-
Carl Icahn Now Owns Almost Ten Percent of Netflix – Pressures Company to Change or Sell[teaser]The investor has put another $154 million into the company in hopes of inspiring some changes. [/teaser] Carl Icahn may not be a household name but in the business world he's very famous indeed. Icahn is well known for investing heavily in a business in order to elicit changes within the company, or simply buying them outright. His latest target – Netflix. Icahn now owns 9.98% of Netflix, which is as much as one person can own before a poison pill plan goes into effect, raising the stock price so high that no one will be able to purchase more. His investment should allow him to pressure the company further into either making some changes or selling to one of several companies that would surely enjoy having Netflix in their portfolio. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Wed Nov 21, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Sony’s UHDTV Comes with 4K Content Packed In[teaser]The company promises “full length feature Hollywood productions” available to watch in 4K on day one. [/teaser] If you’re going to be dropping $25,000 on a UHDTV, you’re going to want something to watch on it. The Sony Blog talks about this in reference to their new XBR-84X900 and there are a few solutions. The first is, of course, upscaling. The second is waiting until content already shot in 4K is broadcast in 4K. But what’s really interesting is that some 4K content is going to come pre-loaded on the TV itself. “Not some goofy 4K content shot as a demo,” writes Sony blogger Ray Hartjen. “I’m talking full length feature Hollywood productions, and available exclusively to purchasers of Sony’s 84” 4K Ultra HD TV.” Hartjen says that more about this content will be revealed after Thanksgiving. Source: Sony Blog (via Engadget)Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Best Buy Loses $13 Million in Third Quarter of 2012[teaser]Compared to the $173 million in profits last year at this time, Best Buy is in bad shape. [/teaser] Best Buy has been struggling for some time thanks to online competitors which are able to give customers products cheaper, without tax, and, often in the case of preorders, in the same amount of time. The folks at Best Buy say that this major loss a sort of a kick in the pants. CEO Hubert Joly says that the company’s performance this quarter was “clearly unsatisfactory.” “The results we are reporting today only strengthen our sense of urgency and purpose,” he adds. The holiday season is historically a good one for Best Buy, and there’s certainly an expectation of success out of Christmas sales. That, combined with a new initiative to reinvigorate the company, should help to get Best Buy back up and running. Source: TWICEPosted Tue Nov 20, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Vudu Finally Brings HD Streaming to Computers[teaser]You can now get 720p or 1080p HDX video directly to your PC. [/teaser] There’s little debate about Vudu in terms of audio and video quality. If it’s not at the very top, it’s close in every category. The problem with Vudu in the past has been availability. HTPC users, or those that enjoy video on their computer have been left out in the cold. Only those with set-tops and connected TVs have been able to enjoy Vudu. The company has finally changed that up and you can now watch HD movies on your computer, in 720p or 1080p based on your own preference. It’s a boon for those hooking up a computer to their TV, but it’s not quite up to snuff yet. Unfortunately, computer users are still stuck with stereo sound. Source: EngadgetPosted Mon Nov 19, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
LG Gets the Voice Control Google TV Update Ahead of Competition[teaser]You’ll find the update on the G2 series before you see it anywhere else. [/teaser] The upcoming Google TV update brings a few new bits of functionality but prime among them is the addition of voice control. Simply say the name of the show you want to find and Google TV will bring up the listings. You can do the same with actors and even genres. In addition to control by voice, you get a bit of smartphone control as well. You can pair your phone to the TV via Wi-Fi and stream YouTube directly to your set. You’ll also find enhanced speed in the LG G2 thanks to a new L9 chipset. Source: Electronic HousePosted Mon Nov 19, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Boston Acoustics is Returning Focus to Component Speakers[teaser]The company’s active soundbars have been selling well, but in the process Boston Acoustics lost a chunk of their primary market. [/teaser] When Boston Acoustics embraced the soundbar market, they did so wholeheartedly. The company put a large amount of resources into soundbars and it paid off big, earning them a big share of the market. Soundbars account for around half of the brand’s products worldwide and 75 percent in the US. The company is, of course, thrilled with the sales, but they say that their component speaker sales have been suffering because of the soundbar focus. The new M series is the first to be pushed and Boston Acoustics will be touring dealers with sister brands Denon and Marantz to show it off. Source: TwicePosted Mon Nov 19, 2012 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest's Holiday Gift Guide 2012: The Essential Holiday Blu-rays[teaser]Just like so many years before, David Krauss is dreaming of a Blu Christmas. Here are your newest Blu-ray options for the season![/teaser] Although retail stores have been shamelessly hawking Christmas items for the past few weeks, now that Halloween is over we can all begin openly preparing for the biggest holiday of the year. As the song says, Christmastime is here, so why not jump-start the seasonal spirit by cranking up some high-def Christmas classics (and not-so-classics) on Blu-ray. After all, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and for the fourth year in a row, High-Def Digest is here to tell you what's new, what's essential, and what to avoid when it comes to yuletide viewing. Whatever your taste, be it romantic or irreverent, there's a disc that will infuse you with that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling, so mull that cider (or wine), cuddle up under your favorite Christmas blanket, and add some serious blu to the reds and greens that color your season! New Releases: The most notable holiday film to join the Blu-ray family this year would have to be 'The Muppet Christmas Carol.' It's been 20 years since Kermit and the gang first paid homage to the Charles Dickens classic, and this surprisingly faithful adaptation mixes humor and warmth with an array of top-notch Paul Williams songs and a generous helping of Muppet lunacy to become a bona fide holiday favorite. Michael Caine makes a marvelous Scrooge, and Brian Henson's slick direction turns this family musical into a very delightful package. Also from Disney, the original 'The Santa Clause' and its saccharine sequel, 'The Santa Clause 2' join the insufferable 'The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause' on Blu-ray, at last completing the high-def transition of this popular trilogy. The clever first film is by far the best, filled with whimsy and wonder, but the sequel scores some points, too, as it charts the newly crowned Santa's search for a suitable mate. Tim Allen just might make a believer out of the crustiest naysayer, as the unassuming everyman who's tapped for arguably the biggest job in the universe, and strong supporting casts add appropriate verve to all three films. 'The Santa Clause 3' has been out on Blu-ray for five years, so it's about time Disney stepped up and released the first two films, and a special three-disc set is available for those looking to pick up the entire Santa saga. A number of animated Christmas tales make their Blu-ray bow this season, beginning with the charming 'Arthur Christmas – 3D,' which puts a fresh spin on the age-old Santa story and features the voice talents of such esteemed actors as James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, and Bill Nighy. There's also 'Kung Fu Panda Holiday,' 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Christmas with the Chipmunks,' 'Prep & Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection,' featuring both the original 'Prep & Landing' and the 'Naughty vs. Nice' sequel, and 'DreamWorks Holiday Classics,' which includes 'Shrek the Halls,' 'The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper,' 'Merry Madagascar,' 'Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular,' and 'Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury.' After all, what good is a franchise if it doesn't spawn a special Christmas installment? Also on the family friendly list are two dubious sequels. While many rank 'A Christmas Story' (see below) as one of the all-time holiday masterpieces, did we really need 'A Christmas Story 2,' which takes place five years down the road and finds Ralphie eyeing a new car instead of an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle? I think not. Nor is there much purpose behind 'Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups,' a tale of benevolent talking dogs on a mission to save Christmas that's exclusively for canine lovers. And do we really need 'An American Christmas Carol'? Isn't the British tale sufficient? I'm sure Henry Winkler makes a good Scrooge (renamed Benedict Slade here) in this 1979 TV movie, and shifting the setting to Depression-era New Hampshire adds an interesting twist, but if you crave a retelling of the inspired and inspiring holiday story, there are plenty of better options (see below). Double Dips: Two notable double dips debuted last Christmas – one that's worth of your money and one to avoid at all costs – and they're still hanging around this year. The one that's worth an upgrade is VCI's 60th anniversary edition of the 1951 classic, 'A Christmas Carol,' starring arguably the cinema's finest Ebenezer Scrooge, Alastair Sim. This version is regarded by many as the most faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens' immortal tale, and Sim's portrayal – by turns sullen, dour, defiant, wounded, and joyously giddy – lends Scrooge more dimension than the role often receives. Though VCI initially put out 'A Christmas Carol' on Blu-ray a mere three years ago, this Diamond Edition substantially improves on that release with a slightly upgraded video transfer, lossless LPCM audio (the previous disc had a compressed track), and a slew of all-new supplements, including a fold-out, abridged reproduction of the film's American pressbook. (Note: The packaging and disc menu lists the audio as Dolby Digital 5.1, but it is indeed a lossless LPCM 5.1 track.) The second double dip – the one to steer clear of – is, surprisingly enough, a "collector's" edition of the all-time classic yuletide tale, 'It's A Wonderful Life.' I know, I know…say it ain't so! Believe me, I'm as disappointed as you. I love this film; it's an undeniable treasure and worthy of all the praise and affection heaped upon it. But this release is a travesty. The transfers (which are quite nice) and extras are exactly the same as the ones on the previously released edition, and the collector's extras – flimsy packaging, a chintzy commemorative Christmas ornament, and a generic booklet – are hardly worth the extra expense. Even if you've never purchased the movie before (and if you haven't, you need to!), go with the original Blu-ray, which takes up less shelf space and presents the emotionally affecting and inspirational (in the best sense of that word) story of George Bailey just as well as this unnecessary "upgrade." All-Time Classics: We've already mentioned the 1951 version of 'A Christmas Carol' as well as 'It's A Wonderful Life,' both of which rank high on the list of all-time classics. (Other versions of 'A Christmas Carol' available on Blu-ray include Disney's 2009 blockbuster 3D interpretation starring chameleon Jim Carrey [available in both 3D and 2D versions] and an acclaimed 1984 television adaptation featuring the esteemed George C. Scott as the irascible Scrooge.) Not far behind them is the 1954 favorite, 'White Christmas,' a spritely Irving Berlin musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney. With high-spirited numbers galore, along with two renditions of the iconic title song, this breezy tale of romance and friendship ranks right up there with Hollywood's best holiday fare. Another great musical is 'Scrooge,' a buoyantly tuneful adaptation of Dickens' yuletide yarn. Starring the versatile and always impressive Albert Finney (who was just 34 years old when he tackled the iconic, miserly curmudgeon), this spritely film remains surprisingly faithful to the original novel, contains a host of memorable songs by Leslie Bricusse, and features a gallery of top British actors (Alec Guinness, Edith Evans, and Kenneth More among them) in key roles. The high quality video and audio transfers make this "spirited" film come alive even more, filling us with plenty of Christmas cheer. Though only about a third of Vincente Minnelli's classic Americana musical, 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' takes place at Christmas, the cheer quotient of this classic musical is pretty high, too, making this year-in-the-life chronicle of a typical American family circa 1904 one of the most beloved and endearing holiday movies of all time. (It covers Halloween, too!) First and foremost, it contains one of Judy Garland's finest performances, as well as a number of instantly recognizable tunes, including 'The Trolley Song,' 'The Boy Next Door,' and of course, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' which was written expressly for this film and performed with exceptional beauty and grace by Garland. And no discussion of classic Christmas tales would be complete without a nod to the original 'Miracle on 34th Street,' featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle. It's impossible not to believe in Santa Claus after watching this charming yet incisive comedy that gently reinforces the season's true meaning. Though the video quality isn't a huge upgrade from DVD, it's good enough to stuff this little beauty in your holiday stocking. (The 1994 remake starring Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, and Mara Wilson, is also available on Blu-ray, but who would ever want to see that?) Modern Classics: If you like your annual helping of 'A Christmas Carol' a little more on the comedic side, you'll be happy with Richard Donner's 'Scrooged,' featuring Bill Murray as the Ebenezer-esque Frank Cross. With an updated take on the classic yarn that strikes a more relatable chord, and fine supporting work from such stalwarts as John Forsythe, Robert Mitchum, Karen Allen, and Alfre Woodard, this light-hearted comedy merges laughs with wonderful warmth and a bit of edgy bite, and will ultimately charm even the crustiest Christmas killjoy. Upgraded video and audio make this one a keeper. Sometimes age alone transforms a run-of-the-mill movie into a classic, and that seems to be the unfortunate fate that's befallen 1985's clunky, elephantine Kris Kringle biopic, 'Santa Claus: The Movie.' I remember loathing this bloated behemoth when it was first released, and haven't mustered the courage to see it since. Fonder (or at least more realistic) Christmas memories are explored in the nostalgic 'A Christmas Story,' the darkly comic 1983 adaptation of humorist Jean Shepherd's fictional memoir. Who among us can't identify with nine-year-old Ralphie and his dogged pursuit of his dream toy? With both wide-eyed wonder and a mischievous twinkle, this fan favorite deliciously skewers the season. And if you can't identify with Ralphie, then surely you've fantasized at least fleetingly about making your parents and/or siblings disappear, like Kevin McCallister does in 'Home Alone.' C'mon, admit it. Cute-as-a-button Macaulay Culkin battles bungling house burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern after his family leaves on a Parisian vacation without him, learning a lot about independence and the meaning of Christmas in the process. Deftly juggling uproarious slapstick with honest sentiment, this John Hughes production makes us laugh and cry and appreciate the simple pleasures that make this holiday special. And speaking of Christmas vacations – or should I say "stay-cations" - no yuletide celebration is as wacky or wacked out as the one Chevy Chase and family experience in 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.' Running a close second, though, would have to be Buddy the Elf's Big Apple odyssey in Jon Favreau's surprisingly sweet, festive, and hilarious Christmas comedy, 'Elf.' As the orphan child raised at the North Pole and now on a quest to find his real family, Will Ferrell captures the essence of wide-eyed innocence, while James Caan makes a fine foil as his crusty, Scrooge-like dad. Romantic Comedies: Christmas is certainly one of the most romantic times of the year, and two films blanket us with that warm, fuzzy feeling only a good love story can provide. 'Love, Actually' takes a mosaic approach as it chronicles the exhilaration and heartache of several couples as they navigate love's treacherous minefield. The all-star cast includes Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, and Keira Knightley, and though I'll never forgive Alan for what he does to Emma (and will never be able to listen to Joni Mitchell again without thinking about it), it's impossible not to embrace this well-crafted film. I also really like 'The Holiday' (sssshhh! Don't tell anyone!), Nancy Meyers' chick flick supreme about two lonely women (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) who trade houses at Christmas and find unexpected love with Jude Law and Jack Black. (I won't spoil who hooks up with whom.) It's a bit predictable and trite, but also strangely irresistible, especially if you've got the tree lit and a roaring fire in the fireplace. It's also one of the few movies in which I don't find Diaz unbearable. Romance lovers and those who like their Christmas movies filled with inspiring messages might want to check out 'The Christmas Shoes' and its sequel, 'The Christmas Blessing,' two TV movies that emphasize the power of love, faith, and family in the face of disillusionment and despair. Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley star in the first film about a young boy determined to make his mother's final Christmas special, and Neil Patrick Harris plays the grown-up version of that boy in the sequel, grappling with issues from his past and strained familial relationships. 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' also falls into this category, with a more whimsical spin, as a harried single mother (Brooke Burns) and cynical son find the true meaning of the season, thanks to jovial Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) and the hunky stranger (Warren Christie) he brings home for the holidays. Animated Fare: When I was a kid, one of the few things that could help speed the interminable wait between Thanksgiving and Christmas was the steady stream of children's holiday specials that flooded the network airwaves, and now almost all my favorites are now available on Blu-ray! Leading the charge are such perennially delightful programs as 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (let Linus tell your family "what Christmas is all about") and 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' as well as a must-have box set called 'The Original Christmas Classics.' And classics they are! 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' (narrated by Burl Ives), 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' (narrated by Fred Astaire), and 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Frosty Returns' are all included. Also high on the animated list is another top-notch entry, 'The Year Without a Santa Claus,' featuring the talents of Mickey Rooney and Shirley Booth as the beleaguered Mr. and Mrs. Claus, as well as one of the lesser titles in the Rankin/Bass catalogue, 1974's ''Twas the Night Before Christmas,' which was inspired by Clement Moore's immortal poem and deals with the timeworn premise of doubting Santa's existence. Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, and George Gobel are among the stars who lend their voices to this charming tale. For Disney fans, 'Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas,' the direct-to-video companion to the acclaimed original, takes place while Belle is still a prisoner in the Beast's castle, and finds the lovely heroine on a mission to celebrate Christmas with festive cheer, much to the chagrin of her hairy and humbug captor. Though a far cry from its parent film, both artistically and thematically, 'The Enchanted Christmas' may not be 100% enchanting, but it provides enough tuneful warmth to satisfy audiences of all ages. There's even a cartoon adaptation of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' starring the myopic Mr. Magoo – 'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.' For those who prefer more innovative animated fare, check out Tim Burton's ghoulishly delightful 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and Robert Zemeckis' magical 'The Polar Express,' which is available in both flat and 3D versions. Remember, it's never too early to get your kids addicted to high-def discs. Quirky Christmas: Viewers with more offbeat taste may find these curios interesting… 'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,' the 1964 cult classic about the abduction of Santa to the Red Planet, arrives at last on Blu-ray in a newly restored edition from Kino, while 'Santa Claus' is a 1959 Spanish language film from Mexico that checks in at #54 on IMDb's list of Bottom 100 Films (as rated by site users) and charts St. Nick's battle with the devil Pitch, who's determined to – you guessed it – ruin Christmas. Tyler Perry's indefatigable character Madea is also on a mission to save the holiday when family strife and secrets threaten to sabotage it in 'A Madea Christmas: The Play,' while a homosexual college student (Keith Jordan) crawls back into the closet to survive the holidays with his conservative parents (Derek Long and Kelly Keaton) until his boyfriend (Adamo Ruggiero) unexpectedly shows up in the warm-hearted comedy 'Make the Yuletide Gay.' Turkeys: We all love turkey around the holidays, except when it comes to movies, and there are a couple of rancid offerings that will only serve to sour us on the season. Despite a strong cast that includes Oscar-winners Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Jon Voight, make sure you keep away from 'Four Christmases,' a tiresome slapstick comedy about a selfish couple (Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) who visit a quartet of quirky, annoying, even frightening relatives when their balmy Christmas plans get canceled. Equally wretched is 'Deck the Halls,' a tiresome, completely unfunny chronicle of neighbors (Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito) trying to outdo and ultimately sabotage the other's massive holiday light displays. Thankfully, 'Christmas with the Kranks' hasn't yet found a Blu-ray release, and if studio executives are smart, it never will. Dozens of other holiday Blu-rays are available to brighten (or darken) this Christmas, from traditional Yule log presentations and concerts to irreverent black comedies ('Bad Santa'), action flicks (I always enjoy giving the original 'Die Hard' a spin over the holidays) and, yes, even horror films. ('Silent Night,' a remake of the 1984 slasher flick 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' that chronicles the deadly rampage of a psycho axe murderer disguised as Santa, joining 'Silent Night, Zombie Night,' an equally bloody yuletide exercise from last season, and the always entertaining 'Gremlins.'). But for those who desire a well-balanced, family-friendly selection that plays well from year to year, you can't go wrong with any of the above choices (well, maybe with the exception of 'Santa Claus: The Movie,' 'Four Christmases,' and 'Deck the Halls'). So plop a few marshmallows in your hot chocolate, grab a comfy blanket, light that fire, and let these movies infuse you with seasonal spirit. Happy Holidays!!Posted Fri Nov 16, 2012 at 10:35 AM PST by: -
Bonus View Digest - November 16, 2012[teaser]With winter hanging over us like the harbinger of doom that it is, isn't it nice to know that you have a place online that will keep you toasty? Like a giant cyber blanket The Bonus View engulfs you in the warm glow of all things high definition, and beyond. [/teaser] This week we have more contests, more monsters, and more movies. Seems like we're running a contest every week here on The Bonus View. Last week we gave away a remastered release of 'Patton,' this week try your chance at winning a totally awesome copy of 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.' Today is the last day to enter, so get on it! Monster Madness The tournament rages on. Cities are being destroyed as we speak. This isn't to be taken lightly. Famous movie monsters are falling left and right and it's still only the first round. Check out the match-ups that have taken place this week, and cast your votes! Godzilla vs. T-Rex – The Thing vs. Samael The Kraken vs. Mothra – Killer Rabbit vs. Kuato Blu-ray News Besides the giveaway announced above (seriously, enter today!) we have our weekly Blu-ray Highlights column where Josh runs down all the Blu-ray releases for the week. This week saw a release of an all-time classics in 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'The Postman Always Rings Twice.' Theatrical News There are two huge releases slated for this weekend. See what Luke thought about 'Lincoln' and the newest, and last, movie of the 'Twilight' franchise, 'Breaking Dawn: Part 2.' I'll give you one guess at which movie is better . In the Trailer Park we discussed a trio of zombie-centric movies. Haven't seen the newest trailer for 'World War Z' yet? Check it out and see what you think. Also, one of the most popular posts this week is Luke's article stating the exact reasons why he thought 'Skyfall' was terrible. Read it and then see if you agree or disagree. The more comments the better. TV Recaps This week we have recaps for 'The Walking Dead,' 'Happy Endings ,' 'Fringe,' and 'American Horror Story.' Special Features Since we've been in spy mode since 'Skyfall' came out we took time in our Mid-Week Poll to ask you who you think is the best movie spy around. In the Weekend Roundtable we discussed who should take the helm of the newly announced 'Star Wars' films. Thanks for joining us this week. I'll make one last plug for the 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' Blu-ray contest, because hell, it's a free Blu-ray! Have a great weekend. Be safe. And join us back here next week with another wrap-up of The Bonus View.Posted Fri Nov 16, 2012 at 10:25 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digest's Holiday Gift Guide 2012: HD Streaming Gear and ServicesWhile we here at High Def Digest specialize in content on disc, we recognize that Blu-ray isn't the only way to get your high def kicks. In a world where studios are making more and more content available in remastered, high resolution transfers, and home internet speeds are getting ever faster, it only makes sense that streaming media solutions are becoming more and more popular. [teaser]Whether you want access to more movies than you could reasonably afford to buy on disc, or you're looking to cut your costly cable TV expenses, there are many reasons to turn to a streaming service. Most of these services are configured to play on your PC, but what do you do if you want to watch them on your nice, big HDTV? Why, you get a streaming device, of course! But with so many to choose from, which one is right for you? Well don't worry, we here at High Def Digest have you covered with our guide to HD Streaming Gear and Services![/teaser] Signal To Noise Before you find a device, it would help to take a look at what services are out there, and what they have to offer. If you know what services you want to use, you'll have a better idea of what device fits your needs. Netflix The granddaddy of all these services, Netflix is so popular that it reportedly uses one-third of all the bandwidth in North America, an incredible sum. It's not hard to see why Netflix is so ubiquitous. For $7.99, you get unlimited streaming of thousands of ad-free movies and TV shows on a variety of devices. And because Netflix is so frequently used, virtually any device you can think of supports it. In fact, many new TVs and Blu-ray players offer Netflix support baked-in. And, for an additional fee, you can still get DVDs and Blu-rays shipped to your house, including titles that aren't currently available for streaming. Netflix isn't perfect, of course. At times, the gaps in their catalogue can be infuriating, and their stream seems to be especially sensitive to the strength of your signal, downgrading image quality if your router even threatens to waver in its connection. Also, as the service has eaten into the profits of physical media, the studios have generally seen fit to enforce a 28 day waiting period before allowing Netflix to stream their new releases. However, these issues are relatively small when you compare their large selection, ease of use, and constantly improving suggestion system. Hulu Plus As great as Netflix is, there's one area where it falls woefully short: Timely TV content. Sure, Netflix has a ton of TV shows, including many currently on the air, but they only offer episodes that are available on home video, meaning that it's useless for watching a show within days of airing. That's where Hulu comes in. Hulu offers ad-supported TV shows which are available to view the day after they air on TV. They also offer a selection of movies, although not as robust as Netflix. And all of this is 100% free. Well, not exactly. Yes, much of the content on Hulu is free, but you can only watch it on the web. If you want to watch any of it on a device that isn't a computer, you'll have to upgrade to Hulu Plus. Hulu Plus is also $7.99 per month, but isn't quite the slam-dunk that Netflix is. While Hulu Plus allows you to watch on TVs and other devices, your payments don't get rid of the ads. And the frequency and length of ad breaks has increased as the service has risen in popularity. Variety, sadly, has not, and you will see the same five or six ads over and over for weeks. Hulu Plus gives you access to more content, such as older seasons of shows (the free version only lets you watch the five most recent episodes of current series), as well as more titles that aren't available for free (but may be available from Netflix). By far the most annoying thing about Hulu Plus is that despite the fact that you're paying for off-web access, some titles remain web only. And we're not talking about old titles that people hardly watch. Big name shows like '30 Rock' currently can only be watched from a computer. However, the service offers plenty of options, such as the ability to favorite shows, changing the image quality to best fit your connection, and an attractive, intuitive GUI. Of most interest to cinephiles is the news that Criterion has partnered with Hulu to provide many of their films in high quality, including a few titles that the company hasn't been able to release on disc, such as 'Eraserhead'. Hulu is almost as popular as Netflix, meaning that device support is almost as strong, and again, many new TVs come with Hulu support out of the box. If you're looking to drop cable TV, Hulu Plus, even with its flaws, is a must have. VUDU VUDU has taken a different approach from Netflix or Hulu. Instead of signing you up for a monthly subscription for unlimited streaming, your account is entirely free, and you pay per title. In this way, it's more like a rental service, especially because each payment is only for a predetermined period. On Netflix, because you're paying monthly for all the content, you can start a movie in January and finish it in October, provided the license doesn't expire in-between. For VUDU, you only have a few days to watch the film. VUDU does offer many attractive elements, such as a catalogue of over 20,000 titles presented using HDX, a process that allows for 1080p24 with the least amount of compression artifacts. Even better, because you're paying per title, the studios don't enforce the 28-day waiting period, meaning that you can watch new films in 1080p the day they came out on home video. VUDU is reasonably well supported, and since the account is free, you can try it one time for a low cost (most movies are $2) to see if you like it. Amazon Instant Video Amazon, the little bookseller that become an internet commercial monolith, began offering video streaming and downloads as a competitor to iTunes, initially on a pay-per-title basis. As they've expanded their Prime offerings (which was originally unlimited 2-day shipping on any item for $79 per year), they've included free unlimited streaming for Prime members. Amazon's catalogue isn't as expansive as Netflix's, although they do have a few exclusive titles. Of course, $79 per year, paid in one lump sum, sounds awful compared to the low monthly prices of the other services, but when you divide it out, it comes out to about $6.58 per month, cheaper than the competition. And on top of it, you still get the free 2-day shipping on Amazon purchases and access to the Kindle lending library. Like Apple, Amazon wants you to play in their walled garden, but they do offer more points of access. Crackle Crackle, a streaming service with ties to Sony, is more of a newcomer to the streaming scene. You can watch all of the content for free, and if you register you can get a slew of personalization and notification options. As Crackle is backed by Sony, the vast majority of content is Sony's, and you have far less selection than in the other streaming services. Even worse, Crackle isn't actually in HD. It's also supported by less devices. On the other hand, you can watch a lot of Sony movies completely for free, so why not use it? iTunes Apple has been incredibly successful at turning their iTunes music player into a content delivery platform. They have a pay-per-title model. You can set up subscriptions for whole seasons of TV shows, but you're still paying a per-episode price. However, they have a large offering of titles with high quality encodes and all purchased content will immediately work on Apple devices. The problem, of course, is that they come with built-in DRM and are really designed to work on Apple-branded devices. However, if you're firmly entrenched in Apple's ecosystem, iTunes will be easy to use both for content purchasing and viewing. HBO Go and Epix HBO Go is really a supplementary service, as you cannot use it unless you currently have an HBO subscription with your cable provider. The nice thing is that there's no additional cost to use HBO Go, which allows you to stream all sorts of HBO on-demand content on a variety of devices. However, it's not useful for people who wish to drop cable entirely, because you can't access it without an existing HBO subscription. Even worse, HBO Go isn't offered by all cable providers, meaning that even if you are paying for HBO, you might not have access to it. Still, if you manage to meet the requirements, HBO Go is a nice option to have. Epix is a TV channel offered through cable providers as well as a paid streaming service. Offering content from Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate, Epix offers movies and specials like UFC fights and comedy shows. Like HBO Go, you have to have a cable provider and a subscription to Epix in order to take advantage of their streaming service. YouTube YouTube is so closely associated with user-created content that it's easy to forget that there's plenty of professional-grade material on there, all for free. Of course, in this case, you get what you pay for, and YouTube offers practically no quality control. Still, as a repository of public domain material, YouTube is absolutely unbeatable. Again, as with Netflix and Hulu, YouTube is so ubiquitous that a lot of hardware supports it natively, making it the perfect go-to site for casual video viewing. Delivering The Goods Okay, so you've reviewed the services above. You've decided which ones you want to use. Now comes the hard part: Choosing the device that will deliver all of this content to your TV. The nice part of the streaming services is that you can try them at your leisure. The price of entry is low, and if you don't like it, you can cancel at any time. Choosing a device is a much harder decision. The price of each device is much higher, so you want to make sure it does everything you need. Roku Roku has been in the streaming hardware game for a while. Their boxes have a small footprint and start at some of the lowest prices on the market. If you're content with 720p output, you can go for the $60 Roku HD. If you want 1080p, you'll have to add $20 to get the Roku 2 XD. There is a higher end model with some gaming options, but if you're actually interested in gaming, we wouldn't recommend doing it through a Roku. Roku offers hundreds of channels, from free to premium. Most of the aforementioned services are offered, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, Amazon, Crackle, HBO Go, and Epix. It also offers several music services, such as MOG.com and Pandora. It does not offer YouTube, nor does it play iTunes content. However, for under $100, the Roku is a cheap and easy introductory player that will serve many streamers well. Apple TV Jumping up $20 from the Roku 2 XD, you can get an Apple TV for $100. Also sporting a small footprint (you may hear users affectionately refer to the device as a "hockey puck"), Apple TV is best used by people who are most enmeshed in Apple's ecosystem. You can browse iTunes offerings through the device, or you can stream previous Apple purchases to it from your Mac, iPhone, iPod, or iPad using AirPlay. You can also download the remote app on your iDevice to control the Apple TV without having yet another remote control cluttering up your coffee table. Offering 1080p output, Apple TV supports Netflix and Hulu Plus, but not Amazon Instant Video. There is an Amazon Instant Video app on the iPad, which allows you to view free videos but not purchase new ones, nor does that app support AirPlay for the Apple TV. The device does offer YouTube support as well as support for several sports websites such as MBL.com and NHL.com, although you have to have subscriptions to the sports sites in order to access their content. With iOS at its core, the Apple TV is also one of the easiest, most stable, and most well-supported streaming devices on the market, all for one bill. WD TV Live A somewhat unexpected entry into the HD streaming market comes from Western Digital, best known for making hard drives (you might even have one in the computer you're using to view this site right now). The WD TV Live will run you $90, and supports Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, YouTube, as well as other services like Pandora and Spotify. Amazon Instant Video, HBO Go, Crackle, and others are absent. The real draw of the WD TV Live is that it can play a wealth of file formats, such as MKV, MOV, MP4, XVID, AVI, and more. You can plug in all sorts of sources through the USB port, whether it be a flash drive, hard drive, camcorder, camera, and so on, and play the files directly. Or you can use the built-in wifi to connect to your home network, where the device will search all networked drives for compatible media files. You can also download the WD TV Live app on an iPhone or Android phone to control the device. If you choose not to go that route, a programmable remote is included. Western Digital also offers the WD TV Live Hub, which has all of the same features as the lower priced option, plus includes a built-in 1 TB hard drive, media server for streaming to other rooms in the house, and HDMI 1.4 connection (the WD TV Live offering HDMI 1.3). For the privilege of getting all these extra features, you'll have to shell out $170, which doesn't seem quite worth it, as Western Digital bizarrely neglected to include on-board wifi in this model, meaning you'll have to buy an adapter or plug it in via ethernet. At almost double the price of the base model, this doesn't seem like a great value. If your goal is to play a wealth of files you already have stored digitally, something the Roku and Apple TV don't specialize in, then the WD TV Live is an excellent, versatile choice for under $100. Boxee The Boxee Box is an interesting attempt to combine the high-end power of a Home Theater PC with the ease of use of a set-top box. Boxee aims to be your sole entertainment hub, with a very attractive GUI that automatically pulls in content information. Like the WD TV Live, Boxee streams and supports existing files. If there's a file format the WD TV Live can't handle, chances are Boxee can. With a unique remote that offers basic controls on one side and a full keyboard on the other, Boxee integrates internet content seamlessly. Unfortunately, despite grand ambitions, Boxee falls short in several important areas. Boxee supports Netflix, YouTube, and VUDU out of the box, but still has yet to offer support for Amazon Instant Video or Hulu Plus, two major streaming services. And the price, $175, is significantly higher than the Roku, Apple TV, or WD TV Live. Boxee does have a new product, the Boxee TV, which strives to combine the experience of the Boxee Box with a working DVR and cable box. At $99, it's certainly a more attractive proposition than the Boxee Box, but it's still missing Amazon Instant and Hulu Plus, and currently is only available from a few select retailers, so reviews from real-world users are still sparse. If you need something to work with your cable service, Boxee TV might be a good solution, but as of right now we can't give a recommendation until we hear more about it. As for the Boxee Box, we admire its ambition but the missing features, combined with the high price, make it a miss. Playstation 3 When Sony introduced the Playstation 3, it was considered the best Blu-ray player on the market. Now that the format has matured, the gaming console still retains its status. Aside from being a top notch Blu-ray player, the Playstation 3 also offers many streaming options, including Netflix, Hulu, VUDU, Crackle, YouTube, and Amazon Instant Video. It does not currently support HBO Go, although that could always come in the future. As the Playstation Network is free, you can download and use all of these services at no extra charge (although of course you must pay for those services that require a paid account). The PSN offers HD movies and shows that you can buy or rent right through the console. You can also plug in flash drives to watch existing files, or stream them through your wireless network, although its file support isn't as robust as the WD TV Live or Boxee Box. Of course, the Playstation 3 is a game console first, meaning you'll have to pay extra for a remote. Although, if you do, the PS3 remote is well designed and connects via Bluetooth, which means it does not require a line of sight connection to work. If there's any real issue with the system, it's that the wifi connection is notoriously slow. Downloads and updates take far longer than other devices will over wifi, and streaming services may suffer because of this. If you do choose to get a PS3, you'll get a lot more out of it by plugging it in via ethernet. The other issue is price, with the console starting at $250, pricier than even the Boxee Box. However, for that price you get a Blu-ray player, gaming console, and media streamer all in one. Xbox 360 The other gaming option would be the Xbox 360, which offers all of the streaming options that the PS3 does, plus HBO Go and others as well. It's also cheaper, starting at $200 (although at that price you only get 4 GB of storage space). Like the PS3, you can also buy and rent content through the console itself. However, unlike the PS3, you have to pay for an Xbox Live Gold account in order to use the streaming apps, at a cost of $25 for a three-month period, or $60 for thirteen months. Further, the 360 can play DVDs but not Blu-rays. On the other hand, it has much better wifi performance than the PS3. If your goal is to use a console mainly for media with a little gaming, the PS3 is the better choice. On the other hand, if you're a big gamer that does a little media consumption, the 360 may be the better option, depending on what games you prefer. Home Theater PC At the highest end of this spectrum you find the Home Theater PC, or HTPC. HTPCs are exactly what they sound like, a computer that you plug in to your television. The benefits of this approach are immediately obvious. You can play any service without restriction because you're using a computer. No more worrying that your device may not support one service or another, and as new options pop up, you'll be able to use those as well. The downsides should also be obvious. HTPCs are by far the most expensive and complicated option, ranging anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. And, just like any computer, the components you use will greatly affect your performance. You'll have to deal with drivers, antivirus protection, and more. You'll need to buy a wireless keyboard and mouse combo as well. If you are willing to invest the time and money into it, though, an HTPC will be the last device you'll ever need for your home theater. Tablets You may not think that a mobile tablet would appear in a list of HD devices, but 720p and even full 1080p displays are becoming more and more common. The new iPad with retina display features a 2048x1536 display that is absolutely gorgeous. The upcoming Google Nexus 10 sports a 2560x1600 display. Acting much like a computer, these tablets offer apps for every streaming service you can think of, and as long as you stay within the Apple or Android ecosystems, you're guaranteed to get support from future services as well. These tablets also support a variety of movie files, and you can download apps to view files that the tablet doesn't natively play. Many tablets offer options for connecting to a TV, although not all content will be compatible. Of course, the starting price for a tablet with an HD display is even higher than it is for some of the lower end HTPCs, with the 16 GB Nexus 10 at $400 and the iPad with retina display starting at $500, but you can take a tablet anywhere. Blu-ray Players and Televisions Before you go looking to add new devices to your home theater, you might want to take a look at the ones you already own. Many Blu-ray players come with streaming services included, and even offer built-in wifi. Of course, these won't have offerings as robust as dedicated streaming devices, but with Blu-ray players now at reasonable prices, and the convenience of having one device for all your media consumption, it's not a bad idea. Panasonic offers a 3D Blu-ray player with Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, VUDU, and Amazon Instant Video support for $100. Similarly, many new TVs, dubbed Smart TVs, now include streaming apps as well, no need for a separate device at all. For example, Vizio offers a 60-inch LED TV with Netflix, Hulu, VUDU, and YouTube support for $1,000. If you're a fan of keeping things simple, streaming through your Blu-ray player or TV might be the perfect solution. As you can see, the HD streaming field is vast, and growing every day. We couldn't include every possible option on this list, but this guide should provide a good primer to help get you started. Do you use one or all of these services? Have a particularly strong opinion on which device is the best? Tell us all about it in the forums!Posted Thu Nov 15, 2012 at 12:35 PM PST by: -
3net Will Launch the First 4K TV Series[teaser]The folks behind the first 24 hour 3D channel will be going UHD. [/teaser] 3net is a channel that caters specifically to early adopters. Its first customers were the folks that jumped on 3D TVs when they first launched. There wasn't much in terms of content right off the bat, but 3net was there to provide it. The Sony/Discovery/IMAX joint venture is now going to be kicking things up to UHD with both live action and animated projects presented in native 4K. Among these is a show called 'Space' which will be presented in 3D 4K, 2D 4K, 3D 2K, 3D HD and 2D HD – 3net is referring to that as TotalD. The show will showcase, well, space, and is the first series to be made specifically with 4k in mind. "Today’s announcement marks an important first step in our ongoing mission to meet the increasing global demand for high-quality, original 3D and 4K television content head on," says CEO Tom Cosgrove. "We’re proud of the diverse initial slate of live-action and animated series we have created and look forward to expanding it as 3net Studios finalizes its full 2013 development schedule." Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Nov 15, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by:
