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Archos Updates G9 Tablets with Ice Cream Sandwich[teaser]The company’s Android based tablets have gotten a boost to the new operating system. [/teaser] If you’re rocking an Archos G9 tablet, then you’re eligible for a free upgrade to the Android 4.0.3 operating system, or as its more deliciously referred to, Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s an over-the-air update which means all you need to do is tap the “A” in the upper right hand corner of your screen and wait for the software to download and install. In addition to everything the OS update brings – faster browsing, customizable screens and more – Archos is adding 1080p video file support, DLNA support and compatibility with MKV3D files. Source:Posted Wed Mar 14, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
KEF Reveals New Low Profile In-Wall Speakers[teaser]All of which utilize the Ultra Thin Bezel design and magnetic grilles, for optimum aesthetics. [/teaser] KEF’s latest In-Wall speakers are designed with a strong focus on looks, and incorporate several different design elements to account for this. An Ultra Thin bezel and the addition of magnetic grilles means that you’ll be able to install the speakers without interrupting the look of the room. The speakers utilize the Uni-Q driver array, which puts the tweeter right in the middle of the woofer so as to focus sound sources and better disperse the sound throughout the room. “We have incorporated over 50 years of research and design into making our Ci Series one of the best architectural loudspeaker solutions on the market,” says product manager David Kroll. “With unobtrusive design and KEF's renowned audio quality, installers can feel confident knowing the Ci Series will deliver aesthetically and acoustically.” There are a total of 11 new in-wall speakers from KEF – four rectangular and seven square. Each speaker is sold separately and prices range from $179 on up to $249. Source: Big Picture Big SoundPosted Wed Mar 14, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Ten Hitchcock Movies that Should Be on Blu-ray NOW!by Aaron Peck Nine, count them, nine Alfred Hitchcock movies have been released on Blu-ray. His films are spread out through numerous studio catalogues, so getting the releases that we want can be a frustrating process indeed. Still, I'm surprised more of Hitchcock's famous films haven't been released on the format. Beside Steven Spielberg I can't think of a director who has had such a slow emergence on Blu-ray. MGM recently released several Hitchcock movies on the format, including 'Rebecca,' 'Spellbound,' and 'Notorious.' Paramount's masterful release last week of 'To Catch a Thief' added to the riches, but it's not enough! [teaser]You'd think such a heralded director would garner more Blu-ray attention! Hitchcock really was the master of suspense, and his films have stood the test of time. Lets take a look at what's left in Hitchcock's filmography and pick out 10 titles that need to be released in high definition right this very minute![/teaser] Universal seems to be hording the largest number of them! 'The Birds' I remember being petrified of seagulls after seeing 'The Birds.' Seeing this film as a kid had a worse effect on me than watching 'Jaws' for the first time. In my mind I could easily stay away from the ocean and avoid man-eating sharks, but seagulls are everywhere. How was I supposed to be kept safe from them? My parents tried to explain to me that it was all just a movie; that birds didn't really attack whole towns of people like blood-thirsty avian dive bombers, but I didn't believe them. The way Hitchcock set up the situation added to my dread. Had it been a cheesy movie like 'Birdemic' there would've been no reason to be frightened. It was the way Hitchcock masterfully ramped up the fear factor by using what should've been a laugh-worthy premise. But, when that flock of birds attacked all those school children I lost it. I was literally afraid to go out for recess the next day. Note: 'The Birds' is rumored for an August release this year, but we'll have to wait and see if that actually pans out. 'Dial M for Murder' Originally filmed in 3D, 'Dial M for Murder' makes an interesting case for Blu-ray. Not only am I jonesing for the 2D version on Blu-ray, it would be great to see how a classic like this translates to today's 3D. I'm not a huge fan of the technique, but I'd love to see what 'Dial M for Murder' looks like since Hitchcock filmed it with the technology in mind. It looks as if the UK is getting the 3D version of the film at some point in the near future, but there's really been no word on if we'll get the 2D release here, let alone the 3D version. 'Lifeboat' This is another one of Hitchcock's classics. The director managed to build suspense through his characters. Set entirely in a lifeboat, a handful of survivors float around hoping to be rescued. The situation begins to take its toll and tensions rise. 'Lifeboat' accomplishes in one movie what survival TV shows like 'Lost' and 'The Walking Dead' try to accomplish in multiple seasons. How do strangers live together? Especially if they suspect the others are up to no good. It's a simple premise that lays bare the foibles of humanity and just how tenuous the situation can get when people are pushed to the brink. Also, fun to look for Hitchcock's signature cameo in this situation. Watch for him, he's there! 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' Take your pick, either the original or the remake, I'd love to have both on Blu-ray. Personally, I'd love to have the 1956 remake more than his original version just because I really enjoyed Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day in the starring roles. One of Hitchcock's favorite topics, an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary situations is on full throttle here. Truthfully, I enjoy this movie just as much as I like 'North by Northwest.' Hope we see it in HD soon. 'Rear Window' This is probably my favorite Hitchcock movie. Hitchcock brilliantly played with point of view here. The only information we are privy to comes from what we and Jeff observe from his apartment window. Stuck at home with a broken leg, all he can do is look out over a courtyard surrounded by other apartments. This is a perfect way of building suspense. Seeing only what Jeff sees allows us to get inside his mind, his building paranoia. The way Hitchcock pieces together this masterpiece make the viewer feel actual tension and paranoia building up inside of them. For all intents and purposes we are Jeff. It's still one of cinema's most thrilling rides. 'Rope' Hitchcock himself has said that 'Rope' was nothing more than a stunt. An experiment in what he could achieve with the medium of film. Filmed in only 10 shots, 'Rope' may not make the greatest Hitchcock movie, but there really is some masterful and inventive filmmaking going on during this movie. This is experimental filmmaking that I'd love to have in my high-def collection one day. 'Secret Agent' We simply need more black and white movies on Blu-ray. The 1936 film 'Secret Agent' would be a wonderful addition, as we've seen over and over the kind of detail that black and white films are capable of once they hit the format. As a Hitchcock film 'Secret Agent' is solid and deals with Hitchcockian themes like mistaken identity. It's been a long time since I've watched it, but I remember enjoying it a lot. 'Shadow of a Doubt' All of Hitchcock's films were immaculately filmed. He selected camera angles and compositions that not only showed the scene but played a major part in foreshadowing events and building the story. Besides the great suspense built throughout the movie, I remember the distinct way the film was shot. Hitchcock's use of the camera is simply masterful. He was able to convey tension and fear simply by where he placed his camera and how he used the lenses. I'd love to see this masterful film in HD. 'Vertigo' One of Hitchcock's most famous films, which is why I'm surprised it doesn't have a Blu-ray release yet. It's almost to the point where I half expect to get on Amazon and for it to be there ready and waiting for me to purchase it, but every time I'm disappointed. I love the way Roger Ebert explains, in his review of 'Vertigo,' why Hitchcock was so good at what he did. "Alfred Hitchcock took universal emotions, like fear, guilt and lust, placed them in ordinary characters, and developed them in images more than in words. His most frequent character, an innocent man wrongly accused, inspired much deeper identification than the superficial supermen in today's action movies." 'The Wrong Man' Another man wrongfully accused, but even though Hitchcock fell back on this main theme of storytelling, he still found ways to keep it fresh and filled with suspense. It's so easy for us to relate to the everyday guy in Hitchcock's stories then we get to wondering what we'd do if we were in that situation. What if you were accused for something you didn't do? That's a great question to ask. Hitchcock asked it over and over, but was still able to maintain new ways of conveying that theme across to the audience. With so many movies in his filmography I had to shorten up my list to my ten most wanted titles, but I know you film fans out there would love to see many more than just the ones I've listed here. What other titles from Hitchcock's illustrious career would you love to finally see make the jump to Blu-ray? Please, take a moment to click on the link below and let us know in the forums.Posted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 02:50 PM PDT by: -
Walmart Launches Exclusive In-Store Disc-to-Digital VUDU Serviceby Michael S. Palmer[teaser]This morning at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, in the same room where the very first Academy Awards were handed out 83 years prior, Walmart announced an in-store disc-to-digital initiative to help its consumers embrace The Cloud with their existing movie libraries. [/teaser]Partnering with 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros., Walmart's service will be powered by its Vudu streaming movie service, which until now has focused mainly on one-time rentals. Starting on Monday, April 16, that's all going to change. Have you ever looked at your aging DVD collection and wished you could watch some old classic in high definition, but A) the title isn't available yet, or you B) really don't want to spend the money buying the movie again at full price? Well, Walmart has a solution for you, with the ability to upgrade your DVDs and Blu-rays to The Cloud in either standard, or high definition, and later watch them anywhere via VUDU. Here's how it works: 1. Bring in any physical Blu-rays or DVD (from the above studios) into your local Walmart. 2. Choose HD (720p) or SD quality. Blu-ray to HD or DVD to SD "conversion" will cost $2 per title, and DVD to HD "conversion" will cost $5. But the important thing to know is that this isn't really a conversion or a traditional movie 'rip'; Walmart employees will simply verify your movie and authorize that title for your VUDU. Oh, and you get to keep your disc! 3. Log into any Vudu-enabled media player to stream your movies anytime, anywhere (well, as long has you have an Internet connection). There are currently over 300 devices, including Phones, PCs, TVs, Blu-ray players, PlayStation 3s, or XBox 360s. Also, for anyone who has UltraViolet Digital Copies, which are often included in multi-disc Blu-ray releases, you'll be able to watch, and purchase, UltraViolet titles directly from your VUDU account as well. However, for your average HDD reader, there may be a few hiccups. First and formost, while I'm a huge fan of VUDU's HDX 1080p (as well as Dolby Digital Plus in 5.1 or 7.1) format, I confirmed that this disc-to-digital service is only for VUDU "HD", which is 720p. Second, what about all the earlier versions of Digital Copy (the pre-UltraViolet movies), which often cost more than the Blu-ray only copy of the film; will these be ignored? And, as movie collectors, do you really want to haul boxes of movies into a store to have them load your films into your VUDU account? UPDATE: VUDU Customer Care rep Dan H. stated in this forum that the HD upgrade will be for HDX, so hopefully he is correct, rather than the PR rep at the actual event, who hopefully was mistaken. Apologies for any confusion, and thanks to HDD Forum member towergrove for finding. Then again, $2 for a 720p 1080p copy of your Blu-ray, or $5 for a DVD you never watch anymore, that you can access anywhere around the world (as long as you have Internet access) seems like a fair price and something that will work great in most scenarios, leaving the physical Blu-ray as king of the home theatre for the biggest screens and most powerful sound experiences. Also, the Walmart brand brings a lot of weight to the table; I think many are wary of The Cloud because they've been burned by "hot new tech ideas" before, but Walmart's been selling movies for years, and the VUDU experience is already well designed and easy to use, so perhaps consumers will be more confident about embracing digital ownership? Hard to say. What do you think, Dear Readers? Anyone curious about this and willing to try? Is this the right step forward for The Cloud? Hit up the Forum link below and lets see what we all think. Full Press ReleasePosted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
Vizio Adds YouTube to Internet Apps[teaser]The company hasn't specified whether or not this will be available on all connected Vizio models. [/teaser] Your TV can be so much more than just a screen for watching the local news on - it can be a place for seeing classic comedy bits, listening to endless ukulele covers and watching cute baby animals do cute baby animal things. Now your connected Vizio TV will be able to bring you all of those things thanks to a newly added YouTube app. The update was announced last week via Twitter, though there's been little to no information following it up. So, if you've got a connected Vizio TV, you can swing on over to the YouTube app now to watch your favorite music videos after sitting through 30 second commercials, handheld camera recorded clips of your favorite TV shows and, of course, one movie broken up into 30 5-minute increments. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Mar 13, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Panasonic Details 2012 HDTVs - High-End Plasma and LED out in April and May[teaser]You'll have to wait a bit for the high-end stuff, but the rest of Panasonic's sets are out this month. [/teaser] Panasonic has plenty of HDTVs hitting the market this year, including the UT50 and XT50 plasmas as well as the E50 LED model which are all out this month. The ST50 and E50 offer a 1080p resolution and access to Viera Connect. All of the new sets can show you a 3D picture, but the XT50 does it in 720p. The ST50, which is available now in 50" and 55" sizes with a new 60" model launching this month. The ST50 line offers the full package, including built-in Wi-Fi, Viera Connect, a 1080p resolution and 3D capabilities. There are a few features to improve the picture in there too, including the Infinite Black Pro panel, 2500 Focused Field Drive and fast switching phosphors. If you want to go even bigger with it, you'll be able to get a 65" model in April. The ET5 series is a big move for Panasonic. It's the first polarized 3D TV the company is putting out and the 47" and 55" inch versions are available this month. You'll have to wait until April for the 42" model. Source: Biz JournalsPosted Mon Mar 12, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Bonus View Digest - March 9, 2012This week went by so fast I almost forgot completely about writing The Bonus View Digest. Luckily, in my early morning stupor I somehow remembered that today is Friday and our readers are probably waiting close to their computers for the Digest to pop up. So, I downed some caffeine and got to work. Let's see what happened this week. Blu-ray News [teaser]The big news on the blog right now is that today is the last day to enter the contest to win a free Blu-ray copy of 'Puss in Boots.' If you haven't entered yet, please do so. It's a free Blu-ray. How could you go wrong?