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- Just read the new Captain America Reborn 01, not sure I like how their "resurrecting" him but I like the circumstances 23 hrs ago
- Boxee Review: Right off the bat Boxee has a different feel to it. The menu system is smooth and once you shed of.. http://cli.gs/ANhT6 2 days ago
- Finishing up my quickie Boxee review, wish I had more time to devote to it but hey, gotta make the doughnuts (the ones that pay the bills) 2 days ago
- Ok, Farah and MJ I could handle, but Billy Mays dead at 50 years old? this is too much http://cli.gs/VLzy5s 4 days ago
- harris/adams, original numbers 7% "our numbers closer to nearly 8%" forget the HD DVD numbers, its a red herring, they're objecting to -1% 6 days ago
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Boxee Review
June 30, 2009
I’ve wanted to try Boxee for a long time now but something else always got in the way, well I finally got around to it and I’m almost kicking myself for not trying it sooner. Boxee is a cross-platform media center that runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and now Windows. The majority of my time thus far with Boxee was with a pre-alpha windows version; however Boxee recently released build 0.9.12.6570 for XP, Vista and Win 7. What few lingering annoyances I found with the pre-alpha build that I was running, seem to have been resolved with 6570.
But before we get too far into the particulars I should explain how Boxee intends to separate itself from the rest of the media center herd. I suppose the answer is multifaceted, but in essence Boxee wants to become more than just another media center, they’re hoping to tap into the social media blitzkrieg. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Delicious, and others have forever changed the way we share content and the folks at Boxee are of the opinion that media centers shouldn’t be left out of the fun. Boxee allows you to share video picks with friends and in-turn view their recently viewed list (should they feel so inclined to share). Keep in mind you can share as much or as little as you like, it’s entirely up to you.
Ok, so that’s the idea in a nutshell, but what’s it really like? How’s it work and is it even worth signing up for? Right off the bat Boxee has a different feel to it. The menu system is smooth and once you shed off the trappings of conventional media centers and adjust to Boxee’s way of doing things, it starts to feel intuitive. Boxee’s a lot to take in early on which is a bit surprising given how spartan the interface appears. Notice I said appears because once you dive in a little deeper you’ll quickly see there are a ton of settings and features to tweak should you wish. If not, no worries. Most of Boxee’s cool features work right out of the box. (One day I’ll quit saying right out of the box about things that have no box, but old habits die hard).
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under HTPC, Media Servers, Reviews | Comments
Blu-ray Statistics, the Other Side of the Coin
June 23, 2009
If you haven’t had a chance to read the latest Harris Poll on HDTV and Blu-ray uptake among U.S. consumers, it might be quite the eye opener (Head’s up, PDF link). But before we get into some of those numbers, keep in mind that just like the data used by public relation firms, poll’s can be misleading as well. (Cough New York Times Healthcare Poll)
With polls however, at least we have a pretty clear understanding of what’s being presented to us in most cases, often with sales data what’s not being reported is just as important as what is. The first thing that jumped out at me about the report released last Thursday was that while HDTV ownership increased to 47% from 35% just the year prior, Blu-ray penetration lags significantly behind those numbers.
Just 7% of those polled indicated they would be likely to purchase a Blu-ray player within the next year. That’s actually down by 2% from last year, when the question posed was, “Knowing that Blu-ray is the unofficial winner of the high-definition DVD format war, how likely are you to purchase a Blu-ray disc player within the next year?”
Obviously the recession plays a part in that disparity, no matter what anyone thought of their finances a year ago, they’re likely even more concerned today. That alone would explain the dip in buying intent. But I couldn’t help think back to the bevy of “Blu-ray player sales surge” articles from last May.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Blu-ray, HDTV | Comments
Blu-ray Review: Indecent Proposal
June 18, 2009
I’m not exactly sure why but I get a kick out of reviewing films on Blu-ray I saw in theater 10-15 years earlier. Nostalgia I guess, or perhaps its just fun to see if they’ve aged well with time. I saw Indecent Proposal back during the spring of 1993. I remember the trailer featuring Demi Moore sporting that short bob haircut, wearing the now-famous black cocktail dress and well, being a twenty something year-old male, that was about all the reason I needed.
I also recall some of the controversy surrounding the films plot, most of the outrage was misplaced if not completely disingenuous in my opinion. The idea of being bought and paid for (pivotal to the movies plot) was nothing new, but portraying it onscreen, to this extent was I suppose. Still, much of the outrage rang a little hollow, the premise of ‘Indecent Proposal’ was hardly the most shocking thing ever portrayed onscreen.
Plot: Strip away all the really, really good looking people (copyright Zoolander) and at its core, Indecent Proposal
In some regards 1993 could be yesterday but in others it might as well be a hundred years ago. The film feels a bit dated but not entirely irrelevant by modern standards. On one hand, the couples win or lose it all together moments still feel endearing but the 1990′esque musical interludes / music video scenes felt decidedly passé. One subject decidedly un-dated however was the recession (at least the one portrayed) in the film. It plays a pivotal role in the dilemma the two main characters find themselves in.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments
Last One Out Turn Off the Lights
June 11, 2009
This Friday marks the end of analog television (knock on wood) yet according to CNET news some 2.8 million people aren’t ready. This would be the same analog cut-off date that was delayed more times than I can remember, the one with reminders scrolled across the bottom of thousands of hours of programming and the same one first announced in 1996.
If anyone can honestly claim they didn’t know abut the transition I’m not sure all the time in the world would have made a difference, much less a few more months.
Here’s the kicker though, after all the hubbub, delays and talk of the final shut off date, many of those who would presumably be hardest hit by the shutoff; (read those in rural areas) likely won’t see the end of analog TV for months if not years longer.
There’s a little known clause in the transition legislation that waives so called LPTV (low-power television) stations from the June 12th cut off date. The LPTV stations are often re-broadcasters and or local programming providers outside of major metropolitan areas. But again, in all honesty if the transition does catch someone by surprise I cant imagine another few months or even a few more years making a difference.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under HDTV Programming | Comments
Blu-ray Review: Pinocchio
June 9, 2009
“A lie keeps growing and growing, until it’s as plain as the nose on your face,” -Evelyn Venable as the Blue Fairy. It was my intention to buy all the Disney classics on Blu-ray based solely on how good ‘Sleeping Beauty’ turned out. Although I have to admit to being a little skeptical that another animated film could be as impressive as beauty, but of course I’m more than willing to give it a go.
I honestly can’t remember the first time I saw Pinocchio but I’m assuming Carter was in office and gas was about 60 cents a gallon. I remembered so little of the film; it was as if I’d never seen it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a review. If you’re a classic Disney fan, I really shouldn’t have to go into great detail about what makes these films so special. In their simplest form, the early Disney films are life lessons disguised as entertainment. Some may prefer to leave to the lessons to parents but in my estimation the values taught here are about as universal as they come and certainly tame by today’s standards. (Song of the South being a notable exception)
Plot: On the off chance that you’re among the handful unfamiliar with Pinocchio, or just get it confused with all the other animated Disney tales, it is the story of a puppet carved from wood who dreams of becoming a real boy, (Ok bad pun time, I considered typing “a wood be boy”. Ah never mind, it wasn’t nearly as funny the second time around) and of course he has a rather unique physical reaction to lying. By now, Pinocchio is so ingrained in pop culture that some of the scenes may feel a bit surreal. Luckily I found the pristine new transfer and crystal clear soundtrack were more enough to offer a fresh, new look at the film.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments
Knocked out by Natal
June 3, 2009
If you’ve already seen the Natal demonstration from E3 you may be wondering what it has to do with home theater. If you haven’t seen it, run (do not walk) to this video and watch it from start to finish; be sure to see Peter Molyneux’s “Milo” demonstration as well. I’ll wait right here, I promise. Ok, what did you think, were you blown away like I was?
If you weren’t intrigued by the time the Kung-Fu demonstration was over in the first video, I honestly don’t know what to say, but of course it doesn’t end there. The demonstration goes on to full motion capture and control, real-time image scanning/importing, and even facial recognition. Remember we’re talking about a Xbox360 add-on that’s expected in a matter of months, not a early mock-up (there are multiple accounts of non-insiders using the product from E3) or something planned for a few years down the road.
So again, what does Natal have to do with home theater? A better question might be, what doesn’t it have to do with home theater? Look past the gaming applications and think about the core technologies, voice recognition, this ones simple, “start movie”, “dim lights”, “next video”, so on and so on.
The motion capture/recognition could again be used to trigger shuttle-commands and launch different files but it could also be used for something as simple as dimming the lights 30 minutes after the last motion was detected in the room.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Commentary, Home Theater | Comments
Blu-ray Review: Doubt
May 28, 2009
Doubt might just be the biggest surprise of the year for me, not for what it depicts but for what it doesn’t. I’d love to go into more detail and explain exactly what I mean by that, but I’d almost surely (see how I didn’t say undoubtedly) spoil it in the process. No matter what opinion you’ve derived from the trailer, chances are this is not that film. Couple of points, Doubt is not explicit and considering the subject matter (molestation) that was quite a relief, it doesn’t have a definitive point of view, at least not as far as I’m concerned and in the end it wasn’t nearly as controversial as it might have appeared; again in my estimation at least this was all somewhat of a surprise.
Plot: Set in the sixties, Doubt takes place in a catholic parish in Bronx, New York. The lead role is played Philip Seymore Hoffman who is compelling as always. From the first time “Donald” and “Father Flynn” (Hoffman) met on-screen I felt myself cringing at what might be depicted, a strong indicator of how well the groundwork had been laid for the events to come. Meryl Streep delivers a strong performance as usual but perhaps above and beyond her typical work of late, this was classic Streep if not, in a strange way even better. Streep’s character “Sister Aloysius Beauvier” is a hard nosed, no nonsense disciplinarian who’d as soon knock you senseless as suffer indignation from you, the casting certainly wasn’t where Doubt fell down.
The slow build up of events was a welcome change, all too often and especially lately I’ve seen a rush to hurry plot lines along. That said… roughly 40 minutes into the film I found myself almost ready, strike that anxious to get to the point. Without giving too much away I’ll just say the title of the film is no accident and in my estimation illustrates a disconnect between the trailer and what actually unfolds on-screen. Again, make no mistake the cast is superb but its akin to gathering up the worlds finest race horses to fill a petting zoo.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments
Movie Posters with a Twist
May 24, 2009
You know I’m sure there are examples of oh why didn’t I think of that moments for just about every idea, I mean Starbucks $3.50 for a cup of coffee? yeah sure why didn’t I think of that, how about band-aids, white out, or even Velcro. Ok while I wouldn’t put movie posters into the same category as any of those ideas/inventions, I’m kicking myself just the same here. Come to think of it, in all honesty it’s probably best that I never attempted anything like what you see below.
The 3D movie posters are manufactured by Todd McFarlane’s SPAWN toys, but before you start eyeing those old flat, two dimensional movie posters on your wall I should warn you; these “posters” aren’t posters as much as table-top decorations. The dimensions are 8 ½ by 12 ¾ by 2-inch on most. If they could be reproduced at full size the posters would have to be just about the coolest home theater accessory ever, even at half-pint size I reckon they’re pretty darn cool.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Movies & Television | Comments
Dude, Where’s My Netflix Tab Inside Vista Media Center?
May 21, 2009
Like many of you who heard about Netflix support coming to Vista Media Center I too was anxious to give it a whirl. The only problem is unlike most of the accounts I was reading, my tab wasn’t “just there when I opened media center”.
I’m not sure if it was due to having turned automatic updates off back sometime before Obama was elected, my overly strict firewall settings or just bad ju ju in general but that lil’ sucker was nowhere to be found. Ultimately I had to go and get my Netflix tab the old fashioned way, er rather though a link I found on the The Green Button.
I can only assume my Silverlight install wasn’t up to date as when I installed the Netflix in Windows Media Center app, I got what appeared to be a few Silverlight updates to boot. Once the download was finished, bam Netflix from the media center menu. So what did I get for all my effort? I can browse my queue, add new discs to it and watch some really low quality standard definition if I’m in a pinch, thankfully I’m not pinched that bad… yet.
Oh one last thing, to the folks that went ballistic over media center extenders getting left out of all the reindeer games, someone over at the The Green Button summed it up best. Before Microsoft added Netflix support to media center your extender didn’t have that functionality, it still doesn’t.
I don’t mean to sound harsh but this is nature of consumer electronics, some products get updated, others don’t. It seems like media center extenders weren’t the cats meow like Linksys (and everyone else) wanted us to beleive.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Blockbuster & Netflix, HTPC, Media Servers | Comments
Blu-ray Review: Dragons Lair II
May 19, 2009
Without rehashing my entire Space Ace review from last March I’ll just say that Don Bluth’s animated games (Dragons Lair, Space Ace and Dragons Lair 2) left a pretty big impression on me, that is to say once I saw Dragons Lair in an arcade my idea of “graphics” were changed forever. Now looking back that obviously wasn’t the best comparison as these aren’t games as much as animated shorts with brief shots of interactivity. I think more than anything else Don Bluth’s art style all but ruined me from ever thinking another game could be as beautiful.
My gaming preferences aside the good folks over at Digital Leisure were kind enough to send over a copy of ‘Dragon’s Lair II: Time Warp‘ on Blu-ray the sequel to 2007’s ‘Dragons Lair’ in high definition. This time around Dirk is once again out to rescue Daphne but the game play is more linear and the storytelling even more engaging than its predecessor.
Plot: The game opens with Daphne kidnapped by Mordrok once again and Dirk right behind them. Dragon’s Lair II Time Warp moves beyond the straight dungeons and dragons theme of the first installment and into themes as varied as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the Garden of Eden, a performance by Ludwig van Beethoven and a tomb sequence in ancient Egypt.
A note about the game play, Dragon’s Lair (any iteration) can prove to be frustrating for gamers who enjoy puzzle solving versus quick, random button twitching. One thing to keep in mind however is that in a pinch you can “watch” the game but I don’t recommend jumping too far ahead, at least not until you finish then the playback is a nice reward for your hard work. Remember, we’re talking about a short from a former Disney animator, an important piece of “film” history even if it was for a video game.
Posted by B.Greenway | Filed Under Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments