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Vehicles
World’s First High-Def Train Simulator Makes Train Operating Uber-Realistic
10:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Train operators-in-training will no longer have to deal with plain, unrealistic, standard-definition simulations thanks to a new system that uses full HD video. Jointly developed by Fujitsu and video game maker Ongakukan, the world’s most advanced train simulator uses variable-speed playback technology and HD video that was shot on actual train lines. More »
Entertainment
HD Content Confirmed For Amazon Unbox!
3:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | TiVo has officially confirmed that Amazon Unbox will get HD content in the near future, but execs at the company say a few kinks need to be ironed out first. The current version of Unbox can’t process HD content, and availability is limited by bandwidth constraints—something cable companies are in the process of solving. If a previous customer survey is to be trusted, an HD movie rental will cost US$4.99, the same as iTunes. [Zatz Not Funny! - Thanks Dave] More »
Online
Apple TV vs. Vudu vs. Xbox 360: Video Download Battlemodo
4:15AM Wilson Rothman | If you’ve been wondering how to compare the video-download options of Apple TV, Vudu and the Xbox 360, I think today is your lucky day. AU: Ok, so none of these are available her in Australia, but don’t you always wonder what it would be like to be able to download video without having to rely on bittorrent?
Entertainment
Blu-ray Player Sales Up 600 Per Cent, According to UK Online Retailer
11:26PM Addy Dugdale | Stuart Rowe, COO of play.com is claiming that sales of Blu-ray players have increased seven-fold since Toshiba announced it was cutting and running from its HD-DVD format. The UK-based web retailer sold more Blu-ray players on Tuesday than it has in the whole of last week, and was the first to react to the Toshiba news by slashing HD-DVD player prices. More »
Entertainment
1:53PM Nick Broughall | It seems as though another battle has been won, although the war still rages on. The latest mercenary to join the Blu-ray side in the format war is Harman Kardon, who announced that they will be releasing a dedicated Blu-ray player at IFA in Berlin later this year.
According to What HiFi?, the player is destined to cost around 450-500 Euros, although all other details are thin on the ground. Harman Kardon have also confirmed that they’ll be releasing the DVC600 HDD/Blu-ray recorder they showed us last year. Pricing and local availability for this model are still up in the air, but rest assured that when we get local news of its release, you’ll be the first to know.
I don’t want to go into the format war yet again, but the case for a Blu-ray victory seems to be getting stronger and stronger every day, wouldn’t you say?
[What Hifi?]
More »
Harman Kardon Joins The Blu-ray Team, Toshiba Keeps On Keeping On
1:53PM Nick Broughall | It seems as though another battle has been won, although the war still rages on. The latest mercenary to join the Blu-ray side in the format war is Harman Kardon, who announced that they will be releasing a dedicated Blu-ray player at IFA in Berlin later this year.
According to What HiFi?, the player is destined to cost around 450-500 Euros, although all other details are thin on the ground. Harman Kardon have also confirmed that they’ll be releasing the DVC600 HDD/Blu-ray recorder they showed us last year. Pricing and local availability for this model are still up in the air, but rest assured that when we get local news of its release, you’ll be the first to know.
I don’t want to go into the format war yet again, but the case for a Blu-ray victory seems to be getting stronger and stronger every day, wouldn’t you say?
[What Hifi?]
More »
Entertainment
Vudu Test Confirms HD Download Worries (Plus: What Needs to Be Done)
6:25AM Wilson Rothman | Over the weekend, I checked out three versions of the Transformers movie: standard-def and high-def instantaneous downloads to the Vudu box with 4-Mbps net connection, as well as the HD DVD of the movie, playing through the Xbox 360. As you can see in the image above, the so-called HD experience from Vudu wasn’t one that could come close to comparing with the HD DVD playback. In fact, it was awfully hard to see a vivid difference between that and the perfectly fine (and $2 cheaper) SD download.
Entertainment
11:46AM Nick Broughall | After yesterday’s unveiling of Foxtel’s HD+ service, I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the channel menu. Some of you were disappointed by the selection of only four dedicated HD channels. In reality there’s a little bit more on offer than just four channels, and a plan to roll out even more channels next year. Hit the jump for a closer analysis of the HD offerings.
More »
Foxtel’s HD Channels Dissected, Guts Thrown Around Room
11:46AM Nick Broughall | After yesterday’s unveiling of Foxtel’s HD+ service, I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the channel menu. Some of you were disappointed by the selection of only four dedicated HD channels. In reality there’s a little bit more on offer than just four channels, and a plan to roll out even more channels next year. Hit the jump for a closer analysis of the HD offerings.
More »
Entertainment
2:03PM Nick Broughall | Today is a happy day for Hi-Def lovin’, flat-panel TV-totin’, gadget-obsessed Australians everywhere. And yes, that does mean you. The reason it’s such a happy day is that Foxtel has officially unveiled its new HD service, including the new Hi-Def box, at a media conference in Sydney. At which I was lucky enough to attend.
So strap yourself in, get yourself comfortable and hit the jump for all the info you can possibly imagine.
More »
Foxtel Uncover Foxtel HD+ — Because Sometimes HD Just Isn’t Enough
2:03PM Nick Broughall | Today is a happy day for Hi-Def lovin’, flat-panel TV-totin’, gadget-obsessed Australians everywhere. And yes, that does mean you. The reason it’s such a happy day is that Foxtel has officially unveiled its new HD service, including the new Hi-Def box, at a media conference in Sydney. At which I was lucky enough to attend.
So strap yourself in, get yourself comfortable and hit the jump for all the info you can possibly imagine.
More » 