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Yamaha Cuts DSP Development in Half with New Design Tool[teaser]The Synopsis Processor Designer kept costs down while increasing productivity. [/teaser] Yamaha's new XMP-1 DSP is impressive, offering 32-channel phrase sound generation and AudioEngine effects. What's even more interesting, especially for Yamaha, is the amount of time required to create it. The new Synopsys Processor Designer has made development that much easier. "With Processor Designer," says product development manager Morito Morishima, "we doubled functionality for our high definition sound generation DSP, developing it in just one year, including the entire software development tool chain, while reducing cost." Quicker and more efficient production of DSPs could certainly amount to cheaper prices to consumers or, at the very least, more frequent upgrades to Yamaha's product lines. Source: Yahoo!Posted Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'The Innkeepers' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The latest horror flick from Ti West ('The House of the Devil') will be haunting Blu-ray in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, MPI has revealed 'The Innkeepers' is coming to high-definition on April 24. During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Innkeepers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 24.Posted Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
DuPont Adds an OLED Research Plant in Delaware[teaser]The facility will allow the company to test new, less expensive ways to bring OLEDs to market. [/teaser] The folks at DuPont have a goal - to crack the OLED secret. They want to be the ones to find the way to make OLED inexpensive enough to mass produce and sell to regular consumers and they're building a brand new $30 million production facility to do it. The company will be employing 35 people on the task of exploring new methods of creating OLEDs. DuPont says that it will be keeping the new facility open for at least five years. We're just hoping the investment pays off - reasonably price OLEDs would be nice to see. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'IMAX: Born to Be Wild' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Announced[teaser]Another IMAX documentary is slated for both Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D this April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is preparing 'IMAX: Born to Be Wild' and 'IMAX: Born to Be Wild - 3D' for a a release on April 17. Narrated by Academy-Award® winner Morgan Freeman, 'Born to be Wild' is an inspiring story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them—saving endangered species one life at a time. Stunningly captured in IMAX 3D, 'Born to be Wild' is a heartwarming adventure transporting moviegoers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick, as they and their teams rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals back to the wild. The Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Digital Copy combo packs will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and there doesn't appear to be any supplements. Suggested list price for the Blu-rays is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'IMAX: Born to Be Wild' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 17.Posted Thu Jan 26, 2012 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Aaron's Sundance 2012 Journal: Day 4The buses were unkind to me today. This morning I caught my normal bus into town and for some reason it took a wrong turn into a neighborhood and came out facing the wrong direction. The driver assured us we were still headed into town, but then he grabbed his jacket and stepped off the bus without explaining anything. People were freaking out. A lady next to me was channeling 'Jurassic Park' as she repeated, "He left us," a few times. I know I should've known better. I should've stayed on the bus, because I knew that they weren't just going to leave us there, but I was in a hurry. Every time I'm at the grocery store I always pick the wrong line and get behind the person taking the longest. When it comes to situations like this bus my mind starts racing, wondering if I'll make my movie on time, so I jumped off the bus and started walking. I only needed to go about three blocks to get to where I was going, but three blocks on icy sidewalks seems more like 10 blocks. It was a stupid move on my part because right after I started walking down the street a new driver appeared, hopped in the bus, turned it around, and they were off. I, on the other hand, was beginning to sweat because of all the layers I had on. It was cold outside, but I was walking at a pretty steady clip. I finally did make my first destination, which was the movie 'Liberal Arts' directed by Josh Radnor. I took up my favorite seat in the whole place, front row, off to the side. The front row in the Eccles theater, which is a huge high school auditorium, is a great place to sit. The screen is pushed all the way to the back of the stage so there's no neck breaking going on. Then, when the Q&A starts after the show, you're right there in front to take it all in. I liked 'Liberal Arts,' but do admit that you probably have to be a fan of Radnor's in the first place. If you're into How I Met Your Mother then you'll probably like 'Liberal Arts.' It's not as zany as that show, actually it's quite dramatic, but there's a lot of similarities. Mainly, Radnor, who is just playing a slightly calmer version of Ted Mosby. Elizabeth Olsen is fantastic in it, but she's great in everything she's in. A friend of mine wondered, while we were in line for another movie, if Elizabeth Olsen ever brags to her two multi-millionaire sisters that she's a better actor than the both of them put together and then in turn they whip out a million bucks and burn it in front of her just because they can. During the Q&A it was freaky how much Radnor acts and talks like Ted Mosby. So much so that I wonder if he is actually doing any sort of acting in How I Met Your Mother. All his mannerisms, inflections, and slightly pretentious anecdotes were totally Ted Mosby. It was eerie. After that was over I hopped on another bus and encountered my second bus mishap of the day. Around noon the buses start to become really crowded. Standing room only. This is difficult because sometimes the bus driver can't see that you're trying to get off the bus because the crowds are so thick. We pulled up to the stop where I wanted to get out, but the driver couldn't pull all the way up so he opened the doors to let some people out. I thought he was going to wait for the bus in front of us to leave, then pull up further into the bus stop, but he didn't. He simply took off, headed straight downtown and I was stuck. I had to ride it into town and then back out in order to get to the stop that I wanted. When I finally got to the press tent I went in and got into line with Luke for 'Save the Date,' which ended up being a very charming, very funny rom-com. Only it's one of those movies where really grungy guys continuously score really good-looking women. None of the people that get together in this movie would ever be put together if we were matching them up in the real world. It doesn't matter though, because the movie really is quite fun. After that it was off to write a bit. I was going to hit up 'Nobody Walks,' but decided not to just because it's already hard enough to take out enough time to write everything I need to write. Luke and I hung out in the Yarrow Hotel for a little while, and then it started snowing again. Not as bad as Snowpocalypse, but it was still pretty ugly out there. What's funny is that out-of-towners really romanticize the snow. All these people from Los Angeles think snow is simply the greatest thing they've ever seen. That is until they have to start trudging through the wet, muddy slush created by buses and cars. Then suddenly snow falling isn't so awesome anymore. At 6:00pm I got in line for 'Black Rock.' A survivalist horror film written by Mark Duplass. It was directed by his wife Katie Aselton, who also stars alongside Lake Bell and Kate Bosworth. As much as I love everyone involved, 'Black Rock' is simply awful. The men hunting the girls down in the woods are completely moronic idiots. When it comes to a hunter-and-hunted movie the film is only as good as its villains and these guys aren't scary in the least. What a letdown that movie was. After fuming about 'Black Rock' I headed back to the bus stop to catch a bus out to the Redstone Cinemas to take in one last movie. It was a Chilean movie called 'Young and Wild,' about a 17 year-old girl who goes through sort of a sexual awakening. Only, it's not as fun as it sounds. This is more like watching 'Shame' the teenage girl edition. As the sex acts get weirder and more explicit, I honestly felt extremely uncomfortable watching it with a theater full of movie-goers. Then it was back home. I got back around midnight and crashed. My first movie tomorrow isn't until noon so I can take some time to relax and sleep in a little. I'm planning on seeing a would-be comedy about a startup phone sex business called 'For a Good Time, Call…' After that I'm going to the third Mark Duplass movie that's at the festival this year, which also stars 'Parks and Rec.'s Aubrey Plaza. The movie is called 'Safety Not Guaranteed.' It has something to do with time travel but I really have no idea what to expect. Then I might hit up 'The Surrogate' after that. Only three movies today. I planned on five, but decided that I didn't want to wake up and try to make it to an 8:30 screening of 'Bachelorette.' [teaser]This festival is doing anything but flying by. It's only Tuesday, but I feel like it should be Friday. That's not necessarily a bad thing though...[/teaser]Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 12:45 PM PST by: -
'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The release is no longer a "35th Anniversary Edition" but the Blu-ray is still coming in early March. [/teaser] As previously reported, Sony will be releasing 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' on Blu-ray on March 6. The Hugo-nominated classic is currently ranked #74 on IMDb.com's Top 250 and stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. The Blu-ray will include an Ultraviolet Digital Copy and will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentaries by Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones, plus general complaints and back-biting by John Cleese, Eric Idle & Michael Palin; Join Michael Palin and Terry Jones in their special documentary The Quest For The Holy Grail Locations; Monty Python And The Holy Grail In Lego!; Japanese version; How To Use Your Coconuts (An Educational Film); BBC Film Night; Meanwhile, King Arthur & Sir Bedevere...; Elephant & Castle; Run Away!; The Tale of Sir Robin; The Tale of Sir Lancelot; Three Mindless Sing-Alongs; Henry 4th; and Cast directory photo gallery. Blu-ray exclusives will include Terry Gilliam introduces his lost animation reel; Terry Jones introduces the outtakes; and The Holy Book of Days Second Screen application for iPad. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is set at $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail: 35th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 6.Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Boxee Live TV Now Shipping - Software Version 1.5 Out Now[teaser]This is the final version of the Boxee software for PC, Mac, and Ubuntu. [/teaser] Boxee has providing some incredible software for home theater PCs for years now, and at no cost to you. As you might imagine, it's not the most profitable business model. Boxee announced late last year that they would be putting a halt to computer software and that day has finally come. Software version 1.5 has launched and it brings Boxee for PC, Mac and Ubuntu up to speed with the Boxee Box, or as up to speed as it can be. DRM and certifications hold it back, but Boxee's Andrew Kippen says "As a platform, we have been able to bring Boxee for Computers to about 85% of the Boxee Box in terms of features and functionality." Boxee Box owners that have been looking for a way to cut the cord may be excited to see that Boxee Live TV is out now. Live TV is a device that connects to your Box and gives you access to live over-the-air television. Unfortunately it doesn't give you DVR functionality, but Boxee says they'll look into it if there's enough interest. Live TV is available now for $49. Source:Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The fourth film in the series based on the popular young adult novels by Stephenie Meyer coming to Blu-ray in February has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Summit Entertainment is planning to release 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner on Blu-ray on February 11. It also appears that there will be a Bella's Wedding Dress Edition available on the same date. The Quileutes close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses a threat to the Wolf Pack and the townspeople of Forks. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary by director Bill Condon; Bella and Edward's wedding video; three Twilight character features (Jacob's Destiny, Edward Fast Forward, and Jacob Fast Forward); and a six-part behind-the-scenes documentary. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $33.99 and the Wedding Dress Edition is still TBA. You can find the latest specs for 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 11.Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Lansche Audio's No. 7 Loudspeakers Use Electricity and Air Instead of Traditional Tweeters[teaser]They come in at $100,000 a pair. Also newly available are the company's 5.1 speakers, which sell for a more modest $45,000 a pair. [/teaser] The Lansche Audio No. 7 is a fantastic looking speaker. It stands just over 5-1/2 feet tall and comes in either a Satin, High Gloss or Piano Black Lacquer finish. Lanche's passive speakers offer a new version of the company's Corona Tweeter, which uses an electric arc that uses the air as a transmission medium. There's no dome - just electricity and air. Lansche says that this is the closest anyone has yet come to a zero mass sound source. The No. 7 also offers a pair of 4" mid-range drivers and four 8.7" woofers for bass response as low as 25Hz. You can pick it up now from Aaudio Imports of $100,000 a pair. The No. 5.1 three-way loudspeaker uses the same Corona Plasma Tweeter to provide the highs, but only utilizes one mid-range driver and two woofers. Despite having fewer bass speakers, it still gets you down to a frequency of 32Hz. Source: eCousticsPosted Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Iron Maiden: En Vivo!' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The rock legends' 2011 concert is planned for Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, EMI has revealed 'Iron Maiden: En Vivo!' is getting a high-definition release on March 27. EN VIVO! was filmed on April 10, 2011, in front of over 50,000 ecstatic fans at the Estadio Nacional, Santiago, during the Round The World In 66 Days leg of The Final Frontier World Tour, and captures a magnificent performance by the band, ardently embraced by the legendary Latino passion and energy of their Chilean fans. With spectacular stage backdrops, dynamic musicianship and a literally jaw-dropping appearance by Eddie, this live show encapsulates to perfection the heart and soul of Iron Maiden 2011. Bass player and founding member Steve Harris comments, "For The Final Frontier Tour, it was really important to me that we filmed in South America as we re always so overwhelmed by the fans reaction when we go to that part of the world and I wanted to reflect that in the filming. After much consideration, we chose the Santiago show as we felt it was one of our best performances of the entire tour and to play at the prestigious Estadio Nacional was a landmark moment for us. For reasons known to our fans, it took a long time before we got to play our first show in Chile, and once we did get to play a show, the response was so phenomenal we just had to keep coming back, and it's got better and better each time! This show also features the gigantic new Eddie. He wasn't due to make his appearance until our European leg of the tour later in 2011, but we managed to transport him across the sea in a special huge container just in time for the latter end of the South American dates, so it was great we were able to immortalize him for the DVD as he really has to be seen to be believed!" The concert was filmed digitally using 22 HD cameras and an octocam (a flying camera which captures aerial crowd scenes), recorded in both stereo and 5.1 audio and mixed by Maiden s longstanding producer, Kevin Caveman Shirley, all of which serves to accentuate the incredible atmosphere of this compelling performance. Disc two of the DVD set is a bonus disc containing an 88-minute documentary, Behind The Beast. This is also an entirely in-house production by Maiden's own Krew, led by Andy Matthews, and is intended as an interesting and revealing high quality home movie for their fans to see how Iron Maiden put on a tour and what goes on behind the scenes at a show. The bonus disc also contains an extended version of the promo video Satellite 15...The Final Frontier, a video about the making of Satellite 15...The Final Frontier plus the opening video sequence to The Final Frontier World Tour. Maiden s Final Frontier World Tour 2010-11 saw the band circumnavigating the planet for the third time in their customized Boeing 757, Ed Force One, piloted by lead singer Bruce Dickinson, and playing 98 shows in 36 countries to over 2 million fans. Track Listing: 1. Satellite 15 2. The Final Frontier 3. El Dorado 4. 2 Minutes To Midnight 5. The Talisman 6. Coming Home 7. Dance Of Death 8. The Trooper 9. The Wicker Man 10. Blood Brothers 11. When The Wild Wind Blows 12. The Evil That Men Do 13. Fear Of The Dark 14. Iron Maiden 15. The Number Of The Beast 16. Hallowed Be Thy Name 17. Running Free Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Behind The Beast documentary, Satellite 15…The Final Frontier promo video (director's cut), The Making of Satellite 15…The Final Frontier promo, and The Final Frontier World Tour Show Intro. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Iron Maiden: En Vivo!' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 27.Posted Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 08:00 AM PST by:
