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HDTV Listings for June 10, 2009
What we're watching tonight: NBC (1080i) continues I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here at 8 & 9 p.m. ABC (720p) has Wipeout at 8 & 9 p.m. and The Unusuals at 10:01 p.m. Discovery (1080i) has Time Warp at 8 p.m., Mythbusters at 9 p.m. and Pitchmen at 10 p.m. History (720p) has MonsterQuest at 9 p.m. A&E (720p) brings Dog the Bounty Hunter at 9 & 9:30 p.m. followed by Tattoo Highway at 10 & 10:30 p.m. TBS (1080i) has Meet the Browns at 10 & 10:30 p.m. Spike (1080i) has The Ultimate Fighter at 10 p.m. Comedy Central (1080i) has Reno 911 at 10:30 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Yankees/Red Sox baseball at 7 p.m. ESPN2 (720p) CD Chivas USA/Dynamo MLS soccer at 8:30 p.m.
Toshiba REGZA ZV650, XV648 and SV670 HDTVs hands-on
Remember that trio of HDTV families that Toshiba told us about this morning? You know, those models that you've been waiting for since CES? Yeah -- we just spent a few quality moments with the gang at an unassuming New York hotel, and while we can't speak for the refreshments, we will say we're digging the panels. Have a peek yourself below.
Nielsen's final pre analog shutoff survey finds 2.5% still unready
In the last update before analog TV goes off after June 12, Nielsen's results indicate 2.5% of, or 2.8 million U.S. homes are still completely unready and will be cut off after it goes through. That's around three million less than it was the last time we were this close to the DTV transition, hopefully all reading this are on the digital television ready side (six easy steps right here.) Don't forget, many stations are switching at different times, so check your local broadcasters before rescanning so you don't have to do it twice, Friday night / Saturday morning is probably your best bet.
Toshiba ships REGZA ZV650 and SV670 HDTVs
If you're not down with waiting for Toshiba's internet-connected range of HDTVs -- which, by the way, should be out before the dawn of 2010 -- here's a bit of excellent news: the REGZA ZV650 and SV670 series are now shipping. Both of the sets were initially announced way back at CES, and the latter of the two is Tosh's first-ever LED-backlit HDTV. Said set also packs local dimming, ClearScan 240 dejudder technology, PixelPure 5G 14-bit video processing and that questionably useful Resolution+ system. There's also a USB socket, four HDMI connectors, IR pass-through, a PC input and REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC). As for the other guys (yeah, there's more), head on past the break and take notes on the ones relevant to your interests.
Engadget HD Podcast 140 - 06.10.2009
A pretty light week in HD news, but the three of us put our heads together and with a little help from our Ustream chatroom, managed to talk for an hour. There's definitely great gear for HT enthusiasts, including Panasonic's new V10 NeoPDP panels and Paradigm's SUB 25 monster subwoofer; either (or both!) of which would be a great way to kick off TV's post-analog broadcast era this weekend. If the world doesn't explode into ones and zeros on Friday, we'll be back next week with more news. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes. [Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace [MP3] Download the show (MP3). Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler Producer: Trent Wolbe Program 00:58 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 139 - 06.03.2009 07:05 - A cool new DTV map from the FCC to help you prepare for the transition 15:27 - CNET: TC-P50V10 is "Panasonic's best plasma yet" 21:26 - Hertz so good -- Paradigm Signature SUB 25 subwoofer review 27:48 - Epix HD 720p movie streaming service eyes-on 35:40 - Buena Vista and Vudu to sell HD titles day-and-date with Blu-ray 40:45 - AACS finalize, death to analog in 2013 48:10 - Poll: 1080p streaming video vs. Blu-ray LISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)LISTEN (OGG)
Ask Engadget HD: A good & cheap 1080p projector?
We've had a few projector related questions before, but this one comes from a commenter on a previous post interested in upgrading his cinematic experience, lakersin2025 take it away: "Can anyone recommend a decent 1080p projector that won't break the bank? Mainly for movies at night." Not a whole lot to go one, with no particular desired technology or info on room size, but for someone trying to pick up a 1080p projector nowadays while spending something less than a million dollars, or perhaps something more resembling a couple grand at most, what's your pick? 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.
BG Radia's BGX-4850 in-wall subwoofer shakes loose a rave review
It's been a while since we heard about BG Radia's THX Ultra2-certified in-wall subwoofers, the BGX-4850, so we were pretty happy to see that AVGuide put them to a review. Word to the wise -- don't scoff at the small 4-inch drivers used in this subwoofer; by packing 48 of those little cones into each module in a kind of boxer style layout (Porsche and Subaru fans take note), the BGX-4850 (combined with a 2,200-Watt amp and a healthy dollop of DSP) turned loose sub-20Hz response that the reviewer ate up. No smudgy, slow, plodding bass here -- quite the opposite, actually. The reviewer said the transient response may outpace some of the primary speakers with which it's paired; something good is going on here. Good enough, in fact, to net perfect 10s for everything but the "value" portion of the competition; somehow you just knew that $7,000 tag would catch a snag somewhere along the way.
Mark Cuban promises the first 1080 NHL & NBA arena next season
It should be no wonder Mark Cuban (got some Jerry Jones envy?) is promising the first NHL & NBA arena with 1080-line digital scoreboards. While 1080p has been well entrenched in scoreboards for the outdoor sports (like the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees) it appears the winter brethren has been slacking, but with the Mavericks and Stars not competing in tonight's finals action, plans to upgrade American Airlines Center ahead of the 2009-10 seasons are already underway, with four 18- by 30-foot video scoreboards coming to the center display and two 24- by 72-foot video walls at the north and south ends. If that's not enough, the sounds are getting a makeover too, with a "state-of-the-art concert quality sound system" bring a digital six speaker linear system to next years attendees, though we should all get a (3D?) look during the 2010 NBA All-Star Game next February.[Via Dallas Observer & Mark Cuban]
The GefenTV Digital Audio Decoder -- an answer to a question we're afraid to ask
We can't remember the last time we had a piece of gear that supported Dolby Digital but didn't have a pair of stereo out jacks on the back, but if an unforeseen (read: just plain crazy) use-case is going to pop up, it'll be this Friday. And wouldn't you know it, Gefen has a box just for these contingencies. The GefenTV Digital Audio Decoder will take a Dolby Digital audio stream over optical or coax and, presto, turn them into a stereo signal on a pair of RCA phono plugs. Specific custom install situations aside, we can't help but think there are better -- and at $129, cheaper -- ways to crack this nut.
HDTV Listings for June 9, 2009
What we're watching tonight: NBC (1080i) presents Red Wings/Penguins NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 at 8 p.m. ABC (720p) has Magic/Lakers NBA Finals Game 3 at 8:30 p.m. TLC (1080i) has 18 Kids & Counting at 9 p.m. and The Little Couple at 10 & 10:30 p.m. Sci Fi (1080i) has ECW at 10 p.m. Discovery (1080i) brings Deadliest Catch at 9 p.m. and the season finale of The Alaska Experiment at 10 p.m. FX (720p) airs Rescue Me at 10 p.m. Fox (720p) has Mental at 9 p.m. History (720p) has Life After People at 10 p.m. ESPN2 (720p) has Storm/Fever WNBA action at 7 p.m.
Ad & broadcasting company tells government to give everyone HDTV
Being primarily focused on the consumer end of HDTV, we've rarely crossed paths with news from DG FastChannel, but this stopped us in our tracks. Put simply, it's a proposal to turn around some of that analog TV spectrum sale cash and distribute an HDTV to every household in the U.S. that wants one, digital converter box-style (everyone remember how well that worked out?) Considered seriously, we'd assume companies like DG FastChannel and its partners have invested greatly in preparing for HDTV and would love if all their viewers could see it that way, and we can certainly appreciate the idea that watching standard def is fundamentally wrong. Still, new digital divide or not this attention grabbing bit of PR probably has about as much chance of getting high definition in every home as there is of another DTV switch delay in the next three days.
Harman Kardon brings Blu-ray to America with BDP 1 deck
See that player right there? It looks really familiar, doesn't it? Aside from a power adapter that's suited for use in the United States of America, it's essentially the BDP 10 sans a zero. Shortly after announcing its first Blu-ray deck overseas, Harman Kardon has seen fit to offer up a model here in the States, with BD-Live functionality, a USB socket, HDMI 1.3a, Ethernet, IR-remote in / out jacks, optical / coaxial digital audio outputs and support for all the major audio formats. The pain? $499, and it should start filtering into retailers as early as this month.
CNET: TC-P50V10 is "Panasonic's best plasma yet"
As Pansonic's latest plasma HDTVs proceed down the review gauntlet, it appears CNET is the latest to be impressed by the TC-P50V10, between its slick design, smooth handling of 1080p/24 by way of its 96Hz image processing, deep black levels and good color reproduction. The 96Hz features plus more adjustable picture settings are some of the improvements the V10 offers over the G10, but is it enough to satisfy the Kuro faithful, or attract buyers away from LCD? It appears the reviewer was convinced, give it a read and see if you are.
Hertz so good -- Paradigm Signature SUB 25 subwoofer review
We've had Paradigm's top-end Signature SUB 25 in our room for quite a while now, but trust us, coming to grips with how this beast performs has been truly challenging. Obviously, it goes really low, really loud -- the combination of a 15-inch front-mounted driver, an amp capable of cranking out 3,000-Watts (if your electrical service is up to snuff), and Paradigm's design and engineering chops pretty much guarantees that much. But after the novelty of cranking up the bass and making everything in the room rattle wears off, you've got to integrate the bass with the rest of your system. How well a sub can pull off this disappearing act is the true test of its worth. Read on to find out how well Paradigm's big dog pulled off this stunt.
IFC in Theaters begins day-and-date HD video on-demand screening this month
IFC in Theaters has been offering day-and-date premieres of independent theatrical flicks through video on-demand for a couple of years, but now comes word that this month it will begin offering them in high definition on Cablevision and Comcast. Starting June 17, $7.99 (a buck premium over SD) will be the price for avoiding a trip to the local art house theater, which sounds more than worth it if you don't have one nearby, or just really want to avoid (other) hipsters.
LaCie's LaCinema Classic Bridge media player: just add storage
LaCie's back with another addition to its steadily growing LaCinema family. The Classic Bridge ships for $99, including an HDMI cable and that iconic blue light, yet forgoes the hard drive -- perfect for all you crazy kids who already have plenty in the way of storage, but still need a way to get your media files onto the TV screen. Either install your 3.5-inch SATA HDD (FAT32 only, folks) or plug in an external USB drive, and you'll be watching re-runs of B. J. and the Bear in no time. Supports "flawless" 1080p HD resolution and all of the formats you depend on for your pop-culture fix, including: MPEG4, MP3, JPEG, and HD-JPEG. Not yet available for purchase, but in the meantime feel free to check this bad boy out in the gallery below.
HDTV Listings for June 8, 2009
What we're watching tonight: NBC (1080i) airs I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here at 8 p.m. ABC Family (720p) has Greek at 8 p.m. TNT (1080i) brings the season premieres of The Closer at 9 p.m. and Raising the Bar at 10 p.m. TLC (1080i) has Jon & Kate Plus 8 at 9 & 9:30 p.m. and Cake Boss at 10 p.m. USA (1080i) brings WWE: Raw at 9 p.m. A&E (720p) has Intervention at 9 p.m. and Obsessed at 10 p.m. Showtime (1080i) has the season premiere of Weeds at 10 p.m. and the series premiere of Nurse Jackie at 10:30 p.m. ESPN (720p) has Rays/Yankees baseball at 7 p.m.
Epson EH-TW5000 75,000:1 contrast ratio projector available
Slotted for those who want a top of the line 1080p projector and aren't afraid to pay extra for it, the just-launched Epson EH-TW5000 manages a dynamic contrast ratio of 75,000:1 and 1600 ANSI lumens from its 3LCD technology. Matched with an HQV chip capable of 12-bit image processing, 4-4 pulldown, support for ultra-widescreen lenses, ISF certification and a mere 22db of noise it should garner consideration in any home theater setup, About Projectors says it can be found for around $5,299. [via About Projectors & Crave]
Epix HD 720p movie streaming service eyes-on
After making sure there was a domain name locked down for Epix, the new premium movie network formed by Studio 3 Networks (Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM) it was all about taking advantage of an early peek at the 720p Flash powered site to see what a new generation of home movie distribution has to offer. The tech end (opening up to invited users this week for beta testing) is powered by Akamai's variable bitrate streaming streaming technology, delivering up to 3mbps HD video with stereo audio all the way down (6 different levels) to 500kbps encodes. Where it surpasses current online offerings from the competition is the ability, thanks to the aforementioned studio backers, to provide many of the recent movies you want to see. Our impressions of the service and a few more pictures of the interface are after the break.
AACS finalized, death to analog in 2013
Not that any of this really matters since AACS has long since been made irrelevant, but this really pulls back the reigns on anyone who thought Hollywood was making progress in its perspective on DRM. What we mean is, at a time when music is sold DRM free, Hollywood demands that new Blu-ray players made after December 31st of 2013 will no longer support analog on any AACS protected content. Of course who even knows what we'll be watching in four years, or if HDTVs will even have analog inputs by then, but what's worse is that starting in 2011, new Blu-ray players will only output SD via component, which for all intents and purposes makes component useless. The only good news in the final version of the AACS is that Managed Copy is alive and well, but a lot of good that does if no studio ever decides to use it. [Via Blu-ray.com]
