Home Theater News

Latest Home Theater System News From Around The Internet

1. Wii Gets Netflix Streaming This Spring, iPhone on the Horizon -

   Seeing as there is a dry, sunny day unfurling right outside my window, Spring can't be far away, and with it the long rumored Netflix Instant Streaming functionality creeps ever closer to Wii owners, and yes, by owners I mean me.

   Truth be told, this functionality is far more than a rumor. It was in fact confirmed on the Netflix Blog back in January. Also, of course Netflix streaming is nothing new, having been available for a good long while via computer and a pretty wide array of devices, including Wii competitors Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The question has got to be though, why did this take so long? After all, with literally millions of Wiis having been sold across a very mainstream demographic in less than four years, Nintendo's device would seem the perfect hardware target. It might be that Netflix was bound by exclusivity agreements in these earlier deals, or perhaps it is that Nintendo didn't see video functionality as worth its time, considering the Wii's modest processing power, the overall limited number of titles available via the service and/or that they would not have total control. Along with possibly a little arrogance on Nintendo's part, all of these are fairly valid possibilities. What is certain though is that a large number of Netflix subscribers use the streaming service, not to replace the mail-based primary Netflix service, but as a supplement to it. Myself, I have an Xbox 360 in one room and a PS3 in another, both set up for streaming. Like the PS3, Wii owners will need a free Netflix-supplied disc that must be inserted into the drive in order to stream content. (A Netflix unlimited account of any level and a broadband connection are also required) The disc-in method is much more clumsy than those utilized by the other devices, which either were manufactured with Netflix streaming in mind or were patched with a software updates. Using the PS3 as an example, it is doubtless true that the disc method both adds a little noise to the viewing experience and uses more energy. The Wii is very energy efficient and pretty quiet though, so there should be few issues. In addition, perhaps Nintendo will get a clue and add a Netflix channel to its Wii functionality, which could eliminate the need for a disc down the road. Until then a disc will do fine.

   On a side note, and perhaps something of an indicator as to why Nintendo adopted a "better late than never" attitude towards Netflix functionality, Netflix continues to forge ahead in the realm of streaming content. They recently further consolidated their relationship with Internet video content delivery specialist Akamai. Reportedly Netflix will receive a substantial per/gigabyte streamed discount in the deal, which underlines the assumption that Netflix will continue to extend its reach in the realm of content streaming. This is further seen in rumors that a deal with Apple for content deliver via the iPhone (Wi-Fi) may be in the making. If Netflix is not already at the top of the streaming heap, this would certainly get them there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few episodes of Spartacus: Blood and Sand to catch up on via my Instant queue.

   --Tom Milnes 

2. Amazon.com's High-Def Heaven Sweepstakes: Win a 55" LG HDTV, Blu-ray Movies, and More -

   Amazon is celebrating it’s tenth anniversary of Wish Lists with ten amazing sweepstakes.  

   This week (from November 23-29, 2009) is the High-Def Heaven Wish List Sweepstakes with a chance to win an LG 55-inch LCD HDTV and an LG 1000-Watt Blu-ray Disc Home Theater in a Box, plus tons of great Blu-ray DVDs from Warner Brothers. 

   Customers can enter weekly at www.amazon.com/wishlist10th by creating, adding an item to, or sharing an Amazon.com Wish List. As the holidays get closer, Amazon Wish Lists are a great way for customers to let friends and family know what they are wishing for this season.   See official rules.

   --Aric A.

3. When You Wish Upon a List: Epson Ultimate Backyard Theater Sweepstakes -
   In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Amazon Wish Lists (frankly, I can't remember a world without my wish lists), the Wish Lists team is in the midst of running 10 weeks of sweepstakes with this week's prize the ultimate backyard home theater supplied by Epson. In addition to the high-definition Epson MovieMate projector (seen at right) and 80-inch projection screen, the package also includes a professional popcorn maker, books on entertaining outdoors and the 1001 movies you need to see before expiring, and a set of candle-like LED lights. Epson also includes its Artisan 810 all-in-one printer and Perfection V500 scanner for creating invitations to send around the neighborhood, because the kicker of this sweepstakes package is the $15,000 portion of the prize--which you can spend on refinishing/refurbishing your backyard patio or using it to host one heckuva blowout movie night.

   Entering the sweepstakes is easy peasy: just create a new Wish List or add something to an existing Wish List. After adding an item, be sure to click the Enter Sweepstakes button that appears, looking a bit like this:

   
   

   To be entered into the drawing for the Epson Ultimate Backyard Theater sweepstakes, you need to do your Wish Listing by 11:59:59 pm Pacific Time on November 8 (you can read up on all the rules here). And if you miss out on this week's sweepstakes, there are still five more weeks of prizes coming up, including a Yellow Stone photo trip with Canon (complete with Canon EOS 7D) and a heavenly high-def package that includes a 55-inch LG HDTV.

   --Agen G.N. Schmitz

4. Wireless USB Solution of Atlona's AT-HDAIR Misses the Mark -

   Although HDMI is more common than ever on laptops, if you are working on a base model more than a year or so old you may very likely be SOL when it comes to options for exporting video content to your HDTV (DVI excluded). Sure, there is almost always the VGA port option, if you can rig an audio workaround, but as anyone who has tried to stream video to their TV in this way, say through Hulu or Netflix knows, VGA cables also have resolution limitations that will keep you from getting wide-screen image quality. With this in mind things seemed to be looking up with the announcement a while a go of Atlona's AT-ADAIR.

   A wireless USB device that hooks into your laptop via USB and transmits a signal to a base that then can input into your TV via HDMI (or VGA), for $200 it sounds like a fair solution, but then came the Engadget hands-on review. Sad to say, it looks like there are some deal-breaking flaws here. According to the review, which is borne out in the video below, the wireless video transmitted is pretty choppy and much more importantly, the connection does NOT support audio. (this last point is called out of the Atlona site) That's right, no audio. Apparently Atlona is working on a solution to this, but you would think with the world crazy for streaming video that they would have made this a priority in this product. Unfortunately that was not the case, and so unless you were looking to use the AT-HDAIR for something like PowerPoint displaying or silent movies, you might want to hold off on laying down any cash.

   For more details, click on the image below and scroll to the bottom of the page. There you can see the Engadget video review.

   
   

   --Tom Milnes

5. Mitsubishi HDTVs to Come With Free Vudu Boxes This Summer -

   Not that too many of us necessarily need another pay-per-view movie option, but if you are in the market, especially for Hi-Def content, and you happen to also need a new HDTV, you might want to take a look at what Mitsubishi has on offer since you could end up getting a free Vudu box and a bunch of free movies bundled with it.

   The promotion has yet to be noted on either the Mitsubishi, or Vudu sites, but according to Twice.com, and picked up by Engadget and Gizmodo, the promo is available beginning today, July 16 through August 10th, on any Mitsubishi HDTV sold through an authorized retailer. Let the buyer beware on this last point. As for the details of the offer though, it is pretty straight forward. It looks to include a standard Vudu box and a $50 service credit good for content on the system. More or less $200 worth of free stuff. Again, if you are in the market for a HDTV and are happy with what you see in the Mitsubishi line, you had best check out an authorized dealer on this.

   --Tom Milnes

6. Hulu Desktop Makes a Play for Your Home Theater PC -

   If you have a home theater PC, you've probably been wondering what it would take to get and use Hulu.com content on it easily.  Media Centers like Boxee and Plex offer a hacky kind of integration with Hulu through plugins, and some work better than others, but up to now it always seemed like you could either get the full Hulu experience with guides and playlists, or you could use your remote control with it, but not both.

   It's worth noting that one of the problems has been with the content providers, who don't want their content served through other applications, and have blocked access by media center applications more than once.  But now there's a solution that might make everyone happy.

   Hulu Labs' Hulu Desktop application is a sort of hybrid between a media center app and a website.  It's functionally the same as Hulu.com, but since it's a resident app on your hard drive, you can use your Apple or Windows Media Center remote to control it.  Like the website, you can't download videos and you still have to watch commercials, and unlike a traditional media center app, only Hulu content is served--you'll still need a separate program to watch videos on your hard drive.  But still, you just found one more potential reason to chuck your cable bill.

   Hulu Desktop is available for Windows and Mac (no Linux support for now).  Learn more and download here.

   --Aric A.

7. Amazon Video on Demand Now Streaming Movies and TV in HD -

   The Amazon Video on Demand team announced today that the service will offer movies and episodes of TV shows in high definition for compatible devices.  From the press release sent out about an hour ago:

   "Customers can select from more than 500 HD TV shows and movies from major studios and networks including Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Showtime Networks. Top titles available now in HD on Amazon Video On Demand include new-release movies such as “Frost/Nixon,” “Twilight” and “Yes Man” and hit TV series including “Californication,” “The Tudors,” “Smallville,” and “Gossip Girl.”
   
   

   HD movies will run $3.99-4.99 for rental, and HD TV episodes will run $2.99.  You can watch them online, or download them locally to your computer to watch (the videos will expire after the rental period ends).  The high-definition video service currently works with PC and Mac, as well as on the following devices:

   • Roku digital video player
   • TiVo Series3, HD, and HD XL DVRs
   • Sony Bravia Internet Video Link
   • Panasonic VIERA CAST®-enabled HDTVs

   Read the full press release here, or check out some of the 500 HD movies and TV shows currently available, or shop for compatible hardware.

   --Aric A.
   
   

8. New 240Hz Toshiba REGZA HDTVs Aim to Knock the Blur Out -
   Toshiba's new REGZA HDTVs--announced in early January at CES--are starting to hit the shelves, with the 42-, 47- and 55-inch ZV650U series now available at Amazon. They boast a full 1080p resolution as well as Toshiba's new fifth-generation PixelPure video engine with a 14-bit processor, a gaming mode that promises faster game controller response and Dolby Volume acoustic technology to even out the volume between TV shows and commercials as well as when switching from station to station.

   But the feature that Toshiba is touting highly is this year's HDTV buzzword (or, really, buzznumber): 240Hz. You've probably seen 120Hz associated with HDTVs for the last year or two, but you still might not know how to translate that arcane reference into something meaningful. So here's the basic gist:

   Standard LCD HDTV screens have a 60Hz signal, meaning that they are able to display 60 video frames per second. HDTVs were able to utilize various technologies such as interpolation (where the video processor compares two frames and then guesses what a frame that sandwiched between them would look like) to bump things up to 120Hz. This improved motion detail greatly diminishes blurriness for sports and action movies as well as for standard DVD playback as well (as the 24-frame ratio of film fits more nicely as a multiplier in 120Hz than in 60Hz, the latter of which required workarounds like the 3:2 Pulldown feature you may have seen listed with HDTVs).

   Now, the numbers are doubling with all the majors offering their take on 240Hz. Toshiba's branded version of this spec--referred to as ClearScan 240--combines a 120Hz scan rate with a new backlight scanning technology to create a 240Hz effect. CNet has a bit more explanation from its CES coverage of the ZV650U series launch:

   Like LG and Vizio, Toshiba uses the scanning backlight version of 240Hz, which turns the backlight on and off very rapidly. Sony and Samsung use a different version, which interpolates three extra frames for every true frame.

   For more on 240Hz HDTVs, check out the segment with Scott Wilkinson of Ultimate AV Magazine from this episode of Leo Laporte's Tech Guy podcast.

   --Agen G.N. Schmitz

9. Affordable Acer Hornet PC Could be the Nettop for the Masses -

   Although I have read a negative comment or two on the blogs by folks who are convinced that bigger is always better and that a PC should be as powerful as possible in every occasion, the majority opinion regarding Acer's upcoming Ion-based Nettop PC, the Hornet is generally pretty good.

   Planned in four separate varieties, estimated to possibly range from $150-300+, the Hornet will support 1080p video playback over HDMI and its 'Media Center' version will reportedly come with a Wii-like remote that can be used for gaming, or as pointing device supplementing a wireless keyboard and mouse. The low end model will feature an Atom N230 processor with 1GB of RAM and an 80GB drive preloaded with Vista Home Basic, while higher end models come with 2GB of RAM, a 160GB drive, and a 'Boxshell' quickboot OS in addition to Vista Home Premium. The unit is said to be ultra quiet at under 26dB and is designed to attach to the back of your flatscreen TV and connect to your network via WiFi.

   So, sure, the Hornet isn't the most powerful box in the world, but its specs are better than decent, it is designed to be mounted out of the way, it has HDMI connectivity and could very well come at a nice price. None of these are the case with my laptop which I am currently using to stream content to my HDTV, so it's definitely on my radar. The Hornet, due out in early April, is the first of what may be many NVIDIA powered inexpensive PCs, so this may just be the first of many mighty mights that introduce the masses to Nettops.

   --Tom Milnes

10. How Green Are Your Favorite Electronics Manufacturers? -

    As 'gadget heads' it's a given that specs are going to be first and foremost in our minds when it comes to making a buying decision on our toys, but there are certainly other considerations beyond price, speed, processing power, OS and the like to take a look at. For one, how green are the manufacturing processes we are encouraging when we lay down cash for the latest must-have gizmos?

    Granted, for the majority of us this line of questioning might never pop into our heads, but in a world where products are less expensive than ever, resulting in a flood of discarded electronics hitting the landfills, dumps, and hopefully recycling centers every year, it should be something that we give at least a little consideration to. Thankfully Greenpeace continues to take the lead on this, publishing the eleventh edition of its quarterly 'Guide to Greener Electonics' report last month. In it the top 17 manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TV's and games consoles are ranked according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. Leading the way as it did in the last report is Nokia, with its comprehensive voluntary take-back program and reduced levels of manufacturing based toxic pollutants. Similarly, continuing to bring up the rear is Nintendo, with a "pitiful" showing regarding e-waste, among other criteria. All the other big names are there too, mixed up in the middle. Regardless of their standing all could stand to improve their processes and we to be aware of that. It just takes a second to check out the findings of the guide, either through synopsis or a downloaded report featuring promises made, kept and broken, etc. Obviously we will never base our buying decisions strictly on a rating system such as this, but it is another piece of information that deserves consideration before making a buying decision, so take a look.

    --Tom Milnes