Engadget HD Podcast 168 - 12.22.2009

If you love 3D then you're going to love this episode and if not, you might just want to skip to the 37 minute mark and skip all the parts where we go crazy talking about Avatar, (spoiler warning) the Blu-ray 3D spec and 3D at home in general. After all the 3D buzz is done, we move on to the FiOS Super Headend tour as well why the DirecTV TiVo might not be that great and finally the new Fancast Xfinity TV and a little spat between TWC and Fox.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:45 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 167
04:30 - So are you headed to the theater to see Avatar?
20:30 - Blu-ray 3D specifications finalized, your PS3 is ready
26:58 - 3D capable Blu-ray players coming as soon as Q2 2010?
30:17 - Sony teams up with RealD for 3D, headaches in the home
34:40 - Ask Engadget HD: Does Dolby, RealD or someone else offer the best 3D movie theater experience?
37:17 - An inside look at a Verizon FiOS Super Headend and Video Hub
44:41 - New DirecTV TiVo HD due in the Spring of 2010
46:44 - Comcast On Demand Online renamed Fancast Xfinity TV, now streaming nationwide
53:38 - Time Warner, Fox trade shots on who to blame when you can't see the bowl games

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[TrueEddie Posted Dec 22nd 2009 3:32PM]

Thanks for giving the spoiler warning. I hate when people forget to do that.

[gadgetfanboy Posted Dec 22nd 2009 9:54PM]

@TrueEddie

Can you let us know what movie / show the spoiler is related to and what time it's dropped so I can avoid it?

thanks

[gadgetfanboy Posted Dec 22nd 2009 9:56PM]

@TrueEddie

OK nevermind, I listened, with finger poised over the pause button and then realized you weren't being sarcastic! lol, i guess i am just calibrated towards sarcasm on the internet

[BenD Posted Dec 22nd 2009 9:57PM]

@gadgetfanboy

It is about Avatar in the first topic. We give another warning just before. Skip to 20:30 to be safe.

[Brian Posted Dec 23rd 2009 7:29AM]

That dude you mentioned who couldn't get just a contract free SIM card doesn't know what he is talking about.

T-mobile does sell service with a contract, which is no Early Term fees. They have the Even More Plus plan which is cheaper then a contract plan, just you don't have a discount on a phone. I'm about to switch myself because the same plan for my wife and I with AT&T is about $70 less per month. And we are going to the Even More Plan and using our iPhones with T-mobile. Sucks we won't have 3G but for the price difference it is fine with me. I mostly use wifi or am somewhat okay with EDGE speeds.

[BenD Posted Dec 23rd 2009 7:30AM]

@Brian

I was just repeating what he said, go comment and let him know.
http://jkontherun.com/2009/12/21/etfs-without-a-hardware-subsidy-and-no-data-only-plans-have-me-flustered/

[Brian Posted Dec 23rd 2009 7:40AM]

Actually I guess the guy was talking about data online. I may have missed that part on the podcast. I was only semi paying attention during that part.

[dahacker Posted Dec 23rd 2009 2:03PM]

First, love the podcast. Nice to hear guys talking about HD that don't have unlimited budgets. Also, Ben, you are right on the money about FIOS and MoCA. It is by far the best currently out there.

Anyway...3D. You guys need to stop saying 3D will have everything in focus. Avatar exemplifies this. With live action or even sports, the current projection technology coupled with live lenses simply don't allow for everything to be in focus given that the camera lens can't be stopped down completely. Everything in real life is the same, your eyes have limited Depth of Field and are constantly refocusing to various depths in your field of view.

The problem comes when watching a live action 3D movie, in that your eyes and brain wander and might want to see something in the foreground or background and refocus on that part of the screen, but that is impossible and you get brain and eye strain. I think you would have the same problem with 2D, but your eyes and brain are so used to watching 2D images, that they know not to attempt to refocus.

I think that with time, we will get used to the current 3D technology, but I think it just won't be a huge success in the home. I am looking forward to your coverage of 3DES in January, but don't drink the whole cup of Kool-aid in 2010.

[SpongeBobPistolPants Posted Dec 28th 2009 10:46AM]

Theater to DVD - Just FYI, theater to DVD is almost always 90 days. Has been and continues to be. Also makes sense that the non-3d version will be available as 90 days after the movie drops there will not yet be 3d blu-ray players.