Pioneer's 12x BDR-205 Blu-ray burner is so fast it's ahead of its time
by Richard Lawler 
posted Sep 30th 2009 at 1:23PM
first posts
Sharp's AQUOS P Series of TVs: world's first 22- and 26-inch 1080p LCDs
by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 29th 2007 at 2:43AM 
[Via Impress]
Is "3X DVD" HD DVD's secret weapon against Blu-ray?
by Richard Lawler posted Feb 19th 2007 at 12:54PM
While the Blu-ray camp is busy claiming victory, recently HD DVD supporters seem to be circling the wagons around an old friend, the -- 'til now -- unused 3X DVD technology. HD DVD has always claimed it holds a price advantage over Blu-ray, by way of offering low cost upgrades for existing DVD manufacturing processes. The 3X DVD spec takes that a step further, while it's a part of the HD DVD format and apparently only compatible with HD DVD players, the discs themselves are physically exactly the same as standard red-laser DVDs. Throw in a software upgrade to support high definition content, HD DVD's UDF 2.5 file structure and AACS and you have a way to deliver HDTV content on a 9.4 GB DVD. By using newer encoding technologies like MPEG-4 and VC-1 and/or lowering the resolution to say, 720p, full length movies easily fit on a standard DVD. Eclipse Data Technologies, a supplier of HD DVD mastering equipment just announced it is offering free upgrades to its customers in order to support 3X DVD manufacturing. This was followed today by DCA Inc. announcing it has mastered the first 3X DVD disc, and that several manufacturers are looking at it as a possible low cost path into HD video. 3X DVD's potential to allow for noticeably lower-priced HD content to come to market is definitely there, but it still remains to be seen if this, like combo DVD/HD DVDs and Total Hi-Def discs will find a home and support in the marketplace.Read - First 3X DVD-ROM Disc Cut with DCA Equipment
Read - Eclipse Provides Free HD DVD Upgrade to Replication Facilities
NIN Live: With Teeth tour is (not) first music DVD, HD DVD & Blu-ray release
by Richard Lawler posted Jan 29th 2007 at 12:11PM
Nine Inch Nail's 2005-2006 "Live: With Teeth" tour has finally set a date to come home on DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD, February 27, and is proudly proclaiming by its press release as the first music DVD to hit all three at once. Unfortunately it appears that Trent Reznor and crew have been somewhat pwned by Eagle Rock Entertainment and The Pat Metheny Group who did the triple-release music DVD thing way back in October of 2006, who only made their debut after The Lake House hit the trifecta in September. Still, NIN fans should be excited to get the disc on any format they choose, or check it out early at any of a number of listening parties scheduled around the country.Cleveland becomes first US city with three HD news channels
by Darren Murph posted Jan 29th 2007 at 7:30AM
While New York may have claimed fame for being the first city to snatch an HD news broadcast and beam IPTV content OTA and over cable, it looks like Cleveland, Ohio now has its own boasting to do, as it becomes the first American city to tout three local HD news channels. One particular channel, NewsChannel5, also provides exclusive HD weather and offers up "more than 12 hours of HD programming each day." The station commented that its HD weather capabilities now open up new views of on-scene reports, wider views of radar screens, and can simply keep viewers safer as they see more of what's going on around them. So as you lucky Clevelanders are waking up this morning, just know that you've got more choices than anyone else when it comes to catching the news tonight in crisp HD.
