Engadget HD Podcast 134 - 04.29.2009

This week was a little slow for news, so we decided to try out a live chat room in USTREAM alongside our podcast, just to keep the degree of difficulty up. Between weaving in and out of conversations, we had a lot of talk about DVRs -- DirecTV is working on adding features, Moxi is lowering the barrier to entry, and TiVo is letting the competition catch up. The old red vs. blu topic came up for the first time in a long time, but Warner's Red2Blu trade-in program is more "assimilation/reconstruction" than "war." The next fight that comes to an end could very well be plasma vs. LCD, but from the reviews of Panasonic's 2009 plasma TVs that are coming in, it looks like plasma will go down swinging. Finally, the NFL managed to sneak onto the podcast with HD draft coverage. Thanks to all who joined us in the chat room; we'll spill the beans on getting you involved with the podcast as soon as we have a plan!

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:50 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 133 - 04.22.2009
07:20 - RealDVD ripping software heads to court, fair use advocates on pins and needles
11:24 - Cutting Edge update brings multiroom, dual live buffers to DirecTV HR2x / R22 HD DVRs
15:45 - Digeo offers Moxi DVRs for easy monthly payments
19:05 - Ten years of TiVo: how far we haven't come
23:56 - Amazon Video on Demand supports 5.1 surround on TiVo (plus hands-on)
25:10 - Warner reintegrates HD DVD faithful with Red2Blu trade-in program
27:07 - CNET reviews Panasonic's 720p TC-P50X1 plasma
32:52 - ESPN prepping its first HD NFL draft coverage

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[funkyp56 Posted Apr 29th 2009 12:22PM]

I have no issue with "Live" shows, but anything under an hour, in my book, is more of a conversation without substance than a podcast. Hmm, maybe that was harsh. I love the Directv coverage though. Guess I am a Directv/Apple fanboy.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 12:46PM]

Thought you guys would want to see this potential Blu-Ray on Macs news:

http://www.9to5mac.com/blu-ray-apple-macintosh

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 1:33PM]

Yo, I was bored with this show.. I stopped the podcast and went back to doing server decommissions.
I think this EHD podcast maybe in trouble. It's like watching PBS news and it's only really entertaining when a guest comes on.
You guys need to shake this up a bit.
Hey, for the next show Ben should have is wife on the podcast and let her talk about"Living with Ben Drawbaugh and Media Center".

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:45PM]

I'd like to hear Josh on the HD podcast. Actually, come to think of it, I'd like to hear Josh in alot of places.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 4:48PM]

Thank you Red2Blue!! I'm waiting in suspense for my Batman Begins and Blazing Saddles Blu-Rays. I'm pretty sure Mel Brooks filmed Blazing Saddles with the fore-thought of a Blu-Ray transfer. Now I just need a blu-ray player.

Great shows!!

PS - You guys are inattentive and jerky jerk faces

[TrueEddie Posted Apr 29th 2009 6:05PM]

Very disappointed with the lack of discussion on Nilay's TiVo post. If you weren't gonna go over all of the topics why even bother.

[dishbreak Posted Apr 29th 2009 11:47PM]

Thanks for loosening your definition, Ben. =) I feel a lot more secure about my Linux/XP setup.

However, the show itself was kinda lacking. I get that you were trying something new, but I'm ust providing feedback, fellas!

[Alton Posted Apr 30th 2009 11:44AM]

Normally love the show but this show was bad... Ben and Steve sounded like they were building something really complex and the podcast was just something on in the background. No more chatting while doing the podcast!

[S4Rs Posted Apr 30th 2009 1:10PM]

Hey Steve. Definitely ask Dolby about PLIIz. Is this the start of a definitive 9.1/9.2 surround sound standard? And what makes this technology fall under Dolby Pro Logic and not a new version of TrueHD, or Dobly Digital? Can this be adapted to existing movies without the movie needing to be optimized for PLIIz?

Thanks.

[Dalhectar Posted Apr 30th 2009 3:33PM]

I enjoy what Josh adds to the podcast, but he doesn't need to show up every week. EHD works with just Ben and Steve. This episode was a little light, but ehh... Next week will be fun when Ben gets to defend himself for the PID bru ha ha he started.

As far as the live chatroom, I imagine that it will take them some time to be accustomed to the live feedback. I'm willing to live with a couple of less than perfect podcasts as they get used to the chaos of live chat.

I think it would be great to mirror the engadget podcast and use the twitter robot feed to take questions prior to the podcast. On slow days, it would help. Also no time for reaction to the live feed should ever come at the expense of the news section. Only add life feedback reaction if the podcast is willing to go longer than it otherwise would be. We want more, not less.

[oppizzippo Posted May 1st 2009 10:16PM]

Hey guys,

Great show as always. I vote you do live chat at the end; to answer questions and allow people to do live comments. I personally will never get to tune in live but I think its a great idea.

Steve,
Ask Dolby when a "HD" form of Dolby headphone will come out? Or will the current Dolby headphone tech work with trueHD just needs an update or something. With high end phones so close to your ears the added bandwidth is more than welcome. Also ask where all the dolby headphone devices are at? I like your suggestion on the JVC DH amp I will be watching ebay for a good deal. Thanks for your help!

Keep up the good work!
C

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 10:22PM]

Why doesn't Engadget have a regular user forum??? Every site nowadays have one.

[(Unverified) Posted May 4th 2009 1:43PM]

Ok guys yall know I love the show!
but really this one was totally off!

I don't know whether it was from lack of news or that the live chatting thing kept you guys distracted, but i really got nothing out of that podcast! I would of skipped it if i could have, since i usually read all the post for that week, but since I had just had laser surgery I was relying on you guys for the news. guess i have to go back and read the post!

even though, everyone has off days, your 15 fans are still with you :p