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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

With pointy hats and staffs stowed in a coat-check of pure gold, Catholic bishops have decreed the use of mass, digital communications to spread the word of the bible in as many languages as possible. In a statement just issued to the flock, the bishops said:

“The voice of the Divine Word must resonate over the radio, on Internet channels with virtual distribution (and by) CDs, DVDs and iPods, and on television and cinema screens.”

The implied message here is very clear: God hates the Blu-ray.

And the Lord said unto Sony, ‘01101000 01100…’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

With most other players in the HD market trying to bring out cheaper Blu-ray players, Denon is sticking to its high-end roots with the launch of the recession-snubbing DVD-3800BD, a snip at just £1,600. Most of us are happy with the blistering images we get from spinning our Blu-ray movies on the PS3 but this is for folk with eyes keener than ours and pockets deeper than a Welsh coal mine. It uses the Realta sx͊ HQV video processor for top end video processing and supports the HDMI 1.3a interface standard for the highest level of colour and sound support. It will also do a miraculous job of upscaling all those DVDs you [and we] can′t afford to replace with Blu-ray versions. On the audio front, it’s all ear candy too with the Denon D.D.S.C.-HD internally decoding higher-quality surround Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio soundtracks. It’s a big beast too as you can see from the shot and along with supporting most disc formats, it will also playback DivX files and has a useful SD Card slot. Maybe not for us mere mortals but AV fanatics are probably selling their children right now.-Martin Lynch [Denon] blu-ray movies AV

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

And so the Netflix partnerships roll on. Netflix just reached a deal to stream Internet movies and TV over a pair of Samsung Blu-ray players. The first Sammy players to go Netflix are the $400 BD-󃻄 and BD-P2550 with “a range of home entertainment products” expected to follow suit. Good news for those of you who already own these players, the Netflix update is a free download through Samsung support (link below). Videos added to Netflix members instant queues from a PC are automatically displayed on Samsung’s players and available to watch instantly — the players’ remote control allows you to fast-forward and rewind video and browse and rate movies directly from the TV… exactly like LG’s Netflix-enabled BD300. Come now, you didn’t think Samsung would let hometown rival, LG, have all the fun did you?

Read — Samsung netflix update
Read — Press Release

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

If you’ve got any cash, this may be a truly wonderful season to buy all the gadgets you want — it’s list the Xmas shopping season isn’t even waiting to Halloween this year (forget about Thanksgiving!).

Try this one on for size — Best Buy is selling its proprietary Insignia brand Blu-ray Disc player for $199 (after a $30 in-store discount) — more than 40% off the suggested retail price.

Industry observers have long considered a sub-$200 price point key to bridging the demarcation line separating early adopters from mainstream consumers.

The Profile 1.1 (NS-BRDVD) player, which includes $100 in discount coupons on select Blu-ray movies, has been viewed as a “conversation starter″ designed to spark consumer interest in high-definition packaged media.

In addition, the price drop, less than six weeks before Black Friday, when retailers traditionally slash prices on select consumer products heading into the holiday shopping season, follows a move by Target, which last week bowed an Olevia-brand Profile 1.1 player for $229.

Analysts are surprised by the price cut since Blu-ray manufacturers have said it was not economically advantageous to go below $299, much less $200. However, we can now expect to see multiple $199 units with $20 rebates and free discs thrown in. 

But don’t expect the $199 to be common; every retailer will want at least one model at that level, if only to seduce you into that section of the store.

More at Home Media Magazine.

Tags: best buy, black friday, blu-ray, insignia, olevia, profile 1.1, target

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

It’s debatable whether or not Apple is losing its touch with FireWire, but you can rest assured that OWC hasn′t. Said outfit has just announced the industry’s first Blu-ray external drive with a quad interface, meaning you can link it up to your PC or Mac via FireWire 400, FireWire 800, USB 2.0 or eSATA. The Mercury Pro SW-5583 arrives with the capability to toast BD-Rs at a rate of 4x and includes a pair of 25GB BD-R discs for $499.99; the closely related Mercury Pro SW-5583T throws in a full retail version of Roxio Toast 9 Titanium (OS X) and sells for $579.99. Now, if only we could convince Steve that Blu-ray and Macs could indeed get along together, we’d really be satisfied. Full release after the break.

Continue reading OWC introduces first external Blu-ray drive with quad interface

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Nearly two full years after DViCO introduced its TiVX 5010-P HDTV recorder, along comes a new duo in the line to finally up the ante. But it’s not the infantile TViX R-2230 ($399; pictured) that we’re really interested in — though it can play back ripped VOB / ISO files. Rather, it’s the $599 TViX-HD 6500, which also includes support for playing back Blu-ray backups via HDMI. We’ll spare you the legal spill, but for those too frightened to potentially scratch their precious Blu-ray Discs, this looks to be the unit for you. So far as specs go, you’ll find HDMI 1.3, component, S-Video and composite jacks, support for a smorgasbord of file formats, a USB port for loading up media from flash drives / external HDDs and an optional digital TV tuner to boot. Why do we get the feeling both of these things will be next to impossible to locate in the US?

[Thanks, Geller]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Since we all don’t have the cash for a drop-down 103in plasma telly, Sony’s new Full HD projectors may offer a cheaper - but not cheap - solution for those big screen thrills. Sitting at the top of the heap is the BRAVIA VPL-V≌ SXRD is capable of operating at 100fps - double the norm - for silky smooth on-screen action. The projector uses Motionflow Dark Frame Insertion to create ‘intermediate’ frames from the original video to keep things seamless while the Dark Frame Insertion feature helps reduce the judder visible when a camera pans. The V≌ has a bright 1000 ANSI Lumens bulb and a very high, claimed dynamic ratio of 60,000:1. Image processing and colour reproduction is handled by the solid BRAVIA 2 processing system. There are 2 x HDMI ports and it runs quiet at just 20dB. It does not, however, run cheap with a price tag of just under £5,000. A more realistic offering comes in the shape of the £1,760 VPL-H∆ [pictured], also a Full HD projector that takes some of technology from its higher end siblings but at a less restrictive price. It uses the same triple panel SXRD technology with fast 2.5ms response time to project smooth motion video and games. Again, it uses the BRAVIA 2 engines for picture processing while the Advanced Iris 2 contrast enhancement “works like the human eye”, dynamically altering contrast for each scene. Contrast is rated at 30,000:1, there are twin HDMI connections and the projector offers 24fps playback - just like the director intended. Too entice shoppers, Sony is throwing in a free Blu-ray player (£250) or a free replacement bulb (£260) for those buying the H∆ before December 31st. Those splashing out on the V≌ can pick between a Ṕ (£300) or two bulbs (£520).-Martin Lynch movies HD projector

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sony didn’t want to make a big deal about this (so humble, that Sony) but the PlayStation 3’s recent 2.50 firmware update has a few extra additions aimed straight at home theater buffs. First up is a place to enter your DivX VOD Registration code — necessary if you want to get any of that Sony Pictures or Warner Bros. DivX-encoded video that’s on the way — along with new Sequential Playback and 50Hz video output settings, plus support for chroma upsampling &amp Mosquito Noise Reduction video enhancement on homemade Blu-ray discs and DVDs. On a more minor note, the BD/DVD settings section has been renamed just Video Settings, while the Cinema Conversion and Upscale options are getting all their mail delivered to BD/DVD Cinema Conversion and BD/DVD Upscaler, respectively. Peep the PlayStation site for the rest of the exciting details (there’s a German keyboard layout change that is not to be missed), and then go back to watching Hulu in a tiny box with a poor framerate in your newly Flash-enabled browser.

[Via Ṕ Blog]

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Original post by Richard Lawler

Filed under: HDTV, Laptops, Peripherals

A “bag of hurt,” huh Steve? How do you like these Apples? Amex Digital has stepped in to give prospective MacBook / MacBook Pro owners (and anyone with a fresh USB-equipped Mac, really) the ability to watch and burn Blu-ray Discs… so long as they’re cool with hauling around an external unit. The glossy black / white drive (coincidence?) is pretty much a Blu flavor of the portable Super Multi Drive it churned out in July. It’ll burn BD-RE / -R (single-layer) discs at 2x, while dual-layer versions will only toast at 1x; as for blank DVDs, they’ll get done at a rate of 4x to 8x depending on flavor. Not too painful at just $289, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Jobs?

[Thanks, A1]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Sharp’s just announced its latest Aquos series of TVs and guess what: they all have in-built Blu-ray drives capable of playing movies and recording TV content straight to blank Blu-ray discs (BDs). While most companies throw something special into a few high-end TVs, the Aquos DX family sports 16 different Blu-ray recorder TVs, ranging in size from 26in to 52in. Touted as an all-in-one solution, they will no doubt appeal to those looking for the full HD experience in one box while for others, they represent double the chances of something breaking down. Thankfully the BD recorder can be removed if there’s a problem.Under 37in, the TVs are 720p but all those from 37in to 52in are Full HD, with resolutions of 1920 x 1080. There’s a claimed 2000:1 contrast ratio, 30W speakers and numerous connection types. The recorder supports the MPEG4 H.264/AVC digital encoding format, which is more efficient than the older MPEG-2 format, allowing you to squeeze up to 5 times more on a blank 25GB BD disc. That’s around 11 hours of HD telly in real terms. The TVs will not be out here until early 2009 and the costs will range from around £800 to £2,500.-Martin Lynch [Akihabara] TV blu-ray

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Apple_s_Steve_Jobs_calls_Blu_ray_a_bag_of_hurt’;Straight from El Jobso’s mouth at today’s notebook keynote: “Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It’s great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we’re waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace.” Damn. As if that weren’t enough to make Mac-lovin’ home theater junkies cringe, Steve also commented (when asked about the dearth of HDMI in his introductions) that HDMI was “limited in resolution,” and Philip Schiller elaborated by saying that “for typical computer use, DisplayPort is the connector of the future.” So, does that mean we can’t count on Blu-ray support in OS X 10.5.6?

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Tired of watching Amazon Video on Demand, Dailymotion and YouTube videos on your BRAVIA Internet Video Link? Coming through on its promise to send Hancock to Sony HDTV owners first, Sony Pictures is offering the flick (in 720p or 480p, depending on bandwidth) for $9.99 starting October 28 through November 10, and even throwing in a free Blu-ray copy after it’s released November 24. We’ll have to wait and see if the Hancock At-Home Premiere is a one of a kind promotion (note: the stream is “valued” at $29.99) or a regular benefit to owning a BRAVIA and accompanying $299 add-on, but we can’t help thinking this would be alot more interesting if it were offered over the PlayStation Network.

[Via PR Newswire]

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Original post by Richard Lawler

Sony has ruled out cutting the price of the PlayStation 3 console before Christmas, insisting that the PS3 is better value than rivals half its price.

(Maybe time to rethink that in today’s — or at least last week’s — economy?)

With up to 50% of video game sales made in the run-up to Christmas, Sony is gambling that despite the weak economy, consumers will not just buy the cheapest machine.

If they do, Sony could lose further ground to Nintendo’s Wii and to Microsoft’s entry-level Xbox 360, which sells for $199 in the U.S. after a price cut in September - half the $399 cost of the cheapest PS3.

Sony argues that the basic Xbox has no hard disk drive, while the PS3 plays High-Definition Blu-ray movies as standard. 

Sony launched its third PlayStation model in the line in November 2006. The PS3 competes most directly with the Xbox 360. Both are high-powered consoles that have sold well to gaming enthusiasts, but neither has matched the casual appeal and rapid success of the much cheaper Wii. 

More at the Financial Times.

Tags: blu-ray, microsoft, playstation 3, sony, wii, xbox 360

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Desktops, Displays, Media PCs

Acer believes you’re seeking a PC with a Blu-ray drive and formidable storage space so you can watch hours and hours of high definition video. That’s why it’s introducing the AX3200 desktop (suggested retail: $679.99) and the P244W 24-inch 1080p LCD display ($399) — to fill that consumer electronics-shaped hole that you didn’t even know existed within you. The compact desktop sports an AMD Phenom X3 8450 triple-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, and NVIDIA’s GeForce 8200 integrated graphics chip. The graphics solution won’t rev up the frames in modern computer games — especially not at the P244W’s 1920 x 1080 resolution — but it′ll do fine for watching movies, and there are tons of great Blu-ray releases out there by now, right? Right?

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Original post by Samuel Axon

Filed under: Laptops

Well the rumoratti has certainly been working overtime today when it comes to Apple, so we′ve decided to bundle all the news that’s currently doing the rounds into one tasty and nutritious post.

First up, there are new — and quite detailed — pictures out of what appears to be those MacBook and MacBook Pro casings we saw during the week. Again, we can’t 100 percent confirm that these are the real deal, but they certainly have that Air-meets-MacBook hybrid quality to them that would suggest we’re looking at the next iteration of the line.

Secondly, Apple has gone and published a support document for the “MacBook/MacBook Pro (Late 2008)” — which suggests (gasp!) that there might be some late 2008 refreshes in our future. Oh really? Weird.

Rounding out the excitement, AppleInsider “confirms” the rumor that the new MacBooks will jettison the integrated Intel graphics which previous models have used in favor of NVIDIA’s MCP79 platform. The new GPUs apparently use a new set of GeForce 9300 and 9400 chips that will make previous performance look archaic by comparison. Additionally, according to hotshot Mac rumor specialist Kevin Rose, the new systems will support Blu-ray drives, thus finally allowing you to watch season 4 of Lost the way the lord intended it.

As with all rumors, you can never really know which one of these is going to stick, but luckily we won’t have to wait very long to get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, feel free to peruse the various links below and soak in the sweet, sweet gossip.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Leaked MacBook / MacBook Pro casing photos
Read - Apple Document Confirms MacBook/MacBook Pro (Late 2008)
Read - Apple dumping Intel chipsets for NVIDIA’s in new MacBooks
Read - Kevin Rose drops MacBook Blu-Ray Rumor at Live Diggnation event

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky