Matt Burns

TV & Movies By Matt Burns

BBC still deciding if they need a dedicated HD station

The BBC have been testing a dedicated high-def station, which should end in November '07, to determine if they need a dedication high-def station -- hellz yeah, they do. BBC HD seems to have a mash-up lineup similar to Discovery HD Theater with shows from other BBC channels all merged into one dedicated mega-channel. Currently, BBC is taking 50% of their content from BBC One, 30% from BBC Two and the other 20% is coming from BBC's other digital channels making up the high definition station that will launch in 2012. The programming seems to be there and we sure know people want HDTV, so why the wait for the British digital switch-over in 2012? It doesn't sound like BBC HD needs more testing, cut through the red tape and just launch the channel to high-def starved Brits already.

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TV & Movies By Matt Burns

Dish Network adds NHL HD to their lineup

Just in time for another season, Dish Network adds the National Hockey League Network to their always-growing HD lineup. NHL HD will sport 50 live regular-season games, classic games, documentaries, and how-to shows; we're wondering how much of the extra features will be in high-def however. The station is already live on channel 403 and 559 for subs with America's Top 100 package or the NHL Center Ice subscription respectively. This new station should calm rabid Hockey fans but they do hold Hockey's dirty, little high-def secret: the sport is, arguably, the best looking programming in high definition.

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News By Matt Burns

Oriole Park at Camden Yards to get HD scoreboard

Boy, all these new high-def scoreboards is a trend we can really dig. Next up on the construction list is Camden Yards with their $9 million AV upgrades including a new sound system, control room, upgrades on the ribbon scoreboards and of course, the 16x9 HD screen. The ribbon cutting is expected in time for the '08 Oriole's season and reportedly, right before the 15-year-old Sony JumboTron (pictured) losses its last leg -- and last replacement part. Right now, it seems stadiums aren't concerned about sheer size anymore -- by our records, a Tokyo racetrack still holds the size title at 221-feet diagonal -- but keeping up with the Joneses and simply have a high-def scoreboard to call their own.

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News By Matt Burns

JB Hi-Fi adds HD DVD to their previous Blu-ray only lineup

High-def owners living down-under now have the freedom of choice at JB Hi-Fi stores. The Australian electronics shop was previous Blu-ray / Sony exclusive, but according to their marketing director, it was the landmark Paramount deal that opened the door for HD DVD. No word on their sales format over format, but the addition of the HD DVD seems to suggest that Blu-ray wasn't selling 'nough and they need to something to spur high-def media sales. Most fanboys can agree that in the end, folks just want high-def movies on their HDTV, and this pesky format war is just getting in the way.

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News By Matt Burns

Orlando's WESH switching on high-def local news

Orlando residents are going to have a choice when it comes to local high-def news when WESH flips the switch on November 1. Back in June of '06, ABC-affiliate WFTV switched on the high-def local feed but within a few days, NBC-affiliate expects to broadcast 35 hours a week of HD local goodness. We can't nail down their exact budget - tends to be in the millions - the station invested heavily into onscreen graphics. For now, Orlandians will have to wait for their other network stations, WKMG and WOFL, to nail down plans but with two networks in the local news biz, they have more choices than most Americans.

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News By Matt Burns

BDA launches new Blu-ray Disc promo site

Guess who has a swanky new website? The Blu-ray Disc Association just launched a revamped site promoting a its high-def format and it sure looks nice. Sure, not everyone will be as excited about this as others but for those looking for an extensive list of hardware and titles, this is the place to go. Just like every other promotional site in the vast space we call the Internet, there is a newsletter, trailers and clips, latest news and of course, a tech support site - really just a link to the manufacturers support sites. HD DVD peeps need not apply but for those that bleed Blu, this is for you.

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News By Matt Burns

Hyatt Place offering the solution for traveling football fans

Traveling during football season? Hyatt Place's Sports Package has everything for us sports and high-def fans need to enjoy college / pro football. They allow guests to check in earlier and stay later, give 'em a bigger room with an eight-foot sectional couch, a choice of either the college or pro DirecTV package, and even a pizza with two 20 oz. beverages (read: non-alcoholic). The package is available now through December 30, 2007 - bowl games and the Play-Offs are on national stations after that anyways - at 70 Hyatt Places nationwide.

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Computing By Matt Burns

Texas Instruments' DaVinci chip brings high-def to a new low

Texas Instruments has launched their latest low-cost DaVinci MPEG-4 video encoder / decoder intended to bring high-def to a new product set. The $12 DM355 handles MPEG-4 and JPEG processing on an ARM9E CPU core with uber-low power consumption making it perfect for digital photo frames, IP video cameras, digital still cameras and even video baby monitors. If that's not enough, the chip is also equipped with additional coprocessors for resizing, histogram generation and an on-screen display. The low-cost chip of course has its limitations as it cannot encode and decode at the same time but it should work just fine for the stated on-way applications. Oh, and yes, a high-def baby monitor is a good investment even though the old one works fine.

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Accessories

Accessories By Matt Burns

ProShield eliminates glare and protects flat-screens

While LCD and plasmas boost amazing display tech, they both have a vulnerability 'bout the size of a womp rat - their screen. Plasma screens tends to be rock-solid kid-proof however they produces a good amount of glare, where LCDs don't suffer from glare; their screens aren't exactly dense. Therefore, the savior of flat-screens just might lie with Wolverine Data's ProShield. This cure-all claims to eliminate all glare, increase screen contrast, and is of course, is scratch / impact resistant up to 150 mph. We're not exactly sure if this product is simply clear, flat snake oil but with prices starting out at $99 for the 37-inch size, any parent with a flat-screen, might wanna take the chance.[via TV Snob]

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Computing By Matt Burns

DLP Cinema now in more than 5,000 cinemas worldwide

There is simply nothing worse than leaving the comfort of your own high-def home theater and spending hard cash at a local cinema that sports projectors from the 90's. Thankfully, Texas Instruments DLP magic has infiltrated at least 5,000 theaters world-wide providing what we HD geeks need out of a movie going experience. So far there are DLP-equipped theater on every continent, save Antarctica, and they expect to double their install base to 10,000 one year from now. Plus, DLP Cinema has found a niche market in the revival of 3D films and is one of the chief reasons for their installations. If your not lucky 'nough to have a dedicated home theater yet, the shear number of these theaters indicate that there probably is a DLP Cinema close by anyways.

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News By Matt Burns

Sky intos HD boxes for the artsy type

We doubt anyone has every looked at their cable box and thought, "You know what this set-top box needs - finger painting." What do we know though; they say Brits have a higher sense of style than we do here in the States. These set-top boxes from Sky are designed by Christopher Brooke and Bruno Basso and will be available in five styles for £199 to £299 with a Sky HD subscription. We have to ask though, are you suppose to sit these boxes on your A/V rack or do they come with a wall mount?

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Computing By Matt Burns

Syntax-Brillian to exit LCoS biz

Have you eye on a Syntax-Brillian LCoS? Well, you might want to jump on it a bit quicker now that they are pulling out of the business to concentrate in the crowded LCD market. Syntax-Brillian not only sells these rear-projection sets, but also manufacturers the LCoS microdisplays and light engines.so we aren't clear on how this will affect the rest of the LCoS market, but the RPTV market is shrinking as fast as the flat-panel market is growing. People want thin before size and we're sure that this won't be the last manufacturer calling it quits on the rear projection market.

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News By Matt Burns

Best Buy kicks analog TVs to the curb

Best Buy is saying sayonara to analog TVs by announcing that it has pulled all analog sets from its shelves, which marks the first time a big box retailer of this magnitude has publicly announced an exit from the analog TV biz. Of course, this decision now enables the firm to shamelessly proclaim that any television purchased within the confines of its brick and mortar walls will work in the all-digital future -- and for those not willing to pick up a new set, it also stated that it will be participating in the NTIA DTV Converter Box Coupon Program starting early next year. At first glance, the announcement sounds like much needed progress towards getting folks ready for the 2009 switchover, but for moms and pops scouting a 13-inch analog CRT on the cheap for that garage / playroom, it looks like you'll be "forced" to check out one with a digital tuner... or an LCD. As if you needed another excuse, right?

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Big Tech

Big Tech By Matt Burns

Sony expands European LCD manufacturing capability

Everyone knows that flat-panel TVs are the way of the future and Sony is expanding their manufacturing capabilities in Europe. Many consumers are under the impression that all things electronic is built in some Asian facility but in fact, a good amount of flat panels come from Europe. Sony's latest plant just opened in Nitra, Slovakia and should pump out three million high-end Bravia LCD TVs each year. The best news is that as manufacturers such as Sony expands their production base, the overall cost of these sets should decrease more rapidly resulting in more flat-panels for everyone.

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TV & Movies By Matt Burns

The-not-so-special Jack Ryan Special Edition box set

Feel free to correct us if we're wrong, but special edition DVD/HD DVDs should have extra content and therefore worthy of the moniker, right? Well, apparently someone at Paramount didn't agree, as the new Jack Ryan collector set doesn't include any of the bonus features listed on the box. No audio commentary, no featurettes, nothing extra at all is included in the set besides the movies. In fact, viewers are reporting that when the discs are popped in, they just start playing without displaying a menu at all. No word from Paramount just yet, but apparently, when you buy this box set, the only thing owners are going to enjoy is the movies themselves.

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TV & Movies By Matt Burns

More details about upcoming ESPNews HD

We already knew that ESPNews HD wasn't launching this year, but rather, in March of '08. What we didn't know is how ESPN's third high-def station was going to look. More deets have surfaced and quite frankly, the channel is going to look sweet in HD. ESPN is utilizing a scaled down 16x9 high-def video feed and supplementing three sides of the screen with their "HD Sideline" graphics -- think scores, news, headshots, and of course, advertisement. Frankly, we're stoked that ESPN isn't transposing their current ESPNews 4x3 feed and implanting graphics on either side resulting in a non-HD 16x9 channel; something like what CNBC is doing.

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Computing By Matt Burns

TI produces DarkChip 4 DLP chipset

Texas Instruments doesn't care that almost everyone is eyeing swanky flat-panels for their next TV purchase and therefore, introduced it's next DLP chipset, DarkChip 4. Contrast is improved by more than 30% and when in a 3-chip, 1080p projector, TI claims to have produce a 15,000:1 native contrast ratio. Additionally, TI is demo'n at CEDIA a DarkChip 4 setup using LED illumination that achieves; get this, 100,000:1 native contrast ratio. TI says that this new chipset will be available in a number of products in '08 and we're thinking that a number of those folks looking at flat screens might be swayed if those contrast ratios hold true in the real world.

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Accessories

Accessories By Matt Burns

OmniMount unveils Ultra Low Profile Series flat panel mounts

Flat panel TVs are suppose to be mounted flat to the wall. Sans any type of custom install however, a plasma or LCD is more than likely not going to sit right on the wall; instead hanging out a few inches off thanks to a big mounting bracket. OmniMount just introduced their new Ultra Low Profile Series that hangs the flat panel a mere 1.5-inch off the wall – plus, the TV can tilt 15 degrees. The ULPT-X is going to drop at $329 and can hold up the few 75-inch flat-screens currently on the market. The ULPT-L and ULPT-M carry a $279 and $199 MSRP, plus are designed for up to a 63-inch and 42-inch respectively. Thin is in and OmniMount went on a diet with these new mounts. [Press release after the jump]

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News By Matt Burns

Bowers & Wilkins intros 'budget' custom home theater speakers

Bowers & Wilkins speakers are often considered the best of the best; the big kid on the playground; the prime rib on the menu; the - well, you get the point. These speakers generally abide by the 'if you have to ask, you can't afford them' rule, but B&W seems to be trying to reach a new market with it's new, lower cost CT700 series. These speakers MSRP are one digit less than the average cost of most B&W's, starting out at a cool grand. They still employ though, B&W's tried and true woven-Kevlar cone along with the Nautilus-series tube-loaded tweeter. We wish we could dig up some pics but these matte-black units aren't meant to be seen anyways, instead located behind acoustically transparent screens in custom installations. This series might just be one of the best ways to enter the world of high-end audio, but beware, once your ears hear what a real home theater sounds like; your checkbook is never going to be the same. [Press release after the jump]

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News By Matt Burns

Dolby Volume set to eliminate loud commercials

Those mad scientists at Dolby Labs think they have a solution for senior citizens everywhere. Dolby Volume sets to eliminate your grandfather's cursing when the loud and obnoxious car salesman commercial hits by utilizing two patented processes. The Volume Leveler equalizes the high and low volumes, and then, the Volume Modeler dynamically adjust the bass and treble as the volume increases/decreases. Best of all, this system can be incorporated into any TV or A/V. No word on when you will see the Dolby Volume logo on your equipment just yet, but hopefully soon as it isn't just old folks complaining -- we have too.

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News By Matt Burns

Funai's future Blu-ray player?

Is this a production model? A concept or tech demo? We don't know just yet but we can tell you that Funai is the Japanese company responsible for Wal-Mart's Duraband. In addition, they manufacturer products for Emerson, Sylvania, Symphonic, Best Buy's Insignia brand and Circuit City 's Pye brand. Therefore, chances are this player might not show up with that snazzy blue bar, but it will probably compensate with a low price. Oh yeah, we're curious about the Wireless Uncompressed HDTV sign next to the player too.

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Big Tech

Big Tech By Matt Burns

Sony unveils Blu-ray equipped HTP-BD2RSF HTIB system

It was only a matter of time until Blu-ray hit the home theater in a box systems. Sony is taking their HT-SF2000 HTIB, adding the BDP-S300, and throwing in the BD Spider-Man trilogy for kicks. The system is built for HDMI, as the receiver has three inputs and one out, so besides speaker wire, users aren't going to have many cables to deal with. Plus, all that HDMI allows for auto-setup, in Sony's parlance: Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. HTIB systems have never been known for their sound quality and something tells us this 1000W system is going to be exactly top-notch, but that said, if priced right, it could be a great option for some with limited budget and a need for Blu-ray. The HTP-BD2RSF is currently announce for the European market only at an unknown sum, but something tells us that Sony is going to drop sometime very similar at CEDIA next week.

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Big Tech

Big Tech By Matt Burns

Sony unveils Blu-ray equipped HTP-BD2RSF HTIB system

It was only a matter of time until Blu-ray hit the home theater in a box systems. Sony is taking their HT-SF2000 HTIB, adding the BDP-S300, and throwing in the BD Spider-Man trilogy for kicks. The system is built for HDMI, as the receiver has three inputs and one out, so besides speaker wire, users aren't going to have many cables to deal with. Plus, all that HDMI allows for auto-setup, in Sony's parlance: Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. HTIB systems have never been known for their sound quality and something tells us this 1000W system is going to be exactly top-notch, but that said, if priced right, it could be a great option for some with limited budget and a need for Blu-ray. The HTP-BD2RSF is currently announce for the European market only at an unknown sum, but something tells us that Sony is going to drop sometime very similar at CEDIA next week.

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Accessories

Accessories By Matt Burns

RTI develops waterproof universal remote control

Water resistant HDTVs are one thing but what happens when the pool party gets out of control and the remote takes a swim? RTI has a solution that offers as much programming options as those other universal, LCD-equipped remotes, and this one can take a shower. Don't think that the waterproof attribute classifies this remote as a gimmick 'cause it still packs in the gadgetry: LCD screen, RF communication, macros and back-lighting. If your one of the lucky few that have outdoor, or bathroom, HT/HDTV system, dropping $499 on this bad boy would be well justified. [full pic after the jump]

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TV & Movies By Matt Burns

Travel Channel HD coming in '08

Well, it's about damn time that the Travel Channel hits high-def. Their programming was always a welcomed addition to the sometime stale lineup on Discovery HD Theater, but then the programming disappeared after Cox Communications bought the channel. None of that is going to matter though when the HD station hits in the first quarter of 2008. 95% of their programming is already scheduled in HD, and according to the TV Week article, the station seems committed to high-def. Channels such as these look stellar in high definition ,so hopefully the station will launch as scheduled.

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