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High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: October 2013by Steven Cohen Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with high-def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for affection, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a classic 90s thriller, a Cold War spy tragedy, and a comic book blockbuster. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September. [teaser]This month, we're covering a spooky haunted house story, a golden age Hollywood classic with a 3D spin, and a big budget adolescent sci-fi fantasy come to life. [/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there might be some spoilers for the films listed. If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in October, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'The Conjuring' - In a sea of thoughtless remakes and overwhelmingly gory slashers, 'The Conjuring' stands out as a wonderfully old fashioned, spooky horror flick that pays loving homage to 1970s filmmaking. But perhaps more shocking than any of the movie's plentiful thrills, is the fact that it's directed by none other than James Wan. I mean, this is the man who made 'Saw,' after all, a film that helped usher in the contemporary horror genre's increasingly unappealing fascination with "torture porn" gore and violence. But 'The Conjuring' is essentially the antithesis of that subset, and instead of blood and guts, the movie harks back to an old school sensibility marked by inventive camera work, long takes, psychological thrills, and visceral scares that show us just enough to disturb and frighten without relying on gratuitous gore. At times the movie almost plays out like a long lost Steven Spielberg produced haunted house flick from the 70s. In fact, the film is basically the 'Super 8' of contemporary horror flicks, blending the style of the past with the technology of the present to tell a classic tale of spine tingling terror -- one that never loses sight of a heavy emphasis on character. The family at the center of the story is the real focus, and the scary antics that surround them are made all the more palpable thanks to the director and writers' heartfelt approach. We actually grow to care about the Perron family and the husband and wife paranormal investigators who risk everything to rid their home of the evil presence that lurks in the shadows. To this end, the cast is fantastic, with great turns from Patrick Wilson and Ron Livingston, and especially noteworthy performances from Lilli Taylor and Vera Farmiga. Director James Wan stages some wonderfully fun set pieces as well (the whole clapping bit is a particularly clever and amusing recipe for uneasy thrills), and he often enhances the film's tension through long, extended takes, rather than flashy editing and overbearing style. With that said, it's actually this same emotional, "Spielbergian" focus that ultimately holds the film back just a tad. While I admire the movie's surprising amount of heart, the climax feels a little too sweet and happy for my tastes, robbing the movie of that extra little bite that would have really made it special. Admittedly, that's a pretty nitpicky qualm, however, and this really is one of the best horror flicks I've seen in a very long time. With a nice mixture of old fashioned cinematic sensibilities and contemporary practical special effects, James Wan ends up crafting a memorable and genuinely thrilling ghost story that operates on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from the gory franchise that made him famous. Effortlessly entertaining, spooky, dramatically affecting, and just a whole lot of fun, 'The Conjuring' easily takes October's number one spot, offering audiences the perfect Blu-ray to help usher in Halloween. 'The Wizard of Oz - 3D: 75th Anniversary Edition' - As a kid I went through several different obsessions with various movies, comics, and cartoon shows. Some of my earliest infatuations included the likes of Superman, Batman, the X-Men, The Ninja Turtles, and Darkwing Duck -- but the very first movie to really capture my imagination and fully take hold, was 'The Wizard of Oz.' For a period of time I was nearly fanatical about all things Yellow Brick Road. I watched the movie endlessly, I knew all the actors' names by heart, and I even had 'Wizard of Oz' action figures. Yes, you read that correctly, action figures -- not dolls. Oh, alright, I had dolls too! Everything about the film simply filled me with wonder, and to this day, the movie's joyous magic remains just as powerful as ever. From the moment we first enter Oz and that explosion of color radiates from the screen, we are instantly transported "somewhere over the rainbow" and there is no going back. The story is timeless and full of imagination. The characters are memorable and bursting with personality (like Dorothy, the Scarecrow is my favorite too). The sets and costumes are brimming with little details and impeccable craft. The songs are catchy, beautiful, and infectiously hummable. And that Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys are the stuff nightmares are made of. Full of motion picture iconography, the film has left an indelible impression on multiple generations of viewers, and even after those ruby slippers take us home, the memory of Oz continues to put a smile on our faces. Perfect for kids without losing any of its appeal for adults, this is the quintessential family film by which all subsequent efforts are compared. For its 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. has put together an exceptional Blu-ray package, porting over most of the comprehensive supplements from previous editions while adding a brand new 3D conversion that brings a whole new dimension to this beloved classic. As reviewer David Krauss details in his full review, this 3D presentation is respectful and lovingly rendered, providing a natural and beautiful extension to the original cinematography. Full of brains, heart, and a bit of courage, this 75th Anniversary set is a clear must own for film fans of all ages, and rightfully earns a spot on this month's essential list. 'Pacific Rim' - Well, this movie has just about everything, doesn't it? Giant robots? Check. Giant monsters? Check. Giant robots fighting giant monsters? Double check. Giant robots fighting giant monsters, and an extended cameo from Ron Perlman? Ticket sold! Guillermo del Toro's unabashed exercise in adolescent fanboy wish fulfillment manages to succeed where many similar efforts have utterly failed. Yes, it's loud, chaotic, ridiculous, and dumb -- but it overcomes its potentially shallow qualities through genuinely impressive filmmaking craft and unbridled passion from its director. Also, it's just kind of awesome. Blending a cornucopia of influences culled from anime, comic books, 'Godzilla' movies, and various other sci-fi classics, the film is an explosion of child-like creativity. And at the same time, the movie unashamedly follows and downright celebrates every tried-and-true element that defines its genre. With that in mind, between all the amazing action, the script is admittedly full of storytelling clichés and thin characterizations, and it does come dangerously close to falling victim to the same flaws that end up dooming many a Michael Bay production. But thankfully, del Toro's vision remains clear and entertaining, and he injects every aspect of the film with such gleeful enthusiasm that it becomes infectious. While there is perhaps a faint tongue-in-cheek element to the whole affair, for the most part, the director's approach appears to be free from any real irony. This is del Toro's sincere attempt at making a film in the style and genre that he loves, and while that leaves some plotlines feeling a bit nonsensical and silly, that's simply part of the fun. With that said, there are a few elements that still seem a bit "off" to me, particularly Charlie Hunnam's performance. I've seen the actor in other productions and he's been perfectly fine, but here his approach is downright grating, with line deliveries that often sound like a terrible English dub in an anime show. I'm not sure if this approach was intentional or not, but either way, it did take me out of the film every now and then. Despite some flaws and an overall penchant for silly excess, 'Pacific Rim' is a fanboy fantasy come to life. It's one thing to throw lots of explosions and borderline nonsensical plotlines at the screen, but it's another to actually filter them all through a skillful hand and a cohesive vision, and thankfully Guillermo del Toro does just that. This is big budget giant robots done right, and Warner Brothers' Blu-ray features demo worthy video and audio in 2D or 3D, smashing the rest of the competition to earn the last spot on October's must own list. So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this October, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for October's must own titles?Posted Wed Oct 30, 2013 at 02:30 PM PDT by: -
Bang & Olufsen Announces New BeoLab Wireless Speakers[teaser]The BeoLab series promises new innovations in high-end wireless speaker technology. [/teaser] Bang & Olufsen have detailed three new high-end wireless speaker models. The BeoLab 17, 18, and 19 all feature the new WiSA standard for multi-channel wireless sound, offering improved performance and flexibility. "These new speakers are at the vanguard of a new era of high-end sound," says Lars Fredsgaard, Speaker Category Director at Bang & Olufsen. "Until now, speakers with this level of performance had to be wired. Our latest launch uses a robust wireless standard with enough bandwidth and channels to deliver a listening experience the way the artist intended it. Upgrading to premium sound – without downgrading your décor – is now available in three ways." The BeoLab 17 is a compact speaker intended for flexible placement with a wedge-like design that is suitable for a variety of locations from bookshelves to walls. The BeoLab 18 features the latest update to the company's iconic audio column design and is geared toward placement on floors and walls. The speaker also includes an acoustic lens tweeter and 21-lamella front. Finally, the BeoLab 19 is a new wireless subwoofer that packs a 12-faced dodecahedron and two drivers for powerful bass and fewer unwanted vibrations. All three models support the new WiSA standard which functions on the 5.2–5.8 GHz range and provides enough bandwidth for uncompressed 24-bit music. The BeoLab 17 will retail for $3,990, the BeoLab 18 will sell for $6,590, and the BeoLab 19 will cost $3,395. The entire series will be available from Bang & Olufsen in November. Sources: Bang & Olufsen, EngadgetPosted Wed Oct 30, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Comcast Offers Live TV Streaming with Xfinity TV Go[teaser]The rebranded version of the company's Xfinity TV Player app will give users the option of watching programming on the go. [/teaser] According to The Verge, Comcast will soon be updating and rebranding its Xfinity TV Player app. The new mobile app will be called Xfinity TV Go and will be available on Android and iOS devices. Xfinity TV Go will give subscribers access to about 35 live TV channels that they can stream away from their homes. The initial lineup of supported channels includes CNN, FOX News, ESPN, BBC World News, FX and the Disney Channel. The app will also provide users with a library of on-demand content filled with select movies and TV shows. Subscribers will be able to access the live TV streams on their mobile devices through any Wi-Fi connection. In addition, support for Verizon Wireless 3G and LTE connections is also rumored. It's not known if other cell phone providers will also offer support. The new app is expected to launch within the next few weeks. Other companies like TiVo and AT&T U-Verse have recently announced similar live TV streaming options for their users as well. Source: The VergePosted Wed Oct 30, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Primeview Expands 4K LCD Lineup[teaser]New 55-inch and 65-inch models now join the company's already available 84-inch commercial grade UHD displays. [/teaser] Primeview USA has expanded its line of 4K displays to include two new models, a 55-inch set and a 65-inch set. The commercial grade LED LCDs are said to be future proof and include HDBASET built-in. "While many applications may not have 4K content today, these units come standard with a special internal processor that turns your FHD input to 2K resolution, thereby providing a future proof solution without the future proof price tag. Also, much like our previous 84" 4K LED LCD releases, the new 65" & 55" 4K units provide options for smaller rooms that are looking for a more dynamic solution that can be reliable, high-performance and at an affordable price," said Chanan Averbuch, Director of Business Development at Primeview USA. Both sets feature a resolution of 3840 x 2160 with 10 bit color, giving them about four times the pixels of traditional 1080p displays. The new models also include HDBaseT Rx and an FHD-2K upscaler embedded into the monitor. These commercial grade displays are perfect for use in conference rooms, training rooms, restaurants, medical offices, museums and other hospitality applications. Exact pricing for the 55-inch, 65-inch, and 84-inch 4K displays have not been announced, but all three models are available for order globally from authorized AV Integrator and resellers. Source: PrimeviewPosted Tue Oct 29, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Nielsen Working to Include Mobile and Internet Viewing in Ratings System[teaser]The ratings measurement company is readying software updates to better track television viewing on mobile and digital devices. [/teaser] As the television watching climate continues to change, more and more Americans are viewing traditional cable and network content on a variety of devices. In the past, it has been difficult to track ratings through these alternative venues, but now Nielsen has announced advancements in its tracking software that will incorporate mobile and internet viewing into its ratings system. The new software development kit will be available to Nielsen clients in mid-November. "We've been working hard to deliver this new SDK and are excited to be able to deliver a single client solution that supports both the linear (TV style) and dynamic (Internet style) ad models," said Megan Clarken, EVP, Global Product Leader, Nielsen. "This unified encoding approach for video enables measurement to follow content across screens and ad models." The new system will incorporate views tracked on DVRs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, and other mobile and digital devices into the traditional Nielsen TV ratings, so long as they meet the ad load and timeline requirements. If they don't meet such requirements, then the views will instead be logged under the Nielsen Digital Ratings. The new software will be able to properly credit the tracked views based on audio watermarks, metadata and digital tags. Sources such as Facebook will also be used to help track mobile viewing. With this new SDK, Nielsen hopes to include ratings from digital devices into its traditional TV measurements for the 2014-2015 TV season, giving a much more accurate assessment of a show's popularity and ad value. Source: NielsenPosted Mon Oct 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Introduces G Flex Curved Screen Smartphone[teaser]The new mobile device features a curved 720p screen designed to better fit the contours of a user's face. [/teaser] After weeks of speculation, LG has officially detailed its G Flex curved-screen smartphone. Samsung also recently revealed its own curved mobile device, the Samsung Galaxy Round, but that phone features a horizontally inward curve. The G Flex, however, features a vertically curved design that draws inspiration from traditional telephone handsets, reducing the distance between a consumer's mouth and the microphone. "The LG G Flex is the best representation yet of how a smartphone should be curved," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "The LG G Flex with its distinctive design, innovative hardware and consumer-centric UX represents the most significant development in the smartphone space since smartphone became part of our regular vocabulary." The mobile device uses a 6-inch 720p Real RGB OLED display, and runs on a 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU with an Adreno 330 450MHz GPU. 2GB of RAM and 32GB of memory are also included, along with a 13MP rear camera and a 2.1MP front camera. In addition, the G Flex once again features LG's Rear Key design that was first introduced on the G2, moving all the buttons to the back of the phone. Finally, the new smartphone is the first device of its kind to feature a "Self Healing" back cover that uses a special elastic coating to help reverse daily wear and tear. US pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but the LG G Flex will debut in Korea in November. Source: LGPosted Mon Oct 28, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Soundmatters Introduces Dash 7 Portable Speaker[teaser]The company's latest Bluetooth speaker is even more compact than previous models. [/teaser] Soundmatters has detailed the newest addition to its FoxL series of portable speakers. The Dash 7 is a pocket-sized Bluetooth soundbar that measures only 0.75 inches by 7.5 inches by 2 inches. Despite its impressively small design, the Dash 7 outputs about 90dB and is a perfect fit for tablets. The speaker features two full range drivers and a lithium-ion battery that also serves as a passive bass radiator. A 3.5 mm input and subwoofer output are included as well, and battery life is rated for 10 to 12 hours with Bluetooth on, and more than 20 hours when listening through a wired connection. "There are few options for discerning listeners and discerning travelers who want to approximate their home systems," said marketing VP Lee Adams of the FoxL series. "To put it in a pocket, nothing else exists." The Dash 7 Wireless Stereo Soundbar is available now for a suggested retail price of $219. Source: TWICEPosted Fri Oct 25, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Slingbox 500 Gains Blockbuster Support[teaser]Sling Media has updated its Slingbox 500 and SlingPlayer App with several new features. [/teaser] Sling Media has announced a recent firmware and software client update for its popular Slingbox 500 streaming media player. The update now gives users access to Blockbuster on Demand and new enhanced My Media features. With Blockbuster on Demand, consumers can now search, browse, watch trailers, and rent HD movies through their Slingbox 500 on their televisions. Customers can also access media files like photos and video through USB drives attached to their Slingbox 500 thanks to the company's updated My Media feature. Users can then access the media on their PC or Mac through the SlingPlayer client software. Support for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets is also in the works. In addition, the company has also detailed updates to its SlingPlayer for Web and SlingPlayer mobile app. The former now offers support for Microsoft Windows 8.1 and IE 11, and Apple OS X Mavericks and Safari 7. The latter now includes AirPlay capabilities for iPhones and iPads, allowing customers the option to watch TV on a second television in their home without an additional cable box, or on a remote set. These new updates can be used on the Slingbox 500, Slingbox 350, Slingbox PRO-HD and Slingbox SOLO. The Slingbox 500 is available for a suggested retail price of $299.99 and the Slingbox 350 is available for $179.99. Source: SlingboxPosted Fri Oct 25, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Out-of-Home Streaming Launches on TiVo Roamio Devices[teaser]The TiVo Roamio Pro and TiVo Roamio Plus now offer live and recorded streaming on Apple devices. [/teaser] TiVo has now updated their Roamio DVRs to include out-of-home streaming capabilities on several Apple products. The Roamio Pro and Roamio Plus now include the new feature via an automatic software update. "Until now, your shows have been locked up in your set top box at home," said Jim Denney, Vice President of Product Marketing at TiVo. "Now with a TiVo Roamio DVR, whether it's a hotel in Denmark, the waiting room at the dentist office, when you're stuck at the airport, or at the gym, out-of-home streaming gives you the level of choice, control and freedom that consumers have come to expect from TiVo." The new feature enables users to watch live TV or recorded shows anywhere they have a Wi-Fi connection on an Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 5.1 or higher. Subscribers can download their media as well, and mobile search, recommendation, and scheduling options are also included. In addition, support for Android devices and 4G/LTE connections is expected to launch in 2014. The TiVo Roamio Plus is available for $399.99 and the TiVo Roamio Pro is available for $599.99. Owners of a base model TiVo Roamio ($199.99) will need to purchase a separate TiVo Stream ($129.99) to enable the out-of-home streaming option. Unfortunately, due to copyright protection, not all content will be available to download for viewing offline or for streaming away from users' local networks. Source: TiVoPosted Thu Oct 24, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Japan Display Demos 4K Tablet Screens[teaser]The company has revealed a 12.1-inch 4K tablet panel. [/teaser] Japan Display unveiled its latest advancements this week at the FPD International 2013 exhibition, including a new LCD tablet panel. The 12.1-inch TFT screen features a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 with an impressive 365 ppi. The 4K tablet panel joins the company's other recent innovations, including a 5-inch 1080p WhiteMagic smartphone display. Panasonic has also announced plans for a 4K tablet, but its model will feature a much larger 20-inch screen. This 12.1-inch display is designed with easier mobility in mind and features a thin, narrow frame and promises low power consumption. The screen features a contrast ratio of 1000: 1 and 500cd/2 brightness. Release dates, pricing, or exact specs for any potential tablets that will use the new 4K display have not been announced yet. Source: Japan Display via EngadgetPosted Thu Oct 24, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by:
