Posts filed under 'High Def'
Netflix has added support to rent HD DVDs to their system today. You can access the setup from under Your Account. From there you can enable HD DVD
movies, which will add a new column to your Queue entitled Format. Under format, you’ll find DVD and HD-DVD now. Blu-ray will be added later this year.
However, according to hackingnetflix.com, not one of his 330 movies was offered in HD DVD. I would blame this of course on the new format as opposed to Netflix.
The coolest part? Enabling HD DVD movies on your account does not cost a penny more!
Netflix Adds HD DVD Rentals [Hacking Netflix.com]
March 13th, 2006
Looking to build a home theater room with a nice projector? Not in the mood to run cables all over the place? Then the Toshiba et20 may be the projector for you. This all-in-one projector features a DVD player and built in 5.1 surround sound system.
The projector is supposedly pretty good quality to. It will project a 39-inch image from 27-inches away, or 78-inch image from a mere 39-inches away. It’s got a HQV image processor that promises HD quality output out of standard definition DVDs.
I wouldn’t expect that much out of it. But for $1,900 you do get a movie theater in a box.
Toshiba’s et20 all-in-one 5.1 surround DVD projector [Engadget]
March 10th, 2006
Looks like
SED TV production will be delayed until 2007, and don’t expect consumer availability to late 2007, early 2008. SED TVs are a combination of CRT (standard TV) and LCD technology. In short, this means a slender size equitable to Plasma and LCD, but with a higher quality picture. Delays are a result of Toshiba and
Canon – the two major backers of SED TV – realizing that in order for them to be competitive in the market, and with Plasma and LCD TV prices dropping so rapidly, that they will have to cut current SED TV production costs.
SED TVs Delayed to 2008 [News.com]
March 9th, 2006
Hold on.
What the hell is SED and how is it better then LCD and plasma? Canon this past week showed off its SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter) TV at its Canon Expo and will continue to do so for the coming months. Apparently SED merges traditional CTR TV and flat panel technology. According to Canon it can produce a better and less laggy picture then a LCD or plasma. LCD lags were more common problem of the earlier LCDs and I distinctly remember watching a few Samsung in the early days that look as it if were smearing some colors across the screen (this was probably due to refresh rate too).
Expected release for the SED TVs is 2007, which I believe is the federally mandated time for all TV stations to offer HDTV. According to the Canon, its first set of SED TVs will be 32 inches and produce a 1080p resolution picture.
October 6th, 2005
For those film gurus who have been salivating over the release of a
Canon HD consumer camera can finally have their cake and eat it too, and maybe then some.
Canon today released their first high definition XL H1 3CCD Camcorder. The camera is lightweight, can capture at 1080i (awww no progressive), 24 to 60 frames per second, and features three 1.67 megapixel 16:9 native CCDs, and a newly developed high definition lens.
The camera’s form mimics that of the XL1 and XL2. Let’s just hope it doesn’t lack the same professional style zoom ring around the lens. The camera is backwards compatible with the XL series, allowing for the same microphones, lens, etc.
The camera can also capture 1920 by 1080 pixel still images on its SD card and has a 20x zoom. It is also compatible with PC based Console software which allows for crane or remote operation.
The camera is expected to arrive by November and run for about $9000.
September 15th, 2005
Sharp now offers the largest LCD HD-TV at 65″. It offers 1080p (progressive), which is the HDTV standard (when HDTV first appeared the manufactures were pushing 1080 interlaced). The TV is also Digital Cable ready which means consumers can just insert a cable company provided CarbleCard and eliminate the need for an additional box for HDTV.
The 65″ LCD dont come cheap though. Expect to pay $20,000+. This is a quick throw back to the days of when the Plasmas first debuted. But hold out and you will see a price drop in hopefully 6 months.
- True 16:9 Ratio for cinematic experience
- 1920×1080 Pixel resolution
- Enhance 800:1 contrast ration
- Digital Cable TV Ready
- Available in November
September 13th, 2005
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