Recent Comments:
Scientists create mutant bugs that produce crude oil, unleash swarm of merciless killers {Engadget}
Jun 16th 2008 11:15AM Wait - so their entire explanation to question re: world-destruction is "we're being REALLY careful"?!
Here's the thing - some bacteria WILL escape eventually if these are used industrially. It's gonna happen. Rather than take this stand, they should really be exploring the question "What WOULD happen if we released this bacterium into a nutrient-rich environment"?
Bump key experiments {Hack a Day}
May 19th 2008 2:30PM 3: Buy a blank from somewhere that makes copies, or have them copy an existing key of the same type. You can then use a file to turn this standard key into a bump key.
ZeeVee's ZvBox streams your PC to your HDTV over coax {Engadget}
May 1st 2008 10:00AM That's what I'm trying to figure out... does it encode the VGA signal to ATSC? That would make sense and be a great solution, although the price point is a little steep for me.
Toshiba releases SpursEngine graphics co-processor for testing {Engadget}
Apr 8th 2008 10:29AM There's definitely a PC market for this sort of thing - there's nothing to prevent them from using this as a hardware MPEG-2 encoder. Maybe I'm the only one, but I see some value in the ability to have a content distribution system using existing coax cables running ATSC signals. The primary problem to now, the way I understand it, has been a lack of inexpensive encoders.
Sure - you can use a media extender box in every room, but I don't WANT an extra box in my home theatre system.
Wii "Twilight Hack" now works sans GameCube adapter {Engadget}
Mar 14th 2008 4:55PM Alexander: Because some people don't have an XBox, but they _DO_ have a Wii. For $70 I could just as easily buy a new DVD player if my main intention was to play DVDs. I could buy the games I wanted to play on Virtual Console. Another point, some people care about aesthetics. I don't believe that I've met anybody who would prefer to have the original XBox sitting in their entertainment center over a Wii. (well - other than people who despise Nintendo. What would the opposite of a fanboi be?)
Poll: What's it going to take to make you buy a PS3? {Engadget}
Feb 27th 2008 2:34PM For me, backwards compatibility was never a draw for the PS3. I own a PS2, which works just fine. If it breaks, I can always pick up another one. I'd much rather see them get rid of the red laser entirely from the PS3 to save a few bucks on production.
It seems the PS3/360 fanboi split is sitting at 50/50, which has some sort of strange, sad comfort to it. For every person who would never buy a PS3, there's somebody else who'd never buy a 360.
Nick Neg flashback: Why HDTV will never catch on {Engadget}
Feb 8th 2008 5:46PM Um... I really can't agree with that. Unless you're comparing an over-compressed POS digital stream with crappy signal quality with an analog signal coming straight off professional broadcasting equipment... Seriously, have you even SEEN a true 720p image? You do realize that analog TV is mapped to pixels in exactly the same way, except it requires a LOT of filters in order to remove as much static as possible (and in the process, a good amount of the color data)?
I can quantitatively show you that even a marginal 720p signal will trump even a very good analog NTSC signal.
Oh - and comparing a 35mm shot taken with a consumer camera to a high quality JPG taken with a consumer grade camera, the JPEG retains more information. Comparing an SLR image to a DSLR image becomes more shady, and the difference largely depends on which the photographer is more experienced with. A DSLR is certainly capable of capturing more information more accurately.
Now, if you want to talk about AUDIO, yes - an analog signal can easily trump a digital output. Audiophiles typically agree that high quality phonographs produce a much more pure sound than even the best high def audio formats. The same isn't true for video - videophiles all use digital, as near as I can tell.
[/rant off]
Nick Neg flashback: Why HDTV will never catch on {Engadget}
Feb 8th 2008 5:32PM Actually, he wasn't very far from the money on most of his points... Apple led the way to bringing media into the home in new, innovative ways (see iPod & AppleTV - it's still not we want, but it's better than what we had). The difference between a TV and a computer is becoming blurred - most TVs include basic picture viewing and other additional functionality. STBs and consoles are largely indistinguishable from a PC on every level below the OS. TV is no longer viewed in real-time - many people have made the switch to viewing content on demand via DVRs.
He was completely wrong about practically every point about digital TV, however. Yes, there is now VOD via FTTH and cable, but the digital standard we went with is ATSC. Higher resolution was emphasized over additional content (see just how many TV stations in your area even broadcast fairly basic programming guide information - go ahead, I'll wait...) Higher resolution is a tremendous improvement on any screen 30" or more - something inconceivable in '93 since at that time bigger TVs were typically grainy, pixelated, and VERY heavy. In all, he hit pretty close to the money on all of his tangential tidbits and was WAY off on his main point :)
Cut four undersea cables, shame on you, cut a fifth, also shame on you {Engadget}
Feb 6th 2008 1:48PM Please tell me that I'm not the only one that misread that as "bang one on the cable with a wooden oar"
Cut four undersea cables, shame on you, cut a fifth, also shame on you {Engadget}
Feb 6th 2008 12:53PM Perhaps some US employees finally got ticked enough about their jobs being outsourced to "set the building on fire" as it were.
