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Blu-ray releases on June 2nd 2009

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Jun 1st 2009 at 12:49PM

Defiance Blu-rayWhat an improvement from last week's unimpressive slate. Not only do we have a few day-and-dates like Defiance and He's Just Not that into You, but we also have the greatest Blu-ray demo disc since Planet Earth from the BBC in the way of Nature's Most Amazing Events -- yes they are very amazing, but we still prefer the original name Nature's Great Events. But that's not all, as we are also getting the fourth season of Weeds as well as a number of classic catalogs worth checking out like The Gradute and Fletch.
  • Defiance (Paramount)
  • Revolutionary Road (Paramount)
  • Nature's Most Amazing Events (BBC)
  • He's Just Not That Into You (Warner)
  • NFL: Road to Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers (Warner)
  • Spring Breakdown (Warner)
  • Weeds: Season Four (Lionsgate)
  • Home (Fox)
  • Air Force One (Sony)
  • Anaconda (Sony)
  • Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Sony)
  • Glory (Sony)
  • Bruce Almighty (Universal)
  • Inside Man (Universal)
  • Fletch (Universal)
  • Dark Blue (MGM)
  • Navy Seals (MGM)
  • The Graduate (MGM)
  • Out of Time (MGM)
  • Road House (MGM)
  • Rollerball (MGM)
  • Walking Tall (MGM)
  • Direct Contact (First Look)
  • Elsewhere (E1)

Vizio Super Bowl ad kicks off million dollar 55-inch LCD giveaway

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 4th 2009 at 1:58PM


Forget the 3D, Vizio's "If your TV doesn't say Vizio...you spent too much" ad (embedded after the break if you haven't seen it yet) probably had viewers nodding knowingly at their V nameplate, being restrained from throwing objects through their (presumably overpriced) display, or wondering where the upstart manufacturer turned premium brand got the stones to call out THEIR high quality HDTV. Whatever your reaction was, you probably like free stuff, and Vizio apparently didn't blow it's whole marketing load on a plain-jane $3 million Super Bowl ad, stashing away another million dollars worth of 50,000:1 contrast ratio 55-inch XVT model LCDs in 28 weekly drawings from now until August 14. Check the website for details (visits are apparently up 400% since the ad, hopefully not too many of those were offended plasma owners), unless you're holding out for the new models.

[Via PR Newswire]

Continue reading Vizio Super Bowl ad kicks off million dollar 55-inch LCD giveaway

Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D?

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 3rd 2009 at 9:44AM


Love it or hate it, 3D has been on a tear in 2009, and it enjoyed the biggest audience yet over the last two nights with a quick Super Bowl ad and follow up hour long 3D episode of Chuck, both on NBC. However, given the mixed opinions, and the questionable tech used to bring 3D to homes that aren't really equipped to deal with it, we're not sure if the movement went forward or backwards last night. Our friends at Cinematical and TV Squad have chipped in opinions on the Monsters vs. Aliens promo (embedded after the break) and special TV event, but what about you? As a glasses-only affair it required an audience a bit more prepared than usual than usual for TV, and there were plenty of chances for problems and misunderstanding. PR reps for theater 3D companies were quick to point out their stereoscopic technology provides much higher quality (we agree) than you saw on NBC, and while that begs the question why bother at all, it seems like the chance to seed the potential of 3D -- even with a subpar anaglyph display -- was too big of an opportunity to ignore.

Read - I don't care what NBC is saying... 3D on TV still doesn't work
Read - Poll: Did You Like The 3D Superbowl Movie Commercials?

Continue reading Did NBC's promotional shove help or hurt 3D?

Verizon's FiOS playing big role in Super Bowl XLIII

by Darren Murph posted Feb 1st 2009 at 6:18AM


If you can't quite afford a ticket to attend Super Bowl XLIII, you may still be able to get close enough to feel the noise. If so, there's a decent chance you'll be enjoying the action nearby courtesy of Verizon. This year, said operator has become the first ever "non-partner" vendor allowed in the NFL Experience, as it was selected to wire the Tampa Convention Center and several affiliated hotels in the area with its FiOS fibers. All told, the outfit laid some 14,000 years of fiber in downtown Tampa is preparation for the big game, and FiOS TV will power 143 TVs throughout five downtown venues. Additionally, 116 FiOS TV set-top-boxes were installed along with 138 data lines, though there's no telling if any of this will remain after fans pack up and head home. More details are just past the break.

Continue reading Verizon's FiOS playing big role in Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII airing in 230 countries, over half in HD

by Darren Murph posted Jan 30th 2009 at 9:03PM


Man, what a difference a year makes. In 2008 we saw that Super Bowl XLII would be aired in 28 countries around the world, and this year that number is increasing substantially to 230. A grand total of 61 international broadcasters will televise the game in 34 languages, with the high-def signal going to 19 broadcast partners in 152 countries. DTS also notes that its Neural Surround technology will be tapped in order to deliver "5.1-channel" sound to international viewers through "any consumer surround sound system." The live action kicks off at 6:00PM ET this Sunday, and given the abundance of partners, you should be able to catch it (even in HD) almost anywhere in the world.

VIZIO does it big time with own Super Bowl ad

by Darren Murph posted Jan 30th 2009 at 6:01PM


We've always respected those who practiced what they preached, and we've got to give it to VIZIO here -- it's definitely standing by its word of switching marketing gears from discount to high-quality. The company famous for delivering HDTVs at rock bottom prices has just announced that it will air a commercial in this year's Super Bowl, and at around $3 million per slot, you know it'll be worth watching. Of course, you probably shouldn't expect scantily clad females or overdone explosions, as the company's co-founder and VP of sales and marketing Laynie Newsome has stated that the spot is one that's "simple and speaks directly to its customers." Low-key and Super Bowl? Those don't mix, do they?

What recession? CEA sees the Super Bowl selling 2.6 million HDTVs

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 30th 2009 at 4:16PM


Despite the economy, it looks like a lot of people love their in-laws, with things looking good enough for a Consumer Electronics Association survey to indicate 2.6 million HDTVs will be sold as a result of the Super Bowl (are you ready?), up from the two million predicted last year. For the year the group sees sales rising to 29.8 million (out of 34.5 million total digital TVs), topping 2008's tally by a good three million, mostly because prices have continued to drop. Probably due to that price factor, plasma TVs are expected to make up only 10 percent of the year's sales. Still not buying an HDTV for the Super Bowl? Don't worry, there's always March Madness, the Oscars, World Cup, World Table Tennis Championships, the day after next Tuesday...

Survey finds that HD Super Bowl could bring families together

by Darren Murph posted Jan 28th 2009 at 3:53PM


We've seen some pretty outlandish survey results before, but this might just take top honors. A Samsung-commissioned poll has revealed that "an HDTV can entice your spouse to visit the in-laws, even for the Super Bowl, if it means viewing football in high-definition." Heard that? Your family could actually grow fonder of one another if your in-laws are showing the Super Bowl in high-def. The actual results were that 43 percent would make the trek to their in-laws if they could count on watching the big game in HD, with 50 percent of that subset being men and 34 percent being women. The survey also found that 81 percent felt image quality was more important than food, and we're left to wonder what on Earth those other 19 percent are drinking so heavily. Check the read link for even more laughs.

[Image courtesy of PBase]

Prepared for Super Bowl XLIII? Here's how.

by Darren Murph posted Jan 22nd 2009 at 1:00PM


Believe it or not, Super Bowl XLIII is but days away. If you've been putting off that home theater expansion, the time to get serious is now. We've hosted up a handy guide to get your abode totally ready for hosting a rather monumental bash, so why not head over to Engadget Classic and check it out? We're not responsible for the condition of your wallet should you follow each and every recommendation, but we are guaranteeing that it's a darn good recipe for joviality.

Monsters vs. Aliens 3D promo gets detailed

by Darren Murph posted Jan 4th 2009 at 9:25PM


For those searching for a few more details on how exactly the Monsters vs. Aliens 3D trailer will be seen on Super Bowl Sunday, you've arrived at the right place. According to a new AP report on the topic, around 150 million 3D glasses will be given away for free at Pepsi / SoBe Life Water displays at 28,000 locations including grocery, drug and electronics stores and big-box retailers -- in other words, you shouldn't have to look hard to find 'em. The three minute promo will utilize Intel's InTru 3D and ColorCode 3-D technologies, which are said to be far superior to the old red-blue Anaglyph system. In fact, those without 3D glasses will still be able to make out what's going on. Oh, and if you were even the slightest bit curious as to how serious DreamWorks Animation is about pulling this off, get a load of this: the outfit's CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg is calling the stunt "perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history," noting that it will involve "tens of millions of dollars." Gulp.

[Image courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Sayles]

Monsters vs. Aliens trailer, Chuck to air in 3D in February on NBC

by Darren Murph posted Jan 3rd 2009 at 11:27PM


This won't come as any surprise to folks watching the absolutely thrilling Chargers vs. Colts matchup on NBC, but 3D has officially hit the mainstream. NBC has been feverishly pushing a 3D airing of a Monsters vs. Aliens trailer on Super Bowl Sunday, and a 3D episode of Chuck will follow later in February. We were even blasted with a shot of Jerome Bettis rockin' some super ugly 3D glasses, of which you'll be able to procure yourself for free in the coming weeks at select Pepsi and Sobe kiosks. Obviously, since the ads were shown to all watching tonight's tilt, no special television will be needed to enjoy the eye-popping content; now, let's just wait and see if any 3D clips are snuck into the actual Super Bowl.

[Via TVByTheNumbers]

Super Bowl XLIII to boast interactive commercials

by Darren Murph posted Dec 8th 2008 at 2:07PM


For years now, companies have sought to produce the most engaging advertisement on the eve of the Super Bowl here in America. In just a few months, however, they'll be vying for something else -- your clicks. Canadian sportscaster Le Réseau des Sports has confirmed that both SD and HD broadcasts of Super Bowl XLIII will feature commercials that are "enabled with interactive functionality permitting viewers to opt-in and hyperlink directly from the RDS network to long-form video content." Additionally, viewers will be able to bookmark that content for future viewing. Details of how the links and on-demand material will work are still fuzzy, but it's apt to function a lot like the TV-to-Internet ad platform that's already out courtesy of Backchannelmedia. The bar just got raised a few rungs higher, and we're pretty stoked to see what happens next.

Micro Matic v-POD weds beer dispenser and LCD TV

by Darren Murph posted Dec 1st 2008 at 5:32PM


It's two things that are inevitably tied to one another each Sunday -- LCD TVs and alcohol. Now, Micro Matic is bringing them together like never before, and only the most serious of in-home bartenders need apply. The v-POD comes in a couple of shapes and colors to best suit your needs, with the stainless steel Kool-Rite boasting a half-dozen taps, stereo speakers and an inbuilt 10-inch LCD. Now, if only these were available with slightly larger HDTVs and price tags nowhere near the three grand mark, we'd be talking.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

Sony's Hot Ticket program brings live events to theaters at $20 a pop

by Joshua Fruhlinger posted May 22nd 2008 at 11:21AM

Rent with Joey Fatone
If you're a live event nut but live in the sticks, listen up: Sony is about to bring live performances to digital theaters with its new Hot Ticket program. Sony will broadcast Broadway shows, concerts, and sports events to around 500 digital theaters, live and in HD digital projection for about $20 a seat. The venture will launch with Cirque du Soleil's final performance of Delirium from London and for the two of you who haven't seen it yet, Rent's final Broadway performance will be shown in September. We have to admit, though, this could create some fun SuperBowl parties with rival factions on either side of the aisle, Congress style.

5.5 million US households purchased an HDTV over the holidays / Super Bowl season

by Darren Murph posted Apr 24th 2008 at 3:26PM

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) expected Super Bowl XLII to drive over two million HDTV sales, and drive it did. According to a recent study by Frank N. Magid Associates, around 5.5 million US households brought home an HDTV for the very first time during the 2007 - 2008 holiday and Super Bowl season. Of course, these two events weren't the only reason so many folks opted to make the leap to a high-def set -- the study also credits the looming digital TV transition as an encouraging factor. It's also noted that the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing may convince even more folks to spend that incoming stimulus check on an HDTV, further boosting the percentage of US households with at least one HD-capable set. Now, if all of these slow-to-move cable carriers would get their acts together and provide a decent array of HD channels to enjoy, we'd be set.

[Image courtesy of AT&T]




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