Engadget HD Podcast 124 - 02.25.2009
This week, Ben and Steve soldier on without Engadget's consigliere, Nilay. Plenty of streaming news this week involving Hulu disappearing from Boxee, our how-to on automating downloads to a Media Center PC, March Madness coming into your cubicle courtesy Silverlight, and Netflix's plans for a streaming-only option next year. VUDU is selling HD and HDX content, not just renting it; and even though we disagree on the importance of this step, it is a step in the right direction nonetheless. A much bigger step is the more widespread adoption of Blu-ray/DVD combo packs, even if you won't be watching those Blu-ray discs on a Blu-ray recorder unit anytime soon. We then talk about aspect ratios — HD 101 had a nice feature showing why we opt for leaving black bars on some content as opposed to stretching or cropping, and for those who must have way to watch 2.35:1 features with minimal black bars, we suggest flying to Europe to pick up one of Philips' Cinema 21:9 super-wide screens. We wrap up with some finger-waggling at ION for hopping on the coattails of the bungled DTV transition to hype up its own HD launch.
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steve Kim
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Program
02:15 – Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 123 – 02.18.2009
09:41 – Hulu asks Boxee to pull content, it complies
16:17 – How to automatically download and import HD to Windows Media Center
24:46 – Microsoft's Silverlight to deliver NCAA March Madness on Demand in HD
26:48 – Netflix CEO alludes to streaming-only pricing by next year
31:01 – VUDU first on-demand service to sell HD and HDX movies
33:47 – More studios move towards Blu-ray / DVD combo packs
43:33 – Poll: Would you buy a Blu-ray recorder if you could?
43:33 – HD 101: Why there are black bars on HDTVs
51:22 – Philips gives Cinema 21:9 HDTV a price and release date
57:32 – ION scared off by the DTV transition, postpones debut another month