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GamerBUS provides mobile Xbox 360 LAN parties
If you're incensed about wasting your weekend (and part of last week) cruising around in futility trying to locate a Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii, the GamerBUS can provide the ultimate painkiller -- provided you live around the Virginia Beach area, that is. If you've got 63 friends or so, and you're not claustrophobic, you can pack your posse into the 37-foot customized RV and get your game(s) on. Sporting a bevy of comfortable seating options, sixteen Xbox 360 "gamer stations" (pictured after the jump) with their own 23-inch Philips HDTV, and all the CAT5 cable / electricity you could ever need, this redefines the party on wheels. Essentially offering a mobile gaming LAN, the bus operators will gladly wire up a 16-person system-linked round of Halo 2 (or a variety of other titles) while you provide the Cheetos and air fresheners. Although weekday hours boast an understandable discount, weekend rates range from $125 to $150 per hour, depending on how long you occupy the vehicle. Notably, no connection has been drawn between this newfangled gaming service and the Va Beach entrepreneur trickster hitting it big on vulnerable ATMs.[Via Digg]
PS3 doesn't do 1080i?
That's what IGN has discovered in testing several PlayStation 3 games. Despite 1080p being "the true definition of HD", most of the titles available are rendered internally at 1280 x 720 and scaled up accordingly... or at least that's what should happen. On many older CRT HDTVs that only support 1080i input and not 720p, instead of scaling to the appropriate HD resolution, the PS3 goes back down to the positively Wii-like EDTV standard of 480p. The problem is confirmed to exist in Resistance: Fall of Man, Tiger Woods 07, Need for Speed Carbon and NHL 2K7 so far, but no word from Sony if this can or will be fixed in a downloadable update. The Xbox 360 scales to 1080i without a problem -- although 1080p results may vary -- if you're not reading this from your place in line already be sure to check your HDTV's manual for supported input resolutions before grabbing a lawn chair (and bulletproof vest).[Thanks, Michael J.]
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
Let It Wave's bandlet upconversion technology on the air in France
Let It Wave's bandlet upconversion technology is on the air on a French high definition TV station broadcasting the French Roland Garros Tennis open. The CTO of France Televisions Interactive states the company is using the technology to mix upconverted SD sources with native HDTV footage, enabling high definition programming to reach customers sooner. We haven't had the best experiences with mixed SD content at US sporting events like the PGA Championship, but Let It Wave claims its technology upconverts as high as 1080p with no flickering or jaggies. French television is currently testing the technology on Altera FPGA-based hardware and will continue to do so for the next three months with a variety of sources, the company plans to announce more products at NAB 2007.
Gefen Home Theater Scaler converts standard-def to high-def
At first glance, the Gefen Home Theater Scaler looks like just another cheap Mac mini knock-off, but it's so much more than that. Assuming that it works as advertised, the HTS will upconvert your standard-definition video to high-definition, all the way up to 1080p. That means you won't have to buy a new upscaling DVD player to use with your hot HDTV. Furthermore, it also works as a video switcher between a pair of component sources and two HDMI sources, which is pretty sweet as well. The Scaler will set you back four Benjamins and is available now from the company's website.[Via eHomeUpgrade]
Gears of War HD videos
If you somehow haven't already gotten your hands on what is being called by many "the best looking game ever" feast your eyes on these 720p -- and naturally available in Xbox 360-compatible WMV -- trailers. The level of detail in this game is amazing and a great reason to own an HDTV and Xbox 360. If there's any doubt over whether or not you should pick up Gears of War this holiday season and the reviews haven't been convincing enough, let these videos do all the convincing necessary. It might not be native 1080p but we doubt there'll be time to count pixels once the bullets start flying.Read - The first 10 minutes: Gears of War - XboxydeRead - Gears of War - Gametrailers
Microsoft's Xbox Live Video: HDTV and HD movie downloads for your 360
This may sound a bit familiar to those paying close attention, but on November 22nd -- the year anniversary for the Xbox 360 -- Microsoft is announcing something fairly momentus, not for the gaming community, but for the CE industry. The Xbox 360, along with Akimbo, will be among the first mass-market devices able to download high def television programs -- and the first we know of in the states able to download HD movies. The service is called Xbox Live Video, and the fall update enables customers to spend their Microsoft points on standard and HD television from CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Turner, and UFC, as well as HD movies from Warner Bros., Paramount, and so on. We're still a little in shock, ourselves, that Microsoft was able to in one fell swoop hit TiVo, Apple, Netflix, and a handful of others, but looking at Live over the last year, the move isn't that massively surprising. Of course, not even the vision of on-demand HD movies and TV downloads in six million homes at the flick of a switch could be without its variety of niggling concerns; being that we all know the devil's in the details, click on to get the particulars of the service.
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?
Xploder HDTV Player for PS2 reviewed
We were skeptical about Xploder's HDTV Game Player package for the PS2 back when it was first announced, and IGN's review has done nothing to convince us otherwise. The kit includes a disc that must be inserted every time the PS2 is hard-booted, component cables, and manual to enable setting your PS2 to output games at 480p, 576p, 720p, or 1080i. It's not that the PlayStation 2 didn't support these resolutions, but most games did not include them as an option. IGN didn't have any problems when setting things for 480p, and did notice a slight improvement in quality, however they got distortion and stretching not unlike TNT's "HD" broadcasts when using 720p and 1080i. Apparently, 576p is supposed to avoid some of these scaling distortions but their display could not accept that resolution. All in all, it seems if you really need 480p in games that didn't support it -- for example to avoid gaming lag -- this might be worthwhile but its not suddenly going to turn your PS2 into an HD-pumping beast.
Xbox 360 fall update details revealed: 1080p, auto-download, WMV playback and more
Microsoft has finally seen fit to release the details of its Xbox 360 dashboard update. Scheduled for release the morning of October 31st -- yes, that's tomorrow -- the update will add the much-talked about 1080p / HD DVD support, as well as the ability to play WMV files from a connected PC, disc, or USB storage device. Currently, users can only stream video from connected Windows Media Center PCs, but any XP machine running Windows Media Connect or Windows Media Player 11 should be able to do it post-update, as demonstrated during a press conference in Japan with several 720p-encoded videos. This compares to the PlayStation 3's recently-revealed compatibility with MPEG-4 and other video files, but so far neither has announced support for DivX / Xvid and Media Transcode 360 still requires Media Center. Apparently only 84 things needed fixing this time, down from the 125 in the spring update, including the option to automatically download demos of new Xbox Live Arcade titles, Zune media streaming, wireless headset support, XNA Game Studio Express and numerous improvements to video playback and menu handling.[Via AV Watch]
PlayStation 3 HD details revealed at Gamers Day
Sony hasn't exactly...forthcoming with information about its upcoming PlayStation 3 but over the last couple of days solid information has come out about what we can expect this November thanks to the company's Gamers Day event. What does it mean for HDTV owners? Some of it's good, some of it makes us shake our heads in disbelief and wonder what Sony is doing, but here it is:The Good: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is going to be a pack in with the launch consoles, so in exchange for pre-ordering early or freezing outside overnight, PS3 owners will come home with at least one Blu-ray movie to watch. While this may not be the first title to come to mind in terms of showing off incredible visual and sound quality, it is a funny smash-hit movie that most will enjoy. The PS3 loads Blu-ray movies fast. Reports are that within 10 seconds of selecting the movie from the menu, its playing. Long load times have plagued standalone Blu-ray and HD DVD players so far, in that respect, the consoles may have them beat. 18 launch titles, including true 1080p games like NBA '07. Most are multiplatform, but Madden, NBA 2K7, Fight Night Round 3 and others have added a few features to take advantage of the tilt controller, or just enhance them slightly over their Xbox 360 counterparts. HD Movies can be stored on and played directly from the hard drive, although codec support is still unknown. The Bad: No, there aren't any HD cables in the box. Really. The HD era starts now, but BYOC. That may be old hat, or maybe even preferred by many home theater enthusiasts, but for $500/$600 you shouldn't have to buy anything else to get HD out of the box. If you already have component cables from a PS2 however, the AV connector is the same and they will still work. Standard HDMI cables will of course be necessary for digital connections. Yes, there are native-1080p games, but Resistance: Fall of Man is not one of them. Previously touted as 1,920 x 1,080, 22GB of goodness, it is now merely 16GB of 720p goodness. All in all this is probably for the best, but this game is one the PS3's most anticipated games and is supposed to show why gamers need 1080p and Blu-ray...and not Xbox 360s. The PS3 does not do DVD upconverting over any connection, and there are reports that despite previous claims, it will not enhance the visuals on PS1/PS2 games. This is a joke, the console has more than enough power for upconversion, and with its HDCP-protected digital output it is perfectly capable of upscaling to 1080p. The Xbox 360 does it and there is no reason why the PlayStation shouldn't. That recently-reduced-to-400k in the US launch number is really more of a "target", which may or may not be hit due to production issues. Either start lining up now or mortgage the house to buy one on eBay, getting a PlayStation 3 in 2006 won't be easy. No included remote, the BD remote will ship "soon" for $24.99 and operate via Bluetooth, not IR. There it is, are we missing anything? All that's left now is the waiting. We hate waiting.Read - DVD upscaling "not part of the feature set" - IGNRead - PlayStation 3 launch window titles announced - JoystiqRead - Sony PlayStation 3 may not meet shipment targets - BloombergRead - Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Extensive Line Up of Game Titles for PlayStation 3 - SonyRead - PS3 features lightning-fast Blu-ray playback and video sharing with the PSP - Ars Technica
LG shows off 5.3 channel HT702TN home theater setup
The new HT702TN "flat home theater" speaker / player combo from LG has a plenty to love. Not only is the 5.3 action kind of neato, with that extra woofer in the front speaker, but the DVD box includes HDMI, with 480p, 720p, 1080i upsampling and other such good times. The player also supports DivX video and DVD-AUDIO playback, so this shiny setup should keep you plenty entertained for a budget unit. Of course, since we don't have any price or availability deets, we're not exactly sure how budgetary, or if this is due for the States or anything exciting as that, but them's the breaks.
Third HD format VMD launching for $175 at CES
NME, the same company that recently claimed to solve the Blu-ray / HD DVD debate by creating a disc that holds both, has now specifics of, and hardware for, its alternative HD format. VMD is targeted as a low cost high definition DVD, using red lasers -- just like DVD and CD -- instead of the blue lasers in Blu-ray and HD DVD. Much delayed, the standalone player is now expected to launch at CES in January, with a price of just $175, compared to the $500+ price of competing formats. With all the major studios backing Blu-ray and/or HD DVD, we hope you like Bollywood's greatest hits and old Broadway performances, as NME is targeting Eastern markets first. Unlike the US, Video CDs and other delivery options have flourished alongside DVD internationally and VMD hopes to take the same route for HD. No word on if it has achieved the multilayer 100GB+ discs promised, but at this price, we'll keep an eye out for NME in Las Vegas.
HDTV gaming looked at by 3 analysts
Around these parts, HDTV is a big part of our lives and naturally, we enjoy high-def gaming as well. We kind of feel they naturally are meant for one another and so do the three analysts poised a simple question about gaming companies standpoint on HDTV and gaming. The question at hand asks how Microsoft and Sony emphasizing high-def's role in gaming and you know what, all three experts came out saying almost the same thing. Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan states that HDTV is the next step but HDTV is driven by movie sales and not games so therefore, it's important but isn't the primary market for the technology. Mike Wolf of ABI Research indicates that, yes, it's a 'critical feature' but only down the road a few years and right now, Ninitendo is focusing on an equally important aspect of gaming, user inventive game play. Finally, Ben Bajarin from Creative Strategies sounded off by saying the gaming companies are utilizing the technology just 'nough. HDTV household penetration is growing but, how many people do you know have one? We know high-def gaming isn't going anywhere but we have to agree with all three of these experts in one way or another.
Sony rolls out HD for the OR
Lest we forget, Sony does more than just Blu-ray and SXRD. At the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago it's showing off a collection of HD monitors and video equipment to make sure that when students go over your "minor surgery" gone horribly wrong, it is all recorded in crisp 1080i. Sony plans to show off the LMD-2140MD monitor shown here and its first XDCAM HD medical-grade 1080i video recorder, the PDW-70MD, with the IPELA videoconferencing platform to demonstrate high definition video streaming over IP. Some may question the need for high-def in medicine but we see this as an extremely necessary tool for training. Next time you make a trip out of the country for cheap surgery, make sure your fly by night quack surgeon earned his internet degree training in HD.
Monster's Linux-based network media and automation devices
Monster Cable, the company best known for its, um, cabling, has announced more information about its network media and home automation devices recently displayed at CEDIA. Everything in the Monster Einstein system is controlled by the Nucleus head-end, which runs the home automation and control elements, using Z-Wave and Bluetooth to control sensors and devices throughout the home, as well as interfacing with the media devices on the network. It has gigabit Ethernet and 802.11n network capabilities as well as a VOIP interface, and should retail for around $4000. The $2500 Electron components are the client end points and connect to the televisions and receivers on the network. You'll want at least one Photon 200-disc DVD changer in the system, because even though they're $2400 they have dual transports, meaning two different discs can be played simultaneously over the network. Also plan on attaching one or more of the $4900 Neutron RAID5-capable storage boxes -- each comes with 960 gigs of storage standard but can scale up to 7.2 terabytes. Other devices in the chain include the $1500 Astro Sirius satellite radio tuner with three zones, and the $1300 Tron seven-inch touch panel. Keep reading for more specifics, as well as another shot of the "monster" Photon changer...
First official public RED footage
You know the RED camera that has been making all the noise lately? Well, the first public footage of what the cam can do has been released to the public via their website. The clip weighs in at just over 100MB's at 1k resolution but is well worth your bandwidth. You may want to give the servers some time though as they seem to be slammed right now and while the clip is downloading on our systems, it is 1998 dial-up slow. Give it a chance though as this camera is suppose to revolutionize the industry. [via DVguru]
Another Panasonic AVCHD 1080i camcorder
CEATEC is pumpin' out the HD goods fast and furious now. Here's the latest AVCHD camcorder prototype from Panasonic. Although clearly different from the first Panny AVCHD recorder we peeped last week, it shares much the same specs including 3CCDs capable of capturing video at 1080i to SD/SDHC cards. This fully functional prototype, however, brings a Leica DICOMAR lens with 12x optical zoom, image processing LSI, and HDMI out. No word on pricing or ship date but hey, flaunt 'em if you gotta 'em Panny. More snaps after the break.
JVC's 3CCD Everio HD camcorder loosed at CEATEC
Well hello Mr. high-definition Everio, nice to finally see you in the fo' realz. Oh sure, it's still a prototype but at least it's a working prototype instead of just marketing images. Even though it's on display right now at CEATEC in Japan, JVC is playing coy with important details like disk capacity and format those 3 CCDs will record to. Still, it's good to see that FUJINON lens glinting under the tradeshow lighting don't you think? Oh hey, is that an HDMI jack... sure is. A few more snaps after the break courtesy of Impress.
Slingbox PRO, Slingbox AV, and Slingbox Tuner now official
Details about all three of these already leaked out over the past couple of weeks, but Sling Media is formally introducing three new Slingboxes, the Slingbox PRO, the Slingbox AV, and the Slingbox Tuner. All three perform the same basic function -- they let you stream TV from your cable box (digital or analog), satellite receiver, or DVR to a computer or mobile device -- it's just that each is aimed at different segments of the market. The Slingbox PRO is their new flagship model, with additional inputs and outputs so you can control up to four audio or video sources (sadly, if you want to use high-def component inputs you need to drop an extra fifty bucks on a dongle they're calling the HD Connect -- there is no option for HDMI). The PRO also supports 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios. Retail price will be $249.99 The Slingbox AV is aimed at users who have a digital cable set-top box, satellite receiver, or DVR, and don't want or need to control any other A/V sources. The AV also supports 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios and will retail for $179.99. The Slingbox Tuner is specifically for people who have analog cable and will retail for $179.99. Click on for pics of the Slingbox AV and Slingbox Tuner.
