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'Queen: A Night at the Odeon' SD Blu-ray Dated for November[teaser]The legendary Freddie Mercury headlines this concert hitting SD Blu-ray in November. You can pre-order the disc here. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock is preparing 'Queen: A Night at the Odeon' for SD Blu-ray on November 20. This Hammersmith Christmas concert was the culmination of the 26-date 'Queen invite you to A Night At The Opera UK tour of 1975, and was the last show of a very eventful and exciting year for Queen. Queen performed 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for the first time during this tour. Spirits were high within the band for this show; 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was enjoying its fourth week at No. 1 and 'A Night At The Opera' was climbing the album charts on its way to No 1, which it achieved three days after this concert. The show was simulcast live on both BBC Radio 1 and 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' television show on BBC 2; the programmer's host Bob Harris introduced the band on stage. Track Listing1) Now I'm Here 2) Ogre Battle 3) White Queen (As It Began) 4) Bohemian Rhapsody5) Killer Queen 6) The March Of The Black Queen 7) Bohemian Rhapsody (Reprise) 8) Bring Back That Leroy Brown 9) Brighton Rock10) Guitar Solo 11) Son And Daughter 12) Keep Yourself Alive 13) Liar 14) In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited 15) Big Spender 16) Jailhouse Rock Medley 17) God Save The Queen The Blu-ray will feature upscaled video, a stereo and 5.1 surround-sound audio track, and supplements will include: Looking Back At The Odeon; and Live At The Budokan Japan 1975 1) Now I m Here 2) Killer Queen 3) In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited. Suggested list price for the SD Blu-ray is $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Queen: A Night at the Odeon' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 20. Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Oct 29, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Samsung Unveils Galaxy View 18.4" Full HD Tablet[teaser]The company's newest mobile entertainment device has been detailed. [/teaser] Samsung has announced the latest addition to its Galaxy line of multimedia products. The Galaxy View is geared toward streaming video and is now the largest Android mobile device on the market. "At Samsung, we are committed to creating new possibilities and bringing our consumers the best mobile experience," said JK Shin, CEO and Head of Samsung’s IT & Mobile Business. "We are very excited to introduce the new Galaxy View, providing an entirely new way of consuming mobile video and entertainment." The Galaxy View features an 18.4-inch touchscreen display with a Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 and a versatile 2-way stand. Under the hood, the tablet is powered by a 1.6Ghz octa-core CPU and 2GB of RAM running Android 5.1. A 2.1 MP front camera and high quality stereo speakers are integrated as well. Finally, the device's 5700mAh battery is rated for up to eight hours of video playback. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but the Samsung Galaxy View will be released in 32GB and 64GB models. Source: SamsungPosted Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Showtime's 'Ray Donovan: Season Three' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The third season of the Showtime crime drama is set for Blu-ray in December. You can pre-order now. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount is preparing 'Ray Donovan: Season Three' for Blu-ray on December 29. The third season of the hugely popular series garnered more than 1.61 million viewers in its premiere episode, beating the Season 2 premiere by 32%, and adds notable guest stars to its cast including Katie Holmes (“Dawson’s Creek”), Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) and Wendell Pierce (“The Wire”). Schreiber portrays the titular character Ray Donovan, a Boston-native who makes the problems of Tinseltown’s celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls disappear. In the latest season, Ray discovers that even his own actions have consequences and that clean slates are a dirty business. Ray takes some hits that would leave lesser men down for the count, but what doesn’t kill a Donovan only makes him stronger. One thing is for sure, whether you’re with him or against him – it may be a new day, but it’s the same Ray. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $49.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Ray Donovan: Season Three' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 29. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime' Planned for Blu-ray[teaser]The BBC mysteries will be available on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Acorn Media says 'Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime' will arrive on Blu-ray on January 5. In these sparkling new BBC adaptations of two Christie novels, David Walliams (Little Britain) and Jessica Raines (Call the Midwife) portray the endearing pair whose quiet lives are upended by a chance encounter on a Paris train. In The Secret Adversary, they search for a missing woman and a recording that could unmask a Soviet hit man. In N or M? they must discover which person at a seaside guesthouse has stolen a nuclear bomb. Each thrilling adventure abounds with humor, international espionage, visual flair, and chic period fashion. Along with James Fleet (Four Weddings and a Funeral) as Tommy's enigmatic uncle, guest stars include Clarke Peters (The Wire), Alice Krige (Tyrant), Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey), and Roy Marsden (P.D. James mysteries). Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements include: Two behind-the-scenes featurettes about the making of the show and the costume design (89 min.); Interview with Clarke Peters (25 min.); and Photo Gallery. You can find the latest specs for 'Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 5. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Stanley Donen's 'Movie Movie' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The musical comedy will arrive on Blu-ray early next year. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scorpion Releasing is preparing 'Movie Movie' for Blu-ray in February. Director Stanley Donen recaptures the spirit of the Thirties double-bills, in the form of two B-movies, with an old-fashioned intermission between the films. Starring George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Red Buttons. Music by Ralph Burns. Writtern by Larry Gelbart and Sheldon Keller. Specs and a suggested list price have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: NEW interviews with Harry Hamlin, Kathleen Beller and Barry Bostwick; and an Introduction by George Burns. You can find the latest specs for 'Movie Movie' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Buckle Up! 'The Car' is Coming to Blu-ray[teaser]The cult classic starring James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, and John Marley will be speeding to Blu-ray in December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory will be releasing 'The Car' on Blu-ray on December 15. The peaceful tranquility of a small Western town is disturbed when a murderous car wreaks havoc by viciously mowing down innocent victims. The new sheriff, Wade Parent (James Brolin), may be the only one who can stop this menace in its tracks. But what Wade Parent doesn't realize is that the driver of this indestructible vehicle is far more dangerous than any man... because it is driven by pure evil. Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements include: NEW "Mystery Of The Car" – An Interview With Producer/Director Elliot Silverstein; NEW "The Navajo Connection" – An Interview With Actress Geraldine Keams; NEW "Just Like Riding A Bike" - An Interview With Actress Melody Thomas Scott; Original Theatrical Trailer; TV Spot & Radio Spots; and Still Gallery. You can find the latest specs for 'The Car' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 15. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Vincent Price Collection III' Headed for Blu-ray[teaser]Five more classic horror films will be in the third volume of the Vincent Price Collection next year. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory will be releasing 'The Vincent Price Collection III' on Blu-ray sometime in the new year. Master of the World (1961) - In 1848, a fanatical inventor seeks to fly around the world and stop war from his flying airship (the "Albatross")...a cross between a zeppelin and a helicopter. Adapted from two Jules Verne novel -- Master of the World and The Conqueror. Starring Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Henry Hull, and Vito Scotti. Tower of London (1962) - Blind ambition meets bloody terror in famed director Roger Corman's "sophisticated and well made" (Video Hound's Golden Movie Retreiver) tale of royally bad behavior based on Shakespeare's Richard III! Starring the king of creepiness, Vincent Price, as a demented despot who's killing his way to England's throne - only to be haunted by the spirits of his victims - Tower of London is a "quivering good time" (Los Angeles Times)! Also starring Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Barbara O'Neil, and Ian Hunter. Diary of a Madman (1963) - Vincent Price turns in a classic performance as a sculptor, possessed by an evil spirit, who hires a model (Nancy Kovack) to pose for him - then learns thereafter that she has been brutally murdered. Starring Vincent Price, Nancy Kovack, Chris Warfield, Ian Wolfe, and Elain Devry. Cry of the Banshee (1970) - Vincent Price is diabolical, commanding and "as brutally horrific as ever" (Motion Picture Exhibitor) as a corrupt English magistrate who leads a crusade to rid the countryside of witches...but doesn't mind accosting a few innocent wenches on his way! Murder, torture and titillation are just a few methods of interrogation in this lurid "witchcraft shocker" (Motion Picture Exhibitor) that pits evil against more evil in a duel to the death! Also starring Essy Persson, Hilary Heath, Carl Rigg, and Stephan Chase. An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe (1970) - Brace yourself for a fearsome fright fest... times four! Maestro of Mayhem Vincent Price narrates this quivering quartet of Edgar Allan Poe's most spine-tingling classics, including: "The Tell Tale Heart," "The Sphinx," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Pit and the Pendulum." Dripping with gruesome torture, live burials, monsters, madness and murder most foul, An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe will chill you to your very marrow! Starring Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd. No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The Vincent Price Collection III' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
HDD Demos DTS Play-Fi Wireless Audio ProductsRemember when listening to music required wires? Lots and lots of wires. Wires coming from the speakers. Wires coming from the receiver. Wires coming from the CD player. Wires coming from the radio. Wires coming from your ears. Wires tangled around your head! Wires, wires, everywhere! Woah, sorry about that. I had a traumatic flashback to 90s audio tech… But thankfully, we've come a long way since those cable cluttered days, and audio technology has evolved quite a bit over the years. With several wireless multi-room options now permeating the market, consumers have lots of different choices for hassle free streaming music and entertainment across their entire home. And quickly making its way toward the top of these choices is none other than DTS Play-Fi. An advanced cross-platform wireless audio technology that lets users stream and enjoy music through their Wi-Fi connections, DTS Play-Fi has been steadily expanding to more and more products from a wide range of manufacturers. Likewise, the tech has also been continually updating its features and supported services, mixing high quality audio performance with extensive industry integration. So, with all that in mind, how could we say no to a chance to attend a full demonstration? The answer? Well, we couldn't, of course! [teaser]Earlier this month, High-Def Digest was invited to check out some of the latest DTS Play-Fi enabled audio products, offering a hands-on peek at some of the technology's newest features. [/teaser]Here's a rundown of all the demos we heard along with full details on all the new audio gear! The Basics The Play-Fi whole-home wireless music ecosystem gives both customers and manufacturers a great level of freedom when it comes to integrating and using Wi-Fi streaming for music. With Play-Fi audio products, users can wirelessly play music from smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop PCs over an existing home Wi-Fi network to multiple Play-Fi speakers throughout the home. Likewise, Play-Fi is not brand exclusive. This means that Play-Fi audio products from different manufacturers can actually work together seamlessly. Consumers can use Play-Fi apps for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire to bring "over 20,000 radio stations, podcasts, local music, media servers, and select cloud-based music services" to their Play-Fi enabled speaker systems. Lag-free music can then be streamed to multiple Play-Fi speakers connected in a single zone throughout a house. Similarly, customers can also opt to create multiple zones with their speakers to stream different music to different rooms in their homes. In total, the platform supports up to four different zones from one device with up to eight speakers in each zone. This means that up to eight speakers in a single room can be playing the same song at the same time from the same device. The technology supports playback at up to CD quality audio (16bit/48kHz). In addition, Play-Fi is also capable of streaming up to 24bit/192kHz audio without file format compression. Instead, files of that quality are simply downsampled to CD quality without a change in file format. And unlike other proprietary wireless streaming technologies, Play-Fi does not require any special bridges or routers, allowing customers to simply use their existing Wi-Fi setup. DTS recently expanded the platform to a total of 30 different products, including new gear from MartinLogan, Polk, Wren, and more. In addition, software updates to the Play-Fi system include new support for the TIDAL music streaming service; Spotify Connect multi-room support; Rdio and Rhapsody iOS support; Audio/Video Synchronization with Windows PCs; and an updated Play-Fi app. Play-Fi Demos To show off the new Play-Fi lineup and features, DTS invited us to the London Hotel in New York City. There, in the company's swanky suite, we were treated to several different speaker setups designed to simulate common multi-room configurations for consumers. Though it was hard to actually judge any of the speakers on an individual performance level, the purpose of the demo was more geared toward demonstrating how the DTS Play-Fi ecosystem works as a whole in a real-world environment... and on that front, it was very eye (and ear) opening. The first setup was dubbed the "dining room" and featured several mouthwatering speakers and audio components lined up behind -- yes, you guessed it -- a dining room table. Products included a pair of floor-standing MartinLogan electrostatic speakers, the Paradigm PW600, Paradigm PW800, Paradigm PWAMP, and a pair of Paradigm Prestige 15B bookshelf speakers -- all connected to the same wireless zone. For demo purposes, DTS streamed several high quality TIDAL music tracks, including Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk," to the speakers off of a tablet straight through the Play-Fi app. The songs immediately started playing through all of the speakers with zero lag, and the DTS rep was able to seamlessly switch between speakers, adjust the volume on individual speakers, and add/remove speakers from the zone on the fly with the press of a button -- all without ever skipping a beat. Literally. As I said before, it was hard to truly gauge the audio quality of each model during the limited demo, but all of the speakers offered nice performance. The floor-standing electrostatics had the cleanest presence, but the smaller Paradigm models did a solid job of filling the room with sound as well -- especially considering their size. Next up, was the "living room" demo, and, as one might expect, this area featured a cozy sofa and a TV. New speakers in this zone included the Polk Omni S6 and the MartinLogan Crescendo X. The main purpose of this demo was to highlight Play-Fi's new Windows system level software and PC audio/video synchronization feature -- which makes Play-Fi the only multi-room streaming platform to currently offer lip-sync accurate synchronization with a video source To this end, the TV was connected to a PC and a browser was brought up with a YouTube clip from 'The Tonight Show' all ready to play. As promised, once Jimmy Fallon started to yap on screen, the audio streamed perfectly in sync with the video to the connected Play-Fi speakers. There was one fleeting stutter, but this was probably a YouTube issue and not related to the audio streaming itself. Likewise, though surround sound is not supported at this time, this video sync feature could allow HTPC users to play Blu-ray disc audio on Play-Fi speakers and soundbars while they watch the video on their displays. The A/V sync feature is now available for existing and new purchasers of the premium Play-Fi HD Driver ($14.95). In addition to the new audio/video synchronization, the demo spotlighted the benefits of Play-Fi's Windows System Level software integration (with Windows 10 support), allowing users to stream virtually any audio file or service from their computer. Customers can even choose to isolate specific programs on their PCs, enabling them to only hear the audio from desired services on the connected speakers while the rest of their active computer apps remain silent. In practice, this feature was quite handy, allowing the DTS rep to isolate only the audio they wanted to hear. Likewise, the speakers used in this zone all offered solid performance as well, though special note must go to the Crescendo X for its unique and elegant design. Finally, our last demo was "the study," offering another batch of impressive wireless speaker options in all shapes and sizes -- but this time surrounded by leather bound books! The lineup here featured more compact Play-Fi gear like the Wren V3US and the McIntosh MB50 Media Streamer. Once again, we listened to a few more TIDAL tracks streaming from a tablet (this time we went with some Janet Jackson), and once again wireless playback and integration between the speakers was seamless and smooth. The DTS rep even switched back to the dining room zone on the fly and was able to add speakers from that room into the study zone of speakers instantly -- demonstrating just how much flexibility and ease of use the Play-Fi system offers. Product Details MartinLogan Crescendo X ($999.95) - Luxury wireless speaker with DTS Play-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay. The speaker features dual audiophile quality Folded Motion tweeters and a 5x7-inch mid/bass woofer along with a 24-bit 48kHz DSP (digital signal processing) based preamplifier in conjunction with a powerful class-D closed-loop 100-watt (140-watt peak) amplifier. Available in Q4 2015. MartinLogan Bravado ($699.95) - Wireless stereo bookshelf speaker with DTS Play-Fi and AirPlay. The speaker features dual audiophile quality Folded Motion tweeters and a 5-inch aluminum woofer along with a 200W peak Class-D Amplifier. Available in December 2015. MartinLogan Forte ($599.95) - Two-channel amplifier with DTS Play-Fi and AirPlay. The device features a 2 x 200W peak Class-D amplifier (2 x 100W RMS per channel into 4 ohms), RCA analog inputs, Ethernet 10/100, USB (for firmware updates) and L/R speaker 5-way binding posts. Available in December 2015. MartinLogan Motion Vision X ($1,699.95) - Five-channel soundbar. The speaker features three advanced-resolution Folded Motion tweeters, four 4-inch high-performance woofers, and seven dedicated amplifiers with 100 watts of total system power. Available in Q4 2015. McIntosh Laboratories MB50 Media Streamer - Details forthcoming. Available in Q4 2015. Paradigm PW 600 ($599) - Premium compact wireless speaker with DTS Play-Fi. The speaker features two 1" S-PAL dome tweeters, a 5" S-PAL woofer, and an Anthem Class-D Amplifier with 400W Dynamic Peak and 200W RMS. Available in Q4 2015 Paradigm PW 800 ($799) - Premium wireless speaker with DTS Play-Fi. The speaker features two 1" S-PAL dome tweeters, two 5" S-PAL woofers, and an Anthem Class-D Amplifier with 460W Dynamic Peak and 230W RMS. Available in Q4 2015 Paradigm PW AMP ($499) - Premium Wireless Amplifier with DTS Play-Fi. The amp can power any existing non-powered speakers and stream lossless audio wirelessly. The devices uses an Anthem Class-D Amplifier with 2 x 200W Dynamic Peak and 2 x 100W RMS into 4 ohms (compatible with 8 ohms). Also includes RCA analog inputs, Ethernet 10/100, USB (for firmware updates), and L/R speaker terminals. Available in Q4 2015. Paradigm PW Link ($349) - Premium Wireless Pre-amp with DTS Play-Fi and ARC. Available in early 2016. Definitive Technology W Studio Microbar ($899) - Multi-room soundbar with DTS Play-Fi. The soundbar features a low-profile design with four 3-by-1-inch mid-woofers with neodymium magnets and three 1-inch aluminum dome tweeters powered by seven discrete channels of amplification. Also includes an 8-inch down-firing wireless subwoofer. Now available. Polk Omni S6 ($349.95) - High-performance wireless speaker with DTS Play-Fi and stereo pairing. The speaker features a curved transducer array with two 4-inch drivers, two 0.75-inch tweeters and a dedicated four-channel, 100-watt digital amplifier. Now available. Wren Compact V3US ($399) - Wireless speaker with DTS Play-Fi, aptX Bluetooth, and AirPlay. The speaker measures 12" W by 4.5" H and 4.5" D, weighs 6.5 pounds, and uses heavy-gauge internally braced MDF and a 4mm low-durometer silicon base A portable, battery-powered model ($449) will also be released. Available in January 2016. Conclusion With its growing ecosystem of products, features, and supported services, DTS Play-Fi is gradually cementing itself as one of the most expansive wireless multi-room audio technologies on the market. There's still room for improvement and I'm sure more time with the system will likely reveal more quirks and hiccups, but after witnessing the platform first hand, I've come away impressed by the tech's seamless cross-manufacturer integration, high quality audio streaming, and apparent ease of use. We're hoping to get some more dedicated one-on-one time with several of these new DTS Play-Fi enabled products, so stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more wireless audio impressions and reviews! For now, though, what do you think about DTS Play-Fi? Does the platform meet your wireless music needs? Will you be checking out any of these speakers or audio components? Or are you still content will all those damn wires?! Let us know your thoughts in the forums!Posted Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray Will Be Taking Out Stephen Daldrey's 'Trash' in November[teaser]The coming-of-age drama starring Martin Sheen and Rooney Mara arrives on Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is working on 'Trash' for Blu-ray on November 17. When three trash-picking boys from Rio's slums find a wallet amongst the daily detritus of their local dump, little do they imagine that their lives are about to change forever. But when the local police show up, offering a handsome reward for the wallet's return, the boys realize that what they've found must be important. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and supplements have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Trash' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 17. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Alistair Legrand's 'The Diabolical' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The sci-fi thriller starring Ali Larter will terrorize Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Xlrator is set to release 'The Diabolical' on Blu-ray on November 3. When a single mother (Ali Larter) and her two young children are tormented by an increasingly strange and intense presence in their quiet suburban home, she turns to her scientist boyfriend to take on the violent forces that paranormal experts are too frightened to face. Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $20.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Diabolical' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
