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High-Def Digest-Digest: April 3rd, 2012
Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 04:25 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
There's been plenty happening over the last month – so much that even we have a bit of trouble keeping up with it all. While March may not have had the biggest Blu-ray or videogame releases, it did play host to some significant reveals in both movies and gaming.
Blu-ray News
'The Secret World of Arrietty' Blu-ray Announced
The latest Ghibli film will be hitting disc on May 22nd in a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. The full details haven't been revealed, but we do know that we'll be seeing a storyboard feature as well as trailers and TV spots.
'Sherlock: Season Two' Announced for Blu-ray
The BBC knocked it out of the park with 'Sherlock' and now the second season of the series is slated to hit Blu-ray. You'll be seeing it on May 22nd along with audio commentaries and more.
Blu-ray Player Penetration Exceeds a Quarter of Homes
Blu-ray player penetration is up significantly, from 18% of homes in 2011 to 26% of homes in 2012. Interestingly, DVD player penetration also increased a bit over the year.
'Smokey and the Bandit' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed
Well it's about time! 'Smokey and the Bandit' hits Blu-ray on June 5th and will include Loaded Up and Truckin': Making Smokey and the Bandit as well as a CB radio tutorial.
'Harold and Maude' Blu-ray Delayed
If you want to sing out, wait until June 12th. The classic black comedy was just bumped back two months with no explanation given.
Gear and Industry News
New Onkyo Receivers May Suffer From Defects – Free Repairs Offered
Specific receivers made between November 2011 and January 2012 carry performance affecting issues that Onkyo is fixing for free. Click through to the full story for more information and a list of specific models.
Best Buy Loses Big in 4th Quarter – Closing 50 Stores
Out of the 1,000 stores Best Buy currently operates, 50 will be closing before the year is over. They'll be opening 100 mobile kiosks though, and another 50 stores in China.
Sharp 7-Series Shipping Now – 8-Series Coming in Late March/Early April
Sharp's new TVs are on the way to stores now, including the 80" 8-Series set complete with full array LED backlighting.
Onkyo Announces Mid-Range Receivers for May
The latest from Onkyo offer 4K upscaling, networking features, 3D support, and 7.2 channels of audio. The higher end of the two packs a dual-core video engine and Audyssey MultiEQ XT32.
Netflix Secures Original Series From Writer/Director Eli Roth
The new series will be known as 'Hemlock Grove' and follows in the tradition of recent supernatural thrillers and dramas. It's set to debut on the streaming service in 2013.
Videogame News
Rumor: An Elder Scrolls MMO is On the Way
Nothing has been announced or confirmed yet, but rumor has it that Bethesda's new online game will be themed around the 'Elder Scrolls' universe.
'Fez' Finally Comes Out April 13th
The indie game 'Fez' was first announced for a 2010 release date, but it's finally on the way to the Xbox Live Arcade at a price of 800 Microsoft Points.
An 'Adventure Time' DS Game is On the Way
Algebraic! A videogame version of the absolutely bonkers cartoon 'Adventure Time' is on the way for the Nintendo DS. Series creator Pendleton Ward says that he'll be heavily involved in creation.
Blizzard Reveals New 'Mists of Pandaria' Info and Trailers
Now that the beta has started to open up for some players, Blizzard has dumped a huge amount of info on our laps, including more on pet battles, farming and, of course, the new Monk class.
NECA's Portal Gun Replica Available May 18th
In mid May you'll finally be able to get your hands on a portal gun of your own. The 1:1 replica will run $139 when it starts selling on Think Geek.
High-Def Digest-Digest: March 1st, 2012
Thu Mar 01, 2012 at 04:30 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
The leap year really helped February out. What will probably be the biggest Blu-ray release of the year was announced on the 29th, earning February a place in history. Were it a normal year, those honors would have gone to March. We've got that announcement and plenty of other news from last month here in the High-Def Digest-Digest. And yes, I do labor under the assumption that months fight against one another to be the coolest.
Blu-ray News
'The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection' Announced for Fall 2012
You didn't think the big announcement was going to be about 'Dirty Dancing,' did you? We're still waiting on the release of some of the biggest action movies of all time, but we'll be getting closer this fall when 'Indiana Jones' finally goes HD.
'Dirty Dancing Collection' Blu-ray Announced
With the 'Indiana Jones' movies you get three great movies and one really bad one. The 'Dirty Dancing' collection contains the same amount of terrible movies, but since there are only two, the ratio isn't quite as good. Still, you'll be able to get your Swayze on in HD when May 8th rolls around.
'Being John Malkovich' Dated and Detailed for Criterion Blu-ray
When I went to see 'Being John Malkovich' I had no idea what I was in for, I just knew the guy who directed Weezer's music videos made the movie. Turns out a 16 year old me got a dose of Charlie Kaufman's brilliant insanity - something that's explored further in the Criterion Blu-ray due out May 15th.
'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Blu-ray Announced
Anyone else notice how 'Mission: Impossible' got completely snubbed at the Oscars? It was an easy pick for sound editing and even more for visual effects. It's also a damn good movie that's going to be hitting Blu-ray sooner than you might expect - April 17th.
'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Max von Sydow picked up a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in this Best Picture nominated drama set against the backdrop of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. You'll find it on store shelves May 27th.
Gear and Industry News
Blockbuster Will Close 500 Stores in the First Half of 2012
A third of the remaining Blockbuster retail locations will be shutting their doors in the next few months. CEO Joe Clayton seems optimistic that profitable stores will be able to remain open, but these underperforming locations have to go.
Over-the-Air TV is Gaining in Popularity
Sales of antennas are up in the wake of cord cutting consumers who use the internet as their main source of entertainment. One business in particular expects to double its antenna sales in 2012.
Starz Play Leaves Netflix this Week
There's a whole lot of good content that's being removed from Netflix this week due to a licensing agreement, or lack thereof, between Starz and Netflix. The streaming service has more on the way, but this big content hit will certainly affect the current customer base.
Google TV Patent Shows Voice Control is on the Way
Voice control seems impractical when compared to the alternative. It feels like it might be more time consuming than simply using a remote. Being able to call your Google TV while on your way home and set up your favorite show or get some romantic music playing though, that's something we can all get excited about.
Certain models of Samsung TVs ran into issues with a very specific capacitor. If you happen to have one of those TVs and you ran into the problem you can get a free fix or, if you prefer, money.
Videogame News
'Borderlands 2' is Coming September 18th
The original 'Borderlands' was an easy pick for my favorite game of 2009 and thanks to the extensive and exciting DLC, it was also my favorite of 2010. 'Borderlands 2' packs new characters, more skills and 96.5% more wub wub.
Capcom, Namco and Sega Teaming for... Something.
Your guess is as good as ours on this one, or better if you've got a particular talent for guessing things. The group effort was announced by Nintendo and that's about all we know so far.
'Jet Grind Radio' is Coming to XBLA and PSN
The Dreamcast favorite is getting an HD makeover for release on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. With all the graphical advances and new cel shading techniques since the original release, this game is certain to look stunning.
'Assassin's Creed 3' Coming Out October 30th
Finally we're getting the next installment of the 'Assassin's Creed' franchise. We'll be moving on from the Italian Renaissance to something new. The new game comes out in October so you can expect to see a full reveal of the game when E3 comes around.
Team Ninja Will Tame 'Dead or Alive 5' - Possible Crossover with 'Virtua Fighter'
Itagaki is off of Team Ninja and, for better or for worse, the fighting game developer is going to try and clean up its act. The next 'Dead or Alive' game will feature toned down sex and violence - the only question is "what else is there?"
High-Def Digest-Digest: February 13, 2012
Mon Feb 13, 2012 at 04:00 PM ETTags: Dick Ward, High-Def Digest-Digest (all tags)
by Dick Ward
A whole lot has happened this week, and while we have a team of people digging up and reporting all the news that's fit to print - er, publish digitally - you're only one person, and it's easy to miss some of the cool stuff that's been going on. Well, it's High-Def Digest-Digest to the rescue, filling you in on what's worth knowing.
Blu-ray News
Sales Report: Blu-ray the Majority Format for 3 of the Top 5 Movies Last Week
'Drive,' 'In Time,' and 'The Thing' all had Blu-ray outselling DVD, while 'Real Steel' came in at 42% Blu-ray, 58% DVD. 'Treasure Buddies' only had 18% of its sales come from Blu-ray, but a low-budged family film isn't exactly the kind of thing you need in high-def.
'Plan 9 from Outer Space' Dated for Blu-ray
Back before 'Troll 2,' 'The Room,' and 'Manos: Hands of Fate,' came a movie that earned a reputation for being the worst that still holds up today. This brilliantly bad movie will be available on March 6th.
'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray
Few films have as impressive a cast as this one, and even fewer offer commentary by one of the most impressive stars in the film. Gary Oldman joins director Tomas Alfredson for the commentary on the Blu-ray which is set to come out March 20th.
Alicia Silverstone stars in the 1995 comedy alongside Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Jeremy Sisto, and Breckin Meyer. The Blu-ray is set to be released on May 1st.
Redbox Buys Blockbuster Express Kiosks and NCR Entertainment Division
It's been a good week or two for Redbox, starting with the purchase of NCR's entertainment division which includes the Blockbuster Express kiosk business. They've also decided to ignore the demands of an extended deadline by Warner and start renting Warner films the day that come out on DVD and Blu-ray.
Gear and Industry News
Verizon and Redbox Join up for Netflix-Like Disc and Streaming Service
If the purchase of Blockbuster Express wasn't enough, Redbox is also starting its own subscription based streaming service with Verizon.
Vizio Announces $3,499 MSRP for 58" 21:9 CinemaWide TV
The middle of the road CinemaWide TV from Vizio is coming in at an unsurprising $3,499. We're just waiting for the price reveal of the 70" version.
Panasonic Prices and Dates Plasmas and LCDs for Japan
The Japanese pricing doesn't reflect the US price completely accurately, but it's a nice way to get a prediction.
New Sony President and CEO Kaz Hirai Says Sony Could be in "Serious Trouble"
The company's new CEO is going to work hard to turn things around, but he knows it's not going to be an easy road ahead.
Netflix Launches 'Lillyhammer' - its First Original Series
The success or failure of 'Lillyhammer' could help to determine what Netflix plans to do with original content move forward.
Game News
The folks over at Double Fine studios were looking for $400,000 to make a new adventure game. A campaign on KickStarter has raised over four times that amount. Meanwhile, 'Minecraft' creator Markus "Notch" Persson is in talks to help fund 'Pyschonauts 2 .'
Oklahoma State Rep Wants to Tax Violent Videogames
Will Fourkiller is upset about 'Grand Theft Auto' and the 2001 release 'Bully.' His new bill would introduce an additional tax on games rated Teen, Mature or Adult Only.
'MLB 2K12' and 'NBA 2K12' $69.99 Combo Pack Coming to Xbox 360
If you're planning on picking up 'MLB 2K12' you'll be able to spend a mere $10 more and pick up 'NBA 2K12' right along with it. Sadly for PS3 owners, the combo pack is for Xbox 360 only.
Activision Blizzard Says 'Diablo III' Coming This Spring - New 'Call of Duty' Out This Year
'Diablo III' has been delayed from its expected release date yet again and Activision says there's a new 'Call of Duty' on the way for 2012. No big surprises there!
Namco Bandai is Forming a Studio Focused Solely on Game Development
The company behind games like 'Soulcalibur,' 'Tekken' and the 'Tales' series is splitting off a development company so they can better focus on game development.
High-Def Digest-Digest: January 31st, 2012
Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 03:30 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
January has been a crazy busy month. The first week was all about recovering from New Year's and Christmas celebrations, and right when it was time to get things back on track, in comes CES. After CES, of course, comes another week of recovery. If your January was anything like ours, you probably had a difficult time keeping up with the big news. Lucky for you, we've gathered up all the really juicy bits and compiled them for you in the High-Def Digest-Digest.
Blu-ray News
'The Adventures of Tintin' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Pre-orders Live
Peter Jackson produces, Steven Spielberg directs, Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright were among the writers. Add to that a star studded cast and you've got 'The Adventures of Tintin,' which is available for pre-order now. A release date has yet to be announced, but we're hearing sometime in March.
'The Muppets' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray
"Life's a Happy Song" when you've got a brand new Muppet movie on Blu-ray. No longer will the memories of the movie be "Pictures in my Head!" I'll have a "Me Party" and watch the movie on repeat until I can't decide if I'm a "Man or Muppet". It doesn't matter though, because there's a "Rainbow Connection" between the Muppets and I. Also the song "Mah Na Mah Na" is on the soundtrack but I couldn't think of a way to use it in a sentence.
'Harold and Maude' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray
'Harold and Maude' is a classic dark comedy that's getting a Criterion Collection Blu-ray release complete with a 1080p transfer, commentary by producer Charles B. Mulvehill and Hal Ashby biographer Nick Dawson, and a brand new interview with Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens. This one hits April 17th.
Polanski's classic film starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston is coming to Blu-ray on April 3rd. You get commentary by Robert Towne and David Fincher as well as a retrospective and a few other juicy tidbits.
Vizio Launches a Google TV Powered Blu-ray Player and Streamer
Vizio is bringing Google TV to a streaming device, but also to a new Blu-ray player this year. The Blu-ray player does 3D movies, Vizio Internet Apps and comes with a QWERTY remote.
Gear and Industry News
If you haven't been checking out Aaron Peck's daily recaps of his experience at Sundance, you've been missing out. He's seen a crazy amount of films in one week and he has opinions on all of them. Aaron has also snagged some really cool pictures, in case you're not the readin' type.
Panasonic Reveals Six New Blu-ray Players - Four of Which are 3D Capable
You don't have to like or even care about 3D, it's getting to the point where you won't have much of a choice. The majority of Panasonic's new players are 3D capable and can convert 2D video into the third dimension - even from sources like Netflix.
Samsung's 2012 Blu-ray Player Lineup Includes One Compact and One Sporting HDMI Inputs
Samsung is trying something a little different with the two players its decided to highlight this year. The E6500 gives you HDMI inputs so you can change sources directly through your player while the ES6000 goes for the smallest footprint possible.
Panasonic Unveils 2012 Plasma TVs
All but one of Panasonic's new sets are 3D capable, but only the VT50 offers the Infinite Black Ultra Panel, built in Wi-Fi, Viera Connect and 2D to 3D conversion all in one package with ISFcc calibration software and 8-Train speakers.
Sony Announces Three New TV Lines for 2012
Sony is trying something new this year. Instead of introducing a huge range of TV lines that are just barely different from one another, Sony simply has three - the entry level BX, the step-up EX and the top-of-the-line HX.
Videogame News
'Resident Evil 6' Announced for November - Includes Co-Op Play
You'll be waiting until November, but 'Resident Evil 6' looks like it will be well worth it. You and your buddy will take on the roles of Chris and Leon as you fight the classic 'Resident Evil' enemy - zombies.
'Guild Wars 2' Coming in 2012, Beta Testing Starts in Spring
In February, select press members will be invited to a closed Beta of ' Guild Wars 2.' in March and April, beta invites will ramp up so that more people have the opportunity to get in on the action.
The Vita 3G Launch Bundle Packs an 8GB Card, a Free Game and 250MB of Free 3G
While the 3G version of the PlayStation Vita may not appeal to everyone, the launch bundle might be difficult to pass up. You'll get around $50 worth of bonuses in addition to the ability to activate 3G service if you should feel the need.
Namco Bandai Says Your Cries for a 'Dark Souls' PC Port Have Been Heard
'Dark Souls' is a surprising console hit, considering the game's grueling difficulty and deep, complex systems. That's the sort of thing usually found on PC - a place where 'Dark Souls' doesn't exist. Thanks to a fan petition, Namco Bandai has heard the demand for a PC port and will hopefully listen to the 83,000 fans that signed.
Insomniac is Done with the 'Resistance' Franchise
We knew that Insomniac was breaking off from making Sony exclusive titles, but it's now been confirmed that the company is done with 'Resistance' completely. The company will be looking at new IPs moving forward.
High-Def Digest-Digest: January 3, 2012
Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 03:30 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
Normally we'd give you a little bit of flak for not keeping up with the news, but at least you had a good reason. The holidays can be crazy and the entire month of December seems like a blur in retrospect. But now your guests are out of the house, you've recovered from your New Year's party, and it's time for life to return to normal. That means you've got to get a handle on everything that went down last month - and there sure was a lot of it!
Blu-ray News
Well it's about time! Spielberg's breakout action film will finally be coming to Blu-ray on August 14th. It's a shame not to have it out on July 4th since that's when the movie takes place, but a summer release is still appropriate. Special features are not yet announced.
'The Last Temptation of Christ' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Martin Scorsese's picture on the life of Jesus hits shelves on March 13th in the form of a Criterion Collection Blu-ray. Included on the disc are a 1080p digital transfer, commentary from Scorsese and Willem Dafoe and plenty more.
'A Night to Remember' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray
Long before James Cameron tackled the event, Roy Ward Baker made 'A Night to Remember,' a film from 1958 about the sinking of the Titanic. The Criterion Collection Blu-ray comes out on March 27th, complete with audio commentary, behind the scenes footage and more.
'Monty Python and the Holy Grail: 35th Anniversary Edition' Dated for Blu-ray !
It doesn't get much funnier than the 1975 film that helped to cement the legacy of Python in the hearts and minds of fans across the globe. There's not much information on what's coming along with the new release, but it'll hit shelves on March 20th.
'Anonymous' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Roland Emmerich takes us on a journey to explore just who created the works of William Shakespeare with 'Anonymous,' coming to Blu-ray on February 7th. You'll find commentary from the director and writer as well as a few other goodies.
Gear and Industry News
The Super Bowl Will Be Streamed Online for the First Time
Pretty cool stuff here. NBC is putting the Super Bowl online, allowing you to watch live from a computer for the first time ever. If you're a Verizon customer it gets even better, since you'll be able to stream directly from your phone.
The New iTunes Edition of Avatar Brings Special Features to Digital Distribution
One of the things that's sorely missing when it comes to digital distribution is the ability to watch the special features that fans love. The version of 'Avatar' for iTunes brings quite a bit of that to digital distribution.
LG is Bringing a 55" OLED Display to CES
OLED is a display technology with a lot of promise and LG's 55" inch set gives us some hope for the future of the format. We'll have to wait to see what happens of course, but reasonably sized OLEDs are a step in the right direction.
Most Would Rather Have a TV Than a Couch in the Living Room
A study ordered by the folks at Logitech revealed that 53% of respondents would rather have a TV in their living room than a couch. Just goes to show how important having a nice set to watch really is.
LG Will Build Wireless Video Into 2012 3D Smart TVs
A new wireless technology from Intel will be baked into LG's 2012 line of 3D Smart TVs. The use is specific to Intel based devices, but this could be a start down the road of wireless video for all TVs.
Videogame News
The New 'Twisted Metal' Comes with 'Twisted Metal: Black' for Free
If you pick up 'Twisted Metal' this Valentine's day you'll get a downloadable copy of 'Twisted Metal: Black' for free. You won't have to buy a special edition, but the download code only comes with the first printing of the game.
'Devil May Cry' HD Collection Hits April 3rd, 2012
We're really loving all these HD remakes that take away the pain of playing an SD 4:3 game on a nice HDTV. 'Devil May Cry' will be joining the fray on April 3rd, 2011.
Early 3DS Adopters Get 10 Free GBA Games
The 3DS was pretty pricey when it launched and was dropped down fairly quickly. If you're one of those that picked up the system at the original price, you're entitled to some free GBA games, available now from the eShop.
Capcom Plans to Rebuild Bridges with Disappointed 'Mega Man' Fans
'Mega Man' hasn't been getting much love from Capcom these days but company VP Christian Svensson says that's going to change. He says Capcom won't be announcing anything until they're sure it's coming out, but that plans are in the works.
'Skyrim' Ships 10 Million Copies - Dominates PC Sales
The latest addition to the 'Elder Scrolls' series has been bringing in some big money, but what might surprise some folks is just how good it's been doing on PC. 'Skyrim' sold triple the amount of the next best selling PC title in 2011. Now those are some good bragging rights for the folks at Bethesda.
High-Def Digest-Digest: October 20, 2011
Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 03:00 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
It's been a big month so far, what with all the happenings and goings on. We finally get to see the trailer for 'The Avengers,' 'Arrested Development' is coming back, and Sony Bravia TVs are catching fire. Yeah, it's not all good news.
Blu-ray News
'Star Wars' and 'Thor' Mark a Dramatic Surge in Blu-ray Sales
We're giving some credit to 'Thor' here, but I think we can all tell which of the two brought record Blu-ray sales numbers.
'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Blu-ray Announced
Behind the scenes footage, documentaries, featurettes, and commentary from the director and writers are all on disc with 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes.' You can get your stinking paws on it December 13th, you damn dirty ape. Ha!
'Godzilla (1954)' Gets Criterion Blu-ray Treatment
Now that's what I'm talking about. Classic artsy fartsy movies may be enough for some, but a little Criterion love for 'Godzilla' is nice to see. You'll get features like crazy, a new 1080p digital transfer, and an uncompressed mono soundtrack when the disc hits shelves January 24th.
'Good Morning Vietnam' and 'Dead Poets Society' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray
January 17th will be a good day for Robin Williams fans, or anyone who likes good movies really. 'Good Morning Vietnam' delivers the comedy while 'Dead Poets Society' gets a little more serious with it. Both movies will carry an MSRP of $20.
'The Avengers' Official Trailer Now Available
Alright, so it's not technically Blu-ray news. But hey, it'll come to Blu-ray eventually and if it's anywhere close to as good as it should be, you'll be buying it. The music isn't great, but otherwise the trailer is incredibly cool. Watch it now, then watch it again and again until the movie is finally out.
Gear and Industry News
40 Inch Bravias May Catch Fire - Sony Issues Recall
If you have a 40 inch Bravia you need to click the link, check your model numbers, and make sure your TV isn't going to overheat and burn down your house. At the bare minimum, get one of those Jiffy Pop thingies with the handle and set it by the remotes. If you don't have this TV, move along - nothing to see here.
10 New Episodes of 'Arrested Development' are In the Works - Netflix Among Bidders
One of the most beloved comedies of all time (and yet another brilliant show canceled by Fox) is finally coming back on the air. Until that happens, feel free to watch the series again like I do once every few months.
Comcast Introduces "MyTV Choice" No-Contract Channel Packages Based on Interests Instead of Tiers
It ain't perfect, but it's a damn good start. Eliminating tier based packages in favor of these new interest-based packages makes a lot more sense for consumers. Now if only we could build our own cable packages by selecting only the channels we wanted then we'd have a winner on our hands.
Premium On Demand Version of 'Tower Heist' Cancelled Due to Theater Pressure
I was really interested to see how 'Tower Heist' performed as a premium on demand title - a good response could mean a step forward towards early home distribution. As it turns out, we're not going to know quite yet.
Netflix Changes Back - No Qwickster After All
Netflix is back to one service and Qwickster is canned. The newest problem is solved but the price change remains in place. Anyone else get the feeling this is a New Coke sort of scenario?
High-Def Digest-Digest: September 28th
Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 05:00 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
We've announced plenty of interesting new Blu-rays in the past few weeks. We've also interviewed the cast and crew of 'Jurassic Park,' taken a look at some new gear, and covered the incredibly fast moving world of streaming content. That's a lot to read in just 14 days, so we've compiled the greatest news hits of the last few weeks into one simple digest.
Blu-ray News
HDD Interviews the Cast and Crew of 'Jurassic Park'
That's right, our own Michael S. Palmer got to talk to some of the people behind the scenes on one of the biggest movies ever made, including CGI master Dennis Murren and Ariana Richards who played Lex in the first two films.
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed
The incredibly patient fans - or the ones who don't mind double dipping on some of the movies they own - can pick up the second part of the final installment on November 11th.
Disney Will Make All The Blu-ray Money It Can!
Disney has been pretty consistent with Blu-ray releases and the company isn't planning to stop any time soon. CFO Jay Rasulo says that physical media won't last forever, but Disney's going to embrace it while it's around.
'Captain America: The First Avenger' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Dated and Detailed!
The best superhero movie of the summer hits Blu-ray in standard and 3D formats on October 25th along with commentary, features and cast interviews.
'Super 8' Blu-ray Date, Details, and Box Art Revealed
J.J. Abrams wrote one hell of a love letter to Steven Spielberg with 'Super 8.' As you might expect, a blockbuster film like this comes with plenty of bonus features. You'll be able to pick it up on November 22nd.
'Jet Li Collection' Announced for Blu-ray
'The Legend,' 'Fist of Legend,' and 'Tai Chi Master' all in one collection for a MSRP of $24.99. Not a bad setup for Jet Li and martial arts fans. Get it on October 11th.
Gear and Industry News
Dish Network Launches the Blockbuster Movie Pass Streaming Service
The two companies have launched one of the most impressive streaming services around and it's just $10 a month. The downside? For now, you have to be a Dish Network subscriber to get it.
Logitech Harmony Link Makes your iPad or Smartphone a Universal Remote
The new device from Logitech lets you use your touchscreen device as a remote for your home theater. There are a few extra bonuses in store for iPad users.
Xbox TV is Coming for Christmas
You'll be able to get TV directly to your Xbox starting at the end of this year. Full details are yet to be announced, but with the right price structure this could be enormous.
Best Buy Earnings Fall Dramatically
Things aren't looking great for the retail giant thanks to decreasing sales. The installation of more than 100 new mobile stores offset that number a bit, so things may not be as dire as they seem.
Netflix CEO Apologizes for Changes, Then Makes Renting More Complicated
Oh Netflix. We have such a love/hate relationship, but this move is really trying our patience. DVD/Blu-ray content has been split off into a company called Qwickster, which means you'll have to subscribe to two services instead of just one. Great.
High-Def Digest-Digest: September 13, 2011
Tue Sep 13, 2011 at 03:00 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward, Industry Trends, Fun Stuff (all tags)
by Dick Ward
So you went out and had fun on Labor Day weekend instead of sitting inside and keeping up on the latest Blu-ray and gear news and you're looking for some way to parse through the last two weeks worth of information without having to read every single story we've posted. Well we've set up the High-Def Digest-Digest just for that purpose. You're lucky we like you.
Blu-ray News
'The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition' Dated for Blu-ray
Now here's a movie that doesn't get enough love. 'The Rocketeer' is a great flick by Joe Johnston, who also directed 'Captain America: The First
Avenger' and 'Jumanji.' You'll be able to pick it up on December 13th.
'Adaptation' Blu-ray Announced
Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper star in this movie penned by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. 'Adaptation' is a must have for
any fan of quality writing and unique movies.
'Fright Night - 3D' Blu-ray Preorder Live and $5 Coupon
'Fright Night' - the new one, not the old one - is already up for preorder on Amazon. It stars Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin of 'Star Trek' fame and
The Doctor himself David Tennant.
More 'Star Wars' Blu-ray Meddling Confirmed
It's sad to say, but we're soon going to be looking back with fondness at the special edition versions of the holy trilogy. George Lucas has played
with his trilogy again. While some of the changes aren't too bad, adding another Vader "Nooooooooooo!" is really starting to push it.
'Farscape: The Complete Series' Bound for Blu-ray
'Farscape' is one of those sci-fi shows that just didn't get enough love when it was on. Fans of the show will be able to pick up the full 88 episode
series, along with 15 hours of bonus features, on November 15th.
Gear and Industry News
Sony Announces Consumer 4K 3D Projector
It looks like 4K is finally on the way. You'll have to settle for upscaled content for now of course, but Sony's new 4K projector can take care of
that. You'll have to shell out $30,000 for the projector when it comes out.
Toshiba's 55 Inch Glasses-Free 3D TV Hits Europe in December
European countries are getting first dibs on the glasses-free experience with this impressively large 3D set. Early adopters will surely nab this up,
but only time will tell whether this technology is something that can work on a larger scale.
Dish May Launch Blockbuster Streaming Service in October
Sources say that we'll have our first real Netflix competitor next month courtesy of Dish Network and the recent Blockbuster acquisition.
Netflix Goes Live in 43 New Countries
Latin America has gotten access to the popular streaming service for around the same price as those in the US. It should be interesting to see how
well it does and whether Netflix is equipped to truly go global.
LG, Sharp, and Philips Working on a Smart TV App Standard
By pooling their resources and working on one standard for all smart TVs across three companies, app makers will have a much wider audience to sell
to. This should encourage developers to make more apps for these otherwise unpopulated marketplaces.
High-Def Digest-Digest: August 29, 2011
Mon Aug 29, 2011 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward, Fun Stuff (all tags)
by Dick Ward
A lot can happen in a few weeks, and that's certainly been the case lately. New Christmas movies have been announced for Blu-ray, along with a few classics. New gear has been released, including a pair of flagship receivers. And the cast of one of the most beloved cult comedies of all time has reunited.
Christmas isn't too far away and that means it's time for holiday Blu-rays to start rolling out. First up is 'Scrooged,' my personal fourth favorite - 'Muppets Christmas Carol' will forever hold the number one position. It's a great flick and one of Bill Murray's most oft forgotten, but also one of his best. It hits shelves on November 1st.
'It's a Wonderful Life' Double Dip for Blu-ray
Is 'It's a Wonderful Life' already out on Blu-ray? Sure it is. Is it a good enough movie that you may as well own the limited edition gift set? That's your call, but I say yes. In addition to what was already included in the last release, you'll get a booklet, an ornament, and new packaging.
'The Goonies' Gets a Regular Blu-ray Release
'The Goonies' is a great flick, and the Goonies themselves are truly amazing. They never say "die" after all. Well, except when they're saying "Goonies Never Say Die." They say it then. Anyway, the Blu-ray of 'The Goonies' is finally available outside of the Ultimate Collector's Box packaging. It's coming as a single Blu-ray on October 18th.
'My Fair Lady' Dated for Blu-ray
Where does the rain in Spain fall? 'My Fair Lady' reveals the mystery. It's a dark and gripping film noir... what, it's a musical? Well that's cool too. It stars Rex Harrison and the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. You'll be able to get your hands on it November 15th.
Big Lebowki Cast Reunites for Blu-ray Release
People who don't care for 'Lebowski' aren't usually that excited about the movie one way or the other. People who love it though - they really love it. They go nuts for it. They hold conferences about a single movie, dress as the characters, and rehearse the lines. At this year's Lebowski fest they got a special treat - the cast reunited for an incredibly cool Q&A session. Even better, you can watch it now.
Gear and Industry News
Pioneer Intros its New Flagship Elite Receiver
Pioneer's new SC-55 and SC-57 are nice and fancy, just like a flagship to the Elite series should be. They boast a new D3 amplifier, AirPlay, Air Jam and the SC-57 is even THX Ultra 2 Plus certified. Both are available now from authorized dealers.
Yamaha's Top of the Line RX-V Receiver is Shipping Now
The final RX-V receiver was announced a while ago, but the series topping RX-V871 is shipping now, a few months after the others. It kicks out 100 watts per channel to 7.2 channels and gives you a total of eight HDMI inputs to play with. You can snag one now for $899.
Definitive Technology Launches New Sound Bars
The latest sound bars from Definitive technology are designed to ensure that you get the best audio quality possible out of the single speaker setup. The SSA3 gives you three channels - left, right and center - while the SSA5 offers five. Both sound bars are available now.
Startup Company Milleniata Boasts an Indestructible Disc
Here's a particularly interesting one, especially for anyone who's scratched a Blu-ray or DVD and rendered it unreadable. Milleniata's new discs, readable by both Blu-ray and DVD players and drives, are made of a stone-like substance and are said to last as long as 1,000 years. Not too shabby.
The Vudu Movie Rental Service Comes to the iPad
Vudu finally makes its way on over to the iPad, giving you the chance to enjoy your movie rentals on the small screen. Of course, you'll be watching SD movies on an SD screen, so it's not quite as exciting as you might think. After all, Vudu is all about the HD
High-Def Digest-Digest: August 8, 2011
Mon Aug 08, 2011 at 04:25 PM ETTags: High-Def Digest-Digest, Dick Ward (all tags)
by Dick Ward
So you've been going out to the beach, hitting the gym, going for walks, visiting amusement parks and doing other summery things. We get it, you can't always be up on the latest news in the world of HD entertainment. Lucky for you we stay inside to chronicle all of the best news of the past few weeks into a handy digest.
Blu-Ray News
Best Buy Gets 'Rio ,' 'Ice Age,' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' 3D Blu-Rays Early
If you're planning on picking up one or all of these flicks, they're available now at Best Buy while other retailers have to wait until the 30th. You'll get a $10 discount if you buy two, and a $15 discount if you pick up all three.
'Straw Dogs' Announced for Blu-ray
The combination of Dustin Hoffman and Sam Peckinpah in this dark thriller makes 'Straw Dogs' a very good watch. Supplements have yet to be detailed for this one, but we hope to find out more before its September 6th release.
'Smallville: The Complete Tenth Season' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
'Smallville' may be over, but you can still enjoy the final season of the long running show when it hits Blu-ray on November 8th. Features include commentaries on two episodes, unaired scenes and featurettes.
'Pulp Fiction' & 'Jackie Brown' Blu-rays Detailed
Both of Quentin Tarantino's flicks feature brand new digital mastering, lossless soundtracks and a bevy of special features. Both 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Jackie Brown' will be hitting shelves on October 4th.
'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' Collector's Edition Blu-ray Delayed
As much as we know you'd love to get your hands on the collector's edition classic film with Gene Wilder as Wonka and the special features that accompany it, you'll have to wait just a bit longer. It's been pushed back from October 4th to October 18th - two more weeks of waiting!
'Cape Fear' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Remakes are usually disappointing, but Martin Scorsese brought new life to 'Cape Fear' with an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis. You'll be able to pick this one up on October 18th.
If you haven't seen this incredibly dark love story set against the backdrop of 1990s Detroit then you really should. It's a cult classic and the final performance of Brandon Lee, who died far too young during the shooting of this film. The Blu-ray hits shelves on October 18th, just in time for Halloween.
Gear and Industry News
Pioneer Elite LCD TVs are Back!
The Pioneer Elite brand hasn't been involved in televisions for some time, but a licensing agreement with Sharp puts them back on the market. Can Sharp's take on the sets live up to the Pioneer legacy? We'll find out this week when the 60 inch model reaches retail.
Logitech CEO Steps Down - Revue Price Drops to $99
With all the problems it has, the Logitech Revue was a hard sell at $299, especially since the upgrade to improve functionality is still on the way. At $99 though, it's a much easier purchase, and may even end up being a very smart one.
LG Announces Its New LW9800 TVs
LG's high end sets boast offer smart TV features, 2D to 3D conversion, and Nano Full LED backlighting technology. LG's president even goes so far as to refer to the series as "the crown jewel of TVs." They'll be shown publicly this September, and hopefully priced and dated around the same time.
Sony Making Big Changes to its TV Business
While Sony may still be a big name in the home theater space, their TV business isn't exactly thriving. CEO Masaru Kato says that big changes are on the way, some of which have already been implemented.
Panasonic Announces Its First Full HD 3D Home Theater Projector
Panasonic has waited a while to put out its first 1080p 3D home theater projector, but from the specs it seems as if the wait has paid off. The projector boasts Overdrive Technology to help eliminate 3D crosstalk and employs a Red-Rich lamp for strong luminance of red colors.
MORE HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "HIGH-DEF DIGEST-DIGEST":
- High-Def Digest-Digest: July 26, 2011 Jul 26, 2011
- High-Def Digest-Digest July 11, 2011 Jul 11, 2011
- High-Def Digest-Digest - April 28, 2011 Apr 28, 2011
- High-Def Digest-Digest: April 14, 2011 Apr 14, 2011
- High-Def Digest-Digest: February 7, 2011 Feb 07, 2011
- "High-Def Digest-Digest" - January 18, 2011 Jan 18, 2011
- "High-Def Digest-Digest" January 3, 2011 Jan 03, 2011
- "High-Def Digest-Digest" - November 5, 2010 Nov 05, 2010
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