Engadget HD http://hd.engadget.com Engadget HD http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget HD http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on November 17th 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/16/blu-ray-releases-on-november-17th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/16/blu-ray-releases-on-november-17th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/16/blu-ray-releases-on-november-17th-2009/#commentsThe biggest blockbuster of the year finally gets to see the light of Blu today and we can all enjoy those weird lighting effects in HD in the comfort of our own home. But also this week, there are a few new shows from Fox and HBO as well as more than one all time classic like Fight Club and The Professional. So in other words, if you don't see something you like this week, you don't like movies or TV shows.
  • Star Trek (Paramount)
  • Bruno (Universal)
  • Chasing Amy (Miramax)
  • Clerks (Miramax)
  • Fight Club (Fox)
  • It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas (Fox)
  • Franklyn (Image)
  • Galaxy Quest (DreamWorks)
  • Gone With The Wind (Warner)
  • Is Anybody There? (Magnolia)
  • Janacek: The Cunning Little Vixen (Ideale)
  • Lords of the Street (Phase 4)
  • Moonshot (A&E)
  • My Sister's Keeper (New Line)
  • National Geographic: Darwin's Darkest Hour (National Geographic)
  • The Open Road (Anchor Bay)
  • The Professional (Sony)
  • Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Sony)
  • Rome: The Complete Series (HBO)
  • Scrubs: The Complete Eighth Season (Disney)

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Blu-ray releases on November 17th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHD ReleasesHdReleasesStar TrekStarTrekMon, 16 Nov 2009 20:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't miss this video of Martin Scorsese gushing over Blu-ray at Blu-Con]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/11/dont-miss-the-video-of-martin-scorsese-gushing-over-blu-ray-at/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/11/dont-miss-the-video-of-martin-scorsese-gushing-over-blu-ray-at/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/11/dont-miss-the-video-of-martin-scorsese-gushing-over-blu-ray-at/#commentsBlu-Con 2.0
Have you always wanted to go to Blu-con but never made it? Us either, but our friends at HD Nation did and shot some great HD footage which includes some interesting tidbits about transferring movies to Blu-ray. The highlight is listening to Martin Scorsese talk excitedly about transferring classics to Blu-ray, where he discusses things like the factors that influence him to modify audio and video. A great example is where he talks about upgrading the mono audio from Taxi Driver by going back to the original stereo score and mono dialog and remastering for the first time ever. So if you always wondered why some get so excited about seeing classics on Blu-ray, or you just can't get enough Blu-ray, don't hesitate to check it out.

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Don't miss this video of Martin Scorsese gushing over Blu-ray at Blu-Con originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-ConBlu-Con 2.0Blu-con2.0Blu-rayblurayHD NationHdNationMartin ScorseseMartinScorseseWed, 11 Nov 2009 22:21:00 EST<![CDATA[AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/11/amex-digitals-mac-mini-blu-ray-drive-upgrade-kit-is-not-what-it/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/11/amex-digitals-mac-mini-blu-ray-drive-upgrade-kit-is-not-what-it/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/11/amex-digitals-mac-mini-blu-ray-drive-upgrade-kit-is-not-what-it/#comments
A Blu-ray "upgrade kit" for Apple's revamped Mac mini... sounds like the ultimate for home theater buffs right? After all, such a device holds the promise of adding Blu-ray playback to a relatively powerful, off-the-shelf micro computer starting at $599 that'll run any of the amazing media center apps available for either Windows 7 (with some extra legwork) or OS X. Not so fast bub, remember, OS X still doesn't support native playback of Blu-ray discs pressed by Hollywood's media fairies. As such, Blu-ray films purchased on disc can only be played by booting into Windows -- under OS X you are limited to reading and writing data assuming you already have software like Adobe's Premiere Pro CS3 with Encore or Roxio's Toast with Blu-ray plug-in. Unfortunately, AMEX Digital is purposely unclear on this point by suggesting that the kit will simply "play Hollywood Blu-ray Disc movies on a properly configured PC or MAC." For the extra $199 required to take the BD-UG1 home, we'd suggest a native PC solution, cheapo standalone Blu-ray player or PS3 and avoid these headaches altogether. Image of the drive laid bare after the break.

[Via I4U]

Continue reading AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems

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AMEX DIGITAL's Mac mini Blu-ray drive upgrade kit is not what it seems originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amex digitalAmexDigitalappleBD-UG1blu rayblu-rayblurayhome theaterHomeTheatermacmac miniMacMiniminiWed, 11 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray mini-review]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/spears-and-munsil-high-definition-benchmark-blu-ray-mini-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/spears-and-munsil-high-definition-benchmark-blu-ray-mini-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/spears-and-munsil-high-definition-benchmark-blu-ray-mini-review/#commentsIf you're like us and you don't think it's possible to own enough HDTV calibration discs, then you've probably already bought the Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Disc. Otherwise you might be looking at all the different options and since you only want to buy one, you're trying to figure out which one. Well, we've played with most of them and although we're hard pressed to decide on which is our favorite, we really like this one. To find out why, click through.

Continue reading Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray mini-review

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Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray mini-review originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-raybluraycalibrationfeaturedfeaturesSpears MunsilSpears Munsil High Definition BenchmarkSpearsMunsilSpearsMunsilHighDefinitionBenchmarkTue, 10 Nov 2009 15:06:00 EST<![CDATA[HD DVD's Managed Copy was never necessarily free, was always Mandatory]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/hd-dvds-managed-copy-was-never-necessarily-free-was-always-man/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/hd-dvds-managed-copy-was-never-necessarily-free-was-always-man/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/hd-dvds-managed-copy-was-never-necessarily-free-was-always-man/#commentsManaged Copy Demo It isn't often that we specifically call out another site for writing things that are just not true, but this one we can't let go. In an article about Blu-ray's Managed Copy, Ars Technica's Nate Anderson posts that Blu-ray's Managed Copy is a "stinker" because you might have to pay to make a copy and claims that the HD DVD version was better because it was free. Other than the fact that this is just not true, the part that really struck out to us was that he linked back to the Ars archive to support his statement, but must've missed the part of the source that states "No, as Jordi Rebbas told me, studios have to offer managed copy, but they have the option of charging for it." Lucky for us, both Intel and Microsoft exposed the real difference in Managed Copy between the two formats, which was that initially on Blu-ray the studios could choose whether or not each title was copyable, so in other words it wasn't mandatory. The BDA eventually caved and as we've said before, Managed Copy on Blu-ray is mandatory. Another related note is that Managed Copy was never implemented on HD DVD either, as it was also dependent on the finalization of AACS, but what was different was that the Discs did contain data that pointed to what was expected to become authentication servers. So in theory, if the format would've survived, even the initial Discs would've been copyable when it was implemented. Of course we'll never get to find out if it would've worked, but at least they did plan ahead a little, which is more than you can say for Blu-ray.

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HD DVD's Managed Copy was never necessarily free, was always Mandatory originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHD DVDHdDvdManaged CopyManagedCopyMandatory Managed CopyMandatoryManagedCopyTue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on November 10th 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/09/blu-ray-releases-on-november-10th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/09/blu-ray-releases-on-november-10th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/09/blu-ray-releases-on-november-10th-2009/#commentsBig week for Pixar fans as the latest animated feature, Up, is released, along with the Pixar classic Monster, Inc. Warner continues to release catalogs, but with the size of its catalog, it could probably release four a week every week and still never finish. For the most part this is a good week for Blu-ray but we know you are with us when we say that next week is what we're really waiting for as Star Trek was probably the best movie to hit the theaters this year and it hits Blu-ray next Tuesday.
  • Up (Walt Disney)
  • Monsters, Inc. (Walt Disney)
  • The Ugly Truth (Sony)
  • Godzilla (Sony)
  • Heat (Warner)
  • Logan's Run (Warner)
  • Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (Warner)
  • The Negotiator (Warner)
  • Mamma Mia! (Gift Set) (Universal)
  • Near Dark (Lionsgate)
  • Red Heat (Lionsgate)
  • Spread (Anchor Bay)
  • World's Most Beautiful Sunrises & Sunsets (Digital Enviroments)
  • Ballast (Kino)
  • The Echo (Image)
  • The General (Kino)
  • Kingdoms Of The Coast (Razor)
  • The Line (Maya)

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Blu-ray releases on November 10th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHD ReleasesHdReleasesMon, 09 Nov 2009 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony streaming Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs free to new customers, expensively to existing ones]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/09/sony-streaming-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-free-to-new-cus/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/09/sony-streaming-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-free-to-new-cus/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/09/sony-streaming-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-free-to-new-cus/#comments It wasn't long ago that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was packing theaters, but given how quickly things hit DVD and Blu-ray these days we're surprised to learn this one won't be flinging vermicelli to disc until just after the holidays. Fear not carb-lovers: similar to the Hancock deal last year, new purchasers of internet-capable Sony TVs and Blu-ray players will be receiving one free stream of the film starting on December 8; that's nearly a full month ahead of the retail release. The stream will be in 720p and will allow full control during 24 hours. What if you've already purchased your Sony setup? The company is happy to extend the streaming offer to you as well -- so long as you don't mind paying a mere $24.95. Yes, a one-time 720p rental that costs as much as a Blu-ray. That's value.

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Sony streaming Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs free to new customers, expensively to existing ones originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraycloudy with a chance of meatballsCloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballshdtvinternet-capable TVInternet-capableTvsonystreamstreaming rentalStreamingRentaltelevisiontvMon, 09 Nov 2009 07:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Managed Copy hits Blu-ray Discs December 4th, but you still can't use it]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/07/managed-copy-hits-blu-ray-discs-december-4th-but-you-still-can/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/07/managed-copy-hits-blu-ray-discs-december-4th-but-you-still-can/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/07/managed-copy-hits-blu-ray-discs-december-4th-but-you-still-can/#commentsManaged Copy demo
The egg had to come before the chicken right? Well either way, one of 'em came first and in the case of the latest Blu-ray feature, Managed Copy, the Blu-ray Discs will come before the hardware. Less than five months since AACS was finalized and the details of Managed Copy were revealed and so far we've only seen one demo and not a single product announcement. This doesn't surprise us, but AACS-LA is apparently surprised because although all Blu-ray Discs sold after December 4th have no choice but to allow at least one copy to be made, the requirement to label the packaging as such has been postponed until Spring of next year. We'd expect at least a few products that support Managed Copy to be announced at CES and although we highly doubt any stand-alone Blu-ray players will sport this feature anytime soon, we do have our hopes on PC software and expect a few movie jukebox devices like Kaleidescape -- that we won't be able to afford -- will be announced at the big show in Vegas.

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Managed Copy hits Blu-ray Discs December 4th, but you still can't use it originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayManaged CopyManagedCopySat, 07 Nov 2009 02:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget HD: Where can I find Blu-ray movies for cheap on Black Friday and beyond?]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/04/ask-engadget-hd-where-can-i-find-blu-ray-movies-for-cheap-on-bl/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/04/ask-engadget-hd-where-can-i-find-blu-ray-movies-for-cheap-on-bl/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/04/ask-engadget-hd-where-can-i-find-blu-ray-movies-for-cheap-on-bl/#comments Prices on Blu-ray players continue to plunge, inducing more and more to make the jump, but what about the software? We've asked where you buy your discs before, but this time we're presented with a brand new adopter looking to stock up on titles during the holiday season. That's Sean's situation, where to look for Blu-ray discs over the next month if price is the only consideration.

"Instead of camping out for a big ticket purchase on black Friday, I already grabbed a new flat screen and Blu-ray player, but so far I only have a couple of movies to watch on it. I really want to upgrade my library with plenty of reference quality selections, and I figure holiday seasons will be a great time to do it. Any advice on where to look for the deepest discounts / bundles over the next couple of months?"

So, we know there's more than a few of you always on the lookout for a BOGO or better offer to come along whether buying for yourself or as gifts, any tips for our tightfisted friend here?

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

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Ask Engadget HD: Where can I find Blu-ray movies for cheap on Black Friday and beyond? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadget dhask engadget hdAskEngadgetHdblack fridayBlackFridayblu rayblu-rayblurayholiday shoppingHolidayShoppingmoviespricesalesWed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[OWC takes quad-interface Mercury Pro external BD burner to 12x]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/04/owc-takes-quad-interface-mercury-pro-external-bd-burner-to-12x/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/04/owc-takes-quad-interface-mercury-pro-external-bd-burner-to-12x/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/04/owc-takes-quad-interface-mercury-pro-external-bd-burner-to-12x/#commentsPioneer's BDR-205 may not be hitting shelves in retail form until early next year, but those who desperately need a Blu-ray burner that outpaces the optical media currently available still have an option. OWC has today updated its long-standing Mercury Pro external BD drive -- which boasts FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0 and eSATA connection options -- with Pioneer's latest, giving it the ability to toast BD-Rs at up to 12x. Of course, you'll need lady luck on your side to actually find any media that'll support said rate, but hey, there's always the future. It's available today for $349.99, or $449.99 if you want Roxio Toast Titanium PRO bundled in.

[Via Macworld]

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OWC takes quad-interface Mercury Pro external BD burner to 12x originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12xbdBDR-205blu rayblu-rayblu-ray burnerblu-ray driveblu-ray writerBlu-rayBurnerBlu-rayDriveBlu-rayWriterblurayburnerexternal blu-ray driveExternalBlu-rayDrivemercury proMercuryProother hardwareother world computingotherhardwareOtherWorldComputingowcpioneerwriterWed, 04 Nov 2009 10:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on November 3rd 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/02/blu-ray-releases-on-november-3rd-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/02/blu-ray-releases-on-november-3rd-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/02/blu-ray-releases-on-november-3rd-2009/#commentsOctober is over and before you know it Black Friday will be here, and so all the studios are preparing their holiday selection. Although this mostly consists of classics like It's A Wonderful Life, Forrest Gump and others, there are also some okay day and date titles like G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Next week Disney makes things much more interesting for animated feature fans though as both Monsters Inc. and UP will be released on Blu-ray for the first time.

  • G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Paramount)
  • Forrest Gump (Paramount)
  • It's A Wonderful Life (Paramount)
  • The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (Sony)
  • Aliens In The Attic (Fox)
  • I Love You, Beth Cooper (Fox)
  • Say Anything... (Fox)
  • Two Girls And A Guy (Fox)
  • The Answer Man (Magnolia)
  • Christmas Vacation (20th Anniversay Edition) (Warner)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (The Complete Season One (Warner)
  • North By Northwest (Warner)
  • Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (Warner)
  • Command Performance (First Look)
  • Direct Action (First Look)
  • Earth 2100 (MPI)
  • Food, Inc. (Magnolia)
  • Howards End (Criterion Collection)
  • Wings Of Desire (Criterion Collection)
  • Love Actually (Universal)
  • Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (Image)
  • The Narrows (Image)
  • Not Forgotten (Anchor Bay)
  • Rocky: The Undisputed Collection (MGM)
  • Witchblade: The Complete Series (Funimation)

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Blu-ray releases on November 3rd 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHDReleasesMon, 02 Nov 2009 16:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: What's the biggest Blu-ray disc still due to arrive in 2009?]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/01/poll-whats-the-biggest-blu-ray-disc-still-due-to-arrive-in-200/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/01/poll-whats-the-biggest-blu-ray-disc-still-due-to-arrive-in-200/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/01/poll-whats-the-biggest-blu-ray-disc-still-due-to-arrive-in-200/#comments After seeing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen blow up the charts, is there a bigger Blu-ray release left for '09? Peep the possible responses and let us know which one is your most highly anticipated release for the rest of the year. Thanks for all nominations submitted to our Twitter (@Engadgethd) if you don't see yours give us a follow so we can get your opinion next time, and leave a note in the comments.

View Poll

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Poll: What's the biggest Blu-ray disc still due to arrive in 2009? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraypollsSun, 01 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Transformers 2 tops chart, best selling Blu-ray of all time?]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/29/transformers-2-tops-chart-best-selling-blu-ray-of-all-time/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/29/transformers-2-tops-chart-best-selling-blu-ray-of-all-time/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/29/transformers-2-tops-chart-best-selling-blu-ray-of-all-time/#commentsTransformers: Revenge of the FallenThe first week numbers are in and they're pretty good -- Michael Bay's latest movie moved 500,000 Blu-ray Discs in one day and a total of 1.2 Million for the week. Now we didn't go back and compare that to previous years, but that is without a doubt the best week any Blu-ray title has had this year, so we'd assume its safe to say this is the best selling Blu-ray title of all time -- in its first week anyways. Love it or hate it, there were plenty of people willing to run out the first week and buy this movie. This has to ease the minds of Paramount execs at least a little bit. Too bad for Hollywood that this will probably be as good as it gets this year, although we admit the movies we're looking forward to on Blu-ray still remain unreleased.

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Transformers 2 tops chart, best selling Blu-ray of all time? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-raybluraytransformerstransformers 2transformers revenge of the fallenTransformers2TransformersRevengeOfTheFallenThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/28/jvc-joins-the-sub-200-blu-ray-player-game-with-ultrathin-xv-bp1/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/28/jvc-joins-the-sub-200-blu-ray-player-game-with-ultrathin-xv-bp1/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/28/jvc-joins-the-sub-200-blu-ray-player-game-with-ultrathin-xv-bp1/#comments Sub-$200 Blu-ray players certainly aren't new -- heck, some guys have been doing it since the year 2008 -- but you'll never catch us kvetching about a little more competition. JVC has today introduced (in the briefest way possible, might we add) its newest Blu-ray player just ten months after deciding to play the BD game here in the States. The ultrathin (and "now available") XV-BP11 should slide into just about any AV rack, bringing Blu-ray / DVD playback, AVCHD support, HDMI 1.3, a USB socket and compatibility with a slew of audio formats. Curiously enough, the outfit doesn't bother to mention if this thing is Profile 2.0, but we're guessing (read: hoping) that it wouldn't do something as ludicrous as charge two bills for a Profile 1.1 deck in late 2009. Then again, we've seen zanier things go down...

Update: Ouch -- this thing is only Profile 1.1. Dud. [Thanks, Aaron!]

Continue reading JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11

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JVC joins the sub-$200 Blu-ray player game with ultrathin XV-BP11 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avchdbdblu rayblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerblurayhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentjvcjvc XV-BP11JvcXv-bp11XV-BP11Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's BDX2000 Blu-ray deck hits Best Buy for $199, sour grapes also on sale]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/toshibas-bdx2000-blu-ray-deck-hits-best-buy-for-199-sour-grap/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/toshibas-bdx2000-blu-ray-deck-hits-best-buy-for-199-sour-grap/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/toshibas-bdx2000-blu-ray-deck-hits-best-buy-for-199-sour-grap/#comments Man, poor Toshiba. The company's already sucked up its pride and started putting Blu-ray drives in its laptops, but here's its first stab at a proper standalone player, the BDX2000, on Best Buy shelves a bit early for $199 -- or $50 less than its announced price. Sure, that makes sense given the falling prices of Blu-ray decks as the holidays approach, but even at that price it's not super competitive with the slew of other decks out there that can do Netflix streaming. We'll see if Tosh's next efforts are a little more interesting than this, or if this is just more heartbreak than its worth.

[Thanks, Alex]

Continue reading Toshiba's BDX2000 Blu-ray deck hits Best Buy for $199, sour grapes also on sale

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Toshiba's BDX2000 Blu-ray deck hits Best Buy for $199, sour grapes also on sale originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdx2000best buyBestBuyblu rayblu-rayblurayin the wildInTheWildon saleOnSaletoshibaMon, 26 Oct 2009 20:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on October 27th 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/blu-ray-releases-on-october-27th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/blu-ray-releases-on-october-27th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/blu-ray-releases-on-october-27th-2009/#commentsSo the biggest movie of the year has come to Blu-ray and is behind us, but there are plenty of hot new releases left on the docket this year -- just not this week. This week we are planning on getting a couple of movies for our kids as well as checking out the latest Battlestar Galactica movie, The Plan. Other than that we're looking forward to checking out Larry David in a Woody Allen movie, we mean how could that not be funny?

  • Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (Universal)
  • Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (Fox)
  • Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (Walt Disney)
  • Night of the Creeps (Sony)
  • Whatever Works (Sony)
  • Orphan (Warner)
  • Nothing Like The Holidays (Anchor Bay)
  • Stan Helsing (Anchor Bay)
  • Beast Stalker (Tai Seng)
  • Expedition: Africa (A&E)
  • The Prisoner (A&E)
  • Il Divo (MPI)
  • The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue (Blue Underground)
  • Look For A Star (Tai Seng)
  • Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (Cinevolve)
  • Monty Python: Almost The Truth - The Lawyer's Cut (Vivendi)
  • Stargate: 15th Anniversary Edition (Lionsgate)

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Blu-ray releases on October 27th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHDHDTVMon, 26 Oct 2009 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix coming next month to PlayStation 3]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/netflix-coming-to-playstation-3/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/netflix-coming-to-playstation-3/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/netflix-coming-to-playstation-3/#comments What a coup. After we've been hearing all along that Xbox 360 had a game console exclusivity to Netflix streaming, Sony just announced it, too, will be joining in on the fun. Timeframe? Sometime next month. Press release after the break.

[Via PlayStation blog]

Continue reading Netflix coming next month to PlayStation 3

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Netflix coming next month to PlayStation 3 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraybreaking newsBreakingNewsinternetnetflixplaystation 3Playstation3ps3sceasonyMon, 26 Oct 2009 08:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: What is the best Blu-ray player?]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/25/poll-what-is-the-best-blu-ray-player/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/25/poll-what-is-the-best-blu-ray-player/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/25/poll-what-is-the-best-blu-ray-player/#commentsBlu-ray booth With Christmas right around the corner and the CEA predicting that consumers will spend more on electronics this year then last, we have to wonder what our dear readers think is the best Blu-ray player. Of course the PS3 is the most obvious answer since it pulls double duty as a gaming device, but movie lovers might prefer a standalone with other streaming features like VUDU or Netflix. At the same time, home automation nuts might prefer a player with discrete IR codes or maybe an RS-232 port. So keeping everything include the price in mind, which is the best Blu-ray player?

View Poll

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Poll: What is the best Blu-ray player? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BD-370BD-390BD-P1600BD-P3600BD-P4600BD-UP52UBDP-120BDP-23FDBDP-320BDP-S460BDP-S550blu rayBlu-rayblurayDMP-BD60DMP-BD80PollpollsPS3Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft: 'We have no plans for Blu-ray on Xbox 360']]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/23/microsoft-we-have-no-plans-for-blu-ray-on-xbox-360/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/23/microsoft-we-have-no-plans-for-blu-ray-on-xbox-360/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/23/microsoft-we-have-no-plans-for-blu-ray-on-xbox-360/#commentsA recent Gizmodo sit down with Steve Ballmer led with a headline exclaiming a Blu-ray add-on for Xbox was coming. See, when Ballmer was asked about making the Xbox a home theater companion of choice and where Blu-ray might fit in, the Windows 7 wild man said, "Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there -- you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories." He then added that on-demand is the future of movies, not physical media. Now our bud Major Nelson, Director of Programming for Xbox Live, has stepped up to lay the conflation to rest. The Major says that Ballmer was referring to Blu-ray accessories for the PC and reiterated Microsoft's focus of bringing instant-on 1080p streaming movies to the Xbox 360. So... that should end speculation of Blu-ray on Xbox right? Not if history serves, nope.

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Microsoft: 'We have no plans for Blu-ray on Xbox 360' originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraydenialmajor nelsonMajorNelsonmicrosoftrumorxboxxbox 360Xbox360Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Digital Entertainment Group reports disc revenue's down, transactions up]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/21/digital-entertainment-group-reports-disc-revenues-down-transac/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/21/digital-entertainment-group-reports-disc-revenues-down-transac/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/21/digital-entertainment-group-reports-disc-revenues-down-transac/#commentsThe Digital Entertainment GroupThe latest DEG numbers reporting the 3.2 percent decrease in disc revenues this year over last, weren't really that interesting to us. Sure some might argue that is actually good considering overall consumer spending, but what is really interesting is that the number of transactions (sales and rentals) are up 6.6 percent. This should probably be interpreted as rentals are up while sales are down, but the bottom line is that more people then ever are still watching movies on round discs. All of this added together with the latest DRM technologies coming, makes us wonder what the home media landscape will look like in a few years. One thing is for sure, it seems Blu-ray has given packaged media the life extension that the studios had hoped for.

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Digital Entertainment Group reports disc revenue's down, transactions up originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayDEGDigital Entertainment GroupDigitalEntertainmentGroupWed, 21 Oct 2009 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray review roundup]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/21/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-blu-ray-review-roundup/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/21/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-blu-ray-review-roundup/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/21/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-blu-ray-review-roundup/#comments
It's pretty hard to miss this week's premiere Blu-ray release, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen may not be as well regarded as the first movie, but the hype train has continued to roll. Still holding out on a possible purchase? A slew of reviews of the Blu-ray edition are available to help you make a choice, so dig in and see what there is. The Dallas Morning News says FX can't turn a bad film into a good one, but were still impressed by the Blu-ray special features, while Blu-ray.com's reviewer had perfect scores the video, audio and supplements of the IMAX edition, calling it "THE one to own" (reports on AVSForum.com also point to a volume difference between editions) Our friends at Cinematical actually preferred the flick at home to the theater experience, citing the thrill of checking out the preparations entailed in making such an explosive movie, plus the ability to pause and take in each set piece individually. DVD Town actually split up review duties between tow people with one on the quality of the flick, and the other on audio, video and extras, finding this flick "the kind of sonic spectacular one can use to impress friends and neighbors who haven't bought into Blu-ray yet."

Read - DVDTown.com
Read - Blu-ray.com
Read - The Dallas Morning News
Read - Cinematical.com
Read - AVSForum.com

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray review roundup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayreviewsrounduptransformerstransformers revenge of the fallenTransformersRevengeOfTheFallenWed, 21 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix, Best Buy deal brings Watch Instantly streaming to even cheaper Blu-ray players]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/20/netflix-best-buy-deal-brings-watch-instantly-streaming-to-even/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/20/netflix-best-buy-deal-brings-watch-instantly-streaming-to-even/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/20/netflix-best-buy-deal-brings-watch-instantly-streaming-to-even/#comments
Though they've been floating around retail channels for a few weeks, Best Buy and Netflix have finally made official a partnership bringing streaming to the latest Insignia Blu-ray players. The NS-BRDVD3 runs $179, while the NS-WBRDVD edition tosses in WiFi for $20 more, while they won't stream out of the box, a firmware update just made available should add all that Watch Instantly goodness. These two keep the (we'll be nice and call it plain) styling of earlier models, and likely live up to the family reputation of "basic Blu-ray playback at a bargain" reported on the second generation of players. Of course, the BD-P1600 offers more features and a nicer reputation at about the same price, but Reward Zone members may want to think twice, with AVS Forum posters mentioning the NS-BRDVD3 can be had for just $99.99 through the 24th. Decisions, decisions.

Read - Best Buy and Netflix Announce Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies Over the Internet Via Latest Models of Insignia Blu-ray Disc Players
Read - Save $50 On Select INSIGNIA(R) Connected Blu-ray Disc[TM] Players with Netflix [Via AVS Forum]

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Netflix, Best Buy deal brings Watch Instantly streaming to even cheaper Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bd-p1600best buyBestBuyblu rayblu-rayblurayinsigniainternetnetflixns-brdvd3ns-wbrdvdothersreward zoneRewardZonestreamingwatch instantlyWatchInstantlyTue, 20 Oct 2009 22:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on October 20th 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/19/blu-ray-releases-on-october-20th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/19/blu-ray-releases-on-october-20th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/19/blu-ray-releases-on-october-20th-2009/#commentsOh man do we just love this time of year, not only are the super hot days of summer over, but Football is here and now the big blockbuster movies are hitting Blu-ray. And of the big movies for 2009, none is bigger than Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which hits Blu-ray tomorrow -- actually if you really can't wait, you can go to Best Buy at midnight tonight and pick it up. We can't say we blame 'em, but the rest of the studios pretty much let Paramount make this Transformers week as there really isn't anything else out there to get excited about. That's ok though, because in the next 12 weeks there should be plenty to choose from.

  • Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Paramount)
  • UFC 100: Lesnar vs. Mir (Starz/Anchor Bay)
  • Waterworld (Universal)
  • Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead (Fox)
  • Blood: The Last Vampire (Sony)
  • Easy Rider (Sony)
  • The Crew (Image)
  • Ichi the Killer (Tokyo Shock)
  • Monsoon Wedding (Criterion)
  • The Secret of the Nutcracker (BFS)

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Blu-ray releases on October 20th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayHDHD ReleasesHDTVtransformers 2Transformers2transformersrevengeofthefallenMon, 19 Oct 2009 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: Where do you buy your Blu-ray discs now, if you buy them at all?]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/18/poll-where-do-you-buy-your-blu-ray-discs-now-if-you-buy-them-a/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/18/poll-where-do-you-buy-your-blu-ray-discs-now-if-you-buy-them-a/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/18/poll-where-do-you-buy-your-blu-ray-discs-now-if-you-buy-them-a/#comments With Blu-ray disc adoption continuing to grow, we're wondering if your buying habits have changed. Last year Amazon ran away with the results, but it's 2009 now, Wal-mart has expanded its focus on Blu-ray (even nabbing the exclusive on TDK-style IMAX scenes for the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen release next week), Circuit City no longer exists and that weird guy in the white panel van even has a much better selection than he used to. So, where are you buying Blu-ray movies?

View Poll

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Poll: Where do you buy your Blu-ray discs now, if you buy them at all? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbest buyBestBuyblu rayblu-raybluraypollpollsretailerswal-martSun, 18 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray debuts October 20, check out one of the special features now (Video)]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/15/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-blu-ray-debuts-october-20-c/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/15/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-blu-ray-debuts-october-20-c/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/15/transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-blu-ray-debuts-october-20-c/#commentsYou'll have to wait until October 20 to get a good look at Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen's IMAX sequences, but you can see an exclusive clip of one of the behind the scenes segments featured on the disc right now. Check the behind the scene pre-vis breakdown after the break along with a list of Blu-ray exclusive specs for this 2 disc set, with Blu-ray fanboy Michael Bay at the helm we have high expectations to this followup to a movie that blazed trails on two different high definition disc formats. even that case at the right is getting in on the augmented reality packaging trend, letting webcam owning users access a special website with even more adventures involving, surprisingly enough, ridiculously large transforming robots from outer space. Check the Transformers ROTF official website for more info.

Continue reading Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray debuts October 20, check out one of the special features now (Video)

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray debuts October 20, check out one of the special features now (Video) originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraymichael bayMichaelBayspecial featuresSpecialFeaturestransformerstransformers revenge of the fallenTransformersRevengeOfTheFallenThu, 15 Oct 2009 14:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung rolls out Amazon, Blockbuster video store access across HDTVs, HTIBs and Blu-ray players everywhere]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/samsung-rolls-out-amazon-blockbuster-video-store-access-across/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/samsung-rolls-out-amazon-blockbuster-video-store-access-across/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/samsung-rolls-out-amazon-blockbuster-video-store-access-across/#comments
Just as promised, the (still SD only) Blockbuster OnDemand service is now available on a slew of Samsung hardware via firmware update, while the Internet@TV lineup (LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above and LED HDTVs Series 7000) has a brand new toy with the Amazon VOD Yahoo! widget (which does support HD.) Both services offer a slew of rental and/or purchase options for the digital delivery fanatic, though we still hunger for the audio and quality of VUDU plus the all you can eat goodness of Netflix Watch Instantly, of the millions of TVs out there, there's surely someone willing to sift through those menus for the ease of viewing Ghosts of Girlfriends Past without resorting to cable VOD -- or getting up from the couch. The "convenience" goes both ways, since they'll also be able to pick up compatible Samsung blu-ray players at Blockbuster stores, right next to the TiVo section -- check for exact model #s supported in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung rolls out Amazon, Blockbuster video store access across HDTVs, HTIBs and Blu-ray players everywhere

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Samsung rolls out Amazon, Blockbuster video store access across HDTVs, HTIBs and Blu-ray players everywhere originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonamazon vodAmazonVodblockbusterblockbuster on demandBlockbusterOnDemandblu rayblu-raybluraysamsungwidgetsWed, 14 Oct 2009 16:42:00 EST<![CDATA[BluFocus gets BDA official stamp as the first U.S. movie player testing center]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/blufocus-gets-bda-official-stamp-as-the-first-u-s-movie-player/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/blufocus-gets-bda-official-stamp-as-the-first-u-s-movie-player/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/blufocus-gets-bda-official-stamp-as-the-first-u-s-movie-player/#commentsThe unglamorous but so-necessary job of making sure all those Blu-ray discs and players work nicely together has long been the aim of BluFocus, which has most recently become the first and only BDA approved site in the U.S. for Movie Player Verification. While certification and compatibility testing is usually the kind of thing we only consider when something doesn't work, it's always good to know this on someone's mind. Any recent Blu-ray compatibility complaints? Let the folks at BluFocus know on their website.

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BluFocus gets BDA official stamp as the first U.S. movie player testing center originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bd-jblu rayblu-rayblufocusbluraycompatibilitymovie player verificationMoviePlayerVerificationtestingverificationWed, 14 Oct 2009 15:53:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI Radeon HD 5750 brings HDMI bliss to HTPCs for $110]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/ati-radeon-hd-5750-brings-hdmi-bliss-to-htpcs-for-160/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/ati-radeon-hd-5750-brings-hdmi-bliss-to-htpcs-for-160/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/14/ati-radeon-hd-5750-brings-hdmi-bliss-to-htpcs-for-160/#commentsATI Radeon HD 5750
We knew that video cards that could bitstream all the latest HD codecs wouldn't always cost $380, but we certainly didn't expect a cheaper alternative in two weeks. Of course price and HDMI audio capabilities aren't the only factors when choosing a video card for your HTPC, so you might want to keep waiting -- you know another few weeks -- for a version that doesn't take up two of your card slots for a fan that is no doubt anything but quiet. Anandtech is predicting you might have to wait another year for the perfect HTPC video card in the way of the 5600 series.

[Via Missing Remote]

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ATI Radeon HD 5750 brings HDMI bliss to HTPCs for $110 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATIATI Radeon HD 5750AtiRadeonHd5750bitstreamblu rayblu-rayblurayDTS-HDHTPCRadeonTrueHDWed, 14 Oct 2009 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[VUDU goes live on the LG BD390]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/12/vudu-goes-live-on-the-lg-bd390/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/12/vudu-goes-live-on-the-lg-bd390/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/12/vudu-goes-live-on-the-lg-bd390/#commentsVudu on the BD390
We jumped the gun a little a few weeks ago when we told you that the LG BD390 firmware update that would enable access to VUDU was live, so we wanted to let you know it was finally available -- for real this time. So next time you have a chance, turn on your player while it is connected to the internet and you should be prompted to install the update. After that is just a matter of activating it on VUDU's website, so yeah, pretty painless. If you're still unsure, you should check out our full review, but we think you'll find it as useful as we did.


Gallery: VUDU on the BD390 review

Continue reading VUDU goes live on the LG BD390

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VUDU goes live on the LG BD390 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BD390blu rayBlu-rayblurayinternetLGVUDUMon, 12 Oct 2009 17:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on October 13th 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/12/blu-ray-releases-on-october-13th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/12/blu-ray-releases-on-october-13th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/12/blu-ray-releases-on-october-13th-2009/#commentsHere we are one more week until Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Waterworld are released on Blu-ray and as you might expect in October, nothing much to see here -- just kidding about Waterworld, that movie stinks. If you are into scary movies then Drag Me to Hell should be a welcomed addition, you know with its IMDB score of 7.5 and all. Disney does have The Proposal, but we'd bet you feel the same way as we do about it; we'll pass.

  • Drag Me to Hell (Universal)
  • How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal)
  • Land Of The Lost (Universal)
  • Adoration (Sony)
  • The Craft (Sony)
  • Natural Born Killers: Director's Cut (Warner)
  • The Proposal (Walt Disney)
  • South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Paramount)
  • American Violet (Image)
  • Eagles Over London (Severin)
  • Hardware (Severin)
  • Home For Christmas (First Look)
  • Killer Movie (Phase 4)
  • Midnight Movie (Phase 4)
  • Kong: Return to the Jungle (Image)
  • Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (Cinevolve)
  • Paradox Of The Andes (Razor Digital)
  • Warren Miller's Children Of Winter (Shout! Factory)

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Blu-ray releases on October 13th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayDrag me to HellDragMeToHellHD ReleasesHdReleasesMon, 12 Oct 2009 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's 5.1 HB954SP Blu-ray HTIB system makes room for your iPod or iPhone]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/10/lgs-5-1-hb954sp-blu-ray-htib-system-makes-room-for-your-ipod-or/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/10/lgs-5-1-hb954sp-blu-ray-htib-system-makes-room-for-your-ipod-or/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/10/lgs-5-1-hb954sp-blu-ray-htib-system-makes-room-for-your-ipod-or/#comments If you've somehow managed to hold out from joining into the HTIB revolution, the time for caving is upon you. LG has just tapped Sir Mark Levinson to engineer the acoustics behind its latest bundle, the HB954SP. Packing a 5.1-channel sound system that includes 1,000 total watts of power, a quintet of oval drivers and a ported subwoofer, the system gets direction from a BD-Live-enabled Blu-ray player that's actually a fair bit more stylish than the tried-and-true black rectangle. You'll also find a pair of HDMI inputs, an iDock function for charging and controlling your iPod / iPhone right from the BD deck, 1080p upscaling of traditional DVDs, touch sensitive controls, a USB port for loading up external media and an optical audio input. There's nary a mention of price, but it should splash down this November for a hefty premium.

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LG's 5.1 HB954SP Blu-ray HTIB system makes room for your iPod or iPhone originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobdblu rayblu-rayblu-ray htibblu-ray playerBlu-rayHtibBlu-rayPlayerblurayHB954SPhome theaterHomeTheaterhtibiphone accessoryIphoneAccessoryipod accessoryipod dockIpodAccessoryIpodDocklgMark LevinsonMarkLevinsonsoundsound systemSoundSystemspeakerspeakersupconvertingupscalingSat, 10 Oct 2009 08:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's new SH-B083 drive doesn't write Blu-ray, but it kin reed gud]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/08/samsungs-new-sh-b083-drive-doesnt-write-blu-ray-but-it-kin-re/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/08/samsungs-new-sh-b083-drive-doesnt-write-blu-ray-but-it-kin-re/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/08/samsungs-new-sh-b083-drive-doesnt-write-blu-ray-but-it-kin-re/#comments
Say hello to Samsung's first internal Blu-ray combo drive for PCs, while the SH-B083 isn't a super fast writer like some of its classmates, it does feature 8x BD-R and BD-ROM read speeds. Also a capable 40x / 16x CD / DVD burner, if all you want to do is watch movies, this should be a considerably cheaper option to the Pioneer BDR-205 12x burner or other 8x recordable drives when it hits shelves (specifically Amazon and Newegg) in November, though exact date and price remain unspecified. Plus, it has that "chic mirror front door design" we can't believe we've lived without for so long, making the 350ms access speed a mere afterthought. This could fit nicely inside that new C-200, right? Specs follow after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's new SH-B083 drive doesn't write Blu-ray, but it kin reed gud

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Samsung's new SH-B083 drive doesn't write Blu-ray, but it kin reed gud originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8xblu rayblu-raybluraycombodriveinternalother hardwareotherhardwarepcsamsungsatash-b083Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's heavily stacked 320GB disc shows its nearly-clear face at CEATEC]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/#comments
As with pretty much every other optical disc out there that claims to hold a near-infinite amount of data, we're still skeptical about TDK's ability to actually bring to market the 320GB spinner you see above. But hey -- it's got ten 32GB layers and it's practically see-through. Did you really expect us to walk on by without clicking the shutter even once? Exactly.

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TDK's heavily stacked 320GB disc shows its nearly-clear face at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>320gb32gbbdblu rayblu-rayblu-ray discBlu-rayDiscblue laserBlueLaserblurayceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009discdiskfeatureshands-onoptical mediaOpticalMediaother formatsotherformatspicspicturesTDKWed, 07 Oct 2009 01:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray outpacing DVD adoption, will never reach its penetration]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/blu-ray-outpacing-dvd-adoption-will-never-reach-its-penetration/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/blu-ray-outpacing-dvd-adoption-will-never-reach-its-penetration/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/blu-ray-outpacing-dvd-adoption-will-never-reach-its-penetration/#commentsBlu-ray image
We just love it when research firms compare the adoption of Blu-ray to DVD and this latest report from Futursource is no different. The long and the short of the study is that if you include the Playstation 3 and the PS2, Blu-ray adoption is ahead of DVD in its fourth year. The firm goes on to predict that Blu-ray will keep the lead -- especially if prices on the titles continue to drop -- but package media will not sustain the household penetration it enjoys today because of the recent introduction of digital downloads and other VOD options consumers have. This of course is music to our ears as we will sleep better at night knowing that we'll be able to choose to watch movies in the highest quality possible. Of course we can't wait for the day when we can get better, cheaper, easier access to content, but for now Blu-ray is a-ok in our book.

[Via Blu-ray.com]

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Blu-ray outpacing DVD adoption, will never reach its penetration originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayDVDFuturesourceTue, 06 Oct 2009 16:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Wal-Mart cutting back DVD and Blu-ray display area]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/wal-mart-cutting-back-dvd-and-blu-ray-display-area/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/wal-mart-cutting-back-dvd-and-blu-ray-display-area/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/wal-mart-cutting-back-dvd-and-blu-ray-display-area/#commentsWal-mart Blu-ray display
Looks like the nation's biggest retailer is figuring out that DVDs and Blu-ray Discs don't bring in the number of customers that they used to. Honestly this is pretty much what we'd expect as more and more consumers are renting from Netflix and Redbox and when they do decide to buy instead of rent, they know that Amazon is hard to beat. So all of that combined with the streaming competition, it makes sense to reassign the valuable shelf space to something a little more profitable.

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Wal-Mart cutting back DVD and Blu-ray display area originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayDVDWal-martTue, 06 Oct 2009 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray releases on October 6th 2009]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/05/blu-ray-releases-on-october-6th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/05/blu-ray-releases-on-october-6th-2009/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/05/blu-ray-releases-on-october-6th-2009/#commentsThe first week of October is here and along with the first cold fronts of the season come one of the first big titles leading up to the holiday season. As if we actually had to tell you -- Disney is breaking a classic out of its "vault" this week with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We don't know about anyone else, but we love to see classics in HD for the first time and although animated features aren't our first choice, any time there is more HD content for our kids to watch over and over again, we're pleased. Other than that nothing really stands out to us, but the sheer number of titles released this week is impressive. So of course we have little doubt that someone will blast us in the comments for not mentioning their favorite release this week.

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney)
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas (Warner)
  • Contact (Warner)
  • Horton Hears A Who! (1970) (Warner)
  • How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Warner)
  • Ghost Ship (Warner)
  • Trick 'r Treat (Warner)
  • Bones: Season Four (Fox)
  • Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (Fox)
  • Miracle On 34th Street (Fox)
  • Miracle On 34th Street (1994) (Fox)
  • My Life In Ruins (Fox)
  • The Children (Lionsgate)
  • The Thaw (Lionsgate)
  • Seventh Moon (Lionsgate)
  • Frankenstein (Sony)
  • Wolf (Sony)
  • Year One (Sony)
  • Imagine That (Paramount)
  • Dinosaurs Alive! (Image)
  • The National Parks: America's Best Idea (PBS)
  • The New York Ripper (Blue Underground)
  • The Number 23 (New Line)
  • Offspring (Lionsgate Home)
  • Red Dwarf: Back To Earth (BBC)
  • Audition (Shout! Factory)
  • 100 Feet (Asylum)
  • The Absolute Best of Ghost Hunters (Image)

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Blu-ray releases on October 6th 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayhd releasesHdReleasesMon, 05 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK stacks 10 layers on a single 320GB disc]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/#comments Even though we have yet to see the long-hinted 100GB and 200GB prototype Blu-ray discs as real products, TDK is looking beyond that, ready to display 320GB ten-layer platters at CEATEC 2009 that can be read and written with current blue laser technology. Key in stacking so many layers is improving the transmittance of the outermost layer as seen above - that nearly clear one on the right doesn't require a more powerful laser to get through. The only thing we can't see? When or if any of these will actually be released.

[Via Hot Hardware]

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TDK stacks 10 layers on a single 320GB disc originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>320gb32gbblu rayblu-rayblue laserBlueLaserblurayceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009diskother formatsotherformatstdkFri, 02 Oct 2009 16:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey says consumer won't pay that much extra for 3D]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/02/survey-says-consumer-wont-pay-that-much-extra-for-3d/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/02/survey-says-consumer-wont-pay-that-much-extra-for-3d/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/02/survey-says-consumer-wont-pay-that-much-extra-for-3d/#comments3D camera
You know what the least accurate type of survey is? One where you ask someone what they'd pay for something, because we don't know about anyone else, but the answer is almost always, "as little as possible." So it isn't much of a shocker that when asked, only 43 percent of those interested in 3D at home, said they're willing to spend an extra $200 for a 3D capable HDTV. Of that same group who actually wants 3D, only 33 percent would be willing to spend an extra $50 on a 3D capable Blu-ray player -- no clue why these two numbers aren't the same, guess the respondents didn't think about where the 3D content would come from. Although these numbers aren't encouraging, we wonder if a similar survey was ever conducted for 1080p HDTVs. We say that because at this point most consumers wouldn't think about buying a 720p HDTV and 3D is a much bigger upgrade.

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Survey says consumer won't pay that much extra for 3D originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3Dblu rayblu-rayblurayIn-statSurveyFri, 02 Oct 2009 11:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Fox dreaming of a future where Blu-ray movies load faster, are judged by the content of their character(s)]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/01/fox-dreaming-of-a-future-where-blu-ray-movies-load-faster-are-j/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/01/fox-dreaming-of-a-future-where-blu-ray-movies-load-faster-are-j/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/01/fox-dreaming-of-a-future-where-blu-ray-movies-load-faster-are-j/#comments At least someone is (seemingly) listening to our Blu-ray gripes. /Film hit a Fox hosted press summit and heard exactly the things we've been waiting to hear: a future where "advanced" Blu-ray players can do what DVD players have done for years: automatically resume play where we left off on all players, dramatically reduced load times and a live demo of the IMDB Live Lookup feature available on the Wolverine release. The company has nabbed a researcher from Panasonic, Joe McCrossan, who is heading up the efforts to improve viewer's experience and tossing around long promised buzzwords like iPhone connectivity and Digital Copy along with the previously mentioned features under development -- if he succeeds on making them reality we'll rename an Engadget editor Joe in his honor, and it might not even be the one already named Joe.

[Thanks, chevelleman]

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Fox dreaming of a future where Blu-ray movies load faster, are judged by the content of their character(s) originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto resumeAutoResumeblu rayblu-raybluraydigital copyDigitalCopyfoximdbjoe mccrossanJoeMccrossanlive lookupLiveLookupload timesloadingLoadTimesThu, 01 Oct 2009 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[China Blue HD adding supporters and talking trash to Blu-ray]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/01/china-blue-hd-adding-supporters-and-talking-trash-to-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/01/china-blue-hd-adding-supporters-and-talking-trash-to-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/01/china-blue-hd-adding-supporters-and-talking-trash-to-blu-ray/#comments It momentarily slipped under our US-centric noses, but another log was thrown on the Chinese high definition format war recently when Universal Studios and National Geographic joined Warner in supporting China Blue HD. Format War Central also reports 8 new manufacturers have signed up to join the CHDA backing the format. That plus a claimed 3-1 sales advantage have the CHDA calling the format war "a game no one played" thanks to Blu-ray's high prices and licensing fees. It's still unlikely China's son of HD DVD could affect that high definition movie marketplace anywhere else, but it will be interesting to see if the country's manufacturers choose that path and upgrade their existing DVD equipment instead of replacing it to produce the even cheaper Blu-ray players we'd hoped for.

[Via Format War Central]

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China Blue HD adding supporters and talking trash to Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraycbhdchdachinachina blue hdChinaBlueHdchineseformat warFormatWarother formatsotherformatsThu, 01 Oct 2009 03:40:00 EST