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Sony Readies New High-Res Audio Products[teaser]The company has detailed its upcoming lineup of A/V receivers, speakers, and home theater systems. [/teaser] Sony has revealed its new collection of home audio products, including several High-Resolution devices. The lineup consists of four A/V receivers, four speaker models, and one Blu-ray home theater system. "Sony's goal is to make the benefits of Hi-Res Audio accessible to every music lover," said Jeff Hiatt, director of home audio at Sony Electronics. "We're focused on providing a variety of Hi-Res solutions that fit every lifestyle need. Our latest additions are specifically developed to bring Hi-Res excitement to a broader audience." The STR-DN1050 (165 watts) and STR-DN850 (150 watts) are both 7.2 channel A/V receivers with 4K pass-through/upscaling, integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay, and high-res audio support. Meanwhile, the STR-DH750 is a 7.2 channel receiver with 145 watts per channel, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4K pass-through. Finally, the STR-DH550 is a 145 watt 5.2 channel receiver. The STR-DN1050 ($599) and STR-DN850 ($499) will be available in May and the STR-DH750 ($349) and STR-DH550 ($279) are currently available on Amazon. On the speaker front, Sony is also releasing the new CS series which consists of High-Res capable loudspeaker, bookshelf, center channel, and subwoofer models. The SS-CS3 floor standing speaker features a 5 ¼" woofer in a 3-way, 4 speaker bass-reflex design that can offer up to 145 watts with a max frequency response of 50 kHz. The SS-CS5 bookshelf model also features a 5 ¼" woofer, but this time with a maximum of 100 watts. The SS-CS8 is a center channel speaker with a 2-way, 3 speaker bass-reflex design and a 4" foamed mica cellular reinforced woofer. Finally, the SS-CS9 subwoofer uses an active, 115 watt amp and a 10" foamed-mica cellular reinforced woofer. The SS-CS3 ($239 per speaker), SS-CS5 ($219 per pair), SS-CS8 ($169) and SS-CS9 ($239) will all be available for purchase in May exclusively at Sony Stores and Best Buy. Last but not least, Sony is debuting the BDV-N7200W Hi-Res Blu-ray Home Theater system. The BDV-N7200W features a 1200W 5.1 channel speaker system with wireless surround sound speakers, a down-firing subwoofer, a Blu-ray player, and support for several High-Resolution audio formats. In addition, the system offers built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and 4K and 3D pass through. The BDV-N7200W will launch in May for $699. Source: SonyPosted Thu Apr 24, 2014 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
'Bring It On' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The legendary teen comedy will start shaking its pom-poms on Blu-ray in July. You can pre-order it right.....NOW! [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is preparing 'Bring It On' for Blu-ray on July 1.'Bring It On' is the ultimate cheerleading movie, starring Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union and Eliza Dushku. The Toro cheerleading squad has spirit, spunk, sass and a killer routine that's sure to land them the national championship trophy for the sixth year in a row. For newly-elected team captain, Torrance (Dunst), the Toro's road to cheer glory stumbles when she discovers their perfectly choreographed routines were stolen from a hot hip-hop squad across town. Now the squad must scramble to find a new routine to compete in this year's competition. Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: Spotlight on Location: The Making of Bring It On; Deleted Scenes; Extended Scenes; Home Movie of the Car Wash Scene; Wardrobe and Makekup Tests; Blaque "As If" Music Video; Theatrical Trailer; and Feature Commentary with Director Peyton Reed Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/UltraViolet combo pack is $19.98.You can find the latest specs for 'Bring It On' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 1.Posted Thu Apr 24, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Flowers of Evil: Complete Collection' Blu-ray Detailed[teaser]The 13-episode anime series will be available on Blu-ray in July. You can pre-order it now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Section 23 is preparing 'Flowers of Evil: Complete Collection' for Blu-ray on July 8.Darkness lurks everywhere, in every human heart, and sometimes it takes just a second of weakness for it to take root. For Takao Kasuga, that germination begins when his obsession with his beautiful classmate Nanako meets the opportunity to "borrow" her used gym clothes. Unfortunately, his loathsome act of laundry theft is witnessed by Nakamura, the strange girl who sits behind him in class. Soon, Nakamura's own dark obsessions begin to hook their twisted tendrils into Takao's miserable existence. Blackmailed into a "contract" under the threat of having his guilt revealed to his entire class, the former bookworm who could spend hours reading Beaudelaire's "The Flowers of Evil" now finds himself entwined in Nakamura's growing fantasies as she leads him down the garden path to damnation. As their blossoming relationship becomes ever darker, even the seemingly innocent Nanako is pulled into the nightmare. Just what are Nakumura's ultimate plans, and will the increasingly trapped Takao really be willing to carry them out? What you sow, you must ultimately reap, and there's certain to be a harrowing harvest ahead.The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a lossless Japanese soundtrack. There are no supplements included. Suggested list price for the 2-Disc set is $59.98.You can find the latest specs for 'Flowers of Evil: Complete Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 8.Posted Thu Apr 24, 2014 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Monster High: Clawesome Double Feature' Blu-ray Bound[teaser]Two new 'Monster High' animated adventures are heading to Blu-ray in July, and you can pre-order them now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is preparing 'Monster High: Clawesome Double Feature' for Blu-ray on July 1. It's time to "fang out" with your favorite ghoulfriends in this frightfully fabulous double feature straight from the latest scare-mester at Monster High! Everyone's ready for some monstrous fun in the sun during spring break in 'Escape from Skull Shores.' But when they find themselves shipwrecked on a totally strange island, Frankie Stein is taken by a mysterious Beast... who may just need a little rescuing of his own! Then it's time to pull together all the student bodies when a meddling normie tries to drive a stake into the imperfectly perfect harmony of Monster High in 'Fright On!' It's up to Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Draculauraand their fangtastic friends to prove that the culture clash of Fur and Fang is no longer an issue for this scary-cool student body!Supplements have not been detailed yet, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack.Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet combo pack is $26.99.You can find the latest specs for 'Monster High: Clawesome Double Feature' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 1.Posted Thu Apr 24, 2014 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Elvis: That's the Way It Is' & 'Viva Las Vegas 50th Anniversary' Blu-rays Dated[teaser]In celebration of Elvis Week, two of the legendary performer's films are coming to Blu-ray in August. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Bros. is preparing 'Elvis: That's the Way It Is (Digibook)' and 'Viva Las Vegas 50th Anniversary (Digibook)' for Blu-ray on August 12. 'Elvis: That's the Way It Is (Digibook)' - With thousands of feet of materials including sequences added to capture with greater intimacy Elvis' performances and his creative process behind-the-scenes, the previously released 'Elvis: That’s The Way It Is - Special Edition' is now being made available as a Blu-ray two disc Special Edition Premium Digibook. Denis Sanders ('Shock Treatment') directed this "rockumentary." Academy Award nominated Lucien Ballard ('The Wild Bunch') was the cinematographer, following the show's development from rehearsal to stage. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: 2001 Special Edition and 1970 Theatrical Edition Cuts; Digibook Packaging; Patch It Up: The Restoration of Elvis: That's The Way It Is; and 12 Outtakes - song/nonmusical sequences. 'Viva Las Vegas 50th Anniversary (Digibook)' - In his highest grossing movie, Elvis shares the screen with Ann-Margret, easily creating the most electrifying teaming Elvis had on screen. He plays Lucky Jackson, a Grand Prix race driver working at a casino to raise cash for a new engine; she’s a hotel swimming instructor - and the romantic action revs up from their first meeting. George Sidney, who also directed Ann-Margret in 'Bye Bye Birdie,' combines the hormonal heat wave with fascinating sights of '60s Las Vegas. David Winters ('West Side Story') choreographed the 10 musical song-and-dance scenes which also featured his dancers. Songs include the high-roller title track, the stars' duet on "The Lady Loves Me," her sultry "Appreciation" and The King's version of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say." The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Digibook packaging; Commentary by Steve Pond, rock journalist and author of "Elvis in Hollywood"; Featurette Kingdom: Elvis in Vegas; and Theatrical trailer. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $27.98.You can find the latest specs for 'Elvis: That's the Way It Is' & 'Viva Las Vegas 50th Anniversary' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under August 12.Posted Wed Apr 23, 2014 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Amazon and HBO Announce Big Partnership[teaser]Select HBO shows are coming to Amazon Prime Instant Video, and HBO Go support is in the works for the Fire TV. [/teaser] Amazon and HBO have detailed a new multi-year licensing agreement that will bring a variety of HBO programing to the online retailer's streaming media service. This will make Prime Instant Video the exclusive online-only subscription source for several popular HBO series. "HBO has produced some of the most groundbreaking, beloved and award-winning shows in television history, with more than 115 Emmys amongst the assortment of shows coming to Prime members next month," said Brad Beale, Director of Content Acquisition for Amazon. "HBO original content is some of the most-popular across Amazon Instant Video—our customers love watching these shows. Now Prime members can enjoy a collection of great HBO shows on an unlimited basis, at no additional cost to their Prime membership." The agreement begins on May 21, giving Prime Instant Video members access to every season of select shows like 'The Sopranos,' 'The Wire,' 'Deadwood,' 'Rome,' 'Six Feet Under,' 'Eastbound & Down,' 'Enlightened,' and 'Flight of the Conchords'; acclaimed miniseries like 'Angels in America,' 'Band of Brothers,' 'John Adams,' 'The Pacific' and 'Parade’s End'; early seasons of series such as 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Treme' and 'True Blood'; original movies like 'Game Change,' 'Too Big To Fail' and 'You Don’t Know Jack'; documentaries including the 'Autopsy' and 'Iceman' series, 'Ghosts of Abu Ghraib' and 'When the Levees Broke'; and comedy specials from Lewis Black, Ellen DeGeneres, Louis CK and Bill Maher. In addition, current seasons of all of the show listed above and early seasons of more shows like 'Veep,' 'Girls' and 'The Newsroom' will become available in the future. Finally, the two companies also announced plans to bring HBO Go to the Amazon Fire TV. The cable giant's streaming service is expected to launch on the Fire TV by the end of the year. "As owners of our original programming, we have always sought to capitalize on that investment. Given our longstanding relationship with Amazon, we couldn't think of a better partner to entrust with this valuable collection," said Glenn Whitehead, Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, who along with Schreger headed up HBO's negotiating team. "We're also excited to bring HBO GO to Amazon's Fire TV. The features like unified voice search will provide a compelling experience for HBO customers." The Amazon Fire TV currently retails for $99. You can check out our full review here. Prime Instant Video is available on a variety of streaming devices and smart TVs. The service is part of Amazon Prime and currently costs $99 per year. With this new deal, HBO joins a growing library of exclusive Prime Instant Video streaming content, including Fox's '24,' the BBC series 'Orphan Black,' FX's 'The Americans,' and NBC's 'Hannibal.' Source: AmazonPosted Wed Apr 23, 2014 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'Tim's Vermeer' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Penn and Teller's acclaimed documentary will attempt to unravel a perplexing art mystery on Blu-ray in June. You can pre-order it now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is preparing 'Tim's Vermeer' for Blu-ray on June 10.Tim Jenison, a Texas-based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in the art world: How did Dutch master Johannes Vermeer manage to paint so photo-realistically 150 years before the invention of photography? Spanning a decade, Jenison’s adventure takes him to Holland, on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney, and eventually even to Buckingham Palace. The epic research project Jenison embarks on is as extraordinary as what he discovers.Specs have not been revealed yet, but supplements will include: Commentary with Teller, Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette & Farley Ziegler; More than two and a half hours of deleted, extended & alternate scenes; and Toronto International Film Festival Q&A. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $40.99.You can find the latest specs for 'Tim's Vermeer' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 10.Posted Wed Apr 23, 2014 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Samsung Reveals Pricing & Availability for Galaxy Tab4 Series[teaser]Full details for the upcoming WXGA, quad-core tablets have been announced. [/teaser] Samsung has finally revealed an official release date for its latest collection of multimedia tablets. The Galaxy Tab4 series will be available in 7, 8, and 10.1-inch models on May 1. All three tablets are powered by 1.2GHz quad-core CPUs and 1.5GB of RAM running Android 4.4. Each device also features a 16:10 1280x800 screen along with an integrated 3MP rear camera and a 1.3MP front camera. In addition, the tablets offer Samsung's Multi Window functionality for switching between apps, Group Play for sharing media with friends, Samsung Link for sharing content between multiple smart devices, and WatchON for TV and movie playback on any device in your home or on the go. The 10.1 model includes a 6,800mAh battery, while the 8.0 features a 4,450mAh battery, and the 7.0 includes a 4,000mAh battery. All three will be available in white or black. The Galaxy Tab4 7-inch will retail for $200, the Tab4 8-inch will retail for $270, and the Tab4 10-inch will cost $350. Pre-orders are expected to go live on April 24. In addition, mobile carriers like Sprint, Verizon,T-Mobile, and AT&T will be offering various 4G LTE versions of select models this summer. Source: CNETPosted Wed Apr 23, 2014 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Deadman Wonderland: Complete Series' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]All 12 episodes of the anime series are heading to Blu-ray in July. You can pre-order the show here. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, FUNimation is preparing 'Deadman Wonderland: Complete Series' for Blu-ray on July 15.Ganta is the only survivor after a mysterious man in red slaughters a classroom full of teenagers. He's framed for the carnage, sentenced to die, and locked away in the most twisted prison ever built: Deadman Wonderland. And then it gets worse. At Deadman Wonderland, convicts are forced into brutal deathmatches for the amusement of the masses, the cheers of the crowd drowning out the screams of the dismembered. Even when Ganta befriends Shiro, an unusual female inmate, his dark fate crushes all hope... until he discovers the strange ability to wield his spilled blood as a weapon. Ganta learns his new skill might be related to the murderous man in red and uncovers disturbing secrets that could expose those who stole his freedom. He's determined to see justice served. But first he'll have to fight for his life in a prison that holds a million ways to die.Supplements have not been revealed yet, but the Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and lossless Japanese and English soundtracks.Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is $34.98.You can find the latest specs for 'Deadman Wonderland: Complete Series' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 15.Posted Wed Apr 23, 2014 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Dan Curtis' Dracula' Supplements Revealed[teaser]The infamous vampire will unleash his fangs on Blu-ray in May, and you can pre-order the disc now. [/teaser]In an early announcement to retailers, MPI is preparing 'Dan Curtis' Dracula' for Blu-ray on May 27.Academy Award winner Jack Palance stars in this terrifying adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic vampire legend written for the screen by sci-fi/horror master Richard Matheson and produced by the legendary Dan Curtis ('Dark Shadows'). Palance is Count Dracula, whose centuries-old existence is threatened after he attacks the lovely Lucy Westenra (Fiona Lewis) and her fiancé (Simon Ward, 'The Tudors') calls in famed vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Nigel Davenport) to investigate. Filmed on location in England and Yugoslavia, 'Dan Curtis' Dracula' has been transferred and restored in 2K High Definition from the original 35mm camera negative and presented here on Blu-Ray for the first time!Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include: Cast and crew interviews; Trailer; and an Alternate Ending. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.98.You can find the latest specs for 'Dan Curtis' Dracula' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 27.Posted Wed Apr 23, 2014 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
