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LG Introduces Vu 3 Smartphone[teaser]A new 5.2-inch HD smartphone has been announced. [/teaser] As detailed in a Korean press release, LG has officially revealed the successor to its previously available 5-inch Optimus Vu 2 smartphone. The new Vu 3 features updated specs and a slightly larger 5.2-inch 1,280x960 IPS display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The Android phone uses a Snapdragon 800 2.26 GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of ram, and runs Jelly Bean 4.2.2. A 2.1MP front camera and a 13MP rear camera are also included, along with a stylus and support for LTE-A radio. Updated Notebook software with new drawing tools, Knock On implementation that allows users to wake the phone by tapping on it, guest mode, and Pop & Plug earphones are featured as well. In addition, an optional transparent QuickView case is also available. The mobile device is expected to launch in Korea on September 27. A U.S. release date and pricing have not been detailed yet. Source: Fonearena via EngadgetPosted Mon Sep 23, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
HP Reveals New Lineup of Tablets[teaser]The company has detailed four new high-def tablets. [/teaser] Just in time for the holiday shopping season, HP has unveiled a quartet of Android powered tablets. The upcoming lineup includes the Slate 7 HD, the Slate 10 HD, the Slate 8 Pro, and the Slate 7 Extreme. The Slate 7 HD features a 7-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS display along with a dual core processor. The tablet is rated for nine hours of battery life and includes Beats Audio and optional 4G support through T-Mobile. The similar Slate 10 HD has the same specs but comes with a larger 10-inch screen. Marking HP's first foray into the 8-inch tablet market, the Slate 8 Pro features a 1,600 x 1,200 screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The tablet is powered by a Tegra 4 processor and includes an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. A microSD slot, a micro-HDMI output, and a micro-USB port are all included as well. Finally, the Slate 7 Extreme offers a step-up in power from HP's other 7-inch options. The device uses a Tegra 4 quad-core processor and features a 1,280 x 800 display. Unlike the company's other recently announced models, the tablet also comes with a stylus. Exact pricing for the lineup has not been detailed yet, but the tablets are all expected to ship in November. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Sep 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
KEF Announces X300A Wireless Speakers[teaser]The 2.0 wireless speaker system is perfect for streaming music from computers and mobile devices. [/teaser] KEF has detailed the X300AW, a wireless model of its previously available X300A speakers. The bookshelf speakers feature support for streaming audio from Apple devices, PCs, and Android gadgets through Airplay or DLNA. The speakers each include two dedicated class AB amplifiers for distortion free audio, and a dedicated 96kHz/24-bit DAC for high resolution sound. In addition, each speaker features a Uni-Q driver array with a 5.25-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter along with a frequency response of 58Hz - 28kHz. The X300A Wireless Speakers are expected to ship in November for a suggested retail price of $999. The X300A wired variation is currently available for $800. Source: TWICE, KEFPosted Fri Sep 20, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony Details BRAVIA Smart Stick[teaser]The company has introduced a new smart TV dongle for its 2013 display lineup. [/teaser] The NSZ-GU1 BRAVIA Smart Stick offers owners of Sony's 2013 TVs a new way to access streaming apps, Google services, and the internet through their televisions. The slim dongle features 8GB of storage and connects to displays through their MHL port. The device also utilizes Sony's voice-activated remote control technology. "The BRAVIA Smart Stick answers the question, 'What's on TV,' with 'whatever you want to watch'" said Jamie Marsh, TV marketing manager for Sony Electronics Home Entertainment & Sound Division. "It brings the full power of Google services to your TV. From the apps in the Google Play store to the power of Google search, the BRAVIA Smart Stick integrates seamlessly with Sony's own BRAVIA apps and navigation to deliver an amazing connected TV viewing experience." Other features integrated into the Smart Stick include several pre-installed apps like Netflix, Pandora, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, and YouTube, as well as Google's Chrome browser with Flash Media Player. In addition, the device also boasts picture-in-picture options allowing users to watch TV and browse the internet at the same time, and the Smart Stick integrates with existing cable and satellite services so you don't need to switch inputs. The NSZ-GU1 is only compatible with Sony's 2013 TVs and is now available in select retailers for a suggested list price of $150. Source: SonyPosted Thu Sep 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Sharp Releases 70-inch Ultra HD Television[teaser]The world's first THX-certified 4K display is now available. [/teaser] Sharp is now shipping its LC-70UD1U AQUOS 4K Ultra HD TV. The 4K set is the first UHD display to receive THX-certification for picture quality and is the only 70-inch 4K TV on the market. "For the past several years the focus with high-end television panels was on delivering a more exciting experience through size. With the introduction of our AQUOS 4K TV, we now offer consumers an even more life-like TV experience coupling size with resolution and clarity," said John Herrington, President, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America. The LED backlit LCD television features a 3,840 x 2,160 display, giving it about four times the pixels of a traditional 1080p HDTV. In addition, the television offers Smart TV functions and Sharp's proprietary Revelation 4K Upscaler to upscale all content to UHD resolution. The LC-70UD1U is on sale now at major retailers for a suggested list price of $7,500 (though Amazon currently has it for $5,998). Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Sep 19, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
AudioXperts Introduces Korners Speakers[teaser]The new speakers are designed to blend into your decor. [/teaser] The Korners series of home theater speakers from AudioXperts is aimed at offering buyers an attractive alternative to traditional, in-wall and ceiling speakers. The ultra-slim speakers are specially designed to blend unobtrusively in the corner of the room for seamless integration. The series includes loudspeakers for front and surround placement, a center channel, and a subwoofer. The 2-Way Ultra Loudspeakers ($1,000) measure 68-inches tall and 3-inches wide, and feature 1-inch tweeters and six 2-inch woofers with a frequency response of 90Hz-25kHz. The speakers can be mounted to corners and walls and there are optional floor stands as well. The 2-Way Ultra-Slim Center Channel ($1,000) measures 55-inches wide and 3-inches tall and also features a 1-inch tweeter and six 2-inch woofers. The frequency response is 120Hz-25kHz and the speakers are designed to be placed horizontally below or above the television. A base is included for tabletop positioning. Lastly, the company has also released a 300-Watt Peak Wireless-Ready Powered Subwoofer ($1,250) that measures 36-inches x 6.5-inches x 6.5-inches. The subwoofer includes six 4.5-inch SSHO woofers and has a frequency response of 40Hz-300Hz. An optional wireless transmitter is also available ($100), and like the speakers, the subwoofer features a slim design that can be placed vertically or horizontally. The Korners series of audio products is now shipping from AudioXperts and the company is expected to demo the lineup at the CEDIA Expo. Source: TWICE, AudioXpertsPosted Wed Sep 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
BlackBerry Details Z30 Smartphone[teaser]The new mobile device features a 720p touchscreen. [/teaser] Serving as the successor to the previous Z10, the BlackBerry Z30 has been officially revealed. The phone features an all-touch 5-inch AMOLED 720p display with 295ppi, and will run the company's latest BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2. The BlackBerry Z30 is powered by a dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB of ram, and an integrated 2,880mAh battery. An 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera are also included, along with 16GB of storage and an Adreno 320 GPU. Other features include stereo speakers with Natural Sound technology, a microSD slot, an improved antenna, updated BBM, and BackBerry's Priority Hub which manages, prioritizes, and organizes your messages. "The new BlackBerry Z30 smartphone builds on the solid foundation and engaging user experience of the BlackBerry 10 platform with features like the powerful BlackBerry Hub, its exceptional touchscreen keyboard and industry leading browser," said Carlo Chiarello, Executive Vice President for Products at BlackBerry. "The smartphone rounds out the BlackBerry 10 portfolio and is designed for people looking for a smartphone that excels at communications, messaging and productivity. Having apps like the full Documents To Go suite that comes preinstalled, together with its 5" touch display, the BlackBerry Z30 smartphone gives you a best in class productivity experience on the go." An exact release date and pricing have not been detailed yet, but the BlackBerry Z30 is expected to launch in the UK and Middle East next week, and will then expand to select carriers globally this holiday season. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Sep 18, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD's First Look: 'The Wizard of Oz' in IMAX 3Dby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]Monday, HDD scored an invite to see the new 'The Wizard of Oz IMAX 3D' conversion, which will debut theatrically on 300 IMAX screens this Friday, September 20th, and run for one week only. Later, on October 1st, 'Oz' will make its Blu-ray 3D debut in a 75th Anniversary Collector's Edition as well as a two-disc Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + HD Ultraviolet edition. So look for those reviews shortly![/teaser] 3D Conversion and IMAX 3D I know some of our readers loathe 3D and/or 3D conversion. You want your cinema as pure as possible, with the filmmakers' artistic intentions held up above corporate profit. Hell, 3D doesn't even work for some of you and others have been disappointed by sloppy stereo conversions. I totally hear you. For me, I approach 3D on a film-by-film basis and don't really care whether or not it's native-3D or a conversion. First, conversions such as 'Titanic - 3D' and 'The Lion King - 3D' really impressed, so it can be done right. Second, and much more important, there's a very important thing to remember about 3D: There are a lot more conversions than you think. Every "native-3D" movie has converted material in it. Every single one. Why? Because shooting in 3D is infinitely more complex than 2D and if there are any imperfections, a shot won't work and you have to fix it. Another great example is Michael Bay on 'Transformers Dark of the Moon'. He didn't like how digital cameras made his actors look in extreme closeups, so he shot them on 35mm and had them converted. To be clear, I'm definitely pro shooting in native 3D because, when done right, filmmakers like Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese really enhance the medium. But I don't think we should ever close our minds to the possibility of loving a film (or film format) because someone did a bad job previously, and because it's not as clear cut what is actually been converted. Then again, once you've been burned, I can understand not wanting to spend extra money on something you don't enjoy. For 'The Wizard of Oz', Warner Bros. Home Entertainment went back to the original negatives to do an 8K scan. It's the same team behind the wonderful 70th Anniversary restoration, but I'm not sure if they did new scans or used the 2009 scans. Either way, the film was "cleaned up" -- removing scratches, etc. -- and given to a company called Prime Focus to do the 3D conversion. Prime Focus has done stereo conversion work on 'Gravity' (only trailers so far, but WOW!), 'World War Z', 'The Great Gatsby', 'Transformers Dark of the Moon', and many others. Prime Focus also does 2D and 3D visual effects work. After layering shots to put them in "proper 3D space," 3D elements returned to Warners for color correction in 3D. This entire 3D conversion process took about 16 months. 'Oz' then went through IMAX's DMR process, where hundreds of people "optimized and honed [the film], shot-by-shot, to bring out all of the detail and reduce the noise." The IMAX team also took Oz's current 5.1 mix (which, if you recall, was created in 2005, but released in lossless Dolby TrueHD sound for the first time in 2009), and tweaked the audio for IMAX's larger dynamic range and proprietary surround format. According to provided press materials, 'The Wizard of Oz' is the oldest film to ever be converted to 3D or IMAX 3D. The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX Before I jump into my personal reactions to the conversion and IMAX 3D experience, I have to first talk about where I saw the film. Every IMAX auditorium is a little different. Some were first created for Science Museums that ran IMAX 15-perf 70mm film. Newer auditoriums are either native builds or retrofited Digital IMAX cinemas, which use dual 2K projectors for both 2D and 3D films and do not feature the astounding tall screens of the original IMAX cinemas. For this screening, which came one day after the film's IMAX 3D premiere, we saw 'The Wizard of Oz' at the legendary Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. The best part? 'Oz' originally premiered in this very same auditorium on August 15, 1939. The Chinese Theatre -- now officially called the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX -- was recently overhauled and converted to a digital IMAX cinema. It is now the largest IMAX in the world in terms of seating capacity (932 seats), and features the third largest IMAX screen in North America (94 feet wide, 46 feet tall). Here's a time-lapse video of the cinema's restoration: Pretty cool, right? No photograph or video can really do this historic landmark justice. The carvings and sculptures and paintings on the walls and ceilings are truly remarkable. If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles, try to see a movie here and come early so you can walk around, look up, and simply appreciate the artistry. As you can see in the video above, crews used a tent to protect the building's unique architecture -- because the Chinese is a historical landmark, the new owners were legally bound to preserve it. Instead of building UP, they dug down to create stadium seating where the auditorium's most drastic changes are noticeable. And while it's not the same curtain as before, this is the only IMAX cinema where a curtain will open and close with every screening. Though they were not used for this film because 'Oz' retains its original 1.37:1 aspect ration and was projected floor-to-ceiling, I could see some horizontal masking that will presumably be used for widescreen IMAX movies. Also, I don't believe the image took up the entire screen's width. It certainly went to the edge of the curtains, but I think the curtains could open a little bit more. Regardless, 'Oz' was HUGE from my position in the last row of the front seating section (there are now two -- the front is more stadium style, the rear second wider and with less slope). And, I'm very happy to say this is the very first Digital IMAX where I didn't suffer from the "screen door effect" -- aka didn't see a single pixel. Hazzah! My main complaint is the front section's center aisle. Not only does this, in my opinion at least, delete what could be some of the best seats -- a problem with the previous Chinese as well -- but the aisle's safety lighting was bright enough to bounce off the lower part of the screen. Another issue may be the back section's seats. It's definitely a big screen no matter where you sit, but I doubt for those people on the edges that it will "feel" like they're at a larger-than-life IMAX. 'The Wizard of Oz - IMAX 3D' 'Oz' -- no hyperbole here -- looks so absolutely gorgeous, you'd almost think it is native 3D. Sure, there are couple flaws we can nitpick -- and we will in a moment -- but overall, the film is bright and clear and colorful and, well, 'Oz'... the same movie that millions have loved and watched and re-watched over the last seventy-plus years. There's also something to be said about the film's editing and how camerawork and shot-length are inherently more receptive to a 3D conversion than a modern blockbuster like 'Star Trek Into Darkness'. What surprised me most was how much detail the film showed on the big screen. If you're only experience with 'Oz' is on Blu-ray or an old revival print from years ago, there's so much more to see and feel by checking out one of these IMAX 3D screenings. The tornado sequence is spectacular. The models and visual effects look great, and for the first time ever, I actually felt nervous despite knowing exactly what happens. Then look at the yellow brick road and count a few bricks. Or check out all the makeup effects. Sometimes, I think, you see a little too much, but the Scarecrow's burlap facial textures are incredible. Toto's fur looks good too and Dorothy has the most amazing little curls in her hair. And, also for the first time I can remember, the flying monkey models are truly formidable as they approach and descend out of the sky. You can see each one so, so clearly. Heck, the restoration team even managed to remove a huge scratch from the opening titles (that you can see in the current Blu-ray). In terms of the 3D, the movie opens with the MGM logo, along with all of the opening titles, floating right off the screen. That, and a few characters leaning forward, are the only "pop out" style 3D effects. Everything else extends behind the screen, creating that window into another world effect that's been so prominent in the modern 3D era. My favorite 3D effect was the matte paintings, which extend the backgrounds of nearly every location in the movie. When you watch 'Oz' in 2D, you can definitely tell that, in a few moments, if the actors took a step or two further away from the camera, they'd smash into the edge of a soundstage. In 3D, the conversion extends the paintings too so the entire world of Oz feels a little more deep and epic. Despite looking terrific, there are a few nitpicks we should discuss. I think purists are going to miss the amount of film grain that's been scrubbed away. Definitely less grain than the 70th Anniversary Blu-ray, which I am watching as I write this. I would also say, while most of the film is razor sharp -- more sharp than the Blu -- some of the faces seem artificially soft too (but let's be cautious about overreacting here because some shots are either intentionally or accidentally soft). The 3D itself has a few minor blemishes. Namely, there are one or two shots where a character's arm that is reaching out of the screen (towards the audience), hits the side of the frame, ruining the 3D effect. You can see this as Dorothy sings with Glenda in Munchkinland. Next, there are few shots where the 3D layers don't quite mesh with the matte paintings. For example, in the Poppy Field, as the camera pans to the left, some of the poppies are going left, and the others are going right. It's an odd sensation, but one most people will miss. And finally, dissolves are a little distracting -- this seems to be a result of two shots with opposing 3D depths come together. For a moment, it's harder to know where you should be looking. Should You See 'Oz' in IMAX 3D? It's important to note I have only seen the IMAX 3D version, which might look different than the forthcoming Blu-ray 3D release because the IMAX 3D prints received an extra layer of the DMR processing. That being said, I was shocked by how natural the film looked in 3D. Having re-watched the entire film while writing, I'm reminded how important it is to see films like this on the big screen. With IMAX 3D, everything is crisp, clear, colorful and the speakers are -- sadly -- much better than my home system. I believe, overall, the positives far out way the negatives, which were all pretty minor to my eyes. I raise them here because you're all informed viewers who have exacting quality standards. 'The Wizard of Oz IMAX 3D' is definitely recommended for anyone near an IMAX screen (assuming you don't hate 3D). And, if you're a Los Angeles area film buff and want to see 'Oz' in the very same theatre where it original premiered, the TCL Chinese Theatre Oz screenings are a must-see event for locals and those lucky enough to be visiting. After 'Oz' concludes its weeklong run, the Chinese Theatre will be showing 'Metallica: Through the Never', followed by 'Gravity'. Thanks again to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for arranging this advanced press screening. To our HDD readers, hit up the forum below to let us know if you're planning to check out 'Oz IMAX 3D', pick up any of the new Blu-ray 3D editions, or -- after seeing either version -- what you thought of the conversion. It'll be great to hear about your reactions too.Posted Wed Sep 18, 2013 at 08:45 AM PDT by: -
Poll: Do You Still Watch TV Shows on a TV?It stands to reason that most home theater fans prefer to watch movies on a big screen display. However, does the same hold true for TV shows? Do you watch most of your TV shows on an actual TV, or is a smartphone or tablet screen good enough for that? Let us know your preference in this week's blog poll.Posted Wed Sep 18, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Netflix Takes its Lead from Pirates[teaser]According to a new interview, the streaming service decides what programs to acquire based on what viewers like to steal. [/teaser] Netflix celebrated its launch in the Netherlands this week, promising to bring its increasingly varied and comprehensive library of programming to the new region. But just how does the company decide what shows to purchase? Well, the answer may surprise you. It turns out that in order to gauge viewer interest in potential content, Netflix actually turns to online pirates. "With the purchase of series, we look at what does well on piracy sites," said Kelly Merryman, Vice President of Content Acquisition, in an interview with the Dutch technology website Tweakers. She also added that their recent purchase of the television show 'Prison Break' was partly based on its popularity among BitTorrent users. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings elaborated on the topic in a separate interview, stating, "Certainly there’s some torrenting that goes on, and that’s true around the world, but some of that just creates the demand." Aimed at being a legal alternative to unlawful pirating, Netflix hopes that by offering the same kind of in demand content through the convenience of their user friendly service they can somehow sway pirates away from stealing. "Netflix is so much easier than torrenting. You don’t have to deal with files, you don’t have to download them and move them around. You just click and watch," said Hastings. While I'm sure the irony of this strategy isn't lost on anyone involved, it may actually be working. According to another interview with Hastings conducted in May, BitTorrent traffic in Canada has gone down substantially since the introduction of Netflix. Of course, if this keeps up, how will the streaming service figure out how to purchase new shows in the future? Walmart DVD thefts? Sources: TorrentFreak via CNETPosted Tue Sep 17, 2013 at 11:30 AM PDT by:
