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Now this is a funny prank on Best Buy
This has nothing to do about HDTVs. Well it kind of does and yes Ben, this is a stretch. But this is a great prank. 80 people dressed up in blue polo shirts with khakis paired with a black belt and black shoes and went to a local Best Buy. They of course brought in hidden cameras and from the looks of the pics, they blended right in! These "agents" were instructed to go "wait for their friend." This caused a whole bunch of Best Buy looking people just standing around doing nothing. Eventually they got kicked out when cameras were found but this is just great. Check out the site for pics and videos.[via Digg]
Yahoo getting into the tech business
There might be a war starting here. CNET has long owned the tech reviewing genre on the Internet. They have been doing it forever and no one has been able to match them with coverage and depth. But Yahoo isn't "no one" and they have just launched a sweet looking website. Granted it just launched so we hope that is the reason it is slow, but it sure is cool looking. The site is reviewing everything from HDTVs to car tech. No we take that back. Yahoo's site just provides a clipping from a Consumer Reports review and provides you with a link to subscribe in order to get more reviews - What?!?! [example] We don't care how cool the site looks, if it can't provide us with comprehensive reviews of our HDTVs, then what good is it? Your thoughts...
The RCA HDV5000 appears on Circuit City's website.
Toshiba's HD DVD player, the HD-A1, has been alone on the market for about 2 weeks now. The units seem to be selling well, but they are 'bout to get some competition from Circuit City and RCA. You can't find the Toshiba model in any Circuit City store but they are still going to carry HD DVD players. The first one is from RCA and is currently up for pre-order at CirucitCity.com. Looks a bit like the HD-A1 you say. Well, we hear that it is the same inner workings as Toshiba's model. The HDV5000 is going to retail for the same price and include the HDMI cable just like the Toshiba.
Hitachi's new loaded plasma - 42HDS69
Oh how we love Hitachi. They were the makers of the best big screen TVs for years. Hitachi has always been on the forefront of innovation and their newest plasma is not letting us down - not at all. Unlike Samsung seems to be doing, Hitachi is loading their newest flat panels with tons of inputs. Most importantly is that this 42-inch HD plasma has three HDMI inputs - two on the back on and one on the side. Same goes for the component inputs - two on the back and one on the front. Hitachi has also thrown in anti-reflective glass and a new native resolution for this panel. Most high-def plasmas are 720p natively but this one is 1080i with the native resolution of 1024x1080. Keep 'em coming Hitachi.The plasma is going to retail for $2499 and should be available soon.[UPDATE} Here is a great forum post on the confusing resolution issue.
HDTV Listings for April 30, 2006
What we're watching: You didn't need high definition to see that LeBron took about 73 steps before his game winning layup over the Wizards on Friday, but it didn't hurt. They'll tip off again at 7 p.m. on TNT. If such egregious lapses by the officials bother you, never fear as Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy are both (finally) back with new episodes tonight.If you really can't choose, flip over to Spurs at Kings at 10 p.m. and get the best of both worlds. Also worth mentioning, since you can never have too much Tom Selleck, there is also the CBS TV movie Jessie Stone: Death in Paradise at 9 p.m. tonight.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
High powered TV-B Gone sniping hack
You know, we can't really imagine what kind of social setting you'd be in that would require the use of a TV-B-Gone and still be socially acceptable to carry binoculars, but if you're especially annoyed with your neighbor (whose TV happens to be relatively near and have line of sight), check out this simple TV-B Gone sniper hack. One TV-B-Gone plus one pair binoculars (monocular might also well work) equals some serious range -- about 40 feet according to the hack's creator. Anyone want to try this thing with a high powered home telescope? Forget WiFi-ing to other States, this week we're all about turning off TVs in the next time zone.[Via Make Blog]
HDTV Listings for April 29, 2006
What we're watching: Most programming tonight is on hold for the ongoing and unfortunately-SD NFL Draft (the Lions didn't take a wide receiver!?!?!?!?) but later on the NBA Playoffs continue with Denver looking to even up their series at two games apiece with the Clippers.Also tonight on Cinemax is the always-excellent in HD Ocean's Twelve, or you can go with the special effects-laden Pearl Harbor.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for April 28, 2006
What we're watching: NBA Playoffs action does not get better than this. LeBron & Kobe in back to back games, both trying to lead their teams to a 2-1 advantage in their series. The networks are keeping the party going, as NBC and CBS both have all new episodes lined up for tonight, and Fox throws in a high definition Austin Powers.Unfortunately, Oprah isn't high definition yet and neither are the Daytime Emmys so ABC is out for the evening.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
NHK makes a showing at NAB and brings Ultra HD
Hey! High definition is confusing enough. People are just now getting used to 720p/1080i and 1080p, so here comes NHK again with their UHDV. Ultra High Definition TV has a resolution of a measly 7,680 x 4,320 which works out to be 16 times the current 1920 x 1080 standard we have today. This is nothing new though guys. (and gals) They have been showing this off around the world for a couple of years now starting at NAB back in 2004. It is still pretty cool though and when you combine that uber-high resolution with 22.2 channels of audio...WOW. Simply wow. Don't except Circuit City or Best Buy to carry this anytime within the decade though. Or even within the next decade, as they are aiming for a 2025 launch. So if you save a dollar a day till the launch in 19 years, you will have just under $7000 to be the first kid on the block with UHDV![thanks to everyone that sent this in]
Audioholics review: Westinghouse LVM-42X2 LCD Review
Oh boy. 1080p out of a 42-inch LCD! The holy grail for many, many HD fanatics. Audioholics has taken this new HDTV and ran the TV through the paces to see if it stands up to its potential. They did a very thorough review, as always, with tons of screen caps and pictures. Are we abet Impatient though? Well, not to steal their thunder or nothing, but they loved the set. The picture quality was great but lacked many setup features. They ended up giving the $2799 LCD a 4.5 out of 5 which is higher then we thought a Westinghouse would get. Expecally when talking about picture quality.
CNET: 10 ways HD DVD fails short
People ether love HD DVD or they don't. CNET is the latest in the HD DVD hating club with Ten ways HD DVD falls short. David Carnoy goes through a great list of why HD DVD didn't impress him. Truthfully, he has some good points. But in defense of Toshiba, they just released the player. Most of his complaints are about the player itself, HD-A1, rather then the format itself. Most first generation products have never been flawless. (i.e. PSP, Xbox 360, MacBook Pro) The best point on the list though? #10: A death of discs. HD DVD was supposed to launch with 30 titles but only three was available on the launch date.
Consumers are/aren't hot for mobile TV, Part V
Like those Jupiter Research survey results we've seen before, Amberlight consultancy firm tells us that consumers do indeed want mobile television. However, they are put-off by poorly designed devices and lackluster services associated with those 3G streaming TeeVee solutions. They found current offerings to suffer from patchy 3G reception, slow startup times ranging from 2 and 5 minutes, and overly complicated usage experiences lacking on-screen displays and EPGs. Certainly, much of this is already being addressed by next-generation handsets with integrated digital TV tuners for accessing new broadcast, mobile TV solutions over DVB-H, T-DMB, and MediaFLO -- so we're not overly concerned. After-all, Amberlight says their research, uh, "proves" that there is consumer demand for mobile TV if only operators can offer services which are "easy to use" and "competitively priced." Well, we're glad that argument is settled.
HDTV Listings for April 27, 2006
What we're watching: Will & Grace, My Name is Earl, The Office and E.R. are all back with new episodes tonight, we're getting the gang back together. Elsewhere, the NBA Playoffs continue, with The Flash & Shaq taking on the Bulls, while the Clippers try to make it three straight against the Nuggets. Denver will need a monster game from Carmelo Anthony with Kenyon Martin suspended indefinitely; we'll see if they can pull it off.Also, Starz-HD has been added to the schedule.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
The best explanation of a DVD up-scaler
DVD up-scalers have been everywhere lately. We have done tons of posts about them the last few months and even an in-depth review of one of the newest ones on the market. But they can be confusing. We have located the best explanation of what they do and why they are good. While we are not as excited about them as this author is - he presents it like it is a gift from God - they do work good sometimes. Before you get out your pocket book though, many high-end HDTVs have great scalers built in so you might not see any improvement over your current progressive scan DVD player.
HDTV Listings for April 26, 2006
What we're watching: Alias' final season continues on tonight, followed by a recap episode of Lost (that does not count as a new episode ABC, quit playing with our emotions). Alternatively, you can get your fill of loser-goes-home competition with either American Idol or the NBA Playoffs, the choice is yours.Also, you'll notice a few additions to our schedule, the oft-requested HDNet and HDNet Movies, as well as Cinemax-HD.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Hollywood unions announce contracts for mobile shows
As much as studios and talent unions like go at it about royalties and such, the truth of the matter is that those addicted to ABC's "Lost" must be teased with tiny morsels of Internet and mobile content -- there's no escaping it. To that end, Hollywood labor types have just finalised contracts with ABC to define payments for actors, writers and directors to be featured in two-minute "mobisodes." Sounds to us like talent will be reimbursed and protected in much the same way they are for traditional episodes, just on a smaller scale. This keeps with the show's producers' aims of keeping the quality up to snuff for the "mobisodes," and is being lauded by both sides as a groundbreaking agreement that should set a good precedent for royalties related to micro content. Now, for the real question: did they consult Locke about this?
New MythTV media centers available
Got to be honest with ya. Home theater boxes are a dime-a-dozen any more. Slap some hardware into a desktop enclosure home theater case, throw in a big hard drive, install Windows Media Center and call it day. This box is a bit different. OpenMedia has a mythTV based systems available for purchase. It appears, based on a link on their site, that they use the KnoppMyth release of mythTV. This is a cool and easy type of the Linux system as it animates a lot of the installation and set up of mythTV. These home theater PCs can be upgraded to met your specifications and are currently available for sale; they start at $1500.[via Digg]
NBA playoffs now showing in Canada
NBA Playoffs. This is one of best times of the year. Now, thanks to The Score HD, Canadians can enjoy the playoffs in their full HD quality too. What's sweet about this is that the NBA playoffs is the first live high definition sporting ever on The Score HD. This station is currently available via Rogers Digital Cable on channel 507.This press release was for yesterday and we just didn't get to it. The first game was last night with the Washington Wizards standing up to the Cleveland Cavs. Did anyone check it out. How was it on The Score HD?
HDTV Listings for April 25, 2006
What we're watching: As your high definition counsel, when LeBron James is on we cannot in good faith recommend you watch anything else. Cavaliers vs. Wizards, Game 2 tips off at 7 p.m. No really, that's pretty much it, put Veronica Mars, American Idol & everything else on the DVR queue because the King is here.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
CustomFlix burns HD-DVD, Blu-ray on demand
So you're a small content producer who wants to release high definition video, but can't pick a format for fear of alienating half your customers? No problem. CustomFlix (who also just announced deals to provide DVDs of niche TV shows) will store a digital copy of your content, and burn it onto Blu-ray, HD DVD or WMV-HD disc whenever a customer wants to buy one. They also provide services for customers who choose their own set of clips from the database, and burn a DVD with whatever you want on it.You can already buy some HDNet programs from Amazon via this service, with the other two formats to be added "soon". Hopefully this type of service can alleviate the situation detailed in The Clicker, where smaller providers are locked out because they can't afford to support HDTVs.
