31-Oct-06 17:52:00
Filed under: Features, Gaming
Surely so, this morning we flipped the switch on our Xbox 360 and were able to download the fall update which, among other things, enables HD DVD, 1080p support, and Windows Media Connect media sharing. We were obviously unable to test the HD DVD support, but we did snag a few shots of 1080p in action, as well as the new media sharing capabilities. Oh, and we do apologize for the (usual) crappiness of our pics -- LED DLP displays really don't photograph very well.
The update took only a moment to download. Then again, we wouldn't have really expected it to be 80MB or anything.
Aaaand a quick restart.
We dashed straight to the display menu to enable 1080p on our 1080p-capable set. And what the hell, it worked fine -- even though on the menu system we so no discernible difference. (But really, why would we?) Oh, and don't mind those colors, like we said, LED DLPs photograph kinda funny.
See?...
Surely so, this morning we flipped the switch on our Xbox 360 and were able to download the fall update which, among other things, enables HD DVD, 1080p support, and Windows Media Connect media sharing. We were obviously unable to test the HD DVD support, but we did snag a few shots of 1080p in action, as well as the new media sharing capabilities. Oh, and we do apologize for the (usual) crappiness of our pics -- LED DLP displays really don't photograph very well.
The update took only a moment to download. Then again, we wouldn't have really expected it to be 80MB or anything.
Aaaand a quick restart.
We dashed straight to the display menu to enable 1080p on our 1080p-capable set. And what the hell, it worked fine -- even though on the menu system we so no discernible difference. (But really, why would we?) Oh, and don't mind those colors, like we said, LED DLPs photograph kinda funny.
See?...
Source: Engadget
31-Oct-06 16:35:00
Filed under: HDTV, Wireless
Six of the world's largest consumer electronics companies have joined with startup SiBEAM to form the WirelessHD interest group. They expect to complete the WiHD spec by spring of next year, using the unlicensed 60GHz frequency to stream digital information at multi-gigabit rates. The advantages of using SiBEAM's solution is that such chips can use higher power levels without overlapping other frequencies, yet are limited to a short range and won't penetrate walls. With the backing of LG, Matsushita (Panasonic), NEC, Sony and Toshiba, this standard could easily overtake WiFi- and UWB-based solutions others are working on. Its backers expect HDTVs, DVD players, receivers and other devices based on the technology to start rolling out in 2008, leaving us wondering: why can Sony and Toshiba cooperate on this high definition standard, but couldn't make Blu-ray and HD DVD work together?
[Via Yahoo News]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Link...
Six of the world's largest consumer electronics companies have joined with startup SiBEAM to form the WirelessHD interest group. They expect to complete the WiHD spec by spring of next year, using the unlicensed 60GHz frequency to stream digital information at multi-gigabit rates. The advantages of using SiBEAM's solution is that such chips can use higher power levels without overlapping other frequencies, yet are limited to a short range and won't penetrate walls. With the backing of LG, Matsushita (Panasonic), NEC, Sony and Toshiba, this standard could easily overtake WiFi- and UWB-based solutions others are working on. Its backers expect HDTVs, DVD players, receivers and other devices based on the technology to start rolling out in 2008, leaving us wondering: why can Sony and Toshiba cooperate on this high definition standard, but couldn't make Blu-ray and HD DVD work together?
[Via Yahoo News]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Link...
Source: Engadget
30-Oct-06 20:09:33
We're eagerly waiting for the day the Wii hits store shelves, but till then, we have to satisfy our craving with news like this. The UK's EDGE magazine has lifted the curtain on Nintendo's plans to release a premium Wii with DVD movie playback. The Premium Wii will only be available in Japan and it won't be of the Blu-ray or HD DVD variety, but having the ability to play regular DVDs on the Wii is an add-on we wouldn't mind having. – Louis Ramirez
Nintendo Wiis on European DVD Hopes [via T3]
Nintendo Wiis on European DVD Hopes [via T3]
Source: Gizmodo
30-Oct-06 17:49:00
Filed under: Gaming, HDTV
Microsoft has finally seen fit to release the details of its Xbox 360 dashboard update. Scheduled for release the morning of October 31st -- yes, that's tomorrow -- the update will add the much-talked about 1080p / HD DVD support, as well as the ability to play WMV files from a connected PC, disc, or USB storage device. Currently, users can only stream video from connected Windows Media Center PCs, but any XP machine running Windows Media Connect or Windows Media Player 11 should be able to do it post-update, as demonstrated during a press conference in Japan with several 720p-encoded videos. This compares to the PlayStation 3's recently-revealed compatibility with MPEG-4 and other video files, but so far neither has announced support for DivX / Xvid and Media Transcode 360 still requires Media Center. Apparently only 84 things needed fixing this time, down from the 125 in the spring update, including the option to automatically download demos of new Xbo...
Microsoft has finally seen fit to release the details of its Xbox 360 dashboard update. Scheduled for release the morning of October 31st -- yes, that's tomorrow -- the update will add the much-talked about 1080p / HD DVD support, as well as the ability to play WMV files from a connected PC, disc, or USB storage device. Currently, users can only stream video from connected Windows Media Center PCs, but any XP machine running Windows Media Connect or Windows Media Player 11 should be able to do it post-update, as demonstrated during a press conference in Japan with several 720p-encoded videos. This compares to the PlayStation 3's recently-revealed compatibility with MPEG-4 and other video files, but so far neither has announced support for DivX / Xvid and Media Transcode 360 still requires Media Center. Apparently only 84 things needed fixing this time, down from the 125 in the spring update, including the option to automatically download demos of new Xbo...
Source: Engadget
27-Oct-06 15:10:39
Bypass the Blu-ray and HD DVD "revolution" altogether with the Dcube Mvision, an HD DivX player that can also play ripped DVD files from its hard disk. This setup box plays back DivX, OGG, WMA, WMV and MP3 files from its internal hard disk, and sends Dolby 5.1 sound through optical and coaxial ports, too.
So where would you get the HD files for this thing? That's up to you, but we've heard of a little thing called BitTorrent that might be able to help. Grab those files from the Interwebs on your PC and transfer them to this unit via that LAN port in the back. There's everything you need back there, well, except an HDMI port, but you can use a DVI-to-HDMI adapter for that, and hook this up to your HDTV.
Lots more pics and commentary, after the jump.
This is the way HDTV will be viewed in the future, not with physical media. If Dcube could just manage to bring its ambitious little Mvision box to these shores, we'll be all set. No pricing or delivery date was...
So where would you get the HD files for this thing? That's up to you, but we've heard of a little thing called BitTorrent that might be able to help. Grab those files from the Interwebs on your PC and transfer them to this unit via that LAN port in the back. There's everything you need back there, well, except an HDMI port, but you can use a DVI-to-HDMI adapter for that, and hook this up to your HDTV.
Lots more pics and commentary, after the jump.
This is the way HDTV will be viewed in the future, not with physical media. If Dcube could just manage to bring its ambitious little Mvision box to these shores, we'll be all set. No pricing or delivery date was...
Source: Gizmodo
26-Oct-06 22:24:16
As promised earlier today, I interviewed Fabio at the Geek Squad event yesterday. Here's some highlights.
•Fabio likes his Macs. He uses Final Cut Pro to edit video he does for TV, but is using a G4. WTF? He'll spring for a MacPro soon, though, he assured me.
•The dude is an old school gadget geek; he used to own an Amiga. Can you picture him tinkering away on an Amiga?
As the video above shows, he also knows how to solder...
•He's got a ridiculous A/V system, complete with 15 ft. x 7 ft. screen, powered by a Ronco HD projector. He's also keen on Krell.
•He's not a fan of either HD DVD or Blu-ray.
•He called the Xbox 360 "incredible." He's not really a fan of today's video games, however, but is completely blown away by the graphics. Then he went off on some weird tangent about how he and Hulk Hogan were the first real people on the cover of a video game box.
Now, what you've all been waiting for... ...
Source: Gizmodo
26-Oct-06 20:33:28
Okay folks, it's polarization time. Since we hang around, drinking beers and monkeying with gadgets all day and spontaneously erupt into typeage from time to time, it's our job to keep our fingers on the pulse of what's sizzlin' and what's fizzlin'.
While you're working away at your worthwhile jobs, we'll continue sorting out the coolness from the lukewarm for you. Of course, the following list is full of half-baked opinions, but they're probably right. Read along, get angry or applaud, but here it is, in honor of Picasso's birthday yesterday (10/25/06): The Old In/Out.
Fizzlin' Sizzlin'
iPod Zune
Core 2 Quad Core
Plasma LCD
Factory-Installed GPS Portable GPS
KRZR iPhone
HD DVD Blu-ray
Physical Media BitTorrent
WiFi EV-DO Rev A
PS3 Wii
Bikini Boobkini
Forty more, after the jump!
Prints LED Picture Frames
Firefox 2 IE7
Exploding Liquids Exploding Batteries...
While you're working away at your worthwhile jobs, we'll continue sorting out the coolness from the lukewarm for you. Of course, the following list is full of half-baked opinions, but they're probably right. Read along, get angry or applaud, but here it is, in honor of Picasso's birthday yesterday (10/25/06): The Old In/Out.
Fizzlin' Sizzlin'
iPod Zune
Core 2 Quad Core
Plasma LCD
Factory-Installed GPS Portable GPS
KRZR iPhone
HD DVD Blu-ray
Physical Media BitTorrent
WiFi EV-DO Rev A
PS3 Wii
Bikini Boobkini
Forty more, after the jump!
Prints LED Picture Frames
Firefox 2 IE7
Exploding Liquids Exploding Batteries...
Source: Gizmodo
25-Oct-06 22:35:00
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
A media rep for the Blu-ray Disc Association recently sent us an email mentioning the Philips BDP9000/37 in it, and we couldn't find any retailers selling it at the time. Well today we're getting reports on the availability of the player at Wal-mart for only $898, apparently already shipping. Most other major big box and online retailers -- we checked Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon, Target, Buy.com, and Newegg -- either don't have it listed at all, or have it for pre-order only. A post at AVS Forum notes that some Wal-mart stores may simply be selling the player before its potential release date of November 1st, so potential buyers should move quickly in case this was a mistake. There's also some confusion as to whether the box is just a rebranded Samsung BD-P1000, or if it has different parts inside; the consensus so far seems to be that it uses the same reference design but with different video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) components (...
A media rep for the Blu-ray Disc Association recently sent us an email mentioning the Philips BDP9000/37 in it, and we couldn't find any retailers selling it at the time. Well today we're getting reports on the availability of the player at Wal-mart for only $898, apparently already shipping. Most other major big box and online retailers -- we checked Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon, Target, Buy.com, and Newegg -- either don't have it listed at all, or have it for pre-order only. A post at AVS Forum notes that some Wal-mart stores may simply be selling the player before its potential release date of November 1st, so potential buyers should move quickly in case this was a mistake. There's also some confusion as to whether the box is just a rebranded Samsung BD-P1000, or if it has different parts inside; the consensus so far seems to be that it uses the same reference design but with different video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) components (...
Source: Engadget
25-Oct-06 22:35:00
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
A media rep for the Blu-ray Disc Association recently sent us an email mentioning the Philips BDP9000/37 in it, and we couldn't find any retailers selling it at the time. Well today we're getting reports on the availability of the player at Wal-mart for only $898, apparently already shipping. Most other major big box and online retailers -- we checked Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon, Target, Buy.com, and Newegg -- either don't have it listed at all, or have it for pre-order only. A post at AVS Forum notes that some Wal-mart stores may simply be selling the player before its potential release date of November 1st, so potential buyers should move quickly in case this was a mistake. There's also some confusion as to whether the box is just a rebranded Samsung BD-P1000, or if it has different parts inside; the consensus so far seems to be that it uses the same reference design but with different video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) components (...
A media rep for the Blu-ray Disc Association recently sent us an email mentioning the Philips BDP9000/37 in it, and we couldn't find any retailers selling it at the time. Well today we're getting reports on the availability of the player at Wal-mart for only $898, apparently already shipping. Most other major big box and online retailers -- we checked Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon, Target, Buy.com, and Newegg -- either don't have it listed at all, or have it for pre-order only. A post at AVS Forum notes that some Wal-mart stores may simply be selling the player before its potential release date of November 1st, so potential buyers should move quickly in case this was a mistake. There's also some confusion as to whether the box is just a rebranded Samsung BD-P1000, or if it has different parts inside; the consensus so far seems to be that it uses the same reference design but with different video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) components (...
Source: Engadget
25-Oct-06 21:16:47
The Phantom Lapboard keyboard and mouse keeps coming back to haunt us, and now it's received a shot in the arm from Alienware, vowing to ship the input devices with its Media Center PCs. We've seen the Phantom before, first offered as wireless input devices for a hybrid PC console gaming system nearly 3 years ago.
But still, this might be a good keyboard/mouse combo for those smart folks who are bypassing physical media such as Blu-ray, HD DVD and DVDs, putting a PC in their home theaters and watching their movies via video files. With the Phantom's 2.4GHz RF wireless capability, that noisy PC can be 32 feet away, no Bluetooth required.
A revealing video and some mildly caustic commentary, after the jump.
Too bad there's no backlighting for the keyboard—a must in home theaters with projectors—and unless your home theater has armless chairs, a Bluetooth mouse would suffice. Anyway, it looks cool. – Charlie White
Pha...
But still, this might be a good keyboard/mouse combo for those smart folks who are bypassing physical media such as Blu-ray, HD DVD and DVDs, putting a PC in their home theaters and watching their movies via video files. With the Phantom's 2.4GHz RF wireless capability, that noisy PC can be 32 feet away, no Bluetooth required.
A revealing video and some mildly caustic commentary, after the jump.
Too bad there's no backlighting for the keyboard—a must in home theaters with projectors—and unless your home theater has armless chairs, a Bluetooth mouse would suffice. Anyway, it looks cool. – Charlie White
Pha...
Source: Gizmodo
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