Recent Comments:
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best universal remote out there? {Engadget HD}
Jan 23rd 2008 3:31PM I recently picked up a Harmony remote, a 670 I think. Overall I am very happy with the unit, but being a perfectionist, and trying to make it easy for my family, I have spent much more time programming it than expected. This was sort of double work because you need to program both the individual device controls and "activity" controls. The activities like "Watch TV" are a cross-use mode where you want the volume to control one device and the channel change to affect a different device, ie TV and cable box. It's a little hard to read the buttons, but you learn them quickly. I had a little problem trying to get two buttons to do the same thing instead of leaving a button unused. When I programmed the devices I made sure I put a power toggle in the same location (bottom right of the custom screen) just incase a user couldn't figure out how to turn something on or off.
Michael Bay's format war conspiracy theory: it's a Microsoft fix {Engadget HD}
Dec 5th 2007 1:55PM The "war" is really over the living room computing experience, not a piece of plastic. To a point, I agree with Mr. Bay. Microsoft is probably taking a long range view which focuses on a high-speed, always-connected, on-demand, computing environment. Disrupting the Sony driven PlayStation and Blu-Ray are natural competitive moves. Selling, and profiting on, HDi and XBox are just side benefits. If Blu-Ray ever really won, though I expect a stalemate, Microsoft would probably produce an external Blu-Ray drive for the 360. MS can't let Sony dominate because they fear loosing their foothold in the living room. At this point TiVo is a more user friendly device than media center PCs.
Consider TiVo's recent announcements, Rhapsody, PhotoBucket, , Googles Picasa, Music Choice Video downloads, plus the older TiVo-to-Go, Amazon Unbox, TivoCasts, Live365, Yahoo Traffic, etc. They, like everyone else, are fighting for the living room computer. Of course TiVo has barely stayed alive, but dont think MS & Sony havent tried that niche too. Mr. Bay may have been overly blunt in his comments, but I appreciate his concern for serving his customers on what he sees as preferred media. Until we all have some unlimited super Wi-Max where everything can be stored centrally and accessed quickly and easily from anywhere, we are going to have to deal with local storage, and Blu-Ray looks like a pretty good solution for a number of applications. Never compromise on bandwidth.
Things you should not do to your Pleo {Engadget}
Dec 4th 2007 4:23PM Do not put Pleo on a stick.
You know, all this started because:
Some nut, said to his wife, "Honey, I think I'll take Pleo and (blank)"
The BDA trumpets 2.7 million Blu-ray "players" sold {Engadget HD}
Dec 4th 2007 3:29PM "assuming it doesn't go on forever." That's it! If 3 game consoles can survive, why not 2 movie players? Nobody wins, but that's life. By the way, I'm getting a PS3 primarily for movies because I think it will have longer term support than all other available BluRay players. Bottom line, count the disk sales, that's what it's all about anyway.
Sony's PS3 sales in US more than double since price cut {Engadget}
Nov 15th 2007 10:47AM Some of you may want to rethink your comments about people buying up the 60g units because I think the reference is that the 40s are what is selling. Personally I'm upgrading from the original X-Box to the PS3 40g. I bought the X-box as a DVD player that would play games and now I'm buying the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player that plays games. I support Blu-Ray because of the greater bandwidth, which should better support lossless audio with good video. I don't care about PS2 compatability since I have none of those games. I like the lower power & heat of the 40g so I can run folding@home. At this point I think the PS3 is the most future proof Blu-Ray player, except of course the expensive dual format players. Sony will keep pushing updates to this platform long after any stand-alone player released this season. By the way, forget about a winner in the "format war". If multiple game platforms can survive, so can multiple movie formats, however unfortunate that is. I expect to watch any HD DVD flicks via download or on-demand. If the 40g HDD is to small I can always upgrade. I just wish Logitech would release a Harmony remote with Bluetooth.
TiVo temporarily reinstates $400 lifetime subscription for Series3, HD {Engadget HD}
Nov 9th 2007 9:16AM Quote from the TiVo website:
"You must be an existing registered account holder with a "Qualifying Subscription" persuant to TiVo's Multi-Service Discount Agreement to be eligible for purchase a Product Lifetime Subscription"
Yeah, they have a typo toward the end. Bottom line is I can't upgrade my single box subscription. Everyone has to continue to pay for at least one box, but they can get lifetime on the next 4. Unless they already have some lifetime agreement.
Panasonic exec says Blu-ray will win soon {Engadget HD}
Oct 3rd 2007 3:13PM I agree with Justin. We have multiple game platforms with no clear winner that puts everyone else out of business, why must we have only one video format? (Not that anyone likes it) Let's hear it for cheap multi-players. Then we will see things moving of the shelves!
DirecTV launches another 11 new HD channels {Engadget HD}
Oct 3rd 2007 11:07AM Don't forget, if it was shot on film it can be shown in HD. That should give the History channel and many others plenty of content.
Sharp announces AQUOS BD-HP20U Blu-ray player for US {Engadget HD}
Sep 6th 2007 4:19PM You might double check, but I only saw one lossless audio codec stated in the press release. Looks like we may have to wait longer for DTS-HD MA, or do you know something we don't?
Vivitar ViviCam 6200W handles underwater shooting {Engadget}
Mar 11th 2007 2:37PM No flash or optical zoom kills this. I do like the rubber armor though. I have yet to find a good point and shoot that can survive the first drop.
