Posted on 01/07/2006 8:08:19 PM PST by george76
The wraps came off high-definition DVD players at this year's annual Consumer Electronics Show, offering the final component to replicate the movie theater experience at home.
And while a fierce DVD format war likely will delay the mass adoption of such devices, digital video is here to stay - the Consumer Electronics Association trade group estimates 25 million U.S. homes will have a high-def TV set by year's end.
But big, expensive flat-panel sets aside, this year's gadget show offered plenty of smaller screens for video...
Yahoo Inc., DirecTV, Starz Entertainment Group and Sony were also among the companies getting deeper into the business of trying to make it simple to watch recorded Hollywood movies, home video and even live streaming television wherever you may be, on all manner of device.
Not to be outdone, radio was out in force as well, including palm-sized satellite receivers that hold hours of recorded music.
Digital radios, which promise a high-definition listening experience from traditional earth-bound stations, were also on display as that service begins a wider national rollout this year.
- The Inno, a portable combination XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. receiver/MP3 player with 1 gigabyte of internal memory.
- Several new handheld video options included the Gigabeat player from Toshiba, one of a series of devices running Microsoft Corp.'s portable media center software.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Primarily by way of Dish Network and their fine line of HDTV receivers. It's truly an amazing bit of technology and it has scared the pants off Hollywood knowing that Joe and Jane Doakes can have real Movie quality pictures and sound in their living room.
Well, I just purchased my latest and most expensive HD receiver from Dish on 12/5/2005. And guess what? It's now obsolete. Dish announced at the CES mentioned above that it was changing the standard which they use to compress the HD signal from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4. And guess what? My one-month old $xxx.xx Dish 942 HD receiver can't receive MPEG-4. Even though I was told it could be "upgraded" by a software download. It can't. So, no new HD for me.
But, nil desperandum, Dish will sell me a new one that will receive MPEG-4!
For $xxx.xx, more.
But, I won't be buying, I'm resigning my HDTV license until they work this stuff out.
Yup. And my two high definition TVs won't work with any of these new players because they don't support the DRM'd crap inputs. And I don't plan on spending several thousand dollars on new HD TVs anytime soon. I'll pass.
Thank you for the information.
I have been watching and waiting for the dust to settle.
Looks like I need to wait some more.
Sadly, Dish is STILL, today, right now, activating these soon-to-be deficient receivers for NEW accounts.
"Yes, I know you just signed up to receive Dish HDTV. No, you can't get these new channels--which include YOUR LOCAL stations in HDTV. Unless, of course, you want to send me some more money..."
Man, I wouldn't want to be working in the Dish Network "Customer Service" shop when this stuff hits the fan.
The signal looks so good in the stores.
But, I do not want to buy another problem.
Who cares? They're trying to rig everything where you can't record it, or without having to pay. Can you imagine having to pay every time you pop a tape you bought into the VCR?
To hell with Hollyweird.
Do I really need a hi-def DVD player in order to reproduce the poor focus, frame-flutter and giant-hair-in-the-projector experience of my local theater?
What is your opinion on this...
" if you buy an lcd tv and intend on using it with a pc, be aware that many do not support 1024x768 resolution -- they support 1024x760.
"Why they left off 8 lines is beyond me."
Because they are designed to support the High Definition TV standard of 760p - the computer functionality is just an added plus.
"Better to hold out for a display that supports HD at 1080p - they cost more, but look better. And for a 27" computer monitor, I'd want to achieve a much higher resolution than 1024x768."
I LOVE my HDTV!!!!!
You'll have to pry it out of my cold dead hands......
Obviously not for the faint of heart, but a good set with a good signal, surround system, progressive DVD player, and decent HDTV source material--I mainly use OTA broadcasts, which are good in my area--and you're in Sofa Spud Heaven.
I too have been in the HDTV game for some 3+ years.
First with DirecTV...then VOOM...now Comcast Cable.
My advice for newbies looking to jump in is to go with your local cable offering. With cable there is no threat of buying a box that will be obsolete in 6 months. Just pay the $10 monthly rental fee and swap out boxes whenever there is a glitch or a new and better box becomes available.
Plus you can cancel at any time.
Try that with DirecTV or Dish.
As for TV's...I think the best picture for the buck right now (considering size)is LCD rear projection.
Picture Quality approaches that of a top notch CRT and is available up to 50" +.
I am currently looking at the Sony 50" LCD RPT.
Great picture for under $2k
Just my 2 cents...
;-)
Don't forget FOX is pushing to have 24 all in HD this year (season starts on on the 15th).
Cool thing is they are playing all 24 episodes in 24 weeks... don't see that too often these days of 'mid season' BS
Yes. Pretty cool. Approx 74% of the local (network) shows come through in HD (in my area; Denver Metro).
Have been avoiding the networks because of the anti-Conservative content. Been watching them more since they have converted their shows over to HD. Not a big fan of shows like "Stacked" etc. But have been flipping through them just for the picture. Surface was pretty good, too.
Sony's Playstation 3 will play hi-def Blu-ray dvds next Spring. And the games...
What is your view on plasma, LCD, etc. ?
Living at 5000 feet and above...does Plasma, etc. have issues?
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