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High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: February 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 gritty cop drama, a Woody Allen classic, and an action-packed sci-fi reboot. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, and January. After a fairly underwhelming start to 2013, the last few weeks have actually been packed with a great assortment of top-notch Blu-rays, including a 007 blockbuster, an epic clash of kings, and a thrilling Best Picture winner. [teaser]If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in February, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential...[/teaser] 'Skyfall' - When it was announced that a third Daniel Craig James Bond adventure was finally going into production, I was relieved. Then, when Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes was confirmed to be helming the picture, I was intrigued. And then, when celebrated cinematographer Roger Deakins was announced to be shooting the movie… well, I think had a bit of a film geek heart attack. Suffice to say, I was fully expecting 'Skyfall' to deliver the goods, and thankfully, despite a few easily forgivable hiccups, the impressive creative team delivers in spades. Fully acknowledging the series' important 50th Anniversary milestone, the script is packed with loving nods to the franchise's history, while also carving a unique identity of its own. All the essential elements of Bond are here -- the exotic locations, the beautiful women, the larger-than-life stunts, the cheeky quips, the shaken (not stirred) martinis, etc. -- but the filmmakers opt to put a slightly new spin on the proceedings, choosing to play up certain classic Bond aspects while diminishing -- but not altogether ignoring -- others. This allows the movie to further the more "realistic" interpretation started in 'Casino Royale,' without losing the sense of escapist extravagance that makes the franchise so fun to watch. The third act does take a notable departure from typical 007 fare, but this gamble pays off, and manages to result in a strong emotional component that emphasizes the interesting relationship between Craig's infamous philanderer and the only woman who's ever truly been able to tame him. In fact, while Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe both light up the screen with sultry allure, in her own way, it's really Dame Judi Dench who becomes the film's ultimate Bond Girl. While 'Quantum of Solace' was forgettable (seriously, I can’t even say whether I liked it or not because I literally don't remember any of it), 'Skyfall' further elaborates on the strong promise established in 'Casino Royale,' leaving viewers with a 21st century 007. The Blu-ray itself is mesmerizing, the Oscar winning sound editing is sure to give your home theater a workout, and Roger Deakins' Oscar nominated (but sadly not winning) cinematography is an absolute treasure trove of eye candy (the film's lighting design is impeccable). Considering the various interpretations the character has gone through over the years, it's nearly impossible to completely satisfy every faction of Bond fandom. Though the flick does have its detractors, I think Mendes and company really have done a remarkable balancing act, resulting in one of the most successful entries in the series to date. Action-packed, exciting, visually arresting, and thoroughly entertaining, this is February's top must own title. 'Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season' - I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but I really like HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' In fact, I've already spent two lengthy reviews extolling my great love for the series, and yet somehow I still haven't run out of good things to say about it. Hell, now that I look back at my last review, I can't believe just how much I didn't get to touch upon. Every element of the show's production and storytelling is so densely layered, that I could probably go on and on about even the most minute details. With that in mind, I'm now going to use this opportunity to elaborate on two aspects of the series that I failed to discuss in my full review. First up -- Lena Heady. Wow. The actress was already impressive in season one, but what she does over the course of the second season (especially in episode 9), is just plain incredible. Cercei is not a likeable woman, and it would be all too easy for her character to come across as one dimensional, but the actress completely imbues her with a believable undercurrent of vulnerability and genuine pathos. As Tyrion himself points out, her one redeemable quality is her love for her children, and this comes to a head in episode 9. The actress' performance is simply masterful, balancing every conflicting range of emotion she's experiencing. From her torment of Sansa, to the brilliantly cut sequence where she tells her son a "little story" about lions, and stags, and wolves -- she somehow creates a character that is regal, motherly, petty, manipulative, terrifying, tragic, and reprehensible all at once. In a cast full of standout performances, her turn in "Blackwater" really does rise above them all. While the first season offered some tiny hints of the supernatural, this batch of episodes takes us further into the realm of fantasy. Newborn dragons, White Walkers, shadow assassins, and creepy warlocks all make appearances, and the show's treatment of magic continues to be unique, avoiding many of the clichés and cheesiness sometimes associated with the genre. In the world of 'Game of Thrones,' spells don't just conjure up with the twirl of a wand. Instead, there is something dark, primal, and inherently physical about the show's take on the otherworldly. Likewise, many of the characters are just as surprised by the mystical happenings as we are, further grounding these supernatural aspects in a certain level of realism. And the season's final shot? Well, much like last year, it's pure fantasy awesomeness. Again, I could continue pointing out even more impressive feats of acting and writing that litter the series, but really I think you all get the idea. This is one of the best shows on TV, and this set from HBO features demo worthy video and audio, and a great assortment of special features. It's a must own release in every sense of the word. While I continue to count down the days until season three premieres, HBO has decided to help make the wait a little less agonizing by finally releasing the first trailer (embedded below). You know what? I think I was wrong. After watching that, the wait is even more agonizing now! 'Argo' - A harrowing hostage situation and a cheesy science fiction ripoff. Under normal circumstances, these are two worlds that should have absolutely no association with each other -- but in 1979, the United States Government and Hollywood thought differently. Based on actual events, Ben Affleck's 'Argo' is a classically structured suspense thriller with a true-to-life twist, celebrating the unlikely intermingling of international crisis and flying saucers. Packed with edge-of-your-seat drama and palpable tension, the movie is among 2012's most absorbing, giving viewers an enthralling and anxiety-ridden experience that holds up surprisingly well under repeat viewings. Every element of the writing, editing, and directing works to create an aura of suspense, and Affleck goes a step further by including a faintly satirical sense of humor that never undermines the film's strong sense of danger. Fun jabs at Hollywood add some levity to the situation, and Alan Arkin and John Goodman both turn in memorable performances. More than just a source of laughs, however, the moviemaking connection is also used to draw some interesting parallels. One cross-cutting montage sequence is particularly striking. As we see images of the turmoil in Iran juxtaposed against an elaborate Hollywood table read (complete with silly costumes and lavish media fanfare), we suddenly realize just how bizarre the incongruity between these worlds is, and just how much is resting on the success of their improbable union. Really, my only complaint about the runtime is just how transparent the script's third act divergences from history become, with the writer relying on all the most basic and predictable Hollywood suspense embellishments imaginable. Thankfully, though a tad forced, these tried-and-true beats are executed perfectly, proving that when done right, clichéd plotting can actually work. In fact, it can work brilliantly. The film's final images are actually among my favorites from any movie released last year. Filled with an endearing fondness for science fiction wonder, these closing shots add some nostalgic perspective, further reinforcing the unbelievable reality that rests at the core of the film -- that one day in 1979, a silly little story about spacemen and aliens actually played some small part in helping to save six lives. Recently crowned the Best Picture winner of 2012, 'Argo' is a great suspense film that hits all the right beats. It's not my personal pick for the year's best film, but it's certainly deserving of recognition. This disc from Warner Brothers is technically strong, helping to make the movie an easy selection to cap off this month's top three must own titles. Also, if nothing else, the film is responsible for creating one of my favorite movie catch phrases of all time. Basically, if you don't want to pick up this disc, then just 'Argo' f*&%# yourself! So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this February, 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 February's must own titles?Posted Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 04:15 PM PST by: -
From Watches to Smartphones, Can Sapphire Display Screens be Far Off?[teaser]GT Advanced Technologies bringing "unscratchable" screens to smartphones. [/teaser] Sapphire, currently popular in watches, is hoping to take up the mantle of "phone screen savior" from Gorilla Glass. As many consumers know, despite having been touted for years, Gorilla Glass is hardly unscratchable, and those scratches are the beginnings of shattered screens, scourge of the rough and tumble smartphone user. But are sapphire screens practical? Currently, handsets that feature the supposedly durable screens sell for over $10,000, but at the Mobile World Congress, the word is that sapphire screen production is ramping up. With smartphones and tablets targets for the naturally growing crystal, a trickledown effect to other displays is likely. Even as display sizes balloon, we may reach a point where all screens are touch screens, and suddenly, displays that users were careful to never touch will become handled more and more like tablets. At such a point, products like Gorilla Glass and sapphire may emerge as living room musts. Source:Digital TrendsPosted Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Ready for Ultra HD: Yamaha Introduces Latest RX-V Series of AV Receivers[teaser]All five new receivers support Ultra HD pass-through, while two models will actually upscale to 4K.[/teaser] Yamaha has introduced the latest iteration of their RX-V series of AV receivers, and four of the models sport networking options that include Mobile High-Definition Link, which allows for HD playback of audio and video content from MHL-compatible phones and similar devices. Airplay, Pandora, and vTuner Internet Radio join Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. Those networked models can be controlled through Yamaha's AV Controller App (iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire), which also allows streaming from the connected device. The new models are not only Ultra HD ready, but they also support 3D pass-through with ARC (Audio Return Channel). The RX-V775WA and RX-V675 can upscale to Ultra HD, a route that some users will prefer. The RX-V775WA and RX-V675 also contain Burr-Brown DACs and Yamaha's CINEMA DSP 3D processing. The line-up emphasizes high speed HDMI switching with source specific settings, and even include four SCENE mode buttons, that like a macro command, can quickly power on the receiver with settings geared towards a specific use, such as watching movies, playing games, or viewing TV programs. The new RX-V Series models will be available at the following dates: RX-V775WA will be available in April (MSRP: $849.95) RX-V675 will be available in March (MSRP: $649.95) RX-V575 will be available in March (MSRP: $549.95) RX-V475 will be available in March (MSRP: $449.95) RX-V375 will be available in February (MSRP: $299.95) Source:YamahaPosted Wed Feb 27, 2013 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
BeeWi Mobot Allows You to Operate Your Home Theater Remotely[teaser]The little plug creates a network that allows remote control of the home's outlets. [/teaser] BeeWi is showing off a prototype of their Mobot at the Mobile World Congress, and the device has some intriguing possibilities. The Mobot consists of a master and its slave plug modules. By placing the Mobot between a devices plug and the outlet, the user obtains a host of scheduling options and new capabilities. From anywhere the user can use an app to connect to the master Mobot module, and set any of the Mobots plugged-in devices to be turned on or off, which grants the user the knowledge of what devices are in use. The Mobots also contain motion detectors, which can even manage to turn on a home theater's lighting whenever a viewer stands up. More advanced features include fire detection, and the Mobot has a battery, so it can weather brownouts. The pricing for the impressive little devices is less than impressive, however, with the master Mobot costing close to $200. Each slave Mobot is $80, making a network of Mobots a serious investment, suitable for users that need a lot of control over devices when away. Source:CNETPosted Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
LG Plans Their Own Smart TVs with WebOS Purchase[teaser]Palm's ill-fated smart phone operating system may find new use after Hewlett-Packard. [/teaser] A ghost of 2009, WebOS was Palm's Linux-based operating system, built to compete head-to-head with Apple in phones and tablets. The operating system failed to gain traction in part due to a lack of app development. Since Hewlett-Packard's 2010 acquisition of Palm, WebOS has bounced back and forth between different ambitions within HP. Now though LG has a deal to acquire the source code and engineering talent, while HP retains the patents and cloud-computing assets. LG's plan, however, is not to push WebOS into its handsets, as Android has that market well in hand. That apparently leaves an entire spectrum of other consumer devices that LG has ambitions for, including kitchen appliances and automobiles. The main target would seem to be TVs, suggesting that Smart TVs of the Google variety do not fit into LG's future. LG has been working with Open WebOS for some time, so hopefully the new functionality is not far off, If successful perhaps LG can capture consumer's interest with a new take on smart TV/set-top box functionality. Source:eWeekPosted Tue Feb 26, 2013 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Samsung Debuts New Media Set-top Box, 'HomeSync'[teaser] Shared Android-based storage "fit for the family."[/teaser] Samsung, who's presence in the living room through televisions and elsewhere through their Galaxy line of phones and tablets is well known, has announced the Samsung 'HomeSync.' The device has multiple functions, but essentially brings Galaxy-like functionality in 1080p to any HD set. An Android-based device, the HomeSync "brings the best of Android games, movies, TV shows and streaming content direct into your living room," and also serves as a family stratified media server with the ability to set-up multiple password enabled accounts. The idea is for different family members to have private content on the HomeSync, which can be played back using the HomeSync's Jelly Been media player or accessed through a Galaxy phone or tablet. Conversely, content stored on a Galaxy device can be streamed wirelessly through the HomeSync to a connected display. Samsung has promised the HomeSync for April 2013 in select countries and is currently demonstrating the device at the Mobile World Congress. The drive sports 1.7GHz processor, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, 8GB of eMMC plus the presumably upgradeable 1TB drive. The device has Gigabit Ethernet along with an expected range (802.11a/b/g/n) of wireless standards. The only A/V connection specified is HDMI 1.4, but an 'Audio Amp. Connection' suggests audio RCAs. Default video codecs listed but hopefully not limited to include H.264, H.263, MPEG-4, WMV 7/8, VC-1, WMV7/8, MP43, and DivX . On the audio side, the player does support FLAC, plus the expected MP3, AAC, and WMA. It also supports Ogg, Vorbis, AC-3 and WAV. Source:SamsungPosted Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
LG Demonstrates Wireless 4k Ultra HD Streaming From Phone to TV[teaser]The source stream was 1080p, but LG may be onto something.[/teaser] In a convergence of several prevalent tech trends, LG has been demonstrating its wireless Ultra HD transmission technology at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow. According to The Verge, the streaming utilizes Wi-Fi and the Miracast peer-to-peer wireless screencast standard in order to stream the 1080p source from the phone, before being upscaled by the TV to Ultra HD. The demonstration stream included an Unreal engine Android title that suffered in framerate when pushed, but the tech is unfinished. Keeping the phone from overheating is another concern, and LG is touting their streaming capabilities as less power-taxing on the phone at the cost of reducing brightness on the mobile screen. While it may be some time before a phone can stream a native Ultra HD source, this configuration has possibilities, at least in terms of games. An enterprising developer can design visuals with the ultimate goal of being upscaled, even offering "Ultra HD Upscaling" as an option that calls different art assets, shadow depth, etc. Source:The VergePosted Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Samsung Announces TV Discovery to Help Users Find Content[teaser]You'll be able to search across live TV, online content and on-demand programming[/teaser]. When it comes to entertainment, we're living in a fantastic time. There's more content available than we could ever hope to watch, which is unquestionably a good thing. That's a problem though, when it comes to actually sorting through all the noise and finding something you actually want to watch. Samsung's solution is called TV Discovery, and it allows you to search through live TV listings, on-demand programming, and online services. The last option is a bit fuzzy at the moment, as only YouTube is listed, but we'd love to see Netflix and Amazon show up on the list. TV Discovery is coming to Smart TVs within the next two months, and to smartphones and tablets shortly after that. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Feb 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
HBO Go for Android Finally Allows HDMI Output[teaser]Now you'll be able to take HBO content from your phone to your screen via MHL or HDMI[/teaser] HBO is historically tight with their content. They're slowly getting more comfortable with allowing their shows streaming, but even their HBO Go app has had some significant limitations to it. The most recent update to the HBO Go app lifts one particularly annoying limit. Android users are now able to send a video signal out through HDMI – an ability that was previously blocked. Now if you're traveling, at a friend's house or what-have-you, you can enjoy your HBO Go on, as it were, the go. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Feb 21, 2013 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
The PS4 Will Support 4K Video[teaser]"Only for video that was recorded in the format."[/teaser] Joystiq is reporting that Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony's Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc has stated that the newly unveiled PlayStation 4 will support a 4K resolution. He then clarified that 4K would only apply to video and not for any game content. Source:JoystiqPosted Thu Feb 21, 2013 at 08:30 AM PST by:
