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Wii gets PlayOn

The popular software application from MediaMall Technoligies called PlayOn is now compatible with the Nintendo Wii game console. It is now available as a free beta download.

The application installs on your network connected PC making it a media server for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and now the Wii, allowing video streaming from online portals such as Netflix, Amazon VOD, Hulu, ESPN, YouTube, and CBS. It also shares your photos, videos and music stored on the PC.

If you are not keen on video game consoles, PlayOn also supports Moxi HD DVR, Netgear ITV2000, HP MediaSmart TV, and other DLNA-compliant devices.

Panasonic pushing forward with 3D in the home

If you haven’t noticed lately, many movies are coming out in 3D this year, and they have been in greater and greater numbers since last year. Pixar and Dreamworks both are committed to releasing all of their forthcoming movies in 3D. Pixar is even re-releasing Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in October to theaters in 3D.

But even major motion pictures are coming in 3D, including Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and The Final Destination. But the most anticipated 3D film is Avatar, coming this December from the creator of Alien, Terminator, and Titanic, James Cameron.

Cameron has been working on Avatar for over a decade, and is said to push the limits of movie technology and story-telling. Avatar is also going to help promote 3D in the home.



Panasonic is ready to produce the world’s first 3D-ready plasma televisions in 2010, along with 3D Blu-ray Disc players, and to help them sell the world on 3D movies they’ve enlisted the help of 20th Century Fox who will use Avatar this fall to show off 3D displays on a traveling bus tour.

Panasonic’s 3D televisions will begin at 50″ and increase from there up to 103″ in size. The technology does not use polarized lenses like other systems (including what you see in theaters), but flickers between both left and right images alternately. The 3D glasses sync with the video and shutter open and closed for each eye. Each frame will be full 1080p video, and there is no funky color shifting.

Yes, you still wear glasses, but it sure seems like 3D is here to stay this time.

Sony’s new PS3 Slim outputs bitstream audio

By now you’ve probably heard Sony’s announcement of the new PlayStation 3 Slim. The new video entertainment console is almost 40% smaller than the previous model, has all the same features, and includes a larger hard drive. But there’s one more feature it has that previous versions did not have: the ability to output high-definition audio codecs bitstream via the HDMI 1.3 multimedia port.

While the debate continues about the merits of decoding the audio in the receiver versus in the player, this news at least allows all parties to be happy. The facts remain, however, that if you want to hear menu sounds and commentary tracks, you will need to decode in the player. The PlayStation 3 is fully capable of decoding high definition 7.1 audio tracks and outputting via LPCM; some Blu-ray players (while making this claim) do not output full 7.1 LPCM audio.

Available in September, the PS3 Slim will sell for $299, which is $100 less than any previous PS3 system. This means the PlayStation 3 is now the same price as some of the entry-level Blu-ray Disc players, making it one of the better deals you will find for high-def video.

It is my opinion that the older versions will receive a software update allowing the same bitstream feature. Sony didn’t add a chipset just to include this feature, so I imagine a new software revision will become available about the same time as the Slim launches. It’s just a guess though, so don’t hold me to this.

Shopping in the recession

Many economists are now saying we’ve either come out of the recession (technically) or will be within a month’s time, but if you’re not an economist it doesn’t mean much for a while. I was initially skeptical about how the crunch would affect me individually, but after I had two cars in the shop, my TV failed, and my air conditioner died all in the same month, call me a believer.

While my personal woes aren’t a result of a failing economy, many people close to me had been out of work for months. But for the majority of people, we feel the effects second hand and tighten our belts. Even if our jobs are secure and our paycheck is still the same, the way we approach spending our hard earned dough has changed.

Television sales are consistent even in these tough times thanks to the “staycation,” but manufacturers are still chopping prices like crazy worried sales will slump. So what if you’re in the market for a new high-def display, and maybe some new components as well?

First I want to say if you’re looking for a full on home theater system, leave it to the experts and hire a CEDIA installer. They can run all the wires in the walls, and install speakers, and TVs, and program a control system for simple control of the many devices you will end up with. But say you’re just putting in a simple system like mine and don’t mind cables running all over your living room, then I’ve got a few tips.

Shop at Costco

Every time I go to Costco I learn of a new service they provide for their members. Besides their very generous return policy, Costco also extends the manufacturer’s warranty on televisions, projectors and computers two years from the date of purchase automatically. They also provide a free concierge service for phone support helping you install or troubleshoot televisions, computers, projectors, camera, and more.

Their selection isn’t very good, usually just a selection of Vizio displays with a few tier-one brands for higher price points (and then usually an entry-level product). However, if you’re on a budget you’re not in the market for the best display money can buy, you’re looking for the best display your money can buy.

Use your credit card

I give this advice only if you have the cash to immediately pay the purchase off.

Check with your credit card company and see if they offer additional warranties. Many creditors offer extended warranties when you purchase it on their card.

Haggle

Most electronic stores allow measure of negotiation. Do your home work first to find what prices are online and in other stores and then fight for the best deal, maybe get them to throw in cables for free.

Right now is a terrific time to buy a flat panel display. Many manufacturers have been cutting their prices to record lows, and even bundling in free Blu-ray Disc players, home delivery and setup. Holiday deals might not get much better than what you can find right now.

Kaleidescape headed back to court

On August 12th, the Sixth Court of Appeal of the State of California ordered the DVD CCA v. Kaleidescape, Inc. lawsuit back to the Superior Court for further proceedings.

For five years, Kaleidescape has been entangled in legal battles with the DVD encryption licensing body, the DVD CCA, over the terms of the contract between both parties. It is the view of Kaleidescape that they have fulfilled their obligations under the contract, and the courts have agreed with them so far. One specific point of contention is a document called the “General Specifications” which DVD CCA provided to Kaleidescape after their contract was in effect. The DVD CCA viewed this document as part of the contract. Every court disagreed, and found Kaleidescape to be within the original contract. The Sixth Court of Appeal decided in the DVD CCA’s favor and found the General Specifications to be a part of the contract.

Michael Malcolm, the CEO of Kaleidescape, said of the decision, “We are surprised and disappointed by the Court of Appeal’s decision and by their rejection of existing California contract law.”



In previous court proceedings, Kaleidescape argued that even if the General Specifications were a part of the contract that they had fulfilled these requirements as well. The new round of proceedings should decide this point.

It should be noted that no other company has a contract to legally store DVDs on their hard drive units, so these lawsuits are singular in that they’re a contract dispute. Other lawsuits brought by DVD CCA (including the one against Real Media) are lawsuits filed under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that the defendants are breaking the law. Because Kaleidescape has obtained a contract with DVD CCA, their Kaleidescape Systems are licensed and legal.

The new proceedings may take a couple years to take place, and in the mean time Kaleidescape is appealing to the California Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeal’s decision. If the California Supreme Court finds in favor of Kaleidescape, their legal worries may come to an end unless the federal court system takes on a California state contract dispute.

In other Kaleidescape news, Michael Malcolm affirms, “The Blue-Laser Player is still on schedule for release in 2009.” To clarify this statement, the player is called “Blue-Laser” because they have not joined the Blu-ray Disc Association to legally use the Blu-ray name and logo.

Moxi adds multi-room support

The Emmy award-winning Moxi DVR from Diego can now playback recorded HD content to a second room with the new Moxi Mate.

The Moxi HD DVR is a third-party cable set-top receiver with a simple user interface, and many other features, like video streaming from Netflix, Hulu and YouTube, photos from Flickr, and Rhapsody music. The 500GB hard drive stores up to 75 hours of HD content.

The Moxi Mate is a small set-top box that can playback the recorded content, as well as stream the internet video.

You can buy the Moxi HD DVR for $799 with no monthly subscription fee (unlike TiVo), and the Moxi Mate is $399, or you can buy them both together for $999.



What I would like to see is the HD DVR sharing content, otherwise the Mate is only good in a room you would otherwise not have a cable box in. However you can watch basic cable real time, and recorded shows on the Moxi so it is still a cool feature.

Moxi is more expensive than TiVo initially, so look at the different features and see what works best for you. Their strongest hand is the user interface. It is probably the best interface I’ve ever seen, but this is subjective.