The latest offering from Panasonic, the DVD-LX8 9″ LCD Portable DVD Player, is not your typical DVD player in the sense that it is bigger than most portable disc players, but still quite a lot smaller than a laptop. The speciality of the player, with a 9-inch, 16:9 aspect-ratio (wide) screen, is its unique “Mono Arm” feature, which allows you to enjoy the drama unfolding on the screen from a wide range of viewing angles. This speciality means that you can use the device in various settings like say, suddenly bright and suddenly dark airplane cabins.

The compatibility of the device is another of its notable features as it competently handles popular formats including DVD-Video, high-resolution DVD-Audio, DVD-R, and DVD-RAM playback, in addition to playing standard and recordable audio CDs, including MP3- and WMA-encoded discs with the minimum of fuss. Then its built-in rechargeable battery, which has an impressive life span of 2.5 hours, means that you can have unlimited fun before the battery finally burns out.

The unique design of the player predisposes it with the discretion to take advantage of both audio and traditional video DVD formats, and delivers an amazing audio-visual reproduction. Obviously the DVD-LX8’s main strength is its 9 inch screen, which surpasses even the Panasonic DVD-LS82EG’s 8.5 inch screen. Meanwhile, the Audio software titles feature offers you classic music titles in both multichannel and stereo, even though the model is limited to stereo play only. The device in addition is compatible with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks for a enriching surround effect. Then, the device has on-board the customary DTS and Dolby Digital 2-channel decoding and multichannel pass-through features too, among others.

The Infocus IN1100 DLP Portable Projector XGA 2100 ANSI signifies the perfect embodiment of a projector that incorporates a host of fascinating virtues like mobility, performance, and easy operation. The device with the acclaimed and on-board DisplayLink USB connectivity feature can be set up in a matter of seconds. Another fascinating feature is the filter-free DLP technology with BrilliantColour technology, which requires zero maintenance, and ensures that you have an uninterrupted sequence of high-definition images. Meanwhile, the lightweight and portable nature of the device, make it easy to move between floors and to travel with.

The unique colour technology helps the device to deliver consistent colour compatibility along with ample brightness. Moreover, colour reproduction on the Infocus IN1100 is virtually flawless with a great deal of realistic feel and natural hues. Brightness levels of device is static at 2200 lumens which in combination with a 1800:1 contrast ratio ensures that you get to view an image that is crisp, clear and vivid. The IN1100 DLP is game to WUXGA & 1080p high resolution content, and also offers XGA and WXGA native resolutions that will give you the leverage to display from 4:3 or 16:10 widescreen computers.

Video compatibility is again an impressive aspect of the projector and supports a wide range of contemporary formats including Full NTSC, PAL, SECAM, 480i, 576i, 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p/60.

The input and output options are a bit on the lower side, which is understandable considering its portable nature. You don’t get features like HDMI, DVI, and BNC. Instead you are provided with other alternate features like Component (RCA), VESA (HD15), and S-Video, among others.

The Aiwa XD-DW1 is a portable DVD and CD player that boasts a TFT display. It in no way can be compared with the display quality of a HDTV, but nevertheless is quite sharp with a good deal of natural hue. The surround sound capability of the unit is also something to cheer about as despite having a pair of tiny speakers you will be enveloped by their vibrancy and comprehensiveness.

The display screen of the player can be adjusted though 180° from the closed position. Functions such as the manual set-up, brightness, and colour and mode controls buttons are located immediately below the screen and are more or less self-explanatory. While Aiwa is a somewhat unheard of name in the DVD market, the company is no stranger to portable electronics with numerous portable media players, like the Aiwa AM-NX9, under its belt, and as such the Aiwa XD-DW1 is very ergonomic. Using the mode control options you can switch between aspect ratios that include full screen, normal, zoom, and off. All these features add up to ensure that you can enjoy each frame and sequence according to your whims and satisfaction.

The connectivity of the unit includes a composite video output, including RCA right and left audio outs, S-video and a headphone jack, apart from a digital audio out that bestows it with Dolby Digital and DTS compatibility that may come in handy for those with a stand-alone decoder or a Dolby Digital / DTS ready receiver. A great thing about the connectivity of the unit is that it can send composite or S-video and audio signals to an external monitor, provided the switch is in the out position.

The Aiwa unit, in addition, has a host of features of lesser prominence such as a 96 kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter, a 10-bit video D/A converter, complete onscreen display, and the like. A feature that deserves mention is the Q-Surround that has been specially designed to produce a stimulating surround sound effect via the built-in stereo speakers .

Panasonic has once again come up with another of its amazing new products the PT-L701u. The PT-L701u is actually part of a new three-projector group called the Anybody Anywhere Series and also consisting of the L501 (SVGA) and L711 (XGA with microlens) projectors. Each projector of the series is characterised by a sleek, silver-coloured housing. The gadgets are also available in pale rose, or lemon green.

The unit weighs a solid 8.4 pounds which betrays its ultra portable tag, but the good thing is that Panasonic has made this additional weight count for something. The additional weight is used to support the AC power supply that drives its own specially designed, super high-efficiency 160-watt lamp, developed by Panasonic’s parent company Matsushita Electric.

The unit’s low contrast ratio, measured at 1000 lumens, can be attributed to its wide-angle projection lens. Although most projectors on the market, including the Panasonic PT-DW7000, have a better brightness, the L701u’s wide angle feature has its own benefits as well. The wide-angle lens usually comes in handy when you decide to make the image bigger or to shorten the throw distance, in the case of a cramped room. Moreover, the images are inherently bright and you will scarcely feel the gloomy effect that is created by badly illuminated images. The image projected by it, on the other hand, is remarkably 20% larger when projected from the same distance, as compared to other units in its product range.

The Panasonic L701u reigns supreme in other areas as well, with the automatic setup system feature being a prime example of its usability. The projector, in addition to ensuring an optimal image, also recognises how much electronic keystone correction is needed to straighten the onscreen image. Then, the auto result feature is also virtually flawless. All these factors combined, the Panasonic L701u is a real hit that you should never miss!

A commonly held grudge against the DVP-FX810 is that the portable DVD player possessed a lackluster resolution capability. Taking note of people’s grievances and demands, Sony has addressed the issue with great seriousness and has finally come up with the DVP-FX820. This new answer boasts of an impressive 800×480 resolution, a marked improvement from its predecessor the Sony DVP-FX 810 with its paltry 480×220. The outcome is quite palpable, as the DVP-FX820 delivers by far the best viewing experience by a portable player.

The unit quite uncharacteristically is one of the heaviest among its product category, weighing a solid 2.7 pounds. The good thing is that the unit is structured in an unobtrusive manner, and allows you easy access to its prominent features. The placement of the battery deserves special attention, as it runs along the entire bottom of the player.

The fact that the unit is integrated with a swivel hinge, means that you can enjoy your movies even in the tablet mode. Moreover, as the screen can rotate 180 degrees and be folded back on itself, you have near endless viewing possibilities. The unit is replete with all the customary DVD controls that you normally require, including even the somewhat forgotten fast-forward and rewind functionality.

The unit’s connectivity is also quite impressive and offers you the full range of options like dual headphone jacks, a switchable video in/out port, a composite AV breakout cable, and a digital audio output for surround sound playback. Then, there is also a standard AC adapter, apart from a car charger. You will, however, be disappointed in case you are looking for any mounting straps for mounting on a car seat.

The Philips PET723 is launched with two clear objectives, i.e. to be a reliable and sought for tablet DVD player, and to be a digital photo frame. The unit features a 7-inch 16:9 screen, front speaker and d-pad to control the menus when the remote control isn’t within arms reach. A great thing about the model is that by using its kick-out stand you can virtually position the player just about anywhere.

It is compatible with most of the disc formats that you will come across including CD, Video CD, Picture CD, MP3 and DivX, apart from the customary DVDs. The Philips PET 723 showed a great deal of excellence while playing the discs and the screen is also customized to suit the environment that you are likely to be in. A significant addition to the scheme of things is the DivX file playback feature, particularly from a movie perspective.

Going beyond the conventional norms, i.e. DVDs, the unit gives you the prospect of playing music, viewing photos and playing movies via the SD card slot. Moreover, the inclusion of these unique features and their perfect symphony makes the accessing of files very basic. It has also done away with the unimpressive graphical presentations. One thing that the PET723 has inherited from its predecessor the PET940, is that it displays everything in a standard file tree format with file names being shown. Though there is the option of thumbnail, it just makes up the numbers with very limited practical use.

As a part of today’s global village it is important that we have a reliable companion whom we can trust and which can give us a good deal of entertainment. This is because, otherwise you will feel lost and frustrated by the various challenges and constraints that are a part and parcel of contemporary times. Concepts like high-stress levels, increased blood pressure, and the like can be attributed to the hectic schedule that we follow today, in order to keep pace with changing times and meet our absurdly high expectations.

The PET707/05 Portable LCD DVD Player from Philips is in every sense the perfect choice to be your companion, as a portable entertainer with its many innate advantages. The most significant aspect of the unit is that it features two LCD display screens! Moreover, the Philips PET 707 is designed in an unobtrusive manner and you can set things into motion with a few simple plug ins. Proper care has also been taken to ensure that the unit fits to even the most uncomfortable of places with the minimum of fuss. Then there is also an anti-shock device which negates the disturbances that otherwise would have occurred on the screen, while riding on uneven and bumpy roads.

It supports both the Dolby Digital and MP3 compression format, and the media playback formats, including CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3-Cd with MP3 Bit rates of 32-320 kbps. The contrast ratio is put at 250:1, which typical of portable players. Moreover, the unit comes with a host of other accessories that include an AC/DC adapter, Battery Pack AY 4389, Car kit with cigarette Outlet adaptor, amongst the most prominent.

The video play back media of the unit, on the other hand, includes DVD, Picture CD, SVCD, Video CD, DVD-R/RW, MP3-CD, CD-R/CD-RW, DVD+R/+RW and CD to give the clarity par excellence. Furthermore, it also includes the user friendly disc playback modes like A-B Repeat, Angle, disc Menu, Fast backward, and the like.

Philips has really come up with a gem of an innovation with the launch of their latest Portable DVD Player, the DCP951. The company has incorporated an iPod dock into the device! This wonderful innovation has opened the door to new possibilities and taken the concept of entertainment to an entirely different level. You will no longer feel handicapped as you can now have an unrestricted access to the in-built iPod, the source for an unprecedented collection of video clips and movies, and not to forget music.

The unit has some structural differences from your average portable players, as it resembles a tablet form compared to the conventional clamshell design, which is basically the norm. It is covered in a glossy black outfit and has a trendy feel to it.

The unit’s screen measures a reasonable nine inches diagonally, big enough to comfortably watch a movie. This factor is, however, nullified by the Philips DCP951’s not so impressive resolution capability, which at 640×220 pixels is just not good enough. Philips, it seems, in its haste to include the unique iPod feature forgot to go through the gadget’s various specifications! Then the screen is of also of poor quality, which tends to make movie watching a tad disappointing.

The unit fails to deliver in the visual respect, as the quality of images lacks the desired punch and on many occasions are unclear with minimum level of detail. The colours looks pale and drab and the brightness levels are pretty poor as well. You will feel the utmost frustration, especially when watching dark moody films like ‘The Bourne Identity’ where you will find it a terribly difficult task to make head and tail of most of the frames!

The portable projector market should always remain grateful to LG for its remarkable contribution to its growth and proliferation. The company has always been at the forefront of action and has greatly contributed in taking the concept of portability to the next level. This burgeoning breed, i.e. portable projectors, in fact, in recent times has seen an unprecedented demand from customers who are increasingly falling prey to its charm. Obviously the two most alluring factors of portable projectors are the convenience and mobility. The LG DX130, a portable multimedia projector, sits pretty atop the LG ranks, especially amongst its top product range. You will really be literally taken aback by the unit’s brightness levels, sharp contrast ratio, and surprisingly good colour reproduction. The best thing about the unit, portability notwithstanding; is that it has practically incorporated all important features with no visible compromises.

Smaller than an A4 paper in size, it is designed in a manner to allow you the most unobtrusive access to the wide range of features adorning the unit. It is capable of throwing a 100 in picture at a distance of 4 metres, which compares favourably with other prominent members of its ilk, like the Acer P1265. The unit, in fact, can effectively handle a projection distance of up to 10 metres, and can create a decent 300-inch frame.

The unit is also well endowed with a host of PC video input ports, including a VGA D-Sub connector, DVI, in addition to HDCP support through DVI. The last feature on the LG DX 130 in particular, gives you the luxury of playing any videos with digital-rights protection from a PC or high-definition player. Then there is also a USB port for external control, apart from a 3.5mm audio socket option that allows a nearby laptop to be connected. The video quality is another impressive aspect, as it delivers a fine performance without any visible distortions. You, however, have to bear with the occasional appearance of a ‘rainbow effect’ during fast motion on black backgrounds.

The Samsung SP-P310MEMX Pocket Imager DLP LED Projector is all set to revolutionise the portability market and thereby redefine our way of perceiving the interesting breed of portable projectors. By raising the bar really high it has set the tone for other brands to follow. After all, you don’t come across products more innovative and fascinating than the SP-P310MEMX every day. To begin with, it weights a meager 1.5 lbs, making it an absolute darling of the professional brigade who can now give their presentations just about anywhere, provided they have all the other necessary equipment.

It is generally perceived that a portable unit like the one in question cannot deliver a comprehensive picture quality. This is partially true, but still anyone who has got a glimpse of the performance delivered by the Pocket Imager is bound to reevaluate these perceptions. It additionally lets you experience clarity from any angle. This is due to the unit’s integrated lens from Carl Zeiss, the world-renowned optical leader, which provides supreme brightness and picture quality. Surprisingly enough, the portable unit has a very solid connectivity network and is structured in a manner to allow you the most unobtrusive access to its various features. You can, with a minimum amount of fuss, attach your A/V devices using the unit’s simple composite connection option to enjoy personal theater, movies, DVDs and games. The D-sub connection feature, on the other hand, offers you an easy access to your PC.

A typical problem observed during the projection process is loss of light which consequently causes common disturbances like image blurring or the washing out of colour. This threat, however, is effectively taken care by the DMD (Digital Mirror Device) feature included in the device, where the DMD chip is more densely arranged than on an LCD panel. Moreover, the dimunitive Samsung SP-P310 projector can project an image screen size of 12.5 to 63-inches (Diagonal) from a distance of 1.64 to 9.18-feet respectively, and has a reasonable native resolution of SVGA (800 x 600). The unit, in addition, delivers stunning black tones in videos and text, which are incredibly enhanced by an impressive 1000:1 contrast ratio.