Blu-ray, DVD, HDTV, Video info and more at WesleyTech.com

Lala music service shutting down

It didn’t take long for Apple to shut down Lala after its acquisition this past December. On May 31, the service will go offline. Lala is not accepting any new members in the meantime.

Lala was the popular cloud-based music service with a robust social media aspect. One unique feature is the ability for a user to upload their music library and each song would be identified. The user could then play their music library from anywhere they are connected to the internet, and even share their songs with friends.

Songs purchased from Lala for $0.89 would be stored in the cloud, and could be downloaded for use on portable devices. For $0.10, the song could be streamed unlimitedly from the cloud.



Due to the shuttering of the service, Apple, Inc. has announced they will provide iTunes credit to users who have already bought store credit in Lala. Additionally, any songs purchased at the $0.10 price will be credited to iTunes for song purchases – though all previous purchases must be remade at the iTunes store price (generally $0.99).

Many Lala users synced their iTunes library with Lala to give them access to their library from anywhere in the world. For this reason, it has been assumed that Apple will be releasing a whole new web-based iTunes service combining iTunes and Lala functionality. If Apple doesn’t provide cloud-based streaming, they spent $80-million to destroy a company which offered very little competition to the iTunes business.

iTunes moving to the cloud would certainly make sense since their current rival, Google, is rumored to be working on a cloud-based music service as well.

Hulu planning subscription service

We told you about indications of a subscription service from Hulu this past October, and now it seems like an imminent reality. Beginning in May, Hulu will begin testing a subscription service.

For a monthly rate of $9.95, the subscriber would have access to an extended library of content unrestricted from release windows, and presumably in higher-quality and without advertisements. Hulu would continue providing free content, such as Fox’s House M.D. and Glee, and NBC’s The Office and 30 Rock, but limited to the last five episodes to air. Subscribers would have access to all episodes, and additional content.

Hulu is still trailing YouTube in revenue, but is actually turning a decent profit. It doesn’t seem like it will take very long before all programs are available on demand through the cable and satellite companies. In fact, the regional cable company recently visited my office and hinted at a whole new way cable television is experienced in the home, with internet speeds topping 100Mbps.

If only they would allow access from internet-connected home theater devices like the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Blu-ray Disc players.

How to use a front projector in a bright room

Movies have always been best experienced on large screens with a front projection system. From the golden era of Hollywood, up to the 3D revolution of today, large projection screens have provided an immersive experience. Over the past couple of decades, theater equipment has been making its way into homes to provide a true home theater.

One draw back of front projection is a room really needs to be dedicated to the home theater for the best image results. Because the projector is shooting light across the open room onto the screen, any other lights in the room also reflect of the screen. Walls have to be painted in dark colors as well to keep the reflected light from competing with the screen image. Most people can’t afford to dedicate a whole room just to home theater, so we’re left with a problem: have dark walls, low lights, and think window curtains, or forgo the projection image until night time.

Screen Innovations has provided a solution by developing a black projection screen. The Black Diamond II HD is a deep grey color which allows for projection images to be displayed acceptably in high-lighting situations – even outdoors!

Screen Innovations claims the black screen material increases the contrast of the projector by up to 300%. The material is made to only reflect light shining directly at it, and cancels light coming from other sources. And it really does work.

The Masters broadcasting in 3D

All we’ve been hearing this week in the news is, “Tiger Woods is back!” But the real story is, “Tiger Woods is in 3D!.”

The Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta is the first broadcast event to make use of the new 3DTVs from companies like Samsung, Sony, LG, and Panasonic. The cable providers (Comcast, Cox and Time Warner) are using a 1080i/30fps signal to standard HD cable receivers, and the side-by-side 3D image is converted by the TV to 3D.

Available in my market by Time Warner Cable, the tournament is not broadcast live and is available only through On Demand. I also happen to live in one of the world’s golf capitols (practically can’t throw a rock without having to yell, “Fore!”), so I know people who watch and re-watch how the pros handle situations, and evaluate their swings. On Demand makes perfect sense for them. But I’m not sure if anyone is running out to get a new TV so they can watch Tiger Woods drive a golf ball into a tree in 3D.

It’s amazing how fast 3D content has become available. The TVs have barely come to market in March, and it’s only April now. It seems only a lucky few will be able to catch the play now. Of course 3D on computers has been around for a few years, and The Masters is available in 3D on the internet (though I’ve heard it doesn’t look as good as on cable).

Every major television provider has plans for 3D, and every major manufacturer is seriously pushing 3D this year. 3D should hit critical mass by next year.

I want to hear from those of you who still think 3D is a gimmick that will die out soon. What’s your argument?

Home appliances to get DLNA

The Digital Living Network Alliance announced today they will be providing network compatibility to home appliances such as microwaves and toasters. The new DLNA feature on a dishwasher, for example, will be able to send updates to the user’s other DLNA devices, such as the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.

This revolutionary new feature will now allow your toaster oven to send Twitter updates to all of your friends when your mini pizza is ready; you can enable popups on your DLNA compatible HDTV to inform you when the ice maker is ready with more ice.

Another exciting feature is the new iPhone app from which you can change the settings of your Samsung washing machine and dryer. Available on the iTunes App Store, the DLNA Home Appliance app is easy to set up, and gives you the benefit of always staying connected to your space heater no matter where you go.

The spokesperson for DLNA, Carl Sanchez, said this new network connectivity “finally brings us the ‘home of the future’ we were promised so long ago.”

When I was a child I remember visiting Disneyland’s Tomorrow Land and seeing hundreds of durable goods which cleaned themselves, and talked to you. While you still have to use Formula 409 and elbow grease to clean them, we’re one step closer to having a microwave which talks to you.

Also hinted at in the announcement were future plans to integrate a Network Attached Storage device to faucets and toilets to monitor use.

It’s a brave new world.