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Sharp Launches a 70 Inch LCD[teaser]Over 1,000 retail stores will carry the set, which comes in at right around $3,800. [/teaser] When it comes to massive LCDs, Sharp is right on top of things. Their latest set, the LC-70LE732U, measures in at 70 inches. It's the first of its size for Sharp, and it's shipping to stores now. The LC-70LE732U features an LED backlit screen, internet connectivity, and a 120Hz refresh rate. As you might expect, it also boasts the Quattron quad-pixel technology that Sharp is known for. U.S. consumers are clearly voting for large screen television. It is the fastest growing segment," says Sharp's John Herrington. "Consumers are demanding big, they are looking forward to big and they want bigger." This summer, Sharp will launch more sets in the 70 inch class size, including one that does 3D with active shutter glasses. Source: TWICEPosted Fri Apr 15, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Kinect Control Comes to Netflix on the Xbox 360[teaser]Control options are a little limited, but it's a start. [/teaser] Kinect owners across the country can now use their hands to control Netflix thanks to the latest update from Microsoft. By using hand or voice commands, you're able to browse through your library. Don't put down that controller yet. If you actually want to play a movie, you're still required to enter that command from an Xbox 360 controller. The folks at Joystiq gave Microsoft a call for some clarification on this and it turns out that while you can play "recommended films" through a special Kinect dashboard, anything in your normal queue is a no go. Source: JoystiqPosted Fri Apr 15, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest-Digest: April 14, 2011[teaser]We've gotten a little behind on the Digest-Digest, but can you blame us? There's a lot going on and it can be incredibly difficult to keep up. Of course, that's what the High-Def Digest-Digest is for, and we're back with the a wrap-up of the biggest news from the last few weeks.[/teaser] Blu-ray News 'The Island' Blu-ray Detailed Fans of the movie, starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, will be able to get their hands on this Blu-ray on June 21st, complete with audio commentary and a few other bonus features. 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' Announced for Blu-ray This incredibly entertaining dramatic comedy hits shelves on June 7th. At this time, no special features or specs have been revealed. 'I Am Number Four' Blu-ray Announced The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack of 'I Am Number Four' will include six Blu-ray exclusive deleted scenes with introductions by D.J. Caruso and drops on May 24th. 'Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray! This enormous eight disc set includes commentary, behind-the-scenes footage and plenty more. You'll be able to pick it up on June 7th for $129. 'Boondock Saints: Truth & Justice Edition' Blu-ray Announced The latest version of 'Boondock Saints' includes a brand new documentary as well as a digital copy of the film. It hits shelves on June 14th. Top Ten INCREDIBLE Computer Animated Blu-rays With the release of 'The Incredibles' on Blu-ray, Michael S. Palmer takes a look back at ten of the best digitally animated movies available today on Blu-ray. High-Def Digest Ranks the Harry Potter Movies From Worst to First Aaron Peck goes through the celebrated franchise and picks the ones he loves and the ones that just plain didn't work. Other News Regal and Cinemark Theaters Pull Trailers to Protest VOD Premium video on demand is a hot topic that's caused at least two theater chains to start pulling trailers from their movies. Sharp Suspends LCD Production at Two Plants Due to a lack of materials, including natural gas, Sharp is suspending production at two of their largest plants until May. Onkyo Introduces Home Theater Systems With 4K Upscaling Is 4K upscaling for a home theater system even necessary? No. Is it cool? You bet it is. Samsung Drops Price on 3D Glasses - Includes More With TVs You'll get two pairs of glasses with Samsung's 2011 line of 3D televisions, and you'll only need to shell out $50 for an extra pair. Dish Network Wins Bid, Acquires Blockbuster The auction is over and Dish Network came out victorious. The only question that remains - what are they going to do with the massive retail chain? The Bonus View Blu-Ray Contest: Win 'Tron' 5-Disc Set You've got until the end of the week to get in your 'Tron' haiku and win yourself a five disc set including both 'Tron' and 'Tron Legacy.' Movie Madness Brackets: Dr. Evil vs. Jack Torrence Our ongoing movie madness brackets continue with a competition between the arch enemy of Austin Powers and a writer with a penchant for axe-wielding rages. IGN Announces a Professional StarCraft League Things heat up for the world of eSports as IGN announces the beginning of a StarCraft League.Posted Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Denon Announces IN-Command Series of AV Receivers[teaser]The latest receivers from Denon aim to give you more options for control and for content. [/teaser] Denon has announced three new receivers that make up the company's new IN-Command line. The AVR-2112CI ($599), AVR-2312CI ($799) and AVR-3312CI ($999), all of which will be available in May, are made to give you more control over your content. All three receivers include AirPlay functionality, which allows for music to be played from your wireless Apple device without a complicated setup. You can also connect your iPod or iPhone directly into the front USB port, allowing it to play music and integrate directly into your home network. The new IN-Command receivers also feature the ability to play back audio and show videos from devices on your home network. If internet streaming is more up your alley, you can grab music from Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster and more. Source: eCousticsPosted Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony Titles Now Available as DVD Made On Demand[teaser]You can find over 150 classic Sony titles on WarnerArchive.com and Columbia-Classics.com[/teaser] It can be incredibly difficult to track down lesser-known films on DVD because great though they may be, the studios need to be able to make money. That results in quite a few movies being overlooked when it comes to placement on store shelves. Warner's solution is a pair of sites - WarnerArchive.com and Columbia-Classics.com - which allow users to order these DVDs online. Both of which have just had an infusion of new movies thanks to a partnership with Sony. "This is another step in the execution of our multi-platform distribution strategy to cultivate the market for the remarkable films in our vault," says Sony Pictures VP John Calkins. "Warner has long been a pioneer in the deep catalog business, and we’re thrilled to partner and extend the reach of our extensive catalog to consumers." Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Onkyo Announces its First 3D Blu-ray Player[teaser]The new BD-SP309 will be available in mid May for $249. [/teaser] The latest Blu-ray player to be announced by Onkyo is also the first 3D player for the company. It doesn't introduce any unique features, but appears to be a generally solid player. The BD-SP309 is packed with streaming options, and allows you to get audio from Pandora as well as video from Netflix and Vudu. No luck in the wireless department though - you'll need to plug in an ethernet cord. Standard definition DVDs can be upscaled to 1080p and output through HDMI, which is a fairly standard feature at this point. It also includes USB ports that allow you to play both audio and video in a variety of formats. The player will be on store shelves in May at an MSRP of $249. Source:Posted Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Vudu Now Streams Standard Definition Movies to PCs[teaser]The lack of HD is disappointing, but the availability is nice nonetheless. [/teaser] The folks at Vudu are known for specializing in high quality streams, but the latest move goes in the other direction. The company is branching out, and they're doing it in SD. While most streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu, started on the PC and moved to television, Vudu took the other approach. They started on set-top boxes and have only recently moved to the PC from there. The company's move to PC is a bit disappointing to those who were expecting something with the same quality as their set-top box streaming. You'll only be getting 480p and stereo sound, which Vudu says is less due to technical issues and more tied-in to licensing. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Apr 13, 2011 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
Sharp Suspends LCD Production at Two Plants[teaser]The company doesn't expect to open them back up until May at the earliest. [/teaser] The recent disaster in Japan has resulted in the closure of many businesses due to damage and infrastructure concerns, but another problem has come up for Sharp. They've temporarily shut down two plants due to a lack of materials. Sharp says that materials and natural gas are scarce at the moment, and are utilizing them only for the products that are most in demand, like smaller LCD sets. Sharp also says that they currently have enough televisions in stock to last them around a month. The company hopes to resume production as early as May 6th, but has not set a date in stone. Analysts say the shutdown could cost Sharp up to 50 billion yen in revenue. Source: Business Week (via EngadgetPosted Wed Apr 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Onkyo Introduces Home Theater Systems With 4K Upscaling[teaser]Three of the four new models use the new upscaling chip. [/teaser] The HT-S7400, HT-S8400, and HT-S9400THX home theater systems from Onkyo have one thing that most home theater systems don't - the Marvell Qdeo 4K video processor. The inclusion of this processor means that if you end up with a 4K television before you pick up a new home theater system, you won't have to worry about upgrades. These three models also include networking capabilities that let you grab music from internet sources like Pandora and Rhapsody or pull it directly from your home network. They offer a front panel USB port as well, meant for iPod and iPhone connectivity. The high-end HT-S9400THX is - as if you couldn't guess - THX certified and comes with THX approved speakers. Both the 9400 and 8400 are 7.1 channel capable while the 7400 offers 5.1 channels. Source: eCousticsPosted Wed Apr 13, 2011 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
LG Shows New Prototypes Including "Tweet TV" and Glasses-Free 3D[teaser]Tweet TV relies on an Android smartphone with a digital TV receiver. [/teaser] LG has come up with some interesting new mobile television prototypes that they hope will help to pave the way for more mobile sets. Perhaps the most interesting is the first mobile TV that displays 3D images broadcast on the ATSC Mobile DTV standard. The exciting bit, of course, is that it gives you 3D without the need for 3D glasses - an essential for a small device like this. The second offering doesn't generate quite the same feeling of excitement. It's called Tweet-TV and it's an application that allows users to both read and write Twitter messages while they're watching a show. Tweets will be displayed in a transparent panel over part of the screen. LG sees this as an opportunity to get people involved in shows and share their thoughts with other fans. Source: PR NewswirePosted Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
