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Save some power with Hyundai's 46-inch 1080p LCD
Hyundai has announced a Korean 46-inch LCD with 1080p support that consumes 7% less power than a comparable LCD, and uses S-PVA technology for a wider 178-degree viewing angle. From scrutinizing the images at AVING it has a two pairs of HDMI and component connects. The Vuon E465D also supports the capability to use an image from the built-in USB port as a placeholder during the boot sequence, so you can replace the standard boot logo with whatever you like -- say, the Engadget logo?
Second-gen HD DVD XA2 player reviewed
HighDefDigest has another review of Toshiba's second-generation HD DVD player, the HD-XA2, which they recommend as a capable competitor to the rival Blu-ray players, and an improvement to the first generation of Toshiba's devices. One of the main improvements their reviewer found was the stability of the player compared to the older model, with fewer lockups on playback, in addition to 1080p support and good support for upscaling standard-def content. They did find some issues with the revision, with some audio sync and bass volume problems, as well as frame drops on certain titles. When compared to another review of the same player, it appears this reviewer came to the same conclusion, that this is a good unit for playing back high definition content, with a few things to look forward to in generation three. The question is, will dual-format players put these standalone units away before that even happens?
South Park's first HD episode hits Xbox Live tomorrow
The Xbox Live Video Marketplace is getting some of the truly compelling content we've been waiting for, as Wired is reporting that the first high definition episode of South Park will be available for download tomorrow. At the incredibly great price of free -- for the first two weeks -- all Xbox Live members can download the "Good times with Weapons" episode. If you for some reason don't have a 360, or don't have the internet and are reading this via teletype, Best Buy will also be making the episode available on HD DVD discs free with the purchase of an Xbox 360 or the HD DVD add-on between March 20th and April 3rd. Animated TV shows have been missing in HD for too long, hopefully we'll see more of those and more HD content on XBLM -- like HD Battlestar Galactica episodes we don't have to wait 6 months to see, as suggested by our friends at Joystiq. [Via Joystiq]
HDTV Listings for March 3, 2007
What we're watching: There are plenty of movies to choose from tonight, but we'll take a look at V for Vendetta on Cinemax.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Dolby to buy BrightSide HDR technology for $28 mill
BrightSide Technologies blew observers away with demos of its high dynamic range (HDR) HDTVs back in 2005 but we haven't heard much about them since then. Today the technology might have come a step closer to commercial release as the company has reach an agreement to be acquired by Dolby for $28 million. BrightSide's Extreme Dynamic Range displays are capable of contrast ratios far beyond todays LCDs, and a maximum brightness far better than even that 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio OLED we saw at CES. Still, just like OLED and SED this is another technology that promises to take HDTVs to a whole new level of realism but has more hurdles to jump before it hits the mass market. Here's hoping we see this on store shelves sooner, rather than later -- minus the enormous ugly bezel though, we have a reputation for style to keep up.
Sony fleshes out details and pricing for Internet Video Link
Sony announced last month that they would be releasing products including their new Internet Video Link capabilities, which will allow users to stream free standard and high-definition content through their broadband connections directly to the television, bypassing any set-top boxes or computers. Providers will include AOL, Yahoo!, Sony Pictures, and Sony BMG music, along with user generated videos and RSS feeds. Now we've got more detail on the IVL box, along with a glimpse at the first sets to support it. Apparently the unit will display its wares in Sony's XMB Xross Media Bar format, as seen on the company's PSP and PS3 consoles. The IVL module will be sold separately for $300 starting in July, and it attaches to the back of a "majority" of Sony's 2007 BRAVIA sets -- currently including the new KDL-46S3000, KDL-40S3000, KDL-32S3000, KDL-26S3000, KDL-46V3000, KDL-40V3000 and KDL-32XBR4 LCDs, and the KDF-37E3000, KDF-50E3000 and KDF-46E3000 micro-displays. Looks like a regular ol' USB plug will do the honors, and the IVL saps power from the TV while sipping internet off of an Ethernet plug, so added cable clutter will be fairly minimal.
Cheaper blue lasers on the way?
Whether the format war is over or not, one thing that would definitely get more buyers off the fence and owning more high definition players would be lower prices. Aonex Technologies and Kyma Technologies are the latest to announce they've found a better (and cheaper) way to pump out the blue laser diodes necessary in every Blu-ray and HD DVD player. Aonex claims its A-Sapph wafer technology improves on current sapphire based processes, enabling an increase in the number of chips per wafer and improving yields substantially. As fans of lasers in general, and not just in relation to HDTVs and lower prices, we're excited, but without even the hint of an expected release date it will probably be a while before these are ready for the market.
AACS cracked again: WinDVD key found
AACS has already been compromised in at least two widely known ways, after DRM hackers posted on the Doom9 forums methods to retrieve and utilize volume, and later, processing keys to copy every Blu-ray and HD DVD movie released so far. Today a third method has appeared, as poster ATARI Vampire reports they were able to find the "sub device key" of the WinDVD 8 playback software. That key identifies the player and allows it to decode AACS protected titles. You might remember the software was also the victim of a simple "print screen" attack several months ago that was quickly patched. The method used to find it was based on arnezami's previous approach of watching memory dumps and finding it through a "bottom up" approach. Coming on the heels of the cracks already widely available, this doesn't really affect the current state of easily copied high def movies, but could make disabling the vulnerable player from playing future releases, finding the hole and preventing it from being hacked again, that much more difficult.[Via Slashdot]
HD DVD outsold Blu-ray 4 to 1 last year...in England
HD DVD might have lost the sales lead in the U.S. but like many acts that struggle for acceptance domestically, it can take solace in knowing that it's still topping European charts...for now. HDTV Org reports that UK figures show HD DVD outsold Blu-ray 4 to 1 in the period leading up to Christmas last year, helped by the fact that the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive was by far the most easily available HD player on the market. Unlike U.S. charts which have only provided ratios and no specific numbers, the British figures show just how small the market is at this point, with 8,200 HD DVD movies sold to Blu-ray's 1,834. We'll keep an eye on the market to see how it is affected by the launch of standalone players and the PlayStation 3 in March, and how well that tips the scales proportionally towards Blu-ray and how much total sales increase in general.
HDTV Listings for February 24, 2007
What we're watching: Tonight the NASCAR Busch Series season continues in high definition on ESPN from Fontana, California. HBO also brings a new George Lopez comedy special live from Phoenix, before we get a look at Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office) hosting SNL.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Blu-ray surpasses HD DVD in disc sales for the first time
The Blu-ray and HD DVD battle has entered a new era, as preliminary Nielsen VideoScan stats show the BDA's baby sold more -- a ratio of 100 Blu-ray to every 98.71 HD DVD discs, sorry still no hard numbers here -- since their inception last year. As we all know, HD DVD was first to market and had enjoyed a lead on Blu-ray ever since, but then things started to turn with the launch of the PlayStation 3. The studios supporting Blu-ray finally began releasing significant numbers of titles and haven't looked back. Each team put its own spin on the numbers, with HD DVD-backing Universal pointing out that despite a 5:1 advantage in hardware due to the PS3, disc sales are still nearly even, while Blu-ray supporter 20th Century Fox sees the format war as being in its "final phase," and fence-straddling Warner merely noting that both formats are "selling well". Still, with the exception of the LG combo playing BH100, none of the major players have shown any plans to change sides, so until they do, prepare for a prolonged stalemate before this war is truly over.[Thanks, Jason]
National Geographic's Relentless Enemies strikes DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD in March
National Geographic has announced it's releasing its first HD title, Relentless Enemies on DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD formats, distributed by Warner Home Video on March 27. The 90 minute film, originally shot in HD, is National Geographic's highest-rated special to date. The network was pushed to release on high definition formats after surveys showed its content as what viewers would most like to see. We like watching lions and buffalo battling for survival as much as anyone, but with a $34.99 MSRP compared to the $19.99 DVD we hope they also start including some HD extras in future releases.
HDTV Listings for February 21, 2007
What we're watching: Jericho returns in earnest with a brand new episode this week, and don't forget another two hour episode of everyone's favorite American Idol.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Is "3X DVD" HD DVD's secret weapon against Blu-ray?
While the Blu-ray camp is busy claiming victory, recently HD DVD supporters seem to be circling the wagons around an old friend, the -- 'til now -- unused 3X DVD technology. HD DVD has always claimed it holds a price advantage over Blu-ray, by way of offering low cost upgrades for existing DVD manufacturing processes. The 3X DVD spec takes that a step further, while it's a part of the HD DVD format and apparently only compatible with HD DVD players, the discs themselves are physically exactly the same as standard red-laser DVDs. Throw in a software upgrade to support high definition content, HD DVD's UDF 2.5 file structure and AACS and you have a way to deliver HDTV content on a 9.4 GB DVD. By using newer encoding technologies like MPEG-4 and VC-1 and/or lowering the resolution to say, 720p, full length movies easily fit on a standard DVD. Eclipse Data Technologies, a supplier of HD DVD mastering equipment just announced it is offering free upgrades to its customers in order to support 3X DVD manufacturing. This was followed today by DCA Inc. announcing it has mastered the first 3X DVD disc, and that several manufacturers are looking at it as a possible low cost path into HD video. 3X DVD's potential to allow for noticeably lower-priced HD content to come to market is definitely there, but it still remains to be seen if this, like combo DVD/HD DVDs and Total Hi-Def discs will find a home and support in the marketplace. Read - First 3X DVD-ROM Disc Cut with DCA Equipment Read - Eclipse Provides Free HD DVD Upgrade to Replication Facilities
HDTV Listings for February 17, 2007
What we're watching: NBA All-Star Weekend continues on Saturday night with the Dunk contest, Skills competition and 3-point Shootout on TNT. Those festivities are followed up by this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition special, but if that's not your speed there is always the fourth Harry Potter movie, The Goblet of Fire on Cinemax.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for February 12, 2007
What we're watching: Two hours of 24 pretty much ensures a rise in a Jack Bauer kill count that, quite frankly, has been disappointingly low as of late. Still, the 131st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is coming on Universal HD and we wouldn't miss that for the world. Decisions, decisions.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Sony sez: The format war is over, really
We already heard the Blu-ray Disc Association's opinion on the status of the format war and now we can look forward to Sony's marketing campaign pounding a single point home: The format war is over, Blu-ray has won, it's safe to get behind one high definition format. Forgetting for a moment that Universal Studios has not switched to supporting Blu-ray and the current availability of a dual-format player, the company is buoyed by the growing installed base of its PlayStation 3 console and a rising tide of Blu-ray disc sales. VideoBusiness reports HD DVD sales remain steady, and among standalone players still holds a slight lead in numbers. Still, there are a lot of buyers unwilling to buy into either camp and risk ending up with the equivalent of a Beta tape player. Is the format war over yet? Not really, but if Sony manages to convince consumers that it is then it becomes -- they hope -- a self fulfilling prophecy.
NBA's 2007 All-Star Game in HDTV... and 3D
If you can't afford a courtside seat at this weekend's NBA All-Star Game festivities, the league is testing a new way to "change the way we see the game" -- sans the chance of rubbing elbows with various celebrities. Guests in Las Vegas, will go to the Mandalay Bay hotel instead of the Thomas and Mack Center where the game is being played, and don special glasses to view view a 3D high definition version of TNT's broadcast of Saturday and Sunday night's activities. Five 3D camera systems have been installed around the arena by Pace, and according to the NBA's VP of operations and technology, the HDTV widescreen broadcast will allow them to avoid many cuts and camera movements, hopefully minimizing any shaky cam effect some complained about during the special SkyCam broadcast last year. If you can't make it to Vegas to check things out, you can still see this technology at work this season, as a similar broadcast during the NBA Finals is already planned. No word on plans for a "belligerent drunk" simulator, so either way we still have a long way to go towards simulating the real game experience in a theater and someday in the future, at home.Read - VarietyRead - Broadcasting & Cable
CBS reveals its preparations for Super Bowl XLI HD broadcast
CBS isn't resting on its reputation for quality HDTV broadcasts during the regular NFL season, as this Broadcasting & Cable article reveals its plans for Super Bowl XLI. Hopefully the person who counted all 47 HD cameras they plan to use during the game isn't the same person who thinks the matchup is between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints (as mentioned in the article), but no matter who is playing one thing you won't be seeing during the game is CBS' old Eye Vision 360 degree replay technology. With a cost over $2 million for an SD system, it's been shelved in favor of three ultra-high-frame-rate cameras for slow motion replays of big plays, or just for big Prince fans tuning into the halftime show. Surprisingly, all of this is still a smaller undertaking than the channel's coverage of the NCAA tournament, but here's hoping everything works out to provide a crisp 1080i picture (and 5.1 surround sound) for all.[Via AVS Forum]
Westinghouse and the blinking PS3: HDCP gone awry?
Some PlayStation 3 users who play on Westinghouse 1080p screens might have noticed a blinking problem when loading up their games, wherein no sound comes up and the screen's imagery blinks off and on. Popular Mechanics has been following the story and trying to deduce the culprit of this problem.The blinking phenomenon stems from High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection, or HDCP, a form of DRM for signals that run through HDMI cables. Initially, Westinghouse VP of Marketing Rey Roque explained that the issue was firmware within some of their television sets but has now retracted that assertion, placing the blinking blame on the PlayStation 3 itself. Roque notes, "Westinghouse products are fully compliant with the HDMI and HDCP specs." Westinghouse and Sony reportedly met yesterday to discuss the issue, but Popular Mechanics went ahead and offered a quick-and-dirty fix to the problem: simply unplug HDMI cable, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in. Video of the phenomenon and its quick fix is embedded after the break.[Via /.]
