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Ask Engadget HD: Which ATSC tuner works best with 64-bit Vista?
Yeah, this question's been swirling for as long as a 64-bit flavor of Windows Vista has been around, but we couldn't help but pose it now that the world at large has had a chance to experiment a touch and hopefully provide Cody (and everyone else wondering the same) with a bit of advice. "I'm looking for a TV tuner for a desktop PC that I'm planning on building, but I can't seem to find one without conflicting reviews. Which tuner works well with Vista x64 and can handle ATSC signals that will stand alone after February of 2009? I've noticed HDHomeRun, but I'd like to keep the cost down (below $100 or so) if possible, and I'm also hoping to find some sort of internal PCI / PCIe card -- though I won't argue with USB / external solutions." With the plethora of options out there, we're sure some of you have found some real winners / losers. Don't hold back, open up and help Cody get his OTA HD on.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: When will wireless HD / HDMI take off?
This week's Ask Engadget HD question is near and dear to our hearts, and quite frankly, it's one of the best inquiries we've heard thus far. After a veritable onslaught of wireless HD, wireless HDMI, WHDI and other cord-free HD apparatuses were introduced and trumpeted at CES 2008, the hubbub has completely died in the months after. Sure, we realize many firms were simply showing off unreleased kit back in January, but it seems the push for untangling one's components has been (at least momentarily) halted. Check out Jeff's concerns for yourself:"When is wireless HD finally going to hit the market? Philips introduced a wireless HDMI product that never saw the light of day; now Belkin (FlyWire) and Gefen have announced similar examples at CES, but there's no word on when either will hit the market. Yes, this technology comes with a large price tag, but when will those willing to pay for a clutter-free setup have the chance to?"Beyond all that, we're wondering if these kinds of products will even impress once unleashed. In our experiences, transmitting loads of data over any form of wireless setup has been prone to dropouts, hiccups and all sorts of annoyances. Heck, even PowerLine has yet to overcome the stigma attached to it -- and it's a wired technology! Personally, we're hoping companies with wireless HD wares are taking the time to perfect them rather than handing them over unpolished, but still, will you be willing to subject yourself to possible early adopter woes when this stuff finally greets retail floors en masse?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: When does contrast ratio fail to matter on an LCD?
After taking a look at the realities (or lack thereof) of dynamic contrast, reader caveman posed a question that we found quite intriguing. There's little doubt that higher actual contrast ratios on televisions generally lead to sharper blacks and better overall image quality, but where does a number stop becoming a factor of importance and start becoming an overpriced bragging right? In his own Neanderthalian words: "I'm looking to buy an LCD TV soon and was wondering how much of a difference contrast ratio made? Where does the cutoff occur where a higher ratio just isn't worth the increased cost?" Yeah, we know stipulations around set placement, surroundings, etc. all come into play here, but why not give Mr. caveman a glimpse into your own experiences? Have you moved from a low contrast set to a high and seen a noticeable improvement? Have you watched your buddy's G Platform plasma and walked away unimpressed? What's your take on the matter?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: Which digital TV converter is the one to buy?
Given the smorgasbord of choices when it comes to picking up a digital TV converter to prepare for the looming 2009 cutover, there hasn't been much said about which one actually performs the best. Quite frankly, we're assuming said comparison hasn't been done simply because of the inordinate amount of work that would be required, but we aren't underestimating the power of the people. Check out what's been on Roberto's mind:"With the analog shutoff coming in less than a year, I have to start worrying about 2 TVs in my house which will need tuner crutches (ATSC receivers). I would normally postpone the expense as much as possible, but my federal $40 coupons will expire in about two months now, and I want to get the most bang for my buck. Anyways, do any of you, TV gurus, know which of the US government-approved ATSC receivers had the best tuner and the best interface? Where do I get one? I don't want to bring one home and realize it only tunes 3 channels and it is a pain to operate."There's no doubt each DTV converter will operate slightly differently, and we're hoping that by now, a number of you have been able to procure one and can give your opinion on it. So, tell the world how you feel about your recently purchased converter -- good and bad, we want to hear it all.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: Which HD DVD player upconverts the best?
Soon after the format war came to a close, we wondered what HD DVD adopters would do with all their red-related hardware / software. We were also curious to see if fencesitters and red supporters alike would be quick to pick up a Blu-ray player given the (still) lofty prices. Now, however, we've got yet another angle on all of this -- what if closeout HD DVD players were viewed as DVD upconverters on the cheap? Take a glance at Larry's inquiry: "I was thinking of picking up a HD DVD player and using it as an upconverting player, but I'm not sure which one to get. Which HD DVD player upconverts the best? For what it's worth, I'm working on a 52-inch 1080i HDTV without 720p picture capability." All things considered, HD DVD players marked down substantially aren't a half bad investment if you're already interested in a bulk of the films out there on the format and you're in need of an upscaling DVD player. So, for all of you still clinging tight to your HD DVD decks, how's the upconverting treatin' you?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: How can I record premium content on my HTPC?
Life is good if you got HD, but it's not all good. Sure, HD is great, but only if we can have it on our own terms, and unlike the analog sources before it, the powers that be are doing everything to keep us down. In the spirit of wanting things done right, our friend Justin writes in.I'm a big DIY PC guy, and I've been looking into ways of recording HDTV on my PC for quite sometime now. The problem is, I want to record HD Streams from my local Cable Provider (Charter), or possibly switch to Dish Network's HD-only package and record those streams. Unfortunately, either of those requires either a CableCARD or proprietary tuner. I know DirecTV has one in the works (Release Date: Day and Date with Duke Nukem Forever, I hear), and that Niveus has a dual CableCARD USB 2.0 Tuner (At an ungodly $1500 price tag), but that's all I can find!Believe us, we hear ya' Justin, but the options are slim. But while none are perfect there are a few ways to accomplish what your after.
Ask Engadget HD: Is now the time to replace my 720p HDTV with a 1080p set?
With the format war finally behind us, and 1080p HDTV prices sinking like a stone, this week's Ask Engadget HD question was bound to surface. After discovering that now would be the correct time to finally splurge on a Blu-ray player (unless you're waiting for substantial price drops, of course), we're now wondering if today's the day to ditch that once-cutting edge 720p set for a 1080p iteration. More specifically: "I know my 720p HDTV looks perfectly good in most situations, but with prices of 1080p sets declining, I keep wondering if now would be a good time to pick one up to replace my existing set. Outside of 1080p movies and games, are there any other compelling reasons to make the leap? Will the difference be worth the cost to upgrade?"For folks who get the itch (and have the means) to upgrade their set every few years anyway, we don't see why you wouldn't make the jump to 1080p. 720p sets can still fetch a decent amount on the used market, and 1080p HDTVs can be had for a song if the right sale is caught. Still, the question of "is it worth it?" is a crucial one, so why not give your take in comments below?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: Does Blu-ray show enough love to 720p HDTV owners?
While we've had a good bit of conversation the past few weeks surrounding the right time to pick up a Blu-ray player, today's Ask Engadget HD inquiry puts a welcome spin on the discussion that we feel affects quite a few movie aficionados out there. Jonathan writes in wondering if his 720p HDTV is man (or woman) enough to enjoy the luxuries of BD, or if upscaled DVD is a-okay for the time being. "Now that Blu-ray vanquished HD DVD, is there a compelling reason for 720p HDTV owners to upgrade from upconverting DVD players? Is there a noticeable improvement in picture quality for those of us who can't see the 1080p/24fps glory to warrant dropping 400 bucks on a player? Is the Blu-ray spec finalized enough that we can purchase a player without worrying about future compatibility issues or missing features?"Yeah, this one's chock full of intricacies and complexities, but that doesn't mar its validity one bit. What says you, dear reader? Is making the leap to Blu-ray a sensible decision for 720p HDTV owners, or is the difference really only enjoyed at 1080p?[Image courtesy of TheDigitalBits]Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: Which provider has the best quality HD?
Who'd a thought so many people were interested to learn which provider had the greatest selection of HD programming, but judging by how many folks read that edition of Ask Engadget HD, we'd say more then we could've ever imagined. Like many great questions, when you receive the answer it only invokes more questions, which lead Chris to ask the age ol' quality vs quantity question:"While DirecTV has the most HD channels right now, is there really a noticeable difference in the quality of their HD vs. the HD I would get from my local cable provider? I've read a lot about "HD Lite" and how the satellite providers have to compress the data – but is there really that big of a difference visually? Am I not getting a real 1080i/720p picture?"Lets get something straight right out of the box, all HD is compressed -- even HD DVD and Blu-ray -- and the how much is it compressed answer, doesn't tell the whole story. What really matters is if can you tell it's compressed and the most obvious signs are when you can see those blocks (sometimes referred to as macroblocking or pixelation) that've been made famous by internet video sites such as YouTube. With that out of the way. we'll cut to the chase before getting into the nitty-gritty. The answer isn't black and white, and no matter what anyone tells you, no one can really claim the best HD quality. Ultimately the only thing that is important is what looks good to you, but we're not going to let that stop us from analyzing the data.
Ask Engadget HD: Is it finally safe to buy a Blu-ray player?
When Warner made its move to support the Blu camp exclusively just before CES commenced, we still figured HD DVD had a fighting chance at staying alive for a good bit longer. Needless to say, it seems as if the Blu-ray bandwagon is getting more crowded by the minute, with Netflix vowing to only carry BD titles in the future just this week. We're not about to say the format war is all but done just yet -- after all, we've seen too many zany things happen to jump to such conclusions already -- but this week's Ask Engadget HD question is particularly timely. "I've been holding off on buying a high-definition player of any kind until prices settled down a bit and one format looked to be in command. I realize a combo player would solve the dilemma, but since I'm looking to support one format or the other, I'm beginning to think now is a good time to finally buy a Blu-ray player. Is that the general consensus?" Well, you heard the man -- is it? If you were still an outsider in this drawn out battle and were just dying to get in, would you take the plunge and pick up a BD player? Or would you store your wallet far, far away until the dust settled a bit more? Sound off below!Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Engadget HD definitively answers: does cable, satellite, or fiber provide more HD?
You want to know -- nay, you deserve to know -- which service provides the most HD content. Engadget HD's got the answer, see how your HD provider stacks up.
Ask Engadget HD: Does cable, satellite, or fiber provide more HD?
Particularly of late, cable television providers have been bullying each other on the air and proudly proclaiming superiority in the high-definition department. One would immediately assume that there's some black and white somewhere in this equation, but honestly, things are pretty gray. Hard though it may be to believe, there actually isn't a clear cut answer to this week's Ask Engadget HD question, which comes to us from the bewildered mind of Brian: "I want an unbiased opinion, and more importantly, the facts. DISH Network is looking more and more like the leading HD provider with its weekly HD additions this past fall. However, now my local cable provider, Comcast, is running ads stating that it has More, More, More HD. My question is simple: who has more HD channels including and not including HD VOD?"The inability to find a clear cut answer hasn't stopped us from forging ahead in the past, and it won't be slowing us down today, either. Ready to plunge deep into the increasingly murky waters of HD offerings? Join us after the jump as we take a critical look at high-def options from DirecTV, DISH Network, Verizon, AT&T and a slew of traditional cable operators in order to best address the above inquiry.
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best consumer HD camcorder?
Although the new year has just begun, we're sure you can already count the number of social events, birthday parties and vacations you'll be attending in 2008. So if you know you're going, why not capture a few rolls of memories while you're at it, right? This week's Ask Engadget HD inquiry comes from Heyward, who is desperately seeking help in selecting an HD camcorder to tag along with him to the aforementioned getaways."I'm looking for a full HD camcorder. I don't mind shelling out a little dough, but I will draw the line at $1,500. It has to be hybrid media, though I don't want anything involving optical media (so flash-based is okay). I'd prefer control over frame rate and compression method, but I understand that those features might be too much to ask for on a sub-prosumer cam. I'm looking for a larger-than-average, easy to read screen, and a decent battery life. Help, please!" You can almost hear the frustration in his voice, now can't you? C'mon -- we know at least some of you HD aficionados out there have bit the bullet and picked up an HD camcorder by now, so take a moment of your lunch break and tell poor Heyward what's what.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best universal remote out there?
Ah, the wonderful world of remotes. Just in case shopping for a new HDTV wasn't overwhelming enough, actually digging through heaps upon heaps of lackluster, poorly designed remotes is enough to drive anyone to falling back to the tried-and-true "five remotes at a time" method. This week's question is one that many are simply afraid to ask for fear of having to sit through a lecture of an answer -- thankfully, Joel can skim through your responses as time allows. I'm looking for a universal remote that's highly flexible, extremely versatile and well-designed. I hesitate to start calling out my list of components because I tend to change things up on a somewhat frequent basis. Basically, I'm trying to narrow my choices of units that can control my HD DVD / Blu-ray combo player, AV receiver, television, HD DVR and HTPC, if that's even possible. Oh, and I'd prefer not having to purchase the most expensive one on the market, as cost is a concern. So, there you have it. Roll this one around in your gord for a tick and dish out any personal experiences you've had (successes or failures) with particular remotes.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.[Image courtesy of UseIt]
Ask Engadget HD: What's the ultimate HD movie HTPC setup?
We love HD movies, but we also love HTPCs, and bringing the two together would make us very happy. But the problem is we demand the ultimate experience -- or at least the best we out there. While it seems the best solution is yet to come, we wonder how close it is to being a reality on a HTPC, so the question this week is.What's the ultimate HD movie HTPC setup and what are the advantages and drawbacks over stand-alone players. Obviously a fast processor and video card are necessary, but which ones? What is the best video card and does it provide HDMI (1.2 or 1.3?). What is the best playback software, WinDVD or PowerDVD? And do they work with Windows Media Center? Which is the best HD media drive, does it support both formats? Can we enjoy any, or all of the next-gen audio codecs, if so how? Do OEMs offer the best solutions, or is the DIY route the only way to go? We want to know it all and we want to know why. So stop holding back and let us know.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: DISH Network or DirecTV?
It's a question that's as old as the service itself, but as each wave of updates passes, the answer can vary wildly. Case in point: just days ago at CES, DISH Network unveiled its 100 HD channels / 100 markets initiative, essentially throwing the ball back in DirecTV's court. Of course, the back-and-forth between the two sat providers is nothing but beneficial for end users, but we still believe that there is enough differentiation between the two to give users something to debate. That said, we present Keith's totally timely inquiry:"I live in Austin, Texas and I'm considering both DirecTV and DISH Network. For me, it basically comes down to channel lineup versus hardware. Though I like DirecTV's channel selection more, from all the research I've done, DISH has the better HD DVR. I am leaning towards DISH because I think adding more HD channels is much easier than manufacturing and then distributing a new receiver. What do you guys think? Am I off base here?" We'll be straight with you -- we're not looking to incite any sort of flame war with the above question. Indeed, it's a legitimate concern that a myriad individuals mull over on a daily basis. So we're posing the question to you, and we're looking for your input on the performance of your HD DVR, the general quality of service, appearance of HD channels and overall satisfaction. C'mon -- give poor Keith some advice to keep him from tearing any more patches of hair out, would ya?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: Where do these VideoScan numbers come from?
When we brought back Ask Engadget HD, we told you the answers would go both ways. In case you couldn't guess, this is the variety where we answer your questions. We're going to start this off by explaining where Nielsen VideoScan numbers come from.Nielsen is the leading provider of marketing information and thanks to its TV ratings it needs no introduction. The TV shows ratings have helped content providers decide which shows get canceled for some time. Starting in 1993, in cooperation with ACNielsen, the company started collecting movie sales information from most major retailers. Some of these retailers can report early, and this data is used to make up what's called First Alert, this is the data that shows up weekly in our Nielsen VideoScan HD movie post. The list of First Alert Retailers is very extensive and includes just about every major retailer including: Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, K-Mart and Target. But as many HD DVD fans will tell you Wal-Mart doesn't count. It's not that Nielsen doesn't want to count or that there's some blu conspiracy going on, it's just against Wal-Mart's corporate policy to share sales data. But despite what red fanboys will tell you, this does not invalidate the numbers -- they are expressed in percentages, and as any high school statistics student can tell you, unless Wal-Mart stopped selling Blu-ray movies entirely, the sale of HD DVD movies at one retailer alone wouldn't be enough to significantly change the outcome. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: How do I get more HD programming on my Mac?
These days, it's not too far fetched to yearn for HDTV on one's computer, and while pulling in OTA channels is fine and dandy for some, we're looking for the full monte. For those who don't mind dabbling in Windows, there's a growing selection of CableCARD-equipped rigs available for purchase, but for those who prefer OS X, things are a bit less clear. 2008's first Ask Engadget HD question is one that will likely clarify itself in the coming months -- or at least we hope -- but we're pretty sure Mark's worried about the here and now. "I've got a Mac Pro and use an EyeTV USB tuner to pick up a few OTA channels. Considering that I'm not interested in picking up a Windows-based, CableCARD-equipped machine, do you know of a way I could get more HD programming on my Mac?" Aside from just snagging an HDTV and set-top-box, what do you crafty folks recommend? There has certainly been a recent surge in internet-based HD content, but even that is far from being a bona fide solution. We know, CableCARD-equipped Macs would pretty much wrap this up, but until that day dawns, what options does poor Mark (and countless others) have?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: What is the future of DVD recording?
We know, you're probably still concerning yourself with all that new kit you picked up yesterday, but how's about taking a moment away from your sparklin' fresh toys and giving this inquiry an answer? This week's Ask Engadget HD question comes from Paul, and it's a good one. "What is the future of DVD recording? Will high-definition DVD recording be affordable soon and if not, which of the current crop of DVD recorders performs the best?"Looking back, we've actually tossed out a DVD recorder-based question before, and though it needn't be said, a lot has changed in 1.5 years. Currently, there are a few units that handle HD DVD / Blu-ray television recording, but most are sold outside of America and at near-stratospheric prices. As for high-def archiving, we're already seeing the prices come down to levels that laymen can wrap their heads around, but even that realm has quite some ways to go before it's ubiquitous. So, dear readers, give this (admittedly open-ended) inquiry some thought, and whichever angle(s) you choose to hit, drop those thoughts in comments below.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.[Image courtesy of PCWorld]
Ask Engadget HD: Which Blu-ray player should I pick up for the holidays?
See, we told you the Blu-ray faithful would be given a shot to voice their opinions, now didn't we? In celebration of Ask Engadget HD's return, we're doling out a special two-fer edition to get a couple of pennies from both camps, and if you casually passed on the HD DVD question earlier, hopefully this variant will be more your style. Although standalone Blu-ray players have traditionally been more costly than their HD DVD counterparts, noticeable price cutting has finally commenced on a number of well-known units. Granted, there's all sorts of debate surrounding DVD upconversion performance, Profile 1.0 / 1.1 / 2.0 and how sexy a given player looks beside your HD DVR, but that's where you come in. Is paying top dollar really worth it to be on the bleeding edge? Or should you pick up an oldie-but-goodie and await a firmware upgrade? Oh, and let's not forget the fact that Sony's recently heralded PlayStation 3 isn't taking its movie playing duties lightly, either. Needless to say, the sheer number of choices here are mind-numbing, so why not chime in and help those struggling to decide which BD player to snap up before long lost siblings and oft forgotten cousins rush in?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
