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Klipsch Launches a $599 5.1 Channel Speaker Package[teaser]You'll find an eight inch sub, four satellite speakers and a dedicated center channel.[/teaser] The new Klipsch HD Theater 600 is a 5.1 channel speaker package that sets you up pretty nicely to enjoy your favorite movies in surround sound. The package is what you'd expect - four satellites, a center channel speaker and a subwoofer. The sub comes in at eight inches and handles frequencies from 35Hz to 200Hz while the satellites, with 3/4-inch tweeters and 2-1/2" midrange drivers, respond from 150Hz to 20kHz. You can pick up the HD Theater 600 for $599 directly from Klipsch or order from Amazon.Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Goes to 'Hell'[teaser]The post-apocalyptic thriller from producer Roland Emmerich will try to survive on Blu-ray in August. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Arc Entertainment will send Blu-ray to 'Hell' on August 21. It was once the source of life, light and warmth. But now the sun has turned the entire world into baked and barren wasteland. Forests are scorched. Animal carcasses line the roads. Even the nights are dazzling bright. Marie, her little sister Leonie and Phillip are heading for the mountains in a car with covered windows. Rumor has it there is still water there. Along the way they run into Tom, a first-rate mechanic that becomes indispensible. But can they trust him? Tension grows in the small group. As if things weren´t bad enough, they are lured into an ambush. Their real battle for survival begins... Specs and supplements are still forthcoming, and suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $20.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Hell' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 21.Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Best Buy Founder and Former CEO Offers $8.8 Billion for the Company[teaser]He says that this is a necessary step towards getting the company where it needs to be.[/teaser] On Monday, Best Buy founder and former CEO Richard Schulze made his offer to buy out the company from shareholders and take it private again. The price of $8.8 billion is more than the remaning stocks are worth and includes a full billion dollars of his own money. Shulze says that this move is essential for the company to move forward. "Bold and extensive changes are needed for Best Buy to return to market leadership," he says, adding that "the company’s best chance for renewed success will be to implement these changes under a different ownership structure." The offer is a strong one, but the board will have to approve before anything happens. Some analysts are saying that Shulze is going to have to pony up more than what he's offering to make those long-time investors okay with the change. Source: Time BusinessPosted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Hysteria' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The pleasurable R-rated comedy will tickle Blu-ray in September![/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has set 'Hysteria' for Blu-ray on September 18. 'Hysteria' is a romantic comedy wrapped around the surprising story of the first electro-mechanical vibrator, invented by happenstance at a time when the very peak of Victorian prudishness coincided with the dawn of the electrical age. London. 1880. Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy) is torn between the "proper" doctor's staid and static world of success and acceptance and a more progressive and fulfilling, but frowned upon, experience. Tossed out for his forward-thinking ideas by the medical establishment, Granville finds a position with Dr. Robert Dalrymple, a highly respected and successful doctor, with a very popular private practice specializing in treating women diagnosed with Hysteria. In his new position, Dalrymple finds Granville a proper suitor for his beloved daughter Emily, the epitome of "English virtue and womanliness," with her lovely face, demure manner and artistic and intellectual accomplishments, but it is the elder daughter Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a firebrand social reformer, arguing passionately for women's rights to be educated, vote, and live independent lives that secretly excites him. Although Granville is somewhat shocked by Charlotte's lack of propriety, he feels kinship with her conviction to help those in need. They snipe at each other's views, but he earns her grudging respect when he treats a poor settlement house woman with a broken ankle. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with director Tanya Wexler; An Evening with Tanya Wexler, Hugh Dancy, and Jonathan Pryce; Hysteria: Behind the Scenes; Passion & Power: The Technology of Orgasm; and deleted scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $45.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Hysteria' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 18.Posted Wed Aug 8, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'A League of Their Own' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Penny Marshall's 1992 baseball comedy makes a pitch to Blu-ray this October.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be bringing the PG film 'A League of Their Own' to Blu-ray on October 16. Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna star in this major-league comedy from the team that brought you 'Big.' Hanks stars as Jimmy Dugan, a washed-up ballplayer whose big league days are over. Hired to coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League of 1943, while the male pros are at war, Dugan finds himself drawn back into the game by the heart and heroics of his all-girl team. Jon Lovitz adds a scene-stealing cameo as the sarcastic scout who recruits Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis), the baseball dolly with a Babe Ruth swing. Teammates Madonna, Lori Petty and Rosie O'Donnell round out the roster, taking the team to the World Series. Based on the true story of the pioneering women who blazed the trail, on the fields and off, for generations of athletes. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Commentary with Penny Marshall, Lori Petty, Megan Cavanagh, and Tracy Reiner; deleted scenes with video introductions by Penny Marshall; Nine Memorable Innings Pre-Game; and "This Used to Be My Playground" music video. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'A League of Their Own' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 16.Posted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Auteur Theory: 'Twin Peaks' Pilot EpisodeJosh Zyber continues his David Lynch marathon by revisiting the legendary pilot episode for 'Twin Peaks'. Read all about it on the blog this week, and be sure to catch up with Josh's Blu-ray reviews from the Lynch marathon, from 'Eraserhead' through (so far) 'Blue Velvet'. "Auteur Theory" Article Index 'Eraserhead' (UK Import Blu-ray) 'Eraserhead' (Japanese Import Blu-ray) 'The Elephant Man' (French Import Blu-ray) 'Dune' (UK Import Blu-ray) 'Dune – Extended Edition' (German Import Blu-ray) 'Blue Velvet' (UK Import Blu-ray) 'Twin Peaks: Pilot Episode' (VUDU) 'David Lynch Images' (Book)Posted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
'Lawrence of Arabia: 50th Anniversary Edition' Blu-ray Details[teaser]David Lean's Academy Award-winning epic starring Peter O'Toole arriving on Blu-ray in November has been detailed! [/teaser] As previously reported, Sony has revealed 'Lawrence of Arabia: 50th Anniversary Edition' will be released on the high-definition format on November 13. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven: Best Original Score (Maurice Jarre), Best Film Editing (Anne V. Coates), Best Sound (John Cox), Best Cinematography (Frederick A. Young), Best Art Direction (John Box, John Stoll, and Dario Simoni), Best Director (David Lean) and Best Picture. "We wanted to return this film to as pristine a condition as possible to honor its anniversary release," says Grover Crisp, EVP of Asset Management, Film Restoration and Digital Mastering for SPE. The original camera negative was scanned at 8K and the film went through a painstaking process of repairing problems inherent to the 50-year old film elements. Using the latest digital imaging technology, the color grading and re-mastering was completed in 4K at Colorworks, Sony Pictures Entertainments' digital intermediate facility. "The original negative was seriously damaged in a number of ways, some problems dating from the original release and some accumulated over the years." says Crisp. "But, until now, we did not have the tools available to address these issues. We think fans of the film will be as amazed as we are at the detail and resolution in the imagery captured by cinematographer Freddie Young to compliment David Lean's immaculate direction." The 2-Disc set will include: Secrets of Arabia: Picture-in-Graphic Track; "Peter O'Toole Revisits Lawrence of Arabia" All-New Interview; "The Making of Lawrence of Arabia" documentary; "A Conversation with Steven Spielberg"; "The Camels Are Cast"; "In Search of Lawrence"; "Romance of Arabia"; "Wind, Sand and Star: The Making of a Classic" (1970 version); Newsreel Footage of the New York Premiere; and Advertising Campaigns. But for the ultimate fan, a 4-Disc Collector's Set will also be available adding a third disc with even more supplements: Never-Before-Released Deleted Scene with Introduction by Anne Coates; "The Lure of the Desert: Martin Scorsese on Lawrence of Arabia" All-New Interview with Martin Scorsese; "In Love with the Desert"; "King Hussein Visits Lawrence of Arabia Scene"; "Wind, Sand and Star" (original version, 1963); Archival Interviews with William Friedkin, Sydney Pollack, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg; Trailers/TV Spots. The boxed set will also include: Authentic 70mm Film Frame; 88-Page Coffee Table Book; and an exclusive Lawrence of Arabia Soundtrack CD. Suggested list price for the 4-Disc Collector's Blu-ray set is $95.99 while the 2-Disc set has yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Lawrence of Arabia: 50th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 13.Posted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
iOS 6 Software 4 Beta Rolls Out to Developers - YouTube App Removed From Apple Devices[teaser]The app is still present on Apple TV devices though, so owners might not need to worry.[/teaser] The iPhone home screen is going to be missing one very familiar button when iOS 6 comes out - the YouTube app is being pulled in the new software update. What's interesting is that while you won't find YouTube on your iPhone or iPad, it's still going to be sitting pretty on the home screen of your Apple TV. At least for now. The YouTube app is a sort of holdover from the early days of the iPhone when the two were completely incompatible. The licensing deal between Apple and Google has ended and it's not being renewed. There are workarounds on the iPhone and iPad of course, and you can be certain we'll be seeing a Google developed YouTube app before too long. "Our licensing to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended," says Apple in a statement. "Customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be in the App Store." Source: Cnet AsiaPosted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Dark Star: Thermostellar Edition' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]John Carpenter's 1974 sci-fi film is getting the Blu-ray treatment in October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, VCI will be bringing 'Dark Star: Thermostellar Edition' to Blu-ray on October 2. In the mid twenty-first century, mankind has reached a point in its technological advances to enable colonization of the far reaches of the universe. DARK STAR is a futuristic scout ship traveling far in advance of colony ships. Armed with Exponential Thermosteller Bombs, it prowls the darkest reaches of space on a mission to seek out and destroy unstable planets ahead of the colonist. But there is one obstacle that its crew members did not count on -- one of the ship's thinking and talking bombs is lodged in the bay, threatening to destroy the entire ship and crew! 'Dark Star' was originally intended to be a 68 minute film. Jack Harris, the Hollywood producer, convinced the filmmakers to shoot 15 minutes of extra footage and he released the expanded version theatrically in 1975 through Bryanston Pictures. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, an uncompressed 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star The Extended Version; Interview with Sci-Fi author Alan Dean Foster (in SD); 3D Guide to the DARK STAR ship (in SD); and full-length audio commentary by super fan Andrew Gilchrist. Suggested list price for this release is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Dark Star: Thermostellar Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 2.Posted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Atlona LinkCast Wireless HD Streamer Shipping Now[teaser]The LinkCast is capable of handling up to five streaming sources, assuming you buy the extenders.[/teaser] Wireless HD is something that a lot of folks are looking forward to in their own home theaters and the latest solution from Atlona looks like a pretty slick way to do it. It's called the LinkCast Wireless HD Audio/Video System, but we're just going to go ahead and call it the LinkCast for short. The LinkCast gives you eight channels of audio, a 1080p resolution and even 3D wirelessly at a range of up to 40 feet. The base package includes the base system, remote and a single extender for $299. More extenders - which you'll need to connect more sources - come in at $149. That's a total of $895 if you want it fully stocked out. Source: Electronic HousePosted Tue Aug 7, 2012 at 07:00 AM PDT by:
