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HD Advisor 36
Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 03:00 PM ETTags: HD Advisor, Joshua Zyber (all tags)
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Editor's Note: Each Friday, High-Def Digest's own HD Advisor will answer a new round of questions from our readers. If you have home theater questions you need answered, send an email to HDanswers@gmail.com. |
Answers by Joshua Zyber
Spielberg Movies on Blu-ray
Q: Is Paramount ever going to release 'War of the Worlds' (the Tom Cruise version) on Blu-ray?
A: 'War of the Worlds' certainly seems like it would make great home theater demo material on Blu-ray. I can only imagine the piercing sound of the aliens' energy weapons in lossless audio quality.
The reason this hasn't been released on Blu-ray is much the same reason that 'Jurassic Park', 'Schindler's List', and 'E.T.' haven't. Steven Spielberg both directed and produced these movies, and ultimately has the final say on whether they get released. 'War of the Worlds' was produced through his Amblin Entertainment company and Dreamworks SKG studio (of which Spielberg is the "S" in SKG). Paramount only serves as distributor, but does not own the movie. In fact, Dreamworks is in the process of leaving Paramount, and will be taking their catalog with them.
Of course, many other Dreamworks movies have already been released on Blu-ray. But you'll notice the conspicuous absence of those directed by Spielberg.*
Essentially, Steven Spielberg and his friend George Lucas are both of the feeling that the movies they've directed are too important to be released on Blu-ray yet. Both have stated that they're waiting for the format to attain a certain market share. They want their movies to make big splashes when they debut, and not fizzle out like many other catalog titles. They both took a similar approach toward DVD, which is why 'Jurassic Park' wasn't released on DVD until 2000 and the original 'Star Wars' trilogy until 2004.
Personally, I think that both men are overestimating the power of their older movies to still affect the market. Catalog titles, even big name releases, have traditionally been poor sellers on Blu-ray. The high-def format simply doesn't operate by all the same rules that DVD has. Although movies may have once been for sale on VHS, Laserdisc, or other older video formats in the past, DVD was the first movie-collecting medium for most consumers. Thus, they were eager to buy both new releases and their favorite older movies. However, now that they already own many of their favorite movies on DVD, most people feel less compelled to buy new copies, not even for the upgrade to high definition video. They tend instead to focus their buying only on newly-released movies that they don't already own.
Certainly, I expect 'Jurassic Park' and 'Star Wars' (and even 'War of the Worlds') to sell well by catalog title standards. But there is really little chance that any of them would hit the same levels that day-and-date releases do. And that will continue to be the case no matter how long these directors wait for the market to grow.
*Currently, only two movies that Spielberg directed are available on Blu-ray. 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' was released by Sony Pictures. This is one of the director's older movies, which he doesn't have any ownership control over. The studio made a decision to release it regardless of Spielberg's feelings. Sadly, it sold very poorly on Blu-ray, a result that only strengthens the director's position.
Spielberg did consent to the release of 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' on Blu-ray. This was a new, high-profile day-and-date release at the time, and I suspect that Paramount may have pressured (or begged) him into allowing it. I believe that one sold pretty well, as most big day-and-date titles do.
Going forward, I expect that we will see other new Spielberg films (like the upcoming 'The Adventures of Tintin') released on Blu-ray in the normal home video cycle. But he'll probably continue to hold back his older movies until such time as he either changes his mind on this whole strategy, or the Blu-ray format hits that magic market saturation number that he's waiting for.
Analog Audio Outputs vs. HDMI
Q: I would like to know which option is the best for my home theater set up. I have a Denon DVD-A1UDCI Blu-ray player and a Denon AVR-5805CI receiver. To enjoy Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, would it be better to use the HDMI connection for audio as well as video, or just use HDMI for video and use the 5.1 analog outputs for audio? In which device should I set the bass management? What about the DSP options in the receiver?
A: Audio must go through three steps to get from the disc to your speakers: The codec on the disc must be decoded to PCM format, the PCM must be converted to analog, and the analog signal must be amplified out to your speakers. That last step is always going to happen in your A/V receiver or amp. Your question really amounts to where you should do the first two steps. This will boil down to the following three options:
- Connect by HDMI, set all audio to "bitstream" in the Blu-ray player. In this case, both the decoding and conversion to analog will be performed in the receiver. You should set your bass management controls in the receiver. (They will be non-functional in the Blu-ray player end.)
- Connect by HDMI, set Blu-ray player to decode internally. This way, the receiver only does the Digital-to-Analog step (and of course amplification). Set bass management in the receiver again.
- Connect by multi-channel analog. Now you're relying on the Blu-ray player to both decode and convert to analog. Set bass management at the player, not the receiver.
The decoding step really should be equal regardless of whether you do it in the player or the receiver. However, the conversion from digital to analog can have a significant impact on your final sound quality. The quality of the DAC components in each device should determine whether you use the HDMI or analog connections. If you believe that the receiver has better DACs, you should connect by HDMI. If you believe that the player has better DACs, you should connect by multi-channel analog.
For most consumers, I recommend using HDMI if they have the option. The DAC components in most Blu-ray players are generally inferior to those in A/V receivers. I feel that you should do the audio processing in the device dedicated to that task, which will usually be better suited for it.
However, in your case, you have a Blu-ray player that has specifically been marketed towards audiophiles, and was designed with very high quality DACs. If, for example, you had the DVD-A1UDCI and an entry-level to mid-range A/V receiver, I would definitely advise you to use the analog connections and let the player do everything. But that doesn't describe you either. You also have a very nice A/V receiver from the same company that makes the Blu-ray player. I believe that the DAC components in your Blu-ray player and your receiver are also equivalent in quality to one another.
Realistically, you're probably going to wind up with very similar-sounding results no matter which of the three options outlined above you choose. Even so, I'm going to advise that you use HDMI and Option #1. This will have the advantage of convenience, in that you'll have fewer cables to connect and manage. More importantly, sending a digital bitstream signal to your receiver will allow you to use processing functions such as Audyssey calibration, Cinema EQ, or Dolby ProLogic IIx that your Blu-ray player probably doesn't offer internally. These can be a tremendous benefit.
Speaker Icon in Disc Menus
Q: What does the little speaker icon in some Blu-ray menus do? I have switched it on and off and cannot figure out what it does.
A: Many Blu-ray discs are programmed to have beeping noises or other sound effects whenever you choose an option in the menu. Personally, I find them very annoying, especially the really gimmicky effects like gunshots or animal sounds.
Some studios (like Sony) display a speaker icon over the menu that will allow you to turn these noises off. Other studios (like Universal) have a "Menu Sounds" command somewhere in the disc's Setup menu. Many studios don't give you any option in the matter.
Keep in mind that, if you've set your Blu-ray player to transmit its audio in "bitstream" fashion, you may have never heard these noises at all. That's because the noises must be live-mixed into the audio stream, which can only occur when the player does the audio decoding internally. Bitstreaming prevents these noises from being mixed in to the audio signal. In that case, clicking on the speaker icon doesn't have any effect at all.
To my mind, that's one more big advantage to using the bitstream option.
The HD Advisor knows many things, but he doesn't know everything. Some questions are best answered with a consensus of opinions from our readers. If you can help to answer the following question, please post your response in our forum thread linked at the end of this article. Your advice and opinions matter too!
Silly HD Advisor Column Titles
Q: The more of these columns he writes, the harder it's getting for the HD Advisor to come up with silly titles that fit the numerical theme. If you've read the column for any length of time, you should know how it works by now. The title must have the words "HD Advisor" and the appropriate sequential number. The title should preferably be a pun based on the name of a movie. Song titles will probably work in a pinch too, but something somehow related to a movie is always preferred. Worst case, just make it funny.
As you can see, this week I just gave up looking for something with the number 36. The best I found was a French movie called '36 Quai des Orfèvres', and that just seemed far too obscure.
So, have at it. Spit out some suggestions for my next several column titles. I'm especially stuck on #s 38, 41, 43, 44, and pretty much anything over 50. What have you got?
Winning entries will receive the smug satisfaction of knowing that you are more clever than the HD Advisor. Really, that's pretty invaluable, isn't it?
Check back soon for another round of answers. Keep those questions coming.
Joshua Zyber's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of this site, its owners or employees.
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The Week That Was: A High-Def Digest Recap
Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 01:15 PM ET
High-Def Digest had quite a week, with a few bumps, and a TON of great stories and reviews. We want to make sure you didn't miss a thing!
As we do every year, we started rolling out our holiday shopping guides. The first of these took a look at HD Gear and the fuel you'll need to run it at top capacity.
Our second installment in the 2009 shopping guide series took a look at gift ideas for the relatives that keep us on our toes. We'll have more guides in the coming weeks!
Finally, as we do every week, we ran a bunch of movie reviews.
Some of the biggest titles included:
and the 'Mamma Mia! Gift Set
But we also covered some an assortment of other titles, from the classic to the magic to the tragic, including:
'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'
'The National Parks: America's Best Idea'
'Miracle on 34th Street (1947)'
'Miracle on 34th Street (1994)'
'Scrubs: The Complete Eighth Season'
'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)'
And don't forget HDD's own HD Advisor at noon!
Thanks as always for checking in with us throughout the week! We'll be back here with more news and reviews on Sunday night!
Spatial View Creates Glasses-Free 3D for the iPhone
Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Sony, iPhone, Apple, 3D, Industry Trends (all tags)
According to an announcement from Spatial View and Sony Music Entertainment Germany, the new 3DeeSlide iPhone and iPod accessory will allow users to watch glasses-free 3D movies.
3D movies are experiencing a great amount of popularity in theaters, with an expected boom in upcoming Blu-ray releases, and 'Avatar: The Game' bringing three dimensional viewing to game consoles. A practical solution for viewing 3D content while outside of the home – one that doesn’t involve a separate headset or glasses – has not yet been established.
Spatial View, a company specializing in stereoscopic 3D, offers the 3DeeSlide as the solution. Using a lenticular screen, this device slides over your iPhone or iPod Touch and allows the viewing of three-dimensional content without the need for glasses.
The viewing angle is a bit limited, but when it comes to mobile devices, there’s usually only one person watching. Users are recommended to keep their device at a 90 vertical viewing angle, perpendicular to their eye line. The sweet spot distance wise is between 12” and 16” according to Spatial View.
The 3DeeSlide will be available shortly from in Germany (one of the countries that Spatial View calls home) and is expected to be on Amazon soon after. The product will be available individually or bundled with Sony Music’s “forsenses” Blu-ray disc, though a price has not yet been announced.
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Adult Swim Introduces Media on Demand
Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 12:00 PM ET
Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming is almost entirely unique to the television landscape. Now they have a DVD purchasing system to match.
Adult Swim’s lineup of cartoons is certainly not for everyone. With a programming schedule designed to appeal to adult viewers (though not necessarily mature viewers as they’d be the first to admit) Adult Swim has made a strong impression on many of their fans.
They’re hoping to make an equally strong impression with their new Media on Demand service, which allows customers to create and purchase a DVD of their favorite episodes of several of Adult Swim’s more popular shows.
The entire catalog is not available at this time. Only around 100 episodes are available for purchase, but the number is expected to increase tenfold by the holidays. Shows currently available include two of Adult Swim’s early hits – Sealab 2021 and Aqua Teen Hunger Force – as well as Robot Chicken and The Venture Bros.
Each disc can contain up to 110 minutes of video, which equates to between five and ten episodes depending on what shows are selected. Case art, disc art and menus are customizable through the website.
A custom Adult Swim disc runs $20, and the disc ships within 48 hours. At this time, the option of Blu-ray is not available, but the network only started offering true high definition content recently.
Source: Video Business
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Samsung Takes the Lead in LCD Sales
Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 05:30 PM ETTags: Samsung (all tags)
With around seventeen percent of the total LCD market share, Samsung once again takes its spot at the top of the LCD sales chart.
After being overtaken by Vizio at the end of 2009, Samsung has retaken the throne as the worldwide leader in LCD sales. Vizio’s placement in larger chain stores like Target and Wal-Mart, as well as their low cost televisions had garnered them the top sales spot for nearly a year.
The analysts at iSuppli speculate that Samsung’s heavy promotion of LED backlit televisions – or LED TVs as Samsung likes to call them – as well as price cuts on many of Samsung’s models is responsible for the shift in Samsung’s direction.
Interestingly, among the top LCD suppliers, nearly all have seen a market share decrease thanks to additional low price competitors. Samsung, who held over a fifth of the market in late 2008, now has just below 17%. Vizio went from 20.5% a few months ago to 15.7%, and Sony dove from 16.5% in 2008 to a share of 7.8% now.
The only company among the big name suppliers that managed to increase its market share at all over the last quarter was LG, who went from a 7.4% share to holding 8.1% of the market.
iSuppli notes that package deals are expected to be the big motivator this holiday season. Bundling a TV together with a Blu-ray player, game console, or an audio package can make the purchase more attractive to a customer than simply offering a discount. Expect brands that can offer multiple products in one purchase like Sony and Samsung to lead the way this holiday season.
Source: iSuppli
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1080p HD Coming to YouTube
Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 04:30 PM ET
In the last year, YouTube has been distancing itself from its roots of grainy webcam footage of unknown people playing their guitar poorly. In their newest effort, they're stepping their HD content up from 720p to 1080p.
YouTube, the former hallmark of poor quality internet video, has been making an increasing effort to create a more valuable service. In recent months, the company has added a fairly sizable library of legitimate television and movie streams, and even letting viewers watch at a 720p resolution. Now, according to an announcement in the YouTube blog, the company is testing out streaming of 1080p content.
While most videos currently on the site won’t see a great deal of benefit, as relatively few users have 1080p videos to upload, the most likely benefit is to commercial applications. If users have the option to watch a streaming film on Netflix, Hulu or YouTube, many will be swayed towards the higher video quality and zero cost of entry.
The sample video – which is in the blog linked to below – is less than stunning, and while it’s certainly at a 1080p resolution, it looks pretty compressed. It’s certainly better than their previous High Quality offering, but by how much we have yet to see.
There’s no word yet from YouTube as to whether connected consumer devices such as Blu-ray players that stream the service will be able to stream in the new 1080p resolution, but we fully expect to see it. If so, this could be a huge step forward for YouTube.
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Netflix Hits Sony BRAVIA Sets
Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 03:15 PM ETTags: Sony (all tags)
Back in July, Sony announced that their BRAVIA sets would be getting a fall 2009 update to enable Netflix viewing. Well, it’s finally here.
Only four months ago Sony put out the word that Netflix would hit capable BRAVIA sets. The initial announcement sparked a bit of ire from PlayStation 3 console owners, who questioned why the addition would be hitting televisions, rather than the incredibly capable PS3.
Sony responded of course, by offering Netflix streaming capabilities to the PS3 through the use of a Blu-ray disc and the BD Live feature. When the service hit the PS3, it left many BRAVIA users feeling left in the lurch, but not for long. True to their word Sony has added Netflix to the web offerings of connected BRAVIA sets.
A quick firmware update and a restart will get owners ready to go with the new service, which offers a large library of on demand video for consumption. For as low as $8.99 a month, unlimited streaming is available.
This addition makes Sony products much more appealing, and marks a bit of a victory for the company. Most new Sony hardware – TVs, consoles and Blu-ray players – comes with Netflix streaming capability, which is certainly a huge boon for both Sony and Netflix.
Source: Press Release
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High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: HD Gear
Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 06:15 PM ETTags: Holiday Guides 2009, Best of 2009, High-Def Retailing, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
The first of High-Def Digest’s annual holiday gift guides has arrived. This installment focuses on HD Gear, and a few choice titles for testing out your new favorite things.
by Michael S. Palmer
‘Tis the season, my friends. A favorite, festive time. For charity. Goodwill. And, bless us all, a chance to toss a new toy under our tree into our family rooms.
Hard to believe it’s upon us already, but next week is Thanksgiving, which fires off the holiday shopping season’s official opening salvo: Black Friday. A day of deals to be followed by a month-long shop-a-thon, where by the most experienced may survive only through sheer will and a steady Cinnabun diet.
But thing’s are tough, I know. The economy did a cannonball into an empty swimming pool, and now we’re all doing our best to recover while indulging out HD addictions. But the worst is over. It’s time to pull together, learn from the past, and jumpstart our future. Which is why, on this historic day, we are starting a brand new campaign:
SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!
This is patriotism, people. Pure and simple. Purchase a high definition home theater system to watch a Blu-ray Disc or play a video game, and you employ the millions who designed, built, shipped, sold, and installed your gear. Not to mention the thousands of names on the credits of that epic film or game franchise based on your favorite best selling novel. And don’t forget the fnancial obligations of handsome high-def writers and reviewers.
With our civil duties properly outlined, it’s time to prepare. First: Budget, budget, budget. Remember, we’re in the “want” category of life (as opposed to “need”) so save your pennies first, then spend only what you have.
Second: Research is key. In the crowded, frenzied malls of the season, you don’t have the time to park the car, let alone properly demo gear. So head to the stores in advance, ask friends, read reviews (or helpful holiday shopping guides written by handsome high-def writers), and above all, loving shopper, listen to your husband/wife/kids to see what they really want this year.
TO BLACK FRIDAY OR NOT TO BLACK FRIDAY?
The Bard’s most famous question (or close approximation there of) for those who now have their list of wants. Black Friday Info is your go-to source for all sales on the day. But is it really worth it to spend a night on an icy sidewalk outside sears? The truth is, Black Friday is just a marketing gimmick. And like all things that worked well to bring out droves of potential consumers, it’s no longer limited to one day a year.
Amazon starts “Black Friday” this Monday, November 23 with a week of deals (as always, Amazon is the place to be for free shipping and no sales tax (unless you live in Washington state)). Beyond that, most stores are going to be riddled with sales for the rest of the year. The key is to look out for the products you already want, and cross check the major retailers to find the best price (many have price-matching policies, which create easy one-stop shopping).
With our list in hand, it’s time to get shopping, and save money while doing it. Here’s a list of fantastic gear I’d ask Santa for this year as well as recommend to my friends and family. I know everyone’s budget is different, so I've tried to find entry, mid, and high-end options to help start or improve your home theater set up (as usual, faithful readers, add your own suggestions to the forums!):
HDTVS
Remember the golden rule: below 40 inches, don’t worry about 1080p because you’ll probably be sitting too far away to tell the difference. I always tell my friends to get the biggest TV they can afford/fit because with HD, you’ll always want more.
Sony Bravia KDL-40V5100. At around $879, this 40-inch, entry-level LCD has a solid picture, and 120hz.
JVC LT-46P300. Find this 46-inch LCD for just over $1,000. Another entry-level model, this one is pretty big, has a good picture, and an easy-to-use built-in iPod/iPhone dock which can be hooked to your home theater receiver via the TV’s Dolby Digital out on the back.
Panasonic TC-P54V10. This massive 54-inch plasma sells for $2,399, is Internet ready, and according to CNET delivered “the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we’ve tested so far this year.” Plasmas excel at deep, rich black levels, and it won’t have the same motion flicker that bothers some LCD owners.
Mitsubishi 737 Series. The last of the rear projection DLP. If you don’t need to hang something on a wall, and want “bigger for cheaper,” look for this series at 60 inches for as little as $1,200. The whopping 82-incher sells for $4,500 (forklift not included).
Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR10. At 52-inches and $3,999, the super thin XBR10 featuring 240Hz anti-blur technology is Sony’s flagship LED-LCD. Not only does this HDTV have every adjustment imaginable, but it has built-in web capabilities, and wireless high-def hookup. Simply mount this flat panel on the wall (and over the power outlet). Then, hook up the separate “Media Box” to your receivers, Blu-ray Disc players, and cable boxes. Simple. No need to run or hide cables.
BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS
LG BD370. A well priced, fully functional Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Disc player, the BD370 retails for $150, and can be hardwired with a broadband Internet connection for access to streaming content such as Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow.
LG BD390. At $270, the BD390 is the older brother. Same great picture and sound, but the BD 390 has a built-in Wi-Fi abilities, and includes access to Vudu’s On Demand streaming service. Vudu’s “HDX” encoded movies look and sound almost as good as the Blu-rays you’re watching.
Sony PlayStation 3. At $299 for the newer slim, the PS3 is an amazing, versatile machine. Still, in my opinion, the best console around. Not only is it a wireless Internet ready Blu-ray disc player, it has its own web browser, a huge hard drive to act as a media server, and, oh yeah, it plays video games.
RECEIVERS
Finding a great, multi-feature receiver is pretty easy, and quite affordable. In addition to the brands and models listed below, check out Harmon/Kardon, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Integra for great, modern AVRs (or audio/video receivers capable of HDMI video/audio content used in Blu-ray and even cable or satellite boxes).
Denon AVR 1610. At $379, this is a great entry-level machine. It has 3 HDMI inputs, and can decode all the newer HD audio codecs into stunning 5.1 surround sound, 75 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD (total harmonic distortion).
Denon AVR 2310. For $849, one gets 5 HDMI inputs, 7.1 surround sound capabilities, 105 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD and bells n’ whistles like Audyssey MutlEQ and Dolby’s new ProLogic IIz. Personally speaking, I have last year’s model, the 2309, and I can’t turn it up loud enough.
Onkyo TX-NR5007. For $2,295, one gets this monster of an AVR: THX Ultra2 Plus certified, 8 HDMI inputs, new technologies like Dolby Volume and ProLogic IIz, and a staggering 9.2 channels of surround sound with 145 watts per channel @.05% THD.
SPEAKERS
There are literally so many choices out there, it should always be noted that speakers are best tested out by each individual buyer. If you don’t like these, check out Infinity, Definitive Technology, Martin Logan, and Klipsch. There’s something for everyone, and the main lesson here is simple:
Never use your TV’s own speakers. They’re cheap, and can never compare to a 5.1 surround sound experience.
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 Speaker System. Your choice of black or white finishes, this is the perfect little system for someone just starting out in surround sound, or who needs to save on space. Take it home for $499.99.
HSU Research HB-1 MK2 5.1 package. Home Theater Sound’s 2008 product of the year, this set for mid-sized rooms provides outstanding performance at a bargain. Priced online direct from HSU, pick these up for as little as $1149 (for the satin black finish), which includes 1 HC-1 MK2 center, 4 HB-1 MK2s bookshelf speakers, and 1 VTF-1 Sub.
Kef iQ Series 7.1 Speaker System. Britain’s own Kef Speakers are fantastic. Deep lows, clean mids, and mountainous highs. Checking around online (using 2 iQ90 fronts, 1 iQ60C center, 4 iQ30 surrounds, and the PSW2500BL Sub), bring home Kef in 7.1 channels for $2320. There are cheaper options as well (smaller fronts, or less surrounds), but these are world class speakers for a fair price.
In the speaker world, there is no budget limitations (Revel’s Ultima2 Salon2 front Towers are ONLY $21,998 per pair!). Above are some, albeit pricey, “entry-level” surround sound systems featuring quality satellite, bookshelf, and floor standing speakers. But I implore you to only buy when you hear what you love and can’t live with out. Happy hunting.
HD ACCESSORIES
No surround sound system is complete without a few finishing details:
Monoprice is a great place to save on all sorts of accessories, including speaker wire, HDMI cables and flat panel wall mounts. Accessories are like printing money for local retailers. They’re hugely overpriced, and you’ll save when you remember to NEVER BUY MONSTER CABLE. Do they work well? Of course, but why buy name brands when the Monoprice version works just as well, yet sells for a 10th of the price? It’s okay, I’ll wait for your answer.
Don’t forget a universal, computer programmable remote to easily run the whole system (the technical term is making it “wife proof” because who really wants to figure out what each of the 7 remotes on the coffee table actually do?). The Logitech Harmony series is excellent. I have owned the 550 and 880. The Harmony One, at under $200, is easy to program, illuminates in the dark and includes a rechargeable battery, but remember: if you want to run your PlayStation 3 using a Harmony remote, you will need the $60 “PS3 Adaptor” to go along with it.
MOVIE & GAME DEMOS
.Now that you have your first system, or maybe you’ve just brought home a new Blu-ray Disc Player, video game console, or surround sound system, it’s time for the best part: DEMO!!! Time to show yourself and your family that there will be no buyers’ remorse for this money well spent because if there’s one way to win over high-def converts, it’s to simply let the technology speak for itself. Here’s a handful of must buys for cinema and gaming enthusiasts:
‘Star Trek’ is out now, and this action/special features packed reboot soars in high definition.
‘The Godfather Collection’has never looked this good, classic cinema lovers.
‘Up ’ might be the newest Pixar release, but this year alone they’ve released (or re-released) ‘Monsters, Inc.’, ‘Cars’, and ‘A Bug’s Life’ on Blu-ray disc. Not only do these movies represent the finest digital picture and sound, but Pixar continues to make the best movies of any year. There’s no better way to gather as a family, than over heartwarming adventures that connect to every generation with equal appeal.
‘Taken’ is a visceral ride for adult-oriented action junkies, and along those lines, watch the opening studio logos for ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’. Viewing the movie itself may cause brain damage, but kudos to the sound engineers for engaging the viewer on every flying star as they whoosh across the screen and settle around the word “Paramount.” It’s stunning.
TV fans won’t find better television, or better high definition than this year’s releases of ‘LOST: The Complete First Season’ and ‘Band of Brothers’.
As for gaming, look no further for stunning graphics than these bestsellers and new releases: ‘Madden 10’, ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’, ‘Gran Turismo 5: Prologue’ (the most realistic driving graphics I’ve ever seen, courtesy of the PS3), ‘HALO 3: ODST’, ‘Assassin’s Creed 2’, and ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’.
Happy hunting. Happy saving. And Happy Holidays, dearest readers, from all of us at High-Def Digest. And remember, always:
SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!
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Motorola May Sell Their Set-top and Networking Branch
Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 01:00 PM ET
Facing losses from all sides, Motorola may decide to cut and run in the set-top box game.
Motorola is at the point where they need to make a decision. They have three major units – mobile, enterprise mobility, and network mobility – and all three are losing sales. Judging by the coverage of the Droid in the last few weeks, you might think Motorola was at the top of the game when it comes to mobile phones. While the move to Android has certainly helped Motorola’s mobile sales, they’re still facing a loss this coming year.
According to a source near Motorola, the company may be looking for buyers for their network mobility business, which includes home networking devices and set-top boxes. While the business may be down at the moment, Motorola does have a huge share of the set-top market which could make it attractive to prospective buyers.
No potential buyers have yet been named, but the expectation that one of their major competitors could buy the division is high.
Interestingly, the set-top and networking unit of Motorola is the part of the business that has been keeping the company afloat for the last several years, making a profit while the other two divisions took losses. Selling this division would be a bit of an unexpected move, and a bad idea according to analyst Mark Sue. The mobile business hasn’t recovered yet, he says, “so it would be a little too early to cut off the lifeline.”
Source: The Wall Street Journal
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Universal Announces iPhone and Social Networking Integration
Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM ET
With the release of movies like 'Bruno,' 'Funny People' and 'Inglourious Basterds,' Universal has announced the integration of several new applications for PC and iPhone.
The pocket BLU app from Universal Studios Home Entertainment will debut this holiday season in time for the release of 'Bruno' on November 17th. Using the WiFi connection present on the iPhone and iPod Touch, pocket BLU is able to act as remote control for Blu-ray players viewing compatible titles. pocket BLU also simplifies the fast forward and seek features by letting users tilt their device sideways to select from a full timeline of the film.
pocket BLU will be compatible with 'Bruno,' 'Funny People,' 'Public Enemies,' 'Inglourious Basterds,' 'American Pie Presents: The Book of Love,' and '9.'
The release of 'American Pie Presents: The Book of Love' will also mark the introduction of social BLU. This application will allow users to access their Facebook and Twitter accounts, presumably to talk about the film. In future releases, says Universal, users will be able to share film-related content on their Facebook page.
Those who pick up a copy of 'Funny People' will get a look at the newly redesigned BD-Live Center. Users will be able to get a look at films coming to Blu-ray and to theaters. The BD-Live Center will automatically select previews that it believes the user will like, and bring updated content to the viewer.
It seems a bit farfetched to think that a user with an iPhone would want to log in to Universal’s application in order to access their Twitter or Facebook account, rather than just using an app that they’ve undoubtedly installed on their phone already. Using an iPhone or iPod Touch as a sort of advanced remote control though, could certainly have some potential.
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