Recent Comments:
Redesign giveaway: HTC's new Shift UMPC {Engadget}
Apr 11th 2008 9:59AM I'd use it to enter other Engadget contests
The real reason why the Apple TV is useful {Engadget HD}
Feb 19th 2008 3:42PM From what I've seen, Apple TV (even with Take 2) still can't touch my 360 with the MyMovies plug-in for Windows Media Center. I use DVD Decrypter and VOB2MPG to rip my DVD's to a bit-for-bit copy, and use the MyMovies (www.mymovies.dk) interface to play them. And I've been doing this for two years. Can't wait til I get a Blu-ray drive (and Microsoft enables 5.1-channel audio with H.264).
Win a Philips 42PFL5603D 42-inch 1080p HDTV! {Engadget HD}
Feb 6th 2008 9:57AM Daddy needs a new TV!
Microsoft still working on DirecTV for Media Center {Engadget HD}
Dec 21st 2007 2:22PM Seriously, what's the holdup? It seems like I've been reading about this for years now. I would LOVE to have my desktop with Media Center as a backup for my (beloved) HR-20. Any shows I'd like to archive would be set up on the PC, since I can add hard drives by the dozen, and cheaply to boot. Combine it with the Xbox360 at the TV and BAM! Perfect Media Center/DirecTV goodness.
Also, a (shockingly) knowledgeable D* service tech told me the other night on the phone that there are no longer any plans to have the eSATA expansion function as an addition to the internal HDD...it will remain a full replacement for the internal disk. Bummer!
Logitech needs to fix the Harmony {Engadget HD}
Dec 18th 2007 4:21PM I have to agree with the first and third comments. I LOVE my 880, but that wizard is a royal PITA for power users. A 4th-grader could design a more useable system for tweaking. Initial setup is great, but don't make it a chore to customize my remote.
And that help feature really is a joke. My ideal help screen: give me 8 choices on the first menu, such as "Power Off a Device", "Change a Source on a Device", etc, for those situations where the IR signal didn't reach its target. The next menu would list the device to power off, i.e. TV, Receiver, etc. Two clicks and the problem's solved.
Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending November 4th, 2007 {Engadget HD}
Nov 9th 2007 3:30PM @Ben:
This is the most neutral BD/HD article I've read here in quite a while. Thanks for that. It was a pleasant read, and even the comments seem more friendly as a result. Let's have more like this in the future.
Keep up the good work.
Sony's Stringer: Blu-ray vs. HD DVD battle a "stalemate" {Engadget HD}
Nov 9th 2007 9:50AM @HDTom:
BB Online does carry HD DVDs. They have for a while now, actually. The Blu-ray exclusive is only in-store.
No blue-light special at Kmart for Blu-ray {Engadget HD}
Nov 2nd 2007 12:54PM Thanks for the response, Ben. But according to Home Theater Mag, Hidefdigest, and more than a few others, PQ is pretty much a wash between the two formats. In fact, the early BD releases were considered far inferior to HD DVD releases of the same title, because the BD encodes were done using MPEG-2 on 25GB discs. So let's call PQ even. That leaves studio and manufacturer support. Granted, there are far more manufacturers of BD equipment (+1 BD). But the studio support is roughly even now, with BD retaining a slight lead. Who knows what Warner will do.
But don't you think that the reason for BD's lead from the studios is because it is far more anti-consumer than HD DVD? Region-locking and BD+ being the primary factors here, cost the secondary. I'm not on HD DVD's side because I think it will win - I'm on it because I think it's far superior from a consumer perspective.
No blue-light special at Kmart for Blu-ray {Engadget HD}
Nov 2nd 2007 11:26AM @Ben:
I'm curious as to why someone who informed on both formats would prefer Blu-ray. I honestly don't see a single benefit besides the space advantage, and that's not enough for me. The Blu-ray spec is years behind the HD DVD spec, BDs aren't region-free, interactive content is still a ways off, as is PIP commentary, BD provides for an extra layer of DRM, and HD DVD is cheaper. It doesn't compute for me how anyone other than the Blu-ray consortium could prefer this format.
Could you elaborate on your position Ben? It seems like most in the HT reporting industry support HD DVD for the reasons listed above, but you are a BD supporter. I love the site and I'm certainly not criticizing you for your opinion; I'm just curious as to why you support Blu-ray over HD DVD.
Panasonic showcases in-dash Blu-ray head unit {Engadget HD}
Oct 26th 2007 2:34PM @h4Idol:
You know what, you've officially converted me. I thought you were a pathetic Kool-aid drinking Sony shill, but no. I now know the truth.
Blu-ray MUST be the most advanced video system in the world if it can play the semen-caked discs you apparently own.
Get. A. Life.
