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LG's BD690 Blu-ray player Introduces Wi-Fi Direct[teaser]This will allow it to communicate with your Wi-Fi devices without the need for a router in between. [/teaser] As cool as it is to have a Wi-Fi enabled devices communicating together in your home theater, it's a bit of a pain once routers come into play. After all, if your iPhone has Wi-Fi and your Blu-ray player has Wi-Fi, why should there be any need for a middle man? The new BD690 form LG boasts Wi-Fi Direct, which allows it to pull content from any Wi-Fi enabled device, like a phone, laptop or storage device. The second device doesn't even need to be Wi-Fi Direct certified – it just works. It's a cool new feature that may, or may not, help to revolutionize the way your home theater works. The 690 is the first Blu-ray player to sport Wi-Fi Direct certification, but you can expect to see more in the near future. Unfortunately we don't yet have any information on price or a release date for the new player. Source: Zat's Not Funny (via Engadget)Posted Mon Nov 29, 2010 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
WD TV Live Adds Facebook, Blockbuster on Demand and More[teaser]In addition to the two biggies, WD added AccuWeather, Flingo and Deezer[/teaser] The WD TV Live and WD TV Live Plus media players are among the best out there, and offer some amazing capabilities when dealing with your digital media collection. They've lagged behind a bit when it comes to new streaming services though, and the new update addresses that. Western Digital has added Blockbuster on Demand to their devices for those that demand their downloads on the same day as Blu-ray release. The company has also announced the inclusion of Flingo, which offers free streaming television. WD TV Live owners will also get access to Facebook, an on-demand music service called Deezer, and AccuWeather forecasting. The device has also been updated to support USB wireless keyboards – something that's sure to be welcomed by users. Source: PR NewswirePosted Mon Nov 29, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
High-Def Digests Holiday Gift Guide 2010: HD Gearby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]Man, oh man, oh man, I love the holiday season. Scrumpdiddilyumptious (technical term) feasts, family, fire places, friends, 'nog, and of course a pirate's bounty of deals on the latest and oh-so-greatest consumer high definition products released in 2010.[/teaser] As it was last year, High-Def Digest's economic advisers have been working hard building a plan to right the world's economic woes and dastardly deficits: SAVE THE CHEERLEADER WORLD…BUY HIGH-DEF! Shocking, I know, that we would advise indulging the impulses of cine/audiophiles, but someone has to do it. And the entire content creation to retail sales food chain employs more people than you think. In fact, buying a new home theatre system complete with some Blu-rays is akin to charity work. You just invested in the economy. Well done, dear reader, well done. Okay, joking aside, to ensure all my recommendations are home runs -- aka, equipment on which I would spend hard earned savings -- I recruited the help of Sean Tretiak of Home Theater Doctor in Redondo Beach, California. What makes Home Theater Doctor so great for me or any of our southern California readers is that Sean isn't a snob. Of course he wants to sell you premium and high-end products, but he'll work with any budget. For that, he earned my trust and as soon as I can afford to go back, my repeat business (he also inspired my 2009 Guide for Building Your High-Def Home Theater). After a day with Sean, it's clear the AV world took another quick leap forward this year. 3D and Blu-ray are here in a big way of course. HDTVs and Blu-ray players are now portals to the internet. This year's AV Receivers are just like last year's, except they most likely have more HDMI inputs (which will allow 3D pass-through), a USB input for iPhones, and possibly even networking capabilities themselves. Let's dive in and stuff your stockings: BLACK FRIDAY Black Friday Info. Boom! Your one-stop shop to nearly every retailer selling anything on Black Friday. The key this year, though, is to actually check out stores in these last days before the official shopping season. Because of the economy, there's a glut of flat screen TVs and, my friends, surplus means big savings on older 2D HDTVs. And, many 3DTVs are already being bundled with a 3D Blu-ray player and glasses. Speaking of Bundles, keep in mind if you want Dreamworks titles like 'Shrek: The Whole Story' in 3D, you'll need to purchase a Samsung display. 'Avatar' fans will need to purchase a Panasonic display (this offer is good for those who are about to and have already purchased a Panasonic 3DTV). These exclusive bundle windows will most likely last twelve long months. DISPLAYS In the realm of displays, I'm actually not a huge fan of the door-buster deals common to Black Friday. They always seem like great deals, until you read the fine print. Most door-buster TVs are last year's leftover models which may lack new connectivity features, may be heavier and thicker and consume more power, or may feature lower resolutions and refresh rates than similarly sized televisions (remember: 1080p above 40/42 inches, and 720p for anything smaller works in most cases). Granted, if you're looking for that second or third HDTV for your basement, bedroom, kitchen, or wherever, the door-buster TVs are perfect for that. Go early, grab quickly, and enjoy. Just know that those TVs most likely shouldn't be your primary display if you're striving to get the most out of your high-definition world. With Primary Display being our goal here, I tell friends and family to go plasma. I understand worries about burn-in, but it's simply not a problem anymore. I got my brother a sub-$1000 Hitachi a couple years ago and if anyone could possibly break a display technology, it'd be him. I'm happy to report the Hitachi's still in perfect condition, and plasma technology's only gotten better. Don't want to take my word for it? Fine, Consumer Reports said plasma was the best bet, and in most cases, plasma is what the Home Theater Doctor installs in customers' homes. Plasma is king of black levels (which help you get the most accurate colors) and refresh rates (I loathe the blur associated with my own LCD). With that in mind, let's look at some great flat-screens and projectors to make your holiday dreams come true: LG 50PK550. 50 inches is where I draw the line between home cinema and too small. Others may feel differently, of course, and you're welcome to disagree, but 50 inches provides a cinematic experience close up and ample resolution across a large room. Here we have a great deal for a full 1080p 2D HDTV from LG, which costs less than $900. Or, for less than two grand, here's a monster 65-incher from Panasonic: TC-P65S2. To be fair, these TVs aren't the latest and greatest, but they're solid buys for anyone who doesn't care about 3D or internet streaming content (which most Blu-ray players do now anyway). LG is also doing some amazing work in 3D. Priced under $1800, the LG 50PX950 is a THX-certified 50-incher that does full 1080p in 3D as well as internet streaming via WiFi. For less than $2600, LG also offers the similarly appointed 60-inch 60PX950. But the current champion in 3D flat panel world? The Panasonic TC-P65VT25. At 65-inches, this full 1080p 3D TV features a 600hz refresh rate, internet access to streaming services like Netflix, included 3D glasses, and starting in December, exclusive access to the 'Avatar' 3D Blu-ray release. It costs around $4300. If 65 inches is too small for your home cinema, look into these projector options: JVC Professional's Reference Series. Not only recommended by Home Theater Doctor, but also HDD's own Josh Zyber who owns an ancestor to these three newer models: Starting at $4,495, the DLA-RS40OU is a 3D-ready projector with a 50,000:1 native contrast ratio. For $7,995, the 3D-ready DLA-RS50OU bumps that native contrast ratio up to 70,000:1 and adds THX certification. Both the RS40OU and RS50OU need the purchase of $180/pair active shutter glasses and an $80 IR emitter to display 3D content. The king-daddy in JVC Pro's reference series, the $11,995 DLA-RS60OU is also THX-certified, boasts a native contrast ratio of 100,000:1, and includes an IR emitter along with two pairs of active shutter glasses. All three projectors should be available this month. Epson's PowerLite Pro Cinema Series. Perhaps 3D isn't your thing, but if you're interested in trying out Constant Height Projection, Epson is debuting three new sub-$7000 projectors that may just be for you. Currently, Constant Height Projection requires the extra cost of an anamorphic lens, and processing or scaling to readjust stretched or squished pixels. No matter how good the glass, or how magical the processor, there's always a chance of marginalizing the image in this scenario. But Epson has a new idea. Instead of requiring an additional lens (though there is built-in processing for use with one), the Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema Series features a motorized lens with position memory. This means you can have two lens positions -- one for a 16:9 set up, and then with the click of a button, you can zoom out, and refocus for a 2.35:1 screen. No lens or processors necessary and all your pixels remain untouched and unmodified as the filmmakers intended. The only draw back to keep in mind: this set up is for a dedicated home theatre environment where the front of the room has proper masking (because it still projects 2.35:1 Blu-ray's "black bars"). The 21000, 31000, and 61000 Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema Series projectors should be available in December. Home Theater Doctor recommends pairing the JVC Reference and Epson PowerLite Pro Series projectors with either a Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 or a JKP D-Lite screens. REMINDER: in case anyone is confused, ALL 3D televisions and projectors play 2D content and do a damned find job of it. Moving along… BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS & SCALERS For those who aren't bundling along with the purchase of a 3DTV (remember: if you want 3D, you'll need the glasses to match your TV brand, not your BD player), or simply are in the market for a new Blu-ray player that is capable of 3D should you ever upgrade your display, here are some great models to choose from: Sony has two affordable 3D models, the BDP-S470 and the BDP-S570. They're pretty much the same -- offering full 3D 1080p, internal audio decoding or bit streaming, and internet streaming -- except the BDP-S570 cost $30 more than the S470 because it has built-in WiFi. Pick up the BDP-S470 for around $150, or the BDP-S570 for around $180. Marantz UD5005. Higher end buyers will appreciate the video and audio processing aboard this 3D-ready universal Blu-ray Disc player. It features a wired Ethernet port for Netflix streaming, built-in memory for BD-Live, and plays just about every disc available on the market. Selling under $500, the UD5005 should be available mid-December. Also, a few of our readers asked about recommended scalers and video processors last year, so I spoke to Sean at Home Theater Doctor about them. He mentioned the Sencore Radiance line which runs from $2000-$5000 because installers and owners are able to manipulate and achieve 100% accurate colors. But, he also questioned the need for these in the high-def world. No processing or scaling is going to make older standard definition content look like high definition. Blu-ray's 1080p digital picture doesn’t need any enhancements since its already at native resolution. And, if you purchase a quality Blu-ray disc player from companies like Denon or Marantz, they've already included excellent video processing for DVD playback. A/V RECEIVERS Interestingly enough, Home Theater Doctor says they like to supply customers with THX-certified TVs to ensure proper calibration standards, but are less sold on THX in the AV Receiver market because the only way to use THX is via post-processing. In the lossless and uncompressed audio landscape, why would anyone wish to alter something that's already bit-for-bit what the artist intended? In catering to audiophiles, Home Theater Doctor is in the camp of leaving all the extra processing in the Off position. Here's a few very capable AV Receivers to fit a few different budgets: Denon DHT-591BA Home Theater System. Not really a home theatre in a box, this package deal features a Denon AV Receiver with a Boston Acoustic 5.1 speaker package (including 4 satellites, 1 center channel, and a 100w powered sub) for less than $600. The Receiver has four 1.4a compliant HDMI inputs (which allow 3D pass-through), Audyssey MultEQ dynamic room acoustic correction, and offers 75-watts x 5 channels of amplification. Marantz SR5005. For less than $800, step up to the world of 7.1 movies and music. The SR5005 features four 1.4a compliant HDMI inputs (which allow 3D pass-through), Audyssey MultEQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume, Dolby ProLogic IIz (which offers optional front height channels), and 100-watts x 7 channels of amplification with a THD rating of 0.08%. Onkyo TX-NR5008. For double the price, we get double the HDMI inputs (8 total, all 1.4a compliant for 3D pass through), 145-watts x 9 channels of amplification with a THD rating of 0.05%. The $1700 TX-NR5008 is also THX Ultra2 Plus and ISF certified, as well as firmware upgradable via USB or Ethernet. SOUND BARS, SUBS, & SPEAKERS This is definitely a hard category for recommendations. Not all ears work the same way -- what I love may sound off to you, and vice-versa. Plus, there are so many speakers available today from sound bars to satellites to full range towers. There's even a company that builds "invisible speakers" which are installed in walls and painted over. All of this to say there are many, many options, and no one answer will work for every home theatre setup (or every wife…am I right, fellas? hi-ooooh!). Most important before you buy speakers, though, is listening to them in person before making a purchase. For a couple options you may not have heard of, check out these products: Atlantic Technology FS-7.0-GLB. Sound bars are for those who simply can't run all those wires (a bedroom perhaps). This $800 model from Atlantic Technologies is a 7-channel surround bar with seven discrete inputs and two double voice coil 4x6 front channel drivers. You might not get the full 7.1 feeling of speakers all over the room, but every channel gets a separate discrete driver for some really solid performance. But, you'll need a subwoofer too… Martin Logan's Dynamo 500 and 700 Subs have you covered. For $495, the Dynamo 500 uses an internal 120-Watt amplifier to power a 10-inch polypropylene cone. For $695, the Dynamo 700 is a wireless-ready sub (for use with the Martin Logan SWT-1 Subwoofer Wireless Transmitter, $120) whose 10-inch diaphragm is powered by an internal 300-Watt amplifier. Further, if you want to hide the Dynamo 700 in a cabinet, it can easily be converted from the standard down-firing configuration to a front-firing without any tools. Vandersteen Speakers. They're not new for this year, and to some eyes, they're not pretty. But they sound oh-so-sweet. Vandersteens are the speakers Home Theater Doctor recommends most highly, but they aren't cheap. A 5.1 system featuring a VCC2 wall mountable center speaker, a pair of 1C front towers, a pair of VSM1 on-wall surrounds, and a Martin Logan Grotto Sub will set you back a cool $5,000. If you want 7.1, add in another set of the $1,000/pair surround speakers for a $6,000 price tag. Pretty expensive, no? We haven't even touched Vandersteen Model 5A front towers which sell for around $17,000/pair (but at least they have build-in subs). HD ACCESSORIES No surround sound system is complete without a few finishing details: Monoprice is the only place I shop for accessories like speaker wire, HDMI cables and flat panel wall mounts. Accessories are usually hugely overpriced, and you’ll save when you remember to NEVER BUY MONSTER CABLE. Do they work well? Of course, but why buy name brands when the Monoprice version works just as well, yet sells for a 10th of the price? It’s okay, I’ll wait for your answer. Also, don’t forget a universal, computer programmable remote to easily run the whole system (the technical term is making it “wife proof” because who really wants to figure out what each of the 7 remotes on the coffee table actually do?). Everyone here already knows about the Logitech Harmony series. I recommend them to friends and family because they have a number of affordable models and are so easy to configure. But be aware I've had a couple of them break on me sooner than I would have liked. For more complicated or in-wall setups, remember you'll need to switch to a remote that uses "RF" transmission and does not require line-of-sight like most / cheaper "IR" remotes. Logitech has these as well, starting with the 900 series, but I personally haven't used one. For those who have some real cash to burn, let me introduce you to RTI. RTI uses RF to access an XP-8 remote control processor which controls all of your home theatre gear via wired IR inputs or RS-232 ports. These systems not only control home cinemas, but whole houses. The processor alone will cost you $1700 and the wand style remote is an earth-shattering $900. Though, within the next few months RTI is debuting an iPad app which will allow your entire home cinema run off an Apple tablet instead of a traditional remote. Ahhh, the wave of the future…today. DEMOS Now that you've survived black Friday, picked up a new display, or maybe you’ve just brought home a new Blu-ray Disc Player, video game console, or surround sound system, it’s time for the best part: DEMO!!! Time to show yourself and your family that there will be no buyers’ remorse for this money well spent because if there’s one way to win over high-def converts, it’s to simply let the technology speak for itself. Though this clearly isn't a complete list of all the great 2010 Blu-ray releases, here’s a handful of must buysto get you started: For those who have already dipped into 3D: 'A Christmas Carol'. A rousing rendition of a yule tide classic that'll have you hooked from the opening shot. Perfect for the season and for any HDTV, 3D or not. I picked up my 4-disc edition (3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy) last night for a sweet $18 by price matching it down from $35 to $28 (the bestbuy.com price as of today) and then using a $10 Disney Movie Rewards Coupon. 'Monster House'. A call back to the "Steven Spielberg Presents" films of the early 1980s, 'Monster House' is another motion capture animated film. It's exciting, terrifying, and hilarious. And because 2D Blu-ray is still awesome as-is: 'Alien Anthology'. One of the most complete franchise boxed sets ever. Granted, two of the films included aren't necessarily amazing, but the 'Alien' and 'Aliens' are genre classics (horror and action, respectively), and they have never, ever, ever looked or sounded better. 'Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition'. For the fan who wants it all (in two dimensions). The April release was instant eye-candy demo material, and now audiences can choose three different cuts of the film. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio is perfect, and the special features go on for hours. This is what Blu-ray was made for. And to those who don't like it? No worries, there's tons of great stuff for you too, but this movie is awesome and deserves every single penny of business it's done. 'Road to Perdition'. And THIS is what Blu-ray was made for (I may say this a few more times). Despite being produced within the last 10 years, this lush transfer is dripping in the decadent film textures and grain of classic Hollywood thanks to the cinematography from Oscar winner, Conrad Hall. The audio, featuring a score by Thomas Newman, is outstanding. 'Se7en'. A perfect thriller; a genre-bending game-changer; David Fincher coming into his own after a terrible studio experience (See above!). This modern classic has been treated to a slick re-master for high definition, complete with an engrossing 7.1 audio mix. 'Back to the Future Trilogy'. Because this was my favorite movie when I was a kid. The series as a whole is great; the first film, like 'Se7en', is perfect. Universal Home Entertainment pulled out all the stops on this set (except for designing an easy to open case) and its great to see the now 25-year-old series looking better than ever. 'Moulin Rouge!'. The most successful 19th century bohemian-inspired, modern-rock scored, farce/musical/tragedy ever made! This movie is a stunner on Blu-ray, living in splashes of color and textured production design. The music roars, the fast pacing makes your head spin, and at the end of the day, you'll never experience anything quite like this…ever again. 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. This is one to watch with a father or grandfather. Because this too is what Blu-ray is made for: classic studio catalog releases, re-mastered with care, and in some cases, looking better on your HDTV than they ever did in the cinema. For anyone who hasn't seen this movie, RUN to the nearest store and purchase immediately. It's a fascinating action/thriller/character study with an unforgettable third act (hint, it involves a bridge). 'The Sound of Music'. Because mothers and grandmothers will love Blu-ray as much a boys. This a stunning 5-star picture from Fox Home Entertainment allowing this musical to shine in home cinemas. And, you get to sing along! 'Inception'. Okay, this one's a guess because I haven't seen the disc which streets on December 7. But, there's no way this summer's saving grace from a heaping pile of forgettable dreck is going to be anything less than perfect. Blind buy day one is my game plan. TV fans, don't think I've forgotten you. 'Sons of Anarchy' looks fantastic on Blu-ray, as does 'Dexter', but for my money, there is one show that reigns above them all: 'LOST'. Concluding its history-making series run, we've got two different Blu-ray releases to choose from in 2010. For those who have been collecting for a while, there is 'Lost: the Complete Sixth and Final Season', or to anyone who has never seen the show, dive in and pick up 'Lost: The Complete Collection'. Well, that about sums it up for this year. A very special thanks goes out to Sean at Home Theater Doctor for all his advice (So-Cal readers, check 'em out). Now that you've seen what I would put in my house (at various budgets), what about you? What's on your wish list? What are your must-have displays, AV Receivers, speakers, gadgets, demo discs, etc? Hit up the forums and let me know. I'd love to drool over delicate electrical devices with you. Go hunt for deals and let's all enjoy some freakin' high definition!Posted Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 10:23 AM PST by: -
Onkyo Adding iPhone/iPod Remote Control App in January[teaser]The app will integrate Onkyo's new receivers as well as some of their older ones. [/teaser] One of the biggest trends in home theater this year has been integration with smartphones and touchscreen devices. Of all those devices, Apples products reign supreme as the most commonly added. The folks at Onkyo have taken notice, and are launching an app that will enable iPhone and iPod Touch control this January. You'll be able to do all the normal day-to-day things like adjust volume and balance, select inputs and even browse media on a NAS device. The app will work with all of Onkyo's new receivers for 2011, and will play nice with xxx7 and xxx8 receivers, though the xxx7 series will have more limited control options. You'll need to connect your receiver to a wireless router to make it all work, since the app will make use of this connection to communicate with the receiver. Expect to hear more before the official launch of the new functionality early next year. Source: OnkyoPosted Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
TiVo Adds an iPad App For The Ultimate in Control[teaser]Say what you will about Apple's tablet – it makes one hell of a remote. [/teaser] The iPad is a divisive gizmo. Some people love it for its ease of use, others claim it serves no practical purpose. Whatever side you fall on, you've got to admit that using it as an advanced remote for your TiVo is pretty darn cool. TiVo's iPad app works just like you'd expect it to. You can bring up a live TV schedule or a list of your recorded shows, scroll through them and select the one you want. It's simple and intuitive, just like it should be. TiVo says that the app will be available in the coming weeks. "We’re bringing TiVo’s innovative user interface from the TV directly to your fingertips, taking your TV viewing experience to a whole new level," says TiVo marketing president Jim Denney. "There’s no better example of TiVo’s passion for innovation and focus on ease-of-use than the TiVo Premiere App for iPad." Don't have a TiVo and an iPad? You're in luck. The folks at TiVo are giving away nine prize packages that include a TiVo Premiere and an iPad on their Facebook page. Source: TiVoPosted Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Vizio Will Launch a 65" Polarized 3D TV For $3,700[teaser]The TV showed up on Vizio's website unannounced, but it's already generating quite a bit of interest.[/teaser] Vizio has been keeping secrets. We knew they were working on a 3D television that used passive technology since it was announced as far back as last January, but we didn't know how far they'd come. The new XVT3D650SV is now detailed and priced on Vizio's website. The new set from Vizio offers Razor LED backlighting, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1080p picture, but what's most interesting is that it does 3D using passive glasses. It's the first we've seen from a major manufacturer and will likely set the pace for similar sets in the future. The set, which runs $3,699 according to the site, comes with four pairs of polarized glasses and boasts "Theater 3D" but not "Full HD 3D" which almost certainly means you'll be getting a less than HD picture. Vizio's XVT3D650SV also offers built-in Wi-Fi for Vizio Internet Apps and comes with the slick QWERTY remote we've come to expect from Vizio. Source: Vizio (via Engadget)Posted Tue Nov 23, 2010 at 11:45 AM PST by: -
Blockbuster Targets Netflix Delays in New Ad Campaign[teaser]The giant rental chain may be finding its footing, but they do have a point. [/teaser] There's a new ad campaign coming from Blockbuster that specifically targets those 28 day rental windows that Redbox and Netflix have to deal with. If you're looking for the cheapest way to rent movies, Blockbuster isn't it, but after yesterday's Netflix price hike, they're certainly looking better, oh, and if you want new releases on Blu-ray and DVD, it's the only way to go. Blockbuster is tagging the campaign with the line "Less waiting, more watching," and is hoping to attract new customers and subscribers to the Blockbuster service that delivers discs by mail and through in store returns. Even on the main page of their site, you'll find movies like 'Eat Pray Love' advertised featuring the phrase "We've got it 28 days before Netflix." The Blockbuster service might not measure up when it comes to streaming (though they offer titles on demand), but Blu-ray enthusiasts are likely to find it far superior to the competition. After all, Blockbuster can supply you with new movies faster and they don't charge more for Blu-rays. With the new price changes on Netflix, Blockbuster's two-disc plan, with included Blu-ray access, is now $1 less than Netflix's similar plan. The three-disc plan is now $4 cheaper through Blockbuster. Blockbuster may not be the giant it once was, but targeting one specific audience, like Blu-ray fans, could help them to come back. Source: ABC NewsPosted Tue Nov 23, 2010 at 11:10 AM PST by: -
Panasonic Adds Vudu to 2010 Blu-ray Player Lineup[teaser]1080p movie rentals and purchases are live November 24th on Viera Cast enabled Blu-ray players. [/teaser] Isn't the internet connected world great? That Viera Cast enabled Panasonic Blu-ray player you bought earlier this year is getting added functionality that you don't even have to do anything for. Starting Wednesday November 24th, you'll be able to access the Vudu online video service. If you're not familiar with Vudu, it's the rental service that comes closest to Blu-ray quality with its streams, earning plenty of praise along the way. There's a huge selection starting at just $2 for a two day rental. "Connected TV will continue to become an increasingly important feature for consumers," says Panasonic VP Merwan Mereby. "Panasonic is working tirelessly to build upon the already robust entertainment and connectivity experiences our Viera Cast customers can enjoy." The new update will apply to the BDT100, 300, and 350 as well as the BD65, BD85 and B500 portable Blu-ray player. Source: PR NewswirePosted Tue Nov 23, 2010 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Netflix Streaming-Only Service Launches – DVD and Blu-ray Pricing Goes Up[teaser]Though it's a huge boon for streaming customers, Blu-ray fans will likely feel ripped off. [/teaser] If you've been using Netflix for the sole purpose of streaming movies and TV shows, there's some good news. Netflix has officially launched a streaming only service for just $7.99 a month. That's the same price as Hulu Plus, but with much more content, if not quite as up-to-date. DVD pricing has gone up, unfortunately. The plan for one DVD at a time has scaled from $8.99 to $9.99, and the plan for two at a time has gone up a dollar as well. Above that, it goes by a dollar per disc. Want three at a time? That'll be an extra $3. Want four at a time? You'll be paying $27.99 instead of $23.99. Adding Blu-ray to your account is still a $2 upcharge, but the increase in DVD pricing means Blu-ray pricing has gone up too, with the 28 day delay for many movies still firmly in place. Existing DVD and Blu-ray customers, any of you wondering what you're getting for the extra money? The apparent answer is nothing. If you're only getting two a month, it's still only a dollar increase though, so by no means is it a huge increase. The Official Netflix Blog says that there is no DVD-only or Blu-ray-only plan in the works, since the majority of content is watched online as it is. Source: The Official Netflix BlogPosted Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 06:00 PM PST by: -
High-Def Digest Gets to Play in Dolby's Sandboxby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]Last week, our friends over at Dolby were kind enough to fly a few home theatre journalists up to San Francisco to participate in the inaugural Dolby Fidelity Forum.[/teaser] Apparently FTC guidelines mandate that I inform y'all Dolby picked up said tab. In the same spirit of keeping everything transparent: I was provided with one round trip ticket from Los Angeles to San Francisco, one night in a hotel, and one delicious glass of 12-year-old Macallan single-malt scotch whiskey which I ordered neat. The other folks on the trip also got a free dinner, but sadly I had to leave early. Clearly anything else you read about the Dolby Fidelity Forum by any other writer will be one dinner's-worth more biased. Hell, I'd write just about anything for a free dinner (This just in…Sky No Longer Blue and VHS Poised to Take Back Home Video Market from Blu-ray). While in San Francisco, it was openly communicated that no coverage of said event was required. But what the hell, I had such a good time I figured I'd share. This first-ever Fidelity Forum was a chance to for us laymen to meet the geniuses who work at Dolby Laboratories, a gorgeous brick walled, open beamed, converted burlap sack factory. And no, that's not a bias. These guys are literal geniuses (they make Mensa look stupid). Imagine one day you're sitting around, bored, and you decide to do some calculus. For fun. And in doing your best Will Hunting chalk board scribbling impression, you invent a brand new mathematical algorithm which is then developed into a software program like Dolby Pro Logic IIz, or Dolby Digital Plus. It's mind boggling. So much so, that I aim to stop contemplating it in three…two…one… Where was I? Oh yes, so my dumb ass was let into the hallowed halls wherein Sound is made soundier (not a direct quote). Here's a recap of what we experienced: Part One: Dolby in the Cinema November marks 40 years in Dolby Cinema history, which started in 1970 with Dolby A Noise Reduction. By 1977's 'Star Wars' and 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind', they had created Dolby Stereo. 1992's 'Batman Returns' gave birth to AC-3, or Dolby Digital. In 1999, Dolby Digital Surround EX premiered with 'The Phantom Menace.' Dolby 3D debuted with 'Beowulf' in 2007 with the goal of making 3D more affordable for exhibitors (Dolby 3D utilizes existing screens versus more expensive ones, and 500-use reusable glasses). And as I've already covered, Dolby 7.1 premiered on Disney / Pixar's 'Toy Story 3' earlier this year. Currently, there are 1,000 cinemas worldwide set up for 7.1 and in the last six months, seven films have be mixed theatrically for 7.1 (which will then translate directly to Blu-ray in either 7.1 TrueHD or DTS-HD MA) including 'Tron Legacy', 'Step Up 3D', 'Tangled', 'Megamind', and the third Narnia film. Personally, I had yet to demo 7.1 theatrically, but had read a few reviews where in the reviewer wasn't blown away. For this, we entered Dolby's "working laboratory" theater. This is a custom crafted auditorium which sits on polypropylene blocks and is completely isolated from the rest of the building. Further, the seats were designed in such a way as to replicate the sound environment of a full house regardless of how many people are in there. In short, it was the best sounding theatre I've ever been to. It made me want to throw my home speakers off my balcony and burn down my local cineplex (by the way, if my local movie theatre happens to coincidentally burn down, I was WAY joking just a minute ago, geesh). For our demo purposes, we not only heard great mixes, but also learned more about bringing 7.1 to theatres. As I've said before, upgrading an auditorium already equipped for Dolby Digital EX to Dolby 7.1 is relatively easy, quick, and cheap. It required a free firmware upgrade and an extra $100 audio cable. But first Dolby had to prove to Pixar that 7.1 would actually make a difference in their films. So Dolby took 'Toy Story 2' to Skywalker Sound and re-mixed two sequences (crossing the street to the toy barn, and Barbie's tour which ends in gumballs flying everywhere). The Pixar team was so impressed, they agreed to mix 'Toy Story 3' in 7.1, but Dolby still had to convince exhibitors 7.1 was worth the investment. For this, they returned to Skywalker Sound with scenes from 'Finding Nemo' (fish are our friends), 'Up' (escaping the cave with the dogs chasing), and 'The Incredibles' (Dash learns to run on water, and the family teams up for the first time). In 2D we screened all of the above along with this Dolby 7.1 logo, this Dolby 7.1 logo, and the initial 'Tron Legacy' teaser (the one that premiered a couple years ago at Comic-Con) in 5.1. I’m officially sold on 7.1 in cinemas and homes. I love it. Instead of always watching the screen, I closed my eyes much of the time to let the sound tell the full story. The results are impressive and in direct comparison, audibly more immersive than standard 5.1, in my humble one-man's opinion. It's a little hard to describe, but the extra discrete channels seem to pull the audience forward. I felt more in the world. It was both a subtle a change over a 5.1 soundscape, and much more dynamic. For example, 360 degree pans were more precise. And there were interesting moments where music and/or sound effects could be placed only in the side channels, or only in the back channels. Meaning, something could launch off screen center and travel directly to the back which made it feel like that something had traveled over your head. I really enjoy this format, and look forward to finding my nearest 7.1 cinema and adding two more speakers to my home system. Next, we turned to 'Toy Story 3' and two scenes from 'Avatar' (which Dolby had also remixed into 7.1) for our Dolby 3D demo. Here I'm more torn. My favorite 3D experience thus far is in the large, super bright screens of real IMAX. I have to admit that going directly from digital 2D projection to 3D was the first time I noticed how much darker 3D is in comparison. Images were not as clear or colorful, which is a shame because both films sounded great in 7.1. I didn't get a chance to talk to Dolby reps in depth about this, but I did get the sense that they are working on it. Hopefully in the near future, we'll get a 3D exhibition experience where brightness isn't an issue. Click here to find Dolby 7.1 equipped cinemas near you. Part Two: Dolby Anywhere After leaving the Dolby Theater, we went to two more demos. The first was called a "Day in the Life of a Mixer." This was a fun session where Dolby explained how they will sometimes take popular You Tube music videos (like This Too Shall Pass by OK Go) and remix them into 7.1 to use for demo purposes. Dolby also collaborates with the San Francisco Symphony to record and mix performances for the PBS series 'Keeping Score'. I find it quite impressive that they can use different mixing techniques to give listeners choices in how to hear the same recording. For instance, there could be a 7.1 mix which resembles a traditional stereo mix -- side and rear channels are left as ambient or audience or hall sounds. Or, one could elect to hear 7.1 music as if he or she were sitting in the middle of the orchestra. Hopefully in the future, more music-based Blu-rays will offer these kinds of multi-angle or multi-location experiences. Next, we went into Dolby's Demo Room which featured a 9.2 home Pro Logic IIz set up including two front height speakers and six floor-standing full range loudspeakers for the front, side, and rear channels. Here we spoke about Dolby's goals of being available anywhere on all screens including cinemas, televisions, computers, and mobile devices. We demo'd Pro Logic IIz using 'I Am Legend' (the scene where he's driving the Mustang around the city) flipping the height channels off and on. I'll admit this was a little harder for me hear, most likely because the floor-standing speakers were so good they already made everything in the room sound full and tall. But there was an audible difference. Things like birds leaping into the air and other non-directional sounds were no longer relegated at ear level. I'd like to spend more time with Pro Logic IIz. Perhaps most impressive is the addition of Dolby Mobile on the phones like the Nokia A8. The phone, which has a mini-HDMI output for connection to HDTVs and AV Receivers has a 720p video out and can run Dolby Digital Plus. For the second time that day, we watched the 'Tron Legacy' teaser trailer, and while it certainly isn't competing with Blu-ray or Dolby TrueHD, the video looked on par with most cable channels and sounded pretty darn good. HD on phones might not appeal to everyone, but Dolby asked us to imagine emerging markets like India. There, a person's first HD device might not be cable or Blu-ray, but rather their phone which they can hook up to a large TV (our demo TV had to be at least 50-inches) and enjoy a relatively solid picture. Well done on that. Part Three: Dolby's Sandbox Ah, the best for last. Well, technically, only last for me as I missed a round table discussion and, sigh, dinner. Moving on… In my favorite part of the day we huddled into a small, former conference room with padding on every wall and speakers standing and hanging all around us. How many, exactly? Anyone out there in the mood for 23.1 surround sound? Jigga-whaaa??? Nope, not kidding. Welcome to Dolby's Sandbox. A room which boasts 24 channels of surround sound. That's 16 speakers at ear level, 6 elevated, 1 directly overhead, and 1 subwoofer. I know what you're thinking. 7.1 or 9.2 are already too many speakers for most people to handle. These guys must be crazy if they think I'm going to buy that much gear. Well, they may be a little crazy (in a mad scientist way), but they're not foolish enough to think this is a set up for everyone. So what exactly are they experimenting with and trying to achieve? Well, dear readers, they're studying "phantom imaging." You know how if you listen to headphones or any stereo source and even though there are only two speakers, it sounds like parts of the music is somehow coming from dead center. Tah-dah. Phantom imaging. Dolby's end-goal, it seems, was to figure out how many speakers were necessary to create a fully immersive, 360-degree surround sound experience. Eventually they settled on this 24 channel set up and just like going from 5.1 to 7.1, what a difference discrete mixing makes on this many speakers. We listened to recordings from 'Batman Forever', the score from 'Once Upon A Time in the West', an airplane flying over head, and an off Broadway musical. Jumping from a standard 5.1 to a full 24 channels was startling. The airplane was the best experience; it didn't feel like surround sound anymore…it felt real. The movie clip and the musical were just as interesting. Surround sound pans and voice locations were extra precise and enveloping. But how does this translate to the real world? Again, most of us -- even early adopters -- aren't going to be installing 23.1 systems in our homes. And can you imagine trying to mix every form of cinematic content discretely in 24 channels? It's a pretty big challenge, but here's where it gets really freakin' cool: Dolby wants to develop a universal sound format that is "direction oriented" rather than being locked to a specific number of channels. A format which can be blown up to 24 channels if you want, or shrunk down to 6 as is standard. What this means is that anyone with a home cinema can have systems ranging from 5.1 to an entire hemisphere of sound (ala the 23.1), all feeding off of the same soundtrack. To experiment with this notion, Dolby took 24 channel discrete mixes and boiled them down to 5.1. Then, using that math I cited earlier to create something akin to a Pro Logic, they blew the 5.1 back up to 24 channels using a matrix based off of phantom imaging. The results were fascinating. With my eyes closes, they sounded nearly identical. And it's exciting to imagine a home cinema world with a half hemisphere of surround sound (if that's what you want). But here's the remaining challenge. In the current, experimental form, the matrixing of the phantom images causes some aberrations. For example, when listening to the 5.1 mix of the off Broadway musical blown back up to 24 channels, we isolated channel 10 to see what was on it. Unlike the discrete version where channel 10 only played channel 10, in this "matrixed channel 10" played channel 10 along with bits and pieces from other channels (Does that actually make any sense to someone who was not there? If no, let me know, and we'll talk further.). It was muddy, and something Dolby is unsatisfied with. I’m sure they'll work to improve this unnamed "universal format" until its of audiophile grade. But wow, just…wow. I'm still not sure I really understand it, or half the things we experience at the Fidelity Forum. It's all beyond me, but at the same time, the day was all to short. I'm looking forward to more surround in my local cinemas as well as on any screen I can find. And the future…the universal surround format…getting anything like it, or built from it, will be exciting times for anyone who loves music, movies, or television. Thanks again to all our friends at Dolby for such a great day.Posted Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 02:15 PM PST by:
