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Amazon Unbox content going HD on TiVo
We had a pretty good feeling this would go down eventually, but we certainly didn't see a confirmation (of sorts, anyway) coming this soon. Jim Denney, VP of product marketing at TiVo, has been quoted as saying that although the current version of Amazon Unbox can't process high-definition content, TiVo and Amazon will jointly announce HD capabilities "in the not too distant future." Granted, the content -- whenever it does actually arrive -- will only be accessible by "cable subscribers" with adequate bandwidth, but it's not like that's any sort of surprise. Sadly, details beyond what you've seen here were left out, but at least you can sleep soundly tonight knowing that high-def Unbox material is most certainly on the horizon. [Via Zatz Not Funny]
HD movie downloads to trump Blu-ray / HD DVD? Not so fast.
We'll be the first to say we truly hope that HD downloads -- be it on one's computer or main HDTV -- take off, but we're not so certain the technology is poised to overtake either Blu-ray or HD DVD anytime soon. A opinionated piece over at Economist takes a look at the current state of the format war, and interestingly enough, even goes so far as to call both HD discs "interim solutions, if even that." Apparently, it expects both formats to soon be "eclipsed" by some alternative, most likely the instantly gratifying downloadable movie offered up by various carriers in the form of HD VOD. Of course, we also expect this outlet to gain traction once broadband speeds ratchet up across the nation, but our main beef with the article comes with the proclamation that "[HD DVD and Blu-ray] are marginally better than upscaled DVDs." We've expressed our true feelings about upconverting DVD players before, and quite frankly, unless one hooks up their high-definition movie player with composite cables, we simply can't see anyone not being able to tell the difference. [Image courtesy of GenerationMP3, thanks Paul F. and Daniel D.]
A look at VUDU's high-definition movies
Just a day after VUDU started pushing out its long-awaited v1.2 software update, a kind user has whipped up a spreadsheet documenting all 65 HD flicks that are now available (or will be shortly) for renting. Truth be told, we're not exceptionally impressed with the list, but hey, to each his / her own. Hit up the read link to take a peek at what you're missing out on (or what you're about to have access to).[Thanks, Brian S.]
VUDU beams out v1.2 update, enables HD streaming
Merely a day after the Apple TV (take 2) update was delayed, VUDU has apparently beamed out the v1.2 update for its self-titled set-top-box. According to users who have successfully downloaded it, the new build reportedly enables HD streaming and adds a new "Instant HD" speed setting along with a "Constant Audio" setting to "fix the popping issues" that some folks are experiencing. According to NA9D over at the VUDU user forums, the update has also made 64 (give or take a few) HD titles available for viewing (all are rental only at the moment, save for the third Bourne Identity), and while some of them are said to be new releases, some supposedly go back as far as 1972. For anyone with a VUDU STB in their abode, feel free to check things out and give us an idea of available titles in comments below.[Thanks, Brian S.]
SyncTV demoing proof-of-concept device for 1080p playback of downloads
We know, these things are seriously starting to run together at this point, but apparently SyncTV is all set to demonstrate a "proof-of-concept device that will play downloads, including 1080p HD video content on a television set at this year's CES show." Additionally, it seems that the product could eventually be integrated into TVs, in-car video setups, portable media players, etc. Of course, whether or not such a system -- HD-capable or not -- will take off remains to be seen, but hopefully we'll be able to snag a closer look here in Vegas.
Could we see iTunes HD movies next week?
While we loved the Apple TV, we're still annoyed at the lack of HD downloads from the iTunes store. No doubt iTunes will never be a replacement for HD DVD or Blu-ray; if the lack of true surround sound isn't enough of a killer, the maximum bit-rate is. That being said, we'd still like to have some HD downloads, and it looks like we might see them next week. One of the current problems with Apple TV HD files is that they don't play on the iPod, so Apple would have to sell multiple versions of the same file, a new iPod could resolve this. The other possible piece of the puzzle that has recently changed is that Apple's partner Akamai just upgraded their infrastructure to support HD downloads. Either way, we'll have to wait till next week to find out.
