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Pioneer Launches a Portable External BD/DVD/CD Burner with BDXL Capabilities[teaser]The company boasts that it's the most compact and lightest BDXL burner on the market today. [/teaser] Pioneer's new BDR-XD04 is, according to the company, the smallest and lightest BDXL burner on the market today. It's touted as a portable player that's equipped with a few nice features. First and foremost is the concern of write speeds. If you're burning to a dual-layer Blu-ray disc you're going to get 6x speeds while triple and quad layer discs will slow things down to 4x. You can also write to DVDs and CDs of course, but no information is given as to the speed there. The BDR-XD04 offers PowerRead and PureRead2+, both technologies designed to eliminate problems caused by fingerprints, dust and even minor scratches. The pair of features make discs more readable and help to eliminate popping sounds on discs. In addition to the disc reading features, you'll find Auto Quiet mode, which slows down the rotation speed while watching Blu-rays and DVDs to keep the drive nice and quiet. Source: eCousticsPosted Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'The Double' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Keep your enemies closer when the Richard Gere thriller blasts onto Blu-ray at the end of the month. [/teaser] In a recent press announcement, Image Entertainment says they will release 'The Double' on Blu-ray on January 31. When a United States Senator is brutally murdered, the evidence points to a Soviet assassin code- named Cassius, who was long-thought to be dead. Two men who know Cassius best are thrown together to catch him. Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere, 'An Officer and a Gentleman') is a retired CIA operative who spent his career tracking Cassius around the globe. Ben Geary (Topher Grace, 'Spider-Man 3') is a hotshot young FBI Agent and family man who has studied the killer's every move. Ben thinks he knows Cassius, but Paul knows he is dead wrong. Now, time is running out to stop this merciless killing machine before he finds his next target. Martin Sheen ('The Departed'), Stephen Moyer ("True Blood"), Odette Yustman ('Cloverfield') and Stana Katic ("Castle") costar in this tense thriller from the co-writers of 'Wanted' and '3:10 to Yuma' that will keep you guessing until the very last shot. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Commentary with director/co-writer Michael Brandt and co-writer Derek Haas, producer interviews, and a trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.97. You can find the latest specs for 'The Double' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 31.Posted Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Chinatown' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Roman Polanski's acclaimed 1974 crime drama has been slated for an April Blu-ray release! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount has revealed 'Chinatown' will be released on Blu-ray on April 3. The murder mystery starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture, but only won for Best Writing/Original Screenplay (Robert Towne). Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the release is $26.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Chinatown' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 3.Posted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
Panasonic Will be Streaming Directly From CES[teaser]You can tune in to their press conference as well as Q&As with experts and celebrities. [/teaser] The Consumer Electronics show will bring you some of the biggest announcements of the year in the home theater market, and while there will certainly be plenty of coverage and live blogging, the second-hand experience just doesn't compare to actually being there. Panasonic is giving you a chance to experience the event on their live stream, getting you up-to-date information and getting you up close to the action. They'll have experts on hand to answer your questions and celebrities like John Glen who directed five different Bond films and Michael Apted who helmed 'The World is Not Enough.' It all starts at 3:00pm PST on Monday, January 9th for a live stream of Panasonic's press conference. On the 10th and 11th you can watch eight hours of live CES coverage including a director's panel historically only open to the press. Source: PanasonicPosted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 01:45 PM PST by: -
'The Deer Hunter' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The five-time Oscar winner is finally coming to Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is working on 'The Deer Hunter' for Blu-ray on March 6. Director Michael Cimino's drama stars Robert De Niro, John Savage, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken and won Academy Awards for Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Best Director, and Best Picture. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and film journalist Bob Fisher, deleted and extended scenes, and 100 Years of Universal: Academy Award Winners featurette. Suggested list price for the release is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Deer Hunter' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 6.Posted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
LG Announces the 9.1 Channel Cinema 3D Home Theater System[teaser]The new home theater in-a-box gives you 3D Sound Zooming and a nice wide sweet spot. [/teaser] We've got to give it to LG, their new home theater system seems like a slick setup. It sets itself apart from the rest by offering 9.1 channels of audio instead of the usual 5.1 or 7.1. Another significant difference between the BH9420PW and most HTiB solutions is that LG doesn't just give you small speakers - you'll get four floorstanding speakers in addition to the satellites. LG's BH9420PW home theater system offers a feature called 3D Sound Zooming that syncs sound output with whatever's happening in the 3D movie you're watching. LG specifies that this will work with LG Cinema 3D TVs, but it's unclear whether or not this feature is compatible with other sets. You'll be able to get your hands on the BH9420PW this March, but a price has not yet been announced. Source: eCousticsPosted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Memphis: The Original Broadway Production' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The hit Broadway musical comes to Blu-ray in a few weeks. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Shout Factory will release 'Memphis: The Original Broadway Production' on Blu-ray on January 24. 'Memphis' takes place in the underground clubs of the segregated 50's, where a young white DJ fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. With explosive dancing and a tale of fame and forbidden love, the show is filled with roof-raising rock 'n' roll and features a Tony Award winning score with music by Bon Jovi’s David Bryan. Memphis special features include “Behind The Scenes: How Memphis Was Captured.” Filmed live at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway with the original cast, Memphis will also air nationally on PBS on February 24. The show is currently on a national tour as well as still performing on Broadway. The Blu-ray will feature 1080i video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Behind-the-Scenes: How Memphis Was Captured, Cast Hellos, Who's Who, and Theatrical Trailer. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Memphis: The Original Broadway Production' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 24.Posted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Sensics Will Launch 3D "SmartGoogles" for Movies and Games[teaser]The head tracking goggles work with game systems, phones, tablets, and PCs, and uses augmented reality that allows you to control the system by hand. [/teaser] 3D is still the big push from within the home theater industry, which means that the release of niche products and untested ideas is inevitable. The latest is something called Smart Goggles, created by Sensics. SmartGoggles is a 3D headset with a sort of 'Tron' aesthetic that promises a completely immersive 3D experience. Like other 3D personal media viewers, SmartGoggles allows the user to enjoy 3D wherever they please instead of having to sit in front of a TV. The thing that separates SmartGoggles from the rest of the pack is its ability to interact with your devices. If you hook it up to a game system, you can use the glasses for head tracking and look in 360 degrees just by moving your head. You can also use it for augmented reality applications - the same way SmartGoggles menus are controlled. There's been no information yet on what kind of screen resolution or audio quality we'll get out of SmartGoggles, nor any details on pricing. Source: SmartGogglesPosted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Three Colors Trilogy' Blu-ray $44.49 at Amazon![teaser]Krzysztof Kieślowski's acclaimed trilogy is nearly fifty percent off at Amazon! [/teaser] Amazon is currently offering 'Three Colors Trilogy' for $44.49 (44% off suggested list price). 'Blue' - In the devastating first film of the 'Three Colors' trilogy, Juliette Binoche gives a tour de force performance as Julie, a woman reeling from the tragic deaths of her husband and young daughter. But 'Blue' is more than just a blistering study of grief; it’s also a tale of liberation, as Julie learns truths about her late composer husband’s life and attempts to free herself of the past. Shot in icily gorgeous tones by Sławomir Idziak ('The Double Life of Véronique') and set to an extraordinary operatic score by Zbigniew Preisner ('The Secret Garden'), 'Blue' is an overwhelming sensory experience. 'White' - The most playful but also the grittiest of Kieślowski’s 'Three Colors' films follows the adventures of Karol Karol ('The Pianist’s Zbigniew Zamachowski), a Polish immigrant living in France. The hapless hairdresser opts to leave Paris for his native Warsaw after his wife (Julie Delpy) sues him for divorce (her reason: he was never able to perform in bed) and then frames him for arson after setting her own salon ablaze. 'White,' which goes on to chronicle Karol Karol’s elaborate revenge plot, manages to be both a ticklish dark comedy about the economic inequalities of Eastern and Western Europe and a sublime reverie about twisted love. 'Red' - Krzysztof Kieślowski closes his 'Three Colors' trilogy in grand fashion with an incandescent meditation on fate and chance, starring Irène Jacob as a sweet-souled yet somber runway model in Geneva whose life intersects with that of a bitter retired judge, played by Jean‑Louis Trintignant. Their blossoming friendship forces each to open up in surprising emotional ways. Meanwhile, just down the street, a seemingly unrelated story of jealousy and betrayal unfolds. 'Red' is an intimate look at forged connections and a splendid final statement from a remarkable filmmaker at the height of his powers. Click here add this highly praised box set from the Criterion Collection to your Blu-ray library!Posted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 08:36 AM PST by: -
'Out of Africa' Double Dip Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The Academy Award winning film is getting a new transfer and non-flipper combo release this March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is reissuing the romantic drama 'Out of Africa' on Blu-ray on March 6. Our review of the previous edition is available here. The most acclaimed motion picture of 1985 stars Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in one of the screen's great epic romances. Directed by Oscar winner Sydney Pollack, 'Out of Africa' is the fascinating true story of Karen Blixen, a strong-willed woman who, with her philandering husband (Klaus Maria Brandauer), runs a coffee plantation in Kenya, circa 1914. To her astonishment, she soon discovers herself falling in love with the land, its people, and a mysterious white hunter (Redford). The masterfully crafted, breathtakingly produced story of love and loss earned Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay (based on material from another medium), cinematography, Original Score, Art Direction (Set Decoration) and Sound. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy will feature a brand new 1080p video transfer, 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. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Out of Africa (Remastered)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 6.Posted Mon Jan 9, 2012 at 08:19 AM PST by:
