One phat hi-tech home theatre, gaming system - Via Computerworld Blogs:
If you attend Storage Networking World and walk the exposition floor, you're sure to see more spinning disk subsystems, robotic tape libraries, blinking Fibre Channel switches and screens displaying management software than you can shake a stick at, but the one thing you don't expect to see is one of the nicest home theatre systems money can buy streaming downloaded movies, games and photos through wired and wirelsss links from a consumer-grade server to a state-of-the-art Pioneer 50" plasma 1080p TV. Everyone stopped by this vendor's booth. read more... »
Thou Shalt Not View The Super Bowl on a 56" Screen - Via Slashdot:
theodp writes
"For 200 members of the Immanuel Bible Church and their friends, the annual Super Bowl party is over thanks to the NFL, which explained that airing NFL games at churches on large-screen TV sets violates the NFL copyright. Federal copyright law includes an exemption for sports bars, according to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy, but churches are out of luck. Churchgoers who aren't adverse to a little drinking-and-driving still have the opportunity to see the game together in public on a screen bigger than 55 inches."
(Read Original Article - Via Slashdot.)
Slashdot | HD Monitor Causes DRM Issues with Netflix - Via Slashdot :
Jeremiah Cornelius points us to Davis Freeberg's blog, where he discusses his "nightmare scenario" of losing access to his DRM-protected purchases by upgrading his PC monitor. --- "When I called them they confirmed my worst fears. In order to access the Watch Now service, I had to give Microsoft's DRM sniffing program access to all of the files on my hard drive. read more... »
Industry Execs: HD Sets Lacking Picture Quality: "Industry Execs: HD Sets Lacking Picture Quality Panelists at high-def conference say the picture often gets diluted in the transmission process.By SwanniWashington, D.C. (October 10, 2007) -- Several industry officials said today that the average HDTV owner is not getting the best possible picture on his set.At a panel discussion today at the HD World conference in New York, officials from Scientific-Atlanta, Discovery, Motorola and SES Americom said the high-def signal gets diluted during the transmission process. read more... »
Amazon.com Unveils "High-Def 101" Customer Knowledge Center for High-Definition Shoppers: Amazon.com, Inc. today unveiled a new customer knowledge center, Amazon High-Def 101 (www.amazon.com/hd101), which will help customers navigate the mountains of information available about the high-definition (HD) home entertainment marketplace. As a one-stop education and shopping destination, Amazon High-Def 101 allows visitors to explore a comprehensive lineup of HD-related products -- including HDTVs, movie players, game systems, PC options, accessories and movies -- while getting the facts on how to "high-def" their homes. Visitors also have access to other HD product offerings and new content, including educational videos and weekly blog posts highlighting the latest trends. read more... »
Lauren Weinstein's Blog: Important Warning Regarding New HD TiVo and Cable System Incompatibilities: You may have seen much (deserved) hoopla regarding the new relatively low-priced HD TiVo, that uses CableCARD technology to allow a direct interface between digital cable systems and the TiVo unit.
While it is generally understood that the current generation of these devices (this may well change within a year or two) cannot access two-way cable services such as Pay Per View (PPV) or Video On Demand (VOD), many potential buyers of this TiVo product may not be aware of concerns regarding the use of Switched Digital Video (SDV) on an increasing number of cable systems. read more... »
New HD TiVo and Cable Incompatibilities: "Lauren Weinstein writes 'The rapid deployment of Switched Digital Video (SDV) by cable companies can cause major problems for buyers of the new HD TiVo, preventing any access to some channels.'
(Read Original Article - Via Slashdot.)
IBM wins $120 million contract to run DTV coupon program: IBM today won the contract to administer the US government's Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. It might not sound like a big deal, but the contract is worth up to $120 million, and signing on the dotted line means that the government is serious about meeting the January 1, 2008 deadline to start distributing the coupons.
Beginning on that date, each US household may request up to two of the coupons. Each coupon will be good for $40 toward the purchase of any digital-to-analog converter box so that analog televisions can continue to receive over-the-air broadcasts after February 17, 2009, when analog over-the-air broadcasting stops. read more... »
The Wonderful World of TV Viewed Through HDTV | New Technology Guides: High-definition television or HDTV sets were launched and introduced to the ever insatiable market in 1998. On its launch, HDTV spurred excitement among tech aficionados, sports fans and movie addicts. You must be wondering why. Well, there is a pretty good reason for TV buffs to get excited about the advent of TV through HDTV.
HDTV started the rise of a television paradise because they boasted and impressed consumers with resolutions that are of superior and top quality. HDTV’s superior resolution of course, comes in pair and is complemented by equally superior digital surround sound. read more... »
When Is 1080 Not HDTV?: Plasma makers are making a big push back against the gains of LCD panels in HDTV applications, and they’re pulling out all the stops. Buyers will have to look closely and read carefully to make sure that they get what they think their getting. For example, consider the new “1080″ plasma panels put forth by Hitachi, in models such as the P42H401 or P50H401. read more... »