Availability of Blu-ray Media
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video, Editorials, Hardware, Photography
So, I’ve finally secured a Blu-ray drive for the OCMS labs. Now the only thing is to get hordes of BD-R media, so I ventured out on one of our famous OCMS Field Trips.
I go into one local computer store and ask where their Blu-ray media is. Looking bewlidered, the sales rep called over the [...]
Tags: LAN;, manager the row, sales rep, software backup, Staples, store manager, USD;
I’m Over Media Center
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video, Editorials
I’ve been working with Home Theater Computers for over 10 years.* Back in the day, a HTPC was the only way to get a progressive-scan DVD player.* There were lots of caveats, and there were no fancy 10′ interfaces like there are today… it had the same usability as a computer.* I used a highly-programmable [...]
Tags: electricity costs;, electricity;, home theater equipment;, Media Center;, Over Media Center;, USD;, Windows Media Center;
Sony DVD Media Changer Carosel
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video
Oooh… this is exactly what I’m looking for. 1.8TB of storage!
*PURCHASE!*
I started the editorial realizing that I didn’t have an article for the day. I started thinking about my storage problem, and searched for jukeboxes, but couldn’t really find any that didn’t say “call for price” (i.e. over $10,000).
I’m glad something like this exists, but [...]
Tags: Media Center;, Star Trek;, USD;
New Creative Drivers Suck
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video, Editorials
They released drivers on October 1st, too, and I downloaded them. I have several gripes with even this new release:
doesn’t work with the applications on the driver CD
No on-board Dolby Digital or DTS decoding (BIG ISSUE FOR ME)
The Creative Audio Console works, but is watered down compared to XP, and barely any support for the [...]
Ubuntu-Based PVR
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video, Guides
Grant was looking into creating a Ubuntu-based PVR. Once it was configured I’m sure it would be pretty hard to break.
Windows is rock-solid as a base install… it’s all the other crap that gets added on after initial install that makes it flakey… at least that’s what I tell myself at night.
If there was an [...]
Tags: Ubuntu;
What’s Your Home Theatre?
Posted by John-Erik | Filed under Audio/Video
(Yes, I used the British spelling, stuff it!)
Okay, so I was curious, what are all of your home theatre setups?
My current one is a Media Center PC running Vista Ultimate (specs upon request) hooked up to a 30″ Samsung SlimFit with an older Aiwa 5.1 audio system set up to “Dumb” mode with all audio [...]
Hardware MPEG Card
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video
The best solution is to use a hardware MPEG video card… that way when you capture the video you have fewer recompression steps and the source video doesn’t take up a lot of space.
If you are using the video in port of your video card, then your best bet is to use IUVCR or VirtualDub. [...]
HD Copy Protection
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video
It’s probably too little too late now. Many of the big studios probably have all their new authoring equipment.
I hate it when studios do this crap… the same thing happened with DVD. Some of the “big” studios were worried more about copy protection rather than getting product to the consumer… Sony and Disney were the [...]
Tags: Sony;
HD-DVD is the Winner
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video
In a previous report, it was announced that adult entertainment studios were embracing the Blu-ray Disc for the release of high definition adult videos. However, it seems that the Blu-ray camp may be placing licensing restrictions that would bar using Blu-ray Disc facilities for the purpose of distributing adult video programs on the high-def format. [...]
Tags: HD;
Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD Players
Posted by alan | Filed under Audio/Video
Although DVD as we know it today will be around for some time to come, the advent of high definition playback for consumers is now available in the U.S., with recording capability also becoming available. Check out the latest offerings from these two high definition formats: Blu-ray and HD-DVD.
NOTE: As new Blu-ray and HD-DVD players [...]
Tags: digital camera;, HDMI;, HDTV;, Panasonic;, Ray Disc;, Samsung;, Sony;, Toshiba;, United States;, USD;
