-
'Queen: Live at the Rainbow '74' Blu-ray Dated[teaser]The legendary rock band will take to the stage on SD Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock Entertainment is preparing 'Queen: Live at the Rainbow '74'' for Blu-ray on September 9. Sunday March 31, 1974 is a landmark date in the history of rock music. It is now celebrated in the multi format release of a rare recording made at legendary London venue The Rainbow, of a concert by a then up-and-coming band called Queen. Few who turned up for that iconic performance could have predicted they would go on to become arguably the world's best and most successful rock group, although many more may have suspected it after this stunning show. Track Listing: 1. Procession 2. Now I'm Here 3. Ogre Battle 4. Father To Son 5. White Queen (As It Began) 6. Flick Of The Wrist 7. In The Lap Of The Gods 8. Killer Queen 9. The March Of The Black Queen 10. Bring Back That Leroy Brown 11. Son And Daughter 12. Guitar Solo 13. Son And Daughter (Reprise) 14. Keep Yourself Alive 15. Drum Solo 16. Keep Yourself Alive (Reprise) 17. Seven Seas Of Rhye 18. Stone Cold Crazy 19. Liar 20. In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited 21. Big Spender 22. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll 23. Jailhouse Rock 24. God Save The Queen Full specs and a suggested list price have not been announced yet but the Blu-ray will feature upconverted 1080p video and supplements will include four bonus tracks. You can find the latest specs for 'Queen: Live at the Rainbow '74'' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 9.Posted Wed Jul 2, 2014 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season' Blu-ray announced[teaser]The fourth season of the adventurous animated series is bound for Blu-ray in October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Cartoon Network's 'Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season' will be released on Blu-ray on October 7. It's one crazy adventure after another in Cartoon Network's #1 hit comedy show and Emmy-nominated series. Follow the post-apocalyptic adventures of Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada), a human boy with a funny hat, and his friend Jake (John DiMaggio), a magic and mischievous dog. They're out to have the most fun possible, whether it's saving Princess Bubblegum, battling zombie candy, taunting the Ice King or rocking out with Marceline the Vampire Queen. Specs, supplements, and a suggested list price have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for 'Adventure Time: The Complete Fourth Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 7.Posted Wed Jul 2, 2014 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Samsung Reportedly Ending Plasma Production[teaser]The Korean electronics manufacturer will no longer develop plasma TVs. [/teaser] Following in Panasonic's footsteps, it appears that Samsung is ceasing production of its plasma display line. Though they offer many benefits over LCDs, the technology has failed to catch on with consumers. According to a report from Reuters, Samsung plans to end all plasma production by November 30 of this year. The company cited a lack of demand for plasma TVs as the main reason behind its decision. For now, LG remains the only major electronics company that is still developing plasma displays, though it's likely that they will cease plasma operations as well. With the recent push for 4K adoption, it's believed that Ultra HD plasma development simply became cost prohibitive, adding to the tech's gradual decline. While this is very disappointing news for videophiles, on the bright side, display manufacturers are making encouraging improvements with traditional LCD panels, offering better local dimming options like those found in the VIZIO M-Series. Likewise, LG remains committed to OLED development which provides many of the benefits of plasmas, and as prices come down, OLEDs may one day serve as a worthy successor to plasma tech. Source: Reuters via Digital TrendsPosted Tue Jul 1, 2014 at 03:00 PM PDT by: -
Samsung Announces Galaxy S5 Mini[teaser]A new compact version of the company's flagship smartphone is on the way. [/teaser] Serving as a sleek alternative to its 5-inch big brother, Samsung has detailed the new Galaxy S5 mini smartphone. The mobile device offers many of the same features as its larger sibling along with a more compact design. "We always strive to develop devices that appeal to a range of consumer tastes and styles," said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung Electronics. "The Galaxy S5 mini allows consumers to enjoy the iconic design and essential and useful features of the Galaxy S5 through a maximized minimalism approach." The Galaxy S5 mini features a 4.5-inch 720p AMOLED display. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Quad Core 1.4 GHz processor and 1.5GB of RAM running Android 4.4. An 8MP rear camera and a 2.1MP front camera are also included. Likewise, the phone offers 16GB of storage, a microSD slot, and a 2,100mAh battery. Finally, many features found in the full size model are integrated as well, including IP67 certification, Ultra Power Saving Mode, a heart rate monitor, fingerprint scanner, and connectivity with the latest Samsung wearable devices. Exact pricing and availability have not been detailed yet, but the Galaxy S5 mini will launch in Russia this July and will then expand globally. Source: SamsungPosted Tue Jul 1, 2014 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
'Willow Creek' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The search for Bigfoot will continue on Blu-ray in September, and pre-orders are now live. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, MPI is preparing 'Willow Creek' for Blu-ray on September 9. Jim and his girlfriend Kelly are visiting the infamous Willow Creek, the alleged home of the original Bigfoot legend - the tale of huge ape like creatures that roam the forests of North America. It was there that in 1967, the legendary beast was captured on film and has terrified and mystified generations since. Keen to explore more than 50 years of truth, folklore, misidentifications and hoaxes, Kelly goes along for the ride to keep Jim happy, whilst he is determined to prove the story is real by capturing the beast on camera. Deep in the dark and silent woods, isolated and hours from human contact, neither Kelly or Jim are prepared for what is hidden between the trees, and what happens when the cameras start rolling... Specs and supplements have not been announced yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Willow Creek' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 9.Posted Tue Jul 1, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Da Vinci's Demons: The Complete Second Season' Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order![teaser]The second season of the Starz adventure series is heading to Blu-ray later this year. You can pre-order the show now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay is preparing 'Da Vinci's Demons: The Complete Second Season' for Blu-ray on March 3. Florence is thrown into chaos in the wake of the Pazzi conspiracy and Leonardo da Vinci must push the limits of his mind and body to defend the city against the forces of Rome. When the dust settles, friends are buried and rivalries enflamed. While the Medicis go to unthinkable lengths to deal with new threats, da Vinci continues on his quest to find the fabled Book of Leaves and uncover the secret history of his mother. He'll come to realize that he has lethal competition in his quest -- new enemies who may be even worse than the forces of Pope Sixtus. His search will take him to faraway lands and force him to reevaluate everything he knew about the world and his own history. Supplements have not been detailed yet, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $54.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Da Vinci's Demons: The Complete Second Season' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 3.Posted Tue Jul 1, 2014 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Series' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]The legendary detective will open an investigation on Blu-ray in September. You can pre-order the series here. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, MPI is preparing 'Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Series' for Blu-ray on September 30. Individual releases for 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes', 'The Sherlock Holmes Feature Film Collection', 'The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes,' and 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes' will also be available on the same day. This highly detailed series recreated the adventures of Conan Doyle's Victorian detective in painstaking detail, sometimes to the extent of recreating the illustrations which accompanied the original story publication in "Strand" magazine during the late 19th century. Thirteen of the Holmes short stories were adapted in this series, which was followed by two sequels as well as several TV movie adaptations. Specs and supplements have not been detailed yet, but suggested list price for the complete series Blu-ray is $229.98. Suggested list price for 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes' is $59.98 each, and suggested list price for 'The Sherlock Holmes Feature Film Collection', 'The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes,' and 'The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes' is $49.98 each. You can find the latest specs for 'Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Series' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 30.Posted Tue Jul 1, 2014 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Pioneer Speaker Systems[teaser]For a limited time, Amazon is offering up to 32 percent off Pioneer Andrew Jones Speaker Bundles! [/teaser] As part of the online retailer's ongoing sales and promotions, Amazon is running limited time deals on Pioneer's highly rated Andrew Jones designed home theater systems. Pioneer SP-PK52FS 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package - Currently $500 (23 percent off its retail price). Pioneer SP-PK52FS 5.0 Home Theater Speaker Package - Currently $400 (18 percent off its retail price). Pioneer SP-PK22BS 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package - Currently $350 (32 percent off its retail price). As always, 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 Mon Jun 30, 2014 at 06:30 PM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: June 2014Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with High-Def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for attention, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a science fiction examination of relationships, a quirky deep sea adventure, and a raunchy comedy series' grand finale, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November 2012, December 2012, January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014, April 2014, and May 2014. [teaser]This month, we're covering a totally awesome animated film, an absorbing HBO series, and a highly influential musical comedy. [/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there are some spoilers for the discs listed. If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in June, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'The Lego Movie: Everything is Awesome Edition' - Awesome is a word that gets thrown out a lot. So much so, that it has almost lost all meaning -- but there really is no better way to describe 'The Lego Movie.' Funny, smart, heartfelt, beautifully animated, and effortlessly entertaining, the flick is just... well, totally awesome! A perfect fit for all ages (not just 4-12), the movie offers a thoughtful and witty celebration of creativity, all set to a tune that will have you humming for days. Even if you don't want to.Through a smart and silly sense of humor, the filmmakers use the world of Legos to create a story that manages to champion the strengths of individuality and community at the same time, offering kids (and adults) a well-rounded message that finds a healthy middle-ground between the two often unnecessarily contentious ideas. There's even some light political undertones (the bad guy goes by the not so subtle name of President Business) and meta commentary on story structure, but at its core this is really just a fun adventure full of action, comedy, Morgan Freeman and... the dreaded Kragle! And all of this excitement is given kinetic form through some fantastic CG animation that lovingly replicates the style and personality of stop motion "brick movies." The writers use the Lego world to their full advantage and come up with many clever gags, cameos, and references to Lego history and quirks. Likewise, the animators are able to get a surprising amount of expression out of the simple character designs, and the cast led by Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Liam Neeson, and Will Ferrell is fantastic, breathing amusing life into each adorable minifigure. 'The Lego Movie' is the cinematic embodiment of all things awesome, single-handily restoring meaning to the word. It's got heart, explosions, an incessantly catchy song, and Batman! Add in a genuinely touching message about imagination that offers just the right amount of sentimentality, and this is family entertainment at its best. The Blu-ray from Warner Brothers features demo worthy video and audio, and a healthy assortment of special features -- resulting in a must own release that is... what's that word again? Awesome! You can pick it up here! 'True Detective: The Complete First Season' - While most serialized TV shows follow one main story and cast over multiple years, several series are now taking on an anthology approach, tackling just one plot and set of characters every season. HBO's 'True Detective' falls under this category, enabling the writers to tell a self-contained mystery that has the texture and rhythm of a great novel. With a definitive beginning and end, the show weaves a haunting and thought provoking examination of good and evil, shining a faint light of hope upon the utter darkness of despair. I'm still not quite sure what the hell Matthew McConaughey was talking about in his Oscar acceptance speech, but if continually chasing his future self leads to performances like his turn as Rust Cohle, then I hope he never catches himself. Run wild, future Matthew McConaughey! Run like the wind! Joking aside, the actor really is amazing here, and Rust's brooding philosophizing is one of the show's defining elements. Likewise, Woody Harrelson perfectly complements McConaughey's intensity with a more down-to-earth but equally engaging portrayal of Marty Hart. Of course, the actors' performance aren't all that makes 'True Detective' so special. Though I didn't get a chance to mention it in my full review, the series' score and song selections by T Bone Burnett are simply masterful, expertly engendering an isolated and haunting mood that always feels authentic and visceral. The complex writing is also incredible, and the very structure of the plot proves to be quite impressive in its own right. Told throughout three distinct time periods, the show often plays around with the idea of truth and perspective. Though Rust and Marty might tell their stories one way in the present, when we see the actual events play out in flashback, there are notable discrepancies, and the specific elements they choose to omit or lie about create an enlightening juxtaposition between fact and fiction. Fully captivating from its first frame until its last, 'True Detective' takes audiences on a powerful and disturbing journey through the angels and demons of the human soul. An esoteric tale of good versus evil deceptively wrapped into a police procedural, the show offers a unique and refreshingly finite form of small screen storytelling, bringing a satisfying sense of closure to audiences once the screen goes black. The Blu-ray release features a stellar technical presentation and a worthwhile collection of supplements. Next season will involve a completely new case and cast of characters, and while I'm looking forward to seeing what the producers come up with, they are going to have a hell of a hard time topping what they've accomplished here. You can pick it up here! 'A Hard Day's Night (Criterion)' - While the art form is easy to take for granted now, at one point the music video as we know it was seen as a radical and innovative concept. And the blueprint for the medium can be found in every shot of Richard Lester's 'A Hard Day's Night.' A highly influential piece of unconventional filmmaking, the movie helped usher in a new relationship between images and popular music -- and it all begins with a mob of rushing fans chasing four seemingly ordinary lads from Liverpool. Of course those four young men really couldn't be further from ordinary, and as The Beatles they're responsible for some of the music industry's most enduring hits. Also, they prove to be pretty damn funny. Playing versions of themselves, each band member reveals a playful and occasionally cheeky personality that helps take viewers through a series of random bits of surreal humor and faintly satirical observations. And while the comedy is all quite amusing, it's the filmmakers' treatment of the musical performances that is really noteworthy. Rather than burst out into melody as part of the story, the songs happen rather matter-of-factly and don't usually have much if anything to do with the actual narrative. Instead, they provide a more loose association with the tempo and mood of the runtime. Likewise, some of the music sequences don't actually feature the band singing on-screen at all, and while these choices might not seem like a big deal now, in 1964 they were quite groundbreaking. Furthermore, the high-energy compositions, wild camera movements, and unconventional editing choices all work together to create a prototype for an entire generation of MTV videos. First available on a Canadian import Blu-ray from Alliance, this Criterion edition offers a substantial upgrade in every category. Though we do lose a few featurettes from the previous disc, the supplements included here are comprehensive, and the video transfer is a huge improvement. Likewise, we get three fantastic audio options, including a great 5.1 remix. Basically, this is the perfect flick to watch on a hard day's night, and this release is an absolute dream come true for Beatles fans. And really, who isn't a Beatles fan? You can pick it up here! So, there you have it. While there are many titles worth picking up this June, those are our top three must own recommendations. We'll be back next month with three more essential picks, but for now, what do you think of our selection? What are your choices for June's must own titles?Posted Mon Jun 30, 2014 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
TCL Offers Budget-Priced 4K TVs[teaser]The company is set to release several new Ultra HD TV models for prices as low as $499. [/teaser] TCL has announced the upcoming release of two 4K TV lines, the UE5700 series and the UH9500 series. Sizes range from 40-inches to 85-inches and each display offers a resolution of 3840x2160. "TCL is committed to bringing US consumers the latest technology at a great value and this lineup reflects our continued efforts to bring down the cost of 4K resolution and make it affordable for all consumers," said Chris Larson, VP Sales & Marketing, TCL North America. "A year ago, we introduced the first 4K TV for under $1,000 MSRP, and now you see other popular brands following in our footsteps. We're moving the bar again and challenging them to keep up with us in making premium 4K a mainstream technology that everyone can enjoy." The UE5700 series will include the 40-inch 40UE5700 ($499) and the 49-inch 49UE5700 ($599). The TVs feature an ultra-thin bezel, a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 120Hz refresh rate, 4K upscaling, and HDMI 2.0 connections. Meanwhile, the UH9500 series will include the 55-inch 55UH9500 ($799), the 65-inch 65UH9500 ($1,299), and the extra-large 85-inch 85UH9500 ($7,999). The TVs offer the same features as the UE5700 series and add Wi-Fi, HEVC decoding for 4K streaming, and smart TV capabilities powered by a 1.2 Ghz Dual-Core CPU plus Quad-Core GPU. In addition, the 85-inch model uses a higher 240Hz refresh rate. TCL's new Ultra HD TV lineup will be available in Q4 2014. Source: TCLPosted Mon Jun 30, 2014 at 03:00 PM PDT by:
