HDTV

Recognize This Tuner?

In browsing HP’s DigitalLife booth (for both work and pleasure), I stumbled upon a familiar site:

Sure looks a lot like the new-yet-still-destined-to-fail ReplayTV PC hardware edition. Which looks a lot like Hauppauge’s pair (PC and Mac) of USB HD tuners. Which looks like a lot like the Eye TV Hybrid.

As an occasional USB HD tuner user (Pinnacle variety), I wonder how much ATSC tuners cost these days? Perhaps it’s time to start building this functionality into most laptops (and integrate antennas into the LCD chassis).

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Consumer Reports Validates Dave’s New HDTV

I’m still sifting through a few weeks of unopened mail, but noticed Engadget and Gizmodo discussing HDTV reviews in the latest issue of Consumer Reports. Low and behold, after flipping through the mag, it turns out my Panasonic plasma is their top rated 42″ set. It’s certainly the nicest television I’ve ever owned and looks … Read more

CNBC HD… Isn’t?

CNBC is going HD. Sort of. The channel will broadcast in 16:9 and they’ll show HD graphics, banners, and tickers on the sides. But the 4:3 talking heads will preside in all their (upscaled) SD glory. While I can sort of understand saving money by delaying the HD studio gear investment, it’s still somewhat baffling … Read more

Dragon’s Lair HD DVD Review

Infinite free respawns never felt so good? Kevin Tofel, of jkOnTheRun, shares his Dragon’s Lair thoughts and pics.

dl1.jpg

Ah, 1983. A time when I was waiting for my growth spurt, had no gray hair and could often be found in an arcade or pounding away on my Commodore 64. I enjoyed all different game genres in the arcade: I didn’t discriminate on which machine was worthy of a quarter. However, I was always drawn to Dragon’s Lair which was one of the first laserdisc-based games. Maybe it was the movie-like cartoon graphics that captured my attention. (Actually, it was more likely glimpses of the spunky li’l Princess Daphne, but I digress so let’s get to current day.)

dl2.jpgFast forward to 2007. I’m still waiting for that growth spurt, I bleach the grays and have no time for arcades these days. And what’s with these “tokensâ€? everyone keeps trading real money for: is this Second Life in the real world? No, these days, I stay home and play games in high definition on an Xbox 360 and 60-inch Sony SXRD set. It’s all exactly as I would have predicted back in 1983, of course. ;)

That’s why I was excited to get a copy of Dragon’s Lair in HD-DVD to review. With the remastered disc from Digital Leisure and my Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive, I figured I’d be giddy with Daphne sightings, er, I mean, ready to once again quest away as Dirk the Daring.

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Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs: 3D TV, The Next Heavy-Bandwidth App: Connected Home 2 Go New NCTA Proposal on Digitial Must-Carry Channels: Connected Home 2 Go Video Streaming vs. Video Downloading: Connected Home 2 Go

And a Note About Apple TV – It’s Not Selling Well

Buried toward the end of this morning’s WSJ article on Sony is a short blurb on Apple TV:

Apple’s set-top device called Apple TV, which lets users play music and video from their computer-based iTunes library, has not been selling strongly since it went on sale earlier this year, analysts say.

apple-tv.jpgI had numerous debates with people when Apple TV first launched about how successful it could be. Then and now the biggest argument for Apple TV has always been that it has the potential to become so much more. If you add HD content to iTunes it could be a great HD video machine. If you add a TV tuner and DVR features it could replace your set-top. If you give people a chance to pay a premium for no DRM, it could transform the video purchasing experience.

Unfortunately, each “if” is fraught with complications. The content companies are fiercely protective of their content and only want to work with Apple on their own terms. This goes double where HD video is concerned given fears of piracy and lost revenue. As for consumers, they (we) want access to content they’re used to getting from their cable, satellite or telecom company, and that means dealing with CableCARDs or some other workaround technology. No simple task.

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