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'The Big Sleep' and 'Key Largo' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Two classics starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall will be getting the Blu-ray treatment in 2016. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Archive will be releasing 'The Big Sleep' and 'Key Largo' on Blu-ray sometime later this year. 'The Big Sleep' -- L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) takes on a blackmail case…and follows a trail peopled with murderers, pornographers, nightclub rogues, the spoiled rich and more. Raymond Chandler's legendary gumshoe solves it in hard-boiled style – and style is what The Big Sleep is all about. Director Howard Hawks serves up snappy character encounters (particularly those of Bogart and Lauren Bacall), brisk pace and atmosphere galore. This Blu-rayTM doubles your pleasure, offering two versions of this whodunit supreme: the familiar 1946 theatrical version, full of reshot scenes of incendiary Bogart/Bacall chemistry, and the less-familiar 1945 prerelease version, as a special feature, whose plot and resolution are more linear in fashion. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements will include: Original Theatrical Trailer; Alternate 1945 Pre-release Version with previously unissued introduction by UCLA Film Preservation Officer Robert Gitt; and The Big Sleep 1945/1946 Comparisons - Uncut Robert Gitt "Lecture" Version (30 Minutes). Nearly twice the length of the Comparisons feature as seen on DVD. 'Key Largo' -- A hurricane swells outside, but it's nothing compared to the storm within the hotel at Key Largo. There, sadistic mobster Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) holes up - and holds at gunpoint hotel owner Nora Temple (Lauren Bacall), her invalid father-in-law (Lionel Barrymore) and ex-GI Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart). McCloud's the one man capable of standing up against the belligerent Rocco. But the postwar world's realities may have taken all the fight out of him. John Huston co-wrote and compellingly directs this film of Maxwell Anderson's 1939 play with a searing Academy Award-winning performance by Claire Trevor as Rocco's gold-hearted, boozy moll. In Huston's hands, it becomes a powerful, sweltering classic. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the Blu-ray will include the original theatrical trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'The Big Sleep' and 'Key Largo' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under PENDING. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
Bernard Rose's 'Frankenstein' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2015 adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic arrives on Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Alchemy is working on 'Frankenstein' for Blu-ray on February 23. Frankenstein is set in present day Los Angeles and told entirely from the perspective of the Monster. After he is artificially created, then left for dead by a husband-and-wife team of eccentric scientists, Adam is confronted with nothing but aggression and violence from the world around him. This perfect creation-turned disfigured monster must come to grips with the horrific nature of humanity. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Frankenstein' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under February 23. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Monster Spotlights Portable Wireless Speakers with EZ-Play Technology[teaser]Several new portable speakers have been revealed. [/teaser] At CES last week, Monster unveiled its latest wireless audio products. The lineup includes the currently available BTW218 ($120) and BTW249 ($217), and the upcoming Rockin’ Nomad, the Rockin’, Rockin’ Roller 2, and the Rockin’ Roller Mini.. The "Tower of Music" BTW218 is a 20-watt portable speaker with a 2.5" full range, 2 x Tweeters and 2 x passive design. In addition, the model offers 270 degree omni-directional sound, an auxiliary in-port for direct connect playback, a hands-free speaker phone option, and an integrated USB charging port. Meanwhile, the BTW249 is a water-resistant and splash-proof portable speaker with 360-degree, omni-directional sound. In addition, the device offers an auxiliary in-port for direct connect playback, a wall mountable option, and the ability to split into two separate speakers. Both models also include EZ-Play technology and Bluetooth (NFC), enabling wireless music streaming and support for connecting up to eight individual speakers wirelessly at the same time. Monster will also be launching its new Rockin’ wireless speaker line. The IPX4 water and splash resistant collection will include the Rockin’ Nomad, the Rockin’, Rockin’ Roller 2, and the Rockin’ Roller Mini. All three models include Bluetooth support, FM radios, and USB ports for charging mobile devices. Prices have not been announced yet, but the new Rockin’ wireless speaker line will be available in March. Source: MonsterPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 11:45 AM PST by: -
1MORE Releases New Triple Driver In-Ear Monitors, Price Set for $100[teaser]The company has launched its newest flagship headphones. [/teaser] 1MORE has announced the release of its latest audio product. The E1001 Triple Driver In-Ear Monitors use patent pending tech to offer full-frequency audio with low distortion. "With the Triple Drivers, we intend on taking ear/in ear audio technology to the next level," says 1MORE USA President, Dave Russell. "We always side with our consumers, so we will continually be bringing out products that will have spectacular quality and surprising prices," added Russell. The E1001 features a triple driver design with a dynamic driver and dual-balanced armatures in each ear piece, specifically tuned to the frequency range they are most adept at producing. Lower mid-range and bass is handled by the dynamic drivers, while the armatures take on the mid and high frequencies. Aerospace-grade metal diaphragms, a comfortable ergonomic design, and durable cable construction are featured as well. 1MORE's E1001 Triple Driver In-Ear Monitors will be available in mid-January for a suggested retail price of $100. Source: 1MOREPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 11:15 AM PST by: -
Wes Craven's 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' Blu-ray Supplements Detailed[teaser]The delayed horror flick starring Bill Pullman will now arrive on Blu-ray in the new year. [/teaser] As previously reported, Scream Factory is bringing 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' to Blu-ray in 2016 with a release date of February 23. Dennis Allan is a scientist who visits Haiti on the strength of a rumour of a drug which renders the recipient totally paralyzed but conscious. The drug's effects often fool doctors, who declare the victims dead. Could this be the origin of the "zombie" legend? Alan embarks on a surprising and often surreal investigation of the turbulent social chaos that is Haiti during the revolution which ousted hated dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Often a pawn in a greater game, Alan must decide what is science, what is superstition, and what is the unknown in a anarchistic society where police corruption and witch-doctory are commonplace... Specs have yet to be revealed, but this release will feature a new 2015 HD transfer from the inter-positive film element; NEW audio commentary with actor Bill Pullman; NEW The Making of The Serpent and the Rainbow featuring new interviews with actor Bill Pullman, author Wade Davis, director of photography John Lindley and special makeup effects artists Lance Anderson and David Anderson; Theatrical Trailer; TV Spot: and Still Gallery. You can find the latest specs for 'The Serpent and the Rainbow' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 23. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Warner Digs Up 'The 33' on Blu-ray[teaser]The film based on the true story of the 33 trapped miners in Chile arrives on Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers will be releasing 'The 33' on Blu-ray on February 16. Based on the gripping true story of survival – and filmed with the cooperation of the miners, their families and their rescuers – The 33 reveals the never-before-seen actual events that unfolded, above and below ground, which became nothing less than a worldwide phenomenon. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements include: The Mine Collapse; The 33: The World Was Watching; and Theatrical Trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'The 33' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under February 16. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Antoine Bardou-Jacquet's 'Moonwalkers' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The black comedy starring Ron Perlman and Rupert Grint is planned for Blu-ray this February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Alchemy is preparing 'Moonwalkers' for Blu-ray on February 23. What if Apollo 11 never actually made it? What if, in reality, Stanley Kubrick secretly shot the famous images of the moon landing in a studio, working for the US administration? This is the premise of a totally plausible conspiracy theory that takes us to swinging sixties London, where a stubborn CIA agent (Ron Perlman) will never find Kubrick but instead is forced to team up with a lousy manager (Rupert Grint) of a seedy rock band to develop the biggest con of all time. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Moonwalkers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under February 23. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
CES 2016 Highlights Include a Star Destroyer, Ultra HD Blu-ray, DTS:X Wireless, & More[teaser]We had a deal. [/teaser] Here in Sin City, it's become quite clear to me that CES 2016 has become a playground, one that is full of beautiful displays and damn near wireless everything. As I continue presenting my highlights from the show, I'm still struck by the plethora of amazing home theater options that have been realized here. I can't see it all, but I will be seeing more tomorrow. In the meantime, let's continue to talk about not just amazing things at CES 2016, but real products that to one degree or another ought to come under actual purchase consideration. The MSI Powered Star Destroyer When I mentioned accessible, affordable, and attainable products, I was definitely not talking about the custom laser aluminum Star Destroyer PC case mod. It's currently being shown behind closed doors by MSI, and indeed the hardware that can be spied at its heart is MSI. But this stunning work, which can't be done justice in pictures, is a competitive build from the community. Before anyone gets too worried about what will happen to this dark ark after the show, my understanding is that it will be joining its new owner who elected to purchase via some big private bucks. You could say this is just a case mod, or just another example of fan-made 'Star Wars' stuff, but when you look at each facet up close, and then again move back and see how the lights mark the outline, you'll know that this beast will still be awing in 50 years' time. Not far from the Star Destroyer is a phalanx of kitted out PCs assembled by various important MSI partners like Origin and ABS. They even have a Pro shaking, twin card, silently cooled Vortex. And yet, while MSI had several sexy gaming PCs, notebooks, and PC components spread throughout the room, one item in particular really spoke to me. It was in fact, an All-in-One PC. If you know what an All-in-One is, then you would expect that a decent sized display like 27" had been surrounded by laptop parts and a normal mouse keyboard to make some kind of un-upgradable and ultimately disposable PC with a small foot print. Right -- but not this time. The MSI Gaming 27XT 6QE not only features a 144 khz touch display, but it also has a i7-6700 desktop class processor. What it doesn't have is a built-in video card. Instead, the rear module houses a slot ready for any serious card, even a Titan X. With a card in place, the HDMI in and twin Display Port out become pretty nice bonus features. Thus, this all-in-one has a serious processor, display, upgradable hard drive, RAM, and full-on video card. Its existence is in complete defiance of the all-in-one concept. Mad Catz Tritton Katana HD Wireless & the DTS Demo 2016 Yesterday, I was teasing the 2016 DTS Demo Disc, and today, I got to hear it through the Mad Catz Tritton Katana HD Wireless. We're talking about 'Gravity' in DTS:X uncompressed coming to the wireless base station via an HDMI 1.4a pass-through and transmitted in 2.4Ghz to the Katana HD headset. (DTS:X virtual surround sound that is.) This is a wireless gaming headset, but it's also the only way in the world that I know of to get Blu-ray quality audio to a wireless headset. On top of that, the two driver reproduction has been designed with DTS:X 7.1 surround sound in mind. One big key to this HDMI passthrough -- it works even when the headset is off. The Katana HD set I used isn't quite the final build, so I'm not ready to swear to its audio quality. Having the pre-prod in my hands, however, has me looking towards the March launch with heavy anticipation. The comfort level seemed good, and the headset is frankly nicer to hold and wear than to look at. I have little doubt that this is the wireless headset of 2016 to watch and consider for both gaming and for watching Blu-ray quality movies. Having both the 2016 and 2015 DTS demo discs on-hand was just a wonderful excuse to exercise the Katana HD. SVS Prime Elevation Speaker While I continue to be impressed with the strides being made in wireless home theater, I have no plans to pull up any speaker wires in my main home theater. Today, in concord with a 5.4 channel SVS Ultra set-up, I listened to two Prime Elevation speakers produce their Atmos-sourced signal from high up on the walls to the left and right of the main listening position. With the Prime Elevation, SVS figures that users can choose exactly how to add in the immersive sound formats. High up on the wall is ideal, and loads more practical than directly overhead, but Atmos bounce style is supported in the very same speaker. Much of what makes the Prime Elevation is shared with the Prime Satellite, which I'm on record as loving, but with a different enclosure. The screen even has a magnetic logo to accommodate the speaker's versatile functionality and positioning ability. Here I heard Furiosa attempt to trade gas for a covered escape, fail, and then be left with the other motley war rig occupants to fight their way out. I also heard the pounding heart beat resulting from Bullock and Clooney's extended spacewalk. I can't wait to hear more. Panasonic DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player & TX-65CZ950 OLED Without even having to exaggerate, I could do an entire CES 2016 highlight article with just what Panasonic has brought to the show. For now, I'll restrict my description to two products, the Ultra HD Blu-ray player, and the TX-65CZ950 OLED 65" 4K HDR display. Have you seen 'Mad Max: Fury Road' in Ultra HD Premium? Well I have, at least part of it. I've been hearing rumors about this presentation since at least last summer. I think it's safe to say that our readers here are fans of the film, and have gotten to know its sights and sounds well. But within that world there is even more to experience visually and that is thanks to HDR playback. I expect side-by-sides of this footage to find its way into places like Best Buy. That is, if the HDR push felt here makes it to the consumer level in full force. Now for the TX-65CZ950. Without trying to put down any other new TV this year, including the lovely DX900, the gently curved, ink black, and luminescent OLED display presents both color and fine detail (even in the show environment) to a standard that will make many prospective buyers want to throw their current display down a flight of stairs. To Be Continued Once more, I must try to get a little rest. Stay tuned for more tales of CES 2016 wonder; did I mention my trip to Aperture Science?Posted Sat Jan 9, 2016 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
CES 2016 Highlights Include The Martian VR, Atmos, Dolby Vision, LG Signature, & More[teaser]This man is over-gasped.[/teaser] As day two of CES 2016 drew to a close, there were still plenty of meetings, demos, and displays on my docket. And of course, even with around the clock convening from last Monday through this Saturday, it's only possible to see a small percentage of what is available at the show. Heck, I haven't yet gotten to experience my 2016 Demo Disc from DTS, which features among other things a DST:X clip from 'Gravity.' With that in mind, I wanted to put together a preliminary list of the standout sights and sounds from CES 2016. Anyone currently in Vegas ought to try to see these things, but fortunately, in many cases, these are products that can come home in the future… for the right price. The LG G6 Signature OLED 4K Smart TV Just a year ago, the idea of experiencing Dolby Vision titles outside of a Dolby demonstration seemed like a far off and nebulous thing. Much has changed, but my experiences with Dolby Vision at AMC Prime, which were capped off in 2015 by 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' have only made my desire to get the tech in-house and begin a deeper study more intense. Combine that possibility with LG's OLED display tech and a new era of 4K, (while keeping the price on this planet) and the result is a TV well worthy of highlight. The Martian VR While this might be tricky to come by even here at CES 2016, 'The Martian VR' is well worth some serious effort to experience. What Fox Innovation Lab has done is take 20th Century Fox's 'The Martian' film, and boil it down to a series of vignettes that manage to enthrall the user while staying in the can-do ABBA world of Mark Whatney on Mars. I was able to pilot a Rover, harvest potatoes, shift some plutonium, and even deal with suit punctures (both intentional and unintentional) using both the latest Oculus Rift and Touch combo and the HTC Vive. (Heck, even the Gear VR got in on the action). It's great to see the competing Rift and Vive being used side by side to deliver something worthwhile. Along with the headset, the sound, and the motion controllers, it's important to point out the effectiveness of the D-Box chair that made Mars seem rough and inhospitable. And yes, before you can say "Matt Damon," there was plenty of in-character Damon on-hand to help make this film and book derivative seem worthy of carrying the themes of the story. Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier In a surprising move, Creative has introduced a two piece home theater solution that manages to not only imitate a proper five channel set-up, but also an Atmos set-up. While everyone with a toe dipped into home theater has heard a front channel solution try (and likely fail) to present a surround sound stage, I guarantee that hearing the X-Fi Sonic Carrier in person, whether with Atmos content or a conventional 5.1 source, will be effective enough to leave you looking around the room for hidden speakers in disguise. The X-Fi Sonic Carrier is something of a halo product, with full aluminum construction and 17 functioning drivers which Creative is terming an 11.2.4 configuration. This piece of kit has its own smart suite of apps that are accessible via remote VPN. The prototype that I used was 550w, but the final version is rated at 800w. One key for this design is calibrating towards that specific couch sized sweet spot to really nail the surround presentation. Unfortunately, my time with the Philips Fidelio Sound Bar was completely overtaken by the environment. I had a better time with the Samsung HW-K950, and I can see users getting very exciting over the wireless rear surround/Atmos speakers. Samsung Ultra HD Blu-ray Player I'm due to spend more time with the Samsung Ultra HD Blu-ray Player later on this week, but getting to handle the hardware briefly, to see Ultra HD Blu-ray in the flesh, should be enough to warrant the attention of any home theater fan. Remember two years ago when 4K was too expensive, and too difficult to deliver? And then even early last year, the UHD Alliance existed on paper and nowhere else, and now there are Ultra HD Premium discs and TVs to enjoy. This player is the bridge, and the key to ensuring 100mb/s. Polk Audio & Definitive Wall of Sound Polk is introducing a new line of marine application ready car audio products and they've had ICON put together a sexy FJ 40 to show them off. But nestled next to vehicle, and next to a lovely Definitive Atmos outlay, is the Polk Audio & Definitive Wall of Sound. The wall includes a full array of home theater speaker options, including some of my favorites from Definitive Technology. This is easily worth a pilgrimage into the Central Hall. PlayStation VR From Sony's London Studio, the latest version of 'The London Heist's interrogation flashback has the player caught in the middle of a jewel robbery. Forced to take cover behind a desk in a plush two level executive office environment, I grabbed the .45 and began eliminating the encircling foes. This is easily the best response from the PS Move controllers that I have seen, and I was able to make headshots while aiming through openings in the desk and around the various pieces of furniture that the enemies were hiding behind. Threading the needle with the gun sight while also being able to sort of manually load magazines made for a great 180 degree experience. More importantly, getting to see so many non-gamers tackle this demo, ducking and shooting with such enthusiasm, goes a heck of a long way towards making the PlayStation VR seem like an eventual success whenever it releases. Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 90 Bang & Olufsen wants people to invite the BeoSound 35 into their living rooms, and indeed it is a work of art. A single piece of brushed aluminum makes up the primary housing and gives the wireless sound bar its excellent three position shape. But it's no shame that a nearby pair of BeoLab 90 speakers stand so prominently over everything in their vicinity. This 8200w, $40K speaker can be used to fill a room, but is meant to focus on a sweet spot. Having two of these exquisite pieces focused on me made for a smooth, powerful sound that will likely standout in my memory for the rest of my life. For those who can indulge, I strongly advise doing so. Klipsch Reference Premiere HD Wireless Coming back to earth, and one of last year's impressive debuts, the Klipsch Reference Premiere HD Wireless is ready to roll. For that full-on 7.2 set-up, I'm not sure that Klipsch can be beat in terms of simplicity and wireless quality. For years, I've been trying to come up with a plan to replace my dad's home theater with something capable, but still easier for him to both use and (equally important) set-up. The plug/sync/done for each speaker alleviates the user from dealing with speaker connections, and from dealing with the challenges (love ya dad) of an AVR. Klipsch is talking about giving buyers new features both through firmware updates and through a new HD Control Center whenever the time is right. As simple as I make it sound, checking it out in person ought to make it seem even simpler. To Be Continued As I stated in the open, this is just a part of what I've seen that is significant. I've got more to see, and even more to write about. CES 2016 has been a joy in Audio, Video, and VR. To be continued.Posted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 01:15 PM PST by: -
Panasonic Reveals More Details for DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player[teaser]Full specs have been detailed for the upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray player. [/teaser] Though a price and launch date have not been announced yet, Panasonic has offered more details on its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. The DMP-UB900 supports many premium features. Pansonic's DMP-UB900 will offer playback for Ultra HD Blu-ray discs along with HDR (high dynamic range) and BT.2020 wide color gamut support. In addition, the player features a new 4K High-Precision Chroma Processor which uses "an original high-accuracy multi-tap process to interpolate the decoded 4K (4:2:0) signals of Ultra HD Blu-ray content to 4K (4:4:4)." Likewise, THX certification, Wi-Fi, DLNA, Full HD Blu-ray 3D disc playback, and support for various apps and video services will be included as well. Finally, the player also features twin HDMI & 7.1-channel analogue audio outputs, and high quality audio parts with high-res audio support (including WAV/FLAC/MP3/AAC/WMA formats, DSD and ALAC). The DMP-UB900 will launch later this year. Additional Ultra Blu-ray players from Samsung and Philips have also been announced. Source: PanasonicPosted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 12:45 PM PST by:
