Archive for September, 2009

Misery on Blu-ray Disc

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: After 19 years, one of Stephen King’s creepiest characters gets a Blu-ray upgrade — and scares the bejesus out of us… again.
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Original post by Steven Kim

ATI Radeon HD 5870 is the first video card to bitstream TrueHD and DTS-HD

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Blu-ray, Media PCs

The good news is that you can finally get both compressed and uncompressed HD audio off a Blu-ray Disc and into your A/V receiver without the need of a dedicated sound card. The bad news is that at $380, the ATI Radeon HD 5870 still still costs more than a stand-alone Blu-ray player and that price doesn’t even include playback software. That’s ok with us though, as we’re used to being charged early adopter tax, and now the first video card with this ability is released, it should only be a matter of time before this feature trickles down to video cards we can actually afford.
ATI Radeon HD 5870 is the first video card to bitstream TrueHD and DTS-HD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Ben Drawbaugh

Only 443,000 CableCARDs deployed into consumer’s equipment

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Industry, Cable

Here we are about five years after CableCARDs became available and only 443,000 of ‘em have been deployed into 3rd party hardware — you know, like a TiVo HD or a Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuner. If you think that’s a lot, think again, as that is barely 1 percent of the 41.5 million digital cable subscribers in the US. This was according to a report delivered to the FCC by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and really gives credibility to the CEA’s claim that the technology is ineffective at its intended purpose. As consumers we know all too well why the currently implementation of the technology is worthless to the other 99 percent of cable subscribers, which is a combination of the fact that 3rd party CableCARD host devices are not privy to all the same features of the cable company’s set-top — […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Ben Drawbaugh

Only 443,000 CableCARDs depoyed into consumer’s equipment

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Industry, Cable

Here we are about five years after CableCARDs became available and only 443,000 of ‘em have been deployed into 3rd party hardware — you know, like a TiVo HD or a Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuner. If you think that’s a lot, think again, as that is barely 1 percent of the 41.5 million digital cable subscribers in the US. This was according to a report delivered to the FCC by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and really gives credibility to the CEA’s claim that the technology is ineffective at its intended purpose. As consumers we know all too well why the currently implementation of the technology is worthless, which is a combination of the fact that 3rd party CableCARD host devices are not privy to all the same features of the cable company’s set-top — like VOD and PPV — but also because […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Ben Drawbaugh

Livestream Livepack: a ’satellite television truck in a backpack’

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Industry, Misc, Media streamers

“Game changing” is thrown around way too frequently these days, but man, this thing just might be. The Livepack is being described as “a satellite television truck in a backpack” by creator Livestream, and for all intents and purposes, it is. Put simply (or as simply as possible), the pack includes everything one would need to stream “HD quality” footage: encoding hardware, a Firewire cable and the real kicker, a built-in wireless connection with six load-balanced 3G modems over three carriers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint if you have to know). Users simply provide their own camcorder, mash a button when it’s show time, and out goes the signal. The Livepack can currently be rented for $2,500 per month (includes 30 hours of streaming) or $1,500 per month if you commit to a year-long agreement. So, who’s up for showing the world their high school […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Darren Murph

HDTV Listings for September 30, 2009

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: ABC, CBS, Discovery-HD, ESPN-HD, NBC, Showtime-HD, Listings
What we’re watching tonight:

ABC (720p) has the series premieres of Hank at 8 p.m. and The Middle at 8:30 p.m., then Modern Family at 9 p.m., Cougar Town at 9:30 p.m. and Eastwick at 10 p.m.
TLC (1080i) has the season premiere of I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant at 8 & 8:30 p.m., series premiere of King of the Crown at 9 p.m. and Toddlers & Tiaras at 10 p.m.
NBC (1080i) airs Mercy at 8 p.m. and Law & Order SVU at 9 p.m.
CBS (1080i) brings The New Adventures of Old Christine at 8 p.m., Gary Unmarried at 8:30 p.m., Criminal Minds at 9 p.m. and CSI: NY at 10 p.m.
Fox (720p) has Glee at 9 p.m.
Showtime (1080i) airs Inside the NFL at 9 p.m.
Syfy (1080i) has Ghost Hunters at 9 p.m. and Destination Truth at 10 p.m.
Discovery (1080i) presents Mega Engineering: […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Richard Lawler

Sharp combines its latest LCD improvements in LX series HDTVs

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Displays, Sharp, LCD

Coming straight out of a brand new 10G production facility in Sakai, Sharp’s line of LX HDTVs (in 60-, 52-, 46- and 40-inch sizes) are all sporting the latest in LCD technology with UV²A panels and LED backlighting. Unfortunately, like Sony, these new screens abandon the higher quality RGB LED technology of the pricey XS1 series for cheaper white LEDs. Still, with a price of around $5,000 for a 52-inch compared to the $12,000 sticker shock of the XS1, it’s easy to see why the switch was made. Other improvements include a light sensor for auto-calibration, a six speaker (5 speakers on the 40-inch) integrated 2.1 channel sound system with “Duo Bass” subwoofer and the usual assortment of VOD and AQUOS network support in store for Japanese buyers this November. While already available on a few U.S. models expect the new tech to spread across Sharp’s […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Richard Lawler

Okoro delivers mini Media PCs with a full size price tag

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Media PCs, Others

Continuing its streak of questionably high priced media PCs Okoro has announced the new OMS-Q100 and OMS-Q200 Quantum mini Digital Entertainment Systems. Combining an Intel Atom processor and NVIDIA ION in the OMS-Q200 and Mobile Core 2 Duo in the OMS-Q200 with 4GB of RAM with 320GB of hard drive space, 7.1 audio outputs, OTA & QAM recording capability (plus optional digital cable tuner) these tiny, quiet boxes could find a welcoming home theater somewhere, though the starting price of $1,295 may make for a difficult fit. You probably don’t need our help to put together something equivalent or better for less than that, but feel welcome to it.
Okoro delivers mini Media PCs with a full size price tag originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Richard Lawler

Popcorn Hour C-200 hit with more shipping delays

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Media streamers, Others

While the first Popcorn Hour C-200 shipments have hit homes all over (including ours) subsequent deliveries have been slower to arrive, with the second batch finally due to ship right about now, with a delay until October 26th estimated for the next group due to a variety of reasons detailed on the official forums. Of course, we feel terrible for media streamer fans who don’t have one yet (even though we have one) keeping a spot open for yet-to-arrive devices, refreshing email looking for a shipment confirmation and trawling forums for updates can be devastating. Unfortunately we can’t relate (since we have one) but we’ll be sure to get a full fledged review out in the intervening period to let you know just how wonderful things could be.
[Thanks, G.R. Medina]
Popcorn Hour C-200 hit with more shipping delays originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Sep […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Richard Lawler

Pioneer’s 12x BDR-205 Blu-ray burner is so fast it’s ahead of its time

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

This is one of my top posts ive read today! Read about it: Filed under: Blu-ray, Other hardware, Pioneer

We’re still not sure if that many people are interested in buying Blu-ray burners yet, but Pioneer just unveiled the first 12x capable drive (up from 8x, and with an 8x read speed that gives us a great idea for the next PlayStation 3 revision) the BDR-205. Initially rolling out to OEMs this month, this drive couldn’t wait for 12x certified discs to exist, though its full speed has been tested on Panasonic and Sony 6x BD-R blanks, “12x writing on all media cannot be guaranteed.” Minus that caveat, expect to see these popping up on Newegg and the like any second now, the only price mentioned is for the full retail package BD-2205 coming Q1 2010 for $249.
Pioneer’s 12x BDR-205 Blu-ray burner is so fast it’s ahead of its time originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please […] Hope you Enjoyed this HDTV informationrmation Blurb

Original post by Richard Lawler