HP expands digital-entertainment range

Hewlett-Packard rolled out an expanded lineup of digital entertainment products on Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, with more than half a dozen new high-definition TVs and digital cameras, and a new home movie service among the offerings.

HP introduced nine high-definition TVs, seven digital cameras that offer more features in a scaled-down camera body, four consumer laptops and a digital-entertainment desktop.

HP online photo service Snapfish, meanwhile, is pushing the computer maker further into the lucrative services arena with the debut of its home movie service. The service is designed to allow users to access, review, store and share digital videos from their mobile phones and digital cameras.

The service uses technology designed to convert most digital video formats into a common one that can be played through most Internet browsers. HP will promote the product with a month's free service, after which it plans to charge a monthly fee of $2.99 (£1.70).

HP also introduced HDTVs -- equipped with LCD, microdisplay and plasma screens -- that offer a range of new features. The company's HP Advanced Digital Media LCD TV, for example, is designed to allow viewers to stream high-resolution videos or slideshows with music soundtracks to the 37-inch TV from their PCs.

HP plans to ship its new LCD, plasma and microdisplay TVs in late spring, but it has not yet established pricing.

The company also showed off new additions to the HP Photosmart digital camera line. The new cameras are designed to offer larger and brighter LCD screens, and they have a button for ordering and sharing photos through Snapfish. HP also plans to offer a wireless camera dock.

The company's new digital cameras include the HP Photosmart R927, R727, R725 and E327. The cameras are expected to ship in March and will be priced from $119 and $299.

HP's expanded laptop line, meanwhile, includes new models for the HP Pavilion dv1000 series entertainment laptop, which will include a built-in Webcam, and dv8000 series laptops. On select models, the dv8000 series will offer an edition of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center, which is designed to allow users to watch, record and pause live TV, as well as edit and share digital content.

The laptops are expected to be available by the end of this month in the US and will be priced from $699 to $1,049.

HP also introduced its Pavilion Media Center m7300n series Photosmart PC, which offers a wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. Pricing for the m7300 series will begin at $679. The PC is expected to be available by the end of the month in the US.

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