[/teaser] TV Madness With March Madness gearing up we started up our own tournament, filled to the brim with badass TV characters ready to do battle with whoever stands in their way. We started things off with a look at the bracket and a few tournament statistics that we thought were cool going into the contest. This week we had a Clark Kent Playoff to see which Clark could find his way into the tournament. It was fun. Which one would you have voted for? It may surprise you to see who won. Also check out the newest matchup that has been posted which will be available for voting until Monday. Hulk Hogan's Hurricane Spencer goes up against 'Covert Affairs' spy Annie Walker. In the other matchup serial killer Dexter Morgan battles martial arts master Caine to see who advances to the next round. Make sure to vote. Theatrical News This week Luke saw and reviewed Disney's new sci-fi epic 'John Carter' and also took the time to see the lesser known romantic comedy 'Friends with Kids.' In The Trailer Park E reiterated how much of a sucker he is for movies starring Mila Jovovich, which is why he's excited for another new 'Resident Evil' film. In Aaron's Posterizing post this week he covered a number of new movie posters including 'The Raid' and 'Brave.' Make sure to read all the way through, however, to find out if Aaron was able to redeem himself from last week's bitter disappointment when he tried to buy a 'Lonesome Ghosts' from Mondo. TV Recaps As always we have a bunch of recaps waiting for you along with our thoughts on a couple series premieres. The premieres this week included the new ABC comedy 'GCB' and NBC's new drama starring Jason Issacs called 'Awake.' See what Josh had to say about them. Also, this week we have a new recap for 'The Walking Dead,' along with two recaps for 'Alcatraz.' Special Features In this week's Mid-Week Poll we asked you if you lend out your movies to others, or do you ferociously guard them from the outside world? In the Weekend Roundtable last Friday we discussed the topic of hosting the Oscars, and if you had the final say in the matter who would you pick?Posted Fri Mar 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
NBC and YouTube will Stream the 2012 Summer Olympics[teaser]Every single Olympic event will be streamed live, not just the big ones. [/teaser] One of the big problems with televised Olympic coverage is that one channel can only show one event at a time. Even a few channels can't capture everything that's going on over the two weeks or so that the games run. This year, NBC and YouTube are teaming for a solution to that problem. No matter what event you want to watch, no matter how obscure or unpopular, you'll be able to watch it streaming live on YouTube. Can't watch it live? The games themselves, interviews, televised events and web-exclusive content will all be available to watch on demand. Olympics junkies will be able to watch over 3,000 hours worth of sporting events on their televisions, PCs, phones and tablets - better get comfy! Sure sounds better than the Comcast hording of the coverage last time, right?! Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Mar 9, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Panasonic Announces Pricing for 2012 Blu-ray Players - Most Available Now[teaser]The ones you'll have to wait for are the high-end pieces of the line. [/teaser] Panasonic has announced pricing for its new Blu-ray players, most of which are available now. The BD87 and BD77 are the baseline models, priced at $120 and $90 respectively. If you want to step up a bit from those, you'll find plenty of features, including 3D capabilities. The DMP-BDT320 ($200) and BDT220 ($150) both pack 2D to 3D conversion and access to Viera Connect for all your internet based content. You'll also find 24p output for VODs and an upgraded processor. Those looking for compact will be happy to see the incredibly small DMP-BBT01 which does everything the big players do, but at a fraction of the size. The price, however, is larger. If you want to pick up the BBT01 you'll be shelling out $270. At the top of the line is the BDT500($350), which is made for those who crave high-end audio performance. It utilizes four independent DACs for minimal noise and offers two HDMI outputs so you don't have to send video and audio on the same cord. The BDT500 and BBT01 will be available in May. Source: Slash GearPosted Fri Mar 9, 2012 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Apple TV 3rd Generation Debuts – Fox and Universal Titles Blocked[teaser]Apple finally takes the Apple TV up to 1080p, but you won’t be able to get everything you want. [/teaser] Last generation’s Apple TV wasn’t quite up to snuff with the rest of the streaming players out there, but the latest upgrade is a nice move forward - it finally takes your content up to 1080p. Before you get too excited though, you won’t be able to get everything you want. Fox and Universal titles won’t be compatible with iCloud. This is due to an exclusivity contract with HBO. The Apple TV doesn’t have quite as many upgrades as the newest iPad, but one very cool new feature is AirPlay. You can play content straight from your iPhone or iPad or, if you prefer, mirror what’s on your phone directly to your TV so you can play iPhone games right up on the big screen. Source: eCousticsPosted Thu Mar 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by:
