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Nintendo sells out of their component cables
We guess the need for 480p is a strong one, as demand has caused Nintendo to sell out of their initial batch of component cables. If you were looking to get ahold of some component cables direct from Nintendo, you're out of luck, at least, for awhile. No word as of right now on exactly when Nintendo will have replenished stock of the cables.With the latest generation of consoles being 2/3rds HD-compatible, is it a surprise that most of the launch day Wii adopters want component cables for their console? We guess it was nice of Nintendo, at least, to sell all of the cables rather than use them for their demo kiosks ...[Via Joystiq]
Nintendo sells out of Wii component cables
It turns out that desire for higher-definition visuals is much higher than Nintendo expected. Those Wii component cables that showed up on Nintendo's official online store have completely sold out. In addition, GameStop's online listing has been pushed back from December 5 to the 15th. If you're impatient, however, you can purportedly still purchase MadCatz's "HD Premium" component cables for $60 as of December 1.Has Nintendo underestimated the expedience at which consumers have adopted HD (or, at least, ED)? A 480p screen isn't a head-turner, but it certainly beats standard definition. Looks like the House that Mario Built might have to add more detail into the plumber's mustache sooner than they expected.
Hooking up a Wii to your HDTV? Preorder cables now
The Nintendo Wii might max out at a 480p resolution, but plenty of HDTV owning gamers will be picking one up at launch. Unfortunately, component cables for the console (not included -- although even some high priced consoles don't have them either) won't be available on store shelves at launch either. With the cables not listed as arriving until December at popular videogame retailers, the only sure option is to order now from Nintendo's website and spend extra on shipping. If you're asking yourself why cables are so important when the system is at best EDTV anyway, remember the lessons learned from the last generation. PlayStation 2 and Xbox games (and other sources) are considerably clearer on HDTVs when using component connections as compared to S-Video or composite cables, and early reviews of the Wii show the same trend. Remember, friends don't let friends game in 480i.Read - Wii component cables available online now, in stores December 5Read - PSA: Use the right cables for your TV
Poll results: 480i vs. 480p, what will the people be using?
It's been a week and it's time we checked out our little poll on picture quality. Turns out the majority of you are looking to game in 480p, no doubt already having the thirty or so dollars for Nintendo's cables set aside. If you're like us, you're ready to shell out the dough for said cables, however you're still angry that the GameCube component cables are incompatible.Thanks for voting!
PSA: Use the right cables for your TV [update 1]
As Wired and IGN have discovered, the Wii looks significantly better using component cables with an HDTV versus its bundled composite connection. 480p is a big step up from 480i. Gamers haven't had the same problem with the Xbox 360 or PS3 because it ships with cables that support high-definition signals, but the basic issue is the same.HDTVs look great with HD sources, but when playing analog signals, they look even worse than the analog TVs they replace. That's one of the dirty secrets of the HD upgrade; 480i games and broadcasts look weak. If gaming on a TV with component inputs, those cables are a must; they even make Xbox, PS2, and GameCube titles clearer. (And for fully HD consoles, cables that carry digital signals -- like HDMI -- are best.)Wii buyers with 480p-or-better TVs, be sure to budget those cables into your console purchase.[Update 1: PS3 users with HDTVs, you're going to have the same issue. Somehow we forgot that the component or HDMI cables cost extra. Thanks to all the readers who pointed our the error.]Read: Hil's Blargh! - Composite Cables - The Wii KillerRead: Wii Component Cables![Via Digg]
Kaplan interviewed, confirmed component cable availability
During an interview with Game Informer, Nintendo's own Perrin Kaplan confirmed that component cables, for those of you who choose to settle for no less than 480p support, would be available at brick-and-mortar outlets, as well as their online sites, including Nintendo.com, not exclusively at Nintendo.com as we previously believed. As glad as we are to hear the news, we're still a little upset our GameCube component cables, which were tough enough as it is to obtain, are not compatible with the Wii.
Wii component cables are retail-bound
The Wii component cables will be available in brick-and-mortar retail outlets on launch day, according to Nintendo of America's Perrin Kaplan. In an interview with Game Informer, Kaplan admitted her region-free mistake from mid-September before answering the question on the component cables' availability.Prior to the interview, the general consensus was that the component cables would be made available only through Nintendo's online store, vastly dropping their chances of adoption. If Kaplan is correct, this would be a marginal boost for Nintendo to showcase what technical prowess the console has. In relation to its competitors, 480p is not a number to boast, but certainly it improves Wii's stance with the technophilic audience eager to get the most out of their hardware.If Kaplan hasn't made a second mistake, expect to be able to pick up your higher-def Wii cables at "Best Buy, GameStop, Circuit City, etc." on launch day.[Via Evil Avatar]
Major Nelson: Fix on the way for Xbox 360 1080p problems
Microsoft just rolled out the much awaited update to the Xbox 360 dashboard including -- among other things -- support for 1080p over VGA and component but for some gamers and error screen was all they got. The company still hasn't said exactly what it believe is causing the issue, although some have said it may be due to either frequency supported by the VGA cable or the way it syncs with monitors, but Major Nelson confirmed on his podcast this morning that engineers are aware of the issue and are working on a fix. The TVs that suffer the problem appear to be some Sony (most notably LCD XBRs) and Samsung models that should be able to accept the 1080p input but as of yet, don't. Affected owners should hopefully have their mere 720p experience rectified soon, but will it be in time for the HD DVD player launch?
More Wii accessories, prices revealed
The Nintendo of Japan website has a new page showing off all the not-so-extravagant Wii accessories; namely, the power cord, input cables, and "official" Nintendo SD cards. The accessories and prices revealed: Power adapter* (¥3,000) Ethernet adapter (¥2,800) 512MB SD card (¥3,800) Composite input cables* (¥1,000) D-Cable input (¥2,500) S-Video input cables (¥2,500) Component input cables (¥2,500) The 512MB SD card equates to approximately US$32, which is double the price for a non-Nintendo SD card with the exact same functionality. Just remember that it costs Nintendo a hefty fee to put its logo on its own products.Note: accessories with an asterisk (*) besides them are pre-packaged with the Wii.[Via Engadget; thanks to all who sent this in!]
PS3: No price cut for the US, Dolby TrueHD audio support in but component cables out?
With the November launch date closing in, we still have a lot of unanswered questions about Sony's Playstation 3 and apparently so do they. What we do know is the 20% price cut in Japan will not be applied in the US, and that 80/20 launch split is up in the air. In an interview with Wired, Phil Harrison said the Japanese price adjustment was to hit "magic price points" after consumers there reacted badly to the initially announced price. In the same article fellow Sony execs Kaz Hirai and Ken Kutaragi were unsure if component video cables would be included, and seemed to lean towards "no". With HDMI already confirmed out of the $500/$600 box, we're trying to figure out how Sony is going start the HD era without any cables, S-video just isn't very next gen. At least there's some good news to report, as they officially announced Dolby TrueHD audio support for up to 7.1 channels and Dolby Digital 5.1 support for games. Although there aren't any Dolby TrueHD Blu-ray movies out yet, once there are a large number of players on the shelf we're sure studios will include it, or at least bring them over from cross platform HD DVD releases. You don't need David Copperfield to figure out that a lower price and guaranteed out of the box HDTV support would go a long way to getting us from behind this keyboard and camped out in front of local electronics retailers.Read - Sony Execs Talk PS3Read - Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby TrueHD Deliver a Premium Surround Sound Experience for PLAYSTATION® 3
Xbox 360 HD DVD playback: Maximum 1080i via component, 1080p VGA-only
We still don't know the US price or launch date, but we've got a bit more specifics on how the Xbox 360 HD DVD player add-on will work when it hits store shelves later this year thanks to a post by Microsoft insider Amir M. on AVS Forum. When Microsoft revealed yesterday it will support 1080p HD DVD and 1080p DVD upconversion we were surprised because it's commonly accepted that the CSS (DVD) and AACS (HD DVD & Blu-ray) copyright provisions wouldn't allow that (although some manufacturers have looked the other way before) via unprotected analog connections. We were right, sort of. Even after the software upgrade this fall, via component cables, the Xbox 360 will still only upconvert DVDs to 480p, and will play HD DVD movies at a maximum resolution of 1080i. To get 1080p output for movies, you must use a VGA cable, which is not subject to the same copyright restrictions. This just means the Xbox 360 is just like every other HD DVD and Blu-ray player on the market, but you wouldn't know that by reading Microsoft's press releases yesterday. If you ran out and bought a 1080p HDTV yesterday don't return it just yet, you should be able to get equal picture quality to 1080p if your TV processes the incoming signal correctly, and if it supports 1080p via component you can still play upconverted and native-1080p games . We're still waiting to hear exactly how HD DVD's advanced audio capabilities will be handled by the 360 and oh yeah...a US price, please Microsoft?.Update: Added list of supported resolutions after the break.
Make your own component video switch
Our friends at Engadget have a nice how-to up today about building your own component switch. If you're not sold on going digital just yet, still have many devices where component is your best output available or just picked up a new Pioneer Elite plasma, quit crawling behind the TV already. Sure you can buy off the shelf, but where's the fun in that? We already showed you how to build your own component cables, hook them up to a former KVM switch and custom-made component-to-VGA cables (You're not still using your TV speakers are you? We can only help you if you first help yourself.) and you're well on your way to joining the elites of the HD Beat flickr group.
Xploder HDTV Movie Player for PS2 converts DVDs to...EDTV?
We're not quite sure what is so HD about 480p upconverted DVDs, but Xploder has followed up its HDTV Game Player for PS2 announcement with the the HDTV Movie Player for PS2. While we took the news that a set of component cables and a memory card setting could suddenly improve the resolution of your Playstation 2 games beyond their original capabilities with a grain of salt, this is even more confusing. Every Playstation 2 since the SPCH-50000 revision three years ago is capable of progressive scan 480p DVD playback when equipped with component cables already. That makes this product totally unnecessary for many owners, and of course we have to question if it will work properly with older model PS2's that didn't support 480p for movies, only for gaming.I remember trading in my PS2 immediately in 2003 when the SPCH-5000 came out for progressive scan DVD support, you can check the model # to see if yours is supported, or just look at the front. If it is missing the FireWire port you should be all set for 480p with the right cables and a change of a setting. With all the attention the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 are giving to the HD Era, this may be an unfortunate grab to turn some of that attention into sales of unneeded stopgap hardware.
Evergreen's low-cost component/optical remote hub
Evergreen has a tendency to produce low-cost products and you know what, we don't mind. These items might not look like anything fancy but they tend to get the job done for the right price. Their latest jaunt into this market comes in the form of a component video/optical hub that can function via a remote. The unit would allow you to plug three component devices into the hub and then run one cable to your display. That is if your display happens not to be 1080p; not that there is many devices that output 1080p over component, but if you happen to have one, be warned that this hub will not pass that signal. Evergreen understands us and made it switch via a remote. Do yourself a favor though and program the IR signal into the learning remote that you have. The hub is retailing for 9,980 Yen ($86) and is available right now.
Motorola Q broken down by the numbers
iSuppli's back doing what they do best -- ripping apart your favorite piece of hardware, adding up the component costs, and letting you know how much you're getting taken when you whip out the plastic. Today's victim is Motorola's text-tastic Q, and though the margins are pretty slim, it looks like Moto and Verizon are in the black on every unit they push. All told, iSupply totals the cost of the Q's guts to be $150; tack on another $8 for manufacturing and you're looking at $158 out the door. The most expensive component, not surprisingly, is the device's 320 x 240 display at $25, with memory and the XScale rounding out the top three. If you've invested in one of these bad boys lately you know that Verizon's charging $199 on a two-year contract, meaning that in the worst case, the two companies are splitting $41 -- and if you opt for a one-year at $349, well, they're just rolling in fat city.
Xbox 360 getting an HDMI port soon?
That is the latest rumor from Xbox-Scene, who were also sent the requisite fuzzy picture of what is purported to be an Xbox 360 motherboard with HDMI-out equipped. No word from the anonymous source if this is actually coming soon (or ever), if it could be part of the HD DVD-equipped Xbox 360 that isn't planned, or just a mockup of some kind. We also don't know if this would be a deep color 1080p capable HDMI 1.3 output or...well really anything at all just yet but it makes for an interesting picture. Do you need a digital output on your next-gen console or are you proudly analog forever?[Via Engadget]
SavitMicro's Dueple: HD media player with DVD
We've seen Korean manufacturer SavitMicro a few times before, once with a hub for multi-cam recording and another time with a media-playing drive enclosure, and now they've popped up once again at Computex with yet another device that promises to simplify your digital life. Like their drive enclosure, the new "Dueple," as it's known, also accepts swappable 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives for multimedia playback, but throws in a DVD player as well for spinning any of those old-fashioned discs you may have laying around. The Dueple features DVI, component, S-video, coax, and digital audio outputs for hooking up to your home theater gear, Ethernet and USB ports for data transfer, and lets you watch/listen to MPEG-1/2/4, MP3, DivX, WMV, WMA, and OGG files, including high-definition content. There are probably better ways of getting your digital swag onto a TV than this particular solution, but if it sports a reasonable pricetag when it comes out within the month -- from e-tailer GeekStuff4U -- we imagine that it will draw some interest.
Flip4Mac begins beta testing Universal Binary WMV QuickTime components
For Intel Mac users who either love or hate WMV but have to deal with it one way or another, Flip4Mac has just begun beta testing the long-awaited Universal Binary version of their WMV QuickTime components. Announced in their forums today, it is more or less an invite-yourself program, as I had to contact them weeks ago to get on their email announcement list.After briefly testing on my MacBook Pro, it seems like everything is working just fine. I'm able to play embedded WMV files with no problem, but I unfortunately don't have any locally saved WMV's to try at the moment. So far, the beta seems like a success, and while I hate the WMV format just as much as the next Mac user, it's nice to no longer receive that 'plug-in not found' error.
Acer's 32-inch AT3205-DTV LCD reviewed
We know there are a ton of Brits anxiously waiting to hear whether Acer's 32-inch AT3205-DTV LCD, at only $1,888 dollars, is really such a bargain, so we won't keep you in suspense: according to Trusted Reviews, it most certainly is. Truth be told, the picture actually sounds like it leaves something to be desired -- black levels and fine detail aren't the best -- but they seem to fall in the acceptable range, and the 1366 x 768 screen apparently delivers vibrant colors and good brightness levels. Other plusses include the built-in Freeview tuner (no CI slot for adding subscription content, though), powerful-for-a-flat-panel sound system, and a plethora of connection options, including HDMI and DVI, component, three SCART ports, and digital audio out. So, if you can deal with some slightly gray blacks and a bit of a, um, bold design, then fear not, British friends, because your quid will be well spent on the Acer.
Hitachi's new 42HDS69 42-inch plasma
HD Beat has the scoop on an upcoming 42-inch plasma display from Hitachi that delivers a lot of features for its $2,500 price tag. The 42HDS69 accomplishes a native resolution of 1,080i through a rather strange pixel configuration of 1,024 x 1,080, sports such viewing enhancements as an anti-reflective screen and ALiS pixel barrier minimization technology, and features three each of component and HDMI inputs along with an optical audio out and CableCard support. No definitive release date has been announced, but the 'Beat reports that we can expect to see this model in stores "soon."[Via HD Beat]
