Despite the fact that the HD-DVD format is completely dead in the water and has been discontinued by Toshiba, some HD-DVD players continue to be sold. And, again, despite being rather obsolete, many of these players, like the Toshiba HD-EP30, are still quality products with a lot to offer.

Going by its price tag you may be inclined to believe that it is a toned down product, which is actually not the case. The device comes with a sufficient array of features that will please the average customer. A decisive example of its capability can be derived when you compare with the HD-E1 released last year, which was capable of outputting only 720p or 1080i pictures. The Toshiba HD-EP30 in comparison is capable of producing full HD images at 1080p so that you can derive the optimum quality audio-visual output from your HD DVD discs. The device in addition supports 24fps playback that gives you the leverage to view movies at heir original frame rates, provided your TV supports it.

The device does have its limitations and drawbacks as it misses on 7.1 bitstream audio output and HDMI 1.3 Deep Color support. These features however require matching high-end equipments to deliver what they are capable of, and consequently come as a consolation for this budget device.

There are many things you have to take into account before buying a TV set. One of them is whether you want to go for some expensive model or if you are satisfied with a budget player. If you come under the second category, Toshiba Regza 32CV510U is something that might make your shortlist. There is no doubt in my mind that unless you have a tight pocket you would stay away from the unit. The unit’s picture quality is so-so, and there are a lot of issues with the device, but it does manage a respectable black-level performance. The unit should also come as an alluring prospect for those who are keen on staying away from the cheapest HDTVs, yet still want to save some cash.

The unit has a basic range of features that nevertheless suits its entry level status. It has a reasonable native resolution of 1,366×768, and not 1080p, which anyway is a liability considering its screen size. Nevertheless, the picture control options invariably happen to be the most impressive parts of the 32 inch LCD and includes four preset modes that are fixed by default in addition to a fourth one, called the Preference mode which is adjustable and is independent per input.

Apart from the abovementioned settings, other picture enhancement features include three color temperature presets, each of which can be adjusted via a pair of gain controls, a 10-position gamma slider, a pair of controls, among others. High-def sources are complemented by five imaginatively built aspect ratio modes, including one that completely eliminates overscan.

A phenomenon that has been observed in the LCD market in recent times is the crazy cost cutting measures adopted by many companies to boost sales. The situation consequently might prove to be an ideal one for you to give yourself a LCD TV, especially when the prices really hit rock bottom. Just ensure that the models on your priority list are up to the mark and compatible with modern accessories and gadgets. One model I would like to suggest from my side is the Toshiba Regza 37XV505DB.

Before starting of I caution you against getting distracted by its unimaginative design, as it has a swarm of features to sweep you off your feet. One remarkable side of the Toshiba 37XV505D is its terrific connectivity which despite being a budget player provides not one, but three v1.3 HDMI inputs. Then, there is a D-Sub PC port, and subwoofer line-out, feature as well, apart from the intuitive audio output feature, which in recent times is gaining in prominence, and can be used to pump out Dolby Digital audio out to an AV receiver. Being a budget player, it understandably lacks high-end features like SD card slots, USB ports.

Moreover, the unit has an impressive dynamic contrast ratio of 18,000:1, which is comparatively higher than what was offered by its predecessor, the 37CV505DB, at 15,000:1. One feature that has contributed immensely in the product’s desirability is the inclusion of the Active Vision LCD picture processing, an indigenous development of the company. Then, there is a Game mode too that comprehensively enhances the performance of the deck via PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles.

The latest from the Toshiba ranks is none other than the Toshiba 46-inch LCD HDTV, which is part of the company’s top-shelf line, the XF550U Series. This implies that it has been incorporated with some of the company’s most advanced imaging technologies, thereby giving it a distinctive edge over its rivals. To start with, it has the by now standard 1920 x 1080 resolution, as well as an impressive response time of eight-millisecond. Even more importantly, it has the intuitive ClearFrame 120Hz technology on-board, an indigenous development of the company, which comprehensively augments the image quality by reducing motion blur, apart from producing smoother movement of film sources.

You will also feel good that it has included three HDMIs, two component video and one PC input, along with a two component video and one PC input. The HDMI inputs, on the other hand, support lip synch and pleasantly accepts both a 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 signal. It is essentially a more advanced version of the Toshiba 46XF355D. The 46XF550U unit on the downside however, lacks the much sought for picture-in-picture functionality, as well as a program guide for the internal tuners. Nevertheless, you will feel nice that there is a well conceived Channel Browser that displays the thumbnails of available of available of favorite channels along the bottom of the screen.

The unit also comes with a wide range of picture adjustment functions that can be employed o fine-tune the image quality. There are five picture modes and three colour-temperature options, which are bestowed with the ability to adjust the amount of green and blue in these presets. The only problem is, the menu is some what reserved when it comes to offering complete white-balance controls. Then, the innovative DynaLight mode feature is there as well which automatically tailors the TV’s backlight to suit the source content’s brightness, while a Game mode improves response time with a gaming console.

Toshiba has finally come up with an excellent DVD Player, the HD-XE1 HD. A significant aspect of the unit is its commendable upscaling potential of 1080p, and consequently its capability to extract the optimum benefit that the format has to offer. The unit is also a master at handling HD-DVDs which is actually quite useless nowadays. However, the video and audio quality delivered by the unit is exceptional, as it effectively recreates the entire range of qualitative traits that have come to be associated with high definition. The video quality is sharp with an amazing level of detail, and distractions such as compression artifacts or other display flaws are noticeably absent.

The unit’s playback is also smooth, though there is a slight lag time when navigating discs. This factor can cause you some amount of irritation, especially when attempting to skip a large number of chapters at once. The good thing, however, is that these factors don’t come in the way of the standout performance dished out by the player.

Meanwhile, the player supports all the major surround sound formats at 5.1, and the audio output is also great. The only feature missing on this otherwise impressive Toshiba HD-XE1 player is the DTS HD, which is yet to catch people’s fancy. Adding to the growing list of positives, the unit is adept at decoding DTS HD, though at a sluggish rate of 1.5Mbps.

Furthermore, you will be impressed by the comprehensivene connectivity offered by the unit that includes HDMI, composite, component, coaxial and optical digital audio, 5.1ch analogue audio outputs, in addition to an Ethernet port.

Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., has recently announced the launch of the TLP-X100U mobile projector to serve a special purpose. The TLP-X100U, which at only 4-pounds is rather light, has a slim figure and is designed for use in educational or professional settings; as well as in noisy environments. With the launch of the projector, the company has taken a major step in accomplishing its objective to constantly introduce versatile and innovative presentation solutions to the market at competitive prices.

The projector is a volatile source of cutting-edge technologies and has a host of interesting features. Its relatively light weight and slim form makes it a great companion when you are on the move and can easily be put into an overhead or a carry-on bag. Then, the improvement in the closed captioning feature means that you will now have little difficulty in reading text or dialogue from a DVD player or television signal, and is especially helpful in noisy environments.

Another significant and valuable addition is the incorporation of the “Blackboard” function that makes presentation possible, even on non-screen surfaces, such as a painted wall or a blackboard. All you have to do is choose a wall colour, say, blue, black, or red, and the projector is versatile enough to correct the colour to display in virtually any environment. Then, there is also the Quick-Power Shutdown feature that gives you the leverage of shutting the Toshiba TLP-X100 down, without the need for any cool-down time. Furthermore, it is integrated with contemporary features such as the Automatic Vertical Keystone Correction and Digital Zoom feature.

It is not an easy task to decide on a budget projector, even if we take into consideration the continuous downward trend of projector prices. One particular reason for this predicament is that there are very few models in this particular category. This means you often have to go for models that are not quite up to the mark. It is therefore great that the Toshiba TLP-S10 has hit the market and that it is not the average type typical at this price range. Instead, it is specially designed to cater to both home entertainment and for use in presentations. The set up of the unit is also rather simple, with an extendable front foot to adjust for height.

The unit weights a little over a pound, and the styling with its primary purpose in an office or living-room context in mind. But the remote does look a bit drab compared to the projector. It is also impressive when you discover that the buttons are carefully designed to grant you an unobtrusive access while resizing the picture, in addition to its wide array of OSM functions. Then, there is also fast access to rear- and ceiling-mounted projection options, as well as picture quality controls.

Though the unit lacks an optical zoom feature, this is not a severe problem as you can digitally adjust the image size down to 80 per cent of its native resolution. There is an obvious degradation in image quality as a result of this, but at this price you can hardly find anything better. Moreover, like all Toshiba products, its components, and projector bulb are designed to last; which ensures you will not have to purchase a replacement bulb, like the Toshiba TLP LV3, for quite some time. A host of dedicated digital keystone buttons are also included, which will be helpful in case you quickly and easily want to compensate for the distortion and produce a straight-sided image.

The brightness levels of the unit stand at 1,200 ANSI lumens, and are suitable for dark rooms where the picture appears rather sharp and the colours are well saturated. You, however, need to ensure that stray light doesn’t creep inside and spoil the image quality.

Projectors, which are an integral part of any home entertainment system, also play an essential role in the final analysis of the picture quality. It is hence advisable to go for tried and tested types, as you cannot always be sure about the reliability of newer models. The Toshiba TDP-FF1AU, however, has forced me to change my conservative take on new projectors, as this miniature gadget delivers a performance that is simply mind-blowing. The qualities that stand out are its compact size, its superior remote control, and its USB input port. The equilibrium really shifts in its direction when you consider its unassumingly low price too.

The projector has a simple design, and its battery also looks quite smart. The battery, which is attached at the unit’s rear panel is an integral, but detachable, part of the device, and is included in the projector’s price.

Apart from the battery, the unit has a host of other interesting features. The most significant among them is the lens cap feature, which is one of the first of its kind. Moreover, it has a USB port, a feature which most projectors, such as the Toshiba TDP-XP1, lack. In addition, the TDP-FF1AU has a VGA cable, which is especially helpful when advancing slides your laptop via the remote control. The inclusion of a foldable 23-inch diagonal projection screen just adds to its many unique qualities.

The special trait of the unit, as a battery-powered projector, is that you can use it independently, without a laptop. Features like the USB Type A connector are included to help you bypass the laptop as well.

The impact that LCDs have over the viewing public is awesome, and it seems as people’s cravings for this format are increasing by the day. It is not at all hard to understand the reason behind this growing hegemony of LCDs, especially when you go through models like the Toshiba Regza 32WLT68 32in LCD TV. Toshiba has actually started from where it left the last time around with the Regza 42WLT66, its predecessor. But what the Regza 32WLT68 has done so well is to remove the few flaws that were there in its predecessor, the Regza 32WLT68. The 42WLT66 was a great model in every respect, but stumbled a bit in its design, which failed to generate the same amount of buzz as compared to its stunning features.

As the name suggests, the unit is a 32 inch model, and supports a 1,366 x 768 resolution. It is, in fact, surprising to note that none of the models of the WLT68 series that sits atop the Toshiba’s TV range support a 1,920 x 1,080 full HD panel. This means that though the Toshiba 32WLT68P can accept both 720p and 1080i inputs, it cannot accept the native 1080p input. Then, the unit also has a commendable dynamic contrast ratio of 3500:1, ably supported by an equally impressive brightness level of 500cd/m2.

Coming back to design, an aspect that Toshiba faltered on the last time around, the company seems to have got their cards right this time round, as the unit looks quite dashing and appears ready to add colour to your home décor. The screen is surrounded by a glossy black that gives it a sleek and stylish look, even when switched off. Moreover, complementary accessories like the speakers are unobtrusively located below the screen behind a slim black grille that’s angled downwards, which means that they are ideally hidden from outside notice.

The unit is no less impressive when it comes to connectivity and has HDMI ports, two Scarts, a D-SUB PC input, S-Video and composite. Furthermore, it also has both analogue and optical digital audio outputs and a dedicated subwoofer output that gives you the leverage to add that bit of extra low frequency to the proceedings.

The Toshiba TDP-T95U is a practical solution for anyone looking for a decent projector at an affordable price, and in all probability is it unlikely to create a hole in your pocket. The unit presents a really alluring middle option by combining great brightness and a well-rounded selection of inputs, which is a great bargain considering its brightness levels exceed those of the HP MP3135, which is twice as expensive. It also has a great connectivity network that compares favourably with most of the prominent brands of its ilk. The unit’s main selling point is, in fact, that you can basically get all the hip and happening features offered by other brands at practically half their price rate!

In addition, the Toshiba TDP-T95P boasts features left off many budget projectors, such as automatic keystone correction and a monitor-out port. The unit will not blow you away with its images or for that matter connectivity options, but for average features and connectivity at a low price, there is no viable alternate to the TDP-T95P.

The sleek unit has includes the innovative Digital Light Processing (DLP) which delivers high quality XGA images. The factor that the unit is quite large affords it the luxury of having a wide range of input and output options. Apart from having the usual standard ports for analogue, composite video, S-Video, and audio, the Toshiba TDP-T95 DLP projector also has the more sophisticated monitor-out connector, a second computer input, and two RCA-style audio inputs. You will, however, be disappointed that there are no composite video and S-Video cables accompanying the projector. Then again the unit has an unconvincing warm-up and cool-down times cast a gloom over its many interesting aspects.