Let’s face it, with the introduction of HDTV, it soon became clear that high definition movies would be too much for the DVD disc to handle as they require much more space. It was only a matter of time before a more capable format was developed, enter Blu-ray players.
We went from VHS to DVDs and now times have changed again, Blu-ray players are the new must have gadget. But, far from being a short term fad, we’ve taken a look at, now that HDTV has become common place in so many homes, why Blu-ray players are now the gadget of choice packed with clever features that make the process of viewing and recording easier and better than ever.
To make things easy for you, we’ve take a look at Blu-ray players and their key features to help you choose the right one.
As the DVD is slowly being replaced by Blu-ray players, it’s set to soon be the top choice for viewing movies at home, and what with the price of Blu-ray players being much more affordable than previous years, now is as good a time as any to get with the times and jump on the Blu-ray band wagon.
Blu-ray players are evolving all the time and they can do much more than play your average movie. You can opt for full fat or feature-skinny. Blu-ray players take high definition entertainment to the next level, an evolution of the DVD player, showcasing premier sound and pictures.
Since their introduction in June 2006, Blu-ray players have come on leaps and bounds, showing regular improvements. Modern Blu-ray players are now reliable, fast and sell for much less than when initially introduced. For streaming internet content, they can offer Wi-Fi connectivity/Ethernet, automated notification of firmware updates, BD Live and Bonus View features, internal decoding of lossless audio formats, stellar HD picture quality, DVD upscailing, picture controls and a bunch of other clever features.
Better still, there are some exciting new features on the latest models, like 2D-to-3D conversion, Blu-ray 3D, dual HDMI outputs, social media apps, online streaming media services, wireless or USB keyboard support, mobile device control, and 4K upscailling. Incredible hey? There is so much choice out there that deciding on the right model isn’t always easy.
Surprisingly, just one Blu-ray disc holds the equivalent of 5 DVDs or 35 CDs. It uses a narrower (blue) laser beam spot, shorter wavelength but is the same size as a DVD disc.
Blu-ray players are growing in popularity but don’t fret, you can still play your collection of DVDs on a Blu-ray player and it actually gives your DVDs an impressive high definition look.
Some new models have the BD Live profile which enables extra content via Wi-Fi or an ethernet port. When the player is linked to the internet you may be able to download extra content such as exclusives and previews depending on the pre-recorded Blu-ray disc.
The recorders are so clever that if your computer has a Blu-ray burner it can be used to transfer high def camcorder recordings to blank Blu-ray disc media.
You’ll need an HDMI cable to enable connection with your HDTV and player. Then with the use of a single lead you can then receive amazingly clear, digital audio and video.
If you have a 3D TV or you’re planning on purchasing one soon then it may be worth looking for a 3D-compatible player like the Sony BDP-S790B. The 3D Sony BDP-S790B Blu-ray player is even part of our sale at just £189.99
This models main strengths lie in the superb quality HD picture and sounds and can only be compared to some of the top end, expensive models. It can also convert 2D images from your Blu-rays or DVDs into 3D, comes with Dolby True HD and DTS-HD decoders, and streaming media services. Finally of course, it has Built-in WiFi and 4K upscaling for the latest ultra HD 4k TV’s
Stylish in design, the player can be used to view and play music/video from your home PC. For those of us that spend most of our time online, you can even “socialize” what you watch over Facebook and Twitter but it doesn’t end there, check out the list of the Sony BDP-S790B’s features here.
Not all Blu-ray decks will play 3D movie discs but models like the Panasonic DMRBWT735EB 3D Blu-ray Disc Recorder with Twin Freeview HD Tuner 1TB, will allow you to watch 3D movies and burn your own Blu-ray discs, giving you the option to archive TV.
So, join in the Blu Ray revolution and take a look a their endless possibilities. And of course as it’ nearly the season to be jolly why don’t you buy someone special something special, like a Blu-ray player or many of our other leading gadgets we stock from the biggest and best brands.
It’s been 65 years since we first opened our electrical store in Rose Lane in Norwich. So, 65 years on we’ve taken a look back at what happened in the year it all began, 1948.
There were loads of historical, social and cultural things that defined 1948 but we’ve taken a look at some of the more everyday and fun things that you might not have realised share the same birthday with us.
1948 saw the first supermarket open in the UK and the sale of the first tape recorder. The first radio controlled airplane took flight and the first Nikon camera was released. Those of us who love going to the cinema might be interested to know that 1948 was the first year that popcorn was widely sold on a mass scale.
Still alive and kicking today, Scrabble first entered our homes and since hundreds of thousands of families have spend many a night arguing over whether a word is actually in the dictionary. And of course we mustn’t forget this as the year that the frisbee was invented!
Porsche was founded and, not quite as glamorous but equally important some might say, so was Velcro. Only a quarter of households in the UK had electricity in 1948 and a million homes owed in a TV, compared to 5,000 just five years earlier. It was also the year that professional wrestling premiered on prime time TV.
George Orwell’s, now famous, 1984 novel was published and the break up of feuding brothers led to the founding of separate competing companies Adidas and Puma.
1948 was a leap year and also the year that the ‘Speedee Service System’ we know and love was introduced into McDonalds. This shaped the modern fast food restaurant as we know it.
Food was still being rationed in 1948 and reminiscent of the recent horse meat scandal, people had no choice but to eat horse meat and whale meat, albeit this time knowingly.
A dozen eggs cost 12.5p in 1948.
Though WWII was over the country was still ravaged from the war and when it was first suggested that the Olympic Games would be resume many debated over whether this was appropriate as so many people around Europe were living in ruins and poverty. It was however decided that The Games would go ahead in London although the athletes had to bring their own food and any extra food was donated to British hospitals. We didn’t build any new facilities to house The Games but Wembley Stadium had survived the war fairly well so was to be the venue for the 1948 Olympic Games.
The Games turned out to be a great success and you could say it went some way to boosting the country’s moral after the horrors of the war years.
1948 was also part of the years that would become known as the baby boomers. Many babies were born in the post war years as the soldiers headed home to expand their families and enjoy the freedoms they had fought for.
The first transistor radio was made and sold in 1948 and since then we’ve seen an explosion of technological advancements in the shape of cars, internet, the mobile phone and of course the TV.
For the last 65 years we have brought the very best in technology to our customers and we promise to do so for years to come.
Family-run electrical company Gerald Giles last night launched its 65th anniversary celebrations with a champagne reception for invited guests. Hundreds of the firm’s most loyal customers were sent an invitation to enjoy champagne and canapes at its showroom in Ber Street, Norwich. There was an opportunity to look around the latest technology on display, including Sony’s 4K LED television, offering picture quality four times better than HD, and Miele kitchen appliances. Paul Giles, 48, whose father Gerald started the business in the city’s Rose Lane in 1948, said: “Some of our longest-serving customers can remember me in a pram.” A big birthday weekend will run from today until the end of tomorrow with special discounts on offer. From 10am to 2pm tomorrow there will be Miele cookery demonstrations in store; there will also be a prize draw for a Sonos Play1 music system.
We’ve come a long way in 65 years so with our 65th anniversary coming up we’ve taken a look back at how technology has changed over the last six and a half decades and celebrate the top of the range gadgets we have today.
The first transistor radio was made and sold in 1948 and since then we’ve seen an explosion of technological advancements in the shape of cars, internet, the mobile phone and of course the television. There are so many gadgets we could write about, from Polaroid photography introduced in 1953 to microwave ovens and pocket calculators introduced in 1970, but we’ve chosen to take a closer look at arguably, aside from the internet, THE best and most influential invention of the 20th century, the TV.
When the TV was first introduced it was met with scepticism and no one really believed, or could of predicted, just how attached we would become to our TVs. But, TV has changed the way we view the world and everyone in it. It has led the way for other technologies like watching programming on computers and mobile phones and pushed manufacturers and broadcasters to continually find new ways to bring bigger and better entertainment to the small screen. Plus research shows that there are now more TVs in a household than there are people!
Starting out as carthode ray tube TV sets showing black and white images, the invention of the TV can’t really be attributed to just one person but inventors such as Vladimir Zworykin and John Baird all contributed towards the first TV sets that led the way to the modern ones that we are used to today.
Although it seems like the TV has come a long way in the last 65 years, and of course it has, it’s only really been the last few decades that have seen a spurt in its evolution. The economy after WWII was strong and paved the way for a boom in television production in the late 40’s and consumers could choose from two models, the table top and the console. After this, the mid 50’s saw Eugene Polley invent the very first remote control for the TV although it would be some years until most people had one.
