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Denon's new 1080p upscaling DVD players
If you can't make heads nor tails of the whole HD DVD / Blu-ray debacle but still want a taste of 1080p, Denon's new lineup delivers just that. Realizing some people are still waiting to see how the next-gen optical disc war pans out, Denon has unveiled three new 1080p upscaling DVD players that are marginally more affordable than its more luxurious options. Apparently Denon is marketing these units to easily fit into any custom installation by labeling each model "CI," although we can't really think of how else to install a DVD player. Regardless, the DVD-3930CI ($1,499), DVD-2930CI ($849), and DVD-1930CI ($369) all offer 1080p upconverting over HDMI and SACD / DVD-Audio playback. The DVD-3930CI sports the same Realta HQV chipset as in the DVD-5930CI, Denon Pixel Image Correction (DPIC), on-board keystone correction, and Burr-Brown PCM-1796 DACs. The mid-ranger features the Silicon Optix REON VX chipset and DPIC while the DVD-1930CI steps down to a Faroudja DCDi chipset and a more economical version of the Burr-Brown DACs. Not much has changed outside of the technical rundown, as all of the units feature Denon's subtle black styling and promise to deliver that "uncompromising quality" we've come to expect. If you need something to hold you off awhile longer before choosing an HD format, or maybe a good reason to see what you've been missing on DVD, Denon's two higher-end models can be grabbed now while the DVD-1930CI will be available in August.
Ask HDBeat: How can I tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p
John, this is easily one of the most common questions we get. We have covered it before and, well, honestly we don't mind covering it again. This time around though we will break it down nice and easy for not only you but the hundreds that have the same question: How can you tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p? You probably can't.We are serious.They both have the same amount of data being displayed, but the 'i' stands for interlaced. You see, a interlaced picture displays the picture by showing the odd number of horizontal lines and then the even numbered ones on the screen at a rate of 1/30 of a second. The 'p' type stands for progressive that displays all the info at the same time. So is there a difference - yes; can you see it - probably not anymore. The main reason you cannot tell comes from the type of HDTVs that are on the market these days. LCDs, DLPs, SXRD/DILA/LCoS, and plasmas are always a progressive type TV. Only CRTs can properly display an interlaced signal. The other type of displays will take that incoming interlaced signal and display it in a progressive type resolution like 720p or 1080p. There is of course a good amount of technical stuff behind that (see Deinterlacing and telecine) but we promised John and everyone else that we will keep it nice and easy.[Thanks for the question John!]
Rumor: Xbox 360 getting an HDMI port
It simply wouldn't be a normal weekend if a drenched rumor didn't wash up on the internet's binary beach, gasping for air and haphazardly telling you about anonymous sources and secretly snapped pictures. Still picking seaweed out of its hair, the latest washout professes to know all about another forthcoming Xbox 360 SDK SKU, one featuring a newfangled HDMI port. The picture on the right is meant to be confirmation, an Xbox 360 motherboard stripped naked and bearing the port that's considered by many to be the standard for true HD content. Note the positioning of the ports in relation to the heatsink in the background. Is it upside-down, and if so, why did the ethernet and USB ports switch places?It's not that we don't trust things that have just recently been tossed out of the ocean, but signs point to this rumor in particular having been in a tussle with a remarkably violent manatee. In other, less ridiculously analogous words, previous comments from Microsoft don't quite support it. Just last month, Microsoft rubbished claims of an Xbox 360 with built-in HD-DVD drive and before that, they remarked that "you don't need HDMI for HD gaming." With a seperate HD-DVD drive and the format's Image Constraint Token supposedly delayed until 2010, reasons for an HDMI-capable Xbox 360 (instead of first-party converter cable) become quite nebulous, at least if Microsoft doesn't plan on annoying early adopters of its spinning system. We've contacted Microsoft and, barring the usual "we don't comment on rumors or speculation" reply, we'll be sure to let you know whether or not you can believe some things spurned from the sea. [Via Engadget, thanks to everyone who sent this in.]See also: Xbox to feature HDMI high definition standard after all? Toshiba man hints at internal HD-DVD 360
CNET Asia: Yet another 1080p vs 1080i article
O.K. we know this has been a topic of discusion before, but with Blu-ray and HD DVD here, it is definitly a good time to bring it back up. The classic 1080i vs 1080p argument. CNET Asia lays it out nice and easy for people to read. In the end though, they draw the same conclusion as everyone else though. If you are looking for bigger then a 60-inch, the extra resolution will make a huge difference as long as you give the HDTV the very best signal from your source. The smaller sets, lets say around 40 to 46-inches, meh, you really don't need it. If you notice a sharper picture it is probally due to the denser pixals that relate to how close you sit and not the higher resolution. Oh, and the article does point out a big stumbling block of 1080p HDTVs. Some don't accept the 1080p signal. *cough* Sony XBR1 SXRDs *cough* In the end is 1080p really that important? No, unless it is a very large screen.
Unboxing the Samsung BD-P1000
Life sure is good in The Man Room. First these guys got a hold of Toshiba's HD-A1 HD DVD player before almost anyone else, and now they've also managed to score a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray unit a full six days before the official release, capturing the entire unboxing process for us to enjoy. Since the first Blu-ray titles won't go on sale until tomorrow, initial impressions are limited to the player's design, menu layout, and upscaling abilities, with the HD-A1's output used as a reference point in the latter category. The good news here is that the 500 extra bucks you'll have to spend to pick up the Samsung do indeed give you a few initial advantages over the Tosh, such as the snazzier packaging (big deal), more attractive case, and perhaps most importantly, significantly faster startup and load times. On the downside, the HD-A1 showed slightly better upconverting abilities than the Blu-ray model, and The Man Room also experienced a rather unnerving shrinking and flickering of the menus when connecting to a 1080i projector. As for us, we're gonna wait until some reviews start showing up online before we decide to either shell out the cash or wait for the Sony, the Pioneer, or maybe even the PS3 to come out. Keep reading to check out the remote and a shot of the main menu...
INHD introduces MOJO TV lineup for adventurous men
INHD is rolling out a new programming block Mojo, a lot like Cartoon Network's Adult Swim albeit aimed at "men who live accomplished and adventurous lives". Apparently if you are one, you'll just know. Basically, they are targeting the early adopter demographic they feel is the most likely to own an HDTV with what they think they we want to watch. Several of the shows kick off June 18, with a few more to follow later, all will air primarily on Sundays and Wednesdays during prime time.
Whale watching in 1080i
Blah blah blah, high definition makes everything better, blah blah blah. Don't you ever just get tired of reading and talking about how great HD is, and how so many things are captured and broadcast better because of high-def equipment? Nope, we don't either. Today its whale watchers off the coast of Hawaii, who are getting better footage than ever before thanks to their Sony HVR-Z1U camera. Not only relatively small and cheap for the quality, researchers are able to record the whales from further away, and more accurately count, identify and observe their behavior due to the additional clarity. They hope the new technology will enable the first ever shots of humpback whales mating and giving birth. No word on when this hot whale pr0n will make it into one of those documentaries you'll have seen 100 times on Discovery and still watch just because its in HD.Read [NYT free registration required]
RCA HDV5000 HD DVD player hits store shelves
HD DVD continues to move, as RCA has announced we can buy their HD DVD player, the HDV5000 at stores everywhere. Its basically the same as the lower-end Toshiba HD-A1 model, although a few earlybirds on AVSForum have noted the remote is a bit better. If you're looking for more than the 1080i, 30 second boot time loading of the first HD DVD players however, you'll need to look elsewhere as they share the same hardware underneath. PQ is still excellent, akin to an HD broadcast without the nasty compression artifacts, same HDMI out, surround sound support and everything else. Still, if $499 is burning a hole in your pocket and your local electronics retailer doesn't carry Toshiba, this is a big day for you. We're just glad this is over so we can look forward to second-generation players, sans-glitches and 1080i maximum resolution. Read - RCA HDV5000 HD DVD Player now Available at RetailRead - Early Impressions @ AVS Forums
Panasonic's 65-inch TH-65PV500B plasma TV reviewed
With the World Cup set to start in less than two weeks, it's time to extract the catheter, re-prioritize, and go big. Trusted Reviews just posted a giddy review of Panasonic's 65-inch Viera TH-65PV500B plasma TV calling it "one of the very few truly giant" sets designed for the "average Joe" with, uh 13 Gs to burn. This 1080i capable beast features HDMI (with HDCP) and component options for HD sources, a PC jack, and three SCARTs (2 x RGB), S-Video, and an SD slot. The 65PV500B also brings its own digital-tuner to the party with "all the bangs and whistles" you'd expect like a 7-day EPG with timer. But the picture's the thing boy, and this set delivers by slapping-up "outstanding" images by the standards of big plasmas with colors touting excellent vibrancy and subtlety. Blacks are "superbly dark" and pictures are "superbly free of video noise" even when sourced from upwardly scaled, standard definition feeds. After a review like this, you can just forget about that new kidney your doc's been droning-on about -- you need this TeeVee.
HDTV Scrubs on NBC?
That's the rumor, I didn't get a chance to see tonights season finale but for those of you who did, was anything different? A couple of HD Beat readers caught it and saw it was in HD. If you don't already know, Scrubs has been one the shows I most want to see in high definition, so I certainly hope they aren't playing with my emotions.Taking a look at the NBC website, the aptly named "My Transition" episode is marked as an HDTV broadcast. Hopefully this means a full sixth season of 1080i goodness, check TV Squad's interview with cast member John C. McGinley for more info about Scrubs behind the scenes.Thanks Rick for the shot of widescreen Scrubs from his HDTV and camera phone!
E3: What resolution are PS3 games running?
As the next-gen parade continues at E3, many people have stopped by to comment on their opinion of Sony's upcoming console after it was revealed that at least two of the upcoming titles would definitely be running at 720p, not the 1080p Sony has been touting as the true definition of HD. Just to clarify, no one has suggested that PS3 would not be able to output games at 1080p (well, no one suggested it until Sony revealed the $499 model would be without HDMI anyway).After all that, IGN took a look around and has only found two games on display targeting 1080p. The upscaled-GT4 demo Gran Turismo HD, and Wardevil, showing a real-time tech demo but non-playable. It is likely that if you have a TV that can accept a 1080p input the PS3 will be able to upscale games rendered at 720p or 1080i to match, just like the Xbox 360 does. How soon until the first major native 1920x1080 game hits? That still remains to be seen.
Unmanned aerial vehicles now HD equipped
Sure you can stream HD wirelessly to your Xbox 360 over 802.11a, but now that Allied Defense group has demonstrated streaming 1080i high-def from a UAV 2,000 feet in the air that doesn't seem so impressive does it? The Global Microwave Systems "High-Definition Messenger Link" claims to be the smallest microwave HD transmitter in the world and is intended for use not only in covert situations, but also for movie and television production.You can download the WMV recorded during the demo here. Great, now not only are they watching you, but they know your belt and shoes don't match from a mile away.
The (in)famous 1080p truth pt. 2
Do we have to go into this again? I've got to question this piece on The Inquirer that compounds the confusion of the article cited. They're telling people that their CRT TV is going to throw away half the information on 1080i Blu-ray and HD-DVDs giving you a 540p image, and that a 1080p set is really only going to give you 540p, which is not necessarily an accurate description.One way of getting your information correct is to go straight to the source like HDTV UK did recently. They have an excellent writeup getting information on 1080p from the manufacturers themselves. The original author has written a new post clarifying a few things. While I'm still puzzled by repeated references to CRTs method of displaying 1080i in relation to why a 1080p television using totally different technology won't be 1080p; it seems we agree on one thing: "I’m not against anyone buying a 1080p HDTV — I just want that person to be a smart shopper and ask plenty of questions to see how the content is actually mastered and delivered to the HDTV."If you're still wondering what all the hubbub is and if it affects your buying decision, don't take my word for it (© The Reading Rainbow). Check out the further information links and comments on our other post and educate yourself, then take a look to to see if you notice a worthwhile difference in 1080p.
HD-DVD & Blu-ray movie boxes unveiled, 1080p standard
DVDActive has posted the fronts and backs of several soon-to-be-released (or not so soon) Blu-ray and HD-DVD titles so you know what color boxes to look for when they hit stores. The most interesting development is that despite rumors to the contrary, all the HD-DVD movies posted state they are formatted in 1080p. Even though most of us don't have 1080p TVs yet and the initial HD-DVD players will max out at 1080i, those concerned about "future proofing" their next generation DVD collection may still have an option in HD-DVD. [Thaks for the tip SJ!]
How was the National Championship game broadcast?
We know how the game went, with Florida in control almost the entire time and winning the NCAA title easily, 73-57, but how did it look? I had some of the same issues noted in this thread at AVSForums, the picture was great for most of the game, but whenever they went to the floor cameras or behind the backboard shots, blurriness and pixelization were in full effect. Here is a link to a press release by the company, Vyvx, that provided the transmission for both the broadcast and the advertisements that aired during. The first high definiton broadcast I ever saw was the first time Final Four was shown in HD, and it had the same issues with blurriness and pixels. At the time, it convinced me HDTVs weren't worth the money. Last nights broadcast was better, but still not up to the quality we often see now in NBA and NFL productions. Who is to blame and what can be done to make the games even better to watch?
Hitachi's Wooo9000 displays deal with Japan's threatening circle surplus
Today's oddly named gadget from Japan is brought to you by the letter "o" and his drunken twin, the number zero. Actually, we can't really explain to you the thought that went into the "Wooo9000" moniker for Hitachi's new display lineup, but we can give you a rundown on specs while we wait for the other signs of the apocalypse to come. The line includes four plasma displays at 37 and 42-inches, half with a built-in HDD and half without, all of which claim to be "1080" displays. We're guessing 1080 refers to 1080i support, but the specs aren't clear. The 37-inch HDD version includes a 250GB drive, while the 42-incher goes for 500GB. In the LCD end there are two 32-inch displays, each at a 1366 x 768 resolution, with one sporting a 250GB HDD. There's no word when these displays will be available, or at what cost, but we can only hope they're worthy of the prestigious Wooo legacy.
DVD up-scalers hit 100 bones with Samsungs DVD-HD860
Do you remember when DVD players were $499? No skip that, VCRs that were $799! We sure do but the most recent video device to drop is DVD up-scalers. Just two years ago there was a Samsung for $299 but it sure was cool. They have now reached a milestone though: the $100 mark. Samsung has been producing these players from the beginning and they were the first to hit this mark. The DVD-HD860 may not have a lot of bells and whistles but it does scale the DVD up to 720p or 1080i via HDMI. It is small and cheap, but doesn't comes with a HDMI cable. So big box shoppers note: it maybe cheaper to buy the big brother, DVD-HD960, as it comes with both a HDMI and a DVI cable then it is to buy a HDMI cable in large retail stores. Plus, you will get a better DVD player.
HDTV Listings for March 25, 2006
What we're watching: And thenthere were 8. March Madness moves on today on CBS (has anyone else noticed that ESPN's 720p broadcast of the Women's Tournament looks better and has much less pixelation than CBS's broadcast?). More basketball, more grown men crying on the court (Adam Morisson we're talking about you)For the "What I Like About You" and "Living With Fran" fans season finales are tonight, but we'll be checking out "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" at 11 on INHD2.Our traditional high-def listings continue below
Hooking up a Mac Mini to your HDTV: If it doesn't just work
Then you probably don't have a television that includes a digital input like DVI or HDMI. If you own an older HDTV that is a likely scenario but not one that should prevent you from enjoying the 1080i Apple loving that our friend Ben has shared with us. robg of Mac OSX Hints.com has created a walkthrough for connecting a Mac Mini running OS 10.4 using RGB cables and adjusting overscan. Even if you're not a Mac-phile check out his page anyway for the DVD quality/HDTV quality comparison of the Harry Potter trailer available. Blow them up full screen and check out the additional detail noticeable even in those stills.Update: You can also get more information on Rob's HD experience with the mini in this article.
HDBeat Poll: which resolutions are high-def?
We warned you the poll was coming and here it is. This poll allows for multiple choices, meaning you can "vote" for more than option here. Right off the bat, we better see everyone vote for the 1920 x 1080 resolution because we all see eye-to-eye on that one, right? Let's forget progressive and interlaced for a second and keep this simple: which of the resolutions listed in the poll do you consider to be high-definition? The voting is open now; let's keep the fight clean, OK? No rabbit punches or discussion of frames per second; just a pure vertical by horizontal show-down. Which resolutions are high-def? Which resolutions here are "high-def"? 1024 x 768 1280 x 720 1366 x 768 1920 x 1080 Other (list in post comments) view results
