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Flick.me Online Rental Service Launches[teaser]The new site allows you to give discounts to friends for movies you've already watched. [/teaser] You'll find thousands of titles from Sony and Warner Bros on the new Flick.me video service, all for around the same price you can get them elsewhere. The company doesn't say anything about video quality, which usually means less than HD and the service isn't available on Blu-ray players, TVs or set-top boxes. So why go with Flick.me? Because it's designed to be an awesome service for recommending movies to friends. It ties in with Facebook and Twitter and allows you to send links out to movies you just watched. Oh, and if your friends click those links they'll get to rent the flick for just $1.49 instead of the usual $2.99. The movies you can share out this way are limited - not every film has this option available. And no being sneaky and trying to share this out with the entire internet. You're only able to recommend to 5 or 10 friends depending on the title. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Sep 1, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
3D TV Shipments Increase 124 Percent in Second Quarter of 2011[teaser]It's a nice increase, but doubling a fairly low number still gets you a fairly low number. [/teaser] It looks like people are starting to get over the nagging concerns about 3D glasses, the expense of 3D TVs and everything that comes with the whole 3D upgrade. 3D shipments increased by 124 percent in the second quarter of 2011, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the tech is out of the woods quite yet. 3D is becoming available in more and more televisions and it's not the only difference between the sets. Someone buying a high-end set will have a 3D TV whether they want it or not. After all, one could give a similar statistic for TVs with Skype or TVs with Wi-Fi. Just because someone buys a 3D TV doesn't mean they bought it for the 3D Passive technology has grown significantly in sales, though a good chunk of that is because there just weren't that many passive tech TVs on the market in 2010. The 3D TV growth statistics are neat to look at and, technically anyway, they're accurate. Just what they tell us about the consumer desire for 3D though is, well, pretty much nothing. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Announces a 9.1 Channel Home Theater System[teaser]LG says you'll get 360 degree sound like you would at a live concert or movie theater. [/teaser] The folks at LG have a new home theater in a box on the way and it's actually looking pretty slick. It's a 9.1 channel setup so you're not stuck with a 5.1 like in most cases. It has a few other nice features, like an included 3D Blu-ray player, but the thing LG really wants to talk about is the sound. The HX906TX uses a 3D effect DSP algorithm and Sound Field Technology to create what the company calls "an immersive 360-degree sound experience. It extends the sweet spot and even fills in empty space where there's no sound information. LG's new system uses four upright speakers on top of the floorstanding speakers. They're designed to further help the 360-degree sound experience. "The HX906TX sets new standards in immersive entertainment, with a sound so rich and textured," says CEO Havis Kwon, "it's hard to believe it's not real." They're not talking price yet, but don't expect the HX906TX to come cheap. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Drastically Cuts Spending for 2012[teaser]LG also says there are no plans to build more LCD plants. [/teaser] The LCD market is in a rough spot right now. Companies like Samsung, Sony, and LG are dramatically lower in sales than they were last year at this time, and there aren’t any immediate signs of improvement. The folks at LG have felt the pinch, and they’re adjusting to the new market by cutting costs severely. They’re spending $2.8 billion in 2012, which sounds like a lot until you consider that it’s a 33 percent decrease from last year. That’s a pretty big cut and it certainly gives credence to the idea that the bottom may be dropping out of the LCD market. CFO James Jeong disagrees. He says things will turn around next year. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 07:30 AM PDT by: -
Samsung May Cut TV Panel Production by 80 Percent[teaser]If this is true, it would mean a crazy big shakeup for the television industry. [/teaser] You know who makes a great looking TV? Samsung. They've got some decent plasmas at low prices and the ultra thin bezels on the 8000 series are truly drool-worthy. The sets tend to be really great, but sales just aren't keeping up with that. According to the Korea Economic Daily, Samsung is going to be cutting TV production. It's not a big surprise since LG has already announced that they'd be doing the same. The big surprise is how much they'll be cutting production. Apparently, Samsung is looking at producing between 200,000 and 300,000 units - an 80 percent drop. Samsung hasn't confirmed this, but they haven't denied it either. According to the paper, Samsung will be shifting its focus to smartphones and tablets where it's been doing quite well. If Samsung really cut things that far, it would make room for another company to step up and take their spot as the most popular TV brand around. Things are about to get really interesting. Source: ElectronistaPosted Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Apple No Longer Renting TV Shows[teaser]You can still buy episodes through iTunes, but rentals are gone.[/teaser] If you’ve been renting television episodes through iTunes then you probably noticed by now - Apple has switched things up a bit. You can still buy all the TV you want, but episode rental is out the window. The folks at Apple say that the reasoning behind the move is simply one of popularity. The majority of people preferred to buy shows instead of rent them so why keep the unpopular option going? Of course, this could be pointing to something even bigger. It’s been long rumored that Apple would consider a subscription based streaming option and this may be the first step in getting that plan off the ground. We’ll have to wait and see what happens of course, but the possibility is looking even more likely after this move. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 11:15 AM PDT by: -
Dish Network Launches a Portable Satellite System[teaser]It’s called The Tailgater, for obvious reasons. [/teaser] Portable television has always been a bit of a disappointment. You can get some local channels with your antenna, but that’s about it. It’s fine if that’s all you want to watch, but if you need more, like ESPN, or you want to check in on some other games before your team takes the field then you’re out of luck. That’s why Dish Network came up with the Tailgater. It’s a portable dish and set-top that can be used when you’re tailgating, camping or whatever else you get up to. The Tailgater automatically finds the satellite so you don’t have to manually adjust it and it weighs in at just 10 pounds. “Tailgaters across the country have wanted an easy way to watch their games in HD, and now they can through DISH Network's Tailgater,” says Dish CMO Ira Bahr. “The Tailgater's simple set-up combined with full access to DISH Network's programming packages at convenient month-to-month pricing makes it the best 'TV-on-the-go' option for outdoor enthusiasts.” The Tailgater is available now at a price of $350. Source: ecousticsPosted Tue Aug 30, 2011 at 10:45 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest-Digest: August 29, 2011by Dick Ward [teaser]A lot can happen in a few weeks, and that's certainly been the case lately. New Christmas movies have been announced for Blu-ray, along with a few classics. New gear has been released, including a pair of flagship receivers. And the cast of one of the most beloved cult comedies of all time has reunited.[/teaser] 'Scrooged' Blu-ray Announced Christmas isn't too far away and that means it's time for holiday Blu-rays to start rolling out. First up is 'Scrooged,' my personal fourth favorite - 'Muppets Christmas Carol' will forever hold the number one position. It's a great flick and one of Bill Murray's most oft forgotten, but also one of his best. It hits shelves on November 1st. 'It's a Wonderful Life' Double Dip for Blu-ray Is 'It's a Wonderful Life' already out on Blu-ray? Sure it is. Is it a good enough movie that you may as well own the limited edition gift set? That's your call, but I say yes. In addition to what was already included in the last release, you'll get a booklet, an ornament, and new packaging. 'The Goonies' Gets a Regular Blu-ray Release 'The Goonies' is a great flick, and the Goonies themselves are truly amazing. They never say "die" after all. Well, except when they're saying "Goonies Never Say Die." They say it then. Anyway, the Blu-ray of 'The Goonies' is finally available outside of the Ultimate Collector's Box packaging. It's coming as a single Blu-ray on October 18th. 'My Fair Lady' Dated for Blu-ray Where does the rain in Spain fall? 'My Fair Lady' reveals the mystery. It's a dark and gripping film noir... what, it's a musical? Well that's cool too. It stars Rex Harrison and the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. You'll be able to get your hands on it November 15th. Big Lebowki Cast Reunites for Blu-ray Release People who don't care for 'Lebowski' aren't usually that excited about the movie one way or the other. People who love it though - they really love it. They go nuts for it. They hold conferences about a single movie, dress as the characters, and rehearse the lines. At this year's Lebowski fest they got a special treat - the cast reunited for an incredibly cool Q&A session. Even better, you can watch it now. Gear and Industry News Pioneer Intros its New Flagship Elite Receiver Pioneer's new SC-55 and SC-57 are nice and fancy, just like a flagship to the Elite series should be. They boast a new D3 amplifier, AirPlay, Air Jam and the SC-57 is even THX Ultra 2 Plus certified. Both are available now from authorized dealers. Yamaha's Top of the Line RX-V Receiver is Shipping Now The final RX-V receiver was announced a while ago, but the series topping RX-V871 is shipping now, a few months after the others. It kicks out 100 watts per channel to 7.2 channels and gives you a total of eight HDMI inputs to play with. You can snag one now for $899. Definitive Technology Launches New Sound Bars The latest sound bars from Definitive technology are designed to ensure that you get the best audio quality possible out of the single speaker setup. The SSA3 gives you three channels - left, right and center - while the SSA5 offers five. Both sound bars are available now. Startup Company Milleniata Boasts an Indestructible Disc Here's a particularly interesting one, especially for anyone who's scratched a Blu-ray or DVD and rendered it unreadable. Milleniata's new discs, readable by both Blu-ray and DVD players and drives, are made of a stone-like substance and are said to last as long as 1,000 years. Not too shabby. The Vudu Movie Rental Service Comes to the iPad Vudu finally makes its way on over to the iPad, giving you the chance to enjoy your movie rentals on the small screen. Of course, you'll be watching SD movies on an SD screen, so it's not quite as exciting as you might think. After all, Vudu is all about the HDPosted Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
LG's New A530 3D Notebook Features a 3D Webcam[teaser]The laptop offers a passive 3D screen and a 3D webcam to go along with it, for all your 3D loving friends. [/teaser] LG's latest laptop is a pretty slick setup. It offers a built in solid state drive for cool, quiet and quick running. It boasts a GeForce GT 555M graphics card, a Core i7 processor, 8 gigs of RAM and USB 3.0 capability. The most interesting feature of the A530 though is the 3D webcam that allows you to make your own 3D movies and video chat with your friends in full 3D. The laptop also has a 3D screen of its own and uses passive technology for the best possible picture. The A530 hasn't been priced yet, nor is there a North American release date. It's hitting Europe, the Middle East and Africa this month, with other markets coming shortly. Source: eCousticsPosted Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
LG Launches a Touch Controlled TV Line[teaser]You'll need a PC attached to use it, but the PenTouch is a pretty slick setup. [/teaser] Touchscreen displays aren't exactly new. They've been used on computers for a while, and if you own a smartphone or a tablet, you almost certainly have a touchscreen in the house. LG wants to take that a step further by putting a touchscreen display on your TV. The LG PenTouch TV uses a stylus for control and can recognize two at once. It's all about a new way to interact with TV, aimed especially at families. "The PenTouch TV brings all the excitement of touch displays, computers and the Internet to the world of television, with functions and programs that are great fun and really educational," says senior VP Jay Vandenbree. The PenTouch software gives you the ability to draw pictures on the screen, browse the internet with your stylus, play with your own digital pictures, create a family calendar and more. The downside is that you'll need a dual core PC with a decent graphics card to make it all work. The 50 inch display will run $1,099 when it's released. The THX certified 60 inch set comes in at $2,199. Source: eCousticsPosted Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by:
