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Switched On: The three Ds of CES TV
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. The walls of Las Vegas casinos -- devoid of clocks and windows -- form chambers in which time loses its mastery over the existence of those who dwell within them. So is it too for the products on display at CES, which run the gamut from things currently in stores to concept products that may not materialize for years, if ever.Nonetheless, with Mobile World Congress and the CTIA Wireless show still vying for the attention of handset introductions and Apple and Microsoft relying more on their own events for major PC OS announcements, television remains a staple of the show, with nearly all major U.S. brands having a presence on the show floor or off-site. At CES 2012, one can surely still expect a lot of focus on 3D television. Increasingly, though, three other "D"s are coming to represent the direction of television.
Channel Master TV review
If you prefer your DVR with no strings attached, your choices are pretty limited these days. You can of course roll your own, but admittedly, that isn't for everyone. Channel Master does plan to change that, though, as it's currently accepting pre-orders for its over-the-air DVR with over-the-top features that doesn't require a subscription. The Channel Master TV ($399) should be hitting retailers and homes this week, and since we love DVRs, especially when they're free from commitments, we decided to take it for a spin. Click through to see how it stacks up.
Hyperkin's PS3 Remotext weds Blu-ray remote with keypad controller, DualShock 3 frets
With the PSN finally back up, it's time for important things -- you know, messaging your buds for a Black Ops pwning spree or hitting up Netflix. Hyperkin's Remotext for PS3 wants to help you get back into action with its hybrid remote / controller / chatpad. It features a slide-out Blu-ray remote panel, QWERTY keypad -- better positioned than SONY's offering -- and two analog nubs with a near-complete set of gaming controls. There's no sign of rear triggers, and Bluetooth connectivity is absent too, but it does come with a wireless USB receiver and rechargeable battery so you're not left scrounging between the couch cushions for AAs. Although we're doubtful it'll prove functional for gaming, it could be appropriate for PS3s that spend more time sitting at the movies than getting their Move on. The DualShock 3 shouldn't have much to worry about, but we'll find out at E3, when the Remotext will be officially showcased. There's no word on pricing or availability yet, but if you're dying for more in the meantime, a press release is beyond the break.
Warner to finally go Blu-ray-only at CES?
Another day, another format war rumor. Business Week has a lengthy writeup on the possibility of lone dual-format holdout Warner Brothers switching to Blu-ray exclusively, and how it could affect the outcome of the long-running feud between high-definition disc formats HD DVD and Blu-ray. The rumor gets its seed from vice-chairman of Lionsgate Michael Burns, who claims that Warner will be turning blue soon. With Warner on their side, the Blu-ray studios would hold a 70% market share for the DVD market. Of course, if Warner shifts red, then the studio market will again be split into two equal halves, and consumers are left to wait and see if one format can outsell, outspend, or outlast the other until only one format remains. The stakes are so high that top execs from both camps are banging down Warner's door with personal meetings -- and possibly even truckloads of cash -- to get Warner to turn to their side. One thing you can be sure of is that Warner is going to be keeping an extra close eye on the dual-format release of Harry Potter next week for guidance.[Thanks, Michael P.]
Sony rumored to give PS3 owners Blu-ray Profile 1.1 for Christmas
Sony is said to have yet another PlayStation 3 firmware update ready for download before Christmas, with the gift for movie-loving gamers being Profile 1.1 compatibility for Blu-ray Discs. Competing format HD DVD has had support for Profile 1.1 features such as picture-in-picture, secondary audio, and local storage since its inception, while in the Blu-ray spec they were optional. There aren't any Profile 1.1 Blu-ray titles on the market yet, and only a single 1.1-compatible player for sale from Panasonic, so this is really about having one more bullet point on a box for fanboys to argue about. The only major HD DVD feature that becomes required in Profile 2.0 is Internet connectivity, so downloadable content will still be optional for some 1.1-compatible BD players -- but not the PS3 with its built-in Ethernet jack. Considering the PS3 is still one of the cheapest and most widely-owned Blu-ray players, and Sony continues to improve its capabilities via firmware updates, PS3 fans and Blu-ray Disc aficionados have that much more ammo to use in the never-ending format war.[Thanks, ag23]
Circuit City lists LG's BH200 combo HD DVD / Blu-ray combo at $799
We're not exactly sure what to make of this, but LG's BH200 combo HD DVD / Blu-ray player is currently listed on Circuit City's website for $799, which is about $100 cheaper than anywhere else and $200 cheaper than a certain blue competitor. It might well be a typo, of course (and probably is), but between Big Red's pre-Black Friday price-chopping and our own fervent hopes for format peace, we're going to keep on dreaming until we hear otherwise.Update: Yep, too good to be true -- it's back up to $999 now.[Thanks, Mike L.]
Blue lasers coming down in price, PS3 to follow?
Sony's semiconductor subsidiary recently announced an increase in blue-violet laser diode production, with a monthly capacity of 1.7 million, and capability to produce up to five million with future upgrades. In June the diodes are expected to cost around $8 per diode in bulk, as compared to a price of $125 per drive (including the diode and other parts) when they came onto the market last year. Analysts predict that the lower cost of materials will likely drive manufacturers of blue-laser products to lower their own prices, with the PlayStation 3 benefiting from this reduction by allowing Sony to reduce the price, possibly even lower than $499, to be very competitive with the Xbox 360 Elite model. Of course, Toshiba could also theoretically take advantage of similar cost savings to reduce the price of their own HD DVD players. Perhaps that Wal-mart player isn't such a far-fetched idea after all.
HD DVD to Blu-ray: "Oh yeah, well we've sold a lot of discs too!"
It just wouldn't be a proper format war without a rebuttal from the opposing side about this week's announcement that Blu-ray has sold over a million discs. The HD DVD PR machine scrambled to life to point out that they, too, are so close to that magic million, with their own sales numbers showing 998,000 units sold, up from the 937,500 reported by Home Media Research. The HD camp also points out that -- not including the PS3 or Xbox add-ons -- standalone next-gen DVD hardware is selling 4-to-1 in favor of HD DVD this month, and content sales numbers are very close week-to-week between the two formats. Meanwhile, the average consumer sits on the sidelines waiting for a winner to emerge from the fight -- that is, if they can even spell it.
Rumor: Blu ray add-on for 360 if format wins?
Over at Next Generation is an article discussing the possibility of a Blu-ray adapter coming to Xbox 360, should the format's success justify it. BBC News was told by Xbox UK head honcho Neil Thompson that whichever format wins, the Xbox 360 will more than likely provide a solution for it. He goes on to say that it's better to have the feature as an option for those who want access to it, rather than force the cost on the consumer. Jabs at the opposition aside, would you want a Blu-ray player for the 360 if HD DVD falls behind in terms of support?[Via QJ.net]
High-powered lasers will allow burning dual-layer Blu-ray at 10x
Once the realm of mighty giants with huge pocketbooks, burning a dual-layer Blu-ray (or HD DVD) disc might be yours at ten times normal speed starting in 2008, when Japanese firm Nichia Corp. will start production on a higher-powered laser diode for use in recorders. The diode emits pulsed light at a higher output than current diodes, and is stable enough for 1,000 hours of operation, which we estimate should net you around 5,000 two-hour burns... of data, of course! It will also allow for 2x burning of up to four layers. We're still waiting for word on how fast it will burn those ten-layered discs.
PS3 harming Blu-ray acceptance
It is common knowledge that the PS3 is being used as a means to boost the Blu-ray install-base, even if Sony won't come out and say it. However, it would appear that Blu-ray is being harmed by its inclusion in the PS3. According to a survey by Cymfony, a analyst group that focuses on market influence, HD-DVD has 46% more positive discussions on various websites than Blu-ray. Half as many people are also impressed with Blu-ray visuals than are with HD-DVD visuals. The key reasons for low Blu-ray acceptance is the forced (there's that word again) inclusion in the PS3 and Sony's format reputation. Consumers are clearly not warming up to Blu-ray. The reasons range from fear of another Sony flop -- they've never been good at initializing a format change -- to the using the PS3 to boost the install base. It would appear that Microsoft's HD-DVD add-on was the right choice after all; if you want it, great, if you don't, you've saved yourself $200. If Cymfony's claims that they reliably predict market trends are right, this data could convince manufacturers that Blu-ray is a bad move and swing near-full support toward HD-DVD ... and damage a major PS3 selling point. [Via Engadget]
Format war might be over before it starts
It looks like a company called Ricoh may bring an end to the bitter rivalry between HD-DVD and Blu-ray. The company has reportedly developed a component that reads and writes to both HD-DVD and Blu-ray formats. Not only that, it reads and writes to CD and DVD as well. Gathering what I could from the description of the device, I'm fairly certain the component operates using what I like to call "magic." Ricoh plans to display the component at the upcoming Optoelectronics Exhibition in Japan later this week. If you've been planning on picking up the HD-DVD drive for the 360 (or a certain other console) you might want to see how this technology pans out. [Via QJ]