http://www.engadgethd.com Engadget HD http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370191874/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/south-africa-to-host-2010-fifa-world-cup-not-see-it-in-hd/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/south-africa-to-host-2010-fifa-world-cup-not-see-it-in-hd/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2008/0808191031.asp?O=FPTOP&amp;S=Broadcasting&amp;A=BRC"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-19-08-sa_worldcup.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> What, is this some sort of sick joke or something? The <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/07/07/south-africa-preping-high-def-for-the-2010-world-cup/">host nation</a> of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/south+africa/">South Africa</a>, will be unable to watch <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/11/28/sabc-unveils-hd-broadcast-unit-for-2010-world-cup/">the action</a> happening in its own backyard in high-definition. According to a recent report from Johannesburg, the SABC "has no plans to broadcast the 2010 FIFA World Cup in high-definition for South Africans." Instead, Switzerland-based Host Broadcasting Services (HBS) will film the games in HD for other countries. The trouble is that an overwhelming amount of South African citizens would need to procure a digital set-top-box in order to view the content in high-def, and considering that HD adoption in the nation is already low, it's simply not a high enough priority to bother with. Of course, political pressures could lead to change in all of this, and for the sake of the locals yearning for more high-def (and technological progress in general), we certainly hope so.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2008/0808191031.asp?O=FPTOP&amp;S=Broadcasting&amp;A=BRC>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/south-africa-to-host-2010-fifa-world-cup-not-see-it-in-hd/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288856/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/south-africa-to-host-2010-fifa-world-cup-not-see-it-in-hd/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370191874" height="1" width="1"/>africabroadcastfifafifa world cupFifaWorldCupfootballglobalSABCsoccersouth africaSouthAfricaworld cupWorldCupWed, 20 Aug 2008 14:28:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/south-africa-to-host-2010-fifa-world-cup-not-see-it-in-hd/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370187059/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sonys-playtv-dvr-for-playstation-3-gets-unboxed/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sonys-playtv-dvr-for-playstation-3-gets-unboxed/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/dvrs/" rel="tag">DVRs</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/other-hardware/" rel="tag">Other hardware</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/tuners/" rel="tag">Tuners</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/sony/" rel="tag">Sony</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://stuff.tv/blogs/cool/archive/2008/08/19/unboxed-sony-play-tv.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.engadget.com/media/2008/08/8-20-08-playtv_sony.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Time flies when you're having fun, but not when you're waiting anxiously for a new piece of kit -- particularly one that has been <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/sonys-playtv-dvr-for-ps3-delayed-to-september-19th/">delayed</a> numerous <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/22/more-details-on-sonys-new-playtv/">times</a>. For Europeans waiting on pins and needles for the release of the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/sonys-playtv-begins-european-rollout-september-10th-in-uk/">PlayTV DVR</a> for PlayStation 3, your time has arrived. Before rushing out to get one, however, might we interest you a short unboxing and a brief overview? No pressure whatsoever, though.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://stuff.tv/blogs/cool/archive/2008/08/19/unboxed-sony-play-tv.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sonys-playtv-dvr-for-playstation-3-gets-unboxed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1290208/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sonys-playtv-dvr-for-playstation-3-gets-unboxed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370187059" height="1" width="1"/>DVB-Tdvreuropeglobalotaplay tvPlayTvpvrsonytv tunerTvTunerunboxunboxedunboxingWed, 20 Aug 2008 14:07:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sonys-playtv-dvr-for-playstation-3-gets-unboxed/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370175631/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/another-research-firm-asserts-that-bds-will-overtake-dvds-in-201/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/another-research-firm-asserts-that-bds-will-overtake-dvds-in-201/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/industry/" rel="tag">Industry</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/other-formats/" rel="tag">Other formats</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/press/2008-08_Blu-rayMarketUpdate_release.pdf"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-20-08-blu-raysales.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Hey, Futuresource Consulting -- tell us something we didn't already know, why don'tcha? All jesting aside, said firm has become the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/24/blu-ray-disc-sales-estimated-to-exceed-dvds-in-2012/">second this year</a> to find that Blu-ray Disc sales will likely outpace DVD sales in around four years. Granted, the report also asserts that a $250 BD player will be on shelves by the end of this year, so we can't help but drink whatever Kool-Aid it's sippin'. If you're interested in boring yourself with the same assumptions we've already heard, check out the PDF in the read link below.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/daves-download/2008/8/19/prediction-blu-ray-will-unseat-standard-dvds.html">US News</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/press/2008-08_Blu-rayMarketUpdate_release.pdf>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/another-research-firm-asserts-that-bds-will-overtake-dvds-in-201/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1290242/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/another-research-firm-asserts-that-bds-will-overtake-dvds-in-201/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370175631" height="1" width="1"/>2010adoptionanalystblu-rayblu-ray adoptionBlu-rayAdoptiondatadvdindustryreportresearchsalessurveyWed, 20 Aug 2008 13:59:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/another-research-firm-asserts-that-bds-will-overtake-dvds-in-201/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370157465/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/integras-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-carries-thx-select2-plus-badge-1/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/integras-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-carries-thx-select2-plus-badge-1/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/receivers/" rel="tag">Receivers</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.cepro.com/article/integra_dtr_69_receiver_is_thx_select2_plus_certified/#When:18:01:00Z"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/20080819-integra_dtr69-1.jpg" alt="Integra DTR-6.9 AV receiver" /></a><br /></div> Besting its <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/02/integra-introduces-dtr-5-9-a-v-receiver/">DTR-5.9</a> sibling, the new DTR-6.9 AV receiver from Integra has earned itself the THX Select2 Plus certification. In fact, it's the first Integra model to meet that spec, which among other things means that the DTR-6.9 packs <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/Loudness+Plus/">THX Loudness Plus</a> wizardry for those of us who value our hearing and don't listen at reference levels all the time. As you'd expect from the Onkyo roots, the feature set is solid: 7x100-Watts, four HDMI 1.3a inputs, Faroudja scaling, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA and Audyssey MultiEQ. And because it's an Integra, you also know that custom installers get some niceties as well: multizone audio that can tap into a pair of the 7-channel amplifier section, 12-volt triggers and remote control via ethernet, RS-232 and HDMI. All in all, a nice tidy package for $1,000.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/photos/integra-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-1/">Integra DTR-6.9 AV receiver</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/photos/integra-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-1/987535/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/intdtr69front_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/photos/integra-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-1/987536/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/intdtr69back_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/photos/integra-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-1/987537/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/intdtr69rem_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.cepro.com/article/integra_dtr_69_receiver_is_thx_select2_plus_certified/#When:18:01:00Z>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/integras-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-carries-thx-select2-plus-badge-1/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289525/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/integras-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-carries-thx-select2-plus-badge-1/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370157465" height="1" width="1"/>audysseydtr-6.9faroudja dcdiFaroudjaDcdiintegraonkyoreceiverthx loudness plusthx select2 plusThxLoudnessPlusThxSelect2PlusWed, 20 Aug 2008 13:19:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/integras-dtr-6-9-av-receiver-carries-thx-select2-plus-badge-1/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370130767/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/engadget-hd-podcast-098-08-20-2008/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/engadget-hd-podcast-098-08-20-2008/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="14" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.engadget.com/media/2006/09/engadgetpodcastlogo.jpg" alt="" />We kick things off with a little Olympics, and based on our poll, we're not the only ones talking about the Chinese HD smorgasbord. With so much content, it's only natural that we talk about DVRs, and Verizon is looking to score a win with its DVR promotion, which would go great with the its plans to make NFL interactive via TV. Speaking of Verizon, only last week it took issue with tru2way, and the war of words spilled over to this week. We talk a little Blu-ray with the upcoming re-release of "Casino Royale" and Paramount's rebate plan to upgrade you from DVD to Blu-ray on select titles this holiday. If you're not into buying, how about rental? That's normally synonymous with Netflix, but not this past week. Mail carriers missed the daily flow of red envelopes, but everything was righted by week's end. If internet delivery is more your style, maybe Vudu can get you interested with its $0.99 rental promotion. But considering the price of entry, maybe not. We wrap up with talk about disc spinners from Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba. Two of them are blue, one not so much; guess which ones we're enthused about?<br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>Get the podcast</strong> <p>[<a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=126269845&amp;s=143441">iTunes</a>] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).<br />[<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/podcasts/rss.xml">RSS</a>] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically<br />[<a href="zune://subscribe/?EngadgetHD=http://www.engadgethd.com/category/podcasts/rss.xml">Zune</a>]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace<br />[<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/podcasts/EngadgetHD_Podcast_098.mp3">MP3</a>] Download the show (MP3).<br /><br /></p> <p><strong>Hosts: </strong>Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim <strong><br /><strong><br /><strong>Producer: </strong></strong></strong>Trent Wolbe<strong><strong><br /></strong></strong></p> <strong> <strong> <strong>Program</strong></strong></strong><strong><strong><strong><br /></strong></strong></strong>01:46 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/engadget-hd-podcast-097-08-13-2008/#comments">Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 097 - 08.13.2008</a><br />13:41 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/16/poll-due-to-hd-have-you-tuned-into-the-olympics-more/">Poll: Due to HD, have you tuned into the Olympics more?</a><br />16:55 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/12/verizon-pushes-hd-dvrs-in-new-fios-tv-promotion/">Verizon pushes HD DVRs in new FiOS TV promotion</a><br />19:34 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/16/verizon-and-the-nfl-get-serious-about-interactive-television/">Verizon and the NFL get serious about interactive television</a><br />25:19 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/15/tru2way-camp-reassures-fcc-this-is-the-open-standard-they-are-lo/">tru2way camp reassures FCC this is the open standard they are looking for</a><br />28:40 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/echostar-lines-up-to-make-tru2way-boxes-too/">EchoStar lines up to make tru2way boxes too</a><br />32:42 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/14/007-casino-royale-collectors-edition-first-blu-ray-disc-to-dou/">007: Casino Royale Collector's Edition first Blu-ray Disc to double-dip</a><br />36:49 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/15/paramount-to-offer-10-rebate-for-select-blu-ray-disc-upgrades/">Paramount to offer $10 rebate for select Blu-ray Disc upgrades</a><br />38:54 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/15/netflix-shipping-systems-act-a-fool-have-you-been-delayed/">Netflix shipping systems act a fool -- have you been delayed?</a><br />40:33 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/15/netflix-shipping-woes-fixed-rentals-flowing-freely-again/">Netflix shipping woes fixed, rentals flowing freely again</a><br /> 41:00 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/vudu-announces-0-99-extended-rentals-99-for-99-movie-channel/">VUDU announces $0.99 extended rentals, "99 for 99" movie channel</a><br />47:38 - <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/14/sony-bdp-s350-review/">Sony BDP-S350 review</a><br />50:14 - <a target="_blank" title="View Panasonic prepping DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players? on Engadget HD" href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/panasonic-prepping-dmp-bd35-and-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-players/">Panasonic prepping DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players?</a><br />52:50 - <a target="_blank" title="View Toshiba stubbornly launches the un-Blu-ray, XD-E500 DVD player on Engadget HD" href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/toshiba-stubbornly-launches-the-un-blu-ray-xd-e500-dvd-player/">Toshiba stubbornly launches the un-Blu-ray, XD-E500 DVD player</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <strong><strong><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/podcasts/EngadgetHD_Podcast_098.mp3"><strong>LISTEN (MP3)</strong></a><br /><strong><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/podcasts/EngadgetHD_Podcast_098.m4a"><strong>LISTEN (AAC)</strong></a><br /></strong><strong><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/podcasts/EngadgetHD_Podcast_098.ogg"><strong>LISTEN (OGG)</strong></a></strong></strong></strong><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/engadget-hd-podcast-098-08-20-2008/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288919/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/engadget-hd-podcast-098-08-20-2008/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370130767" height="1" width="1"/>hdhdtvpodcastsWed, 20 Aug 2008 12:56:00 ESTEngadget HD Podcast 098Ben Drawbaugh, Steve Kim0:56:48podcastshttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/engadget-hd-podcast-098-08-20-2008/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370130768/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sky-launching-real-lives-hd-channel-october-20/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sky-launching-real-lives-hd-channel-october-20/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/satellite/" rel="tag">Satellite</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/new-content/" rel="tag">New content</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="16" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/sky_hdtv_box_7_1_2.jpg" alt="" />Brits needing their reality TV in high definition get a boost October 20, when the Real Lives channel on <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/Sky/">Sky</a> goes HD. Hook your HDTV up to <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/02/sky-hd-gets-new-name-and-price/">Sky+ HD</a> and enjoy Lorraine Kelly's DNA Stories, Toy Boys , Fashion Avenue. Sounds good, we'll be checking out The First 48 and awaiting the HD debut of <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/30/survivor-starts-first-hd-season-september-18/">Survivor</a> in the meantime, although it does bring into question how much of reality TV do we really want to see in HD.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2008/08/real_lives_hd_c.html">HDTV UK</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a124024/lorraine-kelly-series-to-launch-real-lives-hd.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sky-launching-real-lives-hd-channel-october-20/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287969/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sky-launching-real-lives-hd-channel-october-20/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370130768" height="1" width="1"/>englandreal live hdreality tvRealityTvRealLiveHdskysky hdSkyHdukWed, 20 Aug 2008 12:53:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/sky-launching-real-lives-hd-channel-october-20/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370093599/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/ask-engadget-hd-whats-the-best-bedroom-hdtv/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/ask-engadget-hd-whats-the-best-bedroom-hdtv/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/ask-engadgethd/" rel="tag">Ask Engadget HD</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/displays/" rel="tag">Displays</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/lcd/" rel="tag">LCD</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/250serieslcd_lores1.jpg" /><br /></div> Let's say you're adequately satisfied with your living room HDTV. Can you say the same about the set in your bedroom / office / guest room / etc.? Gregory can't, just check this out:<br /><br />"The HDTV in my den is great, but I just can't decide on a 20- to 26-inch HDTV for my bedroom. 720p is probably good enough in a set of this size, but I'm having a hard time finding which set looks the best and offers the best value. Can I get some advice from those who have made this decision already?" <br /><br />Let us speak for the readers when we say "Yes, yes you can get some advice." (Don't make us out to be liars... please?)<br /><br /><em>Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at </em><strong>ask at engadgethd dawt com </strong><em>and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.</em><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/ask-engadget-hd-whats-the-best-bedroom-hdtv/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289722/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/ask-engadget-hd-whats-the-best-bedroom-hdtv/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370093599" height="1" width="1"/>19-inch20-inch26-inchaskask engadget hdAskEngadgetHdbedroom hdtvBedroomHdtvfeatureshdtvlcdlcd hdtvlcd tvLcdHdtvLcdTvWed, 20 Aug 2008 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/ask-engadget-hd-whats-the-best-bedroom-hdtv/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370049217/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/fcc-hitting-the-road-to-talk-digital-tv/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/fcc-hitting-the-road-to-talk-digital-tv/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/regulatory/" rel="tag">Regulatory</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/ota/" rel="tag">OTA</a></p><a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-284629A1.pdf"><img hspace="16" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/hippiesonthecorner_summeroflove_082008.jpg" /></a>For anyone who's still confused about the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/digitaltv">digital television transition</a> -- somehow missing the TV ads, radio spots, numerous articles and a part of the small minority not vigorously refreshing the Engadget HD front page -- the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/fcc">FCC</a> is sending staff out on tour (sans the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/04/hitachi-takes-skinny-hdtvs-on-the-road-your-lcd-wants-to-purge/">slick bus</a>, didn't anyone tell them you've got to have a <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/07/17/disneys-magical-blu-ray-tour-starts-in-august/">bus</a>? It <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/10/12/hd-dvd-tour-stops-at-digital-life-2006-and-drops-details-on-miam/">worked so well for HD DVD</a>...ok maybe not such a great idea) to spread the 0 and 1 gospel. 23 cities identified as having more than 100,000 households or with at least 15% getting their TV strictly via antenna are on the list to be visited by a commissioner, while others will have to make do with mere staffers. FCC.gov has thedetails on when and where they'll be (warning: PDF read link), feel free to see when they're coming to your town. Will you save your ticket stubs to tell everyone "I was at digital switch '08"? (Note: FCCapolooza '08 is not actually converging on Haight-Ashbury in a phenomenon of cultural and political rebellion, but it would be much better if it were).<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990800.html?categoryid=1054&amp;cs=1">Variety</a>]<br /> <br /> [Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.supertouchart.com/2007/05/31/nycsummer-love/">Supertouch Art</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-284629A1.pdf>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/fcc-hitting-the-road-to-talk-digital-tv/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289421/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/fcc-hitting-the-road-to-talk-digital-tv/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370049217" height="1" width="1"/>analog shutoffAnalogShutoffchangeoverdigitaldigital tvDigitalTvdtvfccswitchovertourWed, 20 Aug 2008 11:09:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/fcc-hitting-the-road-to-talk-digital-tv/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370067018/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/vivitek-introduces-its-very-first-projectors-forgets-to-make-e/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/vivitek-introduces-its-very-first-projectors-forgets-to-make-e/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/displays/" rel="tag">Displays</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/others/" rel="tag">Others</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/dlp/" rel="tag">DLP</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/projector/" rel="tag">Projector</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.engadget.com/media/2008/08/8-20-08-vivitek-d326mx-d326.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> Just what the world needs -- another pair of perfectly average <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/projector/">projectors</a> to choose from. Vivitek has boldly gone where so many others have gone before by introducing the D326MX (XGA) and D326WX (WXGA) projectors, both of which rely on Texas Instruments' DLP engine and boast rapid start-up / instant shutdown features, HDMI / component connectors, 2,600 ANSI lumens, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio, 5-segment color wheel and a 1-watt speaker for mind-blowing monaural sound. The units weigh in at just 3.2-pounds apiece, and both should be available now for $999 / $1,199 should you remember to look within the next 15 seconds. Full release after the break.<p><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/vivitek-introduces-its-very-first-projectors-forgets-to-make-e/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Vivitek introduces its very first projectors, forgets to make 'em memorable</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/vivitek-introduces-its-very-first-projectors-forgets-to-make-e/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1290006/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/vivitek-introduces-its-very-first-projectors-forgets-to-make-e/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370067018" height="1" width="1"/>BrilliantColorD326MXD326WXDLPpjprojectorTexas InstrumentsTexasInstrumentsVivitekWed, 20 Aug 2008 10:18:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/vivitek-introduces-its-very-first-projectors-forgets-to-make-e/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/370016206/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/hdtv-named-game-changing-for-2008-takes-a-bow/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/hdtv-named-game-changing-for-2008-takes-a-bow/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/industry/" rel="tag">Industry</a></p><a href="http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20080819/AQTU52619082008-1.html"><img vspace="16" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-19-08-happy_tv.jpg" /></a>We're obviously biased, but we'd argue that HDTV was game-changing <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2005/09/22/15-of-american-homes-have-hdtv/">long before</a> 2008. Nevertheless, we have all ideas the technology will happily accept any and all praise bestowed upon it, including the most recent pat on the rump from Knowledge Networks. Said outfit has just named HDTV the game-changing media technology of 2008 after it noticed that HDTV set <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/13/28-percent-of-americans-now-own-an-hdtv/">ownership</a> has doubled every two years since 2000. According to its figures, 28% of households are now equipped with at least one HDTV, and it's predicting that number <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/07/19/50-million-american-homes-to-house-hdtvs-by-2008/">to rise</a> to 39% in 2009. HDTV will be hanging at your local big box retailer taking requests and signing autographs for the foreseeable future.<br /><br />[Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/59350main_Happy_TV.gif">NASA</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20080819/AQTU52619082008-1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/hdtv-named-game-changing-for-2008-takes-a-bow/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288971/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/hdtv-named-game-changing-for-2008-takes-a-bow/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/370016206" height="1" width="1"/>adoptionbusinesscontentgame-changingindustryKnowledge NetworksKnowledgeNetworksWed, 20 Aug 2008 10:16:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/hdtv-named-game-changing-for-2008-takes-a-bow/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369985056/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/espn-to-bid-on-2014-2016-olympics-promises-no-west-coast-tap/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/espn-to-bid-on-2014-2016-olympics-promises-no-west-coast-tap/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/espn-hd/" rel="tag">ESPN-HD</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/nbc/" rel="tag">NBC</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/primetime/" rel="tag">Primetime</a></p><a href="http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6588808.html?nid=4262"><img hspace="16" vspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/espnlogo_082008.jpg" alt="" /></a>It's certainly strange that with <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/10/nbc-to-shoot-3600-hours-of-2008-olympics-many-in-hd/">several networks, online video, on demand, cellphone</a> and any other way <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/09/nbc-lays-out-2008-beijing-olympics-coverage-plans/">NBC has provided</a> to <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/07/ready-to-watch-the-2008-beijing-olympics/">view</a> the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/olympics">Beijing Olympic Games</a>, U.S. HDTVs had to wait 13 hours to show Usain Bolt make history in the 100m dash -- and another three hours to catch it on PST. For those frustrated by NBC's arrogant mishandling of its broadcast rights, there exists one slim ray of hope (other than living somewhere lucky enough to get <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/19/cbc-plans-282-hours-of-hd-olympic-coverage/">Canadian television</a> so you can actually see the events before reading about them in the paper or on NBC's own website), ESPN. That's right, with Brett Favre finally on an NFL roster, the sports giant has apparently found enough free time to consider taking a run at broadcast rights for the 2014 Winter Games and 2016 Summer Games. While we don't yet know where they'll be, if ESPN gets the Games, VP of content John Skipper pinky swore that it would "never" put an event on tape delay, calling it a disservice to sports fans. Our support for this plan goes without saying, and since it's already too late to give them this year's broadcast rights, our only remaining issue is finding out what it takes to get John Skipper on the '08 presidential ballot.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6588808.html?nid=4262>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/espn-to-bid-on-2014-2016-olympics-promises-no-west-coast-tap/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289634/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/espn-to-bid-on-2014-2016-olympics-promises-no-west-coast-tap/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369985056" height="1" width="1"/>200820142016beijingbroadcast rightsBroadcastRightsespniocnbcolympicssummer olympicsSummerOlympicswinter olympicsWinterOlympicsWed, 20 Aug 2008 09:39:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/espn-to-bid-on-2014-2016-olympics-promises-no-west-coast-tap/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369931523/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/panasonics-blu-ray-sc-bt100-htib-system-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/panasonics-blu-ray-sc-bt100-htib-system-gets-reviewed/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/players/" rel="tag">Players</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/speakers/" rel="tag">Speakers</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/panasonic/" rel="tag">Panasonic</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/3375/4399/panasonic-sc-bt100-home-cinema.phtml"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-sc-bt100.jpg" /></a><br /></div> Make no mistake about it, Panasonic's <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/10/panasonic-delivers-sc-bt100-blu-ray-htib/">SC-BT100</a> is pretty intriguing for those looking to dive head first into the Blu-ray / surround sound game simultaneously. Boasting a 5.1 speaker system along with the DMP-BD50 standalone Blu-ray player, Panny's BD HTIB has a lot going for it on paper. Design wise, reviewers found lots to love, and they also admired the plethora of connection options and simplicity of use. Unsurprisingly, the picture quality was coined "phenomenal," but we wouldn't expect <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/11/panasonics-dmp-bd50-blu-ray-player-gets-reviewed/">anything less</a> from the BD50. The only real digs on the entire system are the steep price and the lackluster audio quality; highs were said to be "too harsh," and the overall quality was so far below par that it prevented critics at <em>Pocket-lint</em> from offering up a wholehearted recommendation. Maybe your ears will feel differently, though.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/3375/4399/panasonic-sc-bt100-home-cinema.phtml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/panasonics-blu-ray-sc-bt100-htib-system-gets-reviewed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287795/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/panasonics-blu-ray-sc-bt100-htib-system-gets-reviewed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369931523" height="1" width="1"/>audioblu-rayHTIBmusicpanasonicreivewedreviewSC-BT100speakerspeakersWed, 20 Aug 2008 08:02:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/panasonics-blu-ray-sc-bt100-htib-system-gets-reviewed/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369848277/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/dxgs-dxg-595v-hd-camcorder-does-1080p-for-200-bones/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/dxgs-dxg-595v-hd-camcorder-does-1080p-for-200-bones/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/other-hardware/" rel="tag">Other hardware</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/others/" rel="tag">Others</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/new-dxg-595v-high-definition-camcorder/story.aspx?guid=%7B98E96E3A-322A-47D9-9AA1-FE926DC453A9%7D&amp;dist=hppr"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.engadget.com/media/2008/08/8-20-08-dxg595v.jpg" /></a><br /></div> We've seriously stopped trying to understand what differentiates one <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/DXG/">DXG</a> camcorder from the next. Every release reads something like "blah, blah, 1080p," followed by a price that's simply too good to be true. The DXG-595V claims to capture 1080p (imagine that!) video onto your SDHC card for a mere $200, and the ability to snag stills / connect to your SDTV via composite or S-Video is thrown in for free. Thanks, DXG -- can't wait for you to slap a new model number on some leftover inventory and treat us again next month.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.gearlog.com/2008/08/dxg595v_an_hd_camcorder_for_th.php">Gearlog</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/new-dxg-595v-high-definition-camcorder/story.aspx?guid=%7B98E96E3A-322A-47D9-9AA1-FE926DC453A9%7D&amp;dist=hppr>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/dxgs-dxg-595v-hd-camcorder-does-1080p-for-200-bones/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289497/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/dxgs-dxg-595v-hd-camcorder-does-1080p-for-200-bones/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369848277" height="1" width="1"/>1080pcamcordercheapcrapcorderDXGDXG-595Vhd camcorderHdCamcorderWed, 20 Aug 2008 06:01:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/dxgs-dxg-595v-hd-camcorder-does-1080p-for-200-bones/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369761156/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/rcn-bringing-hdtv-to-student-residence-in-new-york-city/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/rcn-bringing-hdtv-to-student-residence-in-new-york-city/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Misc</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/cable/" rel="tag">Cable</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/new-content/" rel="tag">New content</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/rcn-delivers-triple-play-educational/story.aspx?guid=%7BE85B61D4-9512-4FA1-9CB8-B0E05CF80D04%7D&amp;dist=hppr"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-ehs-residence.jpg" /></a><br /></div> We told you that kids these days <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/08/colleges-throwing-in-high-def-amenities-to-lure-in-millennials/">had it made</a>, didn't we? The latest episode of college students getting more than just ample amounts of study time comes courtesy of RCN, which is delivering triple-play services to student residence rooms at 1760 Third Avenue in Manhattan, New York. The agreement with Educational Housing Services will enable the carrier to offer high-speed internet, digital phone and HD programming to over 1,100 students representing "a variety of institutions of higher learning, including LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising)." U-verse in a <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/13/atandts-u-verse-coming-to-university-of-houston-residence-hall/">University of Houston dorm</a>, RCN here -- what's next, FiOS TV in <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/01/verizon-brings-hd-vod-to-oregon-fios-tv-customers/">Corvallis</a>?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/rcn-delivers-triple-play-educational/story.aspx?guid=%7BE85B61D4-9512-4FA1-9CB8-B0E05CF80D04%7D&amp;dist=hppr>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/rcn-bringing-hdtv-to-student-residence-in-new-york-city/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287598/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/rcn-bringing-hdtv-to-student-residence-in-new-york-city/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369761156" height="1" width="1"/>amenitiesbusinesscollegedealdormEducational Housing ServicesEducationalHousingServicesEHShdtvhousingmillennialsnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynycRNCstudenttriple-playuniversityWed, 20 Aug 2008 03:29:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/20/rcn-bringing-hdtv-to-student-residence-in-new-york-city/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369620183/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/uk-freeview-channel-update-kills-boxes-dead/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/uk-freeview-channel-update-kills-boxes-dead/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/ota/" rel="tag">OTA</a></p><a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990650.html?categoryid=1019&amp;cs=1&amp;nid=2562"><img vspace="4" hspace="16" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/freeview-logo_081708.jpg" alt="" /></a>A few UK residents felt the pain Raid-style after the latest <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/Freeview/">Freeview</a> signal upgrade knocked certain receivers out of service last week. The upgrade has been rolling out in waves for the last month, unfortunately owners of some Daewoo, Labgear, Triax and Portland digital boxes have no choice but to buy a new box to keep getting television service. Hopefully our own digital transition doesn't end up with people trashing their box after a couple of years -- while Freeview says only a "minority" were affected by the enhancement, we're pretty sure it doesn't seem that way if your TV is one of the ones knocked out.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990650.html?categoryid=1019&amp;cs=1&amp;nid=2562>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/uk-freeview-channel-update-kills-boxes-dead/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288023/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/uk-freeview-channel-update-kills-boxes-dead/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369620183" height="1" width="1"/>digitalfreeviewset top boxSetTopBoxupgradeTue, 19 Aug 2008 23:44:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/uk-freeview-channel-update-kills-boxes-dead/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369575730/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/firefly-3-disc-blu-ray-set-coming-november-11/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/firefly-3-disc-blu-ray-set-coming-november-11/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a></p><a href="http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Fox_Announces_Firefly_on_Blu-ray_in_November/3311"><img hspace="16" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/firefly-group.jpg" alt="" /></a>That sound you just heard was millions of Browncoats exhaling, because the <em><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/firefly">Firefly</a> </em>Blu-ray boxed set hinted at <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/04/10/firefly-blu-ray-box-set-on-the-way/">back in April</a> is finally nearing release. All those still reading and not already frantically preordering the $89.98 MSRP set or repaying their oxygen debt have quite a bit to look forward to. Due November 11, Fox is bringing Joss Whedon's series home complete with new-for-Blu-ray commentary and cast reunion featurette to go with the 1080p video (in correct 1.78 aspect ratio) and DTS-HD MA soundtrack. So now that it has a date, what do we do? Probably not talk quite so much.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Fox_Announces_Firefly_on_Blu-ray_in_November/3311>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/firefly-3-disc-blu-ray-set-coming-november-11/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289357/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/firefly-3-disc-blu-ray-set-coming-november-11/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369575730" height="1" width="1"/>blu-raydts-hd maDts-hdMafireflyfoxjoss whedonJossWhedonTue, 19 Aug 2008 22:29:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/firefly-3-disc-blu-ray-set-coming-november-11/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369495396/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/sony-toshiba-farming-out-more-lcd-production/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/sony-toshiba-farming-out-more-lcd-production/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/industry/" rel="tag">Industry</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/sony/" rel="tag">Sony</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/toshiba/" rel="tag">Toshiba</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/lcd/" rel="tag">LCD</a></p><a href="http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Search/Nni20080815D15JFF01.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="16" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/7-25-08-bravia_tseries_highres_small.jpg" /></a>Even with all the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/23/your-next-sony-lcd-tv-may-actually-be-a-sharp/">partnerships and plant expansions</a>, Sony and Toshiba still think they can't meet demand and keep price down for their LCD HDTVs. Word from Japan's <em>Nikkei </em>over the weekend indicates Sony is upping the share of LCD TV production subcontracted out to Taiwan, Mexico and China-based manufacturers from less than 5% last year to 20% in fiscal '08, adding up to 3 million screens. Toshiba's cut a deal with a manufacturer in China to make 20% of its TVs this year, as it and Sony load up to do battle in the 30- to 40-inch size range. Of course, Sharp and Panasonic claim keeping things in-house give them an important tech edge, but the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/vizio">Vizios</a> of the world would beg to differ and it looks like Sony and Toshiba have decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%2520News/1830473/">Trading Markets</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/AC/TNKS/Search/Nni20080815D15JFF01.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/sony-toshiba-farming-out-more-lcd-production/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287890/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/sony-toshiba-farming-out-more-lcd-production/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369495396" height="1" width="1"/>bravialcdproductionsonysubcontractortaiwantoshibaTue, 19 Aug 2008 20:28:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/sony-toshiba-farming-out-more-lcd-production/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369288312/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/playon-media-server-brings-hulu-youtube-to-consoles-netflix-co/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/playon-media-server-brings-hulu-youtube-to-consoles-netflix-co/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/media-streamers/" rel="tag">Media streamers</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/other-hardware/" rel="tag">Other hardware</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.themediamall.com/playon"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/playon_081808.jpg" /></a><br /></div> PlayOn wants to make sure you can get your daily dose of Barackrolls and <em>Airwolf </em>episodes beyond the desktop, while <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/hulu">Hulu</a> might not have a slick <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/roku-netflix-player-hands-on-first-impressions/">streaming set-top box</a> of its own, this media server software turns flash video RSS streams into easily browsed folders for your <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/dlna">DLNA-compliant</a> hardware. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/mediasmart">HP MediaSmart</a> HDTVs being at the top of that list (with Nintendo Wii support planned by year-end) owners can grab the beta release of the software and stream low-res episodes of <em>Psych</em>, or any assortment of YouTube video they please. With Netflix support "just down the road" this could provide an end around for PS3 owners looking for streaming love, or Xbox 360 owners <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/microsoft-and-netflix-announce-partnership/">without Xbox Live Gold</a> (we know you're out there.) Bad news is the beta only lasts 60 days and there's a $30 pricetag waiting at the end of the free lunch highway. Our experience was good, with no stutters in a <em>Psych</em> episode streamed via Wi-Fi to the PS3 (albeit with no choice of <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/05/hulu-refreshes-hd-gallery-with-720p-tv-shows/">HD clips</a>), but we'd wait for confirmation on the whole Netflix bit before dropping any dough.<br /><br /><strong>Update</strong>: Getting 69-C00D36C4 / folder could not be accessed errors on your PS3 or Xbox 360, or waiting for 64-bit Vista support to dive in? PlayOn CTO David Karlton updated the official <a href="http://www.themediamall.com/blog/?p=33">blog</a> to let users know fixes and additional support is in the works, so keep an eye out for more news shortly if things aren't working just yet.<br /> <h3><strong><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/playon-media-server-1/">PlayOn Media Server</a></strong></strong></h3> [Via <a href="http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/08/19/playon-beta-allows-streaming-hulu-netflix-support-planned/">PS3 Fanboy</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.themediamall.com/playon>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/playon-media-server-brings-hulu-youtube-to-consoles-netflix-co/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288973/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/playon-media-server-brings-hulu-youtube-to-consoles-netflix-co/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369288312" height="1" width="1"/>dlnaflashhphulumedia smartMediaSmartnetflixplay onPlayOnplaystation 3Playstation3ps3rssstreamingvideowiixbox 360Xbox360youtubeTue, 19 Aug 2008 17:52:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/playon-media-server-brings-hulu-youtube-to-consoles-netflix-co/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369387776/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/insignia-ns-brdvd-blu-ray-deck-gets-reviewed-its-no-ps3/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/insignia-ns-brdvd-blu-ray-deck-gets-reviewed-its-no-ps3/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/players/" rel="tag">Players</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/insignia/" rel="tag">Insignia</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/insignia-ns-brdvd/4505-6463_7-33189493.html?tag=mncol;txt"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/20080818-insignia-brdvd.jpg" alt="Insignia NS-BRDVD" /></a><br /></div> Send in the clones -- the Insignia NS-BRDVD is another <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/07/funai-announces-nb500-blu-ray-player-bound-for-north-america/">dead ringer</a> for the Funai <a>NB500</a>, which started showing up under its various monikers <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/12/funais-nb500-blu-ray-player-sliding-into-wal-mart-for-298/">three months</a> ago. The Best Buy house brand is taking a stab at igniting some excitement in the sub-$300 Blu-ray player market. But reading CNET's review, it sounds like it comes up a bit short. First the good news: the NS-BRDVD is a benjamin cheaper than the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/criterion-collection-uses-ps3-as-reference-blu-ray-player/">ubiquitous</a> PS3, it does a good job with 1080p/24 content and even outputs Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA via bitstream (to a comparatively upscale receiver, we assume). But the unit was marred by lackluster 1080p/60 output. As we've seen, you can pay a <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/07/pioneer-introduces-elite-bdp-05fd-bdp-51fd-blu-ray-players/">lot</a> more for a Profile 1.1 player, but we're with CNET on this one -- save up just a little more dough and spring for a PS3.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/insignia-ns-brdvd/4505-6463_7-33189493.html?tag=mncol;txt>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/insignia-ns-brdvd-blu-ray-deck-gets-reviewed-its-no-ps3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288131/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/insignia-ns-brdvd-blu-ray-deck-gets-reviewed-its-no-ps3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369387776" height="1" width="1"/>best buyBestBuycnetfunai nb500FunaiNb500insignia ns-brdvdInsigniaNs-brdvdTue, 19 Aug 2008 17:36:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/insignia-ns-brdvd-blu-ray-deck-gets-reviewed-its-no-ps3/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369343457/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/nielsen-videoscan-high-def-market-share-for-week-ending-august-1/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/nielsen-videoscan-high-def-market-share-for-week-ending-august-1/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/nielsen_101008.png" alt="" /><br /></div> <br />We had a feeling that August was going to be a rough month for Blu-ray, but we had no idea the Nielsen VideoScan numbers courtesy of Home Media Magazine would be this bad. If you think that being down 26.88 percent over last week is bad, have a look at the revenue, at only 6.89 million we had to go back over three months to fine Blu revenues that low. The obvious reason is that the releases have been weak, but DVD didn't do as badly because of <span style="font-style: italic;">Nim's Island</span>. In a movie you'd expect to see from Disney, Fox's kid title was easily the number one DVD, beating the two week old comedy in second by two to one. Meanwhile, the very same title only mustered 2 percent of DVDs sales and couldn't even sell half as many copies as a much older Batman Begins on Blu-ray. Although we doubt next week will be as bad as this one, we don't expect things to get much better until the fourth quarter, which is when the studios finally start to let some of their big titles out.<br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/nielsen_list101008.png" alt="" /></div><p><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/nielsen-videoscan-high-def-market-share-for-week-ending-august-1/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending August 10th, 2008</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom206674PKM/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/nielsen-videoscan-high-def-market-share-for-week-ending-august-1/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1286205/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/nielsen-videoscan-high-def-market-share-for-week-ending-august-1/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369343457" height="1" width="1"/>nielsennielsen videoscanNielsenVideoscanVideoscanTue, 19 Aug 2008 16:37:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/nielsen-videoscan-high-def-market-share-for-week-ending-august-1/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369319672/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/hdtv-listings-for-august-19-2008/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/hdtv-listings-for-august-19-2008/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/abc/" rel="tag">ABC</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/espn-hd/" rel="tag">ESPN-HD</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/nbc/" rel="tag">NBC</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/listings/" rel="tag">Listings</a></p><img hspace="16" vspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-9-07-olmypics08.jpg" alt="" /><strong>What we're watching tonight:</strong><br /> <ul> <li> NBC (1080i) continues Olympics coverage at 8 p.m.</li> <li> ABC Family (720p) has<em> The Secret Life of the American Teenager</em> at 8 p.m.</li> <li> A&amp;E (720p) has <em>The First 48 </em>at 9 p.m. followed by <em>The Cleaner</em> at 10 p.m.</li> <li> Sci Fi (1080i) lines up <em>Eureka </em>at 9 p.m. and <em>ECW </em>at 10 p.m.</li> <li> History (1080i) has <em>Evolve </em>at 10 p.m.</li> <li> ESPN2 HD (720p) has Little League World Series at 8 p.m.</li> <li> ESPN HD (720p) has 2008 WSOP at 8 &amp; 9 p.m.</li> </ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/hdtv-listings-for-august-19-2008/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1289081/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/hdtv-listings-for-august-19-2008/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369319672" height="1" width="1"/>Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:05:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/hdtv-listings-for-august-19-2008/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369298485/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/poll-do-you-still-use-component/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/poll-do-you-still-use-component/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="16" border="0" align="right" alt="Component Video Cables" src="http://www.hdbeat.com/media/2006/06/monster-component.jpg" />We live in an ever changing world of electronics -- which is the way we like it -- but sometimes we try to hold on to the past. It's not that we don't like progress or change, but it's just that we feel that for us to throw out all of our old stuff and replace it with new stuff, that the new stuff had better be an improvement. Recently we started playing with <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/Vudu/">Vudu</a> again, and one thing we realized <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/12/vudu-review-the-hd-perspective/">we missed in our review</a> was the fact that HDMI is required for HD viewing. We find <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/soc">this new trend to kill component video</a> a real drag, but wonder is it time to let go? We know that <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/30/ce-pro-hands-out-suggestions-for-hdmi/">custom integrators don't like HDMI</a>, but other than that, are we the only ones holding on to the ability to use existing custom cables that don't fall out on their own?<br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/poll-do-you-still-use-component/#poll18209">View Poll</a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/poll-do-you-still-use-component/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1284887/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/poll-do-you-still-use-component/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369298485" height="1" width="1"/>ComponentHDMITue, 19 Aug 2008 15:29:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/poll-do-you-still-use-component/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369271226/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/eyes-on-toshibas-new-xd-e500-upconverting-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/eyes-on-toshibas-new-xd-e500-upconverting-dvd-player/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/players/" rel="tag">Players</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/toshiba/" rel="tag">Toshiba</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.engadget.com/media/2008/08/tosh-xed-top.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> Yes, Toshiba seems resigned to some sort of HD disc-free existence, as it continues to mope about HD DVD's loss to Blu-ray and refrains from releasing a player for the once rival format, but let's set all aside for the moment. We got a look at <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/18/toshiba-stubbornly-launches-the-un-blu-ray-xd-e500-dvd-player/">Toshiba's new XD-E500</a> in action, and we must say: it does what it sets out to do. Most consumers will see a visible quality improvement when playing their DVDs, particularly in the realm of sharpness. Toshiba's new filters are "intelligent" enough to spice up the grass while leaving the sky and clouds free of noise, and while the contrast and color filters are less necessary, many consumers will enjoy their effect -- even if video purists would scoff at such alterations. As for usability, it couldn't really be much easier to flip on and off the three different enhancements, but there's also no customization of those modes to speak of. This $150 player isn't in any way Toshiba's Blu-ray killer, but thankfully the company actually seems to recognize that, and plans to market to Joe consumer who doesn't want to fork over the dough for a Blu-ray player or doesn't want to invest in a brand new video library, and won't be insulting videophiles' intelligence with claims to the contrary. If you're looking for something to magically make DVDs look like HD, this isn't it, but it bests Toshiba's best upconverter easily, and we'd venture to guess it's probably tops yours as well. All that said, Toshiba will have in store demos of the player at major retailers, and we'd highly recommend taking a gander for yourself before you take the plunge.<br /> <h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/eyes-on-toshibas-new-xd-e500-upconverting-dvd-player/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288951/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/eyes-on-toshibas-new-xd-e500-upconverting-dvd-player/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369271226" height="1" width="1"/>eyes-onhands-ontoshibaupconvertupconvertingxd-e500Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:44:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/eyes-on-toshibas-new-xd-e500-upconverting-dvd-player/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369237337/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/infocus-play-big-in80-projector-gets-reviewed-its-a-keeper/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/infocus-play-big-in80-projector-gets-reviewed-its-a-keeper/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/infocus/" rel="tag">InFocus</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/dlp/" rel="tag">DLP</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/projector/" rel="tag">Projector</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/08/18/InFocus-IN80-DLP-Projector/p1"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/20080813-infocus_in80.jpg" alt="InFocus Play Big IN80 projector" /></a><br /></div> The crew at <a>Trusted Reviews</a> didn't waste any time getting their hands on the <a href="www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/infocus-minds-the-budget-with-its-play-big-in80-projector/">just-announced</a> InFocus Play Big IN80 projector. Better still, they liked what they saw. Despite initial trepidations about how the IN80 would fare compared to the &pound;400 cheaper X10, they found performance significantly better in the bigger brother. Better contrast (with an emphasis on deeper black levels) and higher brightness earned points, and overall the review pegged the IN80 as the "knee" in the price-to-performance curve. The only niggles that turned up were fan noise and DLP rainbow effects, perhaps more noticeable due to the IN80's brighter lamp. Sounds like a worthy competitor to the Epson <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/08/epson-launches-1080p-powerlite-home-cinema-1080-ub-projector/">PowerLite Home Cinema 1080</a>, but take our advice -- don't go looking for those rainbows; see them once and you're ruined! <br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.aboutprojectors.com/news/2008/08/18/infocus-play-big-in80-projector-review/">AboutProjectors</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.trustedreviews.com/tvs/review/2008/08/18/InFocus-IN80-DLP-Projector/p1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/infocus-play-big-in80-projector-gets-reviewed-its-a-keeper/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288061/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/infocus-play-big-in80-projector-gets-reviewed-its-a-keeper/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369237337" height="1" width="1"/>1080pdarkchipdlpin80infocuspjplay bigPlayBigprojectorreviewtitrusted reviewsTrustedReviewsTue, 19 Aug 2008 14:05:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/infocus-play-big-in80-projector-gets-reviewed-its-a-keeper/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369174237/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/blu-ray-releases-on-august-19th-2008/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/blu-ray-releases-on-august-19th-2008/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a></p><div align="left"><a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1588/streetkings.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="16" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/streetkings.jpg" alt="Street Kings - Blu-ray" /></a>Another slow August Tuesday for Blu-ray releases this week, as there are only a few day-and-date titles. Of those, the best we can think of is <em>Street Kings</em>, but it isn't a hard decision when a title like <em>Prom Night</em> has a IMDB score of 3.1.We have another TV series on Blu-ray this week though, with Fox's Terminator show which oddly enough is distributed by Warner -- those TV rights are always much more complicated then they should be. Next week looks to be better though, as Universal has a whole slew of catch up titles, including Season 1 and 2 of <em>Heroes</em>, and Fox's new fun comedy <em>What happens in Vegas</em>.<br /><br /></div> Blu-ray 728<br /><br /><a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html">Blu-ray</a><br /> <ul class="release_dates"> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/351/camprock.html">Camp Rock</a> </strong> (Walt Disney) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1295/hannahmontana_bestofbothworlds.html">Hannah Montana And Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert Tour</a> </strong> (Walt Disney) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1481/justiceleague_s1.html">Justice League: Season One</a> </strong> (Warner) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1514/lifebeforehereyes.html">The Life Before Her Eyes</a> </strong> (Magnolia) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1204/nixon.html">Nixon: Director's Cut</a> </strong> (Walt Disney) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1561/promnight2008.html">Prom Night (2008)</a> </strong> (Sony) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1411/proposition.html">The Proposition</a> </strong> (First Look) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1557/scorpionking2.html">The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior</a> </strong> (Universal) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1588/streetkings.html">Street Kings</a> </strong> (Fox) </li> <li><strong> <a href="http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1523/terminatorsarahconnorchronicles_s1.html">Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete First Season </a> </strong> (Warner) </li> </ul><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/blu-ray-releases-on-august-19th-2008/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287677/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/blu-ray-releases-on-august-19th-2008/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369174237" height="1" width="1"/>hd releasesHdReleasesTue, 19 Aug 2008 12:23:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/blu-ray-releases-on-august-19th-2008/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369147797/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/led-backlit-philips-42pfl9803-lcd-hdtv-breaks-cover/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/led-backlit-philips-42pfl9803-lcd-hdtv-breaks-cover/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/displays/" rel="tag">Displays</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/philips/" rel="tag">Philips</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/lcd/" rel="tag">LCD</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marcush.de%2F2008%2F08%2F16%2Feisa-award-fur-philips-42pfl9803-led-lux-mit-led-backlight%2F&amp;sl=de&amp;tl=en&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF-8"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-philips_42pfl9803.jpg" /></a><br /></div> We can't say for certain that this is the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/15/philips-readying-ultrathin-42-inch-essence-tv-for-ifa-debut/">Essence TV</a> we heard rumored last week, but we wouldn't be shocked one iota if it were. The Philips 42PFL9803, which has actually be around in at least name since earlier this summer, has just been granted an EISA award. The LED-backlit 42-inch HDTV reportedly features a 2,000,000:1 (dynamic) contrast ratio, the company's own LUX LED technology and a jaw-dropping &euro;2,999.99 ($4,407) price tag. We're hearing it's on track for a September release, but hopefully IFA will confirm / deny.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marcush.de%2F2008%2F08%2F16%2Feisa-award-fur-philips-42pfl9803-led-lux-mit-led-backlight%2F&amp;sl=de&amp;tl=en&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF-8>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/led-backlit-philips-42pfl9803-lcd-hdtv-breaks-cover/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287485/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/led-backlit-philips-42pfl9803-lcd-hdtv-breaks-cover/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369147797" height="1" width="1"/>42PFL9803EISAessence tvEssenceTvhdtvIfaIfa 2008Ifa2008lcdlcd hdtvlcd tvLcdHdtvLcdTvledled-backlitPhilipsTue, 19 Aug 2008 12:01:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/led-backlit-philips-42pfl9803-lcd-hdtv-breaks-cover/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369053800/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/ses-astra-tardily-trumpets-12-channels-of-hd-olympics-across-eur/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/ses-astra-tardily-trumpets-12-channels-of-hd-olympics-across-eur/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/satellite/" rel="tag">Satellite</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/bbc-hd/" rel="tag">BBC HD</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/new-content/" rel="tag">New content</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ses-astra-offer-extensive-high/story.aspx?guid=%7B5CE651FA-1845-4963-A9DD-8A94BF2FE010%7D&amp;dist=hppr"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-olympics_torch.jpg" /></a><br /></div> There's nothing here that wasn't apparent already, but SES ASTRA is just now getting around to boasting about a dozen HD channels that it's hosting to broadcast the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Ready for an exhaustive list? The channels broadcasting the Olympics in HD include for the UK, BBC HD, for France, France 2 HD and CANAL+ HD, for Germany, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/13/germanys-anixe-hd-covering-select-parts-of-2008-olympics-in-hd/">ANIXE HD</a>, for Poland, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/07/tvp-hd-begins-airing-olympics-in-hd/">TVP HD</a>, for the Slovak Republic, STV3, for the Netherlands, 1 HD, for Belgium een HD, for Spain, TELEDEPORTE HD, for Sweden, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/16/viasat-launches-high-definition-offerings-in-europe/">Viasat HD</a> and SVT HD and for Austria, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/04/21/orf-hd-launches-on-ses-astra-may-1/">ORF HD</a>. So yeah, if you somehow missed this for the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/16/poll-due-to-hd-have-you-tuned-into-the-olympics-more/">first week of the Games</a>, at least you're clued in now.<br /><br />[Image courtesy of <a href="http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/photos/openingceremony/flame/n214519711.shtml">Beijing 2008</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ses-astra-offer-extensive-high/story.aspx?guid=%7B5CE651FA-1845-4963-A9DD-8A94BF2FE010%7D&amp;dist=hppr>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/ses-astra-tardily-trumpets-12-channels-of-hd-olympics-across-eur/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287627/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/ses-astra-tardily-trumpets-12-channels-of-hd-olympics-across-eur/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369053800" height="1" width="1"/>anixeanixe hdAnixeHdastrabeijing olympicsBeijingOlympicsbroadcastcanalcanal hdCanal Hdcontenteuropefrancegermanyglobalolympic gamesOlympicGamesolympicsorf hdOrfHdpolandprogrammingSES ASTRASesAstraspainstv3svt hdSvtHdukviasatTue, 19 Aug 2008 09:58:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/ses-astra-tardily-trumpets-12-channels-of-hd-olympics-across-eur/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/369010850/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/amds-ati-all-in-wonder-hd-gets-reviewed/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/amds-ati-all-in-wonder-hd-gets-reviewed/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/media-pcs/" rel="tag">Media PCs</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/other-hardware/" rel="tag">Other hardware</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/ATI%2DAllInWonder%2DHD/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-ati-all-in-wonder-hd.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Loyal All-in-Wonder users from years past have probably been watching the progression of AMD's <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/26/amd-smells-a-comeback-with-ati-all-in-wonder-hd/">revised version</a> of the card with extreme interest. After such an absence, however, we understand the need to be cautious before snapping this up for your upcoming HTPC. <em>HotHardware</em> recently received one of these units for testing, and while it was only deemed "entry level" in the gaming department, the multimedia performance was smiled upon. To quote, "the [card] did an excellent job presenting digital video content in a quality manner without creating excessive power consumption in order to do so." As expected, the unit wasn't recommend for everyone (read: non-TV buffs), but those who'd utilize the built-in ClearQAM support probably can't go wrong for $199. Hit the read link for a whole gaggle of test results.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/ATI%2DAllInWonder%2DHD/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/amds-ati-all-in-wonder-hd-gets-reviewed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287564/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/amds-ati-all-in-wonder-hd-gets-reviewed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/369010850" height="1" width="1"/>all-in-wonderall-in-wonder hdAll-in-wonderHdamdatiatscClearQAMgpugraphics cardGraphicsCardreviewreviewedtv tunerTvTunerTue, 19 Aug 2008 08:41:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/amds-ati-all-in-wonder-hd-gets-reviewed/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368992121/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/mitsubishi-unveils-mzw-mx-mxw-series-of-lcd-hdtvs/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/mitsubishi-unveils-mzw-mx-mxw-series-of-lcd-hdtvs/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/displays/" rel="tag">Displays</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/mitsubishi/" rel="tag">Mitsubishi</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/lcd/" rel="tag">LCD</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-19-08-mitsu-lcd_hdtvs.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> Barely a month after <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/mitsubishi/">Mitsubishi</a> launched its <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/30/mitsubishis-new-isp-149-series-lcds-have-it-all-in-one-place/">iSP 149</a> series of LCD HDTVs, the company is trotting out three new lineups over in Japan. The higher-end MZW series includes the 46-inch LCD-46MZW200 (&yen;400,000; $3,643) and 40-inch LCD-40MZW200 (&yen;300,000; $2,732), both of which pack a 1080p 10-bit Diamond panel, 120Hz technology and an October 21st release date. For those with tighter spaces (and smaller budgets), the MX / MXW series spans from 19- (&yen;100,000; $910) to 42-inches (&yen;280,000; $2,550), with the most expensive sets offering a Full HD display and the lesser ones topping out at 1,366 x 768. Oh, and it looks as if Funai won't be the only one delivering a <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/13/funai-aims-to-bring-lcd-hdtv-blu-ray-combo-units-to-north-amer/">Blu-ray / LCD combo</a>, as Mitsu's already working up a concept. Peruse the links below for all the machine translated nitty-gritty.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&amp;u=http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20080819/mitsu1.htm&amp;usg=ALkJrhgzny23_LcuUwgevBqfnOv-K4sDyg">Impress</a>]<br /><br /><a href="http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&amp;u=http://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/news/2008/0819-b.htm&amp;usg=ALkJrhj9ibDtkaRASV5s9SuPgzxBysChzg">Read</a> - MZW series<br /><a href="http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&amp;u=http://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/news/2008/0819-a.htm&amp;usg=ALkJrhiHxKnaziZFVxiXEG3rG438NNEpUw">Read</a> - MX / MXW series<br /><a href="http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&amp;u=http://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/news/2008/0819-c.htm&amp;usg=ALkJrhgvWLxOAM-gfs7OYGSOfejdn1pjGA">Read</a> - Blu-ray / LCD combo concept<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/mitsubishi-unveils-mzw-mx-mxw-series-of-lcd-hdtvs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288447/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/mitsubishi-unveils-mzw-mx-mxw-series-of-lcd-hdtvs/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368992121" height="1" width="1"/>comboDIAMONDhdtvjapanlcdlcd blu-ray combolcd hdtvlcd tvLCD-19ATL20LCD-26MX20LCD-32MX11LCD-37MXW200LCD-40MZW200LCD-42MXW200LCD-46MZW200LcdBlu-rayComboLcdHdtvLcdTvmitsubishiMXW seriesMxwSeriesMZW seriesMzwSeriesTue, 19 Aug 2008 08:20:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/mitsubishi-unveils-mzw-mx-mxw-series-of-lcd-hdtvs/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368954030/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/universal-remote-intros-500-complete-control-mx-880/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/universal-remote-intros-500-complete-control-mx-880/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/remotes/" rel="tag">Remotes</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-mx_880.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> Universal Remote briefly mentioned the Complete Control MX-880 in its release of the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/universal-remote-busts-out-the-complete-control-mx-450/">MX-450</a>, but now we're being treated to a whole heap of new information. URC's PC-programmable remote is unsurprisingly aimed at the custom install sector and boasts a two-inch color LCD along with the ability to be used as an infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) remote. The $499 unit is essentially a color-screen version of the popular MX-900, and thankfully, the company included interoperability between files built for the latter to work on the new model. Oh, and it's available right now. Full release after the break.<p><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/universal-remote-intros-500-complete-control-mx-880/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Universal Remote intros $500 Complete Control MX-880</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/universal-remote-intros-500-complete-control-mx-880/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287641/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/universal-remote-intros-500-complete-control-mx-880/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368954030" height="1" width="1"/>cediacedia 2008Cedia2008Complete Control MX-880CompleteControlMx-880MX-880remoteUNIVERSAL REMOTEUniversalRemoteURCTue, 19 Aug 2008 07:11:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/universal-remote-intros-500-complete-control-mx-880/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368816670/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/warner-bros-to-launch-casablanca-austin-powers-blu-ray-box-se/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/warner-bros-to-launch-casablanca-austin-powers-blu-ray-box-se/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Misc</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-casablanca-.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div> Warner Bros. isn't content with just loosing <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/the-polar-express-makes-3d-blu-ray-debut-on-october-28th/"><em>The Polar Express</em></a> on 3D Blu-ray -- oh no, it's got another pair of titles set for a holiday launch. Famed classic <em>Casablanca</em> will finally be getting the Blu-ray treatment it deserves this December 2nd when it arrives in Ultimate Collector's Edition form. The $64.99 package ($59.98 on DVD) is reportedly "elegantly boxed in an intricate laser-cut Moroccan design and will include such collectibles as replicas of actual props (Victor Laszlo's "Letter of Transit") as well as a number of Warner studio documents. Going from one of the greatest love stories of all time to one of the raunchiest comedies of the past, oh, score, <em>Austin Powers Collection: Shagadelic Edition, Loaded With Extra Mojo</em> will be uncomfortably landing alongside the aforementioned gem on the same day. The collection-only package will include the entire trilogy in Blu-ray high-def for $74.98.<br /><br />[Image courtesy of <a href="http://valleyarts.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/casablanca-1-1024.jpg">ValleyArts</a>]<br /><br /><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/casablanca-ultimate-collectors-edition-ultimate/story.aspx?guid=%7B19F4D8F0-E7D8-47A2-9F70-639CBF27A23F%7D&amp;dist=hppr">Read</a> - Casablanca release<br /><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&amp;newsId=20080818005149&amp;newsLang=en">Read</a> - Austin Powers release<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/warner-bros-to-launch-casablanca-austin-powers-blu-ray-box-se/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287732/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/warner-bros-to-launch-casablanca-austin-powers-blu-ray-box-se/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368816670" height="1" width="1"/>Austin PowersAustinPowersbox setBoxSetCasablancacollectors editionCollectorsEditionfilmsmoviesreleasewarnerwarner bros.warner brothersWarnerBros.WarnerBrothersTue, 19 Aug 2008 03:24:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/19/warner-bros-to-launch-casablanca-austin-powers-blu-ray-box-se/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368650760/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/cmis-syvio-200-hd-media-streamer-gets-a-hint-or-three-from-po/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/cmis-syvio-200-hd-media-streamer-gets-a-hint-or-three-from-po/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/media-streamers/" rel="tag">Media streamers</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.cmicable.com/en/products_details.asp?id=307"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-syvio-200.jpg" /></a><br /></div> Take this as a compliment, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/PopcornHour/">Popcorn Hour</a>. Your product has gained so much recognition and acclaim that a Chinese outfit dubbed CMI has shamelessly knocked it off. To be fair, the design isn't <em>exactly</em> the same, but it's close enough for us to understand where the SYVIO-200 got its inspiration. The HD media streamer pretty much mimics the <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/27/popcorn-hours-networked-media-tank-gets-reviewed/">A-100</a> in every meaningful way, though it does include the very beneficial HDMI 1.3 specification. You'll find oodles of media streaming capabilities as well as NAS / BitTorrent support, though your guess is as good as ours as to whether it'll ever find a US distributor. For the record, we're guessing "no."<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2008/08/15/syvio-200-hd-player-media-streamer/">eHomeUpgrade</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.cmicable.com/en/products_details.asp?id=307>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/cmis-syvio-200-hd-media-streamer-gets-a-hint-or-three-from-po/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287700/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/cmis-syvio-200-hd-media-streamer-gets-a-hint-or-three-from-po/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368650760" height="1" width="1"/>chinachineseCMIhd media streamerhd streamingHdMediaStreamerhdmi 1.3Hdmi1.3HDP00HdStreamingmedia streamerMediaStreamerstreamstreamingSYVIO-200Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:55:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/cmis-syvio-200-hd-media-streamer-gets-a-hint-or-three-from-po/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368524127/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/the-polar-express-makes-3d-blu-ray-debut-on-october-28th/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/the-polar-express-makes-3d-blu-ray-debut-on-october-28th/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Misc</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/polar-express-presented-3-d-blu-raytm/story.aspx?guid=%7BB250E173-4B1D-4CAE-A173-EB27A6B54E55%7D&amp;dist=hppr"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-polar_express.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div> Oh boy, we can see where this is headed. Not that <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/3D/">3D</a> Blu-ray Discs are a bad thing, though. Anywho, shortly after <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/04/05/hannah-montana-makes-a-3d-first-on-blu-ray/">Hannah Montana</a> was announced as being the first to bring 3D to BD, along comes <em>The Polar Express</em> to call "shotgun!" Warner Bros. has announced that the visually pleasing film will make its 3D Blu-ray / DVD debut on October 28th, with the title coming bundled with four sets of 3D glasses. The Blu version will go for $34.99, while the DVD edition will demand $20.97. Anyone plan on picking this up to see if the hype is warranted?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/polar-express-presented-3-d-blu-raytm/story.aspx?guid=%7BB250E173-4B1D-4CAE-A173-EB27A6B54E55%7D&amp;dist=hppr>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/the-polar-express-makes-3d-blu-ray-debut-on-october-28th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287735/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/the-polar-express-makes-3d-blu-ray-debut-on-october-28th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368524127" height="1" width="1"/>3d3d blu-ray3dBlu-rayblu-rayfilmsmoviespolar expressPolarExpressthe polar expressThePolarExpresswarnerwarner bros.warner brothersWarnerBros.WarnerBrothersMon, 18 Aug 2008 19:25:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/the-polar-express-makes-3d-blu-ray-debut-on-october-28th/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368458098/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/panasonic-prepping-dmp-bd35-and-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-players/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/panasonic-prepping-dmp-bd35-and-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-players/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/blu-ray/" rel="tag">Blu-ray</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/players/" rel="tag">Players</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/panasonic/" rel="tag">Panasonic</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=1655"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-panasonic_booth.jpg" /></a><br /></div> This one sounds like little more than pure speculation, but word on the street has it that Panasonic will be following its recently released <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/11/panasonics-dmp-bd50-blu-ray-player-gets-reviewed/">DMP-BD50</a> with two new players at CEDIA 2008. The DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 will purportedly feature a revamped <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/22/panasonics-uniphier-3-to-deliver-cheaper-bd-live-enabled-blu-ra/">UniPhier</a> video processor and an Ethernet port for <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/BDLive/">BD-Live</a> compatibility. As for the latter, it'll also boast 8-channel analog audio outputs and isolation feet to reduce the effects of vibration. Obviously, no pricing details have been announced, but let's hope Panny <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/01/consumers-delaying-blu-ray-purchases-cant-find-value-propositi/">shocks the world</a> with a couple somewhat respectable stickers in just a few weeks.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10019367-1.html">CNET</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=1655>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/panasonic-prepping-dmp-bd35-and-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-players/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1288018/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/panasonic-prepping-dmp-bd35-and-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-players/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368458098" height="1" width="1"/>bdbd livebd-liveBdLiveblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerDMP-BD35DMP-BD55panasonicprofile 2.0Profile2.0rumorMon, 18 Aug 2008 17:46:00 ESThttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/panasonic-prepping-dmp-bd35-and-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-players/http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~3/368426560/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/boston-acoustics-reveals-horizon-i-ds2-ipod-boombox/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/boston-acoustics-reveals-horizon-i-ds2-ipod-boombox/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/other-hardware/" rel="tag">Other hardware</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/speakers/" rel="tag">Speakers</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/others/" rel="tag">Others</a>, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/category/apple/" rel="tag">Apple</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.pr-inside.com/boston-acoustics-powerful-new-horizon-r760657.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/08/8-18-08-ids2.jpg" /></a><br /></div> It only takes a glance to realize that <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/15/boston-acoustics-throws-us-a-curve-with-its-vista-speakers/">Boston Acoustics</a>' Horizon i-DS2 iPod boombox is merely a cleaned up version of the knobby <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/12/boston-acoustics-takes-a-shot-with-duo-i-ipod-boombox/">Duo-i</a>, but we must say, the new look is pretty sleek. Built to function with any dock-connecting iPod, this 60-watt speaker system includes twin 3.5-inch full-range drivers, a composite video output, USB connector and an auxiliary input for plugging in other DAPs / PMPs. The unit itself arrives in glossy white or glossy black, though users with an itch to customize can select from a variety of P.O.P. metal grilles. On paper, the unit isn't too shabby, but the $179.99 price tag is somewhat of a drag.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.pr-inside.com/boston-acoustics-powerful-new-horizon-r760657.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/boston-acoustics-reveals-horizon-i-ds2-ipod-boombox/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/forward/1287868/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/18/boston-acoustics-reveals-horizon-i-ds2-ipod-boombox/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EngadgetHd/~4/368426560" height="1" width="1"/>Boston AcousticsBostonAcousticsHorizon i-DS2HorizonI-ds2i-DS2ipod accessoryipod dockipod sound systemipod speaker system