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Netflix Announces 'Chelsea' Streaming Talk Show Starring Chelsea Handler, Premiere Set for May 11[teaser]The former E! talk show host is heading to Netflix in May. [/teaser] Netflix and Chelsea Handler have officially announced a premiere date for 'Chelsea.' The upcoming talk show will star Chelsea Handler and is set to arrive globally on the streaming service on May 11. Details on the show's premiere were first announced via a twitter post by Handler and a live stream Q&A held earlier today. The commercial free 30 minute talk show will be streamed on Netflix three times a week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. 90 episodes are planned per year and there will be a live audience during tapings. The show will feature various guests, including politicians, celebrities, and athletes, along with human interest stories, traveling footage from various locations, and a laid back vibe. Finally, to the dismay of some fans, Handler's former talk show sidekick, Chuy, will not be a part of 'Chelsea.' Check out the Q&A below for more details! Beyond 'Chelsea,' Netflix recently released trailers for the second season of 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' and 'The Ranch.' Likewise, the streaming service announced a new limited series from Steven Soderbergh called 'Godless,' a German supernatural drama series called 'Dark,' and a new anime series called 'Perfect Bones.' Upcoming Netflix premieres include season two of Marvel's 'Daredevil' which will debut on March 18, the original film 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday' which is also due on March 18, season two of 'Chef's Table' which is scheduled for May 27, and the documentary 'Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru' which arrives on July 15. A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. Sources: Netflix, EngadgetPosted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
Pioneer Unveils SE-MHR5 Hi-Res Stereo Headphones, Price Set at $300[teaser]The company's latest headphones have been detailed. [/teaser] Pioneer has announced the release of its newest audio product. The SE-MHR5 Hi-Res Stereo Headphones will be available for purchase next month for a suggested retail price of $300. The SE-MHR5 headphones feature a large 40mm driver with a wide range 7Hz-50,000Hz frequency response and memory foam urethane cushions for added comfort. In addition, the headphones use a lightweight Copper Clad Aluminum Wire voice coil which allows for crystal clear, hi-res audio throughout the frequency range and a dual baffle back chamber to control the balance between the mid and low frequencies while also offering noise isolation. A dual folding design is integrated as well for added portability. Likewise, the headphones include a standard 3.5mm unbalanced cable and a 2.5mm/4-pole balance cable for greater separation between the left and right channels. Impedance is listed at 45 Ω; Maximum Input Power is listed at 1,000 mW; and Sensitivity is listed at 102 dB/mW. Pioneer's SE-MHR5 Hi-Res Stereo Headphones will be on display at the SoCal CanJam, a consumer event for AV fans and audiophiles being held on March 19-20. The company also recently announced two new Elite Receivers and previously detailed the XDP-100R Digital Audio Player ($700), the SX-N30 Network Stereo Receiver ($600), and the SE-MASTER1 Headphones ($2,500) back at CES in January. The SE-MASTER1 Headphones are handcrafted, reference-grade headphones with 50 mm driver units with a 25 µm aluminum diaphragm finished with a Parker Ceramic Coating. In addition, the headphones support high-resolution audio of up to 85.000 Hz. Likewise, the floating structure design offers low distortion and concise sound separation while the 3.5mm-thick aluminum alloy housing minimizes resonance from the driver units to provide accurate sound. Source: PioneerPosted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 02:15 PM PDT by: -
'Orange is the New Black: The Complete Third Season' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The third season of the Netflix original series heading for Blu-ray in May has now been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Lionsgate will be bringing 'Orange is the New Black: The Complete Third Season' to Blu-ray on May 17. A new regime has arrived at Litchfield in Season 3 of the Primetime Emmy® Award-winning series “Orange Is the New Black.” With it comes new business interests, spiritual movements, and parental problems that turn life behind bars upside down and ignite power struggles among Litchfield's residents and guards. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements will include: "The Classified Files: Getting to Know the Cast” Featurette; “Sophia: The New Beginning of Laverne Cox” Featurette; Gags; and Audio Commentaries on Select Episodes. The suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Orange is the New Black: The Complete Third Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 17. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
Hisense Spotlights H7B Series 4K Ultra HD TVs Just in Time for March Madness[teaser]The H7B series is a budget friendly Ultra HD TV line perfect for sports. [/teaser] Looking for a budget friendly 4K TV for your upcoming March Madness viewing parties? The Hisense H7B series 4K Ultra HD TVs offer solid features without breaking the bank. The H7B series is available in 50 inch, 55 inch, and 65 inch screen sizes. The LCD LED displays feature a resolution of 3840 x 2160, along with 4K upscaling, and HDMI 2.0 connectivity with HDCP 2.2 copy protection. Smart TV functionality is integrated as well with 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi, built-in Netflix, Vudu Movies, YouTube, and more. In addition, the TVs have received the Netflix Recommended classification, ensuring an optimized streaming experience. Finally, The H7B series also uses the dbx-tv Total Technology audio suite with Total Volume for unwanted changes in loudness and Total Surround for a simulated surround experience from just two speakers. Hisense 50-Inch H7B 4K Smart LED TV - Currently $548 Hisense 55-Inch H7B 4K Smart LED TV - Currently $780 Hisense 60-Inch H7B 4K Smart LED TV - Currently $1,399 In addition to the H7B series, Hisense also announced several new 4K Ultra HD TVs at CES back in January. The flagship 65-inch curved H10 series will feature the company's third generation ULED technology, quantum dots, high dynamic range, expanded colors, and Ultra Black full array local dimming. Meanwhile, the 55-inch curved H9 series will also feature Ultra Black full array local dimming, along with HDR processing -- which is based on the UHD Alliance HDR specs to enable HDR content through proprietary algorithms that remap luminance and color information to the capabilities of the TV. The 2016 H8 and H7 series also include HDR processing. In addition, the H8 series features multi-zone local dimming. Source: HisensePosted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Prepare for the Resurgence with 'Independence Day: 20th Anniversary Edition' Coming to Blu-ray[teaser]The explosive 1996 Roland Emmerich film is getting a pair of 20th anniversary edition Blu-ray releases in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'Independence Day: 20th Anniversary Edition' will arrive on Blu-ray on May 3. A Limited Edition Gift Set featuring an alien ship replica and collectible booklet will also be available on the same date. The sequel -- 'Independence Day: Resurgence' arrives in theaters on June 24. Experience the original OSCAR®-Winning (Best Visual Effects) sci-fi epic that launched a new era in blockbuster filmmaking. Director Roland Emmerich, producer Dean Devlin and an all-star cast including Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman join forces to deliver the ultimate encounter between powerful aliens and the human race. When massive spaceships appear in Earth’s skies and blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet, a determined band of survivors must unite for one last strike against the invaders before it’s the end of mankind. The 2-Disc Blu-ray will feature the newly restored extended and original theatrical cuts in 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and will include an all-new 30-minute documentary – Independence Day: A Legacy Surging Forward. The gift set will also include a limited edition alien ship replica and a collectible booklet. You can find the latest specs for 'Independence Day: 20th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Mike Nichols' 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1966 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton will be getting a Blu-ray release in April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Archive will be releasing 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' on Blu-ray on April 12. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are ideal as malevolent marrieds Martha and George in first-time film director Mike Nichols's searing film of Edward Albee's groundbreaking Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?. Taylor won her second Academy Award (and New York Film Critics, National Board of Review and British Film Academy Best Actress Awards). Burton matchers her as her emotionally spent spouse. And George Segal and Bust Supporting Actress Oscar winner Sandy Dennis score as another couple straying into their destructive path. The movie won a total of five Academy Awards and remains after four decades a taboo-toppling landmark. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: Commentary by Mike Nichols and Steven Soderbergh; Commentary by Haskell Wexler; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf: Too Shocking for its Time (Featurette); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf: A Daring Work of Raw Excellence (Featurette); 1966 Barbara Walters Interview; 6 Sandy Dennis Screen Tests; Intimate Portrait: Elizabeth Taylor (Documentary Feature); The Comedians Trailer; The Sandpiper Trailer; The V.I.P.'s Trailer; and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Trailer (HD). You can find the latest specs for 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under April 12. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'American Sniper: The Chris Kyle Commemorative Edition' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Clint Eastwood's drama based on the life of U.S. sniper Chris Kyle is getting a special commemorative edition in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has revealed 'American Sniper: The Chris Kyle Commemorative Edition' will arrive on Blu-ray on May 3. “American Sniper” stars Cooper as Chris Kyle, whose skills as a lethal sniper and qualities as a human being made him a hero both on and off the battlefield. A two-time Oscar® nominee for his work in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle,” Cooper stars alongside Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban and Keir O’Donnell. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Unforgiven”) directed “American Sniper” from a screenplay written by Jason Hall, based on the book by Chris Kyle, with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The autobiography was a runaway bestseller, spending 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, 13 of those at number one. The film is produced by Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan. Tim Moore, Jason Hall, Sheroum Kim, Steven Mnuchin and Bruce Berman served as executive producers. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will donate $1.00 of the purchases to Chris Kyle Frog Foundation up to $150,000 from April 19, 2016 through December 31, 2016, void in Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi and South Carolina. This release will feature a special commemorative disc with 60 minutes of brand-new bonus content, including revealing in-depth documentaries narrated by Bradley Cooper. You can find the latest specs for 'American Sniper: The Chris Kyle Commemorative Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 3.Posted Thu Mar 17, 2016 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
The Fox Innovation Lab UHD vs HD DemonstrationTucked into the 20th floor of Nakatomi Tower -- er, the Fox Plaza Building -- in Century City, California, you will find what first appears to be nondescript office space. There's a communal kitchen. A conference room with dry erase board wallpaper. Even a cubicle bullpen.But then you can't help but notice all the gear.An object-based sound demo room (configured for what looks like an AURO 3D or DTS:X 7.1.4 with height channels placed above surround speakers rather than in-ceiling). A Virtual Reality Room with a D-Box motion seat set atop an insulation pad. And a room where the majority of Fox's Ultra High Definition titles have been graded for High Dynamic Range (both UHD Blu-ray and streaming).[teaser]Welcome to the Fox Innovation Lab, circa 2016. [/teaser]The original Innovation Lab was born nearly 80 years ago to help 20th Century Fox advance sound recording technologies, and later developed the Cinemasope widescreen format. With that same spirit in mind, the current Innovation Lab has been pushing different digital technologies -- their Martian Virtual Reality Experience was a smash hit at CES 2016 -- as well as UHD content. As many of you know, we got our first taste last month when certain Fox Ultra HD Blu-ray titles landed in Best Buy a few weeks early. I personally reviewed 'The Martian' as well as 'Kingsman: The Secret Service', both of which I thought offered visual upgrades over their Blu-ray counterparts. There has been some controversy among enthusiasts about underlying source material resolution, but resolution is only one aspect of Ultra High Definition, whether it be physical media or streaming. The most important features are High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut. Deeper black levels and shadow detail. Brighter whites and highlight details. And richer colors.To be fair, we're in a transition period where we're calibrating our expectations for displays and content, while filmmakers adjust to what's possible much like they have in the years since object-base sound mixing debuted. However, given a chance to compare UHD and HD material side-by-side, UHD often represents a bold improvement. And that's just what we did at the Innovation Lab... UHD HDR P3 vs HD SDR Rec 709 Our demonstration was as follows. Clips from Fox productions ran side-by-side on two Samsung displays in a blacked out room devoid of all ambient light. On the right, Samsung's 2015 UHD flagship, the 65" JS9500, played 16-bit uncompressed Ultra HD in high dynamic range and color graded to P3 (the color gamut used fo commercial cinemas). This TV was specifically calibrated by Fox and Samsung and has been used to grade all of Fox's titles. On the left, Samsung's 2013 HD flagship, the 65" F8000, displayed uncompressed HD in standard dynamic range and color graded to Rec 709 (the color gamut used for Blu-ray). We stood six to eight feet away.In a perfect world, we would have be viewing 10 bit UHD material (rather than 16 bit), and both displays would have been JS9500s to allow for the same in-display upconversion consumers will experience when comparing HD and UHD material at home.Still, this experiment works well for any HD owners wondering if a new 4K UHD display and content are worth the upgrade. After this, I'm convinced they are.Here's what we saw:'The Revenant'. The first thing folks are going to notice when comparing the Ultra HD Blu-ray to the Blu-ray is color timing. The Oscar-winner for best Cinematography has two separate grades. One for HD/Rec 709, one for UHD HDR/P3. Both approved by Emanual Lubezki. The Rec 709 version was done first, and tints blue to evoke coldness. The HDR P3 grading is more naturalistic, tinting a wee bit green. It's an odd choice, to be sure, but I have to say I preferred the UHD version because it was more reminiscent of my theatrical experiences. It also reveals striking details in open flames as well as back-lit subjects. The sequence where the soldiers are riding horses through a dark forest, lit only by their torches, is hauntingly beautiful. And there's one shot of Leo standing on a bright, mountainside under a fallen tree dripping with melting snow. The HDR/P3 incarnation offered more detail in the highs and lows. Given the film's dark photography, I must admit the Rec 709 HD version was quite good as well, and some of the time differences (outside of color timing) were negligible. Particularly in wider shots. Either way, those who opt for the Blu-ray are going to find a top notch transfer, while those with the UHD are going to see upgrades.'Ice Age: Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe'. This short film played theatrically before 'The Peanuts Movie' and serves as semi-backstory for the upcoming 'Ice Age: Collision Course', due out this summer. It is also included as an extra feature on 'The Peanuts Movie' Ultra HD Blu-ray. I had no idea how important HDR/WCG would be to animation until I saw clips from 'Inside Out' in Rec 2020 last year. Simply put, this short film is another shining example for how great CGI animated films are going to look in UHD. It features a bold color palette of blues and purples and greens, all of which are much more vivid in UHD. Shots of outer space also benefited from deeper black levels. Imagery was much sharper. This particular demonstration was night-and-day different. Hopefully Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks will embrace HDR and WCG for home entertainment.I did notice some banding in a few shots of blue sky backgrounds; this was apparently due to 16bit material playing back on a 10bit panel. The UHD Blu-ray shouldn't have this problem.'Deadpool'. The UHD version of 'Deadpool' is going to be a must own title for many reasons. It's a raunchy good time of a movie and it looks fantastic. Unlike 'The Revenant', the color timing for the HD and UHD versions are similar. However, the UHD version colors popped more, particularly Deadpool's red and black costume, as well as an orange explosion from the movie's climax. Spectral highlights on Colossus' chrome skin were also much more nuanced. And the overall image is much sharper and resolute. The UHD is the hands down winner.'The Martian'. A movie I've seen many times now in 2D, 3D, DVD (an awards screener), Dolby Vision 3D, and most recently in Ultra HD Blu-ray. The ultimate way to see 'The Martian' was the Dolby Vision 3D, but the Ultra HD Blu-ray is a close second. In watching the UHD HDR P3 footage side by side with the HD Rec 709 clips, the UHD material offers an added pop colors and some added sharpness, but perceived resolution is still quite similar at times.'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials'. A movie I missed theatrically and have somehow only seen in UHD with HDR (first as part of a Dolby Cinema at AMC Prime demo, then at last fall's Luxury Tech Show, snd now here). 'The Scorch Trials' doesn't overall wow in the same way CGI material will, simply because it has a much more muted color palette. That said, glancing between HD and UHD, it was like someone had cleaned the UHD camera lens. Imagery really pops. Sequences with bright blue and cloudy skies really benefit from added visible details in the highlights. Giant post-apocalyptic city shots also offer more detail in the layers of crumbling, sandy-brown concrete. Shadow detail is another strength; the film's opening sequence takes place at night with shots of faceless people trudging through a crowd -- the HD Rec 709 material crushes, while you can see much more clothing in the UHD HDR version. Fox gave me a copy of this title and when I get in my next UHD loaner from Samsung (also a JS9500), I look forward to viewing the whole film. Upcoming Fox UHD Titles Fox was understandably mum on what catalog titles we may or may not see by the end of 2016 (it's really going to depend on available assets and what will look best in HDR with WCG), but the big takeaway is this:Going forward, all Fox feature new releases are going to be day-and-date with the option to buy Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray (as well as digital HD and digital UHD). That's fantastic news. Object Base Audio (More Please) Though 'The Peanuts Movie' Ultra HD Blu-ray has Dolby Atmos, and DTS is a partner in the Innovation Lab, Fox has been pretty quiet on using object-based sound mixes for Ultra HD Blu-ray. I asked about this, but there's really no new information to glean, or titles to announce.To be completely honest, this bums me out, if only because when you're a studio with titles like 'Life of Pi', which set the bar for Dolby Atmos theatrically, and 'The Revenant', whose Atmos mix is simply transportive, it's borderline tragic (in the artistic sense) that we'll never be able to hear the full mix those insanely talented sound teams and filmmakers put together.Though the purposes of our demonstration was to highlight the visual upgrades of Ultra HD with HDR -- an experiment that was wholly successful -- I would personally implore Fox, and every studio home entertainment division, to release all titles in Dolby Atmos or DTS:X (assuming there are theatrical mix elements available). These sound formats are mind-blowing in the home whether or not you have entry-level or audiophile gear, and drop down wonderfully into 7.1 or 5.1 in legacy surround systems.Okay, off my soap box. Final Thoughts I've been drooling over High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut since Dolby invited me to a demo for a product we now know as Dolby Vision. Everyone still has a lot to learn about what's possible (especially yours true) and what's accurate, but UHD Blu-ray with HDR/WCG paints a future of dazzlingly cinematic imagery. Is it heads and tails better than Blu-ray? Sometimes no, but for key content and lighting conditions, yes, resoundingly so. Especially CGI animation. Either way, it's all about story. Clearer imagery. More accurate dynamic range. Richer color rendering. If all of these things support the story, it's only easier for us to suspend our disbelief and slip into fantastic worlds of drama and comedy.Thanks so much to the Fox Innovation Lab for inviting us for a tour and for showing us the value of Ultra HD with HDR/WCG. It's hard to go backwards once you've seen the differences with your own two eyes. Here's hoping we get as much content as possible to enjoy this format -- either via physical media or streaming -- for years to come.Posted Wed Mar 16, 2016 at 05:10 PM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Up to 46% off Projectors[teaser]Amazon is offering big discounts on select home theater projectors! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing deals, Amazon is running a special sale on projectors from Epson, BenQ, and ViewSonic. Epson Home Cinema 730HD Projector (Refurbished) - Currently $350 (46% off). ViewSonic PJD7835HD Projector - Currently $702 (44% off). BenQ HT1075 1080p 3D DLP Projector - Currently $749 (38% off). Epson Home Cinema 1040 1080p Projector - Currently $600 (25% off). Epson EX5250 Pro Wireless XGA 3LCD Projector - Currently $550 (8% off). Epson Home Cinema 640 3LCD Projector - Currently $330 (8% off). These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Wed Mar 16, 2016 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
Atlantic Technology Details New FS3 & LCR3 Speakers, Prices Start at $275[teaser]Two new speaker models are now available for purchase from Atlantic Technology. [/teaser] Atlantic Technology has announced the addition of two speaker models to its home audio lineup. The FS3 three channel front stage loudspeaker and sonically matched single channel LCR3 speaker both use the same tweeters, woofers, and acoustic topologies to offer high quality sound and carefully matched timbre. "Both the LCR3 and FS3 represent our best thinking for the newest AV technologies," said Peter Tribeman, Atlantic Technology's president and founder. "Elegant in design and compact in size, these new speakers represent an ideal match to this year's newest generation of moderately priced AV receivers. Among other things we paid special attention to precision timbre matching so that our '3 series' excels in reproducing a smooth coherent soundfield with all channels." The FS3 is a slim profile front stage loudspeaker soundbar with three side by side front channel speakers in a 42-inch long black enclosure. The speaker features six 3 1/2 inch Composite Polymer/Paper Cone woofers and three 3/4 inch Silk Dome tweeters. Meanwhile, the LCR3 is a single channel version for use as stereo speakers or home theater front or surround channels. The LCR3 speaker features two 3 1/2 inch Composite Polymer/Paper Cone woofers and one 3/4 inch Silk Dome tweeters. In addition, both the LCR3 and FS3 offer a frequency response of 100Hz- 20kHz 3dB; impedance of 6 ohms; sensitivity of 88dB; and a crossover of 3.5 kHz. The Atlantic Technology FS3 is available now in gloss black finish for a suggested retail price of $650. The LCR3 is now available in gloss black or gloss white finish for a suggested retail price of $275 each. Source: Atlantic Technology via GS PRPosted Wed Mar 16, 2016 at 01:30 PM PDT by:
