Engadget HD Podcast 076 - 03.12.2008
We kick this week's show off a little differently -- by lamenting about Pioneer's plans for its plasma production. Next we talk up upcoming TiVo devices and DirecTV HD channels, and then move on to the format war -- which was really light. This seems to be a weird time for Blu-ray, as the real end of HD DVD draws near, there doesn't seem to be as many Blu-ray announcements as we'd expect. Who knows how long we'll have to wait for the remaining to studios to release Blu titles.Get the podcast
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim
Producer: Trent Wolbe
00:25 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 075 - 03.05.2008
08:48 - Pioneer officially ends in-house plasma production, Kuro LCDs coming soon
12:40 - TiVo still working on a DVR with two-way features like VOD
17:26 - DirecTV 11 gears up for March 17th launch
18:50 - DirecTV's HR21 Pro gets inspected, now available
22:11 - Fox goes all-HD for 2008 MLB season
23:28 - The first ESPNews HD screenshots
24:50 - Circuit City quietly accepting HD DVD player trade-ins
27:17 - BDA not licensing Blu-ray technology to Chinese manufacturers
31:19 - Samsung kills BD-UP5500 combo player before it ever truly lived
33:48 - Joe Kane offers upgrade pricing for forthcoming DVE: HD Basics
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zoran @ Mar 12th 2008 11:44AM
Hi Guys. Great show and yes, I listen to it at work. I was wanting to know what is the difference bewteeen 2x, 4x, 8x, and 12x blu-ray read speed. I mean, if the movie is not skipping or jiddering, what's the point. Is it for picture in picture, additional soundtrack, or pop up menus? Please explain. My PS3 seems to be doing great. What else could one ask for.
locke6854 @ Mar 12th 2008 1:32PM
I usually listen to the podcast while driving to/from work, and as for the volume, I notice the opposite. The volume matches the setting that i listen to mp3s at, and OTHER podcasts, like Penny Arcade, need to up their volume to YOUR level.
A non-issue for computer listening, IMO.
John B @ Mar 12th 2008 1:48PM
When talking about the "level" problem of the podcasts, what are people talking about? Are they talking about the volume? Are they talking about the frequency response? I'm a bit confused because your show is just the two of you talking. What are people expecting? Booming bass and high treble?
If the complaint is about overall volume, then run your show through a "Normalize" function before you transcode it to it final formats. Normalizing from what I've seen is a pretty standard function of most audio editors.
If the complaint is that we can't hear all of the frequencies in your melodious voices (*cough*), what's the big deal? You're not playing music, so complaining about a narrow frequency response for a voice-only podcast is kind of like complaining that a soda that you just pulled from the cooler is at 40 degrees instead of 34 degrees. :) Better yet, it's more like bitching about high-def DVDs offering a Dolby Digital, 7.1, super-high-bitrate track, but -- OH MY GOD!!!! IT'S NOT LOSSLESS!!!! { insert evil grin here }
I would agree about the volume level, in which case a basic Normalize should handle that problem easily. If the complaint is about the response frequency of the podcast -- pfft. Whatever. :)
locke6854 @ Mar 12th 2008 2:05PM
PRETTY sure people don't care about the crisp highs, warm mids, and deep bass extension of ben and steve's voices, man.
John B @ Mar 12th 2008 2:09PM
Jeez, you mean it wasn't obvious *enough* that it was sarcasm? :P
locke6854 @ Mar 12th 2008 2:28PM
ah man, and on top of that i missed my joke opportunity--
"the crisp highs of ben's voice, and the deep bass extension of steve's"
RockinOscar @ Mar 12th 2008 2:16PM
i listened to the podcast on my computer, on my way to work, while jogging, AT work and made some of my customers listen to it, and one time i listened to it with a friend in his car and we were listening and that was the only podcast where i was mentioned.
Julio @ Mar 12th 2008 2:19PM
Ben, American Psycho is the 2000 movie with Christian Bale. It sounded like you were thinking of the old hitchcock movie.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ivGINcEOVyw
And yes there are major spoilers at the end of No Country for Old Men, which would be funny to hear what you thought of. I thought it was a great movie but was partial to There Will Be Blood for best picture.
Big Sam @ Mar 13th 2008 10:58AM
The basic HR21 has a digital coaxial output too.
Leif @ Mar 13th 2008 12:25PM
I usually listen to the podcast while I'm in the office doing paperwork, when I'm dropping the kids off at the pool, or while I'm taking the Browns to the SuperBowl. In any right, I may someday invest in one of these docks to enhance the entire EngadgetHD experience.
http://www.atechflash.com/images/PIC-iCarta-Large.gif
Big Sam @ Mar 13th 2008 9:34PM
I mostly listen to this podcast (and others) in the car or just around the house.
Mark @ Mar 13th 2008 10:10PM
I listen at work of course. I need something to get me through the day!
Julio @ Mar 13th 2008 11:16PM
I usually listen on my iPod WHEREVER I am and get the chance.
And BTW if you guys keep it up you could even give someone water poisoning.
:)
Adam Jones @ Mar 14th 2008 8:51PM
Great show guys. I listen in my home and look forward to each one!
jpschneid @ Mar 17th 2008 8:35AM
I bought a 360 Elite specifically as a media hub (gaming was icing on the cake). It was the least expensive HD-DVD player at the time and the HD downloads are a plus. I still think Xbox Live content is too expensive. If they offered a reasonable monthly unlimited subscription service (ala Vongo, but HD) I would sign up in a heartbeat. I have the 360 connected via Ethernet to my XP media center PC and it streams HD content to a 50" Panasonic DLP very well. Biggest problem is lack of WMV-HD content on the net. Still waiting for someone to offer a Tru2way HD tuner to replace the dual SD tuner in my existing desktop.
Listen at work
I receive new releases (including HD-DVD in the past) from Blockbuster the day of release all the time. I was a Netflix subscriber for 3 years, and a Blockbuster subscriber now for almost as long. The in-store exchanges makes it a much better deal. I have never regretted the switch. I typically put my returns in the drop box on Monday morning and have my next movies shipped Monday afternoon (even new releases to available in stores).
Great podcast guys ... I look forward to the new one every Wednesday
Julio @ Mar 17th 2008 7:59PM
And I realize that you guys have talked about quality of pixels and stuff. But it's just nice to see it for yourself.
cckrobinson @ Mar 17th 2008 9:37PM
I listen on my bluetooth headphones while doing the dishes. It's easier than listening at work where there are too many distractions :)
cckrobinson @ Mar 17th 2008 10:26PM
I disagree about optical not having a place in the home. Have you ever tried running HDMI over 35ft? It's painful, and it usually results in annoying sparklies. My Optoma HD7300 is extremely picky when it comes to HDMI. The highest quality monoprice HDMI cable didn't cut it, and neither did the 2nd best cable from Bluejeans cable. I ended up spending $100 on a bonded pair series-1 cable from bluejeans. It was the only cable that worked reliably between my video processor and projector. Search AVS and you'll find similar stories. 25ft or less is easy for HDMI, go any longer and you have to buy high quality cables.