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DIY HD projector hits the right note, sub-€500 price range

It's really hard to say how much of a value this DIY HD projector is, given we're missing some crucial specs like resolution (gotta be at least 720p, right?), contrast ratio, and luminosity. Still, at €500 (about $708 US) for the whole kit, it's not a bad deal if you planned on spending your weekend doing projects anyway. All the pieces come in four separate bundles -- HD optic, light, housing, and electronics -- and if you need some handholding (it's okay, so do we), there's a German-language instruction manual that's thankfully full of pictures and diagrams, and even more entertaining, we've got a video / picture slideshow of the process done to a playful techno ditty. Check it out after the break.

Read - DIY HD projector kit
Read - Instruction manual

[Via Slashgear]

Engadget HD Podcast 144 - 07.01.2009

Engadget logoGood times this week as we discuss the future fallout of The Pirate Bay and illegal downloads in general. But that isn't the only fun we had as we also continued our Harris Poll talk, which we finally cut short since we are just sick of it. That doesn't mean we didn't continue talking Blu-ray though, as we covered more polls, including our own, and the latest Blu-ray player from Oppo. Finally we were all over the map on topics such as Hulu and the PS3, touchscreen remotes -- and why they suck -- then finally a little Curb your Enthusiasm and the ultimate technology laggards.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:10 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 143 - 06.24.2009
00:08:34 - Pirate Bay acquired by Global Gaming Factory, going legit like Napster
00:17:35 - Top ten rationales for illegally downloading HDTV shows
00:24:25 - Harris Poll concerning Blu-ray and HD DVD penetration is way off
00:27:28 - Futuresource still predicting big things for Blu-ray
00:29:32 - Poll: So how do YOU think Blu-ray is doing?
00:38:48 - Oppo BDP-83 pre-orders now open for all (in North America)
00:44:27 - Supreme Court declines to hear remote storage DVR appeal, cloud recording is on the way
00:50:06 - Why aren't MTV HD's music videos in high definition?
00:52:44 - Hulu to PlayStation 3 browsers: "This video is not available on your platform"
00:56:16 - Hands-on with the Apple TV iPhone remote
01:01:30 - Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter review
01:07:30 - Curb Your Enthusiasm going HD this season, if you really want to see Larry David in HD
01:11:16 - 2.1 million households let the DTV transition pass them by


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Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Engadget podcast logoSummer's here, but haven't you heard that the sun is really, really bad for you? Make like a Morlock and stay inside with sweet HD technology to keep you company. And just to make sure you're up to date with said tech, join us for the live Ustream transmission of the Engadget HD podcast. We didn't give you much heads up last week, but now you've got a few good hours to plan your cubicle disappearance for Tuesday, June 30 at 5:30PM EDT. Embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break, to be followed with a list of topics as soon as we cull the herd.

ZINNET debuts brite-View media players, streamers


ZINNET, a company we've mostly seen hocking digital converter boxes to old-school broadcast TV owners, has just announced the brite-View line of media devices for digital download fans. The CinemaCube ($89.99) plays media from either an attached USB hard drive or over your home network, supports RM, RMVB, MP2, AVI, H.264, VOB, MOV, MKV, DivX, Xvid, and WMV video files up to 1280X720 HD (720p), and sports its own bittorrent client. Air HD ($399.99) is a wireless HD transmitter and receiver kit that supports up to 1080i@60Hz, 1080p@24Hz HD picture quality / 30Hz HD quality with less than 1ms latency, up to 70 feet. We'll be interested in seeing how these guys stack up against some of the other players out there -- in the meantime, peep the gallery below.



[Via I4U News]

Engadget HD Podcast 143 - 06.25.2009

Engadget logoWe're back with a vengeance this week -- tune in as we plow through a dozen of topics, each more riveting than the previous one. Well... okay, maybe not "riveting," but we did find some highs and lows from entirely unexpected sources this week. And no, despite Harris Interactive's poll that ran through the interwebs this week, we're not putting Blu-ray on deathwatch just yet; so you'll just have to listen in and find the surprising bits for yourself.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). p
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:55 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 141 - 06.17.2009
00:04:05 - Blu-ray's Managed Copy explained, a Movie Jukebox is possible
00:18:45 - Poll: How much would you pay to make a copy of a Blu-ray Disc?
00:20:30 - Meijer's brand new $99 (shipped) Blu-ray player brings joy to skinflints everywhere
00:24:30 - Evidently it's still cool to hate on Blu-ray: Harris Poll spin
00:30:35 - Paramount launches Sapphire Series line of premium Blu-ray releases
00:35:25 - Sony Pictures to smarten up Blu-ray with MovieIQ, the "killer app for BD-Live"
00:39:35 - VIZIO Internet App HDTVs launch later this year, for less than you might expect
00:46:05 - Samsung HT-WS1 soundbar review
00:51:20 - Moxi HD DVR Review
00:59:38 - TiVo coming to Time Warner Cable, potentially lots of other providers
01:08:00 - Panasonic unveils 85-inch plasma at InfoComm '09
01:17:07 - Giant Cowboys Stadium LED wall caught playing Xbox 360 during downtime Update: Video!

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Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Engadget podcast logoWhether you stop by for the audio commentary of the hosts, the text chat among HD enthusiasts, or just the rebellious feeling of doing something fun while you should be working, you're welcome to join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream on Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30PM EDT. Come on -- get up to date on HD, make some virtual friends and stick it to the man! A list of this week's topics and embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break.

Maingear's Axess HD Gamer PC looks to blow your mind, empty your wallet

Make no bones about, Maingear's new Axess HD Gamer (and by merit of its namesake, HTPC, too) is nothing if not a powerhouse for those wanting to pay an arm and a leg for a souped up gaming experience. You want specs? At its best, we're looking at an Intel Core i7 on a X58 chipset, dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT in SLI, up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM, Blu-ray, Windows Vista / Media Center, and two 3.5-inch storage bays supporting 320GB SSD or 2TB HDD. If you need more nerd cred, ghost of vaporware past Phantom Lapboard serves as one of the bundled input devices, as does the NVIDIA GeForce 3D vision kit and a 22-inch Samsung LCD. Starting price is $1,799, but if you wanna go for broke -- and whether not you can, you probably want to -- top configurations can run you well over $5,000.

Engadget HD Podcast 141 - 06.17.2009

After last week's sleeper of a show we were excited to jump in and talk up interesting topics like Managed Copy, the digital transition and the latest do it all media device from Popcorn Hour. As you've come to expect, we took questions via comments, the phone, and the live chat; so don't hesitate to let us know how you feel, any way you like.

UPDATE: Looks like we have some gremlins in our MP3 version of the podcast, but the other formats should be fine. Please bear with us as we try to get the MP3 sorted.

UPDATE: Things seem to be working now, so you can finally hear how Ben managed to lose 20,000 rankings across his music library in one fell swoop. Ouch!

Get the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
.
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:05 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 140 - 06.10.2009
04:30 - Blu-ray gets Managed Copy next year, requires new hardware
18:45 - Poll: Is Blu-ray coming to Apple anytime soon?
23:57 - Transformers Blu-ray owners get an early peek at the sequel via BD-Live
33:57 - Will the DTV transition get more people watching OTA television?
46:32 - Digital transition causing grief for Windows Media Center users
59:10 - PopcornHour's latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready


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Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Engadget podcast logoThe digital transition has come and gone, ushering in a new era of broadcast television. Whether you fear the change or welcome our new digital overlords, one thing is pretty much the same -- the Engadget HD podcast is dishing up the week's HD news live on Ustream. If you're wondering what happened to all your TV channels, you're probably not going to get a lot of sympathy from our live chatroom audience, but trust us -- they're good folk. Come see for yourself on Tuesday, June 16 at 5:30PM EDT. A list of this week's topics and embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break.

Engadget HD Podcast 140 - 06.10.2009

A pretty light week in HD news, but the three of us put our heads together and with a little help from our Ustream chatroom, managed to talk for an hour. There's definitely great gear for HT enthusiasts, including Panasonic's new V10 NeoPDP panels and Paradigm's SUB 25 monster subwoofer; either (or both!) of which would be a great way to kick off TV's post-analog broadcast era this weekend. If the world doesn't explode into ones and zeros on Friday, we'll be back next week with more news.


Get the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
.
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:58 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 139 - 06.03.2009
07:05 - A cool new DTV map from the FCC to help you prepare for the transition
15:27 - CNET: TC-P50V10 is "Panasonic's best plasma yet"
21:26 - Hertz so good -- Paradigm Signature SUB 25 subwoofer review
27:48 - Epix HD 720p movie streaming service eyes-on
35:40 - Buena Vista and Vudu to sell HD titles day-and-date with Blu-ray
40:45 - AACS finalize, death to analog in 2013
48:10 - Poll: 1080p streaming video vs. Blu-ray


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Join the Engadget HD podcast live on Ustream

Engadget podcast logoDo things like black levels, D65 color accuracy or room modes have you waking up in cold sweats? We've got some group therapy going on for you in the Engadget HD podcast. Stop on by Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30PM EDT and listen in to the podcast live on Ustream along with a bunch of like-minded HT enthusiasts. Better still, join the live chatroom and share your obsession. You don't have to go it alone any more, friend. Embedded Ustream audio/chat after the break.

IFC in Theaters begins day-and-date HD video on-demand screening this month


IFC in Theaters has been offering day-and-date premieres of independent theatrical flicks through video on-demand for a couple of years, but now comes word that this month it will begin offering them in high definition on Cablevision and Comcast. Starting June 17, $7.99 (a buck premium over SD) will be the price for avoiding a trip to the local art house theater, which sounds more than worth it if you don't have one nearby, or just really want to avoid (other) hipsters.

LaCie's LaCinema Classic Bridge media player: just add storage


LaCie's back with another addition to its steadily growing LaCinema family. The Classic Bridge ships for $99, including an HDMI cable and that iconic blue light, yet forgoes the hard drive -- perfect for all you crazy kids who already have plenty in the way of storage, but still need a way to get your media files onto the TV screen. Either install your 3.5-inch SATA HDD (FAT32 only, folks) or plug in an external USB drive, and you'll be watching re-runs of B. J. and the Bear in no time. Supports "flawless" 1080p HD resolution and all of the formats you depend on for your pop-culture fix, including: MPEG4, MP3, JPEG, and HD-JPEG. Not yet available for purchase, but in the meantime feel free to check this bad boy out in the gallery below.

Engadget HD Podcast 139 - 06.04.2009

According the comments from last week it seems we've really hit our stride incorporating uStream into the show and we have to say it makes it much more fun. If there were two themes with week it would be the Xbox 360 as a media hub and Hulu. Some might argue that this doesn't have anything to do with HD, but it does. Once again Richard joined us this week, which is always a good thing, but it is even better when we talk anything gamer related, because lord know the rest of us aren't gamers. Finally we have a soap box addition as we express our disgust in HDMI for the five new versions of HDMI 1.4 -- yes five.


Get the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[RSS - MP3] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
.
[RSS - AAC] Enhanced feed, subscribe to this with iTunes.
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
01:21 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 138 - 05.29.2009
14:10 - Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration
24:00 - Poll: Do you actually want to watch TV via your game console?
26:15 - Hulu Desktop app puts a remote control friendly face on for Macs & PCs
33:44 - Hulu coming to Roku video player?
43:00 - Poll: How much would you pay for Hulu on your TV?
50:40 - DISH / EchoStar ordered to pay TiVo $190 million in patent infringement case
59:23 - HDMI 1.4 officially detailed: Ethernet / Audio Return channels, 3D, 4K x 2K support


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Buena Vista and Vudu to sell HD titles day-and-date with Blu-ray

Vudu Buena Vista
Big news for Vudu fans this morning as yet another barrier to the digital download world is knocked down. Buena Vista has shown over the past year or so that it is willing to try new things and today that means you'll be able to buy HD and HDX titles via Vudu. This is the first major studio to make this type of commitment to digital purchases via Vudu and although we're not the biggest fans of the model due to limited viewing windows etc, we have to admit that having access to 60 HDX quality movies like No Country for Old Men is intriguing. No mention of animated features in the release though, which is a concern, but even so, we like knowing that there are higher quality digital downloads than Apple available for sale.




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