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Mitsubishi Japan's New Blu-ray Player Features BDXL Support and a Double Sided Remote[teaser]They hit Japan late next month, but we don't expect to see them reach the US. [/teaser] The latest Blu-ray player line to come out of Mitsubishi Japan is a particularly interesting one, since it boasts several features not found in most players. That's a pretty big deal, considering how common things like Wi-Fi, access to streaming services and even 3D capability have become. Mitsubishi is branding these players as REAL Blu-ray players, and it's plain to see why they earn the name. They do everything your typical Blu-ray player does, but boast hard drives ranging in size from 500GB up to 2TB so you can record all the TV you want. The player comes with a double-sided remote that offers controls for your TV on one side and your Blu-ray Player / DVR on the other. Flipping it from one side to the other triggers a built-in sensor that can identify which end is up. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
Emerging Countries Will Drive Connected TV Adoption[teaser]Newer markets will help connected set adoption to grow significantly. [/teaser] Internet connectivity is in high demand here in the US, but according to new research by DisplaySearch, less developed countries may be driving sales in the near future. "The connected TV market is developing beyond mature regions like Western Europe and Japan," says DisplaySearch electronics director Paul Gray. Part of the reason for the expected growth is the impressive broadband structure established in Eastern European countries. In fact, DisplaySearch believes that Eastern Europe will go from 2.5 million connected sets sold in 2010 to 10 million in 2014. Another interesting point brought up by the reasearch is that smart TVs and basic connected sets appeal to different markets. Those used to thinking of a TV in the traditional sense tend to prefer the basic features, while those that want a more interactive experience can get it from smart TVs. Source: TwicePosted Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Dish Asks for Extension on Deciding Which Blockbuster Stores Stay Open[teaser]The folks at Dish Network are closing down a majority of Blockbuster stores, but the big decision will wait until July. [/teaser] When Dish won the bid for Blockbuster earlier this month, it put a lot of new work on their plate, not the least of which is deciding which Blockbuster stores to keep open and which to close. Dish now owns 1,700 Blockbuster stores, and is planning to close around two thirds of them. There's a lot to think about when deciding which store to keep open, and it's a decision that Dish isn't taking lightly. Many of these stores have outstanding leases and all have both associated costs and associated personnel. Dish says that it's picking up the tab for these costs, including vacation days. The bankruptcy judge in charge of the case has issued Dish a 90 day extension from the original deadline to sort things out. They'll be expected to have reached a decision by July 21. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
3net Debuts a 3D News Show About 3D[teaser]'In the Qube' is a one hour long entertainment news show that covers everything 3D[/teaser] On April 24th, 3net debuted their new entertainment news show dedicated to everything 3D. It's hosted by Nicole Dabeau of 'E! News' and is produced by Sony. "In The Qube' demonstrates our continuing commitment to bring viewers the most immersive and engaging content possible," says 3net president Tom Cosgrove. ""We are excited to partner with Sony on this groundbreaking first for 3D television." The first episode debuted this past weekend, and will almost certainly repeat for those that didn't catch it. It features behind-the-scenes features on some big summer movies, reveals of some of the latest 3D gear, and an exclusive 3D look at the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar. Source: The Futon CriticPosted Mon Apr 25, 2011 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings Makes the Time 100[teaser]Hastings was named one of the most influential people in the world thanks to his big moves with Netflix. [/teaser] This year, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has made the Time 100 list thanks to his accomplishments with Netflix which have helped to redefine the way people think about streaming movies. He joins the list of influential people this year alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Julian Assange, Kim Jong Un, and Justin Bieber. Reed says that he came up with the idea for Netflix after misplacing a video tape he had rented. After paying an astronomical late fee, he knew there had to be a better way. The solution for pricing came from the gym membership model - pay a monthly fee and use the service as much or as little as you want. What started as a rent-by-mail service has transformed into the first streaming service to find mainstream success. It's going to transform again if Hastings has his way, starting with the company's first original series 'House of Cards.' Source: TimePosted Mon Apr 25, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
James Cameron, Michael Bay, and More Speak Out Against Premium VOD[teaser]Among the reasons, they cite the ever sliding price point of entertainment. [/teaser] A group of directors including folks like James Cameron, Michael Bay, Guillermo Del Toro, Robert Rodriguez, Peter Jackson and more have written a letter calling to stop Premium VOD content from happening. They raise some very strong points, but there's no telling whether it will be enough to put the brakes on a project that television providers are greatly in favor of. Many of the arguments are what you'd expect, but the letter brings up a few things that might not have been immediately obvious, like the ever decreasing cost of DVDs, Blu-rays, and on demand options. "History has shown that price points cannot be maintained in the home video window," says the letter, "What sells for $30‐a‐viewing today could be blown out for $9.99 within a few years." You can read the full letter here. (pdf) Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Fri Apr 22, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Dish Ordered To Shut Down Patent Violating DVRs - Dish Upgrading Customers[teaser]A federal court has ruled that certain Dish DVRs violate patents held by TiVo. [/teaser] Bad news for Dish Network could actually be good news for Dish subscribers. In a ruling made earlier this week, a federal court has ruled that certain Dish DVRs violate patents held by TiVo. That means they'd have to disable every one of the DVRs cited in the case. "The disablement ruling covers only certain older generation MPEG2 DVRs," Dish said in an official statement. They say that many of the customers using the old DVRs have already been upgraded, and the new DVRs provided by the company do not violate this patent. "If we are unsuccessful in obtaining a stay, we will work as quickly as possible to upgrade the remaining customers to our current generation DVRs, as these are not at issue in the ruling," says Dish, which means upgrades may be in the future for those using the older tech. Dish is still going to try and take this up to the next level, but the folks at TiVo seem confident that they'll win out in the end. Source: TWICEPosted Fri Apr 22, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Sharp Announces New Wi-Fi Enabled Portable TVs for Japan[teaser]This 20 inch set includes a handle for carrying and a kickstand so you can set it anywhere. [/teaser] Your TV may be planted firmly in your living room, but what about when you're in your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or even outside and you want to watch television? You might take a laptop for some Netflix or turn your TV so you can see it at an angle, but Sharp has a different idea. The new Freestyle Aquos is a portable 20 inch television that's made to move all over your house. It has a built-in handle and a kickstand so you can stand it up wherever you need. Not a bad setup for staying entertained while doing the dishes. Sharp's Freestyle comes packed with a wireless DTV tuner, Wi-Fi connectivity and DNLA compliance so you can even stream media from your home PC. The set comes in at around $1,220 when it releases in Japan this June. There's no word on whether we'll see it stateside. Source: EngadgetPosted Fri Apr 22, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
The PicoHD5.1 is a Tiny and Effective Media Player[teaser]If you want a video file played on your TV, the PicoHD5.1 can do it. [/teaser] Devices like Roku and WD players, Google TV and the Boxee Box are great when it comes to doing a little bit of everything, but if you don't need access to streaming services and other online content they can be too much. The PicoHD5.1 goes the other direction. It takes a minimalistic approach to getting content from your computer to your TV. It can handle a good range of video files, three different subtitle types and the range of popular audio files. The device itself looks like a memory card reader and can handle SD cards, USB storage devices and more. It's not available in the US currently, but European customers can pick it up for around $80. Source: WiredPosted Thu Apr 21, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Warpia Launches a New PC to TV Wireless Streaming Device[teaser]Both can send a signal as far as 30 feet, but only one does 1080p. [/teaser] Devices that allow you access to multiple streaming sources are nice, but even the best is limited. If you want to be able to get video from any source you can think of, there's only one way to do it - use a PC. Since keeping a computer next to the TV isn't optimal for everyone, wireless streaming devices have been rising in popularity. They allow you to show video from a laptop or PC without having to hook up any wires or upset the look of your room. The latest of these is the StreamHD from Warpia. It allows you to stream video at 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound wirelessly up to 30 feet. It's available now at $169. For $129 you can step down to the much less cleverly named Wireless USB PC to TV Display Adapter, which gives you 32-bit color, but only a 720p resolution. Source: eCousticsPosted Thu Apr 21, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by:
