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17/03/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 183 - 03.16.2010

Sometimes it feels like all we do is talk about what's coming, but not today, as we get to actually talk about what is here -- for a change. First on the list is 3DTVs from Panasonic and Samsung and how the two compare. Then we move on to some exciting new 3D content like The Final Four and The Masters. Then we talk Media Center and about our initial impressions of the Ceton InfiniTV 4, at which point Jeremy Hammer joins in the fun to fill in the details. He even sticks around to explain what DMIPS are when we talk about the TiVo Premier processor, and his thoughts on exclusive programming deals; and finally Ben's favorite show Lost.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler
Guest: Jeremey Hammer of Ceton Corp

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:15 - Comments from Podcast 182
00:05:03 - Panasonic 3D home entertainment system goes on sale to a country in mourning
00:10:57 - Samsung's 2010 3DTVs priced from $1,700 to ridiculous and everywhere in between
00:15:27 - First 3D showdown pits Samsung vs Panasonic
00:18:43 - Poll: Will you still buy home theater equipment that isn't 3D-ready?
00:23:09 - CBS Sports to present the Final Four in 100 3D theaters
00:25:57 - Comcast will beat DirecTV to the punch by broadcasting the Masters Tournament in 3D April 7-11
00:28:50 - Netflix prototyped for Windows Phone 7 Series
00:30:56 - Sony signs up all six major studios for HD movies on PlayStation Network
00:36:08 - Ceton's quad CableCARD tuner for Media Center available for pre-order
00:14:42 - The processor in the TiVo Premiere is over twice as fast as the Series3
01:26:54 - Court rules against Comcast, Cablevision on new FCC program access rules

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Engadget HD Podcast 183 - 03.16.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/03/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 15th at 8:30pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/03/2010 - International HD news roundup

Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, Sahha!

Read - Viewers demand 1080i from ARD and ZDF (Germany)
Read - SCI FI HD to be beamed up to Virgin TV viewers
Read - Discovery Rolls TLC Into Norway
Read - RRsat to Distribute the First High Definition Indian `Bollywood' Movie Channel
Read - Fox Sports brings you high-definition NRL coverage every day of the week
Read - Discovery Networks launches high definition channel (India)
Read - Microsoft Launches MSN Video Player In UK
Read - Microsoft rolls out video-on-demand service across the UK
Read - Sharp preps Freeview HD set-top kit (UK)
Read - Sky Extends High Definition Leadership with HD Channel Milestone, adds ITV1 HD, Hallmark Channel HD, Sky sports HD (UK)
Read - Movietime Launches in High Definition (Canada)
Read - MAX to telecast IPL matches in HD (India)
Read - BBC iPlayer lands on Humax Foxsat Freesat boxes
Read - TV Globo Brings HDTV to Rural Brazil
Read - PBS and Melita share 2010 FIFA World Cup TV rights (Malta)
Read - Film4 HD to Launch on Virgin Media (UK)

International HD news roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/03/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 182 - 03.09.2010

3DTVs get their big launch at Best Buy this week, but we kick off with talk of TiVo's latest legal victory. We do talk 3D for some time though and can't wait to see if the in store demos live up to what we saw at CES -- we also take some time to try to clear up some confusion in regards to HDMI, 3D and all the requirements and standards. Finally we talk about why an IR emitter for a iPhone is a bad idea, why we don't really care much about Real's loss to the MPAA and why you should wait for the BBC's version of Life on Blu-ray rather than watching it on Discovery.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
03:10 - Comments from Podcast 181
09:00 - TiVo's $200m damages award in EchoStar case affirmed, EchoStar to appeal (again)
15:58 - Panasonic's VT25 3DTVs will be nearly 50% off Japanese prices, launch this week at Best Buy
21:50 - Panasonic G20 HDTV review shows plasma's still got it
23:37 - Samsung debuts 3DTV LED LCD ads during the Oscars
28:03 - HDMI 1.4a spec released in full, lays down mandatory 3D format support details
39:27 - New Potato's FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities
40:00 - RedEye mini converts iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into IR-beaming universal remote
47:73 - RealNetworks to stop selling RealDVD, your copyrights are safe -- for now
54:44 - Discovery's next epic series Life airs March 21 on seven networks, June 1 on Blu-ray

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Engadget HD Podcast 182 - 03.09.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/03/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 8th at 6:30pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/03/2010 - Winner of the Biz-News.com "Product of the Year Award 2009” Announced

Our polls for the Biz-News.com “Product of the Year Award 2009” closed on the 15th of February. The winner is a result of the amount of votes they were awarded by readers, all readers where invited to vote for their favourite products or service in the Smartphone, HDTV, Storage and VoIP categories.

03/03/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast TiVo premier special live on Ustream

It's not Monday, but the Engadget crew is getting together for a special podcast to talk about the new TiVo Premier. We're going to need some help on this one, so we're brining in a few guests. So if you want to hear our intial impressions live we're going to start broadcasting live Wednesday the 3rd at 6:00pm. Love it or hate, it if you follow the latest in the HD DVR market, you're not going to want to miss this. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast TiVo premier special live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast TiVo premier special live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/03/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 180 - 03.02.2010

Although we had fun getting a new perspective from a third voice last week, its good to be back to our regular show as we try to predict what TiVo is going to announce tonight. Next up is the latest preview of the FCC's plan to bring broadband to everyone -- with a little help from the TV spectrum. Meanwhile some can't wait to get HDMI on the Mac Mini, while others couldn't care less. And we still love some 3D, but don't like the $150 price point on the glasses. Finally we talk the Olympics, Avner from Boxee on the Engadget Show and Cablevision's new PC to TV Media Relay.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:26 - TiVo Premiere, XL DVRs show up in Best Buy systems for $299, $499; due March 27
07:40 - FCC's Genachowski previews broadband plan, demands half gigahertz of spectrum for the task
13:44 - Broadcasters may have to pay extra for the right to deliver Mobile DTV
20:10 - Apple rumored to be readying Mac mini with HDMI
30:24 - Samsung's new 3DTVs get an early eyes-on, through $150 shutter glasses
36:27 - Samsung's first Full HD 3D TV now available in the US, all 55 inches of it
37:55 - Sony Style stores proclaimed 3D ready, are you?
40:34 - NBC turns off the tape delay, will air Men's Hockey final live in all time zones Sunday
52:34 - The Engadget Show - 006
57:50 - Cablevision's new 'PC to TV Media Relay' slings PC media to your cable box, fuzzy on the details

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Engadget HD Podcast 180 - 03.02.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/03/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 1st at 7:00pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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23/02/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 179 - 02.23.2010

Another week, another breaking news item just in time for us to discuss on the podcast and weren't we lucky to have Home Media Magazine's Chris Tribbey filling in the third seat this week to try and make sense of Wal-mart's purchase of VUDU. Other industry shakeups include the Redbox & Warner deal, Sezmi's retail launch and possible release dates for Avatar on Blu-ray disc. After that we dig into whether HDMI 1.3 will support 3D, the future for Media Center Extenders, some TiVo news and finally what's wrong with the Olympics and why NBC doesn't care what you or we think.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Guest: Chris Tribbey, Home Media Magazine

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program

00:01:35 - Wal-Mart buying Vudu streaming movie service?
00:07:25 - Redbox to delay renting Warner movies in return for lower costs and access to Blu-ray
00:19:34 - Sezmi launches $20 per month cable/satellite alternative today in L.A.
00:28:40 - James Cameron sees Avatar on Blu-ray 3D in November, HDTV manufacturers mark their calendars
00:37:45 - Sony's Blu-ray players do 3D in 1080p even with HDMI 1.3
00:48:03 - Extenders for Media Center aren't dead, they just seem like it
00:56:48 - TiVo granted patent on recording Season Pass subscriptions by priority
01:02:23 - TiVo wonders why cable wants TV Everywhere, except on a TiVo
01:05:45 - How does NBC justify tape delaying the Olympics? Pretty easily

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Engadget HD Podcast 179 - 02.23.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/02/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 15th at 7:00pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/02/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 178 - 02.16.2010

What seemed like a slow week ended up giving us plenty to talk about, which is mostly because of the Olympics. This excitement was despite the fact that NBC tape delays -- do we still call it that when we know there are no tapes involved? -- too much, and in some cases everything, and the fact that the interactive features leave a lot to be desired. We eventually move on and talk streaming from Netflix and EPIX, and how low our expectations are for TiVo's announcement in a few weeks. Of course we talk a little 3D and how much cheaper it is than most thought it'd be, and finally we move on to fun things like law suits, wireless HDMI and spectrum buy back options.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:37 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 177 - 2.9.2009
04:43 - Hands-on with the interactive Olympics and web videos
28:23 - Netflix: lack of HD streaming 'no loss' for Wii owners
29:40 - EPIX brings movie streaming to mobiles courtesy of Adobe's Open Screen Project
35:00 - New UI, tweaked hardware in store for TiVo's March reveal?
44:00 - Samsung's 3D HDTVs arrive February 26, starting at just under $2,000
47:05 - Sony's $200 BDP-S470 is company's first 3D-ready Blu-ray player
49:15 - PS3 3D video output turns up in 3.20 debug firmware
51:07 - DirecTV suing Dish Network over Why Pay More ads, says there's plenty of reasons
55:55 - Ask Engadget HD: Is there a good wireless HDMI option yet?
58:24 - Spectrum cash-out option might still be on the table for FCC, broadcasters

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Engadget HD Podcast 178 - 02.16.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/02/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 15th at 5:30pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/02/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 177 - 02.09.2010

Leading off the podcast this week is breaking Netflix Watch Instantly news (only to find out after recording that 5.1 and closed captioning features would be available this year, but not 1080p) before trying to figure out exactly what Comcast was thinking with its new Xfinity brand name. After that we get elbow deep in the NBC/Boxee standoff, even more Netflix numbers and Blu-ray player sales projections. Of course we've got some 3D news from the last few weeks to recap, from the HDMI spec going public to Comcast's 3D efforts, Sky's inaugural soccer broadcast and Samsung's BD-C6900 showing up momentarily on Amazon. Of course we had to dicuss Panasonic's plasma revelations, before closing out with the new (& cheap) ATI HTPC video card and a few poll results.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:25 - 1080p, 5.1 surround sound coming to Netflix Watch Instantly in 2010? Update: No, yes (and closed captioning)
00:06:48 - Comcast smears the XFINITY brand across all its services
00:11:53 - NBC's Jeff Zucker talks about Boxee with congress, Boxee talks about The Facts with Jeff Zucker
00:19:50 - Netflix celebrates Q4 success of 1 million new subscribers and eyes bigger growth ahead; Roku too
00:30:50 - In-Stat sees Blu-ray players closing in on DVD sales in 2013
00:33:37 - HDMI 1.4's 3D spec publicly released
00:43:39 - Comcast CEO not sure 24x7 3D is in our future
00:48:40 - Inaugural Sky 3DTV soccer broadcast received warmly, hooligans opt for Michael Jackson & the Grammys instead
00:52:52 - Samsung's 3D Blu-ray player available for preorder on Amazon: $399 - Update: Not anymore
00:54:35 - Panasonic cops to rising black levels in its plasma HDTVs, but questions still remain
01:00:59 - ATI Radeon HD 5450 focuses on multimedia features, neglects gaming
01:03:48 - Poll: How did you watch Lost?
01:09:55 - Poll: Best HD sporting event this month?

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Engadget HD Podcast 177 - 02.09.2010 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/02/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 8th at 5:30pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/01/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Monday the 25th at 6:30pm. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/01/2010 - Poll: Did you buy an internet connected HDTV?

One last followup on the trends of CES '09, last time we checked about 20% of you were at least thinking about grabbing a new HDTV with internet features last year. Of course, that was before VIZIO's XVT 55-inch was delayed and we were slightly disappointed by the widget performance on Samsung's LED model and desires cooled off a bit. So, how many of you are currently watching the conference championships on screens with Ethernet or WiFi hookups embedded in them? Anyone actually tweeting or pulling in Facebook updates via their remote? According to what we saw this year, televisions acting as embedded platforms for more services is a trend that will keep growing, but how is it working out so far?

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Poll: Did you buy an internet connected HDTV? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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18/01/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape Now. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14/01/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 173 - 1.13.2009

CES is officially over but we're still trying to catch up on all the news, so we talk a little 3D without glasses and why it isn't ready for prime time as well as different ways 3D can be transmitted vs displayed. Although we love 3D we haven't forgotten about the basics so we discuss the Panasonic contrast demo and the little tru2way that was at the show. We finish things off with a little nostalgic HD DVD talk as well as some new movie streaming and info available when we watch movies.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:35 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 172 - CES 2010 day 3
04:45 - TCL completes the no-glasses 3D trifecta at CES
12:15 - HD 101: The difference between sequential and side by side 3D
23:45 - Panasonic's 2010 plasma line has much better black levels
28:00 - Hands-on with Pansonic's tru2way set-back box
32:40 - LG Magic Motion gesture control HDTV remote hands-on
34:55 - Verizon to double ETFs on FiOS TV contracts
39:21 - HD DVD rides again: TCL brings China Blue HD & Blu-ray together for a CES face-off
41:20 - Sony Qriocity on-demand movie service coming February 2010
45:06 - This is It Blu-ray release debuts movieIQ Sync, brings more Michael Jackson info to your iPhone or PC

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Engadget HD Podcast 173 - 1.13.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/01/2010 - Check us out on the latest episode of HD Nation

We make it no secret that our favorite video podcast is HD Nation on Revision3, so you can imagine how honored we were to be invited on to record a few segments on the CES 2010 episode, which included the new Ceton and Silicon Dust CableCARD tuners as well as our new found passion for 3D HDTVs. The entire episode is great as always, but just to make things simple we've embedded the aforementioned segments after the break.

Continue reading Check us out on the latest episode of HD Nation

Check us out on the latest episode of HD Nation originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/01/2010 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/01/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 171: CES 2010 day 2

Day 2 of CES is done and the sleep deprivation is really starting to take its toll. During yesterday's show we had some difficulties, so we went back over the same topcis so you wouldn't have to do without. We were able to successfully convert one other Engadgeteer into a 3D fan so we invited him on the show to tell his story. If you like Media Center news there is plenty of it as we talk CableCARD tuners form Ceton and SiliconDust. And don't worry, there is more of this where this came from.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:43 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 170 - CES 2010 day 1
04:32 - ESPN 3D launches in June with World Cup soccer -- our football to follow later
10:35 - Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder
12:05 - VIZIO's 2010 XVT LCDs go up to 72-inches with 3D, LED, WiFi & WirelessHD
13:28 - New Sony Blu-ray players do 3D, WiFi, iPhone remote, more
13:55 - New Sony Bravia 3D HDTVs coming this Summer with WiFi and local dimming
14:10 - New LG BD590 Blu-ray player sports a 250GB hard drive LG presents 39 new LCD HDTVs, most with NetCast, some with 3D
15:35 - Samsung's 2010 LCDs & plasmas include the skinny, touchscreen remote controlled LED 9000
16:22 - Sharp's BD-HP70U Blu-ray player adds a little red with Netflix support
17:25 - Sharp debuts 60-inch 240Hz Aquos LED LCD TV, 68-inch set with a touch of yellow in its RGB
18:46 - VIZIO's 2010 LCD lineup is LED from top to bottom
21:12 - HDHomeRun's CableCARD implementation lives up to the brand
23:56 - Hands-on with the low profile Ceton quad CableCARD tuner
27:10 - Boxee Box confirmed to have Tegra 2, Boxee Beta now open to all
30:10 - Sling's CES showing gives us a Touch of optimism
34:33 - Haier's wireless HDTV lacks wires, svelte profile (video)
38:31 - Funai, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp and Toshiba to launch Netflix-enabled HDTVs or Blu-ray decks
39:59 - Sony Pictures has 3D Blu-ray titles in store for 2010

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Engadget HD Podcast 171: CES 2010 day 2 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/01/2010 - Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD media player gets busy with CinemaNow

Iomega's making a Full HD play for the living room at CES with the introduction of its new ScreenPlay Director device. The 1TB HD media player brings a bevy of TV connectivity options including HDMI composite video, component, and more. It's also DLNA- and DivX-certificated in addition to boasting H.264, WMV, AVCHD and MKV format support at 1080p. A trio of USB ports give you room for external capacity growth while baked in 10/100 Ethernet (or optional 802.11n USB WiFi Adapter) gets the pup online where you can rent or buy movies from CinemaNow or browse content on Flickr, YouTube, Shoutcast radio, and RSS feeds. ScreenPlay Director HD lists for $250 when it goes on sale, well, today if you order through Dell.

Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD media player gets busy with CinemaNow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/01/2010 - VIZIO Selects WirelessHD for New Line of LCD HDTVs and Wireless HDMI Adapters

VIZIO announced that it has chosen to add WirelessHD technology and SiBEAM 60 GHz chipsets, based on the globally available WirelessHD standard, for a new line of LCD HDTVs and wireless HDMI adapters.

SiBEAM is a fabless semiconductor company developing intelligent millimeter wave technologies. The company is the first to build 60 GHz chipsets using CMOS technology. The first of many applications for SiBEAM’s innovative technology is based on WirelessHD.

31/12/2009 - Trade show shocker: Sling to out some new gear at CES

Okay, you're not surprised that some companies are going to have new gear at CES, are you? Well, we''re hearing that Sling -- a company that's not had much news this year beyond the release of its iPhone app -- will definitely unleash some new stuff in Las Vegas, including "WiFi television, ultra-slim Slingboxes, and a next-generation touch screen device." Now, we don't want to get everyone overly excited this early in the day, but those all definitely sound like upgrades to us. We really don't know if Sling will let slip any more specific info between now and CES, but as you know, we'll be In Vegas when it all goes down, so sit back and be patient. It won't be long, now.

Trade show shocker: Sling to out some new gear at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/12/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, December 21st at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/12/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 167 - 12.16.2009

Scheduling forced this slightly-delayed edition to be a throwback podcast without a live audience in the UStream chat, but we still found plenty to discuss. From Nielen numbers to the freshly unveiled Boxee Box and the latest in CableCARD in tru2way news. We discuss the failure of the Cowboys Stadium "3D" experience and why it shouldn't affect your view of upcoming technology, plus what's new in discs: Blu-ray/DVD combos, trade in programs and free VOD offers. Closing this week out is a look at the latest wireless HD contender and the most premium HDMI cable ever made.

Get the podcast
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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:53 - Nielsen Three Screen Report: 99 percent of video still viewed on a TV
00:09:40 - Boxee Box pictured in the wild: it's small!
00:18:56 - Panasonic to make Boston the fourth tru2way market
00:27:10 - Are CableCARD tuners for Media Center sold out everywhere?
00:32:36 - Firewire's future on DVRs is up for debate
00:42:39 - Cowboys Stadium 3D scoreboard experiment doesn't go so well, turned off in less than seven minutes
00:49:37 - Bourne DVD / Blu-ray combo boxes are incredibly descriptive
00:57:17 - Poll: Do you plan on participating in a DVD to Blu-ray trade-in?
01:02:25 - Amazon's Disc+ program tosses in a free VOD with your Blu-ray or DVD
01:10:29 - WiGig Alliance completes multi-gigabit 60GHz wireless specification: let the streaming begin
01:15:07 - Wireworld's Platinum Starlight HDMI cable is only $1,000, better than your HDMI cable

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14/12/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 167 - 12.16.2009

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Engadget HD Podcast 167 - 12.16.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/12/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, December 7th at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/12/2009 - LG Rolls Out 3D LCDs with Full HD Resolution

LG announced the world’s first commercial launch of 3D LCD panel boasting full HD resolution.

The new product is a 23-inch 3D monitor LCD panel for use with shutter glasses that delivers full HD resolution. LG syas it offers picture quality that is almost twice as crisp as HD 3D displays currently available in the market.

02/12/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best video encoding process to maximize quality & compatibility?

One of the more time consuming aspects of getting all our digital media in one place is ensuring quality and compatibility across different devices, which sounds like exactly the problem faced by our friend Kris:

"To save my precious DVD's and BD's from the horror of scratches, I encode all my videos to a networked PC. This PC then streams the video out to multiple different receivers (PS3, PCs, Xbox 360.) Usually what works on one may not work in another, or does not encode surround sound, or has some other quibble. Currently I'm using Tversity to pick up the slack, but it doesn't work 100% with every video type i have. (for example on some files the PS3 will not play the file at normal speed [too slow/too fast]) I do all my encoding on a Core I7 920 equipped box, and filesize is not a concern of mine. Any recommendations on a batch encoder/settings that can take care of my compatibility problems and still retain near full quality?"

It sounds simple enough, but finding that silver bullet of software, hardware and settings that lets you just press "play" and know the file will come through in full quality no matter where it came from or is being streamed to can be one of the trickiest parts of all. Let us know what solutions you've figured out.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best video encoding process to maximize quality & compatibility? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/12/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 165 - 12.01.2009

You can tell the count down to CES is upon us because the companies that make the things we love are quietly counting their holiday earnings and planning for the next big thing. As exciting as the anticipation is, it doesn't leave many things for us to talk about so we'll talk about our dreams from TiVo for CES and stupid things like HDMI marketing ideas. The FCC is almost always a good topic with broadcasters in fear of their business model and the MPAA dreaming of SOC for Christmas. Finally we talk a little 3D, unbelievable survey results, and our latest poll on your TV viewing habits.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
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[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:57 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 164
06:35 - Is a new TiVo imminent?
12:37 - TiVo's 3Q results reveal Virgin Media UI deal, new remotes on the way -- but no new boxes
17:32 - Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest way to get streaming internet video on my HDTV?
22:08 - HDMI logos updated: version numbers out, supported features in
26:23 - Broadcasters predictably unsettled about FCC taking away spectrum
32:16 - Selectable Output control is bad, but not worth lying about
41:55 - Spending on cable and satellite services are up
50:14 - James Cameron thinks he can get viewers asking to wear 3D glasses
56:13 - Survey says 13 percent have never heard of Hi-Def
59:00 - Poll: What's the best night to watch TV?

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Engadget HD Podcast 165 - 12.01.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/11/2009 - VUDU updates keep rolling by integrating Wikipedia

The VUDU web based architecture is evidently really paying off, because this makes the third VUDU update in the last month. The company tells us that since its UI is pulled from the web like any other website, it can continue to easily roll out updates. This week's addition is a welcomed one, as we'll no longer have to reach for our computer or handheld just to look up the details of a movie on Wikipedia. But what's even more useful is the fact that you can browse beyond the movie's Wikipedia entry to the actor's pages, etc., and links are even added so you can quickly get back to actor's list of movies available on VUDU. We haven't been able to try this for ourselves yet, but it does sound like something we'd find useful. Of course the only thing left to add now that Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes are accounted for is IMDB, which can't be far behind -- right, VUDU? There's one more screen cap of the new feature after the jump.

Continue reading VUDU updates keep rolling by integrating Wikipedia

VUDU updates keep rolling by integrating Wikipedia originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/11/2009 - New Sony NXCAM is more camcorder than you ever need, but still you covet

Sony's latest professional-grade camcorder probably meets your needs and then some by quite a stretch, recording AVCHD up to 24Mbps and SD quality in MPEG-2 / 9Mbps. We're also looking at a 20x zoom lens, 3 x 1/3-inch Exmor CMOS sensor, and storage options including Memory Stick Pro Duo and an optional 128GB flash memory drive. Don't lie, you want this beast, even if it clearly falls in the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" category. Look for more temptation sometime closer to its expected early 2010 launch.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

New Sony NXCAM is more camcorder than you ever need, but still you covet originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19/11/2009 - AMIMON Introduces Wireless HD Modules for the Notebook Market

AMIMON, a fabless semiconductor company that specialize in HD solutions, announced the availability of its WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface) modules which can be embedded into notebook and netbook enabling a wireless HD connection from PCs to HDTVs.

Earlier introduced, the company’s WHDI allows flat-panel televisions and multimedia projectors to wirelessly interface to all HDTV video sources at a quality equivalent to that achieved with wired interfaces such as component video, DVI and HDMI.

18/11/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest way to get streaming internet video on my HDTV?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Internet

It's hard to imagine, but there are a few home theaters out there not yet capable of pulling in internet video. Though quality, selection and pricing are going to remain issues for the foreseeable future, that doesn't mean our friend Keith wants to wait any longer to get on the train:

"Currently I have my home theater with a projection TV, Samsung Blu-ray player and Dish Network DVR, but I've been watching a lot of streaming video on my desktop PC and want to get it on my television. Netflix, YouTube when it goes 1080p, Hulu, as much as possible. What's the cheapest way for me to get streaming internet video sources hooked up to my existing equipment?"

If price is a consideration that may knock out most Media PC builds, but while plenty of newer Blu-ray players have streaming built in he could also opt for a game console, new DVR, dedicated hardware from Roku or VUDU or wait to see what kind of Boxee will deliver. Any tips on how you got the most internet sources hooked up to your television with the least up front cost?

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.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest way to get streaming internet video on my HDTV? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 164 - 11.17.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Another surprisingly epic podcast this week stats off with a bit of TiVo vs. Media center comparison held over from last week, plus a look at the latest from Moxi before pondering what HD DVD Managed Copy might have been like. Next a mini-review of the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray calibration disc spurs a live contest for our UStream audience (congratulations to the winner, wrinklefree, check for his entries after the break,) plus a chance to win for the rest of you listeners. We discuss why the NFL might be right when it says Sunday Ticket is best as-is, and some contemplation over what the FCC could do about OTA television. If that's not mind blowing enough, new TV startups Sezmi and ZillionTV get their moment of discussion, plus new video delivery solutions in the form of Blockbuster kiosks and Comcast's TV Everywhere. Closing thing's out is our weekly poll concerning the importance of surround sound -- the results may surprise you.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:57 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 163
00:13:33 - Moxi Fall update comes with a lower price and a new 3 tuner model
00:22:08 - HD DVD's Managed Copy was never necessarily free, was always Mandatory
00:26:32 - Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray mini-review
00:34:04 - DirecTV exclusive Sunday Ticket is "in the consumers' best interest"
00:40:25 - Ask Engadget HD: Should the FCC kill DTV for better technology?
01:01:45 - ZillionTV signs the final remaining major studio
01:03:20 - Sezmi's low cost cable / satellite premium TV alternative launches in L.A.
01:05:45 - Blockbuster kiosks to offer movies on SD cards, you some candy as you checkout
01:14:54 - Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere
01:19:45 - Poll: How important is surround sound to you?

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Engadget HD Podcast 164 - 11.17.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 164 - 11.17.2009

Continue reading Engadget HD Podcast 164 - 11.17.2009

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Engadget HD Podcast 164 - 11.17.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5

Filed under: Media streamers

Look, we're all for competition, but it's about time for some of these guys to stop copying and start innovating. As if your noggin' wasn't already spinning enough as you attempt to whittle down your laundry list of HD media streamers, in flies PrimeDTV with yet another hopeful. The PHD-HM5 looks to be fairly standard in terms of features, with HDMI / component outputs, a lengthy list of supported formats, an Ethernet socket and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. You won't find WiFi or any internal hard drive, and you'll have to live with the fact that this thing is akin to some lackluster AV component from the early 90s. Oh, and then there's the chore of actually finding one for sale (not to mention an MSRP), which should probably be just enough to push you towards Popcorn Hour.

PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5

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PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U350

The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 laptop offers computing and entertainment technology at its best.

With the retail price starting from as little as R6 699 (~$900), the IdeaPad U350 is a must for technology lovers for its amazing range of utilities. The smallest IdeaPad U350 laptop is a mere 1.58kg and is less than 25mm in size, making it easy to carry around.

17/11/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, November 16th at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/11/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, November 16th at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/11/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Should the FCC kill DTV for better technology?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD

There aren't many around that're bigger fans of free over-the-air HD than us, but we're also really big fans of wireless technologies. So when we originally heard that the FCC was considering commandeering broadcast DTV spectrum for wireless broadband we weren't so keen on the idea. But then we saw this Multichannel News story and it really got us thinking about the ramifications of killing free HD as we know it. The fact is that HD via ATSC only works in applications where the antenna is stationary, which means that cable or satellite work just as well, but of course aren't free. Which means that the only real benefit of broadcast DTV is it is free. This makes us wonder, considering only 10 percent of Amercia relies soly on over-the-air TV, is this really the best use of this valuable wireless spectrum? Or would it be better to use it for wireless broadband? Just think, ATSC uses a 15 year old modulation technology and still manages to pump almost 20 Mbps across one channel. If we freed even part of this for wireless broadband, we could have as much throughput as we wanted to our phones and laptops almost anywhere in the country. So we want to know.

What would the FCC have to do in order to make you happy to give up your free HD? Would free basic cable (with HD of course) make it ok? Or maybe some restrictions are wireless broadband that would make it more affordable for consumers? Maybe just reducing the number of channels in each area by restricting their use to actual public benefits (no infomercials etc) would be a good compromise.

Ultimately we believe that DVRs are going to eventually invalidate non-live linear TV as we know it -- and broadcast TV and its affiliate model along with it. In fact this buyout by the FCC might be the perfect exit strategy for them. The question is will it take 5 years or 25? And will the public or corporate America come out better off as a result.

Ask Engadget HD: Should the FCC kill DTV for better technology? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/11/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: How do I get the best audio from my PS3, without HDMI?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD

Once you've actually decided what hardware to purchase, avoided the perilous purchasing decisions involved in finding cables, but actually setting it up can trip up the newbies among us. Suck is our friend David's problem, trying to figure out if lossless audio is a possibility for his HDMI-less receiver:

"I read your article and I would like further advice. I have the brand new PS3, which I'm going to use with a 1080p Sony Bravia - the video is fine..HDMI to the tv. The problem is that I have an ONKYO THX 7.1 system (really 5.1), and there is no HDMI, so I plan on using an optical audio cable from the PS3 into the receiver. How do i get the best sound? Will the PS3 decode the trueHD (or whatever it is) and send the full spectrum of sound across the optical to the receiver? Will NOT having the HDMI to the receiver affect my sound, or will the PS3 internal decoding send a perfect lossless sound to my non-HDMI receiver?"

Just in case our HD 101 explanation wasn't enough (First off, S/PDIF transmission -- over either optical TOSLINK or coax -- does not have the bandwidth to carry Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA signals. If you connect your Blu-ray player to your receiver with optical or coax, the audio will "fall back" to Dolby Digital, DTS or two-channel PCM -- lossless, but only two channels,) any tips on how David can get the highest audio quality possible out of the equipment he has? Of course, if you think replacing one of the components is a better choice, that's always an option as well.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: How do I get the best audio from my PS3, without HDMI? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 163 - 11.10.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Wow what a show this week. You wouldn't know for looking at it, but there was a lot to cover and this show ended up being in contention for the longest on record. Which partly because we just couldn't stop talking about Media Center's new ability to record without DRM from CableCARD. But there was also plenty of talk about RVU, Managed Copy and DVRs in general. At one point we even took issue with claims by the chat room and really let 'em have it -- but we doubt we got through to them. We could go on and one about the other topics, but really, you should just have a listen for yourself. It'll be a good listen too as the man who loves every TV show, explains why he even watches shows he doesn't like, yes really.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:40 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 162
00:08:45 - Microsoft emancipates Digital Cable Tuners with second Media Center update today
00:21:04 - RVU Alliance gets Motorola, Pace, Thomson and others to dream the multiroom dream
00:34:12 - TiVo's AN0100 802.11n WiFi adapter hits the FCC, stirs up imaginations
00:40:17 - Are DVRs actually going to save the network TV model?
00:52:45 - A la carte lawsuit against cable companies dismissed
00:55:50 - Forget HDTV and 3D, when is Ultra HDTV / Super Hi-vision coming home?
00:58:50 - VUDU brings Pandora, Picasa and Flickr to connected HDTVs, promises more apps soon
01:00:38 - Managed Copy hits Blu-ray Discs December 4th, but you still can't use it
01:13:30 - Netflix instant streaming demoed on PlayStation 3 (updated with more video!)
01:15:58 - Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime squashes Wii HD rumors... again
01:19:25 - Ready for the first all-HD Winter Olympics? NBC is
01:28:22 - Poll: Did you like the new show V?

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Engadget HD Podcast 163 - 11.10.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 163 - 11.10.2009

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Engadget HD Podcast 163 - 11.10.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/11/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, November 9thth at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/11/2009 - Report: Looking Forward to Ultra-High Definition TV

While the market for High-Definition TV has hit the mainstream, the industry has already started speculating about the commercialization of Ultra-High Definition (UHD).

UHD formats provide between four and sixteen times the resolution of Blu-ray or 1080p high definition as well as 22.2 multichannel three-dimensional sound.

The In-Stat report says the rising popularity of high resolution digital cinema will expose consumers to high resolution content. Then, early UHDTVs will be made available to provide a digital cinema high resolution viewing experience in the home.

04/11/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Where can I find Blu-ray movies for cheap on Black Friday and beyond?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Blu-ray

Prices on Blu-ray players continue to plunge, inducing more and more to make the jump, but what about the software? We've asked where you buy your discs before, but this time we're presented with a brand new adopter looking to stock up on titles during the holiday season. That's Sean's situation, where to look for Blu-ray discs over the next month if price is the only consideration.

"Instead of camping out for a big ticket purchase on black Friday, I already grabbed a new flat screen and Blu-ray player, but so far I only have a couple of movies to watch on it. I really want to upgrade my library with plenty of reference quality selections, and I figure holiday seasons will be a great time to do it. Any advice on where to look for the deepest discounts / bundles over the next couple of months?"

So, we know there's more than a few of you always on the lookout for a BOGO or better offer to come along whether buying for yourself or as gifts, any tips for our tightfisted friend here?

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Where can I find Blu-ray movies for cheap on Black Friday and beyond? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 162 - 11.03.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

The Cable-Tec show was a source of much news this week, whether you're dreaming of the perfect NAS-based multiroom DVR setup, new DVR hardware (we're talking about you, TiVo) or old standbys 3D and tru2way. This week's Ask Engadget HD question gives TiVo another dose of attention, while we celebrate another step forward in eradicating loud commercials. The EpixHD launch is big news and was probably lots of fun for FiOS subs...unless you use Media Center. After the latest analyst poll results we take it to the readers to break down the most highly anticipated Blu-ray of the year (Warning: Star Trek movie spoilers within,) the Apple TV 3.0 update and what the FCC might have planned for digital TV spectrum.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:40 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 161
00:12:25 - Pace and Rovi work together to make a standard set-top a true multi-room DVR
00:20:15 - Broadcom's new DVR chip could make all our dreams come true
00:25:23 - Comcast should be tru2way ready by the end of the year
00:28:26 - Details of 3D cable demo at Cable-Tec emerge
00:33:50 - Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo?
00:43:32 - Members of the ATSC agree on measure to curb loud commercials
00:51:46 - EpixHD celebrates today's FiOS launch with weekend movie streaming passes for all
00:57:00 - Analyst: More HDTV owners getting a steady diet of high definition for every day viewing
01:00:30 - Poll: What's the biggest Blu-ray disc still due to arrive in 2009?
01:11:28 - Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow
01:16:30 - FCC keen on commandeering TV spectrum for wireless broadband

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Engadget HD Podcast 162 - 11.03.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/11/2009 - HDI 100-inch Laser-Based 3D HDTV Reached the Manufacturing Stage

HDI announced it has entered into a manufacturing agreement to mass produce 100-inch Laser-Driven 2D/3D Switchable Dynamic Video Projection Televisions.

HDI's 2D/3D switchable system delivers 2D image with a 50% greater resolution than today's digital cinemas, and derives its “greater-than-high” definition stereoscopic 1920 x 1080p "3D" image quality from two RGB laser-illuminated Liquid Crystal on Silcon (LCOS) micro display imagers.

02/11/2009 - Onkyo's iPod-lovin' ND-S1 digital media transport gets reviewed

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Back in late July, we weren't aware of when Onkyo's fancy ND-S1 iPod dock would ship. Now, we're not only certain that the £144 ($235) digital media transport is shipping across the pond, but we've stumbled upon a critique for those wondering if such an outlay is justified. After slamming their iPod touch into the device and connecting it to their reference speaker system, they came away duly impressed; in practically every scenario, using the external DAC in this box led to clearer, more precise audio compared to signals coming straight out of the iPod. In fact, reviewers went so far as to call this unit "peerless," though they did mention that it's really only good for those already satisfied with their existing speaker setuip. Of course, you could just opt for an audiophile-approved media player, but then you wouldn't be able to experience the joy and elation that comes with relying on iTunes. Right?

Onkyo's iPod-lovin' ND-S1 digital media transport gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/10/2009 - Apple Updates Apple TV with 3.0 Software: More HD Content to Be Sold

After months of speculations whether Apple will release completely new Apple TV device making it a high-end media center for our living rooms or rather leave it, more or less, as it is (means without all the latest true HD capibilities, IP streaming, Blu-ray, live TV ability, HD recorder, 1080p support, etc.)… we still don’t know the answer.

The company introduced new Apple TV 3.0 software that gives us not more than a redesigned main menu - which is said to give a faster access to the content, possibility to watch iTunes Extras and enjoy iTunes LP in fullscreen and listen to the internet radio (including stations in high-quality HE-ACC formats).

29/10/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, DVRs

The TiVo platform has been around for quite some time -- and has undoubtedly grown quite long in the tooth -- but it's still a great HD DVR, and has attempted to keep things fresh with new features like Netflix streaming, video on-demand access and more. But now, in late 2009 with new challengers to the throne, cable and satellite operators offering their own upgraded boxes and a little thing called Windows 7 Media Center, Nick wants to know if it's still his best option:

"Moving into a new place in a couple of weeks, and while I haven't decided between cable, satellite or FiOS for my TV, I figure part of the decision is how I want to set up my DVR. I've had a regular one from Time Warner for the last few years, but I had a TiVo before that and I'm itching to go back. Media Center seems awfully complicated to set up and I'm not sure what other options there are and which one if the best value, what's your suggestion?"

It's been a while since we took on the soul-wrenching question of the TiVo, and a year later Series4 boxes are hopefully just around the corner it's time to confront the beast once again. Whether you have a TiVo or chose to go in another direction, the date has changed but the question is the same, is this still a great time to buy one?

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Is it (still) a good time to buy a TiVo? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/10/2009 - JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11

Filed under: Blu-ray, Players, JVC

Sub-$200 Blu-ray players certainly aren't new -- heck, some guys have been doing it since the year 2008 -- but you'll never catch us kvetching about a little more competition. JVC has today introduced (in the briefest way possible, might we add) its newest Blu-ray player just ten months after deciding to play the BD game here in the States. The ultrathin (and "now available") XV-BP11 should slide into just about any AV rack, bringing Blu-ray / DVD playback, AVCHD support, HDMI 1.3, a USB socket and compatibility with a slew of audio formats. Curiously enough, the outfit doesn't bother to mention if this thing is Profile 2.0, but we're guessing (read: hoping) that it wouldn't do something as ludicrous as charge two bills for a Profile 1.1 deck in late 2009. Then again, we've seen zanier things go down...

Continue reading JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11

JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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27/10/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 161 - 10.27.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

It was Windows 7 launch week, so as you'd expect we talked plenty of Windows 7 Media Center. Like the new Netflix Watch Instantly interface, Internet TV, Digital Cable Tuner firmware and Utility delays and finally how to skip commercials. But before we got to that we covered our favorite new topic, 3D. After all that we got back on our older love, Blu-ray, where we talked about why the 360 will never get a Blu-ray drive and how what we really want is Managed Copies of our movies on our 360. Finally we made fun of Comcast and Verizon for their VOD spat, and told everyone how not to evaluate HDTV in stores.

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[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:25 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 160
00:12:38 - Ready or not, the latest 3D technology is coming home
00:21:40 - Netflix coming next month to PlayStation 3
00:26:21 - Windows 7 Media Center's upgraded Netflix Watch Instantly interface now available
00:33:55 - Microsoft officially delays Digital Cable Tuner firmware and Advisor Utility
00:37:42 - How to automatically skip commercials in Windows 7 Media Center
00:45:32 - Microsoft: 'We have no plans for Blu-ray on Xbox 360'
00:52:25 - Poll: What is the best Blu-ray player?
00:57:38 - Comcast has issues with Verizon's FiOS VOD claims
01:04:22 - Hulu might be looking to subscriptions to turn digital pennies into digital dollars
01:10:07 - Ask EngadgetHD: How do you evaluate HDTVs in-store?

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Engadget HD Podcast 161 - 10.27.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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23/10/2009 - Phillips Launches Wireless HDTV Box in the U.S.

Philips confirmed U.S. retail availability for its much-anticipated Wireless HDTV Link, introduced in September at IFA 2009 in Berlin.

HDTV Link uses innovative technology to wirelessly deliver high-definition TV picture quality (up to 1080p) without ruining the aesthetics of the home.

It transmits HD signal up to 75 feet away from the TV without signal loss or degradation, making it possible e.g. to stream devices like a Blu-ray player to a TV from the other side of the room.

22/10/2009 - Panasonic's 1-inch thick Z1 plasma reviewed: playing with perfection

Filed under: Panasonic

The plasma may be a dying breed, but the ones that are left are undoubtedly some of the best the world has ever seen. Take Panasonic's 54-inch TC-P54Z1 for example, which wowed audiences (us included) when it was first unveiled way back at CES. The HD Guru recently had an opportunity to take this very screen into his abode for review, and after a labor-intensive (around "one hour") setup process, the gazing was officially on. Panny's engineers were able to slim the set down to an inch by requiring that a dedicated (wireless) set-top-box be used for tuning OTA channels and managing connections, and the result was nothing less than elegant. If you're wondering what north of five large really buys in an HDTV these days, wonder no more -- the set was deemed darn near perfect, with "outstanding" color, contrast and deep black levels. Potentially best of all, there were no motion artifacts to speak of, and anyone with a 120Hz / 240Hz set can testify to just how annoying those things are. Hit the read link for a detailed unboxing, setup and review, but don't even bother if you're looking for someone to talk you out of what you're about to do.

Panasonic's 1-inch thick Z1 plasma reviewed: playing with perfection originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/10/2009 - Ask EngadgetHD: How do you evaluate HDTVs in-store?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features

We all know the situation, there's a series of impossibly large numbers on the spec card, the quality of the lighting is questionable, and a salesman who may or may not know anything about televisions is droning on about the death of plasma. Still, you want a new HDTV, and this is where the televisions are. What Sean wants to know is, how do you figure out the right set for you in a retail setting?

"Can anyone recommend video test files used to check the capabilities of HDTVs? It would be great to walk into an electronics store with a USB stick loaded full of video files to test color, contrast, motion etc. and see which performs best. Has anyone ever had success bringing in some of their own equipment to test with the televisions in-store? When I'm checking out different televisions, what differences should I be looking at to pick the right one?"

We've gotten a few handy anecdotes on how to evaluate televisions in even the worst store conditions, and we've seen enough specs to know they're never to be trusted without an independent evaluation, but as an informed buyer, what are you doing to tip the scales towards your specific interests, and not just what pads the stores sales or salesman's commission?

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.

Ask EngadgetHD: How do you evaluate HDTVs in-store? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20/10/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 160 - 10.20.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Opening the podcast this week is the biggest question on our minds: n that the U.S. mobile DTV standard is officially official, how much bandwidth can we expect it to steal from HD stations? From bitrate counting broadcasts we move on on to uncompressed HD streaming and whether it means anything for viewers, the impending online and FiOS launch of Epix HD and whether an SSD upgrade makes sense for HTPC owners. Cheaper and much more easily justified is ATI's Radeon 5750 with bitstreaming audio support, and this week's question for the readers, where do you buy your Blu-ray discs? Closing things out is discussion of the new Transformers flick available today, and you know we had to squeeze in some 3D to close things out.

Get the podcast
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[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 159
01:45 - US Mobile DTV standard finally approved
08:00 - Level 3 delivering end to end uncompressed video from Broncos home games
13:20 - Epix HD queues up Iron Man, Madonna and Eddie Izzard for online & FiOS launch October 30
17:20 - Ask Engadget HD: Would an SSD upgrade help my HTPC performance?
25:28 - ATI Radeon HD 5750 brings HDMI bliss to HTPCs for $110
29:03 - Poll: where do you buy your Blu-ray discs now, if you buy them at all?
35:07 - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray debuts October 20, check out one of the special features now (Video)
43:25 - 3D cable TV to be demoed at Cable-Tec Expo next week
45:45 - Samsung showing off 55 inches of 240Hz 3D LCD glory
48:00 - Hitachi exhibits 10-inch glasses-free 3D display

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Engadget HD Podcast 160 - 10.20.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19/10/2009 - Blu-ray releases on October 20th 2009

Filed under: Blu-ray

Oh man do we just love this time of year, not only are the super hot days of summer over, but Football is here and now the big blockbuster movies are hitting Blu-ray. And of the big movies for 2009, none is bigger than Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which hits Blu-ray tomorrow -- actually if you really can't wait, you can go to Best Buy at midnight tonight and pick it up. We can't say we blame 'em, but the rest of the studios pretty much let Paramount make this Transformers week as there really isn't anything else out there to get excited about. That's ok though, because in the next 12 weeks there should be plenty to choose from.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Paramount)
UFC 100: Lesnar vs. Mir (Starz/Anchor Bay)
Waterworld (Universal)
Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead (Fox)
Blood: The Last Vampire (Sony)
Easy Rider (Sony)
The Crew (Image)
Ichi the Killer (Tokyo Shock)
Monsoon Wedding (Criterion)
The Secret of the Nutcracker (BFS)

Blu-ray releases on October 20th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/10/2009 - Telairity Intoduces Hot-Switchable HD/SD H.264 Encoder

The BE8500, a H.264/AVC video encoder capable of hot-switching between a high-definition or standard-definition video source, was introduced by Telairity at HD World.

The 1-RU BE8500 works either as a full-featured HD encoder or as an SD/SDI encoder. It auto-senses whether the video source is SD or HD, and enables users to switch live between the two video formats without powering down. Switch-over conversion is virtually instantaneous, enabling a smooth transition for live or live on tape programming.

15/10/2009 - The best HD sports on TV this week

Filed under: Sports

Oh how we love it when there's a big College Football game on a Thursday night, it really is the best way to kick off the weekend -- albeit a day early. This Thursday's game in Tampa is versus two top ranked teams in the country who are both undefeated and in the same conference. But that still might not be the biggest game of the week as there are actually three other matchups against ranked opponents. The NFL season is more than under way with the bye weeks started and this week two of the remaining undefeated teams meet on Sunday when the second ranked offense in the NFL, New York Giants, meets the 3rd ranked offense in the way of the New Orleans Saints.

CFB

No. 8 Cincinnati at No. 21 South Florida ESPN 7:30 PM Thu
No. 20 Oklahoma at No. 3 Texas ABC 12:00 PM Sat
No. 6 USC at No. 25 Notre Dame NBC 3:30 Sat
No. 4 Virginia Tech at No.19 Georgia Tech ESPN 6:00 PM Sat

NFL

Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings CBS 1:00 PM Sun
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints FOX 1:00 PM Sun
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons NBC 8:20 PM Sun

MLB

ALCS: Los Angeles Angels at New York Yankees. Fox starting 10/16
NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers TBS starting 10/15

NHL

San Jose Sharks at NY Rangers Vs 7:00 PM Mon
St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins Vs 7:00 PM Tues

The best HD sports on TV this week originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14/10/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Would an SSD upgrade help my HTPC performance?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Media PCs

Facing a need for speed during our own HTPC build we suggested a Western Digital VelociRaptor drive combined with another 2TB disk, but in the neverending quest for speed and silence, would an SSD make more sense? That's James' question, considering his current specs what would you upgrade next?

"Wondering if you guys think it's worth upgrading my HTPC to an SSD. The SSD I think will make a huge impact, as a lot of the caching of images, etc. is all done on the main OS drive (from what I understand). Have you ever experienced an HTPC based on an SSD or done a side by side comparison of one with a regular HDD vs. an SSD? My current configuration is as follows:

Q6600 2.4GHz CPU
8GB DDR2-800 RAM
2x 1TB hdd's
nVidia 9300 IGP based MicroATX motherboard (ASUS)
Hauppauge HVR-2250 dual tuner PCIe card
Antec Fusion Remote Black HTPC case
Windows 7 RC (Soon to be Home Premium Retail)"

Anyone gone the SSD route for a HTPC yet and seen any difference? The main problems we see are cost and size capabilities, but if it means quicker loading times and less fans it could be a worthwhile upgrade. With Windows 7 just around the corner we're sure James isn't the only one eyeing an upgrade or two, let us know how your project is going in the comments.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Would an SSD upgrade help my HTPC performance? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/10/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 159 - 10.13.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Podcast musical chairs continues, as Richard returns this week Steve steps out, but never fear -- unless of course you have an intense physical reaction to discussions on 3D, Blu-ray and analyst predictions. In that case, it might be time to reach for the Xanax, or at least skip well ahead to our discussions regarding upcoming home theater upgrades, what setup might go best with your Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, and what exactly can be done to take care of loud commercials. Finally, we take a minute to see what new fall programming has stuck in our viewing rotation (not much.)

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[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 158
08:25 - A 1998 Forrester Research prediction about HDTVs wasn't even close
17:58 - Timeframe for the 3D infiltration? 3 - 4 years, says Panasonic president
20:10 - Panasonic's 50-inch 1080p 3D plasma spotted, watched at CEATEC
24:27 - Pixar talks about what it took to upgrade Toy Story to 3D
27:30 - Blu-ray outpacing DVD adoption, will never reach its penetration
30:35 - Wal-Mart cutting back DVD and Blu-ray display area
33:38 - Poll: What part of your home theater is getting upgraded this holiday season?
40:15 - Ask Engadget HD: Best home theater setup for gaming?
42:26 - It'll probably take an act of congress to ban loud commercials

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Engadget HD Podcast 159 - 10.13.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/10/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, October 13th at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/10/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best home theater setup for gaming?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Other hardware

As usual, this week's Ask Engadget HD centers around a particular home theater setup question, as Philip is trying to set things up for one particular purpose: gaming. Movies and TV are great source of high definition, but some of us just want to hook up the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 and go. We'll let him flesh out the details:

"I'm finally ready to build the home theater I've always wanted, and while I'll definitely be watching TV and playing Blu-ray discs as well, it's going to be all about gaming. I've already got a PS3 and Xbox 360 hooked up to an old 20-inch LCD, but I need a real HDTV and surround setup now. I know some games support 7.1, is it worth the extra setup? Also, what HDTV in the $1,000 - $2,000 price range is best for games?"

While 7.1 may not be the immediate move for everyone, we're sure some Killzone 2 players may appreciate the extra speakers. Let Phil know what setup you're running, and if you want to throw in a Xbox Live Gamertag or PSN ID as well we certainly won't be mad at you. [Note: This isn't about which system is the best, we've been there and while we might revisit the question later, fanboys, this is about the surrounding equipment so try and stay on topic, k?

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best home theater setup for gaming? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/10/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 158 - 10.06.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

We kick things off with a trifecta of 3D news -- whether you've seen it or not, whether you think it's the next big thing or just a gimmick, it's coming; and not a moment too soon for former 3D naysayer Ben. He's full of surprises this week as he also was smitten by the VUDU HDX black magic on the LG BD 390 Blu-ray player. Maybe it's the integration with a top-notch Blu-ray deck, or maybe he's just easier to please during football season, but it's hard to fault the picture quality and -- thanks to Dolby Digital Plus bitstreaming -- the audio. For sure, HTPC video cards have a little ways to go before they can deliver the same ease of use at everyman prices. Speaking of what's not easy to use, we also talk about CableCard's failure to deliver a world of premium content flowing freely across wildly imaginative devices.

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[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:01:34 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 157
00:07:00 - Survey says consumer won't pay that much extra for 3D
00:15:50 - Poll: Would you rather see live 1080p or high quality 3D from your cable / satellite provider?
00:27:10 - Sony single lens 240 fps camera is great for 3D (& 2D) sports
00:29:24 - New Digital Copies on the actual Blu-ray Disc from Sony exclusively for the PSP
00:35:07 - VUDU on the LG BD390 review
00:49:10 - ATI Radeon HD 5870 is the first video card to bitstream TrueHD and DTS-HD
00:53:28 - Only 443,000 CableCARDs deployed into consumer's equipment
01:00:59 - Ask Engadget HD: How do I hook up surround sound without cables running everywhere?

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Engadget HD Podcast 158 - 10.06.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/10/2009 - Blu-ray releases on October 6th 2009

Filed under: Blu-ray

The first week of October is here and along with the first cold fronts of the season come one of the first big titles leading up to the holiday season. As if we actually had to tell you -- Disney is breaking a classic out of its "vault" this week with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We don't know about anyone else, but we love to see classics in HD for the first time and although animated features aren't our first choice, any time there is more HD content for our kids to watch over and over again, we're pleased. Other than that nothing really stands out to us, but the sheer number of titles released this week is impressive. So of course we have little doubt that someone will blast us in the comments for not mentioning their favorite release this week.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Warner)
Contact (Warner)
Horton Hears A Who! (1970) (Warner)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Warner)
Ghost Ship (Warner)
Trick 'r Treat (Warner)
Bones: Season Four (Fox)
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (Fox)
Miracle On 34th Street (Fox)
Miracle On 34th Street (1994) (Fox)
My Life In Ruins (Fox)
The Children (Lionsgate)
The Thaw (Lionsgate)
Seventh Moon (Lionsgate)
Frankenstein (Sony)
Wolf (Sony)
Year One (Sony)
Imagine That (Paramount)
Dinosaurs Alive! (Image)
The National Parks: America's Best Idea (PBS)
The New York Ripper (Blue Underground)
The Number 23 (New Line)
Offspring (Lionsgate Home)
Red Dwarf: Back To Earth (BBC)
Audition (Shout! Factory)
100 Feet (Asylum)
The Absolute Best of Ghost Hunters (Image)

Blu-ray releases on October 6th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/10/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: How do I hook up surround sound without cables running everywhere?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Speakers

Sometimes a move can necessitate rethinking one's home theater setup, which was exactly the case for our friend Amani. A shift from a room with carpets to run wires underneath to hardwood floors has him wondering what the easiest and neatest way is to hook up the rear speakers:

Ok, here is my dilemma. I used to have carpet in my main area where my TV is and surround sound is. Speaker wire would run under carpet. I just got hard wood floors installed so now there will be wires all over the place for my sound. What creative options do I have to set back up my surround sound but perhaps eliminate the wires or use wireless.connection to connect my speakers. I need help because I can't have speaker wire all over my pretty new floors! Thanks

So is the best route to drill right into the walls, some kind of invisible speaker cable, or is there a good wireless speaker setup that doesn't involve falling back to a HTIB? Let us know how you solved this kind of problem and save Amani some heartache and time.

Ask Engadget HD: How do I hook up surround sound without cables running everywhere? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/10/2009 - Livestream Livepack: a 'satellite television truck in a backpack'

Filed under: Industry, Misc, Media streamers

"Game changing" is thrown around way too frequently these days, but man, this thing just might be. The Livepack is being described as "a satellite television truck in a backpack" by creator Livestream, and for all intents and purposes, it is. Put simply (or as simply as possible), the pack includes everything one would need to stream "HD quality" footage: encoding hardware, a Firewire cable and the real kicker, a built-in wireless connection with six load-balanced 3G modems over three carriers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint if you have to know). Users simply provide their own camcorder, mash a button when it's show time, and out goes the signal. The Livepack can currently be rented for $2,500 per month (includes 30 hours of streaming) or $1,500 per month if you commit to a year-long agreement. So, who's up for showing the world their high school prom live in HD? Demo vid is after the break.

[Via Red Ferret]

Continue reading Livestream Livepack: a 'satellite television truck in a backpack'

Livestream Livepack: a 'satellite television truck in a backpack' originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/09/2009 - Akamai Brings HDTV-Like Experience Online

Akamai Technologies has launched the Akamai HD Network, its next generation video delivery offering and the first platform to deliver HD video online to viewers using Adobe Flash technology, Microsoft Silverlight, and to the iPhone, at broadcast-level audience scale.

The new HD Network combines Akamai’s patented HD EdgePlatform, adaptive bitrate streaming and DVR technology. It supports live and on-demand HD streaming.

30/09/2009 - QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

It sure took 'em long enough, but QNAP has finally come around and delivered its NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player here in the States. If you'll recall, we actually toyed around with one way back at CeBIT, and while those camped out in Osaka have been enjoying the spoils for months now, the Yanks in attendance have been forced to wait. According to QNAP, the DLNA-compliant media streamer is now shipping in America, though a quick look around our favorite web stores has turned up nothing. We're sure that'll be remedied in short order, though.

[Via HotHardware]

QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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29/09/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 157 - 09.29.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

No epic TV reviews / previews this week (though we did have time to mention The Cleveland Show leaving Family Guy behind and moving to HD in a pretty cool way, it's embedded after the break), but there's still some post-CEDIA discussion to be hashed out. Before we get to that, Panasonic's 3D effort is one step closer to a real product with its 50-inch protype model that debuts next week, are we ready for the 3D onslaught? Then we get into a few more thoughts about the Popcorn Hour C-200, Pioneer's new upscaling receivers and whether Best Buy's all-in-one LCD & Blu-ray player could be a good deal. Then comes the CEDIA discussion and plenty of CableCARD, FCC and related discussion before moving on to Intel's sweet IDF demos. Last up is the possibility of 1080p from your cable provider, the good news Top Gear is finally coming over to HDTV, and of course, our fabulous 3rd birthday celebration.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:00:43 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 156
00:01:30 - Panasonic's 50-inch 3D plasma announced, seeks fine family home
00:12:50 - Popcorn Hour C-200 hands-on
00:17:10 - Pioneer adds Anchor Bay VRS scaling to VSX-23TXH, VSX-21TXH and VSX-1019AH-K receivers
00:23:06 - Best Buy bringing value priced all-in-one 32-inch LCD & Blu-ray HDTV to stores "soon"
00:26:04 - PS3 3.0 / 3.01 firmware update making Blu-ray drive unusable?
00:27:45 - Microsoft Media Center CEDIA predictions wrap-up
00:41:07 - A first hand look at SDV and Copy Freely support in Windows 7 Media Center
00:55:50 - Cablevision asks FCC for a waiver to encrypt all Clear QAM channels
01:01:40 - The CEA asks the FCC if CableCARD is helping to spur competition
01:06:08 - Video: Intel Tru2way server streams cable all over your house
01:13:25 - Motorola's new pro encoder makes 1080p cable broadcasts a breeze
01:17:10 - BBC confirms Top Gear is filming this season in HD
01:21:17 - Happy 3rd birthday Engadget HD!

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Continue reading Engadget HD Podcast 157 - 09.29.2009

Engadget HD Podcast 157 - 09.29.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/09/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

It's Monday, and we know that getting the week started can be tough. We're here to help by letting you peek into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to tape on Monday, September 28th at 6:30PM ET. Think of it as a kind of time machine that will help you power through your day by reviewing what happened in the week HD-wise. Embedded Ustream tools and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/09/2009 - IFA 2009: Real Cable Feels the Difference

VIDEO INTERVIEW. Quality cables become more and more important part of HD - both video and audio - markets. At IFA 2009 in Berlin, Biz-News.com interviewed Catherine Torchin, Managing Director and owner of Real Cable. She described to us the strategy of the company that has already been successful on 25 markets worldwide.

Laurent Zawadil, Technical Menager for Real Cable, showed us the latest company’s product – innovative 1.4 HDMI cable with additional Ethernet Channel. The cable will be introduced to the market in October this year, but you can take a look at its main features right now.

23/09/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best headphone setup for a home theater?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Other hardware

Sure, it's great to discuss all manner of surround sound setups, in-wall speakers and the like, but for a rare few circumstances have combined to require all their audio come through nothing but a pair of headphones. That's Cory's problem, check it out:

I work a different schedule from my roommates. I've been watching Movies and TV with a crappy set of computer speakers as a headphone amp. I'm looking to upgrade and would like some suggestions. I watch TV via VMC and Movies via Toshiba HD-A3 so multiple inputs would be nice. I'm looking to spend $200 but all suggestions are welcome I'll need to upgrade someday.

What does he need to get the best quality audio, while keeping things quiet for everyone else in the house? (We're assuming building a soundproofed room is slightly out of the question.) Surely someone of you have dealt with the same issue, let us know in the comments how you get the best sound from a pair of cans.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best headphone setup for a home theater? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/09/2009 - Happy 3rd birthday Engadget HD!

Filed under: Announcements

Yes we can't believe it either, but as of today we're officially done with the terrible twos. Although we haven't always made it easy on our parents, we have tried to make them proud since our first post 36 months by brining all of you the best HD news coverage we can. In that time we've written over 11,672 posts and recorded 125 Podcasts, which is over 326 posts a month! We have to say that we've had so much fun hitting the HD news you love, we don't even feel like its been that many. We also look forward to many more years of HD goodness. But of course none of this would be possible without all of you Engdaget HD readers, so go ahead and give yourselves a pat on the back, and then get back to reading.

Happy 3rd birthday Engadget HD! originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/09/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 156 - 09.22.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

It's been a really slow week in news, but we got together with the Ustream crowd to talk about some HD. Whether it's over an open data pipe, walled garden marketplace, networked Blu-ray player, or an all-consuming media tank, having choices for getting entertainment into your eyeballs and eardrums is a good thing. With that in mind, we talk about the FCC's first steps towards 'net neutrality, Zune Marketplace content playback on MCE, VUDU on LG's BD390, and Popcorn Hour's C-200. Choice is something you'll have less of if you're sticking with Blockbuster as it closes down stores, however. After a brief dalliance in a fantasy world of designer 3D glasses, we come back to reality with a good, long review of this season's new TV shows -- there's enough good stuff in there that even antenna-heads should be able to keep their DVRs nicely stocked with HD this year. We apologize ahead of time if you notice any audio glitches in this week's 'cast, there were a few technical issues but we should have them ironed out be next week.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:43 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 155
04:37 - FCC chairman formally proposes net neutrality rules
11:55 - Zune Marketplace HD videos will play on Extenders for Media Center
16:25 - Vudu on the LG BD390 will bitstream Dolby Digital Plus
23:23 - Blockbuster plans to part with 960 retail stores by end of 2010
28:30 - RealD figures designer glasses might help the acceptance of 3D
39:15 - The Popcorn Hour C-200 media streamer makes its way into the wild
42:10 - Ask Engadget HD: 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound audio for beginners?
48:57 - Time to set your DVRs for the Fall season

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Engadget HD Podcast 156 - 09.22.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/09/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

The CEDIA rush has faded, but there's still plenty to talk about on the Engadget HD podcast. So set up the DVR to record the game tonight -- we're not going to promise a short show -- or strategically position the lappy next to the La-Z-Boy when the podcast goes live onto the interwebs Monday, September 21st at 6:30 PM ET, right on Ustream. Embedded Ustream tools for those who don't mind the Flash IRC client and a list of topics after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/09/2009 - IFA 2009: iSuppli Analyst About HDTV Market

VIDEO INTREVIEW. This time at IFA 2009 our reporters interviewed Riddhi Patel, the iSuppli analyst. Riddhi is responsible for the television and plasma display panel (PDP) analysis. She shared with us her latest discoveries on HDTV market as well as her opinion of the nearest future of LCD technology that has dominated our living rooms.

She was visiting this year’s Berlin expo looking for some big innovations. Watch the video to check out if she has found anything that took her breath away.

14/09/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

We're kicking off a new recording date and time for the Engadget HD podcast this week -- Monday September 14 at 6:30PM ET. So if you're one of the crowd who tunes in to Ustream to catch the show live, you'll need to rejigger your schedule. There's plenty of news from CEDIA to go over, and we might even get some new regular chatroom members at our new time, so come on by and check it out, won't you? Topic list and Ustream embeds after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/09/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 154 - 09.10.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

With IFA behind us and CEDIA just starting up, there's plenty of news to cover. Follow along as Ben, Steve and Richard go whirlwind style through what was (non-OEM CableCARDs on MCE) and what wasn't (pretty much any HD-related developments from Apple). We spend a good bit of time talking Blu-ray players and post-sale updates that add functionality, and how that track record factors into value. And speaking of value, that's something that gets a little distorted with new tech -- witness Sony's new edge-lit XBR10 LCDs and Samsung's 15-inch OLED display. We've got a feeling that thrills and spills are ahead of us this week at CEDIA, so we'll try to get another show in sometime after our Georgia Tech hosted meetup but before we leave Atlanta, so stay tuned for more!

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
01:31 - Live from the Microsoft Windows Media Center event
06:00 - Media Center CableCARDs freed from OEM requirement
12:15 - Apple CFO says DVR, CableCARD not coming to Apple TV
17:39 - The RVU Alliance picks up Verizon as a founding promoter
19:45 - MPAA still trying to close the analog hole: Now with new, more inane arguments
24:55 - VUDU equips LG's BD390 Blu-ray player with movie streaming abilities
27:05 - Mitsubishi now shipping VUDU powered 1080p streaming HDTVs
29:33 - Samsung Blu-ray players adding YouTube, MKV support (Update: Right now!)
30:45 - Sony's new BDP-N460 Blu-ray player adds access to internet content
34:25 - Sherwood BDP-5004 Blu-ray player moves up to Profile 2.0, down to $200
37:40 - Sony goes in a cheaper direction with wireless XBR10 BRAVIA LCDs
41:25 - Samsung's LED TV Couple packs a 7-inch tablet remote for streaming TV and so much more
44:00 - New WiFi IR emitters from Global Cache´ get us excited about home automation
49:23 - Eyes-on LG's 15-inch OLED TV makes us want to punch an LCD
53:15 - The best HD sports on TV this week

LISTEN (MP3)
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Engadget HD Podcast 154 - 09.10.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/09/2009 - Engadget HD podcast delayed for CEDIA goodies

Filed under: Announcements

In case you didn't notice from the previous Engadget HD podcast, we're attending CEDIA this week. That's good news and bad news. First the bad news -- we will be holding off on our podcast by one day, and we won't tempt fate by attempting to record live on Ustream. Now the good news -- and it's really good -- we'll be recording after the first day of CEDIA, so we should have plenty of good stuff to talk about, including results from the LG, Sony and Microsoft media events. Expect to see the podcast rolling out on our regular station (that's right here, silly) on Thursday, September 10.

Engadget HD podcast delayed for CEDIA goodies originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/09/2009 - LG W63 enters gaming monitor arena, claims to be the best

Filed under: Announcements, Displays, LG

You can't exactly accuse LG of lacking audacity -- the company that today unveiled the eccentric Color Pop displays has also updated its consumer monitor line with a gamer-centric Full HD entry that has everything but humility. The 23-inch W63 touts a new Thru Mode, which removes image processing to deliver "zero-delay" visuals, a 1,000:1 (real) contrast ratio, 2ms response time (we assume this applies when Thru Mode is off), 300 nits of brightness, two HDMI inputs and picture-in-picture functionality. There's even a Tru Light equalizer-like thingy at the bottom of the screen that pulsates in time with the sound of your glorious battle triumphs and Skype message pings. Only question left is, can anyone actually tell the difference between two milliseconds of delay and none at all?

Read - LG press release
Read - W63 product page

LG W63 enters gaming monitor arena, claims to be the best originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/09/2009 - The best HD sports on TV this week

Filed under: Sports

Any real geek will tell you that the best sport in HD is football and with the kickoff of the '09 season we've partnered with our friends at HDSportsGuide.com to bring you what we think is the best HD sports that will be on this week. In addition to the big games of the week, we'll be covering what regional events will be covered and where. What we won't be doing is creating a comprehensive list of all the HD sports, but you already know where to find that.

First up this week -- yes our week starts on Thursday right along with football -- is the very first real football game of the season, and one that is near and dear to a member of our team. On the same night, but way too late for any east coaster, is the first ranked CFB matchup of the season with Oregon vs Boise State -- also happens to be the only tough game on Boise's schedule, gotta love CFB. Now if you want to see if college kickers can kick as high as those in the NFL, you might want to check out BYU vs Sooners which will take place in Cowboys Stadium, home of the biggest HD screen in football. Then of course there is the labor day college football tradition of Miami vs FSU, where all the parties involved hope it won't be a battle of the mediocre, again. The NFL closes out its pre-season on the NFL Network where the Eagles will face the Jets and we'll get our last look at Vick before he finishes his five game regular season suspension. And of course baseball is still on as the Red Sox play the White Sox for what is probably their 20th meeting this season.

College Football

South Carolina Game Cocks at NC State Wolfpack ESPN, Thurs, 7:00 PM
Oregon Ducks at Boise State Broncos, ESPN, Thurs. 10:15 PM
BYU Cougars Vs. Oklahoma Sooners, ESPN, Sat. 7:00 PM (First college game in the awesome cowboys stadium)
Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles, ESPN, Mon. 8:00 PM (Important ACC showdown and in-state rivalry game)

NFL

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets, NFL Network, Thurs. 7:00 PM (Final Chance to see Vick until week 3 of the regular season)

MLB

Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox, TBS, Sun. 2:00 PM (Battle of the Sox)

The best HD sports on TV this week originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/09/2009 - Philips launches Wireless HDTV Link, gives airborne HDMI a fightin' chance

Filed under: Other hardware, Philips

Still reeling over the death of FlyWire this summer? So were we, until we saw this beauty pop up in Berlin. Philips Wireless HDTV Link promises to set your TV free from the tyranny of cables with an HDMI transmitter / receiver pair that'll let you place all those A/V components of yours a whopping 20 meters from your set. The base station has two HDMI connections, two component connections and boasts transmission of full 1080i and 1080p / 30 HD video. Coming soon (hopefully) this bad boy is retailing for €599.99 (about $850). [Warning: PDF read link]

Philips launches Wireless HDTV Link, gives airborne HDMI a fightin' chance originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/09/2009 - IFA 2009: Philips Launches Wireless HDTV Link

Today at IFA 2009, Philips presented Wireless HDTV Link that allows to connect TV to set top box and AV components without any cable.

Wireless HDTV Link transmits 1080p/30 HD signal up to 20 meters, making it possible e.g. to stream devices like a Blu-ray player to a TV from the other side of the room.

02/09/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 153 - 09.2.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

We've probably never been more excited about CEDIA, and even though next week looks like it might deliver goods at Joe Six Pack prices, we'll just have to see. Meanwhile, this week we're happy to report Blu-ray prices are falling -- both for the hardware (PS3 slim) and software (you know, discs) -- while shoppers are getting familiar with the the newfangled HD craze. If only digital downloads would follow suit in terms of pricing, terms, or both. Other than that, we managed to steer clear of too many rants, and Ben even took advantage of the helpful folks at the FCC to set the record straight on clear QAM. Speaking of setting the record straight, we'll be at CEDIA next week, so the show will come out later than usual, and probably without the live Ustream participation. Stay tuned for details.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:03:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 152 - 08.26.2009
00:12:50 - The PS3 slim as a Blu-ray player covered in the Engadget review
00:17:20 - Poll: Will you buy a PS3 Slim to use as a Blu-ray player?
00:23:39 - Surprisingly, cheaper Blu-ray movies make everyone happy
00:28:10 - Amazon & iTunes drop digital download prices. Still cost too much
00:36:15 - Bobby Universal Remote for the iPhone review
00:43:00 - Ask Engadget HD: Best way to feed HD to two TVs?
00:46:12 - DirecTV adds "dual live buffers" to its HD DVR
00:51:10 - S1Digital adds networked CableCARD tuners to its media server
00:54:10 - Clear QAM HD isn't going anywhere!
01:03:01 - The next Batman flick could be all-IMAX

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 153 - 09.2.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/09/2009 - VUDU's 1080p movie streaming goes live on LG Netcast HDTVs

Filed under: Displays, Media streamers, LG, LCD, Plasma

You knew good and well it was coming, and come it has. Starting today, those fortunate enough to own an LG Broadband HDTV in the LH50 LCD series and PS80 plasma range can tap into VUDU's growing library of on-demand 1080p films. If you're still skeptical, we'll invite you to surf over to your set's Netcast interface; from there, you can either update your software to gain VUDU access or begin viewing right away (depending on when you purchased your tele). Oh, and if you're thinking of just lallygagging around while the rest of the world takes advantage, you should know that your first HD or HDX movie rental is gratis for a limited time, so there's some pretty obvious motivation to hop on it. Anyone given it a go? Impressed / unimpressed?

VUDU's 1080p movie streaming goes live on LG Netcast HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/09/2009 - brite-View's CinemaTube adds 1080p streaming, YouTube XL to the mix

Filed under: Media streamers

We're not sure who decided to follow up the award-winning brite-View CinemaCube with something called the CinemaTube, but the latter certainly lives up to it's change of a single letter, adding full 1080p streaming and embedded YouTube XL to its predecessor's already potent mix of supported video and audio formats, a bit.torrent engine, and USB storage support. Shipping on September 21, it'll retail for $129.99 -- but if you pre-order now you get it for $99.99. Hit the read link for all the gory details. We're praying that the company's next device is not called the CinemaRube -- that would be just plain mean.

[Via GizmoScene]

brite-View's CinemaTube adds 1080p streaming, YouTube XL to the mix originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/09/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Announcements

We're one week away from CEDIA, so why don't you stop by and join us while we prep ourselves for the HD feast? Whether we allow our hopes to rise before experiencing soul-crushing disappointment or we put on our grumpy faces going in and leave Atlanta smiling, it all starts here. We start setting the stage Tuesday, September 1 at 5:30PM ET when the podcast goes live on on Ustream. Topics and embedded Ustream-iness after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/08/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best way to feed HD to two TVs?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features

Multiroom video setups are hardly an easy task, but what if you just want to pipe the A/V in whole from one spot to another? That's the conundrum facing our friend Ed, we'll let him break down the situation first.

"I have a question that I think has several answers, but I would like to know the best solution. I have a DirecTV HD-DVR - HR20-700 hooked up to my TV via HDMI and optical audio to my receiver. I have my receiver's sound also hooked up to outside speakers by the pool so I can listen to XM or any other program from DirecTV or radio. I would like to add the video outside as well. I already have an RG6 coax cable outside, and I have an open CAT-5 connection near the back door, but not outside where the TV would go. Both cable runs are approximately 100' or less. My question is, what is the best way to get the video from the HR20 outside? "

There's a bevy of splitters, extenders, slingers and media box solutions that could help our friend out, but it's hard to say what would be best for this situation. We're still waiting for the SlingMonitor to make a retail experience and give us the WiFi TV wherever we've always wanted, but how would you do it?

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best way to feed HD to two TVs? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/08/2009 - IFA 2009: The Countdown Is On!

IFA 2009 - the business event no. 1 for consumer electronics - will take place in Berlin from September 4-9.

For one week international media interest will be concentrated on IFA. Also the Biz-News journalists will be reporting directly from Berlin covering the latest in CE products.

27/08/2009 - The PS3 slim as a Blu-ray player covered in the Engadget review

Filed under: Reviews, Blu-ray

If you've been considering making the jump to Blu-ray via a PS3 but even after the price drop you're still waiting to see how it fared as a movie player, then you should check out our review on Engadget classic. Most of the important details are covered, like its ability to bitstream the latest HD codecs or the power consumption at idle as well as while playing a Blu-ray Disc. Even the noise level was examined, which showed that the slim was about 10db quieter while watching a Blu-ray Disc -- which is actually a lot. In fact the only knock was that it was a little slower at loading discs than its older brother and the Bravia Sync wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

The PS3 slim as a Blu-ray player covered in the Engadget review originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/08/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 152 - 08.26.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Another week gone by and we're that much closer to CEDIA 2009, but the big news this week is the PS3 Slim and its tweaked HDMI capabilities. Up next is more Media Center rumors and speculation plus the future of Pioneer in the post-KURO era. Finally we wrap up with some interesting weekly poll results and Ask EHD responses, plus plenty of football discussion with Jerry Jones' massive HDTV problems plus the college and NFL regular season just around the corner.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 151 - 08.19.2009
00:07:49 - PS3 Slim bitstreams Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio, at last
00:16:00 - Microsoft's CEDIA event September 9th to reveal what's new in Media Center
00:23:20 - Media Center DISH Network tuner is on hold indefinitely
00:35:51 - Pioneer plots a Kuro-less future in the home theater market
00:39:25 - Poll: Which HDTV feature are you least concerned about?
00:45:42 - Dallas Cowboys HD scoreboard hanging too low?
00:52:46 - Ask Engadget HD: Who has the best HD video on-demand?

LISTEN (MP3)
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LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 152 - 08.26.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/08/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

It's school-time again, but if you stop by the live Engadget HD podcast recording session on Ustream, you'll find out there hasn't been a stop in the flow of HD-related information. Along with the help of our chatroom denizens, you're sure to soak up some new knowledge that will help you stay on top of your game; or at least enough to grouse authoritatively about it. Come on by on Tuesday, August 25 at 5:30PM ET and drop in, won't you? Session syllabus and Ustream widgets after the break, and no pop quizzes.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19/08/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Who has the best HD video on-demand?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Cable, Fiber, Satellite

Now that we're living in a post Project Infinity and 1080p VOD world, there may be a bit more to consider when choosing a provider than simply linear channel lineup. Fiber, satellite and cable companies are all fighting to be called the king of video on-demand, but which one actually is? We'll let our friend Michael ask the question:

"I have been hearing about all these different kinds of Video On Demand services from Cable, sat, and telco companies. I was wondering if you guys could do a rundown of the descriptions of the different VOD services and their pros and cons. "

So, when was the last time you perused the VOD catalog of your pay-TV provider, and was it worth the effort? We're sure at least some have already gone all online only for their video libraries, while some may stick to discs, DVR and standard channel browsing. Over here we're checking every ten minutes for that episode of The Closer we forgot to DVR this week, but until it shows up let us know how your VOD experience has worked out.

Ask Engadget HD: Who has the best HD video on-demand? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19/08/2009 - Surround 3-D TV to Take Over the Living Rooms

For the first time, a team of researchers at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), have designed a 9-panel, 3-D visualization display from HDTV LCD flat-screens developed by JVC.

The NexCAVE's technology delivers a faithful, deep 3-D experience with great color saturation, contrast and really good stereo separation - claim the scientists.

18/08/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

You might not have been able to join us for our Netflix Movie Party via a full fledged Xbox 360 experience, but everyone can join in to the Ustream broadcast of our recording session Tuesday, August 18 at 5:30PM ET. We won't have the same video quality, but we promise that we'll keep the discussion rolling, so drop by and spend an hour with us, won't you? List of suggested reading and a Ustream widget after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/08/2009 - WD TV-2 spruces up Western Digital's already attractive media player offering

Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes

Western Digital really hit a sweet spot last year with its $130 WD TV HD Media Player. The thing pumped out 1080p over HDMI at an attractive price, and that's all most people really needed. The newly leaked WD TV-2 revisits the formula, but adds in network playback over the new Ethernet jack, DTS audio decoding, and a component video plug for folks caught in the technological no man's land between composite and HDMI. Outside of that there's a just plain silly amount of codec support, which is hard not to love. No word on price or a release date, but the leaked photos and detailed specs seem to imply this thing is ready for prime time.

WD TV-2 spruces up Western Digital's already attractive media player offering originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/08/2009 - Microsoft Unveils Zune HD Details

Microsoft announced today that the Zune HD, its long-awaited media player, is available now for pre-order and is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 15.

13/08/2009 - Join our Netflix Movie Party this Friday night

Filed under: Announcements

Yes that's right, we're nerds, real shocker right? So just admit it and join us for Engadget HD Movie night. We're going to take advantage of the new Netflix Movie Party feature on Xbox Live this Friday night at 9pm EST. So if you have an Xbox, a Gold membership and a Netflix subscription, you're out of excuses as we know you don't already have plans. Here's how it'll work; sign into our Ustream IRC channel when it's time and the first six people (8 person limit to Movie Parties) to post their gamer tags will get invited to the official Movie Party. Everyone else can join their own party and try to sync up the movie manually and we'll all chat it up in IRC. Now about the movie, here's a poll to decide what we'll be watching -- and yes they're all in HD.

View Poll

Join our Netflix Movie Party this Friday night originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/08/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 150 - 08.12.2009

Filed under: Features, Podcasts

We started out this week on a good note, looking forward to exciting things for Windows MCE at next month's CEDIA show. The good vibes kept flowing as we discussed over 50-percent penetration of HDTVs and hopeful shifts among the media giants to move towards new business models for the content we crave. We should have stopped there, but we didn't, and our wings of wax failed us. Talking about the iTunes + Blu-ray rumors set us into a downward spiral that ended with us kvetching about broadcasters mangling aspect ratios, crappy TV demos at retail, Ben's sour notes about Harmony remotes, and "new" TiVo features that came to us from the 90s. Trainwreck? Maybe, but you know you want to check it out.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:00:50 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 149 - 08.05.2009
00:08:27 - CEDIA 2009 Windows Media Center predictions
00:22:19 - Xbox 360 officially the only console to stream Netflix -- sorry, PS3 and Wii
00:28:09 - The revolution has been televised: Survey reports 53% of U.S. homes with HDTV
00:32:05 - Media bigwigs declare that free TV "is broken"
00:34:45 - Subscription services like Netflix Watch Instantly generates 20x the revenue of pay-per-downloads
00:43:12 - Roku Video player now streaming live HD baseball games from MLB.TV
00:47:29 - VIZIO VBR100 Blu-ray player freed from superstore confines, unboxed on video
00:50:12 - Toshiba applies for BDA admission, Blu-ray players and laptops coming soon
01:00:13 - Blu-ray support coming with iTunes 9?
01:00:13 - Steven Soderbergh calls out the aspect ratio villains: HBO, AMC - We're talking about you
01:02:15 - Poll: What's the worst mistake HD channels make?
01:06:03 - Don't let retailer's lights distract you from buying the right HDTV
01:10:55 - Logitech's Harmony 900 remote controls components behind closed doors
01:17:50 - TiVo turns on custom RSS video feed support

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 150 - 08.12.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/08/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: How can I get internet radio in my home theater?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Other hardware, Receivers

Despite how much money and time is spent on the display in your home theater, sometimes you just want to kick back and listen to some music. While SACD or DVD-Audio might get it done for some, a craving for for more selection or just letting someone else pick the songs has lead our friend Reginald to seek internet radio in his home theater, we'll let him explain:

"I have been looking at internet radio that I want to stream through my wireless network so it can be picked up on my home stereo. I have DirecTV that can pick up the network as well as a PS3 that also can see the network.

Would a program that runs on the PC be the best way to go or should one get a special tuner that is placed at the AV Receiver that connects wirelessly to the network be the best way to go."

So, can one of his networked devices double up as a streaming radio source or would a new receiver with the feature built in be the way to go? Let us know what setup works for you.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: How can I get internet radio in my home theater? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/08/2009 - Toshiba Enters Blu-ray Group

Toshiba announced that the company has applied for membership of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) and plans to introduce products that support the Blu-ray format.

11/08/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

We agreed last week not to do any kind of celebration of our 150th podcast, but we won't complain if you being along some cake to the live Ustream session of this not-so-momentous occasion. Just be sure to bring enough to share with the rest of the gang as we gather around the virtual studio at 5:30PM ET on Tuesday, August 10th when the whole shebang kicks off. Here's the deal -- if you don't know more about something HD-related than the guy in the next cubicle over, we'll give you you money back. Check out the list of topics and embedded Ustream widgets after the break and prepare to get informed!

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/08/2009 - Atlona Announces New AT-HD530 Down-Converter

Atlona Technologies announced their soon to be released HDMI/DVI to Composite and S-Video Down-Converter, the AT-HD530. This device will covert high-definition television video signals to standard-definition video that can be viewed on conventional television receivers or computer monitors.

09/08/2009 - Atlona AT-HD530 Down-Converter, for those who walked uphill to school, both ways

Filed under: Other hardware, Switches, Others

From the "three steps forward, two steps back" category comes Atlona's AT-HD530 Down-Converter. Send in a signal on one of those newfangled HDMI or DVI connections, and through the magic of fuzz-inducing signal-smashing you'll be able to grab output as either S-Video or composite. That's right, for just $299 you can kneecap your new gear and drag it back into the 80s. Obviously this is aimed at custom installers with clients demanding that their old and new gear play together, but with S-Video falling by the wayside on many new AVRs, it might gain a few more users. The custom installers get a pass, but for everyone else we'd suggest that your need for a AT-HD530 is a sign that it's time to upgrade.

Atlona AT-HD530 Down-Converter, for those who walked uphill to school, both ways originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/08/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: What's the best on the go HD camcorder?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features, Camcorders

Summer time is in full swing, and we're sure you've got plenty of activities to attend to, but what about capturing those for later viewing on your HDTV? Since we last visited the HD camcorder question, a flood of mini HD capable cams have hit the scene, but which one is the best? We'll let Mariusz lay out his priorities:

"For some time now I've been thinking about getting one of these, but still cannot make my mind up. I'm looking for a camcorder that is portable first of all (will mostly use it outdoors, also for paintball and airsoft games), the quality(720p / 1080p) and functionality will come second and storage options third. I know there is quite a few products on the market from Kodak, Flip and Creative (and probably few more), but still do not know which one to choose... Hopefully Engadget's readers will help me with my decision-making."

We can relate Mariusz, you need something easy to take on the go, with good image quality and settings and last of all easy to play back later. Surely a few of you have faced the same dilemma, let us know which hardware you've picked up and how it's working for you.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the best on the go HD camcorder? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/08/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 149 - 08.05.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

As we edge up towards podcast 150, we're not planning any kind of celebratory special; but that doesn't mean we can't have fun along the way! Break out the Zima and Jolly Ranchers as we go over some follow-up to last week's MCE-rich podcast, and then get into topsy-turvy strangeness. Giving Moxi a hard time and taking a "we'll see" approach to Vudu are nothing new, but when was the last time we handed out kudos to TiVo and BD-Live? Listen in and find out for yourself what had us in Bizarro-world.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:00:50 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 148 - 07.29.2009
00:14:49 - Poll: Do you / will you use Windows Media Center in your home theater?
00:25:10 - The Moxi Summer update brings the Moxi Mate, SDV support and more
00:32:40 - RCN making cobranded TiVO boxes its 'primary DVR platform' in 2010
00:36:10 - Verizon rolling out more apartment-friendly hardware
00:40:33 - Ask Engadget HD: Can I subscribe to a service for just HDTV channels?
00:44:45 - Modern Warfare 2, Halo 3: ODST are both not-quite HD games
00:53:15 - Paramount flicks to see Blu-ray purchase, DVD rental availability ahead of DVD sale date
00:56:58 - Wolverine Blu-ray disc includes BD-Live access to IMDB
01:00:00 - VUDU's streaming service demoed live on an LG TV
01:04:45 - Energy Star 3.0 regulations set to impact TV designs

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 149 - 08.05.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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audio/mpeg ; 43.88 Mb

04/08/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 149 - 08.05.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:00:50 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 148 - 07.29.2009
The Moxi Summer update brings the Moxi Mate, SDV support and more
RCN making cobranded TiVO boxes its 'primary DVR platform' in 2010
Poll: Do you / will you use Windows Media Center in your home theater?
Verizon rolling out more apartment-friendly hardware
Ask Engadget HD: Can I subscribe to a service for just HDTV channels?
Modern Warfare 2, Halo 3: ODST are both not-quite HD games
Paramount flicks to see Blu-ray purchase, DVD rental availability ahead of DVD sale date
Wolverine Blu-ray disc includes BD-Live access to IMDB
VUDU's streaming service demoed live on an LG TV
Energy Star 3.0 regulations set to impact TV designs

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 149 - 08.05.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/08/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Yup, it's Tuesday again, and you know what that means -- we're inviting you to take some time out of your day (or your boss') and join the Engadget HD crew on Ustream. While we conduct our merry banter covering this week's news in HD, you're welcome to inject your opinions to the live chat room, or just chill out with the other fine folks in the audience. We'll do our level best to kick off activities Tuesday, August 4 at 5:30PM ET, so join us, won't you? List of topics and embedded Ustream goodies after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/07/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 148 - 07.29.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Things are starting to get interesting again in the world of Windows Media Center now that Windows 7 is done, so we spent some time talking about what's new and what it will take to get people to use it. According to the HD Guru there is a new king in town and it's Panny's latest plasma, but who to believe? You'll have to have a listen to see where you land. Last up we talk a little Blu-ray and about the on going format war in China as well as the latest Michael Bay IMAX sequence controversy.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:00:50 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 147 - 07.22.2009
00:04:00 - Windows 7 Media Center review
00:27:50 - How-to: Build an HD Media Center for under $1000
00:31:28 - Xbox 360's new Netflix Movie Parties disabled for Starz Play titles?
00:36:40 - Samsung UN46B7000 LED backlit LCD review
00:45:00 - Panasonic's TC-P54V10 plasma crowned king, so sayeth the HD Guru
00:52:52 - Blu-ray reportedly trailing CBHD in China, the second theater of the format war begins
00:54:36 - Poll: Is Final Cut Pro an indication of more Blu-ray support coming from Apple?
00:58:20 - Sony's Blu-ray MegaChanger hits the streets next month with new ES standalone
01:04:00 - Michael Bay plans The Dark Knight-style IMAX sequences for Transformers 2 Blu-ray
01:08:10 - Audioholics overviews entry level receiver choices

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 148 - 07.29.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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audio/mpeg ; 40.96 Mb

30/07/2009 - Atlona Releases Swiveled HDMI and DVI Cables

Atlona has released a new range of HDMI and DVI to HDMI cables that feature a swivel connector end which allows them to bend at 90 degrees in either direction.
This connector design enables users to nearly flush mount their HDTVs - avoiding the problems posed when connecting standard HDMI cables to rear-facing HDMI ports.

29/07/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 148 - 07.29.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget HD Podcast 148 - 07.29.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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audio/mpeg ; 40.96 Mb

29/07/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Can I subscribe to a service for just HDTV channels?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Cable, Fiber, Internet, Satellite

So you're considering fiber, satellite or cable TV, but don't want to pay for any channels that aren't available in HDTV. Barring a provider switching to full a la carte pricing overnight, we're only aware of TurboHD for that kind of service, but even that comes with drawbacks. Still, James knows what he won't watch, and that's anything in less than 720p, let's check out his question:

"As always I love the site and the podcast, but I was hoping to draw on some knowledge.
Are there any service providers, cable, online, etc. that provide HD only content packages? I really am not in love with the idea of paying for content I'll never watch, which is all of the SD content. Do I have any options? Or is this a pipe dream for the future?
I live in John's Creek (Atlanta), GA."

So, for the discriminating viewer, is TurboHD the best (or only) option? Let us know in the comments how James can get the most value for what he's interested in.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Can I subscribe to a service for just HDTV channels? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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29/07/2009 - Onkyo Launches Home Theater Packages for Blu-ray and HD Video Systems

Onkyo has introduced two new 7.1-channel home theater systems that it claims deliver leading edge AV processing and surround sound reproduction for HDTV and Blu-ray.
The HT-S7200 and HT-S6200 each feature powerful AV receivers with 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, 130 watt-per-channel amplification, processing for every major audio format on the market.

29/07/2009 - Sky Picks Pace STB to Roll-out HD Content in Germany and Austria

PayTV operator Sky has selected Pace's HD technology for its set-top box deployments in Germany and Austria, which will begin rolling out in August.
Pace has been a set-top box technology partner of Sky, formerly Premiere, for a number of years.

29/07/2009 - Onkyo shows pride in its DV-BD507 Blu-ray player with lofty $449 price tag

Filed under: Blu-ray, Players, Others

Onkyo's never been one to dabble in the Blu-ray bargain basement, but with BD decks selling for well under the $200 mark, we're wondering what kind of secret sauce is boxed in with the DV-BD507. The outfit's latest Profile 2.0 player doesn't sound too special based on specs alone, as it supports HDMI 1.3a, 1080p output, BD-Live functionality and BonusView features just like every other respectable rival on the market already. Sure, we can't say we don't appreciate its innate ability to process AVCHD files stored on SD / SDHC cards or toasted DVDs, but even on a good day we can't justify the $449 MSRP. Maybe it's upgradable to 3D... or something. Fancy rear shot is waiting after the break.

Continue reading Onkyo shows pride in its DV-BD507 Blu-ray player with lofty $449 price tag

Onkyo shows pride in its DV-BD507 Blu-ray player with lofty $449 price tag originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/07/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Looks like we'll be getting back to the usual suspects this week, as Ben, Richard and Steve wind their way through the HD news. As much as we (and you) might miss the excitement of special guests, slipping back into a familiar set of jeans (or Dockers for Ben) is pretty rewarding as well. No matter what we're wearing, you're welcome to come as you are when the Engadget HD podcast starts live on Ustream Tuesday, July 28 at 5:30 PM ET; we'll even waive the cover charge for anyone dressed up as a Toshiba HD-DVD deck. A list of topics and the live Ustream player after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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27/07/2009 - International HD news roundup

Filed under: Misc

Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, Doei!

Read - Fox Latin America Picks Brightcove For Hulu-Like Portal
Read - 4 HD channels to launch on Virgin Media
Read - Rogers Ramps Up Docsis 3.0
Read - APTN HD Launches on Rogers Cable
Read - MTV pushes HD into eight countries
Read - ARD and ZDF start HD test transmissions (Germany)
Read - Great expectations for high-definition (Australia)
Read - Hong Kong Cable comes to HD party
Read - ESPN starts HD test transmissions (UK)
Read - RTL launches HD channels, VOD on UPC (Netherlands)
Read - Pace wins new business with Sky for high definition rollout in Germany and Austria
Read - DStv to get three new HD channels (South Africa)
Read - High-def Penthouse porn channel to launch (UK)
Read - Mediascape launches country's 1st nationwide Digital HD pay TV service (Philippines)

International HD news roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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27/07/2009 - Panasonic's TC-P54V10 plasma crowned king, so sayeth the HD Guru

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

Panasonic's run of critical acclaim for its NeoPDP panels, and the V10 series in particular, just keeps rolling along. Given the positive reception the HD Guru gave Panny's G10-series set, it should come as no surprise that the higher-spec TC-P54V10 model came through its review with flying colors. The Guru blew right past the "sheet of glass" aesthetic and added color spaces that will largely go unused and got right into the good stuff. Sure, the 96Hz mode delivered on its promise of judder-free 4:4 pulldown, but most surprising was the V10's black level performance, which fell below the test equipment's ability to measure -- the review guessed it to be about half as bright as the G10's black level. That's in spitting distance of the Kuro performance, and the V10 managed to pull a little more dark detail as well. Yeah, it's a winner -- so much so that the Guru had to break out a fifth heart in its rating. The Kuro is dead, long live the Kuro.

Panasonic's TC-P54V10 plasma crowned king, so sayeth the HD Guru originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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23/07/2009 - 3D, ARC and Ethernet capable HDMI 1.4 hardware announced, still a long way off

Filed under: Industry, Cables, Other hardware, Others

The new HDMI 1.4 spec adds a host of new features (and, most likely, a lot of new ways to get scammed on cable purchases) but for those excitedly anticipating Audio Return Channel, HDMI Ethernet Channel and 3D over HDMI should know Silicon Image has announced its first line of chips supporting them. Destined for HDTVs, receivers, Blu-ray players and the like, the new port processor and transmitter have the extremely specific sample delivery date of "second half of 2009" so while we certainly don't expect to see any actual hardware until well into next year, keep an ear to the ground if you're considering an upgrade before then.

3D, ARC and Ethernet capable HDMI 1.4 hardware announced, still a long way off originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/07/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: What's the best plasma to pick up in 2009?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features, LCD, Plasma

We're not going to pretend this question hasn't been asked before, but it's a new year and there's a few new competitors for the plasma throne. Looks like our friend Akshay was all about LCDs until checking out this article, and now he's ready to look at plasma for his next flat panel HDTV. The only question is, which one? The Panasonic G10 or V10 series? Find a Kuro on closeout? We'll let him set the mood:

"Ok, now to the main point - I'm looking to buy a HDTV. I have been trying to read reviews online and have been stuck with the basics -- Plasma or LCD. I was going through some Engadget HD archives when I found this article and decided to ask for some advice from the experts. I was leaning a bit towards LCD, especially the Samsung lineup interests me a lot. Then I read an article which easily proved that Plasma is somewhat a notch higher than LCD even though its phasing out.

Ever since I read this, I'm wondering which technology to opt for, given all the factors including picture quality, viewing angles, pricing, marketing gimmicks, etc. If I were to go with Panasonic, which model would be a really good one? My budget is around $1700 (LCD or Plasma). Any lil bit of help/advice from your team would be highly appreciated as I really respect what and how you guys manage engadget! I'm looking to buy it in Aug end/Sept time frame."

We know at least a few plasma TV owners are reading this, reach out via the comments and let us know which one will fit Akshay's budget best.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the best plasma to pick up in 2009? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/07/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 147 - 07.22.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

We've got a very special treat for you on the podcast this week, joining the usual crew are Robert Heron and Patrick Norton of the show HDNation. After discussing the new show we dive right in, with plenty of discussion around Toshiba's Blu-ray plans, the problems of BD-Live and why Blu-ray has such a bad reputation in certain circles. There's also a few tidbits about the Media Center features spotted coming to Windows Home Server, what to expect from On Demand Online and why we're so excited every preseason NFL game will be in high definition. Saved for last are some digs at the BBC & F1 racing for being HD laggards, plus a few audio comments, so quit with the reading and get to listening.

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[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
00:02:30 - Revision3 takes on our favorite topic with HD Nation
00:13:50 - Toshiba launching Blu-ray player by year's end
00:21:50 - Blu-ray celebrates 91 percent sales increase for first half of 2009
00:29:30 - Universal bringing BD-Live integration to the iPhone, irony to starving children
00:35:50 - Redbox scores deal with Disney, Lions Gate and Sony
00:44:23 - New Media Center features in WHS Power Pack 3 exposed in a screencast
00:48:50 - Poll: Will you ever use On Demand Online?
00:53:30 - Every single preseason game will be on the NFL Network in HD
00:59:45 - BBC promises Open Championship in HD next year
01:22:35 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 146 - 07.15.2009

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Engadget HD Podcast 147 - 07.22.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/07/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Whether you're down with LCD, plasma, OLED or CRT, we want to see you in the live Ustream screening and chatroom of the Engadget HD podcast Tuesday, July 21st at 5:30 PM ET. Face it -- if you're checking out Engadget HD, you're the type who wants to know stuff before the "other guy," and by tuning in you can listen to the podcast before even our producer gets a hold of it. Of course, that means you also get the straight dope with any blemishes and outtakes, but we promise they're more entertaining than your average BD-Live feature. A list of topics and embedded Ustream chat after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/07/2009 - Toshiba Blu-ray Player By Year End as Format Sales Grow

More flesh has been added to Toshiba's plans to bring out a Blu-ray player - it is likely to be called the BD-18 and could be available as soon as the year end.
The company, which backed the HD DVD high-definition format that eventually lost to Sony's prevailing Blu-ray, had stubbornly maintained it would not bring out a Blu-ray player and instead focused on its XDE DVD-upscaling technology.

21/07/2009 - Pace Secures Brazilian HD Set-Top Box Deal

Pace is to provide an HD-capable set-top box to Latin America's largest multi-service cable provider.
Brazil's cable operator NET Serviços de Comunicação is buying the UK firms's new HD-capable set-top unit as part of its drive to establish a fully HD, digitised customer base.

17/07/2009 - Revision3 takes on our favorite topic with HD Nation

Filed under: Misc

We were big TechTV fans back before it was killed by Comcast and swallowed by G4, and like most old TechTV fans, we're very fond of the work being done by Revision3. But starting this week we became even bigger fans since the online video network launched a new show on our favorite topic. The twenty minute episode is hosted by Patrick Norton and Robert Heron with the first episode covering some of their favorite Blu-ray demo material, as well as the HDTV calibration discs and 240hz LCD TVs -- so yeah good stuff. Overall we were impressed and look forward to them diving into some deeper topics down the road. And yes, of course it is available in HD.

Continue reading Revision3 takes on our favorite topic with HD Nation

Revision3 takes on our favorite topic with HD Nation originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/07/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best media streaming set-top box?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features, Media streamers

Let's be realistic, we're not going outside, and 3D isn't quite ready yet, but we've all got video files on the PC we want to get on our HDTV and with new set-top boxes seemingly dropping every day, why not ask the question one more time? We'll let Brian break down his situation:

"I have recently upgraded my home theater and am now rocking a 55" 1080p screen, full surround sound and a subwoofer big enough to use as an end table. But what I don't have is any way to watch a movie that doesn't involve putting a disc in a drive and pressing play. Just doesn't seem right! So what I'm looking for is a decent set top box that has:

1. Internal storage, 1TB at least
2. Network connectivity. Wireless is not necessary, as I have ethernet already run to the cabinet
3. Upscaling to 1080i or 1080p. I have a lot of my DVDs ripped, and if I can encode them in native resolution it will save an enormous amount of drive space over upscaling them to a size that works on the big screen
4. Support for all the usual video formats, especially h.264
5. Responsiveness. This is important, I don't want something that's frustrating to use

Oh yeah and price. I don't have a rock solid limit, but I'd like it to be less than $250 without storage or $350 with it. There are so many options out there I'm not sure where to start. So, what do you think?"

So Brian wants to go all digital with his movie watching experience, we're sure more than a few of you have or are thinking about a similar setup, what do you suggest?

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best media streaming set-top box? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/07/2009 - Successful IFA Business Model Drives Markets in 2009

ADVERTORIAL: Product debuts and important industry topics such as ecology, lifestyle, HDTV & wireless communications the main features at IFA 2009
For the second time, and with an even more comprehensive show, the leading brands of the consumer electronics and electrical home appliances industries will be jointly represented on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds at IFA 2009.

16/07/2009 - Belkin Cancels FlyWire Wireless HDMI Device

After a series of postponements Belkin has finally said it will not be releasing its FlyWire wireless HDMI accessory.
According to the company, the decision not to offer the FlyWire for sale has been taken because of the current state of the economy.

15/07/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 146 - 07.15.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

There's a good spread of topics on the podcast this week, while staying light on the HTPC, Blu-ray and broadcast news. What does that leave? For starters, a bunch of news under the streaming, online and download headings. Continuing the theme of news from unexpected places, TiVo popped up twice in this week's show; unfortunately, no news about a revamped, mind-blowing new model or service. We saved our favorite stuff for the end of the show, as we trumpeted plasma over LCD, dispelled conspiracy theories about Blu-ray being an evil plot, and talked about how even though we love lossless audio, we don't hate the PS3. Well, at least not for the lossless audio performance.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:53:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 145 - 07.08.2009
00:11:40 - Blockbuster OnDemand en route to Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and home theater systems
00:18:36 - HBO, Cinemax coming to Comcast's On Demand Online
00:19:40 - Starz jumps on Comcast's On Demand Online trial, promises HD on the way
00:19:53 - CBS, Comcast On Demand Online partnership faces off premium vs. free internet streaming; 17 cable channels jump onboard
00:26:55 - Silverlight 3 out of beta, joins forces with your GPU for HD streaming
00:33:05 - 85 percent of the 14 billion videos downloaded last year were illegal
00:45:10 - TiVo asks court for a billion dollars in EchoStar case
00:54:00 - TiVo and Best Buy alliance to yield co-branded DVR, TiVo software on Insignia and Dynex TVs
01:00:23 - Numbers be damned, plasma eats LCD's cake in DisplayMate's tests
01:07:10 - Poll: Would you buy a TV running ChromeOS?
01:11:30 - Wal-mart rolls back cheap Blu-ray player price to $98
01:18:40 - So is Blu-ray really ripping off consumers?
01:22:50 - LPCM is not always equal to bitstream

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Engadget HD Podcast 146 - 07.15.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/07/2009 - Amimon Raises $10 Million on Back of Strong WHDI Performance

Wireless HD chipmaker Amimon has raised USD $10 million in its latest round of funding.
The Israeli company's announcement comes as demand for HDTVs capable of wirelessly transferring HD video from one device in the home continues to grow.

15/07/2009 - ASUS Enters HDTV Monitor Market

ASUS has announced a range of HDTV monitors that it says offers the best in desktop monitor and LCD TV technology.
The TV Monitor T1 Series comes in 22- (22T1E), 24- (24T1E) and 27-inch (27T1E) sizes and offers a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) panel, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits of brightness, five millisecond response time, built-in TV tuners (for the UK market) and a pair of seven-watt speakers.

14/07/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means -- it's time to calmly file into Engadget HD's Ustream chat room, take a deep breath, and let go of your week's worth of HD angst in the company of friends who understand and sympathize. Heck, stop on by even if you don't have HD angst, because there's a chance the discussion will have wandered off topic and we'll all be talking cars, computers, or something else entirely. We'll throw up a list of planned topics and a Ustream chat tool after the break, just to kick things off. The party starts Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 EDT.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/07/2009 - Sony Launches Flagship HD Handycam

Sony has announced two new flash memory-based high definition camcorders – the HDR-CX520V and the HDR-CX500V.
Both cameras capture full 1920 x 1080 resolution video and up to 12 megapixel photos on internal flash memory. They offer support for up to 25 hours of HD video on the 64GB model.

08/07/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best outdoor projector setup?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Projector

It's that time, even HDTV watchers want to get outside and enjoy the summer -- but how do we get our HDTV kicks outside? We've reached out for suggestions on outdoor flat screen televisions, but our friend Alpha Kanu wrote in with a slightly different question:

"I was just curious to know whether you guys have any recommendation for me in terms of a very good out door projector for showing movies in a tropical climate. In addition to that do you know of any compatible system like a DVD, Blu-ray or VHS and DVD that can work with it? Thanks for your answers."

So, there you have it, anyone picked up an outdoor projection screen and 1080p PJ to go along with their fireworks show last weekend? If you've got any experience or suggestions, drop a line in the comments.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best outdoor projector setup? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/07/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 145 - 07.08.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Wait -- an Engadget HD podcast without any Media Center news? There, there now, MCE-folk -- we manage to fit in some good stuff that's at least HTPC related and Ben tips his hand about Microsoft's new DRM scheme. We also manage to get behind a couple of scenes this week -- Steve talks about his trip inside Dolby's lab and Ben talks about how to get a set-top box situated behind equipment closet doors. Join us on our hour-plus romp through the week's news and come clean on our obsessive-compulsive videophile ways along the way; and with only a couple of minor tangential detours (cars and BSG, mostly).

Get the podcast
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[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 143 - 06.24.2009
00:16:36 - Cable companies miss tru2way deadline, insist it's no big deal
00:26:05 - Sci Fi / SyFy switch takes effect tomorrow, still doesn't make any sense
00:31:17 - Engadget goes behind the Dolby logo
00:45:19 - How to relocate a HD set-top-box and still have it work with an HDTV
00:54:10 - You know you're a videophile if...
01:00:15 - Auzentech joins the HD audio HTPC party
01:06:15 - TiVo HD upgrade program helps you save as much as $100
01:11:10 - Pioneer refreshes, lowers prices on its Elite receivers
01:11:50 - Ask Engadget HD: How can I get my home theater ready for 3D, right now?
01:13:46 - Mobile DTV standard in the US gets raised to "proposed standard" status

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Engadget HD Podcast 145 - 07.08.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/07/2009 - Digital Vision Launches USB Flash Drive DVR

Digital Vision has launched the first USB flash drive-based digital video recorder (DVR).
The UK company says its GiGo DV-DTR1 Digital TV recorder allows users to record content and then view it on devices such as laptops.

07/07/2009 - MEDION Unveils Mobile HD Netbook

MEDION has unveiled its next generation netbook - with an 11.6" HD display and ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics.
The AKOYA MINI E1312 appears to offer fast performance for its class.

07/07/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

We hope you got your fill of hot dogs, hamburgers and other grilled goodness this weekend, because it's time to kick back for about an hour with the Engadget HD podcast. We can't promise fireworks, but you're welcome to set off any leftover bottle rockets in the Ustream chat room while we try to find something in this week's news to get riled up about. Festivities begin on Tuesday, July 7 at 5:30PM EDT, but you can start chatting earlier with the Ustream audio/chat embedded after the break; we'll add in the list of topics as soon as we pick them.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/07/2009 - Mvix Launches "Ultimate" 1080p Home Theater Media Player

Mvix has announces the worldwide launch of the Mvix Ultio, a hard-disk based media center capable of HD digital media playback with video output as high as 1080p.
The company claims the device supports the largest array of AV formats and codecs of any media player.

03/07/2009 - HD Streaming and Blu-ray "Can Co-exist" - For Now

There are already more digital delivery devices connected to HDTVs in US homes than Blu-ray players, thanks largely to the Xbox 360 and the likes of TiVo, Roku, AppleTV and Vudu.
Yet despite the numerical supremacy of players capable of streaming HD content, digital downloads are not expected to be a serious competitor to the Blu-ray format anytime soon.

01/07/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 144 - 07.01.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Good times this week as we discuss the future fallout of The Pirate Bay and illegal downloads in general. But that isn't the only fun we had as we also continued our Harris Poll talk, which we finally cut short since we are just sick of it. That doesn't mean we didn't continue talking Blu-ray though, as we covered more polls, including our own, and the latest Blu-ray player from Oppo. Finally we were all over the map on topics such as Hulu and the PS3, touchscreen remotes -- and why they suck -- then finally a little Curb your Enthusiasm and the ultimate technology laggards.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[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
00:01:10 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 143 - 06.24.2009
00:08:34 - Pirate Bay acquired by Global Gaming Factory, going legit like Napster
00:17:35 - Top ten rationales for illegally downloading HDTV shows
00:24:25 - Harris Poll concerning Blu-ray and HD DVD penetration is way off
00:27:28 - Futuresource still predicting big things for Blu-ray
00:29:32 - Poll: So how do YOU think Blu-ray is doing?
00:38:48 - Oppo BDP-83 pre-orders now open for all (in North America)
00:44:27 - Supreme Court declines to hear remote storage DVR appeal, cloud recording is on the way
00:50:06 - Why aren't MTV HD's music videos in high definition?
00:52:44 - Hulu to PlayStation 3 browsers: "This video is not available on your platform"
00:56:16 - Hands-on with the Apple TV iPhone remote
01:01:30 - Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter review
01:07:30 - Curb Your Enthusiasm going HD this season, if you really want to see Larry David in HD
01:11:16 - 2.1 million households let the DTV transition pass them by

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Engadget HD Podcast 144 - 07.01.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/07/2009 - LG introduces stylish, LED-backlit 22-inch W2286L LCD HDTV

Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

By and large, there's nothing too incredible about LG's latest LCD HDTV. It's 22-inches, can double as a PC monitor, boasts a deceiving 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and consumes some 40 percent less power than the average Earth-hating 22-inch LCD. There's also a pair of HDMI sockets, a DVI port and a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, not to mention an automatic brightness sensor that responds to ambient light. There's no word yet on how pricey the 20 millimeter-thick set will be nor when it'll ship stateside, but hopefully it -- along with its 24-inch Full HD sibling -- will make the trip in short order.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

LG introduces stylish, LED-backlit 22-inch W2286L LCD HDTV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/06/2009 - HD Models Taking Over PVR Market

The personal video recorder (PVR) market is continuing to grow, fueled by high-definition models.
Global PVR shipments exceeded 25 million in 2008, with HD PVRs making up nearly 75 per cent of the total, according to In-Stat.

30/06/2009 - Panasonic makes Tsuyuzaki new CTO

The executive who helped Panasonic develop its Blu-ray discs and 3D FullHD TV technologies has been named as the new chief technology officer of Panasonic Consumer Electronics North America.
Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic’s Hollywood Laboratory managing director, is replacing Paul Liao who is leaving the company to be the new CEO of Cable Television Laboratories.

30/06/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Summer's here, but haven't you heard that the sun is really, really bad for you? Make like a Morlock and stay inside with sweet HD technology to keep you company. And just to make sure you're up to date with said tech, join us for the live Ustream transmission of the Engadget HD podcast. We didn't give you much heads up last week, but now you've got a few good hours to plan your cubicle disappearance for Tuesday, June 30 at 5:30PM EDT. Embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break, to be followed with a list of topics as soon as we cull the herd.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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29/06/2009 - Why aren't MTV HD's music videos in high definition?

Filed under: Misc, MHD

Our friends at TV Squad are asking the same question we've had many times, what's up with MTV's treatment of HD? Specifically, why doesn't the MTV or VH1 HD simulcast channel air music videos in high definition? While it was news to us that MTV even aired music videos anymore, it's sad to see how poorly its handling the simulcast channel, though we don't have reception at this branch of the EHD HQ yet, word is they couldn't even keep simple things like the Real World HD broadcast straight last season. That's no surprise for a network that treats its simulcast like a redheaded stepchild (try finding a mention of it on MTV.com or Viacom's website) and staunchly refuses to loose any details of precisely which shows will be broadcast in high definition no matter how many times we ask, and we'll not even get into the endless loop of repeated programming that has become Palladia. Considering one can view any music video on YouTube in "HD" with little trouble, it's even more disturbing that MTV is so far behind the times.

Why aren't MTV HD's music videos in high definition? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/06/2009 - ZINNET debuts brite-View media players, streamers

Filed under: Media streamers, Players

ZINNET, a company we've mostly seen hocking digital converter boxes to old-school broadcast TV owners, has just announced the brite-View line of media devices for digital download fans. The CinemaCube ($89.99) plays media from either an attached USB hard drive or over your home network, supports RM, RMVB, MP2, AVI, H.264, VOB, MOV, MKV, DivX, Xvid, and WMV video files up to 1280X720 HD (720p), and sports its own bittorrent client. Air HD ($399.99) is a wireless HD transmitter and receiver kit that supports up to 1080i@60Hz, 1080p@24Hz HD picture quality / 30Hz HD quality with less than 1ms latency, up to 70 feet. We'll be interested in seeing how these guys stack up against some of the other players out there -- in the meantime, peep the gallery below.

[Via I4U News]

ZINNET debuts brite-View media players, streamers originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/06/2009 - Outgoing CableLabs prez talks about the origins of HDTV as we know it

Filed under: Industry, Misc

Current CableLabs CEO & prez Richard Green is moving on later this year as Paul Liao from Panasonic takes over the reigns and the first part of Multichannel News' interview with him covers the first time he saw HDTV back in 1980 and the process that eventually gave us the standards we have today.That goes back through the first NFL game recorded in HD, and why high definition took so long to take off -- apparently not everyone wants a 1 million+ lb 40-inch CRT and broadcasters were never happy about spending all the money necessary to upgrade -- from the days of 5x3 with 1125 lines. It's not a crystal ball to the success of Blu-ray, digital downloads, 3D or anything else, but worth a read for some interesting anecdotes on how tough progress is.

Outgoing CableLabs prez talks about the origins of HDTV as we know it originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/06/2009 - Rising Demand Makes Toshiba Reconsider Blu-Ray Products

Ever since losing the high-def format war to Blu-ray, Toshiba has resolutely refused to join the enemy camp and start manufacturing Blu-ray products.
Until now that is. According to reports coming out of its annual shareholder meeting in Tokyo, Toshiba is considering making Blu-ray products.

25/06/2009 - I-MOVIX Announces New Deal with CANAL+ France

I-MOVIX has announced a new contract with CANAL+ France to use its ultra slow motion SprintCam solution for sports broadcasting.
The SprintCam Live V2.1 and SprintCam V3 HD offer broadcast integration and have the ability to work at 500 fps under restricted lighting conditions.

25/06/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 143 - 06.25.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

We're back with a vengeance this week -- tune in as we plow through a dozen of topics, each more riveting than the previous one. Well... okay, maybe not "riveting," but we did find some highs and lows from entirely unexpected sources this week. And no, despite Harris Interactive's poll that ran through the interwebs this week, we're not putting Blu-ray on deathwatch just yet; so you'll just have to listen in and find the surprising bits for yourself.

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[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
00:00:55 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 141 - 06.17.2009
00:04:05 - Blu-ray's Managed Copy explained, a Movie Jukebox is possible
00:18:45 - Poll: How much would you pay to make a copy of a Blu-ray Disc?
00:20:30 - Meijer's brand new $99 (shipped) Blu-ray player brings joy to skinflints everywhere
00:24:30 - Evidently it's still cool to hate on Blu-ray: Harris Poll spin
00:30:35 - Paramount launches Sapphire Series line of premium Blu-ray releases
00:35:25 - Sony Pictures to smarten up Blu-ray with MovieIQ, the "killer app for BD-Live"
00:39:35 - VIZIO Internet App HDTVs launch later this year, for less than you might expect
00:46:05 - Samsung HT-WS1 soundbar review
00:51:20 - Moxi HD DVR Review
00:59:38 - TiVo coming to Time Warner Cable, potentially lots of other providers
01:08:00 - Panasonic unveils 85-inch plasma at InfoComm '09
01:17:07 - Giant Cowboys Stadium LED wall caught playing Xbox 360 during downtime Update: Video!

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Engadget HD Podcast 143 - 06.25.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/06/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best region free Blu-ray player solution?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Blu-ray

This week's conundrum has tripped up more than a few people, from the President on down. We all know, the easiest solution to the problem of living in one place and wanting to watch movies released in another is a multiregion or region free player, but which one is the best? Let's get the details from Felix:

"I have a potentially more unusual question for you regarding choice of mainstream Blu-ray players. I'm interested in options for including codefree functionality

A brief bit of background. I am an englishman living in Germany; there are a couple of video rental shops here specialising in US/UK films and TV series. Many of their discs are purchased directly in the UK and the US, hence a number of their DVDs are region code 1 and I dare say that as their numbers of BDs gradually increase the same will be true here. As my DVD player is codefree this hasn't been an issue so far.

I am now looking into upgrading to a Blu-ray player, but being able to play DVDs (with decent upscaling) from all regions is an absolute must. And being codefree on the Blu-ray front would be a very nice bonus too though not essential. I have found a number of offers for 'chipped' Blu-ray players, but it would be great if you could let me know about the possibilities for the "chipping" process and the quality and reliability of the results.

Anyone else dealing with similar problems and has experience to lend? We've covered a few different multiregion sources in the past, but if you've picked one of these players up, or unlocked your own, let us know in the comments how it worked out

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best region free Blu-ray player solution? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/06/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Whether you stop by for the audio commentary of the hosts, the text chat among HD enthusiasts, or just the rebellious feeling of doing something fun while you should be working, you're welcome to join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream on Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30PM EDT. Come on -- get up to date on HD, make some virtual friends and stick it to the man! A list of this week's topics and embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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18/06/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best HDTV & secondary video editing monitor for my Macbook Pro?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Displays

This week we'll be appealing to all the prosumers out there, one of your own is looking for some assistance, needing a HDTV not just for play, but also for work. We've schooled on the differences between monitors & HDTVs before, and picked out 40-inch+ models with PC inputs, but see what you can do for John's specific requirements:

"My situation is this: I would like to combine my purchase of a new HD television as both an entertainment unit and a secondary monitor for my computer. I am a freelance video editor, shoot in HD (1080), and use a Macbook Pro 15" (2.4 ghz). I see 32" model as the right size/price range, and I will be sitting between 2-3 feet away from the screen when editing. Given all this context, my questions are these:

1. What features should I weigh most? (refresh rate, mhz, brand)

2. Given this screen size/viewing distance, does the 720p/1080p difference matter much?

I will begin seriously shopping around later this year, but would like some background knowledge before I start talking with sales reps."

Any of you making high definition movies instead of just watching them? Let us, and John, know what you look for in a display in the comments.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Best HDTV & secondary video editing monitor for my Macbook Pro? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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18/06/2009 - QNAP's NMP1000 network media player starts streaming to Japan

Filed under: Media streamers

It's been ages (okay, months) since we first got our hands on the QNAP NMP1000 network media player, and it's a good long while past its supposed shipping date. But, shipping it is (finally), now hitting Japanese stores according to Akihabara News. Initially we were only told that the thing would cost "somewhere under $10,000," and we're glad to say it's way under: ¥45,000, or about $470. For that you get an HDMI 1.3-toting HD media streamer, which sports room for a 3.5-inch HDD, a gigabit Ethernet port, and the ability to not only stream media but also to act as a NAS, meaning this one didn't fall far from the 'ol family tree. Still no word on a US release, but hopefully that'll be well under $10,000 as well. Soothing demonstration video to tide you over after the break.

Continue reading QNAP's NMP1000 network media player starts streaming to Japan

QNAP's NMP1000 network media player starts streaming to Japan originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/06/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 141 - 06.17.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

After last week's sleeper of a show we were excited to jump in and talk up interesting topics like Managed Copy, the digital transition and the latest do it all media device from Popcorn Hour. As you've come to expect, we took questions via comments, the phone, and the live chat; so don't hesitate to let us know how you feel, any way you like.

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[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
01:05 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 140 - 06.10.2009
04:30 - Blu-ray gets Managed Copy next year, requires new hardware
18:45 - Poll: Is Blu-ray coming to Apple anytime soon?
23:57 - Transformers Blu-ray owners get an early peek at the sequel via BD-Live
33:57 - Will the DTV transition get more people watching OTA television?
46:32 - Digital transition causing grief for Windows Media Center users
59:10 - PopcornHour's latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready

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Engadget HD Podcast 141 - 06.17.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/06/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

The digital transition has come and gone, ushering in a new era of broadcast television. Whether you fear the change or welcome our new digital overlords, one thing is pretty much the same -- the Engadget HD podcast is dishing up the week's HD news live on Ustream. If you're wondering what happened to all your TV channels, you're probably not going to get a lot of sympathy from our live chatroom audience, but trust us -- they're good folk. Come see for yourself on Tuesday, June 16 at 5:30PM EDT. A list of this week's topics and embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/06/2009 - XStreamHD Strengthens Pre-Launch Executive Team

XStreamHD has boosted its executive team ahead of a national launch with the appointment of Jude Panetta as vice president of operations and Jack Wrigley as vice president of business development.
The direct-to-home Full HD transport network company is to launch later this year, offering 1080p images and 7.1 surround sound through a USD $400 box.

10/06/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 140 - 06.10.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

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.

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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

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Engadget HD Podcast 140 - 06.10.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/06/2009 - Panasonic Introduces HD Camcorders Weighing 0.5lbs, World's Lightest

Panasonic has announced the release of two of what it describes as the lightest HD camcorders ever made.
Each model weighs just 0.5lbs (0.2KG) but boasts high-powered 16x optical zoom capabilities and can shoot 1920 x 1080 Full-HD videos.

10/06/2009 - US Transition to Digital TV Alters Viewing Behavior

This Friday sees US television going 100 per cent digital, a move that has impacted on over a quarter of households which have had to invest in new TV sets and/or services to prepare for the June 12th changeover.
However, researchers say that the switch to digital has changed traditional viewing habits.

10/06/2009 - Microsoft Unveils Motion Control Technology - Project Natal

Microsoft has just unveiled what it describes as a revolutionary new way to play Xbox 360 video games on HDTVs without the need for a controller.
Called Project Natal, the sensor, which combines an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor in one device, could have uses far beyond just gaming.

09/06/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Do things like black levels, D65 color accuracy or room modes have you waking up in cold sweats? We've got some group therapy going on for you in the Engadget HD podcast. Stop on by Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30PM EDT and listen in to the podcast live on Ustream along with a bunch of like-minded HT enthusiasts. Better still, join the live chatroom and share your obsession. You don't have to go it alone any more, friend. Embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/06/2009 - LaCie's LaCinema Classic Bridge media player: just add storage

Filed under: Players, Set-top boxes, Others

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.

LaCie's LaCinema Classic Bridge media player: just add storage originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/06/2009 - VIZIO introduces new XVT, M and E series HDTVs

Filed under: Displays, Others, LCD

It's been a hot minute since we've seen any new kit from the cats at VIZIO, but it has evidently been hoarding up sets in anticipation for today. This morning, the company has let loose details on a veritable smorgasbord of new TVs, all of which fall within the XVT, M and E series. The XVT line is getting a boost from the new TruLED VF551XVT, which packs 240Hz dejudder technology, as well as a number of other companions ranging from 32- to 55-inches in size. The M series is amongst the prettiest of the bunch, boasting a JAVA design, 1080p panels and 120Hz technology. Finally, the E series (E is for Eco, get it?) sucks down far less energy than most, with screen sizes spanning from 19- to 42-inches. Far too many new sets are being unveiled to detail here, but you can feel free to dig in after the break.

Continue reading VIZIO introduces new XVT, M and E series HDTVs

VIZIO introduces new XVT, M and E series HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/06/2009 - Atlona AT-HD570 breaks lossless audio out of its HDMI shell

Filed under: Blu-ray, Other hardware, Others

In its apparent quest to build up a product cutsheet on par with Gefen's, Atlona has added the audio-splitting AT-HD570 to its lineup. This gadget should be music (ahem) to those who want to hold on to their older receivers/processors, but are itching to get the new lossless audio codecs on Blu-ray discs. Send in a HDMI signal with audio in either LPCM or bitstream format (up to Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA), and this little box will break out the audio on SPDIF optical and 7.1-channel analog; those interested in the lossless codecs will want to grab those analog outputs. Meanwhile, the video signal stays on that HDMI cable, ready to go along its merry way to your video gear. The $219 price point might get you to consider picking up a Blu-ray deck with analog outputs instead, but definitely useful for cases where you're forced to deal with HDMI-less components.

Atlona AT-HD570 breaks lossless audio out of its HDMI shell originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/06/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 139 - 06.04.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

According the comments last week we really hit our stride incorporating uStream into the show and we have to say it makes it much more fun. If there were two themes with week it would be the Xbox 360 as a media hub and Hulu. Some might argue that this doesn't have anything to do with HD, but it does. Once again Richard joined us this week, which is always a good thing, but it is even better when we talk anything gamer related, because lord know the rest of us aren't gamers. Finally we have a soap box addition as we express our disgust in HDMI for the five new versions of HDMI 1.4 -- yes five.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawlyer

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:21 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 138 - 05.29.2009
14:10 - Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration
24:00 - Poll: Do you actually want to watch TV via your game console?
26:15 - Hulu Desktop app puts a remote control friendly face on for Macs & PCs
33:44 - Hulu coming to Roku video player?
43:00 - Poll: How much would you pay for Hulu on your TV?
50:40 - DISH / EchoStar ordered to pay TiVo $190 million in patent infringement case
59:23 - HDMI 1.4 officially detailed: Ethernet / Audio Return channels, 3D, 4K x 2K support

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Engadget HD Podcast 139 - 06.04.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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audio/mpeg ; 41.47 Mb

04/06/2009 - Growth in HDTVs Driving Demand for HD STBs

Shipments of set-top boxes are expected to peak this year, at least in mature markets, and then commence a gradual decline.
However the rolling series of analog TV shutoffs in countries around the world, combined with the strong uptake of HDTV sets, mean that HD STBs will form a growing fraction of the total market, according to ABI Research.

04/06/2009 - Silicon Image Appoints New Vice President of Worldwide Marketing

Silicon Image has announced the appointment of Tim Vehling as vice president of worldwide marketing.
Vehling will be responsible for product marketing, corporate marketing and technical marketing operations worldwide Silicon Image, which specialises in semiconductors and intellectual property for the secure distribution, presentation and storage of high-definition (HD) content.

04/06/2009 - SiBeam CEO Welcomes Wireless HD "Competition"

INTERVIEW: With a third group now entering the race to deliver a high-speed wireless technology in the home - and wireless HDTV products hitting the market - momentum is building.
John LeMoncheck, president and CEO of SiBEAM, and a leading member of the WirelessHD (WiHD) consortium, told hdtv.biz-news that he welcomes the addition of the rival Wireless Gigabit (WiGig) Alliance to the fray.

04/06/2009 - Online Video Viewing Rates "Grossly Overstated"

The amount of time US viewers spend watching online video and mobile video is growing rapidly - but still accounts for a small fraction of total video content viewing.
That's the conclusion of a study into how people spend their time consuming media, including live TV programming, time-shifted television, DVDs, video games.

04/06/2009 - AMD Launches Chip For HDTV-on-the-PC

AMD has launched a chip offering HDTV viewing capabilities on desktop and notebook PCs around the world using analog, digital and free-to-air broadcast signals.
The company says the ATI Theater HD 750 PC TV chip uses advanced video processing and signal reception technologies to give an authentic HD home theater feel on the PC.

03/06/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Filed under: Podcasts

Even if you're that guy who shows up to your friend-of-a-friend's place on game day and picks apart their new TV, we'd love to have you join in on the Engadget HD podcast's live Ustream Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30PM EST. Heck, especially if you're that guy, you'll want to sit in on the broadcast and join in the chatroom as Ben and Steve get grumpy about this week's news. Let it out and let the healing begin -- a list of topics and embedded Ustream after the break.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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31/05/2009 - HDGiants files BK, lays off everyone but the CEO and support staff

Filed under: Media PCs, Internet

We can't say we didn't see this one coming as the streaming and hard disk delivery service HDGiants has filed chapter 11 bankruptcy in Nevada this week and lays off everyone but the CEO Scott Bahneman and perhaps one technical support person. No word on what will happen to those Niveus owners who paid one to two thousand for a hard disk pre-loaded with HD movies in the past six months though. The company was working on expanding its services to all Media Center fans, but the economics just didn't come together as investors refused to pony up for the next level.

HDGiants files BK, lays off everyone but the CEO and support staff originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 31 May 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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31/05/2009 - The complicated economics of an all HD channel

Filed under: HDNet, Cable, Fiber, Satellite

While you're kicking back and enjoying some HD content on a lazy Sunday it is easy to give little regard to the economics that make that HD content possible. Most don't care much about what makes the world go around, but if you've always wondered why there aren't more all-HD channels, this recent post over at Multichannel news is worth the read. Most notable is the challenges all-HD networks face including the fact that Nielsen doesn't even provide rating for them. If you're a big Mark Cuban fan you might also find it interesting as a number of his quotes are included like when he says "We really think that as our distribution continues to grow, we can dominate the demographic (13-34 males)."

The complicated economics of an all HD channel originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 31 May 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/05/2009 - NDS Chosen For Germany's First Cable HD DVR Service

Germany's two largest independent cable operators, Tele Columbus and PrimaCom, have selected NDS' DVR solution XTV to launch the country's first cable HD DVR service across their networks.
The two operators serve some 3.5 million cable-connected households and operate a large number of independent networks.

28/05/2009 - New HDMI Cable Adds Internet Data to Video and Audio

A new version of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable has been announced by the industry alliance responsible for licensing the specification.
HDMI Licensing said the upgraded 1.4 version of HDMI will make it easier to connect Internet-connected HD video devices to TVs and other appliances.
The new cable will be able to transfer Internet data as well as video and audio data - something that the existing version isn't able to do.

28/05/2009 - NEC Upconverting Chip Promises Sharper Full HD Image

NEC Electronics has announced a new chip that reduces blurring when SD images and video are expanded and displayed in 1920 x 1080 resolution HDTVs.
The µPD9280GM is also capable of supporting one billion colors (30-bits color depths - or "Deep Color"), which enhances color vividness and accuracy of display, according to the company.

28/05/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 138 - 05.28.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Mea culpas all around after last week's show -- not our finest hour, but we're not willing to give up on Ustream altogether just yet. Apparently, we're not alone, as several people joined us live this week while we got back up on the Ustream horse again. We get grumpy with Microsoft's efforts this week, and somehow still maintain hope for a Media Center + Windows Home Server future. Don't confuse us with sunny, happy wall-people, though -- there's plenty of grousing to go around as we cover the rest of this week's news.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:02:25 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 137 - 05.20.2009
00:03:20 - Zune HD is official, heading your way this Fall
00:17:04 - Netflix Watch Instantly comes to Vista Media Center, not Extenders
00:26:15 - Linksys has no plans to add H.264 support to discontinued Extenders
00:34:03 - Is the future of Windows Media Center with Windows Home Server?
00:46:42 - Cablevision on track to deliver Network DVR this Summer
00:58:37 - TiVo Central Online adds Now Playing and To Do lists
01:01:09 - Nielsen stats find 33% of U.S. households with at least one HDTV
01:04:00 - Hands-on with Yahoo Widgets on a Samsung 7000 series HDTV
01:10:25 - Paradigm's Studio 60 v.5 5.1-channel speaker system gets a big thumbs up
01:13:03 - Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray player review

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Engadget HD Podcast 138 - 05.28.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 28 May 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/05/2009 - Microsoft Confirms Zune HD with XBox Live Tie-In

Microsoft is to launch the Zune HD this autumn and the device will have access to TV, movies and games through the Xbox Live Video Marketplace.
Essentially being lined up as a rival to Apple's iPod Touch, the new PMP will have a built-in HD Radio receiver, an OLED touch screen interface, wi-fi, a multi-touch UI for Internet Explorer.

28/05/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast 138 live on UStream

Filed under: Podcasts

Do you talk back to the Engadget HD podcast as you're listening to it? Don't go around looking like a crazy person -- join in on the podcast live on UStream and hear it as it's being recorded! We'll begin broadcasting Wednesday around 5:30pm EST. There's no open mic, but you will get to hear the podcast before it goes into production (live and uncensored) and text chat with other listeners; and we promise to take your comments at the tail end of each topic. Head past the break for the straight dope.

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast 138 live on UStream

Join the Engadget HD podcast 138 live on UStream originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 27 May 2009 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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27/05/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast 138 live on UStream tomorrow

Filed under: Podcasts

Continue reading Join the Engadget HD podcast 138 live on UStream tomorrow

Join the Engadget HD podcast 138 live on UStream tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 26 May 2009 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/05/2009 - HP's MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed

Filed under: Media streamers, HP

After being introduced to the world late last month, we've heard little else about HP's lower-end MediaSmart Server LX195... until now, obviously. This little media streamer made its way into the HotHardware labs for a little Q&A, and it managed to escape with lots of praise, a mild amount of criticism and a price tag that'll likely be too steep for most to swallow. As for performance and features, the LX195 was found to shine; the Media Collector, iTunes server and Time Machine backup functionality all worked great. Unfortunately, the "endless loop of updates" seen during the initial setup and the lack of an April update -- which was sent out to the EX series last month -- left somewhat of a bitter taste in reviewers mouths. Overall, the system delivered and worked as advertised, but the $360 to $400 street price is apt to turn all but the hardest of hardcore HP fans away, not to mention that the aforesaid EX update (which will hit the LX195 this fall) will require users to completely wipe their HDD and start over from scratch. Check the read link for the full writeup.

HP's MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 26 May 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/05/2009 - Poll: Still interested in a connected HDTV?

Filed under: Polls, Displays

Oh connected HDTV, you blew away the fans at CES just a few months ago, but it seems most still don't plan on buying one immediately. Looks like that feeling of putting a purchase off may be justified, with our hands-on finding performance on the latest Samsung model a bit laggy at the moment. So let us know, are you still intrigued by widget HDTVs?

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Poll: Still interested in a connected HDTV? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 24 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/05/2009 - International HD news roundup

Filed under: Misc

International HD news roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 24 May 2009 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/05/2009 - LG Offers First DivX HD 1080p Certified Blu-ray player

LG has launched the first DivX HD 1080p certified Blu-ray player.
The BD390 - originally displayed at CES in January - has an 802.11n WiFi module and support for DivX streaming from a DLNA server.

22/05/2009 - US HDTV Ownership Shoots Up

A third (33.3%) of US households now have HDTVs, up from 19.3% a year ago, according to a Nielsen survey.
However, only 28.8% of all US homes received HD programming as of February 2009.

22/05/2009 - HDNet Dropped By Time Warner

Time Warner Cable is dropping two HDNet channels, claiming their programming has "limited appeal".
The move is effective from May 31 with the channels to be replaced by other high definition options.

21/05/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Which in-wall speakers for under $1,000?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Speakers

No two ways about it, we'd all like to have unlimited space and unlimited funds to get our home theater space together, but that isn't always the case. We've dealt with space constraints before, but it looks like Dan has a slightly different consideration:

"I recently moved into a new home and space is limited in my new home theater room so i was wondering if you guys could tell me what you think are the best in-wall speakers for under 1000 bucks for the front three. (all ready have rears) little background i have a Onkyo TX-805, PS3, DirecTV HD-DVR, and a 58" Samsung plasma."

We've covered a variety of in-wall audio components that might fit his price range, but we want to know which ones you would choose, let us know in the comments.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: Which in-wall speakers for under $1,000? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/05/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 137 - 05.20.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Good times this week as the oldest editor for Engadget HD finally joins your old favorites, unfortunately this new addition also introduced some technical difficulties so we had to work extra hard to clean up the audio. But despite our hard work we're afraid you're still going to be able to notice things didn't turn out quite right. We also continue to try out broadcasting the show on uStream and honestly think we've almost figured it out. When we do have it down, we'll be posting a link and letting you know the time and place in advanced. This week did have a really good slate of topics and the three of us didn't have any problems finding lots to talk about, so get ready for plenty of HD talk.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:38 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 136 - 05.14.2009
00:10:50 - Time Warner Cable loses HDNet at the end of the month, says "being in HD is not enough"
00:15:15 - History prepping WWII in HD series
00:19:49 - Netflix CFO talks Watch Now slection, competition
00:27:09 - Logitech Harmony Adapter for the PlayStation 3 review
00:35:15 - LG's WiFi-enabled, DivX-friendly BD390 Blu-ray player now shipping
00:39:25 - How do you like your TiVo, with bleeps & bloops or without?
00:43:33 - Automatic commercial skipping comes to Windows 7
00:52:55 - Linksys discontinues its Extenders for Media Center
01:02:00 - Hands-on with Microsoft's internet tv beta 2, still unwatchable
01:08:30 - If you saw Star Trek or The Dark Knight on IMAX Digital, did you get your money's worth?
01:21:35 - Poll: Best LCD backlighting choice?
01:27:45 - CBS.com ups the HD streaming ante, offers 1080p HD gallery of full episodes and clips
01:30:05 - HDMI 1.4 brings internet sharing, dreadful tiers of quality
01:34:50 - RealNetworks steps up its RealDVD legal case, just wants your approval

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Engadget HD Podcast 137 - 05.20.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 20 May 2009 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/05/2009 - AT&T adds 6 MTV Networks HD channels to U-verse

Filed under: Internet, New content

This was too much to wait another day for our roundup, U-Verse officially announced picking up 6 new feeds today from MTV, with MTV HD, VH1 HD, CMT HD, Nickelodeon HD, COMEDY CENTRAL HD and Spike HD going live nationally (what happened to BET HD?) as part of a lineup with more than 100 HD channels in every market. That enough to make you part of even more new customers in this quarter? Press release is after the break.

Continue reading AT&T adds 6 MTV Networks HD channels to U-verse

AT&T adds 6 MTV Networks HD channels to U-verse originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 15 May 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/05/2009 - VIZIO HDTV Sales Boosted By Economic Downturn

US TV-maker VIZIO remains the largest shipper of LCD HDTVs in North America - with an increased market share as consumers turn to value products.
Shipments have increased 21.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, which is a 69 per cent increase year over year (YOY), according to iSuppli.

14/05/2009 - Epix Network Offers HD Movie Streaming Service

Epix plans to offer full-length HD movies over the Internet using a dynamic-streaming feature from Akamai Technologies' content-distribution network.
The movie service, created by Viacom, MGM and Lionsgate, previously said it was launching as a broadband-video service in May, followed by the linear cable channel in October.

14/05/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 136 - 05.14.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

We're sticking with our format of taking live comments from the Ustream chat at the end of each topic. Big news on the HTPC front this week, as a way to get CableCARDs working with non-OEM supplied systems was unveiled and we even went through the process of getting the job done. If DIY HTPC tech isn't geeky enough for you, you'll probably like our HD 101 explanation of some of the alphabet soup in HDTV. We also talk about some gear that's passed through our hands lately, including the SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone, Samsung's wall-mounted BD-P4600 Blu-ray player, and Logitech's Harmony Adapter for the PlayStation 3. Toss in some discussion about BD-Live's failure to capture our imagination, debate about whether to take in the new Star Trek movie in an IMAX or DLP theater, DISH Turbo HD customers missing out on the latest HD offerings, and chewing over what to do about line conditioners for your theater rig, and we call it a podcast!

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:38 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 135 - 05.06.2009
00:06:40 - How to install a CableCARD tuner in your DIY Media Center
00:24:00 - HD 101: What is ATSC, PSIP, QAM, and 8-VSB?
00:36:56 - SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone coming shortly: $29.99, no 3G support
00:42:28 - Hands-on with the Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-ray player
00:52:05 - Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 -- official, real, and in our hands
00:57:30 - Sony Pictures responds to your poll results, discusses the future of BD-Live
01:04:43 - Best Buy still leads in Blu-ray sales, but Wal-mart is closing in
01:07:22 - Poll: Is Star Trek better at an IMAX or a DLP theater?
01:12:55 - All DISH customers with 5 new national HD channels step forward -- not so fast Turbo HD subs
01:16:45 - Ask Engadget HD: Best power and line conditioners for a big home theater?

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Engadget HD Podcast 136 - 05.14.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 14 May 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14/05/2009 - HDMI 1.4 brings internet sharing, dreadful tiers of quality

Filed under: Industry, Cables, Ports

Okay, so there's good news and bad news. Given that we just love to tease, we'll start you off with the positives. HDMI 1.4 was just revealed, bringing with it an HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) that enables data transfers of up to 100 Mbps between supported connected devices. Put simply, this could allow a "broadband-connected television using its HEC-enabled HDMI port to provide internet connection sharing with another HEC-enabled device such as a game console or DVR." Furthermore, the spec's Audio Return Channel (ARC) enables broadcast audio to be easily streamed back to an external amplifier, and the Automatic Content Enhancement (ACE) provides support for "future 3D video standards, increased resolution support (up to 4,096 x 2,160 pixels at up to 30Hz), and content recognition that promises to automatically optimize the TV's picture settings based on content type."

The bad news? HEC will only work with new HDMI 1.4 spec cables, and those will be graded into two separate levels of performance: low- and high-data rate. We needn't describe to you what kind of ball Monster Cable is going to have with that one, but even outside of that, we're baffled by the decision to add one more complexity to a cable that should seriously be doing everything in its power to not be overshadowed by DisplayPort. At any rate, we're told that Silicon Image is hoping to ship chip samples to manufacturers in Q2 2009, while HDMI 1.4-enabled products could arrive as early as next year. We aren't holding our breath, but we'll gladly eat crow if need be.

HDMI 1.4 brings internet sharing, dreadful tiers of quality originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 14 May 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/05/2009 - Plasma market getting smaller and higher-end, but it's still alive

Filed under: Displays, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Plasma

Pioneer's decision to axe the Kuro earlier this year set off a wave of gloomy predictions about the future of plasma, but we've never really bought into it -- and it sounds like the product planners at LG, Samsung, and Panasonic haven't either. HD Guru asked reps from each company for their thoughts on the state of the plasma market, and the responses were pretty similar across the board: plasma remains the connoisseur's choice overall, and it still makes up just about half of 50-inch and bigger sales. Of course, that means that plasma's niche is shrinking and moving higher-end while LCDs more or less take over the rest of HDTV market, but until something like OLED develops into a true competitor we think plasma's around for a while. Check out the full company responses at the read link.

Plasma market getting smaller and higher-end, but it's still alive originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 May 2009 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/05/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: What's the best demo material to show off my new home theater?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features

It's a proven fact: one of the main things pushing Blu-ray to the forefront is our need to show off the latest and greatest in home theater tech. Our boy Thomas has a related question that we've surely all faced, once everything is picked out, plugged in and calibrated, what do you watch? As he puts it:

"I've finally finished piecing together the best home theater (my) money can buy. Plasma display, Denon receiver, brand new 5.1 speaker setup and even some new furniture. My friends want to come by and see the new setup, but even with my satellite DVR, a large DVD library and a few Blu-ray discs I don't know what to show 'em to put my system to the test properly."

We've got you Thomas, one of the greatest pleasures of getting new equipment is blowing the minds of friends / neighbors / random people off the street. We're sure you have a disc, favorite channel or one DVR program stored away just for that purpose - let us in on the secret.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the best demo material to show off my new home theater? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/05/2009 - Sony Launches Coin-Sized HD Camera

Sony has developed a coin-sized high-def camera module that can be used for security and industrial applications.
The 8.3-megapixel camera, which measures just 9.5 x 7.1mm, is capable of delivering 720p, 30fps video.

07/05/2009 - HD Uptake Drives ZON's Q1 Figures

Portugal’s leading cable provider ZON has doubled the take-up of its HD DVR.
Called the ZON Box, it was installed in 93,000 homes in the first quarter of 2009, pushing total installations up to 184,000 – 12 per cent of the total customer base.

06/05/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 135 - 05.06.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Armed with some more interesting topics we once again try and broadcast the Engadget HD Podcast live via Ustream. Luckily this week we took a little different approach and did our best to ignore the chat until after we said what we had to say. Ultimately we think it turned out pretty good and are leaning towards making it a permanent part of the show -- but we'll wait on that decision until after we've read your comments. The highlight of the show this week was the DIY CableCARD PC news, which is really getting interesting. But we also talk about how silly the latest Vudu news is as well as how useless BD+ has turned out to be. Finally we talk a little TiVo, Hulu and DirecTV, so there really is a little of everything.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:38 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 134 - 04.29.2009
00:06:25 - DIY'ers successfully build their own CableCARD equipped HTPC
00:22:13 - DivX fills in the gaps and adds MKV support to Windows 7
00:31:10 - Vudu begins switch to an embedded service on Entone IPTV boxes
00:36:45 - Videociety VOD service uses Blu-ray players with BD-Live
00:41:05 - Paramount licenses BD+ DRM from Macrovision
00:45:35 - Survey screens reveal potential new FiOS guide, 1080p VOD, HD purchases on the way?
00:52:00 - Is TiVo planning a Flash upgrade?
00:56:22 - DirecTV HD TiVo actually not due until 2010
01:00:15 - DTV preparedness now more than 95-percent
01:01:55 - Disney grabs a piece of Hulu

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Engadget HD Podcast 135 - 05.06.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 06 May 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/05/2009 - Virgin Tests 200Mb Broadband, Plans To Boost HD Channels

Virgin Media has just begun a broadband customer pilot to test real-world deployment of 200 Mbps speeds - making it the fastest implementation of Docsis 3.0 technology in the world. Services offered in Japan and the US currently reach 160 Mbps and 101 Mbps respectively.
In a separate announcement, the UK digital cable TV operator said it plans to add up to five new HD channels this year to keep pace with growing demand for high-def programming.

05/05/2009 - Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware

We've been waiting for an inexpensive wireless USB-to-HDMI solution for what seems like forever now, and it sounds like we'll finally have some options soon: Source R&D has just announced that it's going to be shipping the Warpia Wireless USB Adapter set at the end of May for an estimated $129-$149. Just like the Atlona AT-HDAiR, the Warpia kit is just a rebranded OEM unit from Wisair, so most of the same caveats apply: max resolution is 1400 x 1050, range is about 30 feet, and HDMI and VGA are the only output options. Still, we can't really think of a better way to do some quick'n'dirty Hulu watching, so we'll be on the hunt for one of these soon -- keep an eye out.

P.S.- Yes, we hope image quality is better than this totally bunk press pic on the Warpia site.

Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/05/2009 - Met Player offering free HD opera streaming for the weekend

Filed under: Misc, Internet

Know an opera fan that hasn't been willing to drop the cash on a subscription or per episode fee for the Met Player streaming experience? All this weekend until midnight Sunday they're offering free and unlimited access to 200 full length operas, including 20 from the first three seasons of the Live in HD series. English subtitles are available for all of them, plus recently added French, German and Spanish subtitles. From "available only in select markets" to free streaming in HD to your computer in just a couple of years, wonder what they'll think of next?

Met Player offering free HD opera streaming for the weekend originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 02 May 2009 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/04/2009 - BSkyB's Revenues Rise As HD Subscribers Double

It's taken a while but HDTV seems to have firmly established itself in the UK - underlined by the latest surge in subscriber numbers for BSkyB.
The satellite broadcaster has seen its HD base leap to more than one million subscribers - up 32 per cent on the previous quarter and more than double the 465,000 who signed up last year.

30/04/2009 - 802.11n Wi-Fi Will Dominate Wireless HD Video

802.11n Wi-fi technology will see off competitors in the wireless HD video market, at least for the next several years, according to In-Stat .
Three other technologies are competing in this space - Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI), WirelessHD, and Ultrawideband (UWB).

29/04/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 134 - 04.29.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

This week was a little slow for news, so we decided to try out a live chat room in USTREAM alongside our podcast, just to keep the degree of difficulty up. Between weaving in and out of conversations, we had a lot of talk about DVRs -- DirecTV is working on adding features, Moxi is lowering the barrier to entry, and TiVo is letting the competition catch up. The old red vs. blu topic came up for the first time in a long time, but Warner's Red2Blu trade-in program is more "assimilation/reconstruction" than "war." The next fight that comes to an end could very well be plasma vs. LCD, but from the reviews of Panasonic's 2009 plasma TVs that are coming in, it looks like plasma will go down swinging. Finally, the NFL managed to sneak onto the podcast with HD draft coverage. Thanks to all who joined us in the chat room; we'll spill the beans on getting you involved with the podcast as soon as we have a plan!

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:50 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 133 - 04.22.2009
07:20 - RealDVD ripping software heads to court, fair use advocates on pins and needles
11:24 - Cutting Edge update brings multiroom, dual live buffers to DirecTV HR2x / R22 HD DVRs
15:45 - Digeo offers Moxi DVRs for easy monthly payments
19:05 - Ten years of TiVo: how far we haven't come
23:56 - Amazon Video on Demand supports 5.1 surround on TiVo (plus hands-on)
25:10 - Warner reintegrates HD DVD faithful with Red2Blu trade-in program
27:07 - CNET reviews Panasonic's 720p TC-P50X1 plasma
32:52 - ESPN prepping its first HD NFL draft coverage

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Engadget HD Podcast 134 - 04.29.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/04/2009 - 2011 Peak For SD DTT STB semiconductors

High-definition Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) set top boxes (STBs) offer semiconductor makers a short term spike in opportunity.
However, standard definition (SD) DTT STBs will be a more sustainable market for manufacturers, according to In-Stat.

28/04/2009 - VholdR Offers First Wearable HD camcorder

VholdR has unveiled what it describes as the first wearable HD camcorder.
Weighing just four ounces, the 5 Megapixel ContourHD can record 1280×720 video at 30fps or SD video at 60fps with H.264 codec.

28/04/2009 - Sprintcam V3 HD Demos Slow-Motion Capabilities

I-Movix's new SprintCam V3 HD produces slow-motion output equivalent to 20 to 40 times slower than normal speed.
That sounds great - and a showreel (after the break) by David Coiffer proves just how great it looks as well.

28/04/2009 - HD Videoconferencing - A "Compelling" Option For Business

High definition video has "raised the game" for videoconferencing and telepresence systems.
That's the opinion of Rick Snyder, president of Tandberg Americas, who says HD videoconferencing offers a "really compelling visual experience".

26/04/2009 - HD channel expansion roundup

Filed under: Cable, Satellite, New content

Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say!

Read - MTVN Launches Six HD Channels With SES
Read - TiVo takes on Nielsen
Read - Comcast Adds 27 HD Networks in Houston
Read - World Fishing Network: Fully Hooked On HD
Read - Smithsonian Networks(TM) and Time Warner Cable Sign Programming Distribution Deal
Read - Telemundo Leads HDTV Charge
Read - BET HD Now Available on Cox
Read - U-verse TV Starts 2009 With Record Quarter
Read - Comcast adds 27 new HD channels in Portland
Cablevision to add Live Well HD (Thanks LI PC Tech)
Read - Cablevision: High Definition Encore and Starz On Demand added
Read - Ringgold Telephone Company (RTC) is proud to announce the availability of eight additional high-definition television channels
Read - TMJ4 is Now HD (Thanks Paul)
Read - FOX 17: Broadcasting in High Definition (Thanks Alex)

HD channel expansion roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/04/2009 - JVC XV-PB1 Blu-ray player surprises with1080p MKV support

Filed under: Blu-ray, Media streamers, Players, JVC

The first Blu-ray player to come to the U.S. from JVC, the XV-PB1, hasn't received a lot of hype since its CES reveal, but that might change now that it appears to be one of the first supporting MKV playback, followin the Oppo BDP-83 and LG BD390. EHD reader Bill picked one up on the humble and lets us know he's had no problems playing 1080p video with DTS audio from a burned DVD. The manual on JVC's website indicates official MKV and AVCHD support, but surprisingly, not DivX although the spec sheet on the same website says it does. We're reached out to JVC to confirm what buyers can expect from the XV-PB1, but with MKV on top of BD-Live, network streaming from PCs and reportedly extremely fast load times this $299 player might reshuffle the list of most desired Blu-ray hardware.

JVC XV-PB1 Blu-ray player surprises with1080p MKV support originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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23/04/2009 - LG and DivX Announce First HDTVs With DivX HD 1080p Playback

LG Electronics' new range of HDTVs will be capable of playing full DivX HD 1080p videos.
The company says the upcoming models will be the first device series capable of doing this - enabling consumers to play DivX HD videos from a PC or the Internet through a USB slot.

23/04/2009 - Warner Offers Blu-Ray For HD DVD Trade-in

More than a year after the high-def format war ended Warner Bros has launched a new HD DVD trade-in program in the US that allows its HD DVD titles to be exchanged for the same film on Blu-ray for a small fee.
Called Red2Blu, it allows consumers to get the Blu-ray titles for USD $4.9 (USD $9.95 for boxsets), without needing to trade in the actual HD DVD discs, just the cover art (with UPC code) from the red HD DVD cases.

22/04/2009 - Apple Consolidated AV Cable Signals iPhone HD?

Apple is reported to be preparing to replace its Composite AV Cable and Component AV Cable with a single cable called the Apple AV Cable, according to PhoneNews.
Aside from getting rid of the need for two separate cables - both of which had unpopular encryption chips - the move is being linked to an iPhone HD.

22/04/2009 - Sony Raises Blu-Ray Stakes With Feature-packed Entry-level Player

Sony has unveiled its latest Blu-ray player - the BDP-S360 - which comes with full 7.1 surround sound via a compatible AV receiver.
This is achieved thanks to newly incorporated DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD decoding capabilities - the first time these have been made available on an entry level Blu-ray player from Sony.

22/04/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 133 - 04.22.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Lots of news hit the wire just before we started recording so we once again invited Nilay from the Engadget Podcast to join us and help out. He had an early peak at the Amazon HD streaming and provided some good insight, from an HD snob's point of view. Lucky for us he stuck around for the entire show when we also covered other VOD alternatives, the new Moxi HD DVR and a TiVo survey. Next we kinda struggled through some apparently unexciting Blu-ray news, but pushed on to discuss our most recent HD 101 post. We finnaly bring it all home with some bandwidth cap talk and a listener voice mail.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:55 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 132 - 04.15.2009
00:15:53 - Amazon Video on Demand HD on Roku Video Player hands-on
00:29:53 - DirecTV claims largest 1080p library, including all new HD VOD on the way
00:34:45 - Moxi HD DVR initial impressions
00:51:07 - TiVo survey hints at new name, direction for Series4 boxes
00:57:15 - Analyst: '09 YTD Blu-ray sales double those of '08, 10.5 million Blu-ray households in the U.S.
01:01:40 - Battlestar Galactica Complete Series Blu-ray set ready for preorder on Amazon
01:02:28 - Lord of the Rings trilogy Blu-ray set shows up on Amazon, but where's the extras?
01:05:05 - HD 101: How to use Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD with your PS3
01:16:03 - BBC breaks down the new DRM rules for Blu-ray recorders
01:25:35 - Time Warner Cable scraps broadband capping plan in Rochester, NY

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Engadget HD Podcast 133 - 04.22.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/04/2009 - Onkyo debuts Universal Port-loving iPod dock, HD radio tuner

Filed under: Other hardware, Receivers, Others

Onkyo only kept early adopters of its recently introduced TX-SR507 and TX-SR607 receivers waiting for a month to put the Universal Port (U-Port) 'round back to good use. The company has introduced an iPod/iPhone dock (is there anything that doesn't have one?) and a HD Radio module as U-Port accessories. The $109 UP-A1 iPod dock will allow remote control of the connected device and will output component video to the connected receiver when it ships in May. The UP-HT1 HD Radio tuner will show up in July and for $159 will unlock HD radio reception to your Onkyo U-Port receiver. Neither peripheral is exactly earth-shaking, but it's a safe bet that one of them will enjoy a lot more uptake than the other.

Onkyo debuts Universal Port-loving iPod dock, HD radio tuner originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/04/2009 - Belkin Flywire Delayed, Price Rises

The launch of Belkin's FlyWire has once again been delayed - this time until August.
First announced at CES 2008, the initially promising-sounding wireless device streams 1080p HD content from multiple HDMI inputs to HDTV televisions using the 5GHz band.

17/04/2009 - Enciris Launches Low-cost HD Compression Solution

Enciris Technologies has unveiled HD video compression technology aimed at solving problems with reducing bandwidth and storage requirements.
The LT-100 is a Windows Media Video/ VC-1 HD video acquisition and compression board.

17/04/2009 - Torrent Offers Magnetic Solution To HDMI Connector Problems

Torrent has released a magnetic connector that aims to overcome the frustrating problem of loose HDMI cable connections.
The start-up says that with the help of a sliding sleeve its MagLoc connector gives a five-fold improvement in the HDMI connection strength.

15/04/2009 - LG Launches First Eyestrain-Minimising HD Monitors

LG Electronics' HD widescreen LCD monitors - the W53 series - will be available in the UK from next month, the company announced today.
The monitors are the first with automatic brightness control technology specially designed to reduce eyestrain during extended use, according to LG.

15/04/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 132 - 04.15.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

A little bit of a slow news week didn't keep us from finding plenty to talk about in this week's show. There were plenty of comments, both of the written and voicemail variety to cover, so we spend a good portion of the podcast covering what's in the listeners' hearts and minds; hopefully Time Warner cable will do the same and rethink its capping plans. We both got some good gear in for review this week, so we spend some time talking about our impressions of the Cisco SDV tuning adapter and the Moxi (cable-only) DVR. Media is moving online, and nobody knows this better than Netflix, which is looking to hire some talent for gaming platform development. As much as we stress Blu-ray quality, that doesn't mean DVD doesn't still have a place -- take Apple's computers, for example. We wrap things up with a not-so-surprising "Chicken Little" reaction from the CEA on California's proposed TV energy standards.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:30 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 131 - 04.08.2009
21:25 - Time Warner Cable lays out broadband capping plans, says $150 for "unlimited" use
26:22 - Paradigm SUB 25 subwoofer hands-on
32:10 - Cisco STA1520 SDV tuning adapter impressions
34:59 - Unboxing the Moxi HD DVR
40:33 - Is your cable company of the present your IPTV provider of the future?
43:55 - Netflix on the lookout for gaming platforms engineering guru
45:25 - Poll: Is the lack of Blu-ray playback keeping you from buying a Mac?
47:55 - CEA rails on California's proposed TV energy standards, rings doomsday bell

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Engadget HD Podcast 132 - 04.15.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/04/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: What's the best upscaling receiver?

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Features, Receivers

Alright, we've delved into receivers a couple of times recently, based on price and best for a 2.1 setup, but Justin has a slightly different situation that you might be able to help with:

"What's the cheapest A/V receiver with 3+ HDMI inputs that does upconversion/upscaling to 1080? I'm looking at the H/K AVR-254, Yamaha RX-V565 and the Onkyo TX-SR606 so far. The Yamaha is a newer model and I was also wondering if there is anything on the horizon that might mean a cheaper/better value for the above mentioned features."

Luckily, Justin came to the right place. We're sure you have just the box in mind that fits these specs - go.

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.

Ask Engadget HD: What's the best upscaling receiver? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/04/2009 - Panasonic's TC-P50G10 plasma nets a rave review from the HD Guru

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

Fans of the Pioneer Kuro plasma TVs that are riding into the sunset needn't worry -- based on the review from none other than the HD Guru, the THX-approved Panasonic TC-P50G10 is a more than worthy successor. Whatever tests the set had to pass to earn that THX badge, it was well deserved, too, with color that was spot-on and performance that ousted even the Pioneer Pro 141FD in brightness uniformity, ultimate brightness and motion resolution. Even fans of apline skiing should find the maximum brightness of 92 ft-lamberts more than adequate to make reaching for the ski goggles worthwhile. While there isn't a 72Hz mode, Panasonic seems to have addressed that deficiency with a solid performance of the new 3:2 pulldown mode. We recommend checking your credit card to see if it can survive a $1,800 bump before hitting the link for the glowing review.

Panasonic's TC-P50G10 plasma nets a rave review from the HD Guru originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/04/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 131 - 04.08.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

We start off talking about why a singular definition of what qualifies as "HD" is hard -- if not impossible -- to come up with in our ever-branching media landscape. One thing that definitely isn't HD, though, is E1 Entertainment's Blu-ray production of Gulliver's Travels, which cropped, zoomed and color-shifted the title in ways that just leave us scratching our heads; quite the opposite of Disney's Snow White Blu-ray release, which will get the full platinum treatment and a release a full seven weeks in front of the DVD. Next, we talk about rentals with Blockbuster's continuing tale of woe, which contrasts with Redbox's continued success despite Hollywood's blessing. Technology without content support hit us on two fronts -- iTunes 8.1.1 made HD rentals possible, but we're still waiting on content, and then ESPN touted its 1080p production facilities that can pump out content that won't fit into any broadcast or media. Finally, we wrap up with talk about TiVo's new ads that pop up while you're skipping ads and SlingPlayer for iPhone forcing users to buy new Sling hardware. There may be good reasons for these moves, but try telling it to users who feel like they are taking a step backwards.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 130 - 04.02.2009
11:04 - Do we need a better definition of HD?
14:16 - Gulliver's Travels Blu-ray shows the wrong way to bring animation to HD
15:42 - Snow White's Blu-ray debut is October 6
19:56 - Blockbuster voices "substantial doubt" about ability to survive
25:45 - At $1 a day Redbox is perfect for consumers, not so much for Hollywood
29:26 - iTunes 8.1.1 update adds support for HD rentals, but where are they?
33:30 - ESPN's SportsCenter goes West Coast & 1080p production tonight
39:56 - TiVo update brings pause menu ads to Series3 & TiVo HD owners
44:04 - Tuning Adapters coming to Windows 7 Media Center?
48:47 - Older Slingboxes won't work with SlingPlayer for iPhone

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Engadget HD Podcast 131 - 04.08.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/04/2009 - Sewell's WiFi-based HD Media Extender should be more affordable

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

You know what's most annoying about wireless HD solutions? Two things, really. First off, 95 percent of 'em only come out to play at trade shows. Secondly, the other 5 percent require you to refinance your now-worthless home to even procure 'em. Sewell, a company known for delivering unexpected treasures when it comes to adapters, has just pumped out its very own wireless HDMI media extender. The good news is that it's shipping right now and it relies on 802.11a/n technology rather than WHDI, UWB or any other less ubiquitous option. The bad news is that 15 to 30 feet of cord-free AV goodness will set you back $1,199.95. You can weigh the pros and cons yourself, but we'll be begrudgingly sticking with ~~coat hangers~~ cheap-o interconnects 'til it becomes just a touch more of a bargain.

Sewell's WiFi-based HD Media Extender should be more affordable originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/04/2009 - Samsung Announces Next Generation LED HDTVs

Samsung revealed prices and market availability for its new species of flat-panel TVs, LED HDTV Series 8000, 7000 and 6000.
The new portfolio of LED HDTVs use edge-mounted LEDs as their primary light source rather than traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL).

06/04/2009 - C-SPAN upgrades systems, preps for switch to HD someday

Filed under: Industry, New content

C-SPAN isn't ready to follow MSNBC, CNBC and the rest into the breach immediately, but that doesn't mean it can't start planning for the future. A switch to digital in June means equipment upgrades, and new hardware from Motorola is spec'd to deliver not only that, but also future upgrades to MPEG-4 compression and HD on all three channels later on. The next time we watch a big leaguer or CEO weaseling through a session on Capitol Hill we expect to catch every drop of sweat in great detail.

C-SPAN upgrades systems, preps for switch to HD someday originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/04/2009 - LED-infused HDMI cables add some light to your home theater

Filed under: Cables

We know what you're thinking: you've decked out your gaming rig with a translucent case and a string of LEDs inside, and gave similar treatment to the wall just behind your display ... so why not add that special glow to your connection, too? Enter these HDMI 1.3 cables from Donya, available in only the finest of patriotic colors -- red, white, and blue. It'll set you back 999 yen (about US $10) plus an unknown amount for shipping, but if you're impatient, we're sure there's a little DIY weekend project to take from this.

[Via Akihabara News]

LED-infused HDMI cables add some light to your home theater originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/04/2009 - Do we need a better definition of HD?

Filed under: Industry

There's no doubt that there is plenty of so-called HD content out there that isn't worthy of the name -- not to mention a broadcast radio technology that has nothing to do with definition at all -- but it seems that trying to comprise a specific definition of HD is simply an exercise in futility. This is because there are a few examples of HD that by any definition would be considered HD, but still look terrible. Just take some of the original movies released on Blu-ray for example or some of the less expensive 1080p HDTVs. Sure all the pixels are there, as well as the color space and frame rate, but that doesn't mean the encoder didn't go crazy and screw it up, or that the display can accurately display the colors or have a half way decent contrast ratio. So while it seems like a great idea to quantify HD, in practice, just let your eyes be the judge.

Do we need a better definition of HD? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/04/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 130 - 04.02.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Another day of waiting never killed everyone and a good thing too as we had a few technical difficulties that prevented us from delivering the show on time. Never the less, the big news this week was from Netflix and the fact that evidently Blu-ray has finally grown popular enough that the cost of renting them is impacting the bottom line and thus it gets passed on to the consumer -- surprised, we're not. Of course this spun off a much larger debate of the event's impact on the internet TV ecosystem and where are we headed? Eventually we move on from talking up downloads and talk a little Blu-ray. Like the new Samsung player, another interesting poll and Microsoft's tight ties with HD DVD. Speaking of Microsoft, we talk a little codec mess, but eventually move on to some miscellaneous stories like TBS-HD stretching, DirecTV's iPhone app and a HDTV's energy consumption.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:38 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 129 - 03.25.2009
00:19:32 - Netflix raising rates for Blu-ray subscribers by around 20 percent
00:26:11 - Is internet TV the key to à la carte?
00:39:14 - ZillionTV adds The Weinstein Company films to its streaming library
00:42:04 - Blockbuster OnDemand coming to TiVo
00:46:35 - Is Netflix PS3-bound, too?
00:50:32 - Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray player lineup officially priced
00:52:10 - Samsung BD-P1600 hands-on
00:53:33 - Poll: Have you talked anyone into going Blu?
00:54:43 - Microsoft to Toshiba: with HD DVD, we go down together
00:56:50 - Will Windows 7's integrated codec support cut off third party solutions?
01:03:35 - TBS-HD gives the stretching a little break
01:04:28 - DirecTV iPhone app now available
01:08:30 - California TV energy efficiency proposal details revealed

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Engadget HD Podcast 130 - 04.02.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/04/2009 - ArcSoft Plug-in Upscales Standard DVDs to HD-Like Quality on the PC

ArcSoft today announced a plug-in for its universal high-definition multimedia player which it says brings most standard-definition video to near HD quality.
Called SimHD, ArcSoft's in-house upscaling technology uses NVIDIA CUDA parallel computing architecture to upscale standard DVD movies to up to 1,920 x 1,080.

01/04/2009 - AnySource Media: Simple UI is Key To Internet-enabled HDTV

INTERVIEW: Mike Harris, CEO of AnySource Media, talks to hdtv.biz-news about his company's Internet-enabled TV platform that will start appearing in HDTV sets in the second half of 2009. The Internet Video Navigator (IVN) allows users to view Internet video on their HDTVs alongside traditional TV networks - without requiring a separate box or complicated wiring.

31/03/2009 - Is Netflix Price Rise A Set-Back For Blu-ray?

The price for Netflix's Blu-ray subscribers is going up again on April 27th.
The increase translates into an extra USD $4 a month for BD users opting for standard three-at-a-time plans.
While Netflix is arguably justified in charging more to finance its rapidly expanded - and more costly to buy - Blu-ray stock of over 1,300 titles, it doesn't help the high-def format's image.

31/03/2009 - HD-Capable Device Shipments To Triple by 2012

As HD becomes the global video standard shipments of high-definition set-top boxes (STBs), camcorders, DVD players and video-game consoles are expected to triple from 2008 to 2012, according to iSuppli.
Shipments of HD-capable equipment in these categories will rise to 202 million units by 2012, up from 68.9 million in 2008.

31/03/2009 - Blu-ray releases on March 31st 2009

Filed under: Blu-ray

There's little doubt that the best title this week is Slumdog Miliionair, afterall it did winner Best Picture. But this is also a week of classics -- and we aren't using that word loosely here either -- as Fox has South Pacific (1958) and Warner has Gigi (1958) and An American in Paris (1951). Also of note is the 10th anniversary edition of The Matrix, which more importantly is the first time the title has been offered outside of the pricey box set. The other title really worth looking out for is Seven Pounds from Sony, but we'll warn you, this isn't the normal Will Smith action movie.

Slumdog Millionaire (Fox)
Marley & Me (Fox)
South Pacific (Fox)
The Matrix (Warner)
An American in Paris (Warner)
Gigi (Warner)
National Geographic: Journey to the Edge of the Universe (Warner)
National Geographic: Kingdom of the Blue Whale (Warner)
The Chronicles of Riddick (Universal)
Pitch Black (Universal)
Ghosts of Mars (Sony)
Seven Pounds (Sony)
The One (Sony)
LCD/Plasma Ultimate HD Experience: Africa (Well Go USA)
Serenity Travel: Vol. 1 (Mill Creek)
Tell No One (MPI)
Two Evil Eyes (Blue Underground)
UFC: The Best of 2008 (First Look)
The Way of War (First Look)

Blu-ray releases on March 31st 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/03/2009 - Gefen announces 4x2 and 2x4 Switchers for HDMI v1.3

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Gefen's roll of new switchers continues today with two new ones: the 4x2 Switcher for HDMI v1.3 and the 2x4 Switcher for HDMI v1.3. The former, as the title insinuates, enables users to connect four HDMI v1.3-enabled devices to two HDTVs or projectors, while the latter is aimed at integrators wanting to display the same high-def video and audio on four HDTVs or projectors at the same time. Each one also comes bundled with HDMI cables and is fully CEC pass-through / HDCP compliant. As for pricing, you're looking at $549 for the 4x2 and $699 for the 2x4, and they'll both ship out next month.

Read - 4x2 Switcher for HDMI v1.3
Read - 2x4 Switcher for HDMI v1.3.

Gefen announces 4x2 and 2x4 Switchers for HDMI v1.3 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/03/2009 - Microsoft to Toshiba: with HD DVD, we go down together

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, HD DVD, Others

We've been looking for some new paper to turn here at the Engadget HD offices, and it looks like Marshall Phelps' "Burning the Ships" may be our next purchase. Penned by a top Microsoft lawyer and co-authored by David Kline, the book lays out details on how Microsoft had decided to sink right along with Toshiba even as HD DVD took its last dying breath. Apparently Microsoft pledged its unconditional support for the format in hopes of winning a rare cross-license deal with a large Japanese electronics firm. CNET reports that at the time, winning such a deal with Tosh was "key for it in its efforts to convince large companies, even those with broader patent portfolios, to cross-license Microsoft's technology." The writeup tucked away in the read link is pretty interesting for those intrigued by deep, dark secrets of the past, so head on down if that's you.

Microsoft to Toshiba: with HD DVD, we go down together originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/03/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 129 - 03.25.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

There's plenty to talk about this week, and we kick things off with a lot of internet-related discussion -- Apple turned loose HD video purchases, Amazon has some HD TV show sales, and Netflix opened up its Facebook Connect program. After we ramp this all up to the long-term future of TV, we come back to reality with Windows Home Server's inclusion of Media Center features -- while not to the level of a true headless Media Center PC, this move might foreshadow (maybe not too-distant) future development of just such a kit. Microsoft certainly seems to keep up with support of the platform, and just this week sent out a patch for guide data that went missing after the DTV switchover. We roll right past the large number of Engadget HD readers who are still buying DVDs and into the review of the OPPO BDP-83; it looks like good unit, and certainly seems to have to disc support options covered. Rounding out the show, we talk about an all all-digital HDMI signal path doesn't necessarily guarantee a perfect path, and then wrap up with what gears we see turning behind the recent DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket news.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:03:20 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 128 - 03.18.2009
00:07:12 - Apple adds HD video purchases to the iTunes Store
00:15:38 - More proof that Amazon is about to sell high-def TV shows
00:28:47 - Netflix goes social, integrates with Facebook Connect
00:32:48 - Windows Home Server PP2 adds Media Center integration
00:48:30 - Microsoft restores guide data for ATSC channels in Media Center
00:52:20 - Poll: Are you still buying DVDs?
00:55:35 - OPPO BDP-83 universal Blu-ray player first impressions
00:59:59 - Just how important is HDMI 1.3?
01:06:18 - Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 gets official
01:11:17 - The NFL and DirecTV extend exclusive Sunday Ticket through 2014

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Engadget HD Podcast 129 - 03.25.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/03/2009 - GE Delays Launch of HDTVs

General Electric is to delay its re-entry into the television market after a 20-year gap as a result of "marketing issues".
The company announced in September that it was to offer GE-branded HDTVs in partnership with a Taiwanese company.

25/03/2009 - Europe's HDTVs "Starved of HD Content"

FutureSource Consulting has produced an interesting chart that highlights the gulf between HDTV ownership and the penetration of Blu-ray disc players in Europe.
It shows that there are 69 million HD-ready TV sets but just 8 million Blu-ray players,including PS3 consoles - prompting the title: "61 million TVs starved of HD content".

25/03/2009 - Canon Offers First Entry-Level DSLR With HD Video

Canon today launched its Rebel T1i DSLR - its first-ever entry-level DSLR with 1080p HD video recording.
The 15.1-megapixel camera uses the DIGIC 4 imaging processor to record either full 1080p video at 20 frames per second or 30 frames per second at 720p.

25/03/2009 - GE quietly delays premium HDTV line

Filed under: Displays, Others

General Electric came clean with its intentions to delve into the wide world of HDTVs last September... and then the economy, as well as GE itself, fell apart. Earlier this year, we were actually clued in on some of the details surrounding the Tatung-built sets, but now we're hearing that the company is pushing everything back by around three months. GE maintains that the setback is due to "marketing rather than operational or manufacturing issues," though we all know right about now isn't the greatest time to introduce new high-end televisions. We also get the idea that GE may use the time to better implement connected HDTV features given just how prevalent those were at CES, but again, we're really just shooting in the dark here. Oh, we forgot to even ask -- does anyone care that GE's getting back into the TV biz, let alone that its forthcoming sets are delayed?

GE quietly delays premium HDTV line originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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21/03/2009 - Movie Gallery fires up in-store PowerPlay subscription plan

Filed under: Misc, Blu-ray, Other formats

At this point, Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video are just children in the grown-up world of video rentals, but even we can't help but appreciate its latest, um, attempt. After finding that people don't actually enjoy waiting for DVDs to arrive by mail, it has concocted its very own in-store subscription service, dubbed PowerPlay. In theory, at least, it's a fantastic plan; users are able to pop in, check out a DVD or Blu-ray for an unlimited window of time (or video game for five days), and then return it at their leisure. The problem? The unlimited service is a staggering $39.99 per month, and so far as we can tell, you can only have one flick at a time checked out. Other plans are certainly available, but none of 'em come close to the awesomeness of Blockbuster / Netflix. Sorry, but it's true.

[Via VideoBusiness, image courtesy of CPDothan]

Movie Gallery fires up in-store PowerPlay subscription plan originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20/03/2009 - Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Be warned -- unless you seriously need eight HDMI sources hooked up to a single matrix switch in order to activate four at a time on an array of panels, you should probably skip right over this one. If we just rung your bell, however, read on. Gefen's latest HDMI distribution box is definitely catering to the high-end / commercial market by being entirely rack-mountable and supporting up to eight HDMI inputs and four outputs. High-def signals can be transmitted over CAT5 cabling, and there's even an RS-232 port for additional control capabilities. As for distances, you can expect 1080i material to travel up to 300 feet without degradation, while 1080p content will flow 150 feet. The only problem? The $4,499 price tag. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you

Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20/03/2009 - HD Movies Now For Sale on Apple's iTunes Store

HD movies are now available for purchase from Apple's iTunes for playing on Macs and PCs. Until now, high def movies had only been available to Apple TV owners.
HD Movies will be sold for USD $19.99, while HD rentals will be priced at USD $4.99. Both are in H.264 compressed 720p quality and will come with an HD file and an iPod/iPhone SD file.

20/03/2009 - 1080p Processing Added to Elgato H.264 Dongle

Elgato has launched a successor to its Turbo.264 USB video conversion dongle with the addition of 1080p compatibility.
Called the Elgato Turbo.264 HD, the upgraded - and much faster - device converts videos into the H.264 format from camcorders and digital cameras.

18/03/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 128 - 03.18.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

The spring is always a slow time for HD news, so with less to talk about, it gives us more time to go into detail. We start off the show with a twist on an old tip, which is to tune your TV for both picture quality as well as energy consumption. Next up, we talk a little EHX 2009, what was there, and what wasn't. The most interesting things at the show this year were Media Center related, so there is more than a little in there if you like that sort of thing. Finally we talk a little gestures, and the reasons why they don't make sense as well as why the new Boxee remote does. And last but not least we talk about the time we spent with the Popcorn Hour A-110.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:43 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 125 - 03.04.2009
06:29 - Dialing back display brightness is good for picture quality and your wallet
08:53 - On the scene at EHX Spring 2009
26:04 - CableCARD diagnostic tool gets previewed at Media Center University
27:52 - Ask Engadget HD: HTPC or HD media streamer?
33:25 - Poll: Have you seen a movie in 3D?
36:05 - Gesture controls the next big thing in TV, says guy selling gesture control tech
41:40 - Hands-on with the Boxee iPhone remote
49:30 - Popcorn Hour A-110 review

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Engadget HD Podcast 128 - 03.18.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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audio/mpeg ; 33.83 Mb

17/03/2009 - RedMere introduces industry's thinnest "smart" active HDMI cables

Filed under: Cables

They'll cost just shy of four gazillion dollars per meter, but the world's thinnest "smart" active HDMI cables are still pretty enticing; unfortunately for us, RedMere chose Monster to deliver said cables to retail, but we're crossing our fingers that it partners with other brands that are less soiled by frivolous lawsuits and priced even remotely close to "reasonable." At any rate, the new ultrathin cables feature RedMere's MagnifEye Active chip technology, and while we're not told precisely how slim these new strands will be, we're sure Monster will make quite the fuss whenever they begin to ship. Now, the only question remaining is this: will there be a locking version?

RedMere introduces industry's thinnest "smart" active HDMI cables originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/03/2009 - ION Television HD Debuts On HD-PRIME

SES AMERICOM has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with the US's largest station group, ION Media Networks, to launch its full suite of television networks in HD.
The move means that SES now has 60 HD channels on its HD-PRIME delivery platform.

11/03/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 127 - 03.10.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Not so many topics this week, but we still manage to wring an hour of HD-talk out with lots of internet TV. We go around on ZillionTV, and we're not really sure of what's in store or how exactly it will be implemented, but we don't see a good case for it anyways. Clearly, lots of people are "interested" in internet TV, and we didn't need an analyst to tell us that -- the question will be in how much it costs and what exactly is delivered to end users. Oh, and quality of service -- which is something that boxee won't be able to promise for Hulu delivery now that the two parties appear to be going tit-for-tat. Internet delivery and piracy follow each other closely, but at least pirate bootleggers may be stifled by audio watermarks that can tie a theater seat to a disc purchased from a street stall outfit. We wrap up with some physical media discussion; Disney is giving you more with its Pinocchio Blu-ray by filling in those pesky black side bars with graphics while Fox is taking extra features out of its rental DVDs.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:12 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 125 - 03.04.2009
07:41 - ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television
19:11 - Analyst: Nearly half of broadband households are interested in Internet TV
22:16 - Hulu blocks boxee browser entirely, gloves get ripped halfway off
30:55 - Poll: Do you watch internet-based TV?
34:20 - Amazon HD VOD still on the way for TiVo, at some point
37:33 - Audio watermarks let the MPAA know where a recording was taken, but not by whom
43:33 - Pinocchio's Blu-ray black bars filled in with Disney View
47:27 - Fox cuts out the extras on rental discs

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Engadget HD Podcast 127 - 03.10.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/03/2009 - 1080p Video Possible With Intel's New Atom Chipset

Poor video acceleration - stuttering and frame rate drops - has been something of a blight for netbooks when it comes to playing HD video.
Now Intel has confirmed that the GN40 chipset for Atom chips, when paired with the Atom N280 processor, is capable of playing 1080p video.

11/03/2009 - HD Version of iPlayer Expected Soon

The BBC is planning on offering a high-definition version of its iPlayer - possibly by April.
While the move has been mooted since the online catch-up TV service was launched in 2007, it seems likely the HD service will shortly become a reality.

05/03/2009 - Hi-Den Launches First HDMI 1080p Photo Viewer

It seems peculiar that with the drive towards making HDTVs all-singing, all-dancing Internet-connected marvels, little had been done to improve something as simple as enjoying your photos on the big screen.
Now Hong-Kong-based Hi-Den Vision has popped up with what it claims is the world's first HDMI 1080p digital photo viewer.

05/03/2009 - Can Rising HDTV Prices Be Sustained?

After a period of steadily dropping HDTV prices the cost of sets to consumers appears to be climbing again.
The average selling price for HDTVs in the US jumped by more than 10 per cent in February, according to data from the Retrevo CE Index.

05/03/2009 - Panasonic's ultrathin TC-P54Z1 VIERA plasma priced at $5,999.95

Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

Yeah, we know -- six large for a 54-inch HDTV seems a bit much in today's society, but the same sort of thing was said last September when Mitsubishi threw a $6,999 sticker on its mesmerizing LaserVue set. Panasonic's one-inch thick TC-P54Z1 plasma, which just might be the last of its breed barring production of the NeoPDP concept, will undoubtedly serve a shrinking niche, but for those willing to pay for the best of what's new, they'll be getting an awful lot of sexy for $5,999.95. Speaking of that MSRP, that's the good word from the HD Guru himself, though we've yet to see an official confirmation from Panny. Honestly though, that's about what we reckoned it would list at after seeing it unveiled at CES, so now would probably be a good time to start hunting for any 10 percent off coupons for your favorite B&M HDTV outlet.

[Via CNET]

Panasonic's ultrathin TC-P54Z1 VIERA plasma priced at $5,999.95 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/03/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 125 - 03.04.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

If you've already had enough lamenting over Pioneer exodus from the plasma industry, then you might want to skip this episode completely -- or check out or ACC version so you can easily skip the boring parts. But we'll warn you, you'll be missing some good stuff as ol' friend Ryan Block joins us to clear up once and for all what his predictions for the future of plasma are, and how they differ from ours. But Ryan doesn't just join us for one or two segments, but for the whole show and while it still isn't the old Engadget podcast of yesterday, we had a good time chatting up new Blu-ray hardware, the origins of our love for Media Center, Hollywood and piracy and lastly the apparent death of S-Video.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steve Kim

Guest: Ryan Block

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:10 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 124 - 02.25.2009
00:18:00 - Does the death of KURO signal the end of the plasma?
00:20:54 - LG denies withdrawing from plasma market... in the UK, anyway
00:32:09 - Poll: Were you / are you planning to buy a plasma?
00:38:54 - Samsung BD-P1600 Netflix streaming Blu-ray player pops up at retail
00:44:38 - Kaleidescape still on track to deliver a pricey Blu-ray player this year
00:48:26 - SageTV's HD Theater gets Blu-ray streaming
00:51:31 - PowerDVD 9 with native Media Center UI goes live
00:58:58 - Hollywood still doesn't understand why people pirate content
01:08:17 - S-Video disappearing from AV receivers, few seem to notice

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Engadget HD Podcast 125 - 03.04.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/03/2009 - Sony delivers latest DVD HTIB sets

Filed under: Other hardware, Players, Receivers, Speakers, Sony

Also checking in at Sony's Las Vegas showcase are these DVD upscaling-based HTIB systems. If those Blu-ray packing all-in-ones are a bit too much for you, the top of the line DAV-HDX589W and DAV-HDX589WC systems, featuring either S-AIR wireless speakers or S-AIR multiroom listening station, respectively, with 1000 watts maximum power to their 5.1 speakers for $430 later this month. The next models down drop features like auto calibration and audio enhancement on their way to a $300 price tag leaving a few lonely new portable DVD players, but really, like the rest of this line, it may be time to look upmarket.

Sony delivers latest DVD HTIB sets originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/03/2009 - Sony looks to help consumers out with new swivel HDMI cables

Filed under: Cables, Sony

Sony's launching its own version of the suddenly popular swivel head HDMI cable, with both vertical and horizontal links going on sales this month in lengths of about three or six feet. At $50 and $60, respectively, they solve the need for "costly" 90 degree adapters ($3 or so at Monoprice or other online retailers) and save space on flat panel wall mounts. Of course, if you were planning on wildly overpaying for HDMI cables already, they're really not that bad. It's all about perspective.

Sony looks to help consumers out with new swivel HDMI cables originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/03/2009 - JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion

Filed under: JVC, Camcorders

JVC's new "Everio X" GZ-X900 camcorder is just what we like in a flagship device: incredible style, crazy specs, and awesome slow motion video of us slapping people. The GZ-X900 reworks the Everio line into a new brick-like form factor that's bordering on the shape of camcorders of yore, but JVC puts a nice twist to it, and the camera is obviously very compact. JVC used some "premium materials" in the construction and it really shows, but what's more exciting is the high-end 1080p resolution, with 1000 "TV lines" to sample from (it's not upscaling from a completely bum source like many compact camcorders). The unit also works as a fast-action still camera, for 9 megapixel shots at 15 fps, and 5.3 megapixel shots at 60 fps. What we're really wild about is the 600 fps slow motion, which operates at a 640 x 72 resolution -- you can get more pixels at slower frame rates. Unfortunately, none of this good stuff comes cheap: the camera hits retail in June for an even $1000.

JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/03/2009 - BitGravity Offers 1080p HD Live Video Streaming

BitGravity announced today that it is launching a live digital video service that will allow users to stream Flash-based HD video over the Internet.
The BG Live HD service can stream live events in 1080p or 720p resolution and doesn't require a viewing client to be downloaded.

03/03/2009 - I-Movix Launches SprintCam V3 Broadcast-Integrated HD Ultra Slow-Motion Solution

I-Movix has launched the first broadcast-integrated, native HD, ultra-slow-motion solution offering frame rates of 500 to 1,000 fps with instant replay.
The new SprintCam V3 HD produces slow-motion output equivalent to 20 to 40 times slower than normal speed, which the Belgian company says makes it the most advanced HD system available with full broadcast integration.

27/02/2009 - Celeno Technology Enables Multiple HDTV Streams Around Home

Technology that delivers multiple HDTV streams from PCs to TVs and other electronic devices around the home could be launched by the summer.
Israeli-based Celeno Communications is field-testing in-home WiFi networks with backing from Cisco.

26/02/2009 - Mirial's Softphone Video Conferencing Software Upgraded to Full-HD

Mirial has released version 6.2 of its video conferencing software that steps the Softphone up from 720p to 1080p.
Cristoforo Mione, business development director at Mirial, said that with Full-HD resolution up to 1080p for both decoding and encoding, the upgraded version set the pace of the evolution in video and VoIP technology.

26/02/2009 - Panasonic To Release Freesat PVR HDD Blu-Ray Recorder

Panasonic has unveiled what it claims are the world's first Blu-ray recorders with two integrated Freesat receivers and an internal hard drive.
Freesat is a UK free-to-air digital satellite television service that is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV.

25/02/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 124 - 02.25.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

This week, Ben and Steve soldier on without Engadget's consigliere, Nilay. Plenty of streaming news this week involving Hulu disappearing from Boxee, our how-to on automating downloads to a Media Center PC, March Madness coming into your cubicle courtesy Silverlight, and Netflix's plans for a streaming-only option next year. VUDU is selling HD and HDX content, not just renting it; and even though we disagree on the importance of this step, it is a step in the right direction nonetheless. A much bigger step is the more widespread adoption of Blu-ray/DVD combo packs, even if you won't be watching those Blu-ray discs on a Blu-ray recorder unit anytime soon. We then talk about aspect ratios -- HD 101 had a nice feature showing why we opt for leaving black bars on some content as opposed to stretching or cropping, and for those who must have way to watch 2.35:1 features with minimal black bars, we suggest flying to Europe to pick up one of Philips' Cinema 21:9 super-wide screens. We wrap up with some finger-waggling at ION for hopping on the coattails of the bungled DTV transition to hype up its own HD launch.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
02:15 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 123 - 02.18.2009
09:41 - Hulu asks Boxee to pull content, it complies
16:17 - How to automatically download and import HD to Windows Media Center
24:46 - Microsoft's Silverlight to deliver NCAA March Madness on Demand in HD
26:48 - Netflix CEO alludes to streaming-only pricing by next year
31:01 - VUDU first on-demand service to sell HD and HDX movies
33:47 - More studios move towards Blu-ray / DVD combo packs
43:33 - Poll: Would you buy a Blu-ray recorder if you could?
43:33 - HD 101: Why there are black bars on HDTVs
51:22 - Philips gives Cinema 21:9 HDTV a price and release date
57:32 - ION scared off by the DTV transition, postpones debut another month

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Engadget HD Podcast 124 - 02.25.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/02/2009 - Mobile Makers Pushing Hard for 1080p Video Content on Handsets

The global economy may be suffering but that doesn't mean the drive for technological advancement draws to a complete halt.
At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, On2 Technologies' director of marketing, Tony Hope, told hdtv-biz.news about the push to bring high-def video content to mobile devices.

20/02/2009 - Indian Satellite TV Is Propelling Worldwide Market

The worldwide market for pay-Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite television rose significantly in 2008, with an estimated 18 per cent rise in subscriptions, reports In-Stat.
It suggests the primary reason for this increase was strong growth in the Indian market, which more than doubled to about 9 million subscribers at the end of 2008.

20/02/2009 - Samsung Leading Global TV Brand, Full HDTV Sets Now Fifth of Market

Samsung has maintained its place as the world's biggest TV brand for the third year running.
With a 21.9 per cent market share, the South Korean electronics manufacturer is some way ahead of second placed Sony, according to DisplaySearch.

20/02/2009 - SiS Launches HDTV chipset For Full-HD Digital LCD TV Market

Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) is to enter the HDTV market with a ATSC HDTV SoC chipset designed to be implanted in LCD TVs.
Although it names no names, the Taiwanese company says SiS328 has already been widely adopted by major TV brand vendors for their next generation high quality Full-HD digital TVs.

18/02/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 123 - 02.18.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

It is once again a sad week for HD fans. It's bad enough that progress in the DTV transition was delayed by 4 months, but now our worst fears have come true and Pioneer is officially getting out of the TV business. To help us cry over the occasion, Nilay Patel from the Engadget Podcast has joined us and he just might be a bigger plasma fanboy then us -- and that is saying something. We eventually do move on though and try to decide what a Blu-ray early adopter is. Then we talk a little Simpsons HD, and finally finish up with some Windows Media Center talk.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steve Kim, Nilay Patel

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:02:08 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 122 - 02.11.2009
00:20:48 - The original DTV transition: what could've been
00:22:05 - The FCC releases the Go-NoGo analog shutoff list
00:29:33 - DisplaySearch shows slight LCD TV shipment decline in Q4 2008
00:32:48 - Pioneer officially leaving the TV biz by March 2010, focusing on audio
00:42:17 - Pioneer exec touches on exit from plasma business
00:52:53 - Poll: Are you happy being a Blu-ray early adopter?
00:59:37 - LG's BD300 gets new firmware update, YouTube access included
01:05:10 - The Simpsons goes HD tonight, new title sequence revealed
01:10:07 - The real reason why the Media Center TV pack update was OEM only?
01:19:26 - Hulu on its way to Windows Media Center via SecondRun.tv

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Engadget HD Podcast 123 - 02.18.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/02/2009 - Can Blu-ray Now Be Regarded As"Mainstream"?

Sales of Blu-ray discs have climbed to such an extent in Europe that the high-def format is now officially "mainstream".
At least that's according to the cross-industry trade body, Digital Entertainment Group Europe(DEGE).

13/02/2009 - Sony Plans Movie and Game on Blu-ray Disc

Sony is planning on creating a hybrid Blu-ray - with a game and movie on the same disc.
The move is being viewed as a way to boost the appeal of the Playstation 3 in the face of falling prices for Blu-ray players and the increasing popularity of games consoles such as Wii and XBOX 360.

11/02/2009 - LG intros power-sipping LH30FD LCD HDTVs in Korea

Filed under: Displays, LG, LCD

Not even a month after LG outed its 50PQ60D and 42PQ60D Xcanvas plasmas over in South Korea, the company has introduced a trio of LCD HDTVs in the nation as well. The LH30FD models, all part of the burgeoning Scarlet series, are all presumably equipped with 1080p panels, inbuilt speakers and other modern amenities. While LG leaves out most of the details, we are told that all three sets boast a variety of picture modes, a trio of HDMI sockets and a four-step power saving mode that can purportedly "reduce power consumption by up to 70 percent." We've no way to prove or disprove that claim, but hopefully the stipulations will be spelled out more clearly when, er, if these migrate to America. As for those in Seoul, they can grab one later this month for ?2,400,000 ($1,725; 47-inch), ?1,650,000 ($1,186; 42-inch) or ?1,200,000 ($862; 32-inch).

[Via Slashgear]

LG intros power-sipping LH30FD LCD HDTVs in Korea originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/02/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 122 - 02.11.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Plenty of things happened this past week in HD, but one thing that won't be happening is a February DTV transition; we gripe about the fourth month delay and wonder what our politicians were thinking. The bad news kept coming as rumors of Pioneer's exit from the TV market swirled this week. It'll be sad if Kuros fade to black, but we'll keep hope alive that some manufacturers will still cater to crazies who pursue ultimate image quality. That might fit in well with the predicted "Golden Era" that analysts are calling for Blu-ray in 2014-2017. We talk a little Blu-ray and Netflix streaming before diving into Media Center news. As usual, the Media Center talk gets pretty technical, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We manage to wrap up on a more universal note -- discrete IR codes -- you'll know (and curse) if you don't have them, so everyone should be informed on this cornerstone to robust automation.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:55 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 121 - 02.04.2009
12:09 - The DTV transition delay could end up costing over $500 million
14:23 - Stations can still yank analog plug this month, though many won't
18:45 - Latest Nielsen figures put DTV unreadiness at 5.1%
20:54 - Pioneer reportedly ending TV production, spinning off DVD business
26:49 - The State of Home Video study predicts a Blu-ray Golden Era of 2014-17
30:27 - Panasonic drops the axe on DMP-BD35 Blu-ray player
33:33 - NPD Group says discs don't have to fear downloads... yet
35:47 - Xbox Live tallies 1 million Netflix Watch Instantly activations, 1.5 billion minutes served
39:57 - VUDU permanently cuts retail price of movie set-top-box in half
47:20 - Windows 7 gets Hauppauge HD-PVR support via 3rd party
51:22 - Automatic commercial skipping is a go for Media Center in Windows 7
56:52 - HD 101: Discrete IR codes

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Engadget HD Podcast 122 - 02.11.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/02/2009 - UK Capital To Begin HD Terrestrial Tests

London's Crystal Palace transmitter has been fitted with equipment necessary for high definition test transmissions to be carried out.
The modulator equipped for test transmissions using the new DVB-T2 transmission standard was provided by Enensys.

10/02/2009 - ARCHOS Offers Android-powered HD Media-playing Smartphone

ARCHOS, the company that "invented the PMP", is to bring out a touchscreen smartphone based on the Android operating system.
The new ultra-thin Internet Media Tablet (IMT) will allow playback of HD video while offline.

10/02/2009 - Vudu Halves Cost Of Basic Player

The cost of VUDU's basic 250GB VUDU HD player has been halved to USD $150.
According to the on-demand internet provider the move is not a sign of looming financial problems. It stresses that the dramatic price cut is due to positive factors.

09/02/2009 - Blu-ray releases on February 10th 2009

Filed under: Blu-ray

Although this is another week without any day-and-date blockbusters, there are more than a few that will make our rental queue. The first is Oliver Stone's W. which we figure is a must see no matter what your politics. The other new release to watch out for is the comedy Soul Men which is probably not a very good movie, but has to be good for a few laughs. Warner pulls four more out of its vault including the classic John Grisham movies The Pelican Brief and A Time To Kill. For Universal this is The Rock week with both Doom and The Rundown. Fox has two more of its classics too with The Boondock Saints and Donnie Darko. We're still messing around with our links, so this week we linked to Rotten Tomatoes' reviews and as always if you have a problem with that, be sure to let us know in the comments.

W. (Lionsgate)
Soul Men (Weinstein)
Chocolate (Magnolia)
Amadeus (Warner)
A History of Violence (Warner)
Nights in Rodanthe (Warner)
The Pelican Brief (Warner)
A Time to Kill (Warner)
Street Fighter (Universal)
Doom (Universal)
The Rundown (Universal)
The Boondock Saints (Fox)
Donnie Darko (Fox)
Frozen River (Sony)
Miracle at St. Anna (Disney)
Pretty Woman (Disney)
My Name Is Bruce (Image)
Raging Bull (MGM)

Blu-ray releases on February 10th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/02/2009 - Thanko rolls out HDD Media Player 2, hard drive not included

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

It's not quite as whimsical as some of Thanko's other gadgets, but those looking for a barebones media player may actually want to consider the company's new HDD Media Player 2, which looks like it should get the job done and do so on the cheap. Naturally, you'll have to supply your own hard drive, but the enclosure will handle most of the media-playing abilities you'll likely want (including DivX and even DVD VOB file playback), and you'll get a decent enough complement of ports, including VGA, component, composite, s-video, and an optical digital audio output. Look for this one to set you back just over $70 -- plus the necessary shipping charges from Japan, of course

[Via Le Journal du Geek]

Thanko rolls out HDD Media Player 2, hard drive not included originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/02/2009 - SageTV HD Theater review

Filed under: Features, Reviews, Media streamers

When we first heard about the new SageTV HD Theater, we thought it was just a smaller version of the HD100, but boy we're we wrong. The reason is simple, the new HD Theater from SageTV does everything we loved about the HD100 -- like extending HD from SageTV DVR software to any TV in the house -- but is now smaller and adds a great new twist: it will work as a standalone media streamer. Now we know what you're thinking, "great, like we need yet another media streamer." We know it, because that's exactly what we were thinking. But this is different because it will play every codec under the sun -- including MKV and H.264 -- and at the same time give you direct access to online content from the likes of YouTube and HD Podcasts -- Hulu was demoed at CES, but isn't live yet. Before you get too excited though, this wonder box isn't perfect, but you'll just have to click on through to learn all about that.

Gallery: Sage TV HD Theater Review

Continue reading SageTV HD Theater review

SageTV HD Theater review originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/02/2009 - Euro HD To Nearly Triple In Five Years

The number of HDTVs in European households is set to rise from 59 million now to 170 million by 2013.
What's more encouraging is the number of HD channels distributed in Europe should go from the current 130 to more than 600 in the same period, according to a study by NPA Conseil and Euroconsult.

04/02/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 121 - 02.04.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

If you can never get enough of the Engadget HD podcast, you're going to love this week because with some help from a special guest we managed to record the longest podcast we've ever done. There's some great stuff in there though, like some in depth analysis of the latest Netflix news, opinions regarding the DTV transition delay, and eventually an early look at the SageTV HD Theater review. In regards to the last part, we had some help from our friend Brent Evans from Geek Tonic who happens to be an expert on all things SageTV and knows a thing or two about HD too. But if you happen to be the type who hates when we get long winded, it's in your best interest to hit up the AAC version where you can quickly and easily skip past the parts that don't interest you.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Guest: Brent Evans

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:08 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 119 - 01.21.2009
00:20:29 - Netflix sees subscribers opting for streaming over mailing, global surplus in red envelopes predicted
00:25:28 - Netflix earnings call roundup: Testing Saturday shipments, 700k Blu-ray subscribers and even more streaming
00:27:44 - Netflix considering premium price tiers for additional streaming content?
00:34:55 - How-to guide explains boxee / Vista Media Center integration
00:40:17 - Will BD-Live finally shine in 2009?
00:43:30 - Digital TV transition delay bill fails to pass in House
00:46:35 - Netgear's Coax-Ethernet Adapter up for pre-order
00:51:42 - LG BD300 Blu-ray player review
00:57:53 - CableCARD recordings and Blu-ray play at full resolution over analog outputs
01:01:53 - Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D?
01:04:21 - SageTV HD Theater review

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Engadget HD Podcast 121 - 02.04.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/02/2009 - Rush HD preps an SD channel for Canadian viewers

Filed under: Regulatory, New content

This one falls a bit outside our weekly expansion roundup, by virtue of being one of the few channels going in the other direction. AdrenalineHD just got approval to launch an SD version of Rush HD in Canada, so long as 95% of its content is the same. Far be it for us to question the laws and standards of the land of Terrence & Patrick, but we're completely taken aback by this one. We guess those former Voom channels have to do anything they can to avoid the fate of Monsters HD.

Rush HD preps an SD channel for Canadian viewers originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/02/2009 - Blu-ray releases on February 3rd 2009

Filed under: Blu-ray

If you like comedies, then you're going to love this week. Not only do both of the day-and-date titles look funny -- Seth Rogen's Make a Porno is definitely hilarious -- but some of our favorite classic comedies from Fox are finally on Blu. Speaking of which, Fox really came through this week, we mean who doesn't like Napoleon Dynamite, Office Space and Sideways? All we can have to say about that is we're not drinking ** Merlot and vote for Pedro. This week we're also trying something a little different with the links. Instead of leading you to reviews of the movies, we're directing you to Netflix so you can easily add the movies to your queue. But don't worry if you prefer reviews, because if this doesn't work out we'll go back to the old way.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Weinstein)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Sony)
Napoleon Dynamite (Fox)
Office Space (Fox)
Sideways (Fox)
Little Miss Sunshine (Fox)
The Secret Life of Bees (Fox)
Being There (Warner)
Friday the 13th (Paramount)
Clerks II (Weinstein)
Space Buddies (Disney)

Blu-ray releases on February 3rd 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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29/01/2009 - Thirst For HD Drives Freesat Sales To 200,000

Demand for HD content has helped drive sales of Freesat devices past the 200,000 mark since the UK service was launched last May.
While the figure is impressive, it further highlights the gulf that has opened up between the US and Japan and the rest of the world.

29/01/2009 - Epson Ensemble HD Home Cinema System gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Receivers, Speakers

Let's get one thing straight up front: Epson's Ensemble HD Home Cinema System isn't right for everyone. In fact, we'd say it's right for only a small sect of individuals. You see, this all-in-one solution is really all-in-one, meaning that you'll not only have to be completely okay with each and every component, but you'll need a local installer to come and set everything up. For those looking to exert zero effort into their home theater system, this is the one to beat. E-Gear critics were able to have a sit with the 1080p version of the bundle, and while nothing was absolutely groundbreaking, everything seemed to function well enough. Video and audio were both satisfactory, and the fit and finish of everything was superb. If you've found yourself in that tiny niche of prospective buyers, you owe it to yourself to give the read link a look before throwing down thousands.

Epson Ensemble HD Home Cinema System gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/01/2009 - BSkyB Adds HD Customers And Promises More High Def Content

BSkyB has added 171,000 new customers in the second quarter and reduced churn to below 10 per cent.
It will be hoping to build on the interim results for the six months to 31 December 2008 helped by the the news that further investment is to be made in HD programming. The announcement that the price of the Sky+ HD receiver is to drop to £49 will undoubtedly provide a massive boost to that ambition.

28/01/2009 - UK Gets HD Programmes For AppleTV

Apple has announced that the first HD show is available for download from the iTunes store for AppleTV owners in the UK.
The first offerings in high def are episodes of the current series of ABC's Lost, which will be sold for £2.49 each.

28/01/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 120 - 01.28.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

This episode went long, but we cover a good smattering of topics. This week the VideoScan charts added more -- and more interesting -- data for us to chew on. There's a battle raging for how many boxes can be added beneath your TV, so we talk about boxee, Kodak, VUDU and AppleTV to cover our ideas on the crowded lower shelves of your equipment rack. Netflix's Watch Instantly has taken up residence in many boxes, but where is the red envelope company headed? Films in 3D is definitely getting a lot of attention -- we're still not convinced about it getting into the living room, but the results from My Bloody Valentine 3D indicate studios might think otherwise. We wrapped up a long-term review of THIEL's SCS4 speakers, and the bottom line is that these almost $2k per pair speakers may not be cheap, but they do represent value for those really serious about good sound. People shopping THIEL probably also know the AudioQuest name in cabling, and this week it surprised us to see that AudioQuest has introduced field-terminated HDMI cables. We'd love to get a kit to make custom length HDMI cables (tidiness counts!), but we're guessing the price will keep us away for now. Windows Media Center is up next, and Windows 7 looks like it will bring some welcome improvements to those who have not jumped into the TV Pack yet (or jumped back out for stability reasons). Now, if Microsoft would add more codec support to the Xbox 360, things would be even rosier. Probably the biggest news this week, though, was the impending delay in the DTV transition. It looks like it's going to get bumped by four months, which we're not thrilled with; but the question is really how many people is it ok to leave out in the cold on day zero of the transition? We finish on a good note -- Super Bowl XLIII -- it's here, and we've revived our annual checklist so you can make sure you're set for the game.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:57 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 119 - 01.21.2009
00:20:14 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending January 18th, 2009
00:26:32 - Disney to release Bolt on Blu-ray two days before DVD
00:27:17 - boxee mulls production of its own set-top-box
00:30:39 - Kodak's Theatre HD Player unboxed and reviewed
00:31:59 - Netflix's Reed Hastings talks future technologies, streaming
00:40:12 - Netflix profit up 45% in Q4, nears 10 million total subscribers
00:40:57 - VUDU looks to integrate with TVs, DVD players
00:44:44 - Ask Engadget HD: Is the Apple TV worth it?
00:51:51 - 3D: is this the resurgence that counts?
00:53:02 - My Bloody Valentine 3D grosses way more in 3D than 2D
00:56:05 - THIEL SCS4 speaker review
00:58:24 - AudioQuest cooks up field terminated HDMI cables
01:00:00 - Missing remote covers the new highs and lows of Media Center in Windows 7
01:04:13 - DivX is not 100% in love with Xbox 360's tone right now, or its unofficial codec support
01:05:37 - Senate okays digital TV transition delay to June 12th
01:06:24 - 5.7% (6.5 million) U.S. homes still not DTV ready
01:09:31 - Prepared for Super Bowl XLIII? Here's how.

LISTEN (MP3)
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LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 120 - 01.28.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/01/2009 - HDNet Fights signs up with Ring of Honor wrestling

Filed under: Industry, HDNet, Sports, New content

We're not so sure that we like the direction this might be headed in, but HDNet Fights has signed up with Ring Honor of Wrestling for content, including a weekly series. The professional wrestling promotion was founded in 2002, and with its Code of Honor rules, it was a step away from typical professional wrestling and towards pure catch wrestling, but it's professional wrestling still. We had hoped that HDNet Fights was going to establish itself as a smaller, but still viable alternative to UFC, but this move suggests otherwise. We know HDNet Fights needs to add content, but is there enough audience overlap between professional wrestling and other fight sports that this makes sense? MMA fans, let us know what you think -- does this move water down the brand?

HDNet Fights signs up with Ring of Honor wrestling originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/01/2009 - 43% of US HDTV Owners Don't Watch HD Content

More than 39 million US households have an HDTV set - and the figure keeps on rising.
Yet a sizeable proportion - 43 per cent or 17 million - either don't have or don't watch HD content.

26/01/2009 - Blu-ray releases on January 27th 2008

Filed under: Blu-ray

There are actually quite a few new releases this week worthy of your rental queue and maybe even of your buying dollars. The most obvious is the latest Guy Ritchie movie RocknRolla, which has a very respectable IMDB score of 7.5 -- and after Snatch how could you not give it a try? Warner keeps it rolling with another day-and-date, Pride and Glory, which didn't do as well on IMDB, but anything with Edward Norton is good, right? Warner also has a sold catalog with Pacino's Any Given Sunday and Universal continues to play catch up with the very popular The Brourne Trilogy -- and no, the movies aren't available individually, which is a crime. Two other mentionables this week is the day-and-date thriller Lakeview Terrace from Sony and Zodiac from Paramount. Next week looks to have a few good catalogs on it as well, as we can't wait to laugh again at Office Space and Sideways.

RocknRolla (Warner)
Pride and Glory (Warner)
Any Given Sunday (Warner)
The Bourne Trilogy (Universal)
Zodiac (Paramount)
Lakeview Terrace (Sony)
Open Season 2 (Sony)
Drumline (Fox)
The Pink Panther (Fox)
The Rocker (Fox)
Groundhog Day (Sony)
Hulk Vs. Thor / Wolverine (Lionsgate)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Weinstein)
Dead & Buried (Blue Underground)

Blu-ray releases on January 27th 2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/01/2009 - Poll: Will you buy an internet-connected HDTV?

Filed under: Polls, Displays, Internet

Outside of 3D, the hottest thing going at CES in terms of high-def was internet connectivity. When we outlined the HDTVs that are destined to ship this year, a huge chunk of 'em were spotted with Ethernet jacks and promises of widgets galore built-in. So, here's the question: are you planning to replace your perfectly good set this year with a connected HDTV? Does the concept of widgets and web content on your screen make you giddy inside? Feel free to discuss below after casting your vote.

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Poll: Will you buy an internet-connected HDTV? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/01/2009 - Hardware Confusion A Barrier To Blu-ray Uptake

With prices of Blu-ray players and discs falling, the high-def format appears to be making some headway after a hesitant start.
But public ignorance of what hardware is required to fully enjoy Blu-ray is preventing even greater uptake, according to the British Video Association.

21/01/2009 - Final Chance to Nominate HDTV Person/Product Of The Year

The new year may well be firmly underway but there's still plenty of time to submit your nominations and votes for hdtv.biz-news' 2008 Man and Product of the Year awards.
With voting expected to be close in both award categories there's plenty of opportunity for latecomers to make their mark.

21/01/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 119 - 01.21.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Back from CES, we kick things off with the age-old plasma vs. LCD debate. Bottom line: no technology reigns supreme forever, but we don't see plasma giving up the picture quality crown just yet and we don't think Europe will be refusing to sell plasmas en masse, either. There's a new President at 1600 Pennsylvania, and with that comes a new FCC -- we take time to give our two cents on the poorly-implemented DTV converter box coupon program, crazy notions of delaying the DTV transition and tinfoil-hat talk of the cable monopoly. We go on a few rants before settling on something we're happy to see -- DirecTV's HDPC-20 is DISH's Draco project for Windows Media Center sounds good, especially in light of DirecTV's "suspended" HDPC-20. Big props to Darren for putting together a comprehensive post of the TVs of CES -- TVs are kind of belles of the CES ball, and they're all rounded up nicely in one post. Also, we reached out to our pals at Engadget to help put together a Netflix HD streaming shootout, so check it out and form your own opinions. Not everything is newness, however -- after 30 years, Pioneer said goodbye to laserdisc this week; we take some time to put some perspective on the 12-inch platter format.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:18 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 118 - 01.11.2009
00:15:20 - LCD vs Plasma in 2009
00:24:36 - Poll: Do you prefer plasma or LCD?
00:25:36 - Power-guzzling plasmas could be barred by EU
00:28:31 - Additional funding on the way for the digital TV switch?
00:32:12 - FCC's Kevin Martin proposes alternatives for delaying DTV transition
00:35:47 - Possible new FCC chair could focus on net neutrality, not cable pricing
00:39:33 - Study finds interest high for connected HDTVs
00:41:33 - Sling Media loses most of its top brass
00:44:49 - CyberLink bundles Media Server 2 with JVC's NX-BD3 Blu-ray HTIB
00:46:34 - Blockbuster's MediaPoint player reviewed: unsurprisingly disappointing
00:48:27 - DISH Network's Draco project brings programming to Windows Media Center
00:56:00 - The HDTVs of CES 2009
00:57:34 - Netflix HD streaming shootout goes down at Engadget Classic
01:01:42 - Pioneer finally kills production of its remaining laserdisc players

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 119 - 01.21.2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19/01/2009 - NVIDIA's Ion For AppleTV?

Reports are circulating about the likely inclusion of NVIDIA's Ion platform in the next AppleTV.
It appears that Apple was the first to receive samples of the platform - when other potential users were being supplied with blueprints.

19/01/2009 - Blu-ray releases on January 20th 2008

Filed under: Blu-ray

Many are more excited about the inauguration than this week's Blu-ray releases, but there are a few good movies. The most interesting to us Universal's The Express, but then again we're a sucker for football movies. Next up is Max Payne, which looks fun, but has a really bad IMDB score of 5.6. Just about every studio has at least a few movies this week, but another worth mentioning is a catch-up title for Blu-ray from Universal in the way of King Kong. Next week is about the same with one hot day-and-date like Pride and Glory and a few great cataloges like The Bourne Collection.

The Express (Universal)
King Kong (Universal)
Max Payne (Fox)
Antwone Fisher (Fox)
UnfaithfuL (Fox)
13 Going on 30 (Sony)
The Pink Panther (Sony)
Amusement (Warner)
Domino (Warner)
The Notebook (Warner)
Poison Ivy 4: The Secret Society (Warner)
Repo! The Genetic Opera (Lionsgate)
Saw V (Lionsgate)
Election (Paramount)
The Deal (Peach Tree Trinity)
El Norte (Criterion)
Henry Poole Is Here (Starz/Achor Bay)
Igor (MGM)

Blu-ray releases on January 20th 2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/01/2009 - Pantel expands line of waterproof Mirror TVs, lowers prices

Filed under: Displays, Others

Pantel has apparently decided that three waterproof Mirror TVs simply aren't enough, so it's expanding the family to four while lowering prices across the board. As of now, users looking for an outdoor HDTV that can withstand the elements can find a 20-, 26-, 32- and 42-inch solution from Pantel, all of which posses 1080p native resolutions, twin 10-watt speakers and optional touchscreen upgrades. As for pricing, they're running $1,999.99, $2,999.99, $3,499.99 and $4,499.99 from smallest to largest, which ain't half bad for a set that you can pour soda on while your favorite team gets pummeled.

Pantel expands line of waterproof Mirror TVs, lowers prices originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14/01/2009 - Philips revamps Blu-ray lineup with three new players

Filed under: Blu-ray

In all the announcements at CES we somehow managed to miss these new Blu-ray products from ~~Funai~~ Philips. The three new players consist of two that can do BD Live and the entry level BDP-3010 which is still profile 1.1. Both the BDP-5010 and the BDP-7310 have an SD slot for BD Live, but the higher model includes a 1GB SD card. The 7310 will also include support for more audio codecs as well as AVCHD and DivX. Both the 3010 and 5010 will be available in April for $229 and $249, while the 7310 is expected in May for $299.

Philips revamps Blu-ray lineup with three new players originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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13/01/2009 - New Chip Spells iPhone HD?

Imagination Technologies has announced a new graphics processor IP core - the PowerVR SGX543.
The UK-based company is the designer of the PowerVR MBX hardware used in the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Its new four-pipeline SGX543 is expected to be able to support HD resolution video and graphics output.

12/01/2009 - Study finds interest high for connected HDTVs

Filed under: Industry, DVRs, Set-top boxes

Connected TVs are being blasted out hot and heavy here at CES, so it's a good thing that early studies are showing quite a bit of consumer interest. New research carried out by Oregan Networks has discovered that 71% of respondents would prefer a media browser to be installed within their next HDTV, and if for some reason it didn't, 45% said they'd be inclined to download one while 29% "definitely would" download one. Researchers also found that online video portals such as YouTube and Hulu were seen as value-add inclusions, and having them baked into HDTVs would enable families to spend more time together enjoying the spoils of digital video. Moreover, those polled voiced their love for being able to access networked media around the home on their sets, which makes us wonder if either technophiles were intentionally asked or if the world really is swaying to appreciate media streaming.

Study finds interest high for connected HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/01/2009 - NeuLion iPTV HD Box streams Internet videos to the TV

Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes, Internet

NeuLion, the people behind the NFL's GamePass HD and Game Rewind online streaming video services, is launching a standalone IPTV receiver capable of decoding 720p or 1080i video. The iPTV HD TV Box not intended to be sold directly to consumers, but their partners may offer it so viewers can take their Silverlight, Flash or Move Networks encoded streams to the HDTV. No word whether any tuners are included but it can access a 7-day channel guide, output Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and serve as a DVR. A bit simpler than an HTPC and probably cheaper than a whole new HDTV, keep an eye out for the first boxes shipping in March.

NeuLion iPTV HD Box streams Internet videos to the TV originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/01/2009 - HD Content Helps Freesat Double Sales

Freesat doubled sales of its satellite packages in the last quarter of 2008.
Emma Scott, MD of the UK's free-to-air digital satellite television service, said high definition content from the BBC and ITV have helped drive sales.

07/01/2009 - Octava's HDS31A 3x1 HDMI switch with L/R audio routing is made for legacy HDTVs

Filed under: Ports, Switches, Others

Octava's pushed out a few HDMI switches before, but never one like this. The HDS31A 3x1 HDMI switch is custom tailored to play nice with legacy HDTVs, which -- generally speaking -- have a single DVI input for digital video and L/R stereo audio inputs that are mapped for other video sources such as composite or S-Video. This here box enables users to sync up a trio of HDMI video sources and three L/R audio outputs through a single connection, and it enables users to keep the video input select on DVI. The unit is 1080p compatible and gets its commands via IR remote or manual selection -- if that's good enough for you, you can pony up $149.99 to get one headed your way.

Octava's HDS31A 3x1 HDMI switch with L/R audio routing is made for legacy HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/01/2009 - Young Lead Shift Towards Internet TV Viewing

Internet television viewership is increasing rapidly in the US due to better content and improved viewing quality, according to Move Networks.
The Internet TV service provider has released figures showing it streamed more than 100 million hours of high definition content and over 180 million total hours of content in 2008.

06/01/2009 - Blu-ray releases on January 6th 2008

Filed under: Blu-ray

Here we are in the first week of the so called "5th quarter" and Hollywood is obviously trying to get your gift cards out of your pocket with a few day-and-date releases. The funniest of the lot is also the one we picked as the title of the week as the hilarious combo of Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen once again come together, but this time to bring us Pineapple Express. The other day-and-date releases to pay attention to are The Wackness, Righteous Kill, Babylon A.D. and finally Banqkok Dangerous. None of these are anything spectacular, but most definitely worth a browse over to IMDB to see if one of 'em is up your alley. Also this week is a few box sets TV fans will appreciate, the first season of Dexter and Atmospheres - Earth Air Water from NatGeo. Next week looks to be really slow though, as there are only two titles worth mentioning and one is Appaloosa, which was supposed to be out this week.

Pineapple Express (Sony)
The Wackness (Sony)
Righteous Kill (Starz/Anchor)
Babylon A.D. (Fox)
Bangkok Dangerous (Lionsgate)
Dexter: The Complete First Season (Paramount)
Disaster Movie (Lionsgate)
Friday Night Lights (Universal)
The Last Emperor (Criterion)
National Geographic: Atmospheres - Earth Air Water (NatGeo)
The Absolute Best of Ghost Hunters (Image)

Blu-ray releases on January 6th 2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/01/2009 - Samsung Promises Thinnest Ever HDTV

Samsung is to unveil a flat-panel HDTV measuring a waif-like 6.5-millimeters at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The TV set is reported to be between 6.5mm and 7mm across its width and has an LED (light emitting diode) backlight.

05/01/2009 - LG gets official with Netflix-enabled Broadband HDTVs

Filed under: Displays, Media streamers, Other hardware, LCD, Plasma, Internet

Yup, it's official. LG will be showcasing the world's first Netflix-enabled HDTVs at CES this week. The so-called Broadband HDTVs will arrive in plasma and LCD flavors, though exact screen sizes and model names have yet to be disclosed. They'll arrive with Netflix streaming software baked right in, meaning that no external set-top-box will be required to suck down Watch Instantly material. Best of all, it sounds like HD Netflix content will also be supported, and with the accompanying remote, viewers will be able to "read synopses, rate movies and fast-forward / rewind the video stream." No word on pricing, but the family of sets should be shipping this Spring. Hop on past the break for a look at the full release.

Continue reading LG gets official with Netflix-enabled Broadband HDTVs

LG gets official with Netflix-enabled Broadband HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/01/2009 - LG to release first HDTVs that instantly stream movies from Netflix

Filed under: Displays, Media streamers, LG, LCD, Plasma, Internet

It was really only a matter of time, but instant streaming from Netflix is finally getting piped straight to the tele. Until now, users needed an HTPC or a set-top-box / movie player that supported Watch Instantly, but we've received word that LG will debut the world's first Netflix-enabled HDTVs this Spring. Details are pretty light, but we're told that both plasma and LCD models will be unleashed; unfortunately, it's not entirely clear if HD Netflix will be included and if the sets will / won't be WiFi-enabled. Keep it locked here for anything more, we get the feeling we haven't heard the last about these beauties.

LG to release first HDTVs that instantly stream movies from Netflix originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/01/2009 - Are alternative renting methods killing mom 'n pop movie stores?

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, Other formats

We've already polled the audience this year to see if you all still visited the tried-and-true rental store on any sort of regular basis, and most everyone made clear that the act of driving out to rent a movie was simply old hat. A new writeup over at the Press of Atlantic City takes a look at how close these establishments are to caving to alternate forms of renting. These days, consumers have a copious amount of options: VOD via their pay-TV provider, Netflix (by mail and online streaming), Hulu, VUDU and tons more internet-based alternatives. It doesn't take long to realize that driving out to get a movie isn't required anymore. Interestingly enough, not everyone expects the mom 'n pop rental shops to close up in the coming years, with an increasingly aging population still sticking to their roots and doing things the ways they always have. What say you? How long does the B&M rental outlet model have before it's overtaken by newer methods?

Are alternative renting methods killing mom 'n pop movie stores? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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31/12/2008 - Engadget HD Podcast 116 - 12.31.2008

Filed under: Podcasts

We missed last week's episode because our Christmas travel plans got in the way, so this week we made up for it, promise. Lots of Blu news to go around as Blu-ray had the great Christmas everyone was hoping for, in fact a recent poll showed that more EHD readers upgraded to Blu-ray in '08 then in previous two years. This success was also indicated in the recent sales of The Dark Knight, which sold 1.7 Million copies. But this year was also the year of Netflix Watch Instantly, and other streaming services, as there is also more good news for them. Speaking of which, we also talk a bit about moving away from traditional sources of content, and no were not talking about Hulu. Finally we discuss a few of our CES expectations, including XStreamHD and LG's uninteresting 480hz Trumotion.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program

02:18 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 115 - 12.17.2008
13:49 - Poll: Did you go Blu in 2008?
15:58 - What Blu-ray needs to do in 2009 in order to gain ground
23:18 - The Dark Knight saved 2008 for packaged media
26:19 - First Blu-ray Disc / DVD hybrid announced in Japan
29:22 - LG's BD300 Blu-ray gets HD Netflix-enabling firmware update
32:14 - HBO survey hints at free streaming for pay-TV subscribers
33:51 - Could you live on online TV / Netflix alone? One gal found out.
40:29 - Cable operators agree to freeze analog-to-digital moves until after cutover
44:23 - XStreamHD satellite delivery system successfully tested, next stop CES
50:26 - LG Display plans to melt eyes with Trumotion 480Hz LCD TV
52:23 - Verizon FiOS HD DVR Review

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 116 - 12.31.2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/12/2008 - Sharp's LC-52XS1U-S reviewed: "a cool science experiment gone awry"

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Sharp, LCD

We already saw the UK version of Sharp's limited edition XS1 LCD HDTV hit the review bench, but for Americans wondering if their version (that's the 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S) is any different, here's your sign. Reviewers at PC Mag were able to get the $11,999 (list price) set into the labs for testing, and while the contrast and HD detail were both lauded, the overall package just didn't warrant such a stratospheric sticker. In fact, critics asserted that the unit actually "required professional setup" in order to achieve results that were even close to desirable, and while there are a lot of details behind it, we think this all-compassing quote pretty much settles things: the flagship LC-52XS1U-S is "like a cool science experiment gone awry." Steer clear, people.

Sharp's LC-52XS1U-S reviewed: "a cool science experiment gone awry" originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/12/2008 - Sanyo's Xacti technology tapped for Full HD VCC-HDN1 surveillance camera

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

The unforgettable words of Rockwell have never been truer, and now, those watching you will have one more opportunity to do so in high-definition. Sanyo has just delivered its VCC-HDN1 network surveillance camera, and interestingly enough, it utilizes the same technology that's currently used in its line of Xacti HD camcorders. Predictably, the device has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 along with a 10x optical zoom and other specifications "comparable to those of the camcorder." Sanyo's offering these up to parking garage owners, governments, spy agencies and all sorts of people with false names for upwards of $3,200 apiece. So much for that birthmark not being noticeable on CCTV, huh?

Sanyo's Xacti technology tapped for Full HD VCC-HDN1 surveillance camera originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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29/12/2008 - Blu-ray releases on December 30th 2008

Filed under: Blu-ray

It's been a weird week with the holidays so this week we have a few titles from last week mixed in with the new releases for tomorrow. While most of this week is full of catalog titles -- that are probably meant to help you use up all those gift cards you got over Christmas -- there is at least one day and date title, The Duchess. But this isn't the only title for Paramount, in fact over half the movies out this week are from said studio. This includes a few of our old favorites like Days of Thunder and The Truman Show -- and although we aren't looking forward to it, we're sure someone really wants to see Ghost. Universal continues it's trend of catchup titles on Blu-ray with the Sci-Fi cult classic Serenity. Also, Sony had the latest Resident Evil last week and finally Warner has the hilarious Wedding Crashers which will go very nicely on the shelf next to Old School from a few weeks ago.

The Duchess (Paramount)
Eagle Eye (Paramount)
Days of Thunder (Paramount)
Event Horizon (Paramount)
Ghost (Paramount)
Last Holiday (Paramount)
The Truman Show (Paramount)
Ghost Town (DreamWorks)
Serenity (Universal)
Surfer, Dude (Starz/Anchor)
Wedding Crashers (Warner)
Resident Evil: Degeneration (Sony)

Blu-ray releases on December 30th 2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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29/12/2008 - Deluxe Lounge HD music channel launches on Germany's Deluxe Television

Filed under: Cable, New content

Munich-based Deluxe Television has just launched an all new music channel in high-def, Deluxe Lounge HD. For now, the station is being broadcast on Kabel BW's cable systems in the region-state of Baden-Württemberg, and while it's currently being distributed free-to-air, the signal is scheduled to be encrypted in early 2009. The station is said to be completely commercial free and shows only content that was originally produced in high-definition; according to founder and CEO Markus Langemann, the channel aims to "offer pure relaxation for eyes and ears." If Deluxe Television has its way, it'll be available on many more systems in the near future, and we can't imagine any HD-lovin' German being opposed to that.

Deluxe Lounge HD music channel launches on Germany's Deluxe Television originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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28/12/2008 - NAD coming to CES bearing gifts for AV enthusiasts

Filed under: Other hardware, Receivers, Others

New two-channel gear aside, you just know NAD wouldn't turn its back on components for this fad of moving pictures with audio. Sure enough, New Audio Dimensions is bringing out updates to its T-series of AV receivers (T 785, T 775, T 765), T 175 AV Tuner-Pre-Pro and Master Series M15HD Pre-Pro. The most notable new tech here is the use of Modular Design Construction (MDC) -- a design that allows NAD to build new functionality into products module-by-module for tasks like audio decoding and image processing. The $4,000 T 785 receiver packs in the top of the line AM 200 and VM 200 modules for audio and video, respectively, and things step downward to the AM 100 and VM 100 modules by the time you get to the $3,000 T 765 receiver. Follow the link for full model line pricing info.

NAD coming to CES bearing gifts for AV enthusiasts originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25/12/2008 - Sharp's pricey 52-inch LC-52XS1E LCD HDTV gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Sharp, LCD

Sharp's 52-inch LC-52XS1E is absurdly expensive -- around £8,999 at last check in the UK -- but it's easily one of the most sophisticated, awe-inspiring sets that (lots of) money can buy. The critics over at TechRadar were able to give it a look, and while they were thoroughly impressed with pretty much every aspect, they couldn't justify the price for those not completely and utterly loaded. Words like "sensational," "stunning" and "superb" were littered throughout, and reviewers even stopped to notice that SD material still looked good on this expansive LCD. That said, we simply can't fathom a set looking good enough to make the price tag here understandable, so until the sticker starts to come back to down closer to reality, we'd probably wipe the drool from our lips and hold tight.

Sharp's pricey 52-inch LC-52XS1E LCD HDTV gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/12/2008 - There's no Engadget HD Podcast this week

Filed under: Podcasts

The holiday travel plans were just too much for us so we're canceling the show this week. We should still be on for next week though. We wish everyone a merry Christmas -- or whatever holiday you might be celebrating this time of year -- and a happy New Year.

There's no Engadget HD Podcast this week originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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24/12/2008 - Samsung's 61-inch HL61A650 RPTV HDTV reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Samsung, CRT

Let's face it: there aren't too many new RPTVs hitting the market these days, but for those looking to save a little coin at the expense of a little depth, Samsung's HL61A650 is worth a look. The reviewers over at Home Theater Mag were able to take this beast in for a sit-down, and overall, they were duly impressed. The 61-incher included a respectable amount of ports, sufficient picture controls, very accurate colors and a swell remote. The main knock (outside of the bulky size) was the lackluster black level; in fact, critics noted that it was "among the worst that it had measured." That aside (if you can overlook it), but HDTV was said to perform "well above its pay grade," meaning that it could be an "ideal set at the right price for the casual viewer who will leave it in Dynamic mode and watch a heavy dose of sports in a brightly lit room."

Samsung's 61-inch HL61A650 RPTV HDTV reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/12/2008 - YouTube HD Videos Now In Widescreen

After weeks of trialling its new HD capabilities YouTube has officially launched its high-def channel.
Users clicking on the newly added "watch in HD" option will automatically see the videos play in widescreen (16:9 aspect).

22/12/2008 - Blu-ray Growing In Popularity - Except With Yahoo

It's fitting that after a roller-coaster year for Blu-ray the high-def format should end 2009 on a high AND a low.
With sales in the US encouraging, a poll by Zogby International shows that Blu-ray players are one of the most wanted holiday gifts this season for HDTV owners.
The high-def players are only beaten by consumers looking for a second HDTV.

22/12/2008 - Panasonic's 37-inch VIERA TC-37LZ85 LCD HDTV reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Displays, Panasonic, LCD

Panasonic's first 37-inch VIERA didn't live up to the family name, or at least that's the gist of CNET's recent review of the TC-37LZ85. Sure, black levels were "relatively deep," screen uniformity was "solid" and off-angle viewing was commendable, but "being saddled with inaccurate color" caused it to fall quite sharply in the eyes of critics. More specifically, the "inaccurate grayscale" led to an evidently annoying reddish tinge, and the inability to adjust the color temperature or plug in an HTPC via VGA were just two more reasons to look elsewhere. At the end of the day, it was still deemed a "decent entry" into the smaller-screen 1080p realm, but 3 out of 5 stars just doesn't put forth the kind of satisfaction we'd like to see.

Panasonic's 37-inch VIERA TC-37LZ85 LCD HDTV reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/12/2008 - Nominations Open For The Outstanding HDTV Person and Product Of 2008

With 2008 fast drawing to a close biz-news.com is seeking YOUR help in choosing outstanding candidates for the titles of Man/Woman of the Year and Product/Service of the Year.
We would like you to nominate an individual and/or product/service that you feel has contributed greatly to the HDTV sector over the past 12 months.
The winner will be selected from the nominations submitted by our readers - professionals and technology enthusiasts in the industry.

17/12/2008 - Movial Launches HD Video Calling for PCs

Movial has announced a new software application that offers PC-to-PC, and PC-to-Mobile HD video.
Victor Donselaar, president of Movial, said the Communicator PC 7.2 HD video calling technology significantly reduces the CPU and bandwidth utilization compared to other technologies.
He said this enables users to run multiple applications at the same time.

17/12/2008 - XStreamHD Beams "Blu-ray" Quality Video Direct-to-Home

XStreamHD has successfully tested a transport system that delivers Full HD movies, music, and games directly to subscriber homes via satellite.
The system, tested on the AMC-16 satellite at 85 degrees west longitude, will be able to provide content throughout North America.

17/12/2008 - Growth Strong In HD Videoconferencing and Telepresence

A third of videoconferencing managers report that the economic crisis is likely to lead to an accelerated deployment of equipment rather than a slowdown.
A survey from Wainhouse Research reports that customers are continuing to invest in "visual collaboration solutions", even in the current economic climate.
It says the two largest drivers for this are travel reduction and improved decision making.

17/12/2008 - Engadget HD Podcast 115 - 12.17.2008

Filed under: Podcasts

Other responsibilities nixed last week's show, but we're back with a long show this week to make up for it. We start out with the sad news of DirecTV "suspending development" on the HDPC-20 tuner; lots more time is spent parsing those two words than on Asus' Xonar HDMI sound card, at least. Our review of Samsung's MediaLive is mixed -- plenty of promise, but it came up just a little short to get an unconditional thumbs up. Thanks to the 29-state analog shutoff test scheduled for the same day this podcast is released, a lot more of you should know if you're living on the digital cliff -- let us know if you fall off unexpectedly. Lots of attention has been given to the Popcorn Hour products, and the release of the wireless adapter should make it even more appealing to those in the know. The Moxi HD DVR, however, might have a chance of breaking out of the enthusiast niche; but could it take a bite out of the product that's synonymous with "DVR," the TiVo? Maybe, but now Digeo will have to add in Netflix HD streaming capability to even up the score, too. A few bits of news this week make us think that Blu-ray is really moving out into the mainstream consciousness, if not flying off shelves into every home. VUDU is opening up to third party developers, so hopefully soon its "one trick pony" knock will be a distant memory as more content flows through the box, including YouTube HD. We wrap up with sports talk -- "Top 10" lists often miss the mark in our opinion, so we give our own take on the Top 10 HD sporting events of 2008; but Ben is already planning to start off 2009 on a high note with some 3D HD BCS viewing at CES.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:05:41 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 114 - 12.03.2008
00:20:26 - DirecTV "suspends development" on HDPC-20 tuner
00:31:06 - DirecTV puts away the checkbook, plans to raise rates in 2009
00:31:17 - ASUS demos Xonar HDAV1.3 HDMI Deluxe sound card
00:34:26 - Samsung MediaLive Digital Media Adapter review
00:38:41 - 29 States to participate in analog shutoff test next week
00:40:35 - Poll: Would you switch carriers if fiber came to town?
00:43:12 - Popcorn Hour's WN-100 dongle brings WiFi to your A-100, A-110 or B-110
00:44:14 - 500GB Moxi HD DVR now available, really
00:48:51 - Netflix HD streaming comes to TiVo
00:52:04 - Analyst finds DVD sales down, Blu-ray trends "encouraging"
00:53:42 - Standalone Blu-ray player sales triple over Black Friday
00:54:21 - Poll: Do you rent or buy your Blu-ray Discs?
00:57:27 - VUDU gets official with some internet content
01:00:48 - YouTube goes HD, finally!
01:02:20 - Top 10 HD sports broadcasts of 2008 -- do you agree?
01:05:17 - BCS Championship game live 3D broadcast coming to CES, movie theaters

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Engadget HD Podcast 115 - 12.17.2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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16/12/2008 - Mvix quietly reveals media playing / recording MvixPVR

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Mvix has a history of pumping out reliable, multi-faceted media streamers, but it has evidently decided to branch out a touch with its latest piece. Taking a note from the HD PVR from Hauppauge, the box packs component video inputs that will likely capture high-def video from set-top-boxes and the like. It's also an HDD-based media player (bring your own hard drive, of course), which outputs content up to 1080p via HDMI. You'll also find integrated WiFi, a USB port for streaming files on external drives and UPnP / BitTorrent functionality. Mvix hasn't stated when this puppy will go on sale nor how expensive it will be, but those looking for a multi-purpose media streamer / recorder should probably keep a check on this one.

Mvix quietly reveals media playing / recording MvixPVR originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15/12/2008 - Tried PC Videoconferencing - Well How About On An HDTV?

With webcams now commonplace on PCs and laptops it seems natural that they should take the next step - to HDTVs.
Videoconferencing expert Emblaze VCON says it has developed technology that allows up to six different users to interact through home TV screens.

11/12/2008 - Emblaze: Growing Global Demand For Desktop Videoconferencing Solutions

As the global appetite for videoconferencing solutions grows, so do the possibilities they offer.
hdtv.biz-news spoke to Linor Shachar, VP sales and marketing for videoconferencing experts Emblaze VCON, about the latest market trends and developments.

11/12/2008 - HD Video Download Service Allows Blu-ray Recording

Japan is to get the world's first HDTV video download service that allows users to export high-def content from HDDs to Blu-ray Disc.
Tsutaya online provides video content from a server to compatible digital home appliances and allows the content to be copied on Blu-ray Disc, iVDR-S and memory cards.

10/12/2008 - Philadelphia's NBC 10 brings the high-def love to its newscasts

Filed under: NBC, Primetime, Daytime

Philadelphia residents, NBC 10 loves you. We mean, it really digs you. So much, in fact, that it has taken to heart all those surely kind letters you've sent in over the past few months regarding high-def news. Starting tonight, The City of Brotherly Love has another place to turn for high-definition newscasts, and that place is NBC 10. Reportedly, the station has been constructing an HD studio for months, and it has just now taken the wraps off of everything. Enjoy, Philly, and let us know if you're pleased in comments below.

Philadelphia's NBC 10 brings the high-def love to its newscasts originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/12/2008 - USB Device Plays HD Content On PC

DiBcom has launched an HD-ready digital terrestrial decoder in a USB key device that gives viewer

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23/02/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 179 - 02.23.2010

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16/02/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 178 - 02.16.2010

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10/02/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 177 - 02.09.2010

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14/01/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 173 - 1.13.2009

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09/01/2010 - Engadget HD Podcast 171: CES 2010 day 2

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21/12/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

16/12/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 167 - 12.16.2009

14/12/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 167 - 12.16.2009

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02/12/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Best video encoding process to maximize quality & compatibility?

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17/11/2009 - PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5

17/11/2009 - Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U350

17/11/2009 - Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

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15/11/2009 - Ask Engadget HD: Should the FCC kill DTV for better technology?

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10/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 163 - 11.10.2009

10/11/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 163 - 11.10.2009

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05/11/2009 - Report: Looking Forward to Ultra-High Definition TV

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13/10/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 159 - 10.13.2009

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06/10/2009 - Engadget HD Podcast 158 - 10.06.2009

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