Colour TV was then introduced in the UK in 1967 but again it would be some time until most families actually had a colour TV. Bizarrely Doctors began legally advertising cigarettes in the 60’s too!
By the end of the decade there were an estimated 200 million television sets around the world and 1978 was the last year Black and White TVs were made.
The 80’s was quite a quiet year for innovation of the TV but it was the decade that accessories like VCRs and game consoles like the Nintendo were first introduced. Viewers could, for the first time, record their favourite programmes and watch them whenever they liked.
The 90’s saw some of the original cathode ray tubes replaced by LCD and Plasma TVs for a much clearer picture, but these were still very much still in the experimental phases. TVs now had additional features like sleep timers and parental controls.
DVD players were introduced around 1996 but much like the VCR it took almost a decade for sales to gain momentum. At the start of the noughties less than 5% of homes had a DVD player but a decade later over 80% of homes owned one.
The mid noughties saw advances in Plasma and LCD technology pave the way for the thinner TVs were used to. With a better picture and bigger screen the thin TVs also saved a lot of space in the room compared to its chunky predecessors. The home cinema experience was at the forefront of designs and surround sound entered our homes. 2009 saw the beginning of the digital switchover which meant all analogue TVs would go black and networks would only broadcast programmes via a digital signal. It also saw the release of Blu-Ray players giving us a whole new way of watching movies with outstanding picture quality
The last five years has seen the TV go online via high speed internet connections, enabling Video streaming plus digital recoding and of course HDTV, 3D TV and in the last few months 4KTV (Or UltraHD), which has 4 times the picture quality of HD.
So, 65 years on and we have a fantastic selection of some of the best TV’s from the biggest names around. From 55″ 3D Full HDTVs to compact TVs for your kitchen or home office, all our TVs carry a 12 month guarantee. Plus our Sony and Panasonic TVs come with a 5 year parts and labour warranty – completely free!
We also have a fantastic range of home cinema kits and gadgets to help you make the most of your TV such as Off the Wall brackets to fix your TV to the wall or sleek TV stands. Check out our range of TVs online or speak to one of our in store experts to find out which TV is best for you.
Coffee machines have been around since 1938, when a coffee bar owner first patented the idea of forcing water under pressure to flow over ground coffee to produce espresso coffee. Today there are lots of different types and brands available, from filter to pump to capsules and machines to suit all budgets. Don’t spend £3 or more on coffee every morning – make your own quality coffee in the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the cost.
German brand Miele produce some fantastic and beautifully designed coffee machines with loads of clever functions to make your coffee better.
We’ve taken a closer look at a few of Miele’s exceptional coffee machines to help you make the right choice for barista quality coffee in your own home.
The Miele CVA5060 has a 500g capacity removable coffee bean container which means you can put whatever beans you like in the machine depending on what you fancy. You can even dispense single cups of different types of coffee with the special ground coffee chute so if you’re entertaining and your guests want different types of coffee don’t panic! Miele’s insulated stainless steel container can store milk for up to 12 hours and can help you create that classic coffee froth – essential for any self respecting cappuccino. The CVA5060 also let’s you choose from 4 different cup sizes from double coffee to espresso and the water quantity can be individually programmed for each cup of coffee. With easy to use touch controls and clear text and a programmable time display the CVA5060 couldn’t be easier to use. There’s also a safety lock and an automatic rinse and cleaning programme not to mention its made from easy to clean stainless steel.
Next we’ve taken a look at the new Miele CM5200 Barista Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine, in black. This machine takes counter top machines to a whole new level and will impress even the most sophisticated coffee drinkers. At the touch of a button you can have freshly ground coffee, cappuccinos, macchiatos or lattes. Plus you can even make two coffees at the same time by simply pressing the button twice with its dual spout feature. There’s so much choice with the CM5200, you can choose the type of bean, strength, temperature and grind you want not to mention 4 different cup sizes. To make sure your coffee stays piping hot the Miele CM5200 has a heated cup rack. Is also easy to keep clean with its automatic rinse programme. The Miele CM5200 is even in our sale with a massive £500 off and can be yours for just £799.
Miele have launched two brand new built in Coffee Machines, the CVA6041 and also the CVA6431. These two new models features a new milk container which is easier to install and top up with milk with a simple easy click milk system where the milk container just clips in the front of the machine. The new range reduced the amount of cleaning required as the older models required a cleaning agent for the milk pipework but with the new models they have increased the width of the milk pipe work meaning that with the rinsing of the machine the pressure is greater and therefore achieving a better clean therefore reducing the agent cleaning process to roughly once a week.
Also on the M-Touch Model CVA6800 there is a Cup Sensor where the coffee spout automatically adjusts to the perfect height for the cup.
If you’re not sure which coffee machine is best for you the. Why not drop by our Miele Centre in Norwich for a live demonstration. As one of only a handful of Miele Centres in the UK you can see our Miele coffee machines in action and see how easy they are to use.
German brand Miele offer a fantastic range of both semi and fully integrated and freestanding dishwashers, including several slimline models. According to independent researchers, Which? Miele dishwashers scored excellently for cleaning, drying and avoiding watermarks after their extensive tests. They also achieved scores ranging from average to excellent for noise.
What’s more all Miele dishwashers boast a minimum A class energy efficient rating which means you can make washing your dishes easy without breaking the bank, by saving you money on your household energy bills.
Whatever size or shape of kitchen you have and whether you’re looking for a freestanding unit of a built-in dishwasher, the highly reputable Miele dishwasher range has something for you.
Take the G5220SC dishwasher for example, it comes in a stylish and sleek white colour and has an impressive A++ energy rating. Plus it has a pretty clever anti-flood device, has been highly rates for its washing and drying performance and if that’s not enough it comes with 2 years warranty.
The G5220SC has been rated A rated for wash performance and A rated for drying performance. This G5220SC comes complete with an anti-flood device. To offer peace of mind the Miele G5220SC free standing Dishwasher also comes with 2 years warranty. As standard with Miele appliances, the G5220SC has been built and tested to last up to 20 years of average use. This model is particularly suitable for large households as it has room for up to 14 place settings. Your cutlery won’t get all caught up either, the G5220SC has a space saving drawer making the best use of the space available. Forget trying to figure out how to fit your tall, or wine glasses into the top basket – with a height adjustable glass rail you’ll be able to secure and fit in all your glassware. With a delay timer you can start the wash cycle whenever you’re ready and if you usually forget to check the salt and rinse aid then don’t worry, the G5220SC will let you know when they are running low.
If you’re looking for a dishwasher that delivers time after time then the G5220SC’s 6 programmes, including a turbo function, and with temperature options between 40 and 75°C to choose from is an ideal choice.
Next we’ve taken a look at the G5620SC model. This full-sized machine also has room for 14 place settings and has an A+++ energy rating and smart SoftClose door technology. This model features 7 different wash programmes from a 40°C quick wash to an energy save setting suitable for everyday use and a 75°C wash for heavily soiled pots and pans to a gentle sensor wash for better glass care.
The G5620SC not only performs great but looks great as its coated in a CleanSteel finish and its extra quiet programme means it’s perfect for putting on at night. Plus the 24 hour timer delay means you can take advantage of off-peak energy reducing your bills even further.
You’ll no longer need a tea towel around the kitchen to dry your items before putting them away as the G5620SC has AustoOpen drying technology that means the door will open slightly at the end of the wash cycle to allow steam to escape and cool air to circulate.
If you’re in a hurry then just press the Turbo button for a quick cycle and you can see how long is left on a wash cycle through the handy display. As well as the useful functions such as the height adjustable glass trays and 3D cutlery tray, the G5620SC will wash your dishes for years to come as the PC update facility means that a Miele engineer can upgrade your machine when any new developments in technology happen. As with all Miele dishwashers the G5620SC is built to last up to 20 years and the brand and products are well known for their durability, reliability and longevity.
Miele produce some of the best and most popular dishwashers available on the market and we, at Gerard Giles, have been working together for nearly 50 Years with Gerald Giles being one of the first retailers to sell Miele products in the UK. This partnership has grown from strength to strength, culminating in the launch of East Anglia’s sole Miele Centre in Norwich; one of only a handful in the UK.
Sonos, based in California, was founded in 2002. The brand set out with a clear goal to reinvent home audio for the digital age and their vision was to fill every home with music and make music a valued experience once again.
The company’s main product is the Sonos Multi-Room Music System and this has made it simple for everyone to enjoy the music in every room of their home and in the highest quality of sound. Even though Sonos have been around for over ten years, it feels like a lot less because they are constantly evolving to stay fresh and current.
What’s great about Sonos’s ethos is that they are constantly striving for ways to improve the experience of listening to music with new products, software and investment in innovation.
Sonos now sell their music systems in over 60 countries and we stock some of the best and most popular Sonos products around and definitely in Norfolk.
Sonos have recently gone through a rebranding exercise which has resulted in the birth of the Play:3, which is a brand new and more affordable version of the Play range (and it’s available in black and white). The Play:3 is an all-in-one system that combines a network music client, amp and speakers which all make it a breeze to add an extra zone to an existing Sonos system or even start a new one. You can now stream music directly from your Apple devices and link two Play:3s together. Even though the Play:3 costs less than you might think this doesn’t mean the sound quality is any the less brilliant.
The sound quality is great and if you feed it lossless or uncompressed rips from a computer or network-attached storage device then the sound is fantastic. And the icing on the cake is the Play:3 in black and in white is now part of our Summer Savings sale at just £259,00!
Sonos have also recently released the Sonos PBARSUK1BLK Playbar – TV Soundbar. The 9 speaker device wirelessly fills your room with full cinema Hi-Fi sound and streams as much music as you can ever wish for through one easy to use Soundbar. The Sonos Playbar adjusts automatically to the differences in sound, from high speed car chases to live music concerts.
The nine built-in digital amplifiers, three tweeters and six mid-range units mean the Sonos Playbar delivers truly amazing sound. You can even increase the bass with the Sonos SUB and enjoy a 3.1 cinematic experience or add two Play:3 speakers for the ultimate in surround sound. No other comparable Soundbar delivers the sound and quality of the Sonos Playbar.
For the perfect Sonos system take a look at the Sonos SUB, this subwoofer doesn’t fail to excite by delivering deep and sustained bass to accompany the crisp sound of Sonos. The bass is so deep it could rattle your light shade with its dynamic and punchy sound.
Even with the deepest of bass sounds the speaker still has a refreshing lack of distortion.
Don’t forget as with all our products we have a Price Promise. We understand that offering a high quality service is not enough for everyone, we need to have competitive prices too. So if you find the same product at any other UK authorised dealer, in stock, with the same offer, and the same guarantee, at a lower price, we will try our best to match that price.
Check out our full range of Sonos products here.
DAB radio, which stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting, has been under development since the 1980’s and here in the UK, we were the first country to receive a wide range of radio stations via DAB. Commercial DAB receivers hit the shelves in 1999 and demand has increased over the last two decades. There are many advantages DAB radios hold over AM and FM terrestrial broadcast technology. DAB radios automatically tune to available stations and offer the user a list of stations to choose from. DAB radios can carry radiotext from the station which means you can get real time information such as the title of the song playing, genres and news or traffic updates. What’s more some DAB radios offer a pause function on live broadcasts.
DAB radio is less susceptible to co-channel interference than its FM/AM older siblings. In some areas, in particular rural areas, DAB gives listeners a greater choice of radio stations. The reception quality of DAB radios is noticeably better than FM channels as the DAB standard integrates features which reduce any interference. What’s more as the signal is digital there is no hiss with a weak signal that you often get with FM channels. DAB radios also have lower variable bandwidths so programs such as news and weather need a lot less bandwidth than a music station, allowing DAB to carry these programmes at lower bit rates meaning theres more room left for other programmes
Even with the endless list of new technologies we always seem to keep coming back to what we know and love. Its not only the way retro technology looks that we love, but it reminds us of the way we felt when it was about the first time around. If you’re looking for the best of both worlds then a DAB radio could be the answer. DAB radios deliver audio in crystal clear digital quality and some manufacturers are sticking to the popular style of the 1950’s allowing us to enjoy modern technology whilst reminding us of the days when the family gathered around the wireless in the front room.
All summer long we’ve been out in our gardens enjoying the British summer and what better time to enjoy listening to the radio. Today there is a huge range of DAB radios available on the market and there’s something for every budget with prices ranging from £50 all the way up to £600.
DAB radios popularity has paved the way for the retro gadgets to return to kitchens and homes all across the country. One of the most famous brands in the market is the well loved Roberts Radios. As the leading brand in the portable radio market in the UK, the iconic Revival radio is instantly recognisable as part of the Roberts family and with over 80 years of heritage they have built a reputation on producing high quality premium brand radios for the consumer market. Featuring in many ‘best DAB radios to buy’ lists the Roberts Revival radio combines the old-school look with ultra-modern digital radio technology at its core. Featuring DAB and FM tuners, a good display and a dedicated iPod/MP3 player socket it has all the technology of its contemporary sleek looking counterparts.
One undeniable selling point of the Roberts Revival DAB radio is the fantastic sound quality. It successfully delivers a clear solid and detailed midrange meaning voices sound vivid as if they’re in the same room as the listener. Not only this but songs and instruments are excellently coherent.
The retro style is accompanied by gold plated trimming for a real 50’s feel and with 50’s style making a strong comeback its no wonder the Roberts Revival is as popular as ever. It may be August but we are already seeing Christmas adverts on our screens and heres no escaping that Christmas shopping starts earlier and earlier every year. DAB radios and in particular the Roberts Revival DAB radio make great Christmas gifts and are especially popular in the run up to Christmas. So if you want to get in early and grab your Roberts Revival DAB radio ior any of our other amazing DAB radios then check our products out online today!
Sony is a leading global manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products. Sony believes new technology can realise new ideas and create new experiences in unprecedented ways. We are proud to supply Sony products right in the centre of Norwich.
The proof is in the pudding when it comes to Sony products. Their excellence has been recognised by the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) the largest editorial multimedia organisation in Europe. They have won 5 of the extremely coveted product of the year awards for the following:
We’ve put a few of these award winning products under the microscope to see why they are so popular and why consumers can rest assured they’re getting the best of the best.
The Sony KDL55W905 has won Sony this prestigious award for the fourth year in a row. The Sony KDL55W905 has the best-ever picture and sound quality with its Triluminos LED display technology, bringing amazing colour and true to life detail in pictures from any source. It creates natural colour including hard to reproduce blues, green and reds and perhaps most importantly offers fantastic natural skin tones. The long-duct speaker system delivers excellent audio making it perfect for watching sports, movies and playing games.
This model really is what they call top of the range and can be controlled from your smartphone or tablet. A second generation of its processing engine X-Reality Pro, the new, fast user interface and NFC enabled remote and TV SideView app makes the TV a breeze to use. The Sony KDL55W905 has a distinctive thin aluminium bezel giving it a quartz look making it a fashionable addition to any home.
The Sony SGP311GBB Xperia Tablet Z has also won a coveted ‘product of the year’ award. The Xperia Tablet Z is the most premium android tablet of its kind and uses the very best of Sony technology. By matching premium specifications with cross-device connectivity and a consistent user-experience, it sets new standards in entertainment. It may by lightweight and slim but it’s certainly not feeble. With record levels of water resistance it’s virtually immune to spills and splashes, not to mention dust resistance. It reportedly still works after being submerged in a metre of water for up to half an hour!
The Xperia Tablet Z boasts a fast quad-core processor, operating at 1.5 GHz with 2GB of RAM, running the Android 4.1.3 operating system. The 10.1-inch display features a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels, resulting in a 224 ppi pixel density. Versions with 16GB or 32GB built-in memory are available and a MicroSD slot can be used to further expand the storage capacity. With Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast, Bluetooth, NFC and 4G LTE it has all the latest communication technologies.
It has not one but two cameras, the rear-mounted one of which shoots still pictures with up to 8.1megapixels using a CMOS Exmor R sensor, and also records Full HD video. What’s really smart is it can be used as a remote control for your TV and home entertainment centres thanks to the integrated infrared port. Available in stylish black or crisp white, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z is the perfect choice for combining fashion and technology.
These latest awards are proof of Sony’s on-going commitment to bringing high-quality, reliable products to market. We’re proud to stock the Sony KDL55W905 and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z along with many other fantastic Sony products. We’re based right in the centre of Norwich so pop in or contact us today for more information.
Also check out our photo gallery of just some of the Sony products we stock.
According to the founder of Samsung Group, Lee Byung-chul, the meaning of the Korean Hanja word Samsung is “tristar” or “three stars” This is thought to be because the number three represents something “big, numerous and powerful” and the stars represent eternity. Samsung Electronics is the global market leader in high-tech electronics manufacturing and digital media. Through innovative, reliable products and services; talented people; a responsible approach to business and global citizenship, Samsung is taking the world in imaginative new directions. We are proud to stock a range of Samsung products from 3D TV’s to Blu-Ray players and have taken a closer look at just a few of the Samsung products we have to offer. The Samsung UE55F7000 looks amazingly thin and stylish and has a top of the range smart TV system onboard. It brings presents sharp and detailed pictures with rich, bright colours. The Samsung UE55F7000 has a long list of great features, including voice and motion control, micro dimming and a touchpad controller. What’s more it has a competitive price compared to its counterparts from the other big players. What’s great about the Samsung UE55F7000 is that it can be controlled in lots of different ways. Whether you prefer the traditional TV remote control, the touchpad remote, or the futuristic control methods of voice and motion gestures, it has something for everyone. The voice control isn’t limited to just basic command phrases but the TV now tries to understand natural speech. Just speak into the TV, first saying trigger phrases such as ‘Hi TV’ to wake it up and listen to you or press the Mic button on the touchpad remote and speak into the remote The Samsung UE55F7000 also has a new, higher resolution 5-megapixel camera in an attempt to maximize tracking and low-light performance for its motion control. The TV guide menus are easy to use and give you plenty of control to customise your own picture and audio settings. It even learns your viewing habits over time and adjusts these picks to suit your tastes, rather like TiVo. With built if Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port it is really reliable for media streaming and scores highly on the connectivity front. The Samsung UE55F7000 has a bunch of top notch features and a competitive price tag which make it a great choice for your 3D TV – we’ve even lowered the price from £2,199.99 to £1,999.99! Next we’ve taken a look at one of Samsung’s fantastic 3D Blue Ray players the Samsung BDE8300MXU. As the third generation of Samsung’s digital hard drive recorders it presents all-in-one solution that will let you record two programs at once, so you can play back favourite shows wherever’s convenient. You could even watch them both at the same time, thanks to Picture in Picture, or watch one while browsing the web and access all your digital media via its library. As well as all this you get access to Samsung’s app world (Smart TV platform) that you also get from Samsung’s Smart TV. The recording capabilities of Samsung BDE8300MXU does exceed a lot of its competitors and is really useful as a recording device. The interface of the BDE830MXU is simple and is really easy to navigate to the menu. This really is a top candidate if you’re looking for a sleek, sophisticated Blu-Ray player with 3D capabilities and built-in HDD recorder. We want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the Samsung BDE8300MXU so we’ve lowered the price from £319.99 to just £259.99! Click here for other great Samsung offers.
They say the best things come in small packages – Bose certainly think so as they’ve just released the SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker.
Gone are the days of carrying around the huge 80’s boom box on your shoulder, the SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker lets you enjoy better sound on the go, everywhere you go. AND, most importantly, it fits in the palm of your hand. OK a large man’s hand but it’s still pretty small and easily fits into a jacket pocket. The speaker is portable yet retains the audio quality the American manufacturer has built its reputation on.
Given the highly competitive state of today’s small portable Bluetooth speaker market, Bose’s SoundLink® Mini is certainly a worthy contender. It’s been described as one of the few standout products in the market and its sound is certainly a lot bigger than its size. The audio quality is SoundLink® Mini’s real trump card over other portable Bluetooth speaker’s out there. Even though its smaller than many of its competitors, SoundLink® Mini’s top volume level is roughly twice the peak volume of some of its closest competitors with fantastic sound quality at most ranges, especially midrange and mid-highs.
The SoundLink® Mini speaker has a great retro look to it, evoking the image of a 60’s radio but with a much sleeker and modern twist.
Along with its bigger brother, SoundLink® Wireless Mobile speaker, Bose is targeting a wide audience and the SoundLink® Mini is designed to be easy to use with its clearly labeled buttons on the top.
What’s handy is it remembers up to six devices, so you’ll only need to sync each one once. Whatever device you’re using, when in range, it should automatically recognize the speaker via Bluetooth.
There’s nothing worse than running out of battery and being nowhere near a charger, but with its lithium-ion battery you get hours of unplugged play time, and it comes with a cradle that keeps it fully charged while serving as a home for the speaker. The easy charging connections, made through small exposed contacts on the back-right corner of the speaker, make the cradle even more functional. The speaker falls into place without catching on anything or missing the contact and makes a chime sound when it starts to charge so you know it’s connected. So you don’t have to sit around waiting for it to charge before you go out and about, just grab and go.
The SoundLink® Mini speaker is engineered with a single piece of anodized aluminum housing and skid-proof rubber bottom, so it can stand up to everyday use and sit almost anywhere. It’s reassuringly solid yet, at under 700g, it’s not too heavy.
Just like your phone you can customise it with coloured accessory covers which also provide added protection from scratches.
The accessory Travel Bag and additional Wall Charger are also available for the SoundLink® Mini speaker during long stretches away from home. The Wall Charger means you can keep your speakers charged while travelling and keep the charging cradle set up at home.
It’s exciting and encouraging to see Bose leading the way with their SoundLink® Mini and we look forward to seeing more new Bose products like this one, that looks at a popular product and do it bigger and better. Or in this case smaller and better!
You can see more of the SoundLink® Mini Bluetooth® speaker on our Pinterest Board dedicated to this brilliant portable speaker.
2013 is turning out to be quite a year for Sony and their televisions. On the back of their awesome W8 (KDL47W805) and W9 (KDL40W905) they’ve now released their first Ultra HD 4K TV.
4K TVs (sometimes also referred to as Ultra HD or UHD) deliver up to 4 times the picture resolution of Full HD TVs – so they represent quite a leap forward in terms of picture quality. But they are also quite a leap forward in terms of price. Or are they?
Back at #CES2013 Samsung revealed a 85 inch 4K Ultra HD TV. That is genuinely huge. At the time the Samsung S9 or UN85S9 was rumoured to have a retail price of around $40,000 or about £26,000. But it does have a screen the size of a barn door and a wonderfully designed rotating white board frame as a stand. That stand also houses the speakers which can push out 120 watts of power. Sony also unveiled a 84 inch 4K TV at CES with the relatively low price tag of just $26,000.
Obviously these types of televisions are the mini cinema screens of the super wealthy but now Sony have brought out their 55 and 65 inch 4K televisions named the KD55X9005 and KD65X9005 respectively. In comparison these have much more affordable price tags. And we do mean in comparison because the 65 inch version is still going to set you back £5,999.
Obviously these are Sony’s flagship TVs with never seen before picture quality and they are absolutely top of the range in terms of spec, design and build quality.
Sony have incorporated the speakers into two gorgeous side panels either side of the flatscreen. Sony call these speakers “Magnetic Fluid” because they use a ferromagnetic liquid as a dampener which gives a crisper, clearer sound. Apparently this magnetic liquid was developed for the US space program. They’ve obviously been having quite a party up there in space.
As we’ve said the picture quality is amazing especially for such a large screen and you don’t have to sit 20 feet away to appreciate how good it is. Up close the picture doesn’t deteriorate. Sony have deployed their Triluminos technology to deliver the “widest and purest spectrum of colours“. Agreed. It is the best picture quality we have ever seen.
But what has made us really excited is that Sony have only let 25 of the KD65X9005 4K TVs into the UK at the moment. And we’ve got one of them!
Now that it’s installed at our showroom, we believe it to be the only one in Norfolk (at the time of writing) that people can come along and see in action for themselves. Obviously you can buy it too and if you do, you will without question go home with the best TV in Norfolk. Fact!
But when you get it home, what will you be able to watch in 4K? You may have Sky HD but there isn’t a Sky UHD.
But 4K is definitely the future of television. Soon ALL TVs will be 4K, so will BluRay, terrestrial TV broadcasts, satellite broadcasts and cinema – in fact it’s already happening!
Will Smith’s new blockbuster After Earth was filmed in 4K using Sony cameras and it’s released in cinema’s this week in 4K format.
And there are more examples of 4K being used right now.
YouTube has supported 4K video upload and playback for a while, most of the major US studios are now filming new content in 4K and Andy Murray’s passage into the last 16 of #Wimbledon2013 this week along with Brazil’s thumping of Spain in the Confederation Cup were both actually filmed in 4K.
So true 4K content is definitely on its way and certainly in the lifetime of any new TV.
However, the real game changer today is “up-scaling”.
Up-scaling is what your Sony 4K TV does to lower quality content to give it the 4K impact. It does this on the fly and obviously it is not quite as good as pure 4K content but it’s still a huge advance on Full HD.
So if you’ve got £6K you can get 4K and you’ll be able to tell everyone you have the best telly in a hundred mile radius. Fact.
Even if you don’t have £6,000 to spend on a TV – and the vast majority of us don’t – it’s still worth a visit to our showroom to take a look at this beautiful television and the amazing picture and sound quality it delivers. Just like taking the family to the cinema only a lot cheaper.
You can see more of the KD65X9005 4K TV on our Pinterest Board dedicated to this brilliant TV.