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Samsung Forecasts the Demise of Blu-ray

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Movies, Rumors,

Blu-ray Disc Samsung believes that Blu-ray will only last another 5 years and then will be replaced by another format or type of technology such as OLED. Andy Griffiths, Director of Consumer Affairs told Pocket-lint, “We will launch the OLED technology when it’s at a price that will be appealing to the consumer, unfortunately that’s not yet.”

Oddly enough, he may be right. We found out recently that Sony is rumored to be lowering the price of its BDP-S350 this month to make it a $300.00 purchase.

Sharp SB series LCD TVs

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies,

Sharp SB LCD TV They may not be the cheapest on the block, but Sharp’s 3 new LCD TVs are certainly less expensive than most. The SB series features their Spectral Contrast Engine, a 6ms pixel response, full 1080p HD resolution, and PC and HDMI inputs. The LC-52SB55U is 52 1/32-inches with a $2,300.00 price, the LC-46SB54U is 45 63/64-inches for $1,700.00, and the LC-42SB45 is 42 1/64-inches and only $1,4000.00. The first two are out now, while the third will be available in September.

Logitech Harmony Remote Software 7.5 released for OS X

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Home Entertainment, Software,

A quick update for all you Logitech Harmony users out there on OS X, as the company has released a new version of their software for the Mac platform. The download weighs in at 29 MB, and is officially titles Logitech Harmony Remote Software 7.5. If you are using a Harmony remote with OS X, then this is obviously a recommended update.

Apple TV 2.1 update now available, supports MobileMe and Remote App

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Software,

If you have an Apple TV, you are gonna wanna go ahead and update it. Just head into the General Settings menu, and go to Software Update. Apple TV will find the latest version, and offer to download it. This update provides a couple of new functionalities for the device, namely MobileMe support, as well as support for the new Remote app. This is the newly released iPhone and iPod touch application that allows you to take control of iTunes or Apple TV right from your handheld device itself. We were playing with it a bit earlier today, and we think it’s fantastic.

How Netflix’s Queue Works

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Movies,

Netflix logo Ever wonder how Netflix selects who gets the newest releases first? Apparently Sound and Vision Mag did. They contacted the company and although they wouldn’t reveal any trade secrets, they did divulge how the queues basically work. Here are some of their results:

Ordering a movie first does not necessarily mean you will be the first recipient.
The more popular the movie, the longer the wait.
The more films you watch, the less likely you are to receive new releases. (We hate that one.)
The more new releases you watch, the less likely you will receive other new movies. (Okay, that one is awful, too.)

Irregardless of our queue status and the algorithms used in them, we have to admit we are still Netflix advocates. It’s amazing how many obscure/old/cult films we have been able to screen with our subscription. And that makes it greatest thing since unsliced bread for us.

Channel Changer Ray Gun

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech, Movies,

Channel Charger Ray Gun There is not much info available on this Channel Changer Ray Gun, but we figure it has to be even more functional than the SMK remote prototype that was shaped like a water pistol. Due out in August, you can pre-order now for £8.99 (~$17.00) and get ready for the new fall season on the Sci-Fi Channel, or a few old episodes of the myriad of Star Trek re-runs that seem to go on forever.

Remote Buddy Organizes

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,

Every time we get a new gadget we get a new remote. While we suppose a universal one should be in order, we prefer the simplicity of the Remote Buddy. It holds up to 4 remotes with a cup holder for your fave brew. The outstanding thing about this is that it has one-touch buttons in case you lose one of the controls. Made of plastic, the 16 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 3 1/2-inch holder carries a MSRP of $59.98.

sPult Channel Surfer

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech,

sPult How many buttons on your remote do you not use, or if you have, never will again because of the results? Yurii Smitana Perfilov has designed the sPult Channel Surfer to simplify things. The universal remote features a scroll wheel, a favorites selector, and volume, mute, and power buttons. That’s all. No numbers, no accidental sleep setting, no menu to get lost on. We can’t wait for the sPult to become a workable product and go beyond prototype status.

Monster Wireless Digital Express HD Kit

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Wireless / WiFi,

Monster has created a Wireless Digital Express HD Kit that hooks up to your HDTV with a DVD player or digital signal box. It makes a claim of 1080p up to 30 feet away with its ultra-wideband or up to 330 ft. with existing coaxial cable. The device utilizes Sigma’s Wireless HDAV for HD A/V cable replacement as well as UWB-over-Coax technology. The system’s receiver goes into your TV’s HDMI port while the transmitter connects to the signal source. Look for the Monster products to make their debut in October with a MSRP of ~$300.00.

SMK TV Remote

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech,

SMK has come up with a prototype TV remote shaped like a water pistol. Power, volume, and channels are all controlled by the trigger. Click once for channel changing, two for on/off, and a click with a button push to change channels. Inside, there is an electromagnetic induction coil with a current of ~20 to 30mA when it gets going, high speed rotation gears, a power circuit, and an infrared light emitting unit. We hope SMK continues their energy-efficient research.

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