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HDTV Listings for April 13, 2006
What we're watching: She's no Dennis Haysbert, but Geena Davis returns in a new episode of Commander in Chief tonight. Usually we'd opt for the Earl/The Office 1-2 combination however they are stuck in repeats, but if you somehow missed the "dundies" episode of Office do yourself a favor and check it out anyway. Luckily UPN is filling with all new shows, starting off with Everybody Hates Chris.There is also a replay of the unfortunately-cropped Crash on Showtime and for sports fans you can choose from MLB action on INHD or a doubleheader of basketball on TNT-HD.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HD-DVD & Blu-ray movie boxes unveiled, 1080p standard
DVDActive has posted the fronts and backs of several soon-to-be-released (or not so soon) Blu-ray and HD-DVD titles so you know what color boxes to look for when they hit stores. The most interesting development is that despite rumors to the contrary, all the HD-DVD movies posted state they are formatted in 1080p. Even though most of us don't have 1080p TVs yet and the initial HD-DVD players will max out at 1080i, those concerned about "future proofing" their next generation DVD collection may still have an option in HD-DVD. [Thaks for the tip SJ!]
VDC Live brings all of cable's lamest channels to your phone
It's less of a mobile TV service than it is a convenient way to receive infomercials on the go, but VDC seems to be the new player in town either way. The service transmits "live cable TV" to your Windows Mobile or Windows XP system, with data rates up to 3000Kbps, though more EV-DO-friendly speeds are available as well. The subscription is a mere $12 a month, but the 20 channels of "cable" programming are fairly awful, including such gems as "The Pentagon Channel" and "ShopNBC." The service just went live today, and has more channels planned, including "Celebrity Shopping Network" and "AP Newswires & Newsbites." Where do we sign up?[Via Windows For Devices]
Sony's 82-inch Bravia makes a showing in Taiwan
The year of LCDs just got a whole lot brighter thanks to this gigantic Sony LCD and its LED backlighting. Now before you get all hippity-hoppity this is just a prototype. We do have more info though for you like it is a 1080p TV (it better be) and that it will in fact be produced. What we do not have for you though is the offical price or availablity, but we are going to take a guess that the price is going to be somewhere between "a whole lot" and "a WHOLE lot." As for the availablity, a long time.
Take Dish Network for a test drive
So..um...curous if the grass is greener is on the other side. Dish Network is allowing new customers to test drive their services for up to 30 days. Normally this is 14 days (I have used this) but their is one small catch. You have to sign an 18 month contract before the trial begins, but other then that, this is a nice offer for some people. Dish Network does offer the most high-def programming anywhere and is available nationwide....not that HDBeat is favoring any service over another...*cough*
DLO begins shipping HomeDock Deluxe
This is what Apple's Universal iPod Dock should do. When connected to your TV, the HomeDock Deluxe by DLO offers on-screen navigation of your iPod's music library (C.K. took a look at the original HomeDock in January). It works with all iPods that have a dock connector, and will also let you watch stored videos/photos via S-video or AV. The included 20-button remote may lack Apple's minimalist elegance, but you can use it to search album, artist, title genre and so on, as well as skip, replay, pause, etc. Plus, it charges your iPod while docked.You can pick one up for $149.99US.
HDTV Listings for April 12, 2006
What we're watching: You know we're watching Lost, why even ask? King James and his band of merry men take on the Detroit Pistons at 8 p.m., unfortunately ESPN left their SkyCams at home. We don't usually watch Veronica Mars, but TVSquad says this is a great episode for new viewers to jump into the series on. Maybe its worth a shot at 8 p.m. on UPN as they replay last night's episode.We need a new Wednesday night fix since (after tonight) Lost is all repeats until May.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Did you catch the NBA's dual SkyCam special HDTV broadcast?
As we told you about previously, the NBA debuted a whole new way of broadcasting their game last night for HDTV owners. I caught it and came away pretty impressed. The angle provided by the two SkyCams was far superior to the usual camera angles used. It brought you in a lot closer to the floor and made it feel like sitting close to courtside instead of simply being in the arena way up in the upper deck.One of my complaints about NBA broadcasts in high definition in the past has been how far out the cameras zoomed. There was often too much empty court or stands in the view and the players seemed small and far away (although amazingly detailed). Maybe having a bigger TV would have helped, but I don't and so I'm complaining. With these new camera angles I did not have that complaint at all.(Sorry about the painfully SD screenshot, but hopefully you can get an idea of the angle as Chris Wilcox goes in for a dunk)
Panasonic final DMP-BD10 design
Ohhhh. Ahhhh. That's what we all did around the HDBeat lair with this new Blu-Ray p0rn. This is what I4U claims to be the final design from Panasonic. We sure hope so 'cause these are nice looking. The clean lines and fancy front plate looks nice and sleek. We wish that there was a MSRP somewhere, but there isn't. All that has been said is that it is going to be under $1,500. One thing is for sure though, Panasonic has the best looking next-gen DVD player.
Toshiba's Qosmio F30 and Dynabook SS MX, CX, TX, and AX laptops
Toshiba blasted us with a heap of new additions to their Dynabook and Qosmio line-up of laptops today. Let's start with the Qosmio F30/695LS Core Duo T2300 (1.66GHz) which features a bright 15.4-inch, 1280 x 800 (WXGA) LCD to check the teevee pumped out those integrated analog and digital terrestrial TV tuners. The F30 also features 160GB of storage for TV recording fun, up to 2GB RAM, nVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 graphics, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, fingerprint scanner, shock protection, and harmon/kardon's bass reflex speaker system already spotted on the G35. Next up is the new 1.9-kg Dynabook SS MX/395LS which also packs a Core Duo T2300 but delivers on a 12.1-inch WXGA LCD with 80GB disk, a dual-layer DVD burner, 512MB RAM, and 802.11a/b/g WiFi and goes 5.2-hours on a single charge. The compact, 2.5-kg Dynabook CX/875LS offers a 14.1-inch WXGA display and Core Duo T2300, harmon/kardon's speakers, and dual-layer DVD burner we've seen before. Rounding things out are the "high-grade standard" TX/880LS and budget AX/40LS which both offer 15.4-inch displays with the TX going Core Duo T2300 and 120GB disk while the AX manages to slip-in Celeron M 370 and dual-layer DVD burner on the cheap. Looks like all the models will be shipping no later than the 28th of this month. Big snaps of the SS MX and F30 after the break.[Via Akihabara News]
HDBeat Review: Helios HVD2085
DVD up-scalers are all the rage these days. They cost all the way from $100 to more than your HDTV does. But what are they?DVD up-scalers take a standard 480i signal and can present it to the TV in a variety of resolutions. Generally you would want to give the HDTV its native resolution. i.e. most plasmas are 720p so that is what you should set the DVD player for. Most digital TVs can only display one resolution and have scalers built-in, but sometimes they are not that great. These DVD players are designed to help, or replace, those internal scalers which will theoreticaly make a better picture. Will they make the DVDs high-def: no; will your DVDs look better: most will. Neodigits was kind enough to send us their lastest up-scaling DVD player the HVD2085. This thing is loaded. Up-scaling all the way to 1080p via HDMI and component, 5.1 digital and analog outputs, VGA, and "Smart Play." (more info in the full review). Click on for the full review.
DS TV tuner created from 1984 Trans Am
Seriously, I had a friend in high school who drove a '84 Pontiac Trans Am and the dashboard looked just like this...thing. Actually, upon further inspection, I believe that antenna is the exact one and the same, ripped from the dated-beauty of the hood of his 1984 Pontiac Trans Am and affixed, in pure Frankenstein-like fashion, upon this bulky add-on. Considering the allure of simplistic design that the DS, and even more so the Lite, has achieved, this is one eyesore of an adapter. What's even more puzzling is how the adapter was proposed almost a year ago, looking identically the same, yet the color grey.[Via Joystiq]
HDTV Listing for April 11, 2006
What we're watching: Once again, you have the choice between a program about a man divinely chosen as a leader for his people, and The Ten Commandments on ABC. One has the guy who was in Heist, while The Unit features an assassinated ex-President who sells car insurance. We'll call it a push.Don't forget, tonight is the night for the NBA's dual-skycam broadcast of a game between the Spurs and Supersonics so be sure to check that out. There's also some new series on WB, Pepper Dennis is about a spunky female reporter etc. etc., it might be worth a look at 9 p.m.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Girl gamer recruitment good reality TV?
Recruiting a new member for a sponsored girl gaming team can't be easy. When Eekers (one of Ubisoft's Frag Dolls) left the line-up last summer, a nationwide search for her replacement rolled into motion, requiring everything from a gaming CV to glamour shots. Months later, when all but the hopefuls have forgotten the empty space to be filled, the shortlisted candidates have been announced and the final selection procedure outlined.All eight of the finalists will be flown to San Francisco to "join the existing Frag Dolls in a weekend of playing games and interviewing", a party that sounds like good fodder for frazzled nerves -- especially when you add in the filming. For this is no ordinary interview -- instead, the whole thing will be covered by Internet TV site GameTrailers, providing a reality TV glimpse into the mysterious world of girl gamers.
Mitsubishi's new HDTVs (with pictures this time)
We told you about Mitsubishi's newly announced LCD and DLP screens, while we can't yet watch some 1080p next gen DVDs on them yet, you can at least see what they look like. Above is the monster 73" Tru1080p DLP WD-73831. Check below for shots of the 65" DLP and 46" LCD screens.
London Residents: HDTV trials are starting, apply now!
Remember a few weeks ago when we talked about the BBC trials? Well, the network is taking applications for the trial that will take place in London. So, not to state the obvious, but you have to live in London and the not so obvious is that you have to have Freeview. The network will then provide a select couple hundred households with set top boxes to receive the signal.Not sold yet London residents, this trial would allow you to watch the coveted World Cup games...
HDTV Listings for April 10, 2006
What we're watching: At 9 p.m. you have a choice to make of great spiritual significance. You can either watch an epic tale of a man on a mission from God, or you can watch The Ten Commandments on ABC. Pending any instructions given to us by a burning plasma TV, we'll probably go with Jack Bauer. Besides, didn't somebody already make a movie based on the 10 heavily-emphasized suggestions?Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Hotels are getting widescreens, but are they giving them high-def?
Hotels amenities are getting HOT. It is not good enough anymore to simply put a whirlpool tub in a hotel room and call it high-end. These days you need WIFI, touch screen phones, and flat panel HDTVs. But the issue is, are they giving these HDTVs high-def?We understand that hotels need to give their guests the best of the best these days, but a coupl of calls to high-end Detroit hotels, tells us that most of the hotels staff do not even know what high-def is. They were excited to tell us that they have flat screen TVs though in many of their suites, but the HDTV thingie just confused them more. Note to Rick Hilton: The four of us would be more then happy to be your executive staff on everything high-def and flat screen.
HDTV Listings for April 9, 2006
What we're watching: No Desperate Housewives, no new Grey's no problem? Seems that way today . We'll be checking to see who puts on the green jacket at Augusta today, the broadcast is absolutely beautiful. There's also NASCAR action, NBA and MLB on deck for tonight. A couple of TV movies should spice things up, with Covert One:The Hades Factor on CBS and Avenger on TNT.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for April 8, 2006
What we're watching: I criticized golf for being SD-only recently, now that they have joined us in high definition I'm obligated to watch. Minority Report's impressive special effects should make it a great watch in HD at 8 p.m. on ABC, hopefully we'll be able to buy it on disc someday and watch it in HD whenever we want.Depending on your perspective, SNL could go either way on quality tonight, as Antonio Banderas fills in the guest host spot vacated by last week's Scarlett Johanssen.Our traditional high-def listings continue below
