No, your eyes and ears aren't playing tricks on you, we're rolling out this installment early. Summer's here, and some folks (not us) like to spend vacation time outside of their light-controlled, soundproofed media rooms. So rather than make you go a week without a podcast, we're back into the studio early. We talk a bit about Blu-ray releases and Toshiba's continuing HD-DVD support (way to go, Toshiba!). But the highlight of the week was Pioneer's show in NYC -- new Blu-ray decks, receivers, plasmas and even a projector. We're also gearing up for The Cable Show next week, where CableLabs will be giving tru2way top billing. Finally, ATSC has real reason to celebrate its 25th birthday -- the analog shutoff is right around the corner, especially if you're in Wilmington, NC. We'll be back on our regular schedule in a couple of weeks, guys!


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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
03:09 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 084 - 05.07.2008
07:28 - Entire Paramount Blu-ray catalog is back by the end of May
09:45 - Toshiba pushes firmware 3.0 update to first-gen HD DVD players
11:22 - Pioneer introduces Elite BDP-05FD / BDP-51FD Blu-ray players
12:06 - Pioneer gets really official with $9,000 Elite KURO projector
14:56 - Pioneer reveals 2008 Elite AV receiver family
20:37- Pioneer intros 2008 Signature Series Elite KURO monitors
21:28 - Second-generation Pioneer KURO unveiled: 5x deeper black levels
23:24 - Pioneer KURO and friends hands-on
28:16 - CableLabs loosens up tru2way licensing
32:44 - ATSC celebrates 25 years
33:59 - Wilmington, NC to become first test market for 2009 analog shutoff

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Oh, does are favorite topic really get going again this week, as there's enough Blu-ray news to fill up half the show. Seriously, how could we resist talking about all the new Blu-ray players from Pioneer and Panasonic? Then there was the whole Blu-ray sales are bad, news that really wasn't news. And finally, the 8th reincarnation of the Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumor. But that's not all we talked up, as iTunes goes day-and-date with DVD and Sezmi looks for a market, then finally we were impressed at the lengths some local news channels will go, to do its part in spreading awareness about the digital transition.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:57 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 083 - 04.30.2008
12:03 - Panasonic's DMP-BD50 Blu-ray player gets US release
24:59 - Philips Profile 1.1-compliant BDP7200 Blu-ray player reviewed
25:40 - Study finds high prices, hamstrung players limiting Blu-ray's dominance
28:04 - Who in their right mind would buy a Blu-ray player right now?
29:53 - Poll: Have you purchased a Blu-ray player post-fallout?
31:54 - Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping by September?
33:21 - Microsoft denies Xbox 360 Blu-ray reports yet again
34:25 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending April 27th, 2008
39:55 - Paramount officially rejoins the Blu-ray camp on May 20th
42:31 - Paramount payoff confirmed by Viacom earnings report
46:11 - Ask Engadget HD: Is switching from cable to satellite worth it?
48:19 - DirecTV AM21 finally available
49:56 - Apple iTunes to compete "day-and-date" with DVD releases -- Wal-Mart weeps (now official)
53:20 - Apple quietly enables movie purchases from Apple TV
56:25 - Sezmi looks to provide alternative for cable / satellite, confuse everyone
58:38 - Las Vegas station performs analog shutoff drill, sky does not fall


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Lots of lists this week as we run down ten off the wall facts about HD and the ten worst HD scams, lies and ripoffs. The future of the Kuro becomes a little more clear, and Onkyo releases the 2nd generation TrueHD AVR. There's a few HTPC posts again, but more interestingly we're captivated by the possibility that News Corp may've hired a hacker to pirate DISH Network access cards. Last up, we continue to beat the deal LCD vs plasma debate.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
03:42 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 082 - 04.23.2008
17:44 - Ten off-the-wall facts about high-definition
20:14 - 10 of the worst scams, lies, and ripoffs surrounding HDTVs
24:08 - Pioneer, Panasonic reach basic agreement on Kuro production, first new displays due fall '09
27:02 - Onkyo continues its receiver refreshes with TX-SR606
30:20 - Hauppauge not officially supporting dual tuner setups with HD PVR?
31:31 - TotalMedia Theater gets BD Live "Certified"
36:41 - Warner to release a Blu-ray title before it's available on DVD
38:08 - Indies see, seize HD opportunities
40:31 - News Corp hired hacker to pirate DISH Network access cards
43:36 - Samsung LN52A650 review
46:48 - Poll: What will your next display be?

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It's like old times this week with all the HD media news as Managed Copy appears to have been ripped out from under us. The other rant we get on this week is the fact that Universal isn't releasing any Blu-ray titles until July! Ben talks up a little more Vista Media Center and can't stop complaining out his CableCARD troubles. Finally, we discuss FiOS' bandwidth limitations as well as the fate of many well known brands since D&M Holdings is up for sale.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:30 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 081 - 04.17.2008
05:31 - Managed Copy to be sorely absent from finalized AACS specifications?
08:38 - Universal details international, new release Blu-ray plans
11:11 - LG's latest BH200 firmware update expands HD audio support
12:50 - Netflix has "three additional partners" launching hardware this year
16:10 - Netflix to charge "premium" for renting Blu-ray Discs
19:40 - Vista Media Center update for HP's MediaSmart HDTVs now available
30:30 - DISH Network launches SCI FI HD and USA HD!
31:47 - DISH Network says some models of DVR can no longer be sold
33:27 - How to upgrade your TiVo HD with WinMFS
35:31 - Motorola's MTR700 tuning resolver edges closer to release
37:08 - tru2way demonstrations to dominate The Cable Show
38:46 - The real reason why FiOS channels are compressed less
43:52 - Panasonic's 46-inch TH-46PZ85U VIERA plasma gets reviewed
48:06 - D&M Holdings up for sale

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This day late edition of the Engadget HD podcast has some Blu-ray news for a change as we discuss the addition of DTS-HD to the PS3, while at the same time we wonder if it matters that the PS3 still won't bitstream TrueHD and DTS-HD. PS3 fans aren't the only one though, as Blu-ray fans using their PCs for playback don't have access to bitstream either -- or full quality LPCM for that matter. Lastly we cover DISH's nightmare week as it learned AMC-14 was a total loss, the very same week it lost yet another appeal to TiVo.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 080 - 04.09.2008
18:41 - Let Engadget trick out your home theater contest: winner picked!
21:18 - PS3 firmware v2.30 is out: new PS Store and DTS-HD MA now yours for the taking
23:02 - Poll: Which is better LPCM or Bitstream?
32:18 - DRM strikes again, PC users still wait for next-gen audio
35:02 - BD Touch Blu-ray disc-to-iPhone app officially unveiled
36:18 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending April 6th, 2008
40:11 - Moto shows off new MPEG encoders featuring AFD
44:26 - DISH Network's AMC-14 satellite "a total loss"
46:01 - DISH Network launching HD locals in four more markets
46:55 - TiVo's win over DISH Network upheld by court of appeals: It's over
50:26 - DISH Network can't stop, won't stop fighting TiVo, heads to Supreme Court; your DVR is safe

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Some things in the world of HD stay the same, and some just keep getting better and better and on this week's show we cover a little of both. We continue to see new channels launched, but the new ones coming online now are MPEG4 at the source, but unfortunately it'll be some time till all of the channels are, so many will be forced to endure excessive amounts of compression in the name of more channels -- and other services like Internet access via DOCSIS 3.0. For the first time that we can remember, there isn't even one format war story, but there are a few Media Center posts as well as some talk of the latest HDTVs and whether they're any better than last year's.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:00 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 079 - 04.02.2008
14:00 - U-verse ups the HD ante, helps launch HBO2 HD
18:40 - And we're off: Twin Cities get first DOCSIS 3.0 deployment
22:00 - Poll: Have you been affected by over-compressed HD feeds?
28:01 - CEA rolls out "Convert Your Mom" DTV campaign
30:02 - PPV movies get 24-hour clock on DirecTV
35:22 - HDPC-20 to be used in DirecTV Media Center beta test
37:57 - Hauppauge HD-PVR shows itself, pre-order said to be coming soon
43:57 - Niveus Movie Library (Beta) now available for download
49:30 - Pioneer European Kuro lineup sign of things to come?
53:16 - Buying an HDTV: Get the latest or Save on 2007?

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Things are back to normal this week sans guest, but there's plenty to talk about. We get a little discouraged by this week's news -- between the apparent demise of Plasmas, the number of HDTV owners that actually have HD, and the poor customer service that plagues our industry; there isn't much to be excited about. But alas, we still love us some HD, as we discuss the IRL's new HD goodness and our lack of love for ESPNews HD. As for the format war, there hasn't been much to talk about, but we discuss Home Media Magazine's new Blu-ray vs DVD pie chart as well as the end of HD DVD at Best Buy.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:23 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 078 - 03.26.2008
14:43 - Verizon whines to FCC: make it easier for us to gain market share
17:57 - FiOS TV service is great, Verizon customer service -- not so much
23:48 - Did you get invited to beta test DirecTV's Media Center tuner?
28:48 - The Hauppauge HD PVR with component inputs gets delayed
31:16 - DISH Network's small spectrum buy leaves analysts perplexed
34:43 - Only half of US HDTV owners subscribe to HD programming
37:41 - HD DVDs vanishing from Best Buy stores
38:50 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending March 23rd, 2008
40:59 - Forthcoming BD-Live rollout gets inspected
42:11 - Indy Racing League to stuff HD cameras inside select cars
48:16 - Poll: ESPNews HD is on the air, do you have it yet?
50:16 - 2008 a make or break year for plasma manufacturers?

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Because we covered more than a week's worth during the last podcast, this one is shorter. But to make it up to you guys, we've brought in a special guest -- Jason Unger from CE Pro -- to lend his expertise to the conversation, especially regarding digital downloads versus physical media. We kick off with news from DirecTV -- the new bird is flying, but won't be speaking for a while. Meanwhile, non-"big four" networks are starting to show up in the DirecTV lineup (at least in Ben's neck of the woods). We got our hands on PS3's new BD-Live functionality, and it was a total "meh," but we can all hope for more interesting functionality from the technology in the future. At long last, Joe Kane's Digital Video Essentials has shown up, and it gives the HD DVD fans one last stick in the Blu-ray's eye. We wrap up with a long discussion on the aforementioned topic of download versus physical media, sparked by remarks from THX's Chief Scientist. A special thanks to Jason for coming on the show -- we couldn't have done it without you, Jason!

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:17 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 077 - 03.21.2008
09:02 - Hands-on with the PS3 2.20 update -- and now, we wait
18:09 - DirecTV 11 expected to begin serving up HD in September
21:13 - South Florida's CW affiliate (WSFL-TV) shows up on DirecTV
24:06 - Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics gets reviewed
29:13 - THX Chief Scientist: "It's too late for Blu-ray"
32:42 - 10 reasons why HD DVD or Blu-ray is here to stay

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We hope you like long Podcasts, because this one is out of control at over an hour. Normally we long to keep it short -- ok shorter -- but between the podcast delay this week, the PS3 update news, all the HD DVD fall out this week, the new HTPC improvements like WinDVD and AnyDVD updates, and finally all the satellite launches; we just couldn't figure out what we could skip. And like always, to help you weed through it all, you can use the time marks to skip ahead in the mp3, or download the AAC file and take advantage of the chapters.

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[RSS] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:35 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 076 - 03.12.2008
08:38 - PS3 firmware 2.20 bringing BD-Live interactive Blu-ray this month
08:54 - Sony Pictures schedules two BD-Live releases for April
12:37 - Scene selection on Blu-ray
15:56 - Blu-ray players from Panasonic, Philips, and Denon get DivX Certified
16:32 - Toshiba swallows a billion dollars on HD DVD
17:30 - Best Buy offers HD DVD owners $10 million in gift cards, trade in, shoulder to cry on
19:06 - Blu-ray on Xbox 360? Microsoft hasn't heard about it
21:44 - WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray finally supports TrueHD and DTS-HD
23:29 - SlySoft's latest AnyDVD HD release strips BD+ from Blu-ray Discs
23:45 - An up-close look at Niveus' new Movie Gallery
30:44 - VUDU teams up with home automotion / control partners
34:27 - Studio execs believe downloads are a "long way off" from replacing DVD
38:59 - Apple patent looks towards DVRs with portability
44:54 - TiVo users getting YouTubed
47:53 - TiVo gets official with Desktop Plus 2.6, enables web video viewing
50:52 - Where Is HD? lays out your options when selecting a provider
52:53 - 20% of US households will spend stimulus funds on consumer electronics
54:33 - Hulu.com out of beta, open for one and all - in the U.S.
58:43 - DISH Network's AMC-14 satellite fails to reach orbit
1:01:46 - DISH Network's spring HD rollout still on track
1:02:40 - DirecTV 11 satellite launch deemed a success


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Due to a scheduling conflict, the Engadget HD Podcast will be released on Friday this week. Sorry about the delay, but we will be back on time next week.

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.

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[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
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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With the format war winding down, we talk up Blu-ray and the challenges it faces from all fronts. But before we get to that, we talk about Paramount & Dreamworks' last HD DVD releases, as well as what's left from the big studios. Every once in a while there are topics that we get very passionate about, and the thought of Pioneer killing the best looking HDTVs sold today, gets us rilled up. Of course we won't know what Pioneer's plan our 'til Friday, in the meantime we'll keep our fingers crossed.

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[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:37 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 074 - 02.27.2008
09:32 - Paramount & Dreamworks HD DVD support ends March 4
10:24 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending February 24th, 2008
14:40 - Ask Engadget HD: Does Blu-ray show enough love to 720p HDTV owners?
19:11 - How big is the streaming pie?
24:01 - Why Blu-ray will be the next DVD
39:17 - TiVo officially shutting down TiVo Rewards referral program
42:37 - Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD tops Home Theater Mag's HDTV shoot-out
43:15 - Pioneer says goodbye to plasma manufacturing
43:57 - Pioneer "reviewing" plasma business, probably on the way out


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So Toshiba called it quits, and the format war will end, but it as long as there are movies being released and everyone isn't behind Blu-ray, there will be plenty left to talk about. So this week we get started with the aftermath, and we start up by talking up the new Sony Blu-ray players and why we can't wait to try 'em out. Next up, we talk about the after affects of Toshiba's announcement and what questions are left unanswered. Finally we morn over the 42-inch Kuro, but understand that many CE companies are merging products, which doesn't mean the products will be identical. Finally, we once again discuss the DTV transition and wonder how many people know what's going on.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:08 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 073 - 02.20.2008
11:00 - Sony announces BDP-S350, BDP-S550: first new Blu-ray players since the fall of HD DVD
16:37 - HD DVD players become DVD upscalers in format war fallout
18:31 - Analyst says consumers didn't end format war
21:39 - Two years of battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray: a retrospective
27:02 - Paramount officially Blu-ray (again)
27:11 - Nearly half of Paramount's Blu-ray titles are in stock at Amazon again
28:40 - Universal's HD DVD release slate "currently in flux"
30:31 - Warner still releasing HD DVDs until May 31st
34:39 - Warner's $400 mil payoff rumor rides again
39:18 - Pioneer to stop making 42-inch plasmas
43:35 - Yamaha beefs up AV receiver line with five newcomers
46:56 - Sharp and Sony tie the knot on LCD HDTV production
50:53 - Poll: Have you seen a DTV transition commercial?

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If you've had enough talk about HD DVD's decision to discontinue HD DVD, then you need to just move along, because this week we spend almost the entire show replaying the events from the past week that led up to yesterday's official announcement. Looking back it seems so obvious now how everything fell together, but that's why they say hindsight is 20/20. Looking forward we ponder all the new questions we have moving forward to, so if you thought we'd run out of things to talk about now that HD DVD is out, think again.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:33 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 072 - 02.14.2008
06:10 - Amazon takes 50% off 150 HD DVDs
06:58 - Warner's stance on restocking HD DVDs: only if demand necessitates
08:24 - Toshiba gearing up to drop HD DVD?
09:05 - HD DVD deathwatch: we're making it official
10:00 - Poll: Is your Wal-Mart scaling back its HD DVD player lineup?
10:36 - Wal-Mart to officially discontinue HD DVD sales by June
11:45 - HD DVD movies get sold cheap at DeepDiscount
13:09 - Toshiba pulling the plug on HD DVD already? - Yup it's over.
15:55 - Paramount's Transformers showing up in Blu-ray attire?
18:05 - Blu-ray discs reach 1.5 million sold, HDM still trails DVD's first two years
20:57 - J.D. Power finds Blu bandwagon already full of salespeople
22:28 - Toshiba shares surge ahead of HD DVD abandonment
23:05 - Toshiba claims "no decision" on HD DVD strategy as desertions continue
24:38 - Samsung expected to focus efforts on Blu-ray
25:32 - BDA sez Toshiba and Microsoft are "more than welcome" to go Blu
26:10 - Does everyone know the war is officially over but us?
27:28 - Official: HD DVD dead and buried, format war is over
30:01 - Toshiba: "no plans" to adopt Blu-ray
42:00 - T-minus one year till the US analog shutoff: are you ready?
47:05 - DVRs increase TV consumption, and Nielsen ought to know

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Ben's back from death's door, so we propped him up in front of the mic and recorded a podcast. In case you hadn't heard, a couple of big format war shots were fired right into the already-wounded HD DVD format; this time courtesy Netflix and Blockbuster. We'll see soon enough if this has an immediate effect in the VideoScan numbers, but HD DVD had a respectable showing last week. We suspect overall volume of HDM sales is down right now, and with non-announcements like we're seeing from both sides, it's understandable. If Samsung Blu-ray players have you mad enough to sue, then take a look at Apple TV -- the HD's not as good as HDM, but it's not bad, either. Just don't get your hopes up for the photo browsing. We rouse the audiophile rabbles by saying images trump audio, but let's face it -- people are more willing to spend money on eye-candy than ear-candy. Finally, the WGA strike is finally over, so use the "Ask Engadget" feature comparing DirecTV, DISH, U-verse, FiOS and cable to help you decide where you're going to get your HD programming from.

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:07 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 071 - 02.8.2008
02:03 - Netflix picks Blu-ray, good luck renting an HD DVD soon
05:33 - Best Buy's pushing Blu-ray to the front
06:58 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending February 3rd, 2008
10:32 - Warner's 2008 Blu-ray release plan
14:22 - Universal nixes plans for non-combo Land of the Dead / Dazed & Confused HD DVDs
16:28 - Samsung sued for defective Blu-ray players
19:58 - Sizing up Apple TV's HD
28:15 - VUDU review: the HD perspective
30:18 - Video is more important than audio
35:13 - Ask Engadget HD: Does cable, satellite, or fiber provide more HD?

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