The deal with Starz that gives Netflix (and us) streaming access to newer movies apparently arched a lot of eyebrows, and even Netflix admitted it's gonna have to start getting permission directly for studios—probably paying more for the movies. It's also gotta fight the entrenched window system, the strange path a movie follows from theatrical release to DVD to HBO to cable, which is how movie studios continue to pull profits out of a movie long after it leaves the big screen.

BusinessWeek makes it clear it's not gonna be easy. But that just means I'll be watching fewer movies. [BW]

What It Can Do

Play HD Video
Like it's predecessor, the R3610's handling of HD video is impressive for such an inexpensive machine. I watched plenty of downloaded 1080p video and playback was generally smooth. This is where the AspireRevo really shines.

Casual Gaming
This isn't a system for serious gaming, but for casual gamers that don't need the graphics cranked up to the max, the AspireRevo delivers thanks to the inclusion of NVIDIA Ion. With the settings set at a low but acceptable 1024x768 resolution, I was able to play World of Warcraft with no problems at all. Of course, the game is five years old and designed to be easy on the graphics.

Networking
The AspireRevo features 802.11b/g/Draft-N connectivity, so it does a great job of streaming media. If you need more storage than the 160GB on board, you can easily connect the Revo to a network-attached storage device if you decide to go that route.

Ports, Ports and More Ports
So yeah, six USB 2.0 ports on this thing. It also has HDMI, VGA, a media card reader, eSATA and S/PDIF. Basically, everything you need and then some.

What It Can't Do

Multitasking
The R35610 has a beefier processor this time around (Dual Core Atom 330), but let's not kid ourselves into thinking that this nettop is going to satisfy the hardcore crowd. I experienced some sluggish loading times—especially when multiple programs were running.

Play Blu-ray or DVDs
If you want to play Blu-ray movies or DVDs, it ain't gonna happen without a built-in optical drive. You will have to buy that separately.

TV Tuning
There is no TV tuner or CableCARD on board, so you will need a USB adapter for DVR functionality. Fortunately, you will probably have a free port.

What Needs Tweaking

Internet HD Playback
Until Adobe releases Flash 10.1, which includes support for NVIDIA Ion graphics acceleration, you are going to have to deal with some choppy video from sites like Hulu and YouTube. It's a massively annoying problem, but only a temporary one. I'm impatient, so I went ahead and downloaded the 10.1 beta, which seemed to remedy the situation quite well.

Web Surfing
The AspireRevo R3610 isn't the kind of computer I would rely on for power web surfing. I encountered problems with web pages sticking, choking or freezing altogether. On several occasions, the whole computer seemed to lock up. I could still control my mouse, but there was no response to clicks or commands. Sometimes this issue resolved itself, other times I did a hard reboot out of frustration.

However, things improved after I loaded Flash 10.1 and lessened the load on the GPU by disabling the Windows 7 Aero interface. Browsing seems a bit snappier and I haven't experienced the mysterious lock up issue since, but it's still not perfect. Chrome seemed to run the best when compared to IE and Firefox, but I still experience hiccups. For example, Google Wave is almost unusable on all three browsers (Yes, I actually use Google Wave).

Conclusion

If you are looking for a budget desktop computer, the AspireRevo R3610 will do the job as long as you are not pushing its limits. However, it's best to play to the strengths here and use it as an HTPC. The R3610 is small enough to tuck behind your TV, it handles HD video admirably, and the inclusion of Flash 10.1 will get the most out of NVIDIAs graphics acceleration, thereby overcoming the problems you will experience out of the box with streaming internet video.

The Windows 7 experience is decent, and you will be able to enjoy all of the benefits of Windows Media Center, but you may need to sacrifice graphics features like Aero in order to optimize performance. Still, I would say that the AspireRevo R3610 is a definite "buy" for anyone looking to get an HTPC on a budget. [Acer]

Sony was firm for a long time on not dipping below an MSRP of $300 to battle cheap Chinese players, but already by the end of last year, the Chinese manufacturers were losing just as much money as the big guys like Samsung. The chart, using data from the Envisioneering Group in the WSJ article, shows the average price of players for each format in the years following their launch—DVD in 1997, Blu-ray in 2006.

It just stands to reason if we're not going to spend as much time watching Blu-ray as we did DVD—considering all of the other places we can watch video that's easier good enough—we're probably not gonna pay as much for it. As awesome as Avatar may be, I'm not really sure if 3D's gonna change that fact, at least not in our tiny living rooms. [WSJ, Chart Data by Envisioneering Group]

Thankfully LG didn't compromise on diagonal size, with this prototype coming in at 42-inches. It's LED-backlit, with a 120Hz processor (for the US market, anyway) and apparently only weighs 4 kilograms.

Please excuse me while I fall over in shock. [I4U]

If XpanD, the company behind the 3D glasses for Avatar is anything to go by, the price of fancy shutter glasses will start at around $70 a pair, and top out at around $150. XpanD claims that two pairs of their glasses will be bundled with 3D sets from Panasonic, LG, Sony and Vizio due out next year. The additional costs kick in when you need to buy extra pairs.

The mock up above is just a glimpse of what XpanD has planned, but rest assured, you will probably look like an idiot until technologies that don't require glasses come into their own. [DVICE]

Making it easy for everyone to adopt 3D entertainment, good ol' Sony has worked it so that the PS3 will be able to play 3D Blu-ray discs, and the upcoming 3D players will be able to play 2D discs too. In regards to codecs, these discs will use Multiview Video Coding (or MVC), which is similar to the ITU-T H.264 AVC codec we use now, and will actually take up 50 per cent less space on the discs compared to 2D content.

Again clearing up any questions we may've had about 3D Blu-rays, the content will be full 1080p, so even though you're watching in 3D, the quality of the resolution won't be compromised. Expect to see some massive announcements from manufacturers and movie studios next month, including exactly what LG's going to sell in order to reach that 3.8m 3D TV units sold target. [BDA]

Consider the big picture laid out in the WSJ piece: Blu-ray, as a format, despite costing more per individual movie, only pulls around 14 percent of the revenue that DVD does. If you compare the formats at the same year in their life cycle, Blu-ray, in its fourth year, only has revenues that are about a quarter of what DVD made in its fourth year. Hrm, I guess those Flipper discs make a lot more sense now. [WSJ]

Features Include:

* 4.3 inch touch-color LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 272
* ARM9 processor
* 1GB flash
* 256MB SDRAM
* Built-in speaker and microphone
* 3-axis motion sensor
* Ambient light sensor
* Capacitive buttons
* Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2
* Microsoft Media Center support
* Support for 100 devices
* Activity and learning function
* Rechargeable 3760 mAh battery
* Firmware upgrade and rechargeable from mini-USB
* 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
* Z-Wave
* Photo Sync from live.com

No word on pricing yet, but I'm sure it's not going to be cheap. Kind of absurd really, when you consider that a smarpthone and a standard remote can handle much of this functionality (not to mention an inexpensive HTPC). [SIlver PAC via Krunker]

The Ballerina Sweetspot is designed to be the ultimate music lover's chair. It features a thin headrest to accommodate headphones and prevent the reflection of sound, memory foam to cushion the body, hollow armrests to neatly hold controls and an aluminum frame that supposedly reduces sonic vibration.

I highly doubt that a chair like this will enhance the listening experience enough to justify the $8000 price tag, but, again, people have a thing about chairs. And audiophiles, like CEOs, are probably willing to pay for the best of the best. [Klutz Design via AV Guide via Audio Junkies via Unplggd]

With an integrated DVD player (remember when they were all the rage?) it's very much styled at those who'd want to slip a copy of Hannah Montana inside. Images are thrown up in a 50-inch diagonal, and while it won't impress Mr Home Cinema Buff, it might just keep his children happy for a few (quiet) hours. Available now for £159.99 (around $260), it's from the guys who came up with one of the first pico-projectors. [Firebox]

I say that because HTPCs have never been smaller, cheaper or more powerful. A little over two years ago, we were talking about how purchasing an HD-capable PC would leave you with an empty bank account. Take this Sony Vaio TP1 for example. The wheel of cheese design was considered compact and "living room friendly" at the time, but it is still probably twice as big as current nettop models. The specs are lacking even by 2007 standards and it started at $1600. Today I can easily go out and find a more powerful, feature rich nettop for less than $400. And it would be small enough to tuck behind your HDTV due, in part, to cheap, compact, graphics-friendly chipsets like Nvidia Ion.

Today's Most Affordable HTPCs

Seriously...HTPCs for less than $400. Sure, you could spend a lot of cash on something more elaborate, and will have to if you want to access your own digital cable stream, or if you want to go with Blu-ray as your high-def source of choice, but if you simply want a compact 1080p device that competently opens up the entire internet to your HDTV, here is a good place to start:

• Dell Zino HD: The cheapest of the bunch at a base price of $230, the Dell Zino HD offers a range of AMD Athlon processor options, up to a 1TB HDD, up to 8GB of RAM and a choice between integrated graphics and an ATI Radeon HD 4330 512MB card. Plus you get HDMI, four USB ports, and two eSATA for easy expansion. Even with a few bells and whistles like a dual-core processor, a bump in RAM to 4GB or a boost in the HDD capacity, you can keep the Zino under $400. Adding a Blu-ray drive bumps the price up an additional $100. [Dell]

• Acer AspireRevo R6310: Features include a dual-core 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor, Nvidia Ion graphics, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, HDMI, eSATA, VGA, 6 USB ports, card reader and wireless-N in a $330 package. They even throw in a wireless keyboard and mouse for good measure. I have spent some time with the AspireRevo, and I can say that it is a very capable HTPC for the money. Power web surfing can be sluggish at times, as is Flash playback—but Adobe has promised support for NVIDIA graphics acceleration in Flash 10.1 that should remedy that situation. All-in-all though, it handles video quite well. It does not include optical drive option, meaning you will have to purchase a Blu-ray player seperately. [Acer]

• Asus EeeBox EB1012: A release date and price have not officially been confirmed, but the EeeBox EB1012 offers basically the exact same feature set as the AspireRevo—minus a USB port or two. Hopefully, when it is released, the price point will be even more aggressive than Acer's. It does not include optical drive option, meaning you will have to purchase a Blu-ray player separately. [Asus]

As a side note, if you are interested in using a CableCard tuner to turn your PC into a cable DVR, that has become a lot easier for the average Joe. However, programs like Comcast's upcoming Xfinity (formerly known as TV Everywhere) might easily bridge this gap by putting your current cable subscription online. Check out my article on living without cable or satellite to learn more about what programming and software is available to you online.

Remotes

None of the HTPCs mentioned above come with a remote control out of the box, but this can be easily and cheaply remedied. Most infrared remotes require only that you have a free USB port for the included adapter, so just about any PC with Windows Media Center can be converted to work with a remote.

If you are just looking for something basic, a remote like the MCE PC will do the job just fine—and it costs under $20. If you have an iPhone, you can also download apps like AirMouse (iTunes link) and MediaMote (iTunes link) to handle these tasks. Gmote is also available for those of you with Android phones.

Networking

Keep in mind that if your modem is far from your computer, and you'll be relying on Wi-Fi to connect to the internet and move files between computers, you are probably going to want something capable of handling wireless-N (802.11n). Fortunately, all of the PCs mentioned above can do that right out of the box—although the Dell Zino requires a $45 upgrade for that option.

If you want to upgrade an older PC to handle wireless-N, all you need is a compatible router and a USB adapter. Decent wireless-N routers will run you about $60 on the lower end, and compatible USB adapters can be had for an additional $30 or $40 bucks. If you just plan on connecting to the internet and you live in a smaller home or apartment, you should be fine with 802.11g.

Networked Storage

Although not an essential component to owning an HTPC, at some point you are probably going to want a networked storage solution so you can dump all of your files in one place. Traditionally, setting up a home server to centrally store files from multiple computers (and multiple platforms, potentially) required another major investment, but things have definitely improved in this area. For example, HP's LX195 Windows Home Server with a 640GB drive can be had for $250, and it performs quite well for the price. The same can be said for the Iomega Ix2-200 NAS. It runs on Iomega's proprietary software as opposed to Windows Home Server, but for the money, it has a killer feature set that makes it a pretty awesome deal. Capacity runs up to 4TB, but the base delivers 1TB at $270 and it is user-expandable.

Even if you want to bake your own NAS server there is open-source software like FreeNAS that can help to keep the costs down. Maximum PC has provided a great guide to building a NAS server using these free open source tools. If you have the hardware lying around, it's not going to cost a penny. Either way, building from scratch can be fairly inexpensive depending on how much storage space you need.

Avoid Expensive Set-Top Boxes

Amusingly enough, as I was writing this article, my father called to ask me about the Roku player his IT guy was raving about. Yes, Roku's three models are priced between $80 and $130, a figure even the cheapest HTPCs can't match, but the fact that they are still limited to Netflix and Amazon On Demand makes them less valuable. Would you say that Netflix and Amazon VOD are worth $130 of the AspireRevo's $330 price tag? I should hope not.

There are certainly good reasons to pick up a $100 HD media streamer, like the Asus O!Play, if you're aware of the limitations, but what's the excuse for Apple TV and others like it? Apple's set-top box costs $229. I have iTunes on my HTPC...so where is the value? Throw an HDMI port on a Mac Mini and then we'll talk. The $300 Popcorn Hour player may play a ton of file formats and have an integrated BitTorrent client, but you have to pay extra to add a hard drive, and by the time you do, you're squarely in HTPC territory.

To me, spending a little more actually saves money, because I don't need to buy so many competing boxes. It's like going to the grocery store and choosing between the regular-sized bag of coffee and the jumbo bag of coffee. The smaller bag costs lest money, but buying in bulk is cheaper pound for pound—and you know I will be drinking all of that coffee.

HTPCs Are Resilient

Forget about netbooks and elaborate set-top media boxes this holiday season. If your budget is anywhere over $300, go with an HTPC. Set-top boxes will always hold you to whatever content deals their makers can set in place (or whatever you can go through the trouble of hacking or modding in, yourself). And I'm not interested in netbooks until they handle HD well enough to be used as a portable HTPC.

It's only a matter of time before everyone watches TV through the internet, so you had better get on the bandwagon while cable companies are still scrambling to figure out how best to screw you. No matter how weird it gets, at least with a PC you know you'll be able to roll with it.

The regulator is seeking comments "on how to encourage innovation," which basically means how to move past the total failure of the CableCARD system and on to something that will democratize how and where you can access cable video streams. If you're never heard about the CableCARD system, it's effectively the only thing keeping you from using your Xbox 360 as a DVR. A potential change could
open up cable signals to all devices, including your TiVo and Xbox 360.

And until very recently, you couldn't even get your Windows PC to be a DVR unless you bought it OEM from HP or Dell or someone, where they would install the CableCARD for you at the time of purchase. Quite opposite from the way people pictured CableCARDs would work—and how it will work shortly.

Just how bad is it? Ars Technica points out that in the FCC report, a grand total of fourteen non-leased set top boxes were available in the US at retail in 2008. That means that nearly every set-top box in the US is leased by a cable company, allowing them virtually unlimited pricing control and no incentive to innovate. Compare that to the 879 devices for sale in the truly competitive mobile industry, and you can see just how throttled the market is by the cable industry.

There's no telling what exactly is going to happen here, but at the very least it's good to see the FCC continuing their push for openness and sanity. We've waited long enough for something that's really not too much to ask. [ars technica]

As it turns out, Xfinity is just a rebranding of TV Everywhere—a free service that allows you to play your tv content on up to three authenticated internet devices. We already knew that would be rolling out in December, but Zats has specified an exact date of December 12th.

As for remote DVR scheduling, details are a little hazier. Comcast has "promised" that the feature is on the horizon, but no specific dates have been announced. [Zats]

When the police arrived, the man, identified as Jerome Charles Eberle, ran through the store while swinging the hammer at the officers. Eventually, they brought him down with a Taser. Eberle claims that he only remembers parts of the incident inside Target, and he is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation. And you thought retail Frankenstein attacks would only happen on Black Friday. [MyFox9 via Fark Image via Flickr]

I'm not sure whether or not the sound quality of the Opere Sonore speakers justify such a price tag, but it does bring back priceless memories of reading comic books in the early '90s for some reason. [W3sh via BornRich]

According to the list, if you are looking for a 1080p HDTV over 40-inches, you definitely have some options: like a 42-inch Panasonic VIERA plasma for $712 (with coupon code and price protection adjustment, see list for details) and a 50-inch Panasonic plasma for $1096 (Buy.com, after the jump). Not only the list save you time, it will help you avoid wasting money on a bad deal. In fact, HD Guru confided in us that "most of the other so called sales are BS." That's not really surprising when you consider that the same could be said for Black Friday deals. [HD Guru]

The Blackbody is a high-tech audio accessory which greatly enhances your audio playback experience by addressing the interaction of your audio gear's circuitry with ambient electromagnetic phenomena and modifying this interplay. The Blackbody takes advantage of the quantum nature of particle interaction, and is therefore able to permeate metal, plastic, wood, and other barriers to affect the circuitry inside your components. This altered electromagnetic influence results in profoundly improved sound quality.

Basically, it cleans up audio imperfections that may or may not arise from your gear's interaction with ambient electromagnetic phenomena. Supposedly, this creates a super-clean sound that even "non-audiophiles" can appreciate. Oh, and did I mention that it costs $959? Sounds like a scam to me, but then again, I'm not the person to ask about the validity of this technology. If you are, take a look at the product page and let us all know if it's actually real science. [LessLoss via Engadget]

Let me explain: the menu screen for Never Been Kissed appears momentarily when the disc is loaded, then reverts to the standard Fight Club menu. It's actually a brilliantly hilarious gag perpetrated by director David Fincher for the release. Not only are the two movies polar opposites of one another, but Never Been Kissed outgrossed Fight Club when both movies were released in 1999. To her credit, Drew has a good sense of humor about the whole thing. As a producer on the film, she gave the go-ahead for the prank. [A.V. Club via Yahoo Movies]

Actually, I'm not sure if this flowchart makes anything easier. In the end it might just make fun of you and bring you back to square one. Still, there is some useful information in there if you are willing to go on the journey.

Make sure to click on the image to see the full size chart. [Gliffy]

In case you forgot, Sezmi plans to roll up live broadcast and cable TV along with web videos, on demand-movies and DVR functionality in a single, easy to navigate set-top box. Needless to say, this is a tall order, and most of us probably relegated Sezmi to the vaporware bin. However, trials of the product have begun in LA and a $25 million cash infusion from investors has given the project new life. In fact, it seems that Sezmi spent the last year working out deals with the likes of Sony Pictures, MGM Studios, Paramount Studios, Warner Brothers, Lion's Gate Entertainment and Universal Studios for on demand streaming, and ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, Turner, MTV Networks Discovery Channel, Telemundo and Univision for TV content.

Sezmi plans to offer a tiered pricing plan that starts with Sezmi Select, the entry tier, which will offer all local channels (in SD and HD) as well as access to on-demand content for $4.99 per month. Sezmi Supreme will include cable and local channels for $24.99 per month.

If you are interested in participating in the trial, you can apply for the LA pilot here. If you are lucky enough to get in, the equipment and the service will be free of charge for three months, after which you will be offered a discounted price on the DVR and tuners which normally runs $300. [Sezmi via Variety and Zats]

The product page doesn't mention the actual size of the screen, but you would surely burn to death trying to watch anything on this. Outside of that bizarre addition, the Poseidon from Chillchaser has a lot going for it. Features include: carbon fiber heating tubes that reduce power consumption and cut emissions by up to 50%, it uses a standard 220 - 240V electric supply instead of gas, 13-foot heating area at 110 degree angle, replaceable elements will last up to 8000 hours, safety auto-shut off, and durable all-weather construction.

Poseidon will set you back around $1419, but you could always forgo the useless media player and spend half that or less on Chillchasers other models. [Chillchaser via Appliancist]

In other words, bumping up the refresh rates beyond 60 Hz may have eliminated the problem of motion blur, but some complain that the activation of the ME/MC circuit that kicks in when LCD sets achieve these high refresh rates desegregates the picture. As the video put together by HDGuru illustrates, this is a very real problem.

That having been said, LCD buyers have a few options. Most sets offer an option to turn off ME/MC, although that will result in lower motion resolution. You could also opt for a plasma set that doesn't suffer from this issue. It also reinforces a point I made with yesterday's article—you don't need to spend extra money on a LCD just because it advertises 240Hz. You probably won't see any additional benefit with that set than you would with one that tops out at 120 Hz. Check out HDGuru for the full details and results of the test. [HDGuru]

The HDTVs included models from the top-tier brands of (alphabetically) LG, Samsung, Sharp and Sony - from the mid-line to top-of-the-line models. All of the units were from the 2008 model year. Differences between the 2008 and 2009 models are primarily in their marketing hype. For this article we had three flagship top-of-the line LCD models from Samsung (LN-T5281F), Sharp (LC-52D92U) and Sony (KDL-52XBR4). By studying the top-of-the-line models from the market leaders we were assured of examining the state-of-the-art for each display technology and each manufacturer. The consumer mid-line models included LG (42LG50), Samsung (LN40A550P3F), and Sony (KDL-40V3000). The remaining two LCD units were consumer HDTVs but not commercially available models.

The top-of-the-line Sony XBR and Sharp units had 120 Hz screen refresh, the top-of-the-line Samsung had strobed LED backlighting, and all of the other units had standard 60 Hz screen refresh. The goal was to determine the degree to which this varied advanced technology affected visible motion blur.

DisplayMate analyzed the blur using moving test patterns, moving photographs and live video (a Nikon D90 DSLR with a shutter speed of 1/160th a second was used for the photography) and found that no actual motion blur detectable in any of the live video content—although there were incidents that were passed off as defects in the source video or temporary optical illusions.

After extensive side-by-side objective testing with moving test patterns, moving photographs and live video we found that there was no visually detectable difference in motion blur performance for current mid to top-of-the-line LCD HDTVs, regardless of their Response Time, 60 or 120 Hz refresh rates, strobed LED backlighting, or motion enhancement processing. While there was considerable motion blur in the moving test patterns, motion blur was simply not visually detectable in real live video content during our extensive side-by-side testing. With only a handful of minor exceptions, whenever blur was seen in live video we always found it to be in the source content or a temporary visual illusion that disappeared when the segments in question were reviewed. This is undoubtedly due to the way the brain processes and extracts essential information from dynamic and complex moving images.

In other words, DisplayMate thinks you are probably seeing things. Don't be fooled by manufacturers charging extra for fancy motion blur technologies or claims of exceptional response times. If you purchased a mid to top tier model you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Of course, this test doesn't remotely cover all of the LCD brands out there, so I have to ask—based on your experience, do you believe that LCD makers have finally tamed the motion blur beast? [DisplayMate]

1. New Home Screen and Tweaked UI

The old home screen had a grid of categories, including Movies, TV, Music, Settings, etc. Now the home screen is horizontal, with all of those same categories running across. Besides mere orientation, the major difference is subtle: Apple TV anticipates what files you're going to want fastest, and puts them above the category in Cover Flow. Click the up arrow to get to the speed rack. The rest of the "new user interface" doesn't seem very new at all. Buffed a bit, shinier in places, but honestly, it's not full revision's worth of new user experience.

2. Genius DJ Playlists

My wife is a huge fan of the Genius option, because she doesn't want to spend an hour making a playlist, but she also doesn't want any of my unexpectedly angsty rock messing up her Beth Orton-fueled revery. Apple TV finally gets what a lot of Apple products have had for a while. Yippee.

3. Movie Extras and LP Compatibility

If you are so devoted to Apple's music and movie retail operation that you care about Extras and LP, visual portals that lead to the main content plus some token extra stuff, then you probably already are excited that Apple TV has this. As much as I am not into it myself, I do admit LP and Extras look much cooler on a TV than they do on a computer.

4. Improved Syncing

iTunes 9 means that, like the iPhone and iPod, there's more refined sync features—you could select particular movies before, but now you can select individual artists, specific TV episodes and iPhoto events as well as albums. This is closer to full manual control, but it's not full manual control.

5. Photos Still Require a Sync

I don't quite understand this quirk of Apple TV: While music and movies I don't sync to the local drive still appear as long as they're in iTunes on my Mac, the photos that live on that same Mac are off limits unless I physically sync them. The alternative is to share them via MobileMe, but that's not the same thing. This highlights an ongoing weirdness between iTunes and iPhoto that may never be resolved.

6. No DivX

"This file was not transferred because it is unable to be played on Apple TV." Steve Jobs once said that only 4% of music on iPods came from iTunes. A lot of movies that would be nice to play on Apple TV simply don't, while H.264 is an option on Handbrake and other personal-use DVD-encoding software, it's not the only game in town.

7. Not NAS Friendly

Assuming I play by the rules and rip all of my personal DVD in H.264 format, I still have to leave them on my laptop, or transfer them to the Apple TV's puny hard drive. Can I stick them on my 1TB NAS, or point the Apple TV to that same NAS to look for other compatible movies? Nope, I cannot.

8. USB Jack Still Unused

Speaking of terabytes, what the hell is that USB 2.0 drive for? It certainly isn't for USB drives, because whenever I connect one, nothing happens. Laptop users don't keep all their movies on their local drives, and many Apple TV drives are too damn small. I don't honestly see how a USB slot could be used for anything evil, and yet three generations of ATV OS have passed without firing it up.

9. Hardware Sluggish and Hot

Even when doing nothing, the Apple TV is still remarkably warm to the touch—the 3.0 update doesn't help that. What I did notice, though, was that the remote was sticky—I'd hear the little "bonk" when I'd push a button, but on many occasions, that was followed by a pause before the thing did anything. This led to several accidental double-taps. And that ain't right.

10. No Netflix or Pandora

Or any other cool third-party services for that matter. YouTube is still there, along with MobileMe and Flickr. And I can understand the conflict of interest in embedding Amazon VOD or CinemaNow or Rhapsody or Napster. But why can't we get some Netflix love? Or Pandora?

11. Too Much Emphasis on Spending Money

I have always felt that Apple TV's insistence on paying for content was crass, given the fact that it is supposed to be the extension of your music and movies on your TV. Don't get me wrong, I actually like that there's a movie rental option on it (and it's my understanding that many people who are drawn to Apple TV are excited because they don't have as much media of their own). But on your computer, you make a deliberate choice to enter the iTunes Store. On Apple TV, you're basically inside the store from the start.

12. Still Best for a 1:1 iTunes-to-TV Connection

I don't use Apple TV regularly. I tried, I swear I did. But the shortcomings I mentioned above eventually drove me from it screaming. There are other simpler and cheaper devices that do what I want in a way that may not be as pretty, but is actually more functional. Returning to Apple TV now, though, I recognize something Brian and I were chatting about earlier: If all you want is your iTunes experience quickly replicated on a TV, it's the perfect device.

As you can see, Apple TV 3.0 isn't some miracle that will suddenly make Apple TV more relevant. It's really a 2.5 if you think about what it does to improve functionality. We asked Apple for a briefing today, in hopes we'd get some idea of what makes this revision special, and no one was available to chat. Guess we'll have to wait for 3.0.1.

• CBS Audience Network: Featuring a variety of shows from CBS Primetime, Daytime, Extras, and TV Classics, including full-length episodes of current TV shows, CBS Classics TV shows, short clips, and Web originals.
• Full Zune Video Podcast Library: Thousands of hours of entertainment with full TV episodes, webisodes, clips, and videos from providers including ABC News, CBS News, CNBC, CNET TV, Comedy Central, Current TV, The Discovery Channel, Fox, G4 TV, HBO, MSNBC, NBC, Showtime, and Revision 3, along with some of the best user-generated videos on the Web. Some video podcasts are also available in HD.
• MSN and msnbc.com: Clips as well as full length episodes from TV shows such as Arrested Development, news and weather from MSNBC, editor picks and most popular videos, five day weather forecasts, news, video playlists, music videos, movie trailers and more.

If you haven't already noticed the upgrades in your Windows 7 Media Center menu, you can manually update by going into Tasks >>Settings >> General >> Automatic Download Options.

As illustrated in a few of our surveys, many of you have already made the jump, catching fresh TV via broadband instead of actual channels or even DVR. But the vast majority of us are still watching TV the old fashioned way—paying for packages from cable or satellite providers. But from what I've seen in my own house lately, I suspect that it won't be long before this practice is as archaic as owning a landline. Many of you refuse to pay for a phone twice, so why are you paying for two or three different ways to see your favorite TV shows?

There are, of course, drawbacks to a life without a broadcaster-friendly set-top box, so I spent a month trying to find out whether or not these drawbacks were significant enough to justify the huge additional cost.

The Experiment

Since this is Prof. Dealzmodo, you already know the impetus for this experiment was money. In particular my 12-month introductory package runs out soon, and the same channels will soon cost me nearly $80 per month. But why? The channel lineups are bloated and padded with filler—a veritable hot dog of entertainment where the real meat is mixed in with a lot of hooves and snouts. I mean, 70 music channels? Really? Isn't that what services like Pandora—and about 100 others—are for? Speaking of services, I decided to play it straight. I didn't get shows via BitTorrent. For a month, I simply used easily accessible, generally legal alternatives like Netflix, Hulu Desktop and network websites, plus Windows Media Center, which comes "free" with most PCs these days. The idea here is to prove that you don't need to spend tons of money, use complicated software or go to extreme measures to watch what you want.

Hardware

First let's talk about hardware. I don't see the point in spending money on niche players like Apple TV , Vudu, and Roku to get internet content onto your television. These players only handle a fraction of what any home theater PC can deliver. Also, sticking with a computer makes it easier to roll with new services and software platforms as they're released. (Hulu isn't on any set-top box yet, but it's available to every Mac and PC, in several ways.)

You don't need something elaborate here—an HTPC's main purpose is to browse the web and stream video. Just about any computer will do—including the old laptop you're thinking about replacing anyway. Back in the day, I used to attach my laptop to the TV with a simple S-video connection, but a lot of today's laptops and home-theater PCs make things extremely easy with an HDMI port.

If you don't have an HDMI port, there are simple workarounds. For older computers in general, there are DVI-to-HDMI (video only) and VGA-to-component cables are also doable for older PCs, and if you already have some video cables, there are adapters out there that might do the trick for less money. Owners of new Macs have to fudge a bit with Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI converters, but even those, from Monoprice and others, are getting better.

There are plenty of products out there designed for the home-theater market that cost less than $500—including the Asus' EEEBox line and the Lenovo IdeaCenter Q700. Plus, there is always the option of buying refurbished or upgrading a cheap PC yourself to control costs.

If you want to cheat and record broadcast shows, you still don't have to pay for cable—you can get an over-the-air HD TV tuner. Generally, a USB dongle TV tuner or PCI card like those from Hauppage will cost $100 or so, and they work reasonably well, though you may need an external antenna for best results. You don't have to pay for service, and you can be assured of local news and other local programming, if that's important to you. Just don't come crying to us if you can't get your rabbit ears into just the right position.

No matter what computer and accessories you use, the added cost will probably pay for itself pretty quickly when you start canceling all those expensive subscriptions. As I mentioned earlier, going broadband-only will save me about $80 a month in satellite fees—in 8 months, I will have recouped my $600 home-theater PC investment.

In the end, my entire monthly TV entertainment budget runs about $60—that's $50 for basic broadband plus $10 for Netflix. Compare that to the $140 I would have paid starting in February for the combination of all that plus DirecTV. (As a sports fan, there are online programs that I do pay extra for, but you get what you pay for—as you'll see below.)

How To Manage and Control Your TV Content

You will have to sacrifice the basic (if not exactly pretty) UI you are used to. Fortunately, things are getting better. Hulu Desktop looks more like what you would find with a broadcast set-top box, and with Windows Media Center, having Netflix and other plug-ins makes finding and watching on-demand shows a whole lot easier. And there's at least one new website, Clicker that is taking a crack at organizing internet content into an easy-to-use programming guide.

Fortunately, I managed to keep the number of remotes on my coffee table to a minimum. I have a Windows Media Center remote to handle Netflix, DVDs, Hulu Desktop and downloads. Mac users have their own little white remote which handles much of this functionality, too. (A wireless keyboard and mouse are essential for more intricate navigation and many PC functions, but those can stay out of sight for the most part.)

iPhone/iPod Touch apps like Air Mouse and iTunes Remote have made my iPhone an all-in-one solution for controlling my computer and its software.

Watching Your Favorite Shows

I'm not a TV addict by a long shot, but there are shows that I watch religiously. These shows include 30 Rock, Lost, Family Guy, Californication and Dexter. The following graph illustrates the pluses and minuses of viewing a handful of different shows—not just my favorites—from popular networks.

The newest episodes of many of these shows are on Hulu, which mostly hosts fresh content—there isn't a huge back catalog of shows. The catch with new shows, on Hulu or on network websites, is that you usually have to wait a day to see them. (For many DVR devotees, that's not a big deal anyway.)

It's also important to point out that certain networks tease their new seasons in many locations online—NBC has been offering free HD downloads of many new shows on iTunes, in hopes you'll buy the season pass for $40 or more.

Netflix is another place where networks promote new shows: I was able to see the first episode of Californication and Dexter on Netflix during their limited time Watch Instantly preview. Speaking of that, Showtime shows, if available at all, do tend to appear on Netflix, but mostly only in re-runs.

As you can see, not everything streams in HD quality, although this appears to be changing. ABC is already streaming in HD, and others like Hulu and Netflix are dabbling, so it's only a matter of time before HD content is widely available for streaming online.

What's Not Online

CBS, HBO and Discovery: I'm talkin' to you. I couldn't care less about CBS programming—though it's the #1 rated network, so clearly somebody does. CBS.com (and TV.com) offers a handful of full episodes (CSI and NCIS), and some of those show up in Netflix too, but until CBS decides their agenda, you may have to wait for new seasons of Big Bang Theory to show up on DVD, or try to record over-the-air broadcasts (see above).

I love History Channel and Discovery Channel, and these guys are also reluctant to accept reality, move away from old revenue models and look towards the future. Nonetheless, I still get my fix though Netflix. Early seasons of some of my favorite shows (Deadlest Catch, Man vs Wild) are available for streaming via Watch Instantly, and more recent seasons are available for rental. I have the patience to wait for some of my favorite shows to arrive on DVD or Blu-ray—it's a virtue that could save you lots of money.

Let's Talk Live Sports

Traditionally, one of the major drawbacks of internet TV is a lack of live sports. Again, I don't know what sports and teams you are interested in, but for me it is all about football. For example, a few days ago I checked out the Steelers/Chargers game on NBC Sunday Night Football online. The streaming content is "HD" quality (at least it's in the realm of HD) and the service offers a viewing experience that is actually deeper than a standard broadcast. Users have access to DVR style controls, four separate camera angles, highlights and live analysis.

I also have the privilege of access to my beloved out-of-market NY Giants games each week with DirecTV's online Supercast service. It broadcasts all of the Sunday Ticket NFL games over the internet, but access to the online content requires DirecTV service and the full SuperFan package that runs a ridiculous $400 per year (Manhattan residents can access Supercast without DirecTV service). However, if you know someone with a Supercast account, you can piggyback.

If baseball is your thing, MLB.com offers a service similar to Supercast for around $100 per year depending on the package—although it only includes out-of-market games. Live golf can be viewed for free on PGATour.com; college sports, baseball, tennis, soccer and more is free on ESPN360 (if you are affiliated with an ESPN-approved broadband provider) and streaming sites like Justin.tv offer plenty of free sports viewing options, including live ESPN. Windows Media Center owners can also get SportsLounge, with Fox Sports.

The Future?

This is still the wild west, and things are apt to keep changing. I already mentioned services like DirecTV's Supercast and streaming games from MLB.com. Little by little, you will start to see primetime shows or packages offered a la carte online too. I hope we don't get to a point where we are paying more for access to online content than we now pay for cable content, but there has been serious talk by executives from Time Warner (HBO), CBS and Hulu (Fox, NBC, Disney) about that very thing: Either charge subscribers for premium content on demand, or simply verify that they are already paying customers of cable and satellite, and grant them access to stuff others can't see.

If the broadcasters have their way, you'll pay for it one way, or you'll pay for it another. Still, technology has a way of keeping pace with the dreams of media execs, and the experiments conducted by YouTube and Hulu and others with advertising may lead to some kind of compromise, too. It is really all up in the air, but for now...

What You Should Think About

When all was said and done, I found my experience without standard cable television to be more liberating than anything else. Sure, streaming video isn't always HD quality, not all of my favorite shows are readily available, and I have to search around a bit more for the things I want to watch—but I didn't suffer and I didn't feel like I was missing out. The added expense was not justifiable—especially when I was paying for a bunch of things I never watched. The best part is that I was able to get pretty much everything I needed with a basic set of tools that anyone with a computer can take advantage of right away.

Not everyone shares my taste in television but, at the very least, you should take a good look at your cable or satellite bill and ask yourself if it's really worth all that money.

If you can stand the drop from 1080p, the PowerLite 705HD still brings something to the table when compared to their 8100 model. Most notably, it's less than half the price. The 705HD is 3LCD-based, it delivers 2,500 lumens brightness, 3000:1 contrast and Component Video, S-Video, HDMI, and USB connectivity.

Epson also released the MovieMate 60—an all-in-one unit with a built-in DVD and speaker system. Of course, it seems pretty absurd to spending $700 on a 540p combo device with DVD given that much more future-proof technology exists at that price point. That having been said, keep in mind that 1080p projectors are starting to drop below the $1000 mark. If you are willing to spend a little extra money or put off the purchase for another year, you stand to get a lot more bang for your buck. Both of the projectors featured here will be available in October.

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD Offers Big Screen High-Definition Performance for Under $750

Versatile Home Entertainment Projector Delivers High-Quality Movies, Gaming and More

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Bringing affordable, big-screen home entertainment to households across the country, Epson today announced the new Epson PowerLite® Home Cinema 705HD. Available for $749.99, the Home Cinema 705HD joins Epson's award-winning line of 3LCD™ home theater projectors, providing families and first-time home theater enthusiasts with a versatile, high-quality 720p high-definition solution for a range of options – from movies and gaming, to broadcast TV and sports, to videos and music with an Apple® iPod.

The Home Cinema 705HD is designed to make home entertainment simple and enjoyable, and comes with a variety of consumer-friendly features and performance benefits for enjoying the big screen at home. The projector boasts 2,500 lumens of color and white light outputi to accommodate movie viewing or game playing in different environments – even daytime. It also features four pre-set color modes optimized for video, as well as HDMI connectivity and a USB 2.0 connection for sharing photos and slideshows. Featuring Epson's three-chip 3LCD technology and exclusive energy efficient E-TORL® lamp, the Home Cinema 705HD delivers bright, movie theater-like images and video with amazing detail and no possibility of color break-up or "rainbow effect."

"Whether you're watching your favorite movie with that special someone, or gathering family and friends to cheer on the home town team for the big game, there's nothing like the visual impact of viewing high-definition output on a 120-inch screen at home," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "The Home Cinema 705HD offers that experience to even more consumers with an affordable, easy-to-use, high-quality solution."

More About the Home Cinema 705HD

The Home Cinema 705HD features a sleek white, compact design that offers a range of options and performance, expanding its versatility for home entertainment needs:

* 3LCD Quality and Reliability – 3LCD technology for incredible color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability with no possibility of color break-up or "rainbow effect"
* Increased Brightness – Movie theater-like images with 2,500 lumens of white and color light output for brightness levels that are among the highest in this home theater category

* Big Screen Performance – Widescreen capability with 720p performance
* Easy Set-up and Installation – Epson Universal Mount and 1.2x optical zoom and Instant On, Instant Off® technology allows for no waiting time to start or shut-down projector

* Versatile Connectivity – Component Video, S-Video, HDMI, and USB Type A digital connections to share photos and slideshows
* E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Provides optimum light uniformity and increased light output for screen sizes larger than ten feet with exclusive 200 watt high efficiency design; uses less energy for up to 5,000 hours of lamp lifeii

Availability and Support

The Epson Home Cinema 705HD will be available in October through online A/V specialty retailers, select retailers nationwide, and the Epson online store for an estimated street price of $749.99. The projector comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLine®, Epson's priority technical support, and free two-business day exchange with ExtraCareSM Home Service.

Go Big And Stay Home With New Epson MovieMate 60 All-in-One Home Entertainment Solution

Integrated Projector, DVD/CD and Stereo Speaker Unit Delivers Big Screen Performance

Just About Anywhere for Under $700

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Epson America today announced the Epson MovieMate™ 60, the lightest, brightest and most versatile offering in Epson's innovative line of "all-in-one" home theater projectors. By combining a high-quality, high-brightness projector, a CD/DVD player, microphone input, and stereo speakers in one portable unit, MovieMate 60 offers families and home theater enthusiasts an affordable, easy-to-use and versatile solution for home entertainment in any room of the house, in the backyard, or on vacation.

With MovieMate 60, consumers can enjoy their favorite DVDs, sporting events, TV shows, gaming consoles, and even karaoke up to 8 times larger than a 40-inch widescreen TV. MovieMate 60 features a bright, energy efficient lamp that delivers 2,000 lumens of color and white light output1, Dolby® Digital audio and big-screen image quality in a portable and convenient home theater solution. MovieMate 60 also offers easy plug ‘n play connectivity, including HDMI, allowing consumers to enjoy and share digital content from computers, camcorders, digital cameras, or MP3 players. With the performance and reliability of Epson's three-chip 3LCD technology and energy efficient E-TORL® lamp, the MovieMate 60 delivers home theater enthusiasts brighter, natural colors for years to come.2

"These days, families are looking for more affordable ways to entertain themselves and share good times," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "Whether watching a movie, hosting a gaming night or singing karaoke, Epson's unique MovieMate all-in-one projectors help bring families and friends together with a big screen entertainment experience anywhere – in any room of the house or in the backyard."

Epson MovieMate 60
The Epson MovieMate 60 features a sleek, compact design with a built-in handle and cushioned carrying case for portable convenience. Additional features and benefits include:

* Projecting a 16:9 widescreen 60-inch image from only six feet away or a 120-inch image from just 12 feet away
* Built-in progressive scan standard definition 540p resolution DVD/CD player
* Great sound quality using two built-in ten watt 5.1 Dolby Digital DTS® speakers
* Integrated microphone jack to allow for voice amplification – great for narrating a slide show, karaoke and more
* Compatible with Apple® iPod, Nintendo® Wii™, Sony® PlayStation® 3 and Microsoft® Xbox 360®
* New, brighter, energy-efficient E-TORL lamp with 2,000 lumens white and color light output to maximize brightness and uniformity so viewers can enjoy the projector even in well-lit rooms
* No additional cables needed for easy set-up and portable flexibility

Availability and Support

The Epson MovieMate 60 will be available in October through national resellers for an estimated street price of $699. The projector comes with the service and support only Epson can offer, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to PrivateLine®, Epson's priority technical support, and free two-business-day exchange with ExtraCareSM Home Service.

[Epson]

Like the XBR10, it streams 1080p from a wireless source, plays 24p content and has 240Hz tech that you can't see. But it's 55 inches, while the biggest XBR10 is 52, and it's got THX display certification (as, um, useful as that is). What the Sony has over it is the excellent XMB media interface and Bravia Internet Video (with Amazon On Demand, Netflix and other services), though you could use the difference you pocket with the LG to pick up the Vudu-streaming BD390 Blu-ray player that has built-in Wi-Fi.

In other words, until we see how good the picture on both of these are, it's a tossup—though the best LED-backlit TVs are locally dimmed, so Sony's got a tough fight.

The lesser LH85 isn't LED-backlit, but it's got wireless HDMI too and is an also pricey $3200 and $2400 for 55-inch and 47-inch sets.

LG ELECTRONICS BROADENS HOME ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS

WITH TWO NEW WIRELESS HDTV SERIES

Wireless LCD HDTVs Offer Flexible and Convenient Custom Installation Options

ATLANTA, Sept. 10, 2009 – Offering diverse integration options for custom installers, LG Electronics is highlighting its first-ever series of wireless LCD HDTVs, including an LED model, this week at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623).

Whether it's design, technology or screen size, LG's wireless HDTVs have something for everyone, according to Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. LG's 55-inch class* Slim Wireless LED-Backlight HDTV (model 55LHX) combines advanced technology with cutting-edge style for a TV that blends beautifully into any home environment. For those seeking a variety of design options, LG's LH85 series of wireless LCD HDTVs will be available in 47- and 55-inch class* sizes.

"As custom installers look to create a truly unique space, the wireless capability found in the 55LHX and LH85 models allow the freedom to place the HDTV anywhere in the room," said Reiner. "With wireless HDTVs, LG continues to expand home entertainment design and placement options to meet consumers' ever evolving needs."

Entertainment Freedom

Both 55LHX and LH85 wireless models allow installers the freedom to place the HDTV virtually anywhere in the room – without messy wires. To achieve this wireless experience, LG uses a supplied media box to transmit an uncompressed Full HD 1080p signal with virtually no interference or delay directly to the TV. The HDTVs can receive a wireless signal up to 30 feet away, allowing consumers to hook all content sources (such as a cable or satellite box, Blu-ray disc player, game console and home theater systems) into one box.

Enhanced Picture Quality

The 55-inch LHX model features superior picture quality with an elegant ultra-slim design – less than one-inch thick at its thinnest point. This unit has attained THX Display Certification. This certification ensures that the 55LHX delivers exceptional images, bringing a more immersive and enjoyable movie, broadcast and video game experience to consumers' living room. Since THX certification begins during the initial product design phase, every product detail is meticulously mapped to THX standards and tested in laboratory and home theater environments to ensure quality, usability and compatibility.

By presenting HD and standard-definition content at the maximum resolution with the correct color and luminance level, the LHX provides consumers a crisper, clearer image. To achieve this, LG uses a full-array LED backlighting system with local dimming technology, for precise picture control resulting in deeper blacks, wide color gamut and an incredible 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. This model also incorporates TruMotion 240Hz technology for smooth motion during fast-action scenes.

LG's LH85 series delivers an 80,000:1 contrast ratio for deeper blacks and greater picture detail. Additionally, the LH85 series features LG's 24p Real Cinema technology that allows consumers to enjoy a true cinematic experience at home, the way the movie was intended to be seen. For those that want more from their HDTV, the LH85 also includes USB 2.0 functionality allowing easy access to MP3 files and viewing of JPEG photos for a more enjoyable TV viewing experience.

ISFccc Calibration Options

Those seeking advanced calibration based on their own home theater environment, will appreciate LG's ISFccc option on both the 55LHX and LH85 series. The professional ISF calibration helps to deliver picture quality, representing what filmmakers intended viewers to see.

Using the LG Expert Mode, an ISF-certified calibration technician will use professional equipment to calibrate the HDTV using ISF parameters based upon individual home theater environments and ambient lighting. Once calibrated to the optimal setting, the calibrations are saved as ISF "Day" and ISF "Night" modes. With ISFccc, LG offers a superior 10-point calibration. This provides an extra level of precision for gray scale calibration resulting in a more uniform picture.

Energy Savings

With Intelligent Sensor, both wireless models automatically optimize the picture to the lighting conditions in the room for a personalized and more enjoyable viewing experience; and potential energy savings. Both the LHX and LH85 series are Energy Star 3.0 compliant, and with LG's "Smart Energy Saving" package, which consists of features such as backlight control options and video mute, LG further paves the way toward greater energy savings, while also allowing consumers to customize their viewing experience.

The 55LHX will be available soon at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $4,799 and the LH85 series will be available later this Fall in 55- and 47-inch class* screen sizes with MSRPs of $3,199 and $2,399, respectively.

Adding in the $100 for the dongle, it's about as much as LG's packed-to-the-gills BD390 Wi-Fi player (which now has 1080p Vudu streaming), though not nearly as explosive feature-wise. Still, a Sony Blu-ray player with a $250 MSRP that streams video is something we've been waiting to hear for a while.

NEW SONY BLU-RAY PLAYER Integrates STREAMING INTERNET VIDEO

FOR ULTIMATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE

Device to Stream Netflix, YouTube, Slacker, and Other BRAVIA Internet Video Content

ATLANTA (CEDIA Booth # 1409), Sept. 9, 2009 – Offering the best of full HD 1080p and streaming Internet video, Sony today introduced the BDP-N460 networked Blu-ray Disc™ player.

Beside playing Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, the device instantly streams one of the largest collections of premium and free on-demand entertainment from the BRAVIA™ Internet Video platform including thousands of movies, TV programs, and music from YouTube, Slacker, and, later this fall, Netflix.

"Whether its Full HD 1080p or streaming video and audio from the Internet, entertainment comes in so many flavors that consumers want choice," said Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony Electronics' home audio and video business. "Leading the entertainment experience, Sony brings the best of both worlds together in one player that offers more content than other stand-alone devices on the market."

The BDP-N460 Blu-ray Disc/DVD/CD player delivers full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema™ output, decodes the latest advanced audio codecs, and is BD-LIVE™ capable with your broadband internet connection and purchase of external memory.

The BDP-N460 also features built-in software specially designed for use with the Linksys by Cisco Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band (WET610N, sold separately). The bridge helps ease the connection between the Ethernet–enabled player and a wireless router in either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio band for optimal streaming.

The model also features a cross search function to make finding Internet content on the BRAVIA Internet Video platform easier.

Since many consumers own extensive DVD movie libraries, the BDP-N460 incorporates Sony's Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology that converts standard-definition signals (480i) to near HD quality.

Additionally, the model features Sony's Precision Drive™ technology, which helps to detect and correct wobbling discs from three directions, supporting stabilization of warped or scratched Blu-ray Discs and DVDs during playback.

The BDP-N460 can decode the latest advanced audio codecs including 7.1 channel Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby® Digital Plus, DTS®-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio. The model can also output 7.1 channel L-PCM via HDMI after decoding.

It supports Deep Color video output and x.v.Color™ (xvYCC) technology. The model is compatible with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), AVCHD, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on BD/DVD/CD recordable media.

The model features an external port for local storage so users can add a USB flash storage device required for BD-LIVE content. A front USB port can be used to display digital photos.

Available in October, the BDP-N460 will be offered at Sony Style stores, online at www.sonystyle.com, at military base exchanges, and at authorized retailers nationwide for about $250.

[Sony]

LG ELECTRONICS BREAKS BARRIERS IN HOME ENTERTAINMENT

WITH SEAMLESS PANEL LCD HDTVs, LED BY STUNNING NEW LED MODELS

Sleek SL Series Models Couple Advanced Display Technology, Single-Panel Design

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2009 – Breaking barriers in home entertainment, LG Electronics today introduced a "Full HD" LED LCD HDTV – that looks almost as thin as the single sheet of glass it resembles.

Introduced for the U.S. market here this week at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623), the new 47- and 42-inch class* SL90 series HDTVs feature LED lighting and other display technologies developed by LG Electronics.

"LG continues to break barriers in design and technology with its stylish high-definition televisions, like our SL80 and 90 series," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. "These new ultra-slim series of LCD HDTVs position LG at the forefront of providing a new entertainment experience to consumers – one that focuses as much on design as it does on creating a more immersive home entertainment experience."

Unlike conventional LCD TVs, where the panel is recessed slightly within a thick plastic frame, LG's new series of LCD HDTVs use a single-layer design and narrow bezel to create these stunning sets, designed to maximize the viewing experience as well as enhancing the home interior.

LG uses a special film lamination technology for better color tuning, gradation and reduction of glare – all in a sleek, minimalist package. The lamination process completes the flat surface, virtually eliminating the visible line between the screen and the bezel when the set is turned off.

LG's latest masterpiece, the SL90 series, sports a depth of just 1.15 inches, making it a beautiful window into a new world of home entertainment, according to Reiner. "Inside its glossy enclosure, LG's SL90 hides technology that produces a great picture and makes every program and movie even more entertaining," he said.

For example, the LED LCD screen helps produce an extremely high dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 for truer blacks and finer gradations between grays. An additional benefit of the film lamination process is to provide anti-glare properties to the screen, reducing distracting reflections and to help ensure that everyone in the room has a cinema-quality experience.

The SL90 series also incorporates advanced display and calibration options, providing home theater enthusiasts and custom installers a sleek new approach to home entertainment. With TruMotion 120Hz technology, the SL90 reduces motion blur and creates more natural looking images for a better viewing experience. By responding quickly to color changes, LG's 120Hz technology provides superior picture quality at different viewing angles.

The SL90 series will be available later this Fall in 47- and 42-inch class* screen sizes at manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $2,599 and $2,099 respectively.

Expansive Entertainment Options

Also on display at CEDIA Expo this week is LG's SL80 series of LCD HDTVs, which shares a similar stunning single-layer design with the SL90, using a sleek edge-to-edge panel of glass over a slim bezel. This design makes the screen and bezel appear to blend seamlessly together.

"The SL80, with its slim style boasts a depth of just a mere 1.8 inches. The combination of this unique design with slim depth makes the screen appear larger and helps draw viewers in, for a more engaging viewing experience," Reiner explained.

The SL80 boasts TruMotion 240Hz technology to improve motion picture response time so consumers experience a smoother, more natural picture during fast-action scenes. Additionally, LG's anti-glare filter on both the SL80 and SL90 reduces glare to provide a more pleasant viewing experience even in brightly-lit rooms.

For a complete cinematic home experience, the SL80 has a dynamic contrast ratio of 150,000:1 for amazing clarity and color detail. The SL80 series utilizes slim CCFL technology to achieve its dramatically thin profile. Delivering a compelling visual experience, the SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick at its slimmest point.

The SL80 series is available now in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs of $1,599, $1,899 and $2,799 respectively.

Advanced Calibration Options

For easy, self-calibration, the SL80 and SL90 both include LG's Picture Wizard technology. Picture Wizard provides consumers with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements, such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels. Now, consumers have the ability to calibrate their LG HDTV with an easy-to-use calibration process that takes the guesswork out of picture adjustments and eliminates the need to purchase separate calibration tools.

For consumers looking for advanced calibration, the SL series offers ISFccc calibration options to deliver superior picture quality to more closely represent what filmmakers intended viewers to see. Using the LG Expert Mode, an ISF-certified technician professionally calibrates the HDTV using ISF parameters based upon individual home theater environments and ambient lighting.

Once calibrated to the optimal setting, the calibrations are saved as ISF "Day" and ISF "Night" modes. With ISFccc, LG offers a superior 10-point white balance calibration capability, providing an extra level of precision for gray scale calibration for a more uniform picture.

Smart Energy Savings

As with all of LG's 2009 HDTVs, the SL90 and SL80 models feature Smart Energy Savings technology. These new sets meet the newest Energy Star® 3.0 ratings and come equipped with Intelligent Sensor, which senses the ambient light in the room and adjusts color and brightness accordingly and can also save energy. Additionally, a mechanical on/off switch eliminates standby power consumption completely, if desired.

[LG]

[Image via Digital Home Thoughts]

The 3LCD-based 8100 features a contrast ratio of 36,000:1 and a brightness bump to 1800 lumens. It also includes a Dynamic Iris system that allows for frame by frame light control (up to 60 frames per second)—helping to smooth out movies with fast scene changes. Of course, the $1599 price tag doesn't quite compare to the new crop of sub-$1000 1080p projectors that are starting to hit the market, but Epson's 8100 does represent a second tier of affordability with specs that would probably have cost you at least twice as much a year ago. Of course the game is about more than just impressive contrast ratios, but even without a review these shrinking price points are encouraging. Expect the 8100 to arrive sometime in late October along with a $100 rebate offer that would bring the price down to $1499.

Epson Adds Two High-Performance 1080P Projectors to
Award-Winning Home Theater Lineup

Feature-Packed PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB Offer Home Theater Enthusiasts Unsurpassed Image Quality and Affordability

ATLANTA (CEDIA Expo 2009, Booth 3353) – Sept. 8, 2009 – Epson America today announced two 1080p front projectors, the PowerLite® Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB, expanding its award-winning line of 3LCD™ home theater projectors. Featuring D7 technology for brilliant color and detail, and higher contrast, the Home Cinema 8100 reaches a 36,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the Home Cinema 8500 UB achieves an unprecedented 200,000:11. The Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB also offer the latest in real color reproduction capabilities for more natural and precise colors, delivering an outstanding viewing experience for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts.

With pricing of $1,599 (plus an additional $100 rebate at launch) and sub-$3,000, respectively, the Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB offer consumers affordable high-definition 3LCD home entertainment, delivering bright and natural color, crisp image detail, and unsurpassed light efficiency and reliability. These 3LCD projectors use an advanced, three-chip optical engine for brilliant color and image quality without the possibility of color break-up, unlike DLP projectors that generate images using a spinning color wheel with a white segment.

"Epson is committed to leading the market when it comes to home theater performance and value," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "These new models take advantage of Epson's latest technology to offer consumers the highest-performing1080p solutions available at their respective price points."

Epson Home Cinema 8100
The value-packed Home Cinema 8100 features an improved contrast ratio of up to 36,000:1 (double that of previous models) and higher brightness – 1,800 lumens color and white light output - for outstanding image quality in dark or lighted rooms. The projector's exclusive Dynamic Iris system contributes to the dramatic contrast improvement, allowing light to be controlled on a frame-by-frame basis at up to 60 times per second, making it ideal for fast-action movies with frequent scene changes. Designed for home entertainment and AV enthusiasts on a budget, this projector offers high-quality home entertainment for enjoying movies, video games, sports, and more.

Epson Home Cinema 8500 UB
Along with the latest D7 chip set, this high-quality projector adds Epson's C2Fine® and UltraBlack™ technology for superb black levels and vivid images. Further boosting black levels, the Home Cinema 8500 UB includes brightness of 1,600 lumens color and light output and new dual-layered auto iris technology, allowing for an impressive contrast ratio of up to 200,000:1. As a result, the projector controls light intensity more effectively, causing dark images to appear even darker and blacks to appear even richer and deeper.

The projector also features Epson's new Super-resolution™ technology to create a sharper, more detailed picture resolution ideal for broadcast signal noise reduction or enhancing the quality of poor DVD transfers. Super-resolution technology improves the resolution of a blurred image, allowing consumers to fully enjoy high-definition quality at all times. Epson has also added new real color reproduction capabilities, which delivers more natural and precise colors, allowing viewers to experience the true-to-life colors filmmakers intended.

To ensure sharp, clear images, the projector features Epson's 12-bit 3LCD driver technology and a built-in Silicon Optix HQV Reon-VX scaling and de-interlacing video processor. This processor reduces mosquito and block noise and augments multi-level contrast enhancement to further improve picture quality. The Home Cinema 8500 UB also features enhanced FineFrame™ technology resulting in smoother frame interpolation, sharper video quality and the elimination of judder.
Shared Features of the Home Cinema Line – The Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB share features designed to improve image quality and total cost of 3LCD projector ownership, including:

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Cinema Filter: Delivers larger color space for improved color fidelity.
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Fujinon OptiCinema™ Multi-Lens Optics System: Projects clean, precise edges with consistent image quality across the entire screen, expanding installation flexibility.
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Pre-set Color Modes: Features seven color modes (Dynamic, Living Room, Natural, Theatre, Theatre Black 1, Theatre Black 2, x.v.Color) for optimal viewing in any environment.
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E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Provides optimum light uniformity and increased light output for screen sizes larger than ten feet with exclusive 200 watt high efficiency design; uses less energy for up to 4,000 hours of lamp lifeiii.
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Advanced Dust Filtration System: Ensures efficient power use, reduced cool-down periods, lower fan speeds, quieter operation (only 22 db), and 98 percent efficiency for longer filter life.
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Input Options: Features two HDMI 1.3a inputs with Deep Color support, high definition component video input, S-video input, composite video input, and VGA-type RGB input (D-sub 15).

Availability and Support
The Epson Home Cinema 8100 will be available in late-October and the Home Cinema 8500 UB will be available in November through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets, and come with Epson's industry leading service and support. Pricing for the Home Cinema 8500 UB will be released at that time. This includes a two-year limited warranty with access to Epson PrivateLine® priority toll-free support, 90-day limited lamp warranty, and free two-business day exchange with Extra CareSM Home Service.

Epson's Latest 1080P Pro Cinema Projectors Bring Custom Installers High
Performing
PowerLite Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB Offer New Levels of Image Quality, Detail and Performance

ATLANTA (CEDIA Expo 2009, Booth 3353) – Sept. 8, 2009 – Epson America today announced two native 1080p 3LCD™ home theater projectors designed for custom installers and home theater buffs, the PowerLite® Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB. These projectors feature the latest 3LCD chips with D7 technology for amazing color and detail, and significantly higher contrast ratios – the Pro Cinema 9100 achieves a 36,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the Pro Cinema 9500 UB attains an unprecedented 200,000:1 in its class . With professional-level color tools including ISF calibration and color isolation, the Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB offer professional installers full-featured solutions.

Available for $2,599 and sub-$4,000 respectively, the Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB offer state-of-the-art image quality and performance in each of their respective categories with enhanced color reproduction capabilities and 3LCD technology to deliver bright and natural color, crisp image detail and reliability. As Epson's flagship home theater model, the Pro Cinema 9500 UB brings several technology enhancements to the market, including a new dual-layered auto-iris to control light reduction rates, Super-resolution™ technology for enhanced picture quality and improved FineFrame™ technology.

"Epson understands the needs of the custom installation channel and is committed to providing high-quality products that meet the needs of dealers in today's competitive market," said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. "These latest Pro Cinema projectors have been packed with a range of value-add features and technology refinements that allow custom installers to build a customized high-performance, home entertainment system for their discerning customers."

Epson Pro Cinema 9100
The Pro Cinema 9100 offers a high-value, customizable home entertainment experience. The projector includes ISF Day and Night modes for switching between picture modes and lamp output, as well as Epson's Color Isolation system for fine-tuning of color saturation and hue without the need for blue and red optical filters, making set-up and calibration quick and simple. With a contrast ratio of up to 36,000:1 and brightness of 1,800 lumens color and white light output , this projector offers amazing big-screen image quality. Housed in a stylish black and silver design, the Pro Cinema 9100 features an exclusive Dynamic Iris system which contributes to the improvement in contrast. It controls light on a frame-by-frame basis at up to 60 times per second, making it ideal for fast-action movies with frequent scene changes.

Epson Pro Cinema 9500 UB
The flagship Pro Cinema 9500 UB offers custom installers the ultimate in image quality, combining Epson's C2Fine® and UltraBlack™ technology with 3LCD and D7 technology to produce superb black levels and vivid images. The projector also features a dual-layered auto iris to control light reduction rates more effectively, contributing to its astounding contrast ratio – up to 200,000:1. With brightness of 1,600 lumens color and white light output, the projector delivers deeper blacks and crystal clear detail.

Adding to its high-quality performance, the Pro Cinema 9500 UB features Epson's improved FineFrame technology for smoother frame interpolation, sharper video quality and the elimination of judder for viewing sports and fast-action movie scenes, and playing video games. Epson has also added new Super-resolution technology to sharpen blurry images or low-resolution pictures. This new technology is ideal for high-definition content, addressing broadcast signal noise reduction or improving the quality of poor DVD transfers.

The Pro Cinema 9500 UB also features new real color reproduction capabilities for more natural and precise colors, while Epson's 12-bit 3LCD driver technology and a built-in Silicon Optix HQV Reon-VX video processor and PW390 scaler ensure a smoother picture. It also includes pre-set color space selection to set color gamut according to geography and source material, a feature typically found only on high-end high-definition broadcast monitors. And, with an optional external anamorphic lens (available from Epson) and "vertical stretch" picture mode, the Pro Cinema 9500 UB enables anamorphic viewing without an external processor for a full theatrical image – projecting true 2.35:1 and 2.40:1 ultra widescreen images without the black bars above and below the picture.

Shared Features of the Pro Cinema Line – Epson's Pro Cinema projectors share a range of value-add features designed to further enhance performance, image quality and total cost of ownership, including:

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3LCD Technology: Delivers bright and natural color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability; uses an advanced, 3-chip optical engine for full-time color without the possibility of color break-up.
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Cinema Filter: Delivers larger color space for improved color fidelity.
*
Fujinon OptiCinema™ Multi-Lens Optics System: Projects clean, precise edges with consistent image quality across the entire screen.
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E-TORL® (Epson Twin Optics Reflection Lamp): Provides optimum light uniformity and increased light output for screen sizes larger than ten feet with exclusive 200 watt high efficiency design; uses less energy for up to 4,000 hours of lamp life ; both models include a spare lamp.
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ISF Certification: Allows installers and calibrators to fine-tune picture quality and match output with front projection screens.
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Input Selections: Features two HDMI 1.3a inputs with Deep Color support, high definition component video input, S-video input, composite video input, and VGA-type RGB input (D-sub 15).
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Installation Options: Includes ceiling mount, reversible front panel Epson logo for various mounting positions, rear panel cable cover to hide wires and cable hook to ensure connections remain secure.

Availability and Support
Available in October and November respectively, the Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB can be purchased through authorized Epson projector dealers and select retail outlets. Both models come with Epson's industry leading service and support, including a three-year limited warranty with toll-free access to Epson's PrivateLineSM priority technical support, 90-day limited lamp warranty, and free two-business day exchange with Extra CareSM Home Service.

[Epson]

If you think the picture quality might be off, follow this guide and learn how to calibrate an HDTV on your own. And, for the love of God, don't waste money on this service from a big box store.

The company has told Forbes that "several 'powered by Chumby' gadgets" will launch in the coming months. They have struck partnerships with Sony, Samsung, Broadcom and others.

The first product to launch will be a digital photo frame and will be followed by TVs, Blu-Ray players, clocks and radios. Chumby, you really don't think Yahoo's platform is good enough, huh? [Forbes]

TechRadar breaks down everything you need to know about HDMI 1.4 into an easy-to-digest 10-thing listicle. Personally, I'm most excited about the new Micro Connector, since I just love new kinds of cables, though sad I'll have to wait a whole year to buy it. [TechRadar, Image via Sam Catchsides/Flickr]

The Altus line is just iPod docks and network audio—like wireless speaker setups—for now, but Sony and Best Buy say it's "the beginning of many future cooperations" between the two. When I asked about future products, they said it "might be video," so we could see a Best Buy Sony TV as well. What's weird is that the Altus stuff isn't Best Buy exclusive—it's Best Buy and Sony Style initially, but it'll hit other retailers eventually.

SONY AND BEST BUY COMBINE FORCES TO DELIVER

NEW LINE OF AUDIO PRODUCTS

New "ALTUS" Product Line Brings Wireless, Multi-Room Audio Freedom to the Home

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2009 – Representing nearly two years of cooperation in market research and engineering efforts, Sony Electronics Inc. and Best Buy Co., Inc. today announced the new "ALTUS" audio product line.

Featuring a stylish assortment of wireless music systems, speakers, and home theater products, the ALTUS line offers a variety of simple, easy, and effective solutions for experiencing premium audio throughout the home.

"The ALTUS line is something that both Sony and Best Buy can be proud to call their own" said Mike Fasulo, executive vice president, chief marketing officer and corporate social responsibility officer of Sony Electronics Inc. "We're breaking new ground in the consumer electronics industry with this unique cooperation between manufacturer and retailer."

Mike Vitelli, executive vice president of customer operating groups at Best Buy Co., Inc., added: "By working with Sony throughout the product development process, we were able to focus directly on our customer to better understand their needs and interpret how best to present ALTUS in a retail environment."

Expand your iPod from Room to Room

Heading up the ALTUS product lineup are two iPod™ docking systems designed to enhance and expand your home listening experience.

The premium ALT-SA31iR multi-room iPod package features three separate components: an iPod/iPhone® docking station and two high-output wireless speakers.

This multi-room package also features an AM/FM tuner and S-AIR remote control with an LCD display. On the display, users are able to see all metadata of the streaming audio, including album, artist, and track information. Further, the ALT-SA31iR system can be used to transmit audio to all other S-AIR compatible receivers.

Sony's AIR-SW10Ti iPod dock consists of a compact docking station with two built-in speakers and a wireless subwoofer that can be easily concealed. This powerful new model has a maximum output of 60 watts RMS and includes both an infrared remote control and FM tuner capabilities. The AIR-SW10Ti system can also be used to transmit wireless audio to compatible ALTUS and S-AIR products. The ALT-SA31iR system will retail for approximately $700 and the AIR-SA10Ti model will retail for about $400. Each unit is available today for pre-sale on www.sonystyle.com and will be available in September at Best Buy locations nationwide, along with other select retailer partners.

Wireless PC Audio

Recognizing the importance that the computer holds to any digital music collection, Sony is also introducing two PC audio multi-room packages as part of the ALTUS brand.

The new ALT-SA32PC multi-room audio package features three components: an S-AIR transmitter that connects to your PC (via USB input) and two high-output wireless speakers. The USB transmitter streams audio wirelessly from the connected PC to the two included speakers for a simple multi-room solution.

The ALT-A33PC package has an identical USB S-AIR transmitter, but includes a universal receiver that can connect to a variety of audio products with its RCA outputs. This enables users to stream music wirelessly from their computer to most existing music systems.

Both packages include unique music management software that has the ability to tap into existing playlists on your computer in programs like iTunes™ and Windows Media Player™. Additionally, this software facilitates the creation of new music "channels" using the digital music library of a connected PC. Each of these two PC systems is compatible with the entire ALTUS family of products as well as all of Sony's S-AIR accessories.

The ALT-SA32PC package will sell for approximately $500 and the ALT-A33PC for about $200. Each can be pre-ordered today on www.sonystyle.com and will be available September in Best Buy locations nationwide, along with other select retailer partners.

Plug and Play Speakers

For those looking to expand their ALTUS audio system with small, compact and stylish speakers, Sony is introducing the sleek ALT-SA34R Socket Speaker Package.

This ALTUS product is compatible with all S-AIR enabled transmitters and features two small, unobtrusive S-AIR wireless speakers that plug directly into any power outlet in the home. The speaker system also includes an S-AIR remote control highlighted by an LCD display for viewing music metadata.

The ALT-SA34R Socket Speaker Package will retail for about $350 and is available for pre-sale today on www.sonystyle.com. Next month, the package will hit Best Buy stores nationwide, along with other select retailers, for about $350.

Blu-ray Disc Power

Also included as part of the new ALTUS lineup is Sony's BDV-E500W 5.1 Channel Blu-ray Disc™ Home Theater System, announced earlier this spring.

The BDV-E500W Blu-ray Disc home theater system features both wireless rear speakers and wireless multi-room audio capability. With the addition of compatible ALTUS or S-AIR devices (sold separately), audio from the BDV-E500W system can be expanded in up to 10 additional rooms throughout the home.

This Blu-ray Disc system is also BD-Live capable via a rear Ethernet connection. BD-Live allows users to access content including additional scenes, short subjects, trailers, interactive games and more. It also enables easy firmware updates to assist in keeping the player up-to-date with the latest Blu-ray Disc media and features.

The unit also supports the latest advanced audio codecs, including Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, DTS®-HD High Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding as well as bit-stream.

Sony's Digital Media Port, included on the BDV-E500W, allows for easy connection to the included iPod cradle and the ability to connect other portable music players (optional cradles sold separately). The model also features Precision Cinema Upscaling technology for outstanding picture quality, and Sony's Xross Media Bar (XMB™) graphic user interface for easy menu navigation and operation.

The BDV-E500W is currently available at Sony Style stores, Best Buy and other authorized retailers for approximately $800.

[Sony]

The image above pretty much tells the whole story. It's an Olympus Sound System—tweeters, midranges, mid-woofers, and subwoofers are arranged in individual columns and each channel is comprised of 30 individual drivers and six amplifiers. The price? Only $325,000 per pair. Check out AudioJunkies for 14 more selections that you would probably have to sell your house to afford. [AudioJunkies]