Engadget HD Podcast 113 - 11.26.2008
Hot from the Thanksgiving oven, another Engadget HD podcast. The economy has put a damper on purchases across the board, and even old DVD hasn't been spared. Rentals might be more the right speed, and with Blu-ray coming to Redbox, we've got a reason to check out those kiosks. One feature to look for is "The Dark Knight," but will Denon Blu-ray buyers who score a free copy find the transfer quality lacking? Even if Denon's players aren't as popular as the PS3, that doesn't mean we're in agreement with typical "Best Blu-ray player" headlines, and we discuss why some questions aren't served well by simple answers. We couldn't go without a VUDU mention, and we're actually pretty excited to see HD titles (and HDX, too) up for sale, not rental. TiVo has rolled out its mobile scheduling, which is nice, but maybe we don't fit the typical user profile. As CES rolls around, one thing we'll keep an eye out for is Philips' KURO-beating LED backlit LCD, especially after reading some initial favorable reactions. The analog shutoff is right around the corner, and two-thirds of OTA households have requested DTV coupons — what's that last third going to do in a few months? Maybe that part of the nation is planning on soaking up HD Netflix on their Xbox 360s, which seems to be registering favorable reactions based on our poll. We call "hype expiration" on Digeo — not counting it out, but we've definitely moved to a "believe it when we see it" frame of mind, just like our feelings on NFL in 3D. We wrap up by coming full circle — the slow economy has everyone searching for deals, even as Sony would like to make our lives easier by not offering any discounts.
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Program
03:29 – Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 112 – 11.12.2008
13:04 – DVD sales also feeling the pinch, down 4% on the year
14:13 – It's official: Redbox welcomes Blu-ray with open arms
16:36 – Denon rewards buyers of its pricey Blu-ray decks with free Batman BDs
19:02 – The Dark Knight Blu-ray disc leaking out, complaints already rolling in
22:57 – Sony's PlayStation 3 tops another "Best Blu-ray player" list
26:24 – VUDU offering select HD / HDX titles for $4.99 purchase on Black Friday
29:03 – TiVo Mobile enables remote scheduling, program searches
34:06 – Philips LED-backlit 42PFL9803H gets hands-on treatment
37:39 – Two-thirds of OTA households have requested DTV coupons
40:56 – Poll: How are you enjoying HD Netflix streaming on the Xbox 360?
43:43 – Charter nearly ready to deploy Digeo's 3012 HD DVR
44:27 – Live NFL broadcast to air in 3D as "proof of concept"
47:34 – Sony says non-discounted goods make life easier for you