoft has sold nearly 54.4 million Xbox 360 units since the console’s introduction in November 2005. The video game system is currently the ninth most popular gaming console of all time behind Nintendo’s original NES and just ahead of Sony’s PlayStation 3, which has sold 51 million units to date.

File this little guy under gadgets we need ASAP. VUDU has been tearing it up lately as the company wisely broadens its horizons beyond dedicated set top boxes. The HD on-demand content provider recently announced partnerships that bring its service to various LG and Mitsubishi flat-panel televisions, and now VUDU is taking things to a new range of products: LG Blu-ray players. It certainly makes sense — if you’re going to add an on-demand HD streaming service to a line of home theater components, why not make them Blu-ray players? The first LG model that will be graced with VUDU service is the BD390, which is available now with an MSRP of $399. VUDU will go live on the player via a free software update toward the end of the month, though CEDIA attendees will be able to get a preview of the VUDU-enabled player this week at the show. If you have a High Def addiction and you’ve given up fighting it long ago, the BD390 is definitely the 1080p fix you’ve been looking for. Hit the jump for the full release.

VUDU NOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY PLAYERS

VUDU Extends Footprint of Industry-Leading HD Movie Service

To LG Electronics’ Network Blu-ray Disc Player

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2009 – VUDU, Inc.’s industry-leading on-demand high definition (HD) movie service is now available on the BD390 Network Blu-ray Disc player from LG Electronics, giving consumers a whole new way to access the largest on-demand HD library of Hollywood movies in their living rooms, the company announced today.

VUDU continues to work with top consumer electronics manufacturers to become more accessible to customers who want to rent or buy major Hollywood movies in high definition.  The VUDU service, already available on flat-panel HDTVs, uniquely delivers the largest available HD movie library of instantly-viewable movies in 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and provides customers with VUDU’s superior user experience for finding and watching movies in high definition.

“Our goal as a company is to offer the best possible HD movie service to the broadest possible audience,” said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU.  “By adding the top-rated LG BD390 Blu-ray player to the lineup of VUDU-enabled products, we’ve made it easier than ever for customers to enjoy the VUDU experience.”

Some of VUDU’s key features include:

• Instant viewing experience:  unlike typical Internet and on-demand video streaming, VUDU movies start immediately, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with buffering
• Highest quality video:  VUDU’s unique HDX format delivers true 1080p resolution and TruFilm encoding enhancements, now available for the first time on an instant-start basis
• Immersive sound:  VUDU is the only on-demand service to deliver Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound at all video quality levels
• No monthly fees: customers can instantly buy or rent from VUDU’s extensive library of standard and high definition movie and TV titles without any monthly service charges
• Largest HD library anywhere: over 2,200 titles are available in HD or HDX format
• New releases: Newly-released titles from all major studios are available the same day as DVD release, typically months before they are available on subscription-based service.

LG’s BD390 networked Blu-ray player transforms and personalizes the home theater experience by offering a stellar array of entertainment options.  In addition to its broadband capabilities, the BD390 offers exceptional “Full HD” 1080p video performance and exceptional image quality from standard DVDs with 1080p up-scaling via HDMI output. The BD390 is also equipped for easy connection to the home network and has one gigabyte (GB) of built-in memory for BD Live functionality.

Model BD390 with LG’s “NetCast Entertainment Access” feature is available now at nationwide retailers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $399. VUDU connectivity will be available at the end of the month via a free upgrade.

We have to admit it… We’re a little afraid. Afraid of what you might ask? Afraid that all this hype surrounding the now-reportedly confirmed Zune HD is going to be the height of excitement with regards to the device. Hype is good, hype is great, but you need something special to follow the hype in order for it to stick. Let’s take a look at the known specs:

• ~3.6-inch OLED full touchscreen
• NVIDIA Tegra powered
• 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions
• HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV
• HD Radio
• Web browser
• Wi-Fi compatible, with wireless marketplace
• Released, early fall
• International release of the Zune device itself
• Home AV packs, Car packs, Charge packs

Sounds good and fun, but there’s definitely nothing so far that would (or should) draw much attention. HD radio? Mmm hmm. The Zune platform is supposedly in the midst of an overhaul which is nice but we need a wow-factor here. The average consumer is most definitely not going to pass on an iPod Touch and scoop up a Zune HD because of a high resolution display and HD radio, that’s for sure. Long story short, we hope Microsoft learned something from its experiences with the current Zune model.

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Here it is folks, it’s what you’ve all been waiting for (or not): The very first Blu-ray / DVD hybrid disc. With permeable layers for DVD and Blu-ray, and different thicknesses between those layers, the lasers penetrate to certain depths allowing for either the DVD or Blu-ray to be read. There is one huge benefit to this new hybrid disc – backward compatibility. Instead of buying two copies of the same movie (we doubt you actually do that) on Blu-ray and DVD, you only need one disc to play in your Cadillac Escalade, portable DVD player or PS3. Get the picture? For now, it’s only available in Japan, but we suspect this technology will make its way to the States sooner or later. It would only make sense, right?

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Listen up, couch potatoes! It looks like NetFlix and Vudu might not be the only streaming services that will offer up a high definition content. Opening up Amazon Video On Demand on your TiVo now shows a tab called “Available in High Definition,” but apparently clicking on it does nothing. A teaser, maybe? Or a slip up? We get the feeling that we’ll all find out very soon, but it seems as though it’s a done deal. Blockbuster is going to have to do something about the “DVD quality” streams they’ll be doing via set-top boxes in order to keep up with the game. So, if you subscribe to Amazon’s video service and would like to do us a favor, keep clicking it every five minutes and tell as soon as it works, thanks. Otherwise, we’ll keep you all updated as soon as we find out ourselves.

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Netflix streaming in High Definition has been a long time coming but it finally looks like Netflix customers are in for a treat – as long as you’re an XBOX 360 owner, that is. News is rolling in this morning that the leading remote movie rental service provider is finally just about ready to drop its HD streaming service, but it will initially do so only via XBOX Live. Microsoft’s popular console is scheduled to receive a dashboard refresh on November 14th and when it rolls out, Netflix HD will come along with it (presumably in the US at least). The new service will come with a library of 300 titles but many expect that number to balloon relatively quickly. Further details are unavailable right now but expect a formal announcement as we get closer to d-day. It is also still unclear how long Netflix’s HD content will be confined to XBOX but provided all goes well we would expect a pretty timely transition to a broader audience. Who’s excited?

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Two short weeks since the Slingbox PRO-HD and Slingcatcher were first made available for pre-order, the PRO-HD box is now alive and shipping. It’s probably safe to say that after a delay or two, the team made sure that it got this puppy out the door ASAP. For $299 ($329 for our Canadian buddies) you can be streaming 720p or 1080i high definition goodness to just about anywhere your little heart desires. The Slingbox PRO-HD also features an integrated digital tuner and plenty of inputs to accommodate your DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver and DVD player. The release also coincides with a major software revision for Windows XP and Vista users. SlingPlayer 2.0 includes plenty of updates and new features, not the least of which is much needed live video buffer that allows viewers to pause, rewind and fast forward live streams a la DVR. There is also a great new guide feature that provides a built-in programming guide outside the player window, allowing you to easily browse program schedules as you stream. Today is a big day for our pals at Sling Media and with these major updates and the PRO-HD release out of the way, hopefully we’ll see things kick into high gear on the mobile front.

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Leave it to Sony to put 720p HD recording into the hands (or shall we say, the pocket) of the masses. Starting tomorrow the 29th, Sony’s latest addition to their Cybershot line of Point and Shoot cameras, the DSC-T500, will be available for pre-order. This 10-megapixel camera will record wide and full-screen 720p video at 30 frames per second in fine, standard and VGA recording modes. It also will support zoom while in the recording mode and will record in the MPEG4 AVC/H.264 format. Up to 10 minutes of video (cool!) can be recorded at a time to a 16GB Memory Stick (lame!). Can’t decide whether you want to record video or images? No worries, you can do both. The camera has a mixed recording mode that allows you to record video and snap 3 photos at the same time without interruption. The T500 will also feature a 3.5 inch transflective LCD touchscreen, Carl Zeiss lens with 5X Optical zoom, and sensitivity up to ISO3200. It is expected to retail for approx $400 and will ship in Late September. Not too shabby for a pocket camera.

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