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ATI Turns Focus to HTPCs with Radeon HD5450
Fri Feb 05, 2010 at 10:00 AM ET
ATI’s new graphics cards run cool and quiet, and they’re dirt cheap.
Graphics cards tend to be the stuff of gamers. They range from the normal to the extreme in terms of cost and performance, only to achieve obsolescence a year after installation. Most people who don’t play games don’t need a graphics card.
The increasing popularity of home theater PCs has changed that, and now people who never considered building a computer before are getting into the game. For that brand of customer, ATI has introduced the HD5450.
The Radeon HD5450 is set to launch with suggested retail pricing of $60, and it does almost everything you’d want a card to do. It can send a signal out through HDMI or DisplayPort, and it even supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Best of all, the HD5450 runs silent. Depending on the maker – graphics cards are created by one company and produced by many others – the HD5450 will run with either a single small fan, or with a completely passive cooling system. Eliminating the fan eliminates the noise, and makes the 5450 a perfect option for home theater use.
ATI’s Radeon HD5450 cards are available now.
Source: ATI
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'The Blind Side' Blu-ray Detailed
Fri Feb 05, 2010 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Warner Brothers, Disc Announcements (all tags)
The inspirational hit tackling Blu-ray this March has been detailed.
As previously reported, Warner Brothers revealed 'The Blind Side' starring Sandra Bullock in her Golden Globe winning performance will receive the high-definition treatment on March 23.
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and deleted scenes.
Exclusive to the Blu-ray is: Acting Coaches: Behind the Blind Side, The Story of Big Quinton, Sidelines: Conversations on the Blind Side – Sandra Bullock and Leigh Anne Tuohy; Sidelines: Conversations on the Blind Side – John Lee Hancock and Athor Michael Lewis, and Exclusive Michael Oher interview.
The release will also include a DVD and digital copy.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray ihas been set at $35.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'The Blind Side' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 23.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Blind Side (Blu-ray)
Comcast Launches XFINITY
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 05:40 PM ETTags: Comcast, Industry Trends (all tags)
Want more bandwidth, more online content and more HD? Comcast’s bringing it and switching up their name in the process.
Comcast is introducing some new, higher tier subscription plans, and rebranding their existing products with the new XFINITY brand name. Let’s get it out of the way right at the top. XFINITY is a silly name, we all agree.
XFINITY is rolling out in eleven cities initially with more to come this year. While for most customers this will simply be a name change, Comcast is adding more high-end internet and television packages to their lineup.
The details of the television packages, such as content and pricing, are not yet announced. Comcast Voices, the company’s official blog, revealed some of the plans for internet packages though. “We’re offering 50 Mbps in XFINITY markets, and those speeds will keep increasing to 100+ Mbps and even faster in the future,” writes Comcast VP of Operations David Watson.
Watson also teased a few projects that are still in the works, such as iPhone apps, caller ID features, and Remote DVR.
Source: Comcast Voices
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'Out of Africa' Announced for Blu-ray
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 05:00 PM ETTags: Universal, Disc Announcements (all tags)
The 25th anniversary of Sydney Pollack's epic drama will be celebrated on Blu-ray this April.
Universal is working on the romantic drama 'Out of Africa' starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford for a Blu-ray release on April 27.
The Blu-ray/DVD flipper disc will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Feature Commentary with Director Sydney Pollack, Deleted Scenes, A Song of Africa, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes (DVD side only), Cast and Filmmakers (DVD side only), My Scenes, and BD-Live.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still unconfirmed.
You can find the latest specs for 'Out of Africa' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 27.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Out of Africa (Blu-ray)
'Michael Bolton: Live from Royal Albert Hall' Announced for Blu-ray
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 04:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Eagle Rock Entertainment (all tags)
Don't tell Michael Bolton, but a live 2009 concert by the famous crooner is coming to Blu-ray in May.
Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced 'Michael Bolton: Live from Royal Albert Hall' for a high-definition release on May 4.
There's no word on tech specs or suggested list price yet, but supplements will include bonus tracks, an interview with Michael Bolton, and a featurette called Countdown. A full track listing can be viewed here.
You can find the latest specs for 'Michael Bolton: Live from Royal Albert Hall' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 4.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Blu-ray)
JVC TeleDock LCDs Sport a Built-in iPod Dock
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 03:00 PM ETTags: JVC, Classics on High-Def, Industry Trends (all tags)
Looking for a TV with a built in iPod docking station right in the front? Well look no further.
JVC’s TeleDock series of LCDs are a bit different. They’ve got a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1080p screen resolution. They come in sizes from 32” on up to 46”. Oh, and they’ve got an iPod dock built right in.
It’s a solution, admittedly, for those who want to hook their iPods and iPhones up to their new TVs. It’s not the most elegant solution, since it leaves the iPod sitting right in front of the television on a flipped out plastic dock, but for what it is, it works.
You can play music and movies directly from your iPod, and use JVC’s remote to control playback. If you want, you can even play music from the iPod while watching TV. Videos from the iPod can be played back at different aspect ratios, though the lower the quality, the smaller the picture.
The JVC TeleDock series also comes complete with three HDMI inputs as well as two component, two S-video, and a PC input.
Pricing has not yet been determined for the JVC TeleDock, but we’ll see the release of JVC’s new sets this spring.
Source: JVC
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'Neil Diamond: Hot August Night' Announced for Blu-ray
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 02:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Sony (all tags)
The 2008 concert held at New York City's Madison Square Garden is bound for Blu-ray later this month.
In an early announcement to retailers, Sony says it will release 'Neil Diamond: Hot August Night' on high-definition on February 23.
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and LPCM 2.0 soundtrack. The only supplement is Welcome Home Neil. A full track listing can be viewed here.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98.
You can find the latest specs for 'Neil Diamond: Hot August Night' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 23.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Neil Diamond: Hot August Night (Blu-ray)
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Serenity' Blu-ray $12.99 at Amazon
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 01:15 PM ETTags: Amazon, High Def Deals (all tags)
Joss Whedon's final chapter following a ragtag group of space-faring outlaws is on sale.
The online retailer is selling the sci-fi film 'Serenity' continuing the saga of the cult TV series 'Firefly' for only $12.99 (52% off suggested list price).
Click here to pick up this great flick for your collection!
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Our TVs are Inexpensive, Not Cheap says Vizio CEO
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Vizio, High-Def Retailing, Industry Trends (all tags)
Vizio has certainly come a long way in the last few years. They established themselves early on as a good alternative for entry level sets, but they’re increasingly popular, even when compared to more established companies. William Wang says it has everything to do with quality.
“Most people think the way to make inexpensive TVs is to use inexpensive parts,” says William Wang, CEO of Vizio. “These days that's not the best approach.”
In an interview with Nikkei Electronics Asia, Wang stressed that even though the company makes some of the most economically priced televisions on the market, that doesn’t mean they make cheap TVs. He says that the main way the company keeps prices down is to establish strong relationships with other firms.
“We outsource TV design, manufacture and other matters to AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd. and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., both of Taiwan,” he said. “For sales, our tie-ups with companies like Costco Wholesale Corp. are essential.”
He says that regardless of the quality and price of the televisions Vizio offers, if the company were to use the same high-cost system of manufacturing and distribution as larger companies, it just wouldn’t work.
In closing, Wang said that one of his goals with Vizio over the next few years is to create smart TVs that are capable of much more than regular televisions, but to keep them simple enough that anyone can use them.
Source: Tech-on
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Classic Disney Blu-rays Delayed
Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 12:45 PM ETTags: Disney, Disc Announcements (all tags)
Unfortunately, it seems a few animated classics will be coming to high-definition later than anticipated.
'Dumbo: Special Edition' was supposed to be released this month, but Disney now says the lovable big-eared elephant won't be soaring to Blu-ray until February of 2011.
Other titles to be delayed are 'Fantasia' and 'Fantasia 2000' which have been pushed from March to December.
You can find the latest specs for 'Dumbo: Special Edition,' 'Fantasia' and 'Fantasia 2000' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're now indexed under PENDING.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Dumbo: Special Edition (Blu-ray)
- Fantasia 2000 (Blu-ray)
- Fantasia (Blu-ray